Merry Christmas!

It’s Christma once again. How is it goin’? I received a table tennis (without the table! Haha!) set and a shirt from my manitos. In return, I also gave them shirts. Haha! How about you? I hope you are enjoying your Christmas vacation with your family and friends.

This Christmas, I would like to put up again a tree in my heart, and instead of hanging presents, I would like to put the names of all my friends. Close friends and not so close friends. The old friends and the new friends. Those that I see every day and the ones that I rarely see. The ones that I always remember and the ones that I sometimes forget. The ones that are always there and the ones that seldom are. The friends of difficult times and the ones of happy times. Friends who, without meaning to, I have hurt, or, without meaning to have hurt me. Those that I know well and those I only know by name. Those that owe me little and those that I owe so much. My humble friends and my important friends. The names of all those that have passed through my life no matter how fleetingly.

A tree with very deep roots and very long and strong branches so that their names may never be plucked from my heart. So that new names from all over may join the existing ones. A tree with a very pleasant shade so that our friendship may take a moment of rest from the battles of life. “May the happy moments of Christmas brighten every day of the new year”. These are my sincere wishes…and all the best for …2009!

Congrats, ADZU – CSIT Festival Dancers!

The ADZU – CSIT Mindanao Festival Team could have made it to the top once again and defend the championship title from the other colleges on this year’s Ateneo Fiesta.  Unfortunately, something went wrong with our performance in the Street dance. Nevertheless, being the 2^nd runner-up is not bad. Congratulations to all the winners!

	Performance Night (80%)	Streetdance (20%)	Total Average
College of Education (Hermosa Festival)	90.80	93.10	91.26
College of Nursing (Kalilang Festival)	90.62	92.47	90.99
College of Science and Information Technology (Kasadya Festival)	92.06	81.53	89.95
Department of Business Management (Sibug-Sibug Festival)	88.45	85.20	87.80
School of Liberal Arts (Tuna Festival)	80.39	86.90	81.69

Manila Tour

Whoa! I miss blogging. It has been more than a month since I posted an entry. I’ve been so busy with my studies. We have so many requirements for this semester. All of these are on the same deadline. It’s exhausting! I have no choice but to deal with it. Anyway, let me share my experience when I and some of my friends went to Manila to attend Graphika Manila ’08. I hope it’s not too late to blog this one. Haha!

Last September 18, 2008, one of the most memorable events in my college life happened. I and some of my friends went to Manila to the attend Graphika Manila which was held at Mall of Asia. It was indeed a classic moment spending our time together for five days. It was also an opportunity for us to take some rest from the vivid world of academe. Some of my friends had a butterfly in their stomach as we landed NAIA Terminal 3.

We went immediately in Pasig to leave our luggage. We had our lunch at Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Then, we went to SM Megamall to check out their art galleries. Pinoys are indeed talented. After goofing around in SM Megamall, we decided to go in Glorietta and Greenbelt. Some of my friends had their first ride in MRT. We had our dinner in Max’s Restaurant. Unfortunately, we were not impressed by their chicken. It’s not delicious and a waste of money.

The next day was another busy day for us as we visit TOIE and ABS-CBN Animation Studios. We had our dinner at McDonalds-Eastwood and had our lunch at Tokyo-Tokyo in Trinoma. It’s quite overwhelming to know that animation industry is getting stronger and some are really dedicated in their work. We were also had the privilege to visit the Visual Effects Studio of ABS-CBN. Before we go home, we passed by the PBB House and PDA Academy for a while and took some snapshots. We had our dinner at Pizza Hut.

In our third day, before we went to Mall of Asia for Graphika Manila, we passed by the College of St. Benilde – School of Design and Arts. We were so impressed with the facilities they have. They have all the means to have a great work. There’s no room for excuse.

Graphika Manila ’08 was awesome. It was indeed a spectacular event for all of the graphic artists in the country. This year’s event featured Pixar Animation Studios, tokidoki, Robert Alejandro, The Acid House and Collision Theory. The WeWillDoodle group gave us a live doodle act with Simone Legno of tokidoki. I’ll share more of this event in a separate blog entry.

On our fourth day, some of us, including me went to Enchanted Kingdom. We were supposed to go to Tagaytay but since we left Manila by noon, the plan didn’t push through. We were in Enchanted Kingdom for the whole afternoon. Archie, Nes and Epoy won some prizes. We left Enchanted Kingdom as the sun was setting in the sky. The FX driver dropped us at Glorietta where we had a last-minute shopping.

On our last day, we passed by Market Market to buy some pasalubong for our colleagues. Then, we checked-in at NAIA Terminal 3 as we waited for our trip back home. It’s back to reality. FUN! FUN! FUN! is over.

I would like to thank Sir Ryann for accompanying us. Thank you for the memories!

One Liner: Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others

Luckwatchero is Nominated!

My blog is nominated again in the Philippine Blog Awards 2008 for the second time in Bloggers’ Choice Category.  Being nominated along with the most influential blogs in blogging industry is such a great honor. Thus, it already makes me a winner. Thank you for the recognition!

Luckwatchero is just on its first year in blogging industry. And I still need to learn a lot about blogging. Without the shadow of a doubt, there is absolutely someone who deserves to win. Unfortunately, I don’t think that would be me.

For those of you, who want to vote, just visit the Philippine Blog Awards site for the details on how to vote. Vote for your favorite blog!

One-liner: “To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us.”

For Love or Friendship?

Meeting you has been fantastic. A learning experience certainly, like learning a new way of life. Since I met you I learned of a fresh brand of happiness. Not just being happy with myself, but being happy all over.

I fell for you even though I shouldn’t. I tried hard to fight my feelings, but I just couldn’t. I fall deeper with each passing day but try to hide it in every possible way. You are my friend, and nothing else–that’s the lie I keep on telling to my self. I keep on saying you’re just a friend, but deep inside, I’m falling in love.

I get so scatty when I see your eyes, but keep reminding my self it isn’t right. A simple glance turns into a stare, but I pretend that I don’t care. It’s not right for us two to be. That’s why I hide it so no one could see. How long will I pretend? Keep lying that you’re just a friend? Perhaps my feelings I can never show.

Aldred is All-Grown Up!

Many are called but few are chosen. Aldred was one of the twelve teens who were chosen as housemates of the first teen edition of Pinoy Big Brother. We have known him as the Kilabot na Valedictorian ng Pasay. His stay, however, was short because of difficulty of socializing with his fellow housemates. Though many people, including his friends and family, are sorry for what he did, he says he does not regret his decision.

Life has never been the same again for him after leaving the house. Show business offers came pouring in him. His first stint was to record the song “Mahiwagang Pag-ibig,” which was used as a theme song of Love Spell, the romantic series of ABS-CBN. His song stayed for 20 weeks in the top chart. Next came a supporting role in “Crazy for You”, top billed by Toni Gonzaga and Luis Manzano. From playing a minor role as the classmate of Valeen Montenegro in the defunct comedy-drama, Aldred was promoted as Valeen’s love interest in About Ur Love: Ur Lyf 2, and in Judy Ann Santos’ spanking new series, Ysabella, where he also plays the brother of Derek Ramsey. Recently, Aldred had his first movie which My Big Love. He portrayed as A-Cap, the brother of the character, which was Toni Gonzaga is portraying.
Today, June 14 is Aldred’s 18^th birthday. Happy birthday, Bunso! We wish you all the best in life. Take care always and God bless! Don’t forget to thank God for all the blessings that you have.

Decisions

Sometimes, you have to come up to a certain decision and you have to stand by it. Every decision we make in our life has its own consequences and we should be responsible for it. One wrong decision would make you regret for a lifetime and there’s no turning back when you already made that decision. There are many possibilities but you only have to choose one. It would be easier if you’ll follow what your heart says, but it doesn’t mean that what your heart says is already right. There are certain things we have to consider. Wrong decisions only remain so if you do not do a thing to remedy them. Thus, when arriving to a certain decision, you have to balance your power and responsibilities well.

I’m in my Senior year now this June and hopefully, I would be able to make it. I am happy with friends that I have right now. I am in a place where there are funny people with funny happenings. There are also funny things which you can’t explain why they are there. I am happy with these people. Time will come wherein things won’t be the same again. When that time comes, you should be ready for anything.

There are realizations I had when it comes to decisions:

First, whether the decisions you’ve made are right or wrong, you’ve already done it. It’s up to you to make the most out of it. The regrets won’t make any sense. It’s like deciding to move away from a certain point to another point for improvements. However, because of the first step, you’ve lost the efficient point, you’re stuck. You did not take the succeeding steps to reach to the other point. That’s the worst thing that can happen – to be forever stuck there. So, when you’re already done having a self-pity and guilt-trip, take one step at a time to reach to the other point. When you’re already there, that’s the time to look back. Then, you can say, you made the right choice. Do not evaluate the decisions you’ve made when it is not yet gone into completion.

Second, you can’t please everyone. Not everyone would be in favor with every decision you make. Let it be. They are not in your position and they can never understand you. The ship only sinks if it lets the water seep in. Take the constructive criticisms, learn from the bad ones, but do not let such bad criticisms become your downfall.

Third, at the end of the day, what matters is how you see yourself, and how God sees you. Work on these two to turn them into positive ones. Strive to like yourself and only strive to please God. let go of the rest. You do not need them.

Next, what’s life without the ability to make silly choices? What’s the sense of living if all the things you’ve done is perfect? Mistakes would always make us wiser and a better person. We just have to make that conscious effort to learn from them and move on.

Lastly, you can do it, by God’s grace and guidance, you can. He lets such things happen because He wants to teach us a vital lesson. And if there’s any perfect opportunity to talk to Him, and to listen to what He has to say, this is it.

Lost

I am so sad when I found out that my bracelet is lost. I tried to find it yesterday, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find it.  Of all places, why it has to be in school? Ugh. It’s not just an ordinary bracelet. It has a sentimental value to me. It has a promises involved in it. I don’t know what am I going to say when my ex-lover would find out. I am still clueless on how I lost it.

I am thinking of buying a new one but it would never be the same bracelet again. It really means a lot to me. Waaah! I really hate my clumsiness. Anyway, I just hope my ex-lover would not get mad.

P.S. I’ll be very busy these coming days, I’ll still try my best to update my blog regularly. Take care always! It’s Sunday tomorrow, don’t forget to attend mass and thank God for all the blessing He showered upon you. Keep rockin’!

The Philippine Blog Awards 2008

The nominations for the Philippine Blog Awards is now going on. There are few changes to this year’s awards. According to the Philippine Blog Awards site, Three awards division and a total of thirty-six award categories will be open for nomination. They have expanded the awards division and respective categories for each award.

The Philippine Blog Awards is now on it’s second year in recognizing the best and the good in blogging. So, what are you waiting for? Nominate your favorite blogs now. For more information regarding the nomination process, visit their website. Click here.

Life and Love

Life is the progression of finding love; every person will need to discover four people in their existence. First person is you. Second person is the one you love most. Third person is the one who love you most and the fourth is the one you spend the rest of your life with…

In life, primarily, you will meet the one you love most, and find out how love feels. Because you recognize how love feels, so you can find the person who loves YOU most. When you experienced the feeling of loving others and being loved, you will then know what it is you need most. Then you will find the person who is most suitable for you, to be able to spend the rest of your life with.

Despondently, in genuine life, these three people are usually not the same person. The one you love most does not love you. The one, who love you most, is never the one you love most and the one you spend your life with, is never the one you love most or the one who love you most. He is just the person who happens to be at the right place at the right time.

Which person are you in other people’s life? No person will purposely reconsider. At the point in time when he loves you, he really loves you. Nevertheless, when he does not love you anymore, he really does not love you anymore. When he loves you, he cannot pretend that he does not. It goes, when he loves you no more, there’s no way he can pretend he loves you.

When a person does not love you and wants to leave you, you must ask yourself if you still love him. If you also do not love him anymore, do not keep him just to save your pride. If you still love him, you should wish him happiness, and hope that he will be with the one he loves mot, not stop him from it. If you stop him from finding true happiness with the one he loves, it shows you already don’t love him, and if you don’t love him, what rights do you have to blame him for a change of heart?

Love is not selfish.

If you like the moon, you cannot just take it down and put it in your basin. However, the moonlight still shines upon you. In other words, when you love a person, you may use another method of possessing the person. Let him become a permanent memory in your life.

If you really love a person, you must love him for what he is. Love him for his good points, and the bad. You cannot wish for him to become like what you like him to be just because you love him. If he cannot change to become what you like him to be, you do not love him anymore.

When you really love a person, you cannot find a reason why you love him. You only know that no matter when and where, good mood or bad, you will wish to have this person to be with you. Real love is when two people can go through the toughest problems without asking for promises or listing criteria. In a relationship, you have to put in effort and give in at times, not always be on the receiving end.

Being away form each other is a type of test. If the relationship is not strong, then you can only admit defeat. Real love will never become hate. When two people are in love, they love to ask each other to swear, to make promises… Why do they ask each other to swear and promise? Because they do not trust each other, they do not trust their lover.

These swear and promises are useless:

“Till the sky falls, till the ocean dry, my love for you will never change!”

We all know that the sky will never fall; the ocean will never dry. Even if it does happen, are we still alive by then?

Be careful when making promises; do not make promises that you cannot keep. Swear by things that can never happen, because it can never happen, so no harm just saying it casually. Remember, swearing by things that can never happen are the most touching?

In a relationship, what you say is one thing, but what you do is another; the one saying does not believe; the one listening also does not believe.

“Just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have…”