Christmas

Christmas has always been a memorable experience for me. I believe Christmas is a celebration of love and happiness. Christmas is a time for change, a time when all of us are gathered as one family, a time when it is good to share, a time where evil is abolished, and a time when Jesus is the in the center of our hearts.

Flipped

When you hear about a movie about teenage love, first love, or perhaps a coming-of-age story, you'd probably roll your eyes and dismiss the idea. Obviously, we all know the storyline: boy meets girl, they fall in love, then suddenly something tragic happens, etcetera etcetera.

We've had these sort of movies ever since. Some were great, some were good, while others are completely forgettable. We've seen it. Lots of it.

But wait a minute. So, how is it possible that Rob Reiner's new film about a 1960's love story, Flipped, manages to capture everyone's heart?

Firstly, for me, it would be the narration. Throughout the movie, we get to hear the narration of the two leads, our hero Bryce and his ladylove Juli. We get to understand the movie in two new perspectives and point of views. Two narrators could be a dangerous move but it's what shines through in this movie. It's what separates it from other tween love stories because they creatively devised it. That leads us to the second reason why I admired the movie very much. It's because teenagers like me, who are reckless and enthusiastic about love, can heartily relate to. Juli is this girl who's very outgoing, smart, and attractive yet can get quite annoying sometimes. She has a huge crush on Bryce, a boy in their neighborhood ever since they were young. Unfortunately, Bryce does not feel the same way. As they grow up together, certain things and distractions resulted in the sudden turn of events - family problems, financial problems and even personal ones too. All in all, these movie is great for all families out there. Plus, the 1960's backdrop and theme (I love their fashion sense!) is a perfect addition to this outstanding film.


To end this, I can say that I've flipped. :)

Narnia-listic

I just finished watching the third movie of the Narnia series. I did enjoy it, but to be honest I think it's not as good as the previous two. Why? The sole reason is because the two older siblings, Peter and Susan, are NOT included in the movie. Seriously! It's not complete without them. :( But they did have a small screening time in the movie, a cameo rather for about, uhmmm 10 mins. Latte, anyone?

Anyway, it was good to see new faces in the film such as Eustace, the Pevensie kids' cousin, who I totally adore because of his unique features and incessant mouth. Also, the effects were amazing. Hands down. Only in this movie did I realize Aslan's (the lion) true essence. In Narnia, he is a lion. In the real world, he's there up above.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Simbang Gabi

Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the country. It is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christma.

ORIGIN

Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico when, in 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.

During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest.

SIGNIFICANCE

Simbang Gabi has become one of the most popular traditions in the country. But it is not just a tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so. It is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members but also because it is the time where our faith is intensified. This is the time where we mostly feel the presence of the Lord because it is the spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. It does not matter if one has the stamina to complete the novena or not, what really matters is what is inside the heart. The blessing does not depend on the number of mass attended, but what is important is the disposition of the person who receives the Lord’s blessing.

Assumption Iloilo and Me

Wondering what made my day yesterday? Aside from the awesome fact that exams are over- yes, late nights and eye bags are no more! - the one simple thing of seeing the poem I composed during CAE class published on the school paper was the perfect addition for a joyful disposition. :))

Assuption Iloilo and Me

I never thought I'd walk these doors
Didn't imagine it really happened before
I found it really hard to believe
That this is the school life I would enter and would live.

People around me say it's the best
Far better than the rest
A choice you would never regret
An experience you'll never forget

They have been right all along
Been cheering my school days all years long
Going to Assumption is a blast
Unforgettable moments spent here would forever last

You'll find and get the best education
Teaching you values like love, simplicity, and cooperation
My days here I will always treasure
The one who shaped me to be the best that I can be.

Beauty..Inside and Out

Beauty does not only mean the physical appearance. It's also the beauty that radiates from people within when they go good deeds.

Love With No Borders

Portia on Ellen: “I’ve changed so much as a person since I met Ellen. I used to think that the way to be strong was to be tough. I used to think that to be independent was to not need anyone. But she’s taught me that the more vulnerable you are, and the softer you are, and the more you allow people into your life and into your heart, the happier you are and the more valuable you are to other people. Ellen has completely changed the way I look at life. She’s made me not worry about what other people think — I mean, I’m still working on that, I have to be honest. But she’s taught me that who I am is perfectly good enough. And that I don’t have to pretend to be anything other than who I am. And that’s been the most incredible gift that she’s given me. That anyone could give to anybody that they love.”

Ellen on Portia: “She saves me every minute of the day and I don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s so amazing in every way. If i had to pick one thing that’s the best about her is that she’s so loving. She’s just the most loving kind generous person to everyone. She’s sweet, she treats everyone in a very kind way and that’s the best thing about Portia.”

Fun Facts: Part 2

1. During WWII, Americans tried to train bats to drop bomb.

2. Elizabeth I of England suffered from anthophobia, a fear of roses.

3. Alexander the Great was an epileptic.

4. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. (Funny.)

5. M & M's were developed so that soldiers could eat candy without getting their fingers sticky.

6. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne, and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

7. First novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

8. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

9. Cleopatra's last name was Ptolemy, and she was Greek rather than Egyptian.

10. Cleopatra used pomegranate seeds for lipstick.

A Cry for Help

Bullying has been pretty rampant these days. Well, it happens everywhere, left and right. We always see teenagers poking and beating one schoolmate because his weird or just plain 'different' or we see girls making up disgusting and embarrassing names to another girl they dislike. Some of say it's JUST normal and it's part of growing up. Just. That's the problem. C'mon! Wake up, people. Bullying is somehow connected to the word suicide. Bullying has already brought some serious and heartbreaking damages to people around the globe, particularly teenagers who are just starting to witness and feel life's amazing gifts and blessings. They still have a lot of life to live, a lot of jaw-dropping sights to see, a lot of "I love you" 's to hear, and loads of laughter to share. But thanks to the word bully, lives were shattered and dreams were ripped into pieces. There is so much evil in the world, it makes me want to cry. People have gone mad and they're completely out of control. Yes, there's still hope for those people who destroy lives because they know the word, 'forgiveness'. But the damage has been done, and there's no way, no way at all, to put things back the way they used to be. Sladjana and Eric are JUST 2 of the many young adults who were seriously affected of bullying and so took matters into their own hands:

1. Sladjana Vidovic, a 16 year old Croatian native, killed herself because of constant bullying. she had tied one end of a rope around her neck and the other around a bed post before jumping out her bedroom window.


2. Eric Mohat shot himself on March 29, 2007 beacuse of deppression. He was picked on most of the time JUST because he loves to wear pink. Seriously?!

Hopefully this grievous issue ends soon.

The Crazy Little thing called Love

"Love is about grand gestures. Love is about airplanes pulling banners over stadiums, proposals on jumbo-trons, giant words in skywriting. Love is about going that extra mile even if it hurts, letting it all hang out there. Love is about finding courage inside of you that you didn't even know was there..."

-Little Manhattan




Love is. I believe there is no perfect definition of the word love. No words can explain what it really means. That's because love is everything. Love is both good and bad. Love makes us stupid and makes us do crazy and unimaginable things. Love is making ourselves happy. Love can make us see and discover the other side of us. It can put a smile on our face even if things are way out of control. But one thing is for sure, when love sweeps you off your feet, things would never be the same again.

Seasons of Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

It's just life. Just live it.

Goodbye, E-mail

Goodbye, electronic mail. Say hello to bottle-mail! It would be remarkable to receive a reply, an actual reply, from someone in another side of the world who will receive your 'message in a bottle'. It would be a dream come true, a gift, a blessing. It's like a dramatic scene from Nicholas Spark's best-selling novel of the same title, Message In A Bottle. It creates friendship and it forms an everlasting bond between two human beings. Most of us would just laugh about it thinking of the impossibilities but hey, it happened and can still happen again. Here below is an article sharing how a high school student had his 'dream come true':

Message in a Bottle Survives Epic Journey

Last year, a high school student named Corey Swearingen put a letter in a bottle, sealed it up, and dropped it in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Florida coast. It was kind of an experiment for school. In the letter, he appealed to whomever came across the bottle to contact him and let him know where in the world it showed up. Amazingly, someone did.

About 16 months after the bottle was dropped, Swearingen's marine science teacher heard from someone in Ireland. The letter had made its way across the Atlantic Ocean and washed up on the shores of the Emerald Isle, found by a 17-year-old and his Dad while out for a stroll. In an interview with Florida Today, Swearingen said he never expected the message to be found.

Can't blame him for pessimism. After all, the wine bottle, which, according to Swearingen, is being put up on display in an Irish pub, did face long odds. But it's hardly the first message in a bottle to survive a perilous journey.

In 2009, a message in a bottle washed up on the shores of England. It had been tossed into the waters near the Bahamas nearly five years previous. Incredible, but that pales in comparison to a bottle sent by Emily Hwang. True, Hwang's bottle traveled "only" 1,735 miles from Seattle to Alaska, but it took an amazing 21 years to do so.

There's even a case of a message in a bottle helping a family find a new life. In 1979, Dorothy and John Henry Peckham dropped a message in a bottle in the Pacific Ocean while on a cruise. Amazingly, the bottle found its way to Southeast Asia where it was picked up by 31-year-old Hoa Van Nguyen.

Nguyen wrote back and began a correspondence that eventually led to the Peckhams helping to sponsor Nguyen and his family's immigration to the United States.

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Impressive, right?

Sigh..

Oh, boy. That's all I can muster to say. This week is going to be pretty hectic and strenuous. We have to memorize our chosen soliloquy and talumpati in front of the whole class. Did I mention we have to wear a costume?! I hate costumes. That's it. It's going to be a hell of a week. To add up to the labor, we also need to finish loads of projects. And lastly, to spicy up things a bit more, mastery tests are piling up - on the same day. Can you imagine?! Next week ought to be a lot better.I need some relief..

High on Krua Thai

Illongos love to eat. Oh yeah, they do. Any type of cuisine would suit them, may it be Japanese, Chinese, American, European, etc. just as long as they get their stomachs full. I particularly agree on that one. I believe Filipinos aren't that choosy and picky when it comes to food. A proof would be eating BALUT. Okay, it doesn't sound that inviting but it's good! I like it, except for the black part which I think is the baby chick. Anyway, going back to our topic. A flavor of Iloilo which I'm entirely proud of is Thai cuisine. Thailand is famous for its spicy and tasty food. From the variety of curry beef, chicken and pork to the spicy soups and dishes made of seafoods and other meat and especially their very own fried rice captured my heart, or taste buds rather. It's one of my family's favorite restaurants. Usually, when we go out for dinner during weekends, we make sure we eat at Krua Thai (in Smallville). But the real and true reason why I like to go there is because of their famous and unique dessert, Sticky Rice with Mango. (I just ate it yesterday!)It's sticky rice with 'gata' and chocolate syrup on top of it with slices of mango on the side. It tastes heavenly. I can eat it when I'm in a bad mood because it erases all my worries away. I love how the rice tastes really sticky and how it blends with the sweetness of the 'gata' and syrup makes it even more sumptuous. I totally recommend this restaurant to those who want to chill and enjoy the evening with a whole new taste.

Live. Love. Let Go.

Charlie St. Cloud is a young man overcome by grief at the death of his younger brother. He was devastated of the thought that he was alive and his brother, Sam was the one who lost his life because of his reckless driving. He recounts the promise he made to Sam before the accident: he would practice baseball with him everyday before he leaves. Charlie afterward takes a job as caretaker of the cemetery in which his brother is buried. Charlie has a special lasting bond with his brother though, as he can see him. Charlie meets up with his brother each night to play catch and talk. Then, a girl comes into Charlie's life and he must choose between keeping a promise he made to Sam, or going after the girl he loves. He is torn between his little brother or the life he wants to live.

Life is for living. We love to live. Letting go is part of it.

Fun Facts: Part 1

Did You Know?

HISTORY

1. It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shake and the 46th word from the last word is spear.

2. The Roman emperor Caligula made his horse a senator.

3. Alaska was the only part of the United States that was invaded by the Japanese during WWII. The territory was the island of Adak in the Aleutian Chain.

4. Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain smoked forty cigars a day for the last years of his life.(WOAH.)
* Mark Twain is the author of the two great classic stories, 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.

5. The earliest document in Latin in a woman's handwriting (it is from the first century A.D.) is an invitation to a birthday party.

The Odyssey

This classic saga by Homer is set in ancient Greece where it relates the adventures of King Odysseus of Ithaca. On the day his son is born to faithful wife Penelope , Odysseus is commanded by the goddess Athena to leave his home and travel to battle the Trojans. Little does he realize that this is the beginning of a 20-year sojourn where Odysseus conquers many grave perils as he finds his way home from being lost at sea. Additional trials include sea monsters, the Cyclops, the Kingdom of the Dead, enchantress Circe, and getting shipwrecked on the isle of Calypso, who wants to keep him around. All the while, Odysseus' dedicated wife, Penelope, is fo... read more rced to hold off suitors trying to claim his property in the thought that Odysseus has died. As a good story is suppose to end in a happy manner, Odysseus was able to go home to his beloved family. He realizes there's no place like home.

Oh, Tuesday

Okay, Tuesdays are really bad days for me. The moment I open my eyes every Tuesday morning, I feel quite awful. Yup, really. Today was a bummer. I'll mention the reasons why it's a crappy day today:

1. I overslept. I woke up at around 5:45 already. Great.

2. I don't feel well. My throat is throbbing. I'm close to coughing. Awesome.

3. Burdensome projects-soliloquy, book report, and talumpati. Brilliant.

4. I forgot my tumbler at school. Aww, my favorite and super duper cute tumbler! Terrific.

5. I failed the practical test in Computer. My mind was totally blank and empty. Perfect.

I'm enthusiastically looking forward for Wednesday to come.

I Hear

"I HEAR"

by: Lou Valerie Lavilla
(project in CAE)

Whenever I hear a sigh,
I hope it isn't goodbye.

Whenever I hear a whisper,
I would try to understand or decipher.

Whenever I hear a hum,
I would remember music is so much fun.

Whenever I hear a swish in the wind,
it would remind me of summertime breeze.

Whenever I hear a sizzle in fire,
it would remind me of love's great desire.

Whenever I hear a little goat bleat,
I would be tempted to flee;
to go away from my problems, my fears

But whenever I hear a little bird cheep,
it would remind me I still have a lot of life to live.

Batchoy

An hour ago, my family and I were roaming around Gaisano Mall searching for a restauant to dine in. Suddenly, I blurted "how about Deco's? It's been long sice we've eaten there". Good thing they immediately agreed, or else we could've spent 20 minutes arguing. We ordered, we waited and we chatted for a while. When the waitress was placing our food on the table, I noticed something. I was dumbfounded at how fast she was doing it. I was like "is she on a race or something?" or "is something or someone chasing after her?" I kept on wondering and I can't get it off my mind because I observed that the other waiters were acting perfectly normal. The confusement probably seemed obvious because the manager was about to approach us. Maybe the 'puzzled look' was tattoed on my face! Okaaaaaay, so I was actually staring. Not in a bad way of course. I felt my heart beating faster as the manger came closer. Only when he started facing my Mom did I realize that I was not the only one who recognized what happened. He started babbling and explaining, but not even a single word entered my head. I turned and faced the waitress wiping a table on the other side. Now I understood why she was acting that way. She is deaf and at the same time mute. I really felt sorry for her. She is a pretty woman and by just looking at her I can assume she is a very kind and likeable person. The pity I felt within me was beyond words. I wasn't able to speak afterwards.

3 things I learned tonight:
1. I am very lucky. I'm blessed to have all six senses. I should use it for the good of all.
2. As I was staring at that woman working very hard and giving her best efforts in her duties, one thing very significant crossed my mind. She proved to everybody that being deaf and mute is not a hindrance or a barrier to explore life's oppurtunities and gifts. She was not ashamed to show who she is. She didn't lie low, instead she faced the whole world with hope and with a smile :)
3. Even people who have defects or 'special gifts' have a life, and they LIVE it.

Just The Way You Are

"When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are..."

The lyrics of this song is from Bruno Mars's latest single, Just The Way You Are. These lines tell a lot about who we are as individuals. It's telling us to be happy and to stay true to ourselves. In this world we are living right now, one thing we will always have is our love and respect for ourselves. No matter how many trophes we bring home or how many bombs we dodge, our appreciation and admiration for who we are will forever stand by us. Everything, I mean just about everything, will just satrt to fall in place after we learn to accept ouselves-including our weaknesses and downfalls. We don't need to be somebody else. Who cares if Ilook like this, like that? After all, it's the interior or the inside that matters. It's the one that truly shines. It's the one that defines the word beauty.

Bring It.

Bring It. That was what Seattle Storm, my favorite WNBA basketball team, stands up for. This week has been pretty hectic. With all the pressure and excitement overflowing-not only on the players, but on avid fans as well including me. A certain team would immediately become champion once it wins 3 games. It wasn't easy, especially to compete with another strong team, the Atlanta Dream. Game 1 and 2 took place at Seattle's home court in Washington. The Storm had their 'home court advantage' as they put it, meaning they had the full support of their fans, so they were able to lead the series 2-0. Then we proceed to Game 3. Whew. The game transferred to Atlanta, so I was kind of uneasy and apprehensive. Usually, the team which has the home court advantage wins. But tonight proved it totally wrong. Lauren Jackson, together with the Storm of course, was able to bring home the bacon. The game was intense because both teams were very good and fiercely competitive. To win this means the whole world to them. They worked hard for this and they have reached this far-because they're a TEAM. That's all that matters. Taking the trophe would just be a major,major bonus.

Impatience

I'm very impatient. I admit it but I hate it. I despise it. I dislike it. I abore it. I curse it. It kills me. Maybe it's because of the environment. The world needs me. It needs my hands to take care of it. It needs my love and my care. I should act now before it's too late. I don't want the world to shatter. It is getting more and more impatient every day. It needs help NOW!

An Ideal Woman

During our CLE class a while ago, we witnessed the life of a young and ordinary - yet special- girl named Maria Goretti. She lived an imperfect life, just like all of us. But through all her troubles and breakdowns, she never failed to look up to God for prayer and to seek the brighter side of everything. One can call her the 'ideal' woman-a perfect example of someone who values her virginity or in other words she valued herself, being a woman. She respects herself, whoever she may be, and everyone in clodse ties with her and her family. She has great compassion for everybody, even the person who was responsible for her death. She forgave him before she died and even said that she would take him to heaven with her. See? How nice to hear something like this from a 12 year old. This teaches us to possess a forgiving and compassionate heart. Yes, forgiveness is a process. But everything in this world isn't permanent. Everything will pass. So before it's too late, we should think about forgiving those who have hurt us because first and foremost we are all imperfect. We do make mistakes, but we also do learn from them. Saint Maria Goretti is the patron saint of young women, purity and forgiveness. Here are som pictures from her canonization in 1950:

Crossing Over

I'm going to share the Shakespearean quote I chose to share to class tomorrow:

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts." - As You Like It

Basically, this quote tells about life's true meaning. The world is like a stage where the play (our lives) occurs. All of us are the characters and we play the game of life. We have our beginnings and endings, breakdowns and breakthroughs, we live and we die. Just one blink, and anything can happen. A play can either be a tragedy, comedy, or whatever. Our lives are full of relentless drama, full of emotions in other words. A person can choose his own path and direction. Where he would decide to go is his choice. Choices. We can choose to be a good person (the hero of the play) or we can lead a dark and shaky life by becoming the evil one (the villain). We have different characteristics. At first we were cute little babies then the next moment we forget everything brought about by old age. But that's how life really is. We begin. We live. We end.

Tour It With Me

Last Saturday, Reine and I had an adventurous escapade. After she finished her Spanish class, we met up at McDonald's Atrium to discuss our Journalism project which is to take pictures of anything we see that violates the proper English grammar/vocabulary. We set off on our mission excitedly with beaming smiles. Never did it cross our mind how tiring and time-consuming it would be. Not to mention how scorching hot it was! Because we were very eager to get it over with, we didn't have time to be embarrassed or bothered by all the stares and snickers following us. Eventually, we managed to survive amidst all those distractions. Yey! But eventhough we had our troubles and complaints, we also felt the glorious feeling of accomplishment, relief and fulfillment. AND, we had a great laugh too! People are so careless yet funny sometimes.

My Number One Fan

Today's Sunday and I went to church with my family this morning. The gospel was about the Prodigal Son/Lost Son. This story is not new to me so I paid less attention to the priest. But I clearly remeber one significant thing he said about fathers. He said:

"Your father is someone you'll look up to no matter how tall you've grown."

One day we would realize that no matter how much we've changed or how big or rich we've become, our lives and all the success and failures that goes along with it are shaped by the sacrifices and love our fathers (and mothers, too!) have showered upon us. Now I understand why a father finds it hard to let his 'baby girl' go.

I love you, Dad and I'm very blessed you are mine :)

Move over, Ice Cream. Fro-Yo's back!

I absolutely love Frozen Yogurt. Whatever flavor it may be, with toppings or without. Period. Last summer, when we went to Manila to visit my dad, I made sure I got a piece, a scoop or just even a smell of Fro-Yo. If there was one place memorable to me in Manila, it would be the Fro-Yo shops. At that time, there was still no franchising business of it here in Iloilo. But surprise, surprise! I just ate my beloved fro-yo 4 hours ago. Ha! Unbelievable. I was just about to go home when suddenly I stopped to look at something smiling at me. Well, I felt it was inviting me in. Weird, I know. Ha ha. I was just so shocked to see that, ah at last, someone was selling it here in Iloilo too. So, no worries. My long, devastating days are finally OVER.

Okay, so to give you more background about Frozen Yogurt, or "Fro-Yo", here are some fast facts of the Yogurt Craze which gives Ice Cream, its closest competition, a run for its money:

• Aside from its heavenly taste, its actually very nutritious. So better watch out Ice Cream!
• Helps to overcome lactose intolerance
• Aids digestion of milk protein
• Helps prevent and combat digestive tract infections
• The possibility that yogurt can help boost the immune system
• An indication that yogurt may be useful in lowering serum cholesterol
• Yogurt's potential in the prevention and management of certain cancers

In addition, yogurt is a good source of…
• Protein
• Calcium
• Potassium
• The vitamins B12 and Riboflavin

This begins a whole new war - Ice Cream vs. Frozen Yogurt. Which side are you on?

It Runs in the Family

Have you heard about Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh's unique and eccentric family tree? I haven't either, until I saw this article about him in Reader's Digest while I was scanning through looking for something to read. Be prepared for what's in his family tree:

Vincent's dizzy aunt - Verti Gogh
His brother who ate prunes - Gotta Gogh
His grandfather from Yugoslavia - U Gogh
His magician uncle - Where-diddy Gogh
His Mexican cousin - Ah Mee Gogh
His constipated uncle - Can't Gogh
His ballroom dancing aunt - Tang Gogh
His bird-loving uncle - Flamin' Gogh
His fruit-loving cousin - Man Gogh
His litlle bouncy nephew - Poe Gogh
And his sidter who loved disco - Go Gogh
His aunt who taught positive thinking - Way-to-Gogh
His nephew who drove a stagecoach - Wells-far Gogh
His Mexican cousin's American half-brother - Gring Gogh
His brother who worked at a convenience store - Stop 'n' Gogh

Latte, anyone?

Seriously?!

A certain tv show becomes a hit when you know it begins to leave a mark. Oh wait, scratch that. A McMark rather.

Seriously, I never thought I'd be hooked and addicted (ugh. I hate to say the word!) to a TV series like this-a medical show I used to think was boring and a complete waste of time. But, guess what? I'm wrong! Grey's Anatomy IS one of my favorite shows or probably is my ONLY one because firstly, I don't watch TV shows that much and second, I'm not really the sort of person who goes all crazy when I miss an episode of Glee or Agua Bendita. But when it comes to Grey's, I just don't know :D All thanks to Mocca :)

One reason why I certainly adore this show is because I share the same passion with the characters which is medicine. I'm dreaming of becoming a doctor when I grow up so watching them perform such tasks perks up my interest. Aside from the fact that it's an easy-to-like show because of its wittiness and sexiness, their catch-phrases also catch my attention. This was called the "McLabeling trend".

First in the list would be Derek Shepherd, who is popularly known as "McDreamy". This title couldn't get any better because he really is a heartthrob. Any girl would surely be smitten just by staring at those dreamy eyes. We also have Dr. Mark Sloan or "McSteamy" (Don't ask me why), McVet, McHot, McVomit, McDog and many more.

Another famous legacy of Grey's would be "Seriously." This makes the questions and statements made by the actors more emphatetic and funny. Because the characters often overuse this word, viewers and avid fans made this a part of their vocabulary. Seriously, I'm no exemption.

The Puppet Way

Let's all be realistic. We are all living and breathing in this real world with real things around us. So, basically what's the point of pretending, faking or even manipulating and controlling if we can express our sentiments in our own way? Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try or use whole new and different alternatives. In our world right now, there are thousands of ways on how we can show or express what we feel inside - through writing, singing, dancing...and 'puppeting'. Yep, we call it The Puppet Way...

Yesterday, August 26, was an ordinary and normal day - following the usual routine in other words.. Nothing special, just a day in the life of a typical 3rd year high school student like me..until I witnessed the extraordinary and eccentric puppet show of the Tali Galaw group which was truly one of a kind. Tali Galaw, established in 1995, is the first and only Filipino marionette group conducting regular performances to promote and professionalize the art of marionette puppetry in the country. Everyone, I believe, was in awe the same way as I was because it was a creative and highly entertaining show. Plus, it's also worth noting that its plays promote Philippine history, culture, folktale, good moral values and environmental awareness. See? Creativity of a human being to showcase his own talent in a unique way mixed with manipulating and controlling isn't so bad after all - just as long as we use it in the right way.

Food Frenzy

Man vs. Food

Premieres twice a week in Discovery:
Travel and Living

I LOVE anything that has to do with food - cooking, baking, etc. My fondness for these is so great I can stay at home, position myself in front of the T.V and watch cooking shows. I've no idea why, but I just feel passion and contentment flow over me whenever I do the things I love. I'm definitely sure you agree with me on this one :)

Anyway, one (if not the best!) of the most entertaining and unique food/cooking shows here on planet earth, and also one of my favorites, is Man vs. Food. It is being hosted by Adam Richman, an actor and food enthusiast. In each episode, Adam travels and explores the "big food" of different American cities and then enters eating contests at a local restaurant. He gives us inside scoops to the best restaurants he visits before continuing on to his challenge which is basically the point of the show. He tries to take on the biggest and most outrageous food in a given time to wrap up each episode.

Mixing natural witiness and effortless humor together with his undeniable cuteness and charm totally makes the show a perfect idea for someone who wants to be relieved of stress and just relax. He never fails to put a smile on my face. Plus, who could ever resist watching irresistible and mouth-watering cuisines? Make sure you bring your own food while watching this one. It'll make you totally hungry.