Subject of my reverie

Who would ever forget the line, “You are too generous to trifle with me… My affections and wishes are unchanged ; but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever”?

all-time favorite male literary character

Making a difference

Enrich your vocabulary; Be it English, Spanish, German and Italian

Practice your knowledge of English grammar

Familiarise yourself with world geography and capitals

Be an art connoisseur by identifying the masters behind the most famous works of art

Become a math genius

You can play all these games while helping the world address the problem of hunger.

Too good to be true?

Check out www.freerice.com.

For every correct answer you make, international sponsors donate 20 grains of rice to impoverished communities.

Christmas wish

*Last night I took a walk in the snow
Couples holding hands, places to go
Seems like everyone but me is in love
Santa, can you hear me?

I signed my letter that I sealed with a kiss
I sent it off
It just said this;
I know exactly what I want this year
Santa can you hear me?
I want my baby
I want someone to love me someone to hold me.
Maybe, he’ll be all my own in a big red bow
Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year and all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is near
He’s all I want just for me underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year!

Christmas Eve I just can’t sleep
Would I be wrong for taking a peek?
Cause I heard that your coming to town
Santa can you hear me?
Really hope that you’re on your way
With something special for me in your sleigh
Please make my wish come true
Santa can you hear me?

I want my baby
I want someone to love me
Someone to hold me
Maybe we’ll be all the love under the mistletoe
Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is near

He’s all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year
I hope my letter reaches you in time
Can’t be alone under the mistletoe
He’s all I want with a big red bow

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all i want is one thing
Tell me my true love is near
He’s all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year
Oh Santa can you hear me?
Well he’s all I want just for me underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa, he’s my only wish this year

Santa, he’s my only wish this year! =D

(*Lyrics of ‘My only wish this year’)

Countdown

It’s 50 something days before December 24 – been a long time since I looked forward to this date.

On the eve of Christmas, we’ll be on our first ever family trip abroad. I know it’s going to cost us a lot but we’ve already planned this out for several months. Here are the places I am looking forward to visit in December:

1. Christmas at Orchard Road

2. Sentosa via cable car at Mt Faber

3. Sentosa’s Palawan beach

4. Singapore Art Museum

5. NUS Museum

With the 12-day trip, I hope to explore other territories beyond Singapore.

1. Melaka, Malaysia

2. Batam, Indonesia (hopefully.. =P)

Out of line

* I just wasn’t able to control my emotions that time when I had to find a way to pour it out. At last, I’m feeling way way better now.

_____________________________

I must admit I didn’t grow up with harsh people around. Since I was a child, I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded with considerate peers and from time to time experience being pampered or get a teeny bit of special treatment once in a while. Despite that, I know I have been handling valid criticisms quite well. Charge it to experience – from encounters with ‘notorious’ professors during college days, numerous dealings with difficult media sources to bizarre interactions with different nationalities (I don’t want to cite one) and a lot more.

What I’ve learned from such experiences have all been useless nowadays. I hate myself for being affected by some people who act like they know everything – those who act so kind and concerned but stab me from behind or even those who want to assert their authority too much making me wonder if they really deserve what they’ve got. I hate people who grab attention by showing off.

I know myself. Most of the time I wouldn’t care much about my surroundings especially when these are just petty stuffs and people are just making a big deal out of it. I wouldn’t care if someone’s such a big shot VIP of some sort. (I’ve met VIPs of VIPs, so what..) I don’t like to talk too much and brag about what I’ve got and achieved in my almost 25 years of existence. I’ve caught people’s attention and received praises and criticisms from people who aren’t just ‘ordinary’ ones. But I don’t value myself highly just because of that.

I’ve appreciated criticisms. But these days I’ve been encountering humiliating approaches based on nothing but self-serving motives. I can’t stand such nonsensical styles.

You know what, if you are really dying to grab attention, better jump off a building. I assure you, you’ll get everyone’s.

Credit crunch-induced thoughts

Working for a bank – an international bank – I couldn’t help but feel paranoid about the global financial crisis or how large to an extent this would affect the business. Not that we are feeling the impact of the credit crunch already or sensing that the company is not in good shape. Thank God we still remain resilient amid continuous reports of other bank’s bankruptcies and mergers and government interventions through increasing their stakes in these banks. I am just thankful now that the company I’ve chosen to work for has been weathering the storm quite well. That’s why my plans of seeking greener pastures have been set aside for a while. Never mind the loads of projects. Never mind the reasonable length of overtime but paid work. I am just thankful that right now I’ve still got something stable to rely on.  (Though Lehman brothers had been in the business for more or less a century and yet look at where they are now.. hmmm)

Boholicious

I’ve never been to Boracay. Though I have repeatedly encountered and taken part in conversations about this place which is among the most popular spots in the Philippines, I still haven’t felt the urge to go there. Maybe, just for the mere fact that I’m not much of a party person. I very much enjoy sightseeing, attempting to be one with nature and being able to do many things at one time such as going to the beach and finding other means to enjoy the place aside from swimming and snorkeling.

That’s why since last year, I had dreamed of going to Bohol. Of course, Bohol’s beaches are breathtaking but aside from that, Bohol still offers tourists, both local and foreign, much more. The place has been popular ever since because of the well-known Chocolate Hills and the Philippine tarsier.

After more than a year, I finally got the chance to visit Bohol. And right now, I’m still awed at the splendor of the beach and the things that Bohol has in store for everyone. Until now, I have not yet got rid of the urge to go back and stay there for good. =)

For those who wanted to explore Bohol’s other beaches aside from Panglao, try to go to Balicasag Island Resort. It’s owned and managed by the Philippine government. I’m sure you will definitely get a lot more when you stay at this resort because you’ll enjoy snorkeling. In fact, you don’t have to go too far just to see the beauty of marine life. Colorful schools of fish are just waiting to enthrall swimmers as they swim just near the shoreline.

Exploring Liliw

Liliw is a small town in Laguna and getting there means you have to drive to the end of the South Luzon Expressway and pass through Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, San Pablo, Rizal and Nagcarlan. Coming from Manila the trip to Liliw would be three to four hours depending on the traffic. Do you want to find out why this small town in Laguna has become one of the tourist destinations in Southern Luzon?

1. Picturesque views

If you are a nature lover, then the travel to get you to this place and back to your home is something to look forward to. Before getting to your destination, you’d be able to enjoy lush greeneries and refreshing views especially once you’ve passed through the commercialized part of Calamba and Los Banos – two municipalities in Laguna popularly known for their natural hot spring resorts.

2. Shop till you drop

Liliw has been known as the “Tsinelas (Tagalog word for slippers) Capital of the Laguna, Philippines”.

Once you’re in Liliw, you’ll definitely find yourself so overwhelmed with the different styles of slippers, shoes, bags, belts and other accessories being sold. The place has allotted one long street to showcase what the town has to offer.

Do you want to know how much they are selling such items? Those genuine leather products only cost as much as 250 to 400 pesos (Currency: Philippine peso). Belts at 100 pesos and Ladies’ sandals selling price ranges from 100 pesos to 280 pesos.

3. Liliw has a rich cultural heritage. A proof of that is the architectural splendor of the town’s church, which is considered as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The church was built in 1605. This was during the Spanish regime.

4. Eating at Ara Bella’s

Liliw has several eateries and food stalls but the customers lined up to be served at this little Italian resto in town could stir the curiosity in you. People, literally, has to line up and wait for their turn just to reserve a table at Ara Bella’s because, most of the time, the place isn’t big enough to accommodate all of its customers.

5. If you find youself too tired to go back to Manila after a long day of exploring Liliw, you can have an overnight stay at Batis ng Liliw resort. The resort provides cottages for those who’d want to spend a refreshing night with the sound of natural spring water flowing nearby. The next morning, you can take a dip at the cool natural spring located just beside your cottage.

Liliw could be enjoyed in a day or two. But, you will find yourself drawn to this town to make you want to plan your next visit here.

Built for Rain

I’m not planning to make my blog look like Bi’s website. But, forgive me because I have to post some of Rain’s pictures with those gorgeous shots of his abs and perfect built. He really is working hard to get that built as he continues to set his mind on, obviously, getting Hollywood recognition.

The “Taejo” in Rain

I was quite enthralled by the fact that Rain’s role in the movie, Speed Racer, has been significant in the plot. His character played an important role in helping Speed Racer realize his dream of becoming a true race car driver. Yes, I watched Speed Racer not because I had thought that it’s one of the best films for this year. I watched it, simply, because Bi is part of the cast.

Since I already had an idea from the not-so-good reviews that it has been getting, I already managed my expectations. Indeed, the movie is just made to be appreciated by kids, alone.

Upon watching Bi’s portrayal, he really was able to pull it through though he still needs a lot of practice in the delivery of his lines. But, I guess, the producers and viewers could excuse his pronunciation flaws since he’s not a native English speaker. Those instances such as when he mixes up his “th” and “d” like in the word “father” could have given the audience a touch of reality in the movie since his character, Taejo Togokhan, is Japanese.

Rain first appeared in the movie being beaten up by gangsters whose primary concern is to influence the result of every racing competition that they join in. Rain looked and acted like he was badly beaten up inside a moving container van. His first lines were “No” and “No, please.” Ok, so those lines weren’t impressive, at all. I thought that he would just be given few chances to speak up.

But, then his succeeding appearances proved me wrong. His role became a lot more interesting as the story unfolds and revealed that his character, Taejo, is the son of a businessman who owns the Togokhan Motors. Taejo had participated in several racing competitions as a race car driver (not for Togokhan Motors) but for a group which has been controlling the result of the race. But when their business started to incur losses, Taejo wanted to win the race to help Togokhan Motors regain its market value. That was the time when Speed Racer and Racer X teamed up with Taejo and drove for the Togokhan team in the Casa Cristo Road Rally.

During the race, Taejo was saved a lot of times by Speed and Racer X as he easily gets carried away by his emotions. In the end, Taejo’s team won. The victory saved Taejo’s dwindling business.

Since, Taejo’s goal was fulfilled, Taejo’s sister gave the Grand Prix invitation ticket which was sent to the Togokhan team after winning the Casa Cristo to Speed. Taejo was not interested in joining the Grand Prix and seemed pleased after seeing Speed in the event.

So that was the significance of Rain’s character in the movie. In a gist, I was not impressed with the entire movie but Rain’s performance was really convincing. He just needs to practice delivering his lines more.