A Phenomenon that is Michael Jackson

If there is one event in this lifetime that I regret not going to, it is Michael Jackson's 1996 History World Tour HERE in Manila. The King of Pop was here and I let it slip away. What was I thinking and where the hell was I? Hmmm...

I am not proud to say that it is only now that I got to appreciate Michael Jackson and his extraordinary talent -- except ofcourse for the "rumors" about his "behavior" which I still find hard to accept. It is better late than never. Thanks to his Ultimate Collection DVD that I watch *almost* every night ever since I bought it about a month ago. He is so good - watching him makes me think he is from another planet. I have never seen or heard or known of anyone famous who can do what he has done. He has the best dance moves ever, a powerful and distinctive voice, the best production ideas as evidenced by his music videos, concerts, and live performances, and he is a great songwriter, too. He is THE total performer! I wish he'd do a comeback. I read somewhere that he is planning on doing a show in Vegas. I wonder if it's true...

A Wonderful Surprise!

A few hours after I posted my previous blog entry, I had the biggest surprise of the day. Look what I found in the house:

Someone just gave me a new Nokia E61i! Of course, he is someone special to me. The truth is he promised to get me a new phone of my choice but I never thought that today is that day. I actually even wondered if he brought the box of his new phone and then I took a closer look and saw that it's a Nokia with the model I want. So, it has to be MINE! He could have placed a ribbon with a card or wrapped it or something. (Now I'm being an ingrate bitch! hahaha). After charging the phone for a while, we went to Baang Coffee to give it a WiFi test...and it worked! I love it! It even has a message reader for when you're driving or doing something else and you don't want to scroll your phone. It's useful if the messages are not in "text shortcuts" because the message reader cannot read text shortcuts. Yeah, yeah it looks like a scientific calculator but I don't care. I just love it.

Now, I'm really confused...

For days, I've been having a hard time choosing which phone/PDA to get and the choice went down to two: Prada phone by LG and Samsung i600. Joy has a Samsung i600 and we noticed that the voice quality of its phone function is below average so I'll have to scratch that off from my list. Now, I think I'm liking Nokia E61i more based on the reviews.

photo courtesy of GSM Arena

I'm really confused. Should I get this or should I wait? I'm not so sure though if I can wait any longer because I'm just so tired of my Razr already, just looking at it depresses me.

Happiness

Wikipedia defines happiness as an emotional or affective state that is characterized by feelings of enjoyment, pleasure, and satisfaction.

It's my ultimate dream to experience constant happiness (which is abnormal, if you ask me). But who doesn't want to be constantly happy? However, we are not born to live our lives in pure bliss. As they say, in order to be truly happy, you must have been in deep misery at one point in your life. You wouldn't know how happiness truly feels without experiencing sorrow.

There is nothing more delightful than knowing that there are people who are genuinely happy for other people. It adds joy. And it can never be faked. To quote Pierre,

"There's some people which helping being happy gets me happier. This could be called caring. They also seem to experience the same effect with some other people, so there are kind of circles of people, where I care more and more about their happiness, peaking at myself. But at the end of the day, my happiness wins."

The other night, I receive a phone call from a good friend of mine. She told me the good news that she and her son has just been granted an H-4 US visa. Was I happy for her! I know that she has been waiting for it for a very long time and finally her prayers were answered. I really felt for her because like me, she knows what it's like to be rejected...not only once. And now, she made it WITH her son! It's just the sweetest! We were laughing the whole time on the phone and at that moment I knew how happier she must have felt that someone else is also happy for her.

Find joy in the simplest things and see beauty in each person you meet. They say that contentment is the key to happiness. I say that the secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have and being able to lose all desires for things beyond your reach.

Am I happy? My answer is yes -- because I know what it's like to be in a puddle of mud and I'm glad I am where I am today. I am happy because I choose to be happy.

Choices

We make choices everyday -- with the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the places to go to, etcetera, etcetera.

Right now, I am faced in a situation where I have to make a tough choice. I'm presently scouting for a new cellphone and I'm choosing between:

The Prada phone by LG

Samsung Blackjack

I'm in no hurry though. (I'm actually waiting for the Prada phone to be available in the market. haha.)

What do you think is the better choice?

I Could Be The One

Have you ever experienced hearing a popular old song you once liked being played and spent hours and days trying to recall the title of the song...so you can download and listen to it again? I just did! The succeeding days after our visit to S&R where I heard the song were torture to me. Thanks to Bex and Jen for telling me!

I Could Be The One

by Donna Lewis

I could be your sea of sand
I could be your warmth of desire
I could be your prayer of hope
I could be your gift of everyday

I could be your tide of heaven
I could be a hint of what's to come
I could be ordinary
I could be the one

I could be your blue eyed angel
I could be the storm before the calm
I could be your secret pleasure
I could be your well wishing well
I could be your breath of life
I could be your European dream
I could be ordinary
I could be the one

I would lie here in the darkness
I would lie here for all time
I would lie here watching you over
Comfort you
Sing to you

I could be your worry partner
I could be your socialite
I could be your green eyed monster
I could be your force of light
I could be your temple garden
I could be your tender hearted child
I could be ordinary
I could be the one

I would lie here in the darkness
I would lie here for all time
I would lie here watching you over
Comfort you
Sing to you

Will i ever change the journey
Will the hushed tones disappear
Oh little Rita
Let me hold you
Oh little Rita
Let me love you

I could be your leafy island
I could be your thunder in the clouds
I could be your dark enclosure
I could be your romantic soul
I could be your small beginning
I could be your soothing universe
I could be ordinary
I could be the one

I could be ordinary
I could be the one

I could be ordinary
I could be the one

Travels...

With all the promos being offered by most airlines, be it at cheapest airfares or tempting travel packages at selected destinations, almost everyone can now afford to travel. It would be such a shame if you have not grabbed these opportunities, especially if you can afford it. I have spent countless times calling and inquiring online but have not booked myself yet. Shame on me. I have a lot of things to consider. Topping the list is the schedule. These promos are constrained to specific travel dates and considering my job, I cannot afford to leave anytime I please. I just spent two weeks of my vacation leave from my recent trip. I even had to decline a free US trip scheduled a month after I arrived. Tsk!

If you're from the Philippines, check out the ongoing promos offered by:

Philippine Airlines

Air Philippines

Cebu Pacific

Among the three, I have flown thru PAL and AirPhil, and I can vouch for their services. I prefer them because they have a separate terminal - it's so convenient. I have not tried Cebu Pacific yet.

So far, the only places I've traveled to are Hongkong, Singapore, and USA. I'd love to visit Shanghai, Beijing, Vietnam, and Thailand next time...hopefully at least one of these places within the year. In the meantime, I think I should explore more of the Philippines; the farthest I've been to is Aklan (Boracay). I want to go to Cebu or Davao next time. Anyone willing to give a trip for free?

PC Games

I've never been as hooked to PC games as I am right now. I play whenever I get the chance to. Some of the games I play alternately are:

• Bejeweled
• Bookworm
• Text Twist
• Magic Vines
• The Sims
• Diner Dash
• Insaniquarium
• Charm Solitaire

What games do you play?

Harry Potter

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - the movie

Finally, the long wait is over! It is NOW SHOWING in theatres worldwide. I can't wait to watch it. When we watched the Transformers two weeks ago at Gateway, we learned that tickets to Harry Potter were already being sold! As fickle as we are, we didn't buy tickets yet. It's better to be sure. I hope I'd be able to watch it before the week ends.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Book 7

For months, I've seen ads and promos about the on-going reservations for this book in all major bookstores nationwide, even online. I was not one of those who ordered and shamefully I am telling you now that I have yet to finish Book 3! :D I have a lot of catching up to do. So I guess by now, you understand my drift. =p

Being 30.

I got this from my Vox account. Posted last January 27, 2007 at 3:44 PM.

Rawr. I can’t believe I am t-h-i-r-t-y! Who cares? Everybody! Hahaha! It’s a big deal to everyone like it’s a leprosy or something, I swear. It sometimes stresses me out and makes me wish I were a boy or a lesbo!=p But then again, age is just a number. Tee hee! Life goes on…

30 Things About Me:

1. I am way too complex.

2. I have six dogs but my aunt takes care of them. I’m really not the playful type to dogs. I just love looking at them.

3. I have an OC behavior when it comes to my bed. I always make sure the sheets are neatly straightened and tucked in EVERYTIME.

4. I always have an obsession phase. If I get to like to read now, I’ll read for a week or two; if it’s DVD, I’m glued to the TV. Don’t get me started with shopping…

5. I judge a person by his shoes.

6. I love kids. They love me, too! =S

7. I pray The Lord’s Prayer everytime I pass by a funeral or a wake.

8. I will never be at my goal weight…if I’m with the Dyna-saurs. HAHAHA

9. I would love to have twins someday.

10. I’ve never cooked a real meal. But that doesn’t mean I can’t. :D

11. I hate beer but love cocktails.

12. I keep receipts for a long period of time. I used to have shoeboxes full but threw them away already so now I’m starting again…

13. I’m not fond of chocolates and sweets.

14. I love giving codenames to people.

15. I still write to my diary. I have kept all my diaries since college.

16. If I don’t have my present job, I’d probably be working at Starbucks or at my own coffee shop. I’d love to get my hands on that espresso machine!

17. I wish on railroads while holding something blue. Thanks to my college friends, I can’t get it out of my system!

18. I think that the perfect combination ever discovered is coffee and cigarettes.

19. The bag I bring everyday to work weighs a ton but I’m not complaining, it’s the people around me who do. =p

20. I cannot pack light.

21. Because of Grey’s Anatomy, I seriously considered wearing a scrub suit, to bed, at least.

22. I’m always making all kinds of faces – normal or odd. I’m very expressive like that.

23. I was a huge fan of “Parker Lewis”.

24. I love big watches.

25. I cry easily and it really takes a while to make me stop. Sheesh.

26. As a young girl, I was so afraid of my father I panic just hearing his voice. Now, I’m a daddy’s girl. ;-)

27. I have a younger brother. He is gay. =S

28. I cannot swim.

29. I can stay for hours in the bathroom.

30. I keep track of every single thing a person has done me wrong and I pray profusely for that person to realize it. God is good!

Red Kimono

The first time I ate at Red Kimono was sometime last December and I almost had to crawl over on my way out. No exaggeration. They offer order-all-you-can-eat concept at P485++ meaning they serve the food right to your table. What more can you ask for? If you love Japanese food buffet, this is the place for you.

Last Saturday, I had lunch here with Bexie (again!), Lexie and Ranel. We feasted on all the items we ordered (except for Ranel who until now is in shock!). I can't remember how many times the waiter had to remind us that they are closing at 3pm. It's embarassing I know but we just can't help it. They had to wait. These are some of the items we ordered (including second orders). Hahaha!:

The following day, we realized that we forgot to get the free ice cream. And now I still crave for their california crunch. It's that delicious!

Ysabella and her chicken

I guess almost everyone in the Philippines and TFC subscribers all over the world are familiar with Ysabella, the new soap opera of ABS-CBN starring Judy Ann Santos.

After watching the pilot episode, I craved for chicken inasal . The next day, I found out that my long lost twins also watched the pilot and craved for it, too! And what better way to satisfy our cravings but to eat!

Bexie and I *excitedly* went to Bacolod Chicken Inasal for our chicken inasal fix. We were surprised to see that they now offer Ysabella's chicken as posted above. Nothing fancy, though. I still prefer inasal. Anyhow, we went home happy and we even got a souvenir! Hah!

Last Friday, I had the original chicken inasal from JT's Manukan (owned by Joel Torre) as pictured above. This is better, I must say! It's not so appetizing in the picture but once you've tasted it, it's definitely worth the trip and the wait.

AJ, the Spiderman

Last June 20th, my 12 year old cousin, AJ was rushed to the emergency room of Lourdes Hospital by his teachers. He broke his wristbones and yes, it happened in school. By broke, I mean broke. It wasn't just a fracture. He underwent two major surgeries. He had the first surgery the day after he was confined. We spent 5 days in the hospital and don't get me started with the bills! I would have my very own MacBook by now... but that's a different story. After his first surgery, we were told by his doctor that he must undergo a second surgery for the surgical closing after a week. And so he did.

Apparently, Aj was doing a "Spiderman" stunt over the fourth step of the stairs in their school despite numerous attempts to warn him from doing so by his classmates. And because he IS Spiderman, he jumped! I can just imagine the way he did his stunt. We are all now laughing about it.

I took this photo as I was riding the taxi on my way home.

He now goes to school but goes to his doctor every other day for check up.

Special thanks to Dr. Sanchez for all the help he has given and to all those who prayed for him. We can't thank you enough!