ALyXaNdRiA_BaRBiE (the Sexiest Spy of the Underworld)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: A Closure of Epic Proportions

2007-07-24T00:28:00.000+08:00

By Joyce C. Abaño

And yes it was exhilarating!

As I was leafing through the final pages of the seventh and last installment of the Harry Potter series a few hours after buying the book, I couldn’t help but feel like I was saying goodbye to a dear friend who was both intriguing and exciting at the same time. A friend who has been with me for ten years.

The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book by J.K. Rowling was released worldwide last July 21. Yes, it was like every other Harry-Potter-book releasing date, thousands of people were queuing outside bookstores. In fact, this time, the sales have surpassed the previous six books. It sold more than 50 million copies worldwide in just the first 24 hours it was released in the bookstores.

Many young adults grew up with Harry Potter; I have captured my youth with it.

As I closed the book ten hours after I bought it, I was ecstatic and devastated at the same time.

Ecstatic because the story surpassed even my wildest imagination and the action-packed plot played out well; and devastated. I was devastated because it was complete. I will miss the thrill of waiting for the next book to be released; I will miss the excitement of guessing what’s going to happen next. I will miss the fun of discussing possible plots with my friends, I will miss… yes, I will miss queuing up for the book outside bookstores and the Harry Potter parties that go with it.

The Hallows doesn’t have Quidditch, or petty classroom duels, or candies laced with love potions and Blast-Ended Skrewts. It doesn’t have Hogwarts School as a friendly backdrop. We don’t even get to read into which house the new first years were sorted.

This book is about answers. It has matched and closed all the loopholes in all the other books, as a good conclusion should. Here we learn about the struggle of good versus evil in Harry’s magical world.

We learn about hatred, prejudice and mistrust… and how these things can lead to war and destruction. But most of all, there is hope. Hope, wisdom, tolerance and love.

I have made every effort to control myself from revealing spoilers here and I will not test my self-control any longer. I have already irked several friends and family members by giving a loud whoop and telling them I was right! Snape was not evil and that he and Dumbledore staged the latter’s death.

Oopps! There I go again, giving spoilers to readers. But seriously, this is a must-read. Rowling outdid herself in this book.

To sum up this review: it was a page-turner, a gripping story, and yes, it was magical. A magical tale… of epic proportions.

Last Harry Potter book

2007-01-30T22:08:00.000+08:00

I can't understand why most people here in France aren't eagerly awaiting the release of the last Harry Potter book... people in London were so eager to talk about it when I went there during Christmas break!!

Anyway, there's no accounting for taste (in clothes, men, or... books)... I can't wait to get my hands on the last book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!!! I hope it will be released very soon...

Relationships

2007-01-30T21:58:00.000+08:00

I posted this in my old blog: alyxandriabarbie.blogspot.com last Oct. 1, 2004 and i thought i'd repost it!

I have never been in any serious relationships. I swear! I balk at the word commitment. I find it extremely freaky to date the same guy more than once that I think I might break out in a sweat or puke my guts out if ever I'd be in that situation. And yet, from my vantage viewpoint, I have collected information and have gotten my fair share of ideas on how to keep a man and light his fire. That caught your interest girls, didn't it? ;0)

Ok, pardon me for being verbatim, for quoting exactly what most books and people say, but this is oh-so-true. The first principle in making a love relationship work is to love a man for who he is, not what you fantasize he should or could be. Do you realize that most men marry or ask a woman to be his lover or girlfriend and hope that she would never change, and women marry the man or agree to be his lover or mate and hope that he would change for the better? Ironic, isn't it? :)

The majority of men I have befriended shared that they had been captivated with those special women who made them feel stronger, more capable, more intelligent, sexier or more knowledgeable than they had felt about themselves before these women came into their lives.

I had this friend whom I'll nickname Patrick who was really quiet and withdrawn and he had told me that he had been a loner before he met his girlfriend whom I'll call Marie. He said Marie always commented that she liked his calm nature. He said Marie has a volatile personality and she would always tell him that being with him makes her feel calmer and more peaceful. And her confession made him feel good about himself and made him open up to her. I had this other friend I'll call Mark. He's the touchy-feely kind. You know, the type who can't keep his hands off the girl he's dating. He told me that he recently found a new girlfriend, Jill, who really made him feel wanted. He said Jill didn't label him a flirt or thinks he's like an octopus, like what most of his previous girls commented ... Jill told him over a romantic dinner one night that she thinks he's very affectionate and passionate and it made him feel normal and special at the same time.

Are you beginning to get my drift? Men fall in love with those special women because of the way those women made them feel about themselves when they're with them. Ok, it sounds like a mouthful so I'll explain it in short bursts. When a woman brings out the best in a man, he feels good about himself, and when he feels good about himself when he's with that woman, he would really like to see more of that woman and spend more time with her. When a woman starts to nag and point out a man's faults, the man starts to veer away from the discussion and the woman herself ... and that's when they go and seek comfort from other women. Wow! I sound like a shrink, don't I? :)

How exactly do you make a man feel good about himself? Well, this is what I've observed:Men enjoy being complimented as much as women do. Some men might brush it off as something insignificant when you tell him you like his haircut, or say his shirt makes him look cuter than he usually is, but he really notices it ... and what's more ... he will remember it.When you and your man go shopping ... ok, fine! When you drag your man to go shopping and you ask for his opinion on what dress would suit you, please don't ignore his choices. If you don't like the dress he chose, tell him "wow! you have really good taste honey, but I need something that will make me feel more human." hehehe :) Oh and, when he kisses you, act like you really like it and tell him that he's a good kisser. But that's only when you want to keep the guy, then you can teach him how to be a better kisser later on, that is, if he's really lousy. Since I don't like to date the same guy twice (which means kiss the same guy again), what I usually do is tell him bluntly that he needs improvement, or ask him how many girls he's kissed and if he's learned from any of those experiences ... kinda harsh, I know, but it's a way of fending of unwanted suitors in the future. But what am I thinking? I'm here to write about keeping a man, not turning him away. (I've only wanted one guy to kiss me again and again and you all know who that guy is so I'll refrain from mentioning his name here to save space.)

Oh no! I forgot about the first date. Ok, on your first date with that special guy, take your time in getting ready and look your best. As in take your time ... don't rush things because it will make you feel really nervous. When you converse with the guy, you look him in the eye. You laugh when he says something witty ... a sexy lady's laugh, not the kind of boisterous laughter you usually hear from me. Hehehe :) Oh and, guys nowadays don't think like the guys in the dark ages ... a guy would want to converse with a girl who, at least, knows something. So sharpen your wit and spar words with your guy, he'll love it and thinks it's sexy. Never give your life history on the first date ... just something that will keep his interest and tell him you'll tell him more next time. *hint hint* Try and ask him what he likes for pete's sakes! Show your interest by asking questions about himself. Not all guys are arrogant and self-centered like some of the guys I've gone out with who did nothing but talk about their resumes on dates. Ho-hum ... who wants to go out with guys like that? Duh! Ok, let's go back to that compliment-your-guy part. It's something us girls usually neglect doing. This is what you do, when your guy enjoys working out, tell him it's great that he's in good shape and takes pride in his body. I've seen one of my girlfriends do this and I swear, I've seen the guy melt right in front of her, that's when I knew I'd store that info for future use. ;0) If he does things for you, tell him how nice it is to have him around. Etc.-Etc. You get the picture?

Oh, by the way, I've read this somewhere and I think you'd all benefit from this:"Remember, your love, to some degree, is a measure to a man's worth. Become a woman who is indespensable to your man and his self image and you will be a woman to whom a man feels deeply committed." There, isn't it cute? :)

And here's another one, "God gave us two ears and only one mouth, which means we are supposed to listen twice as much as we are supposed to talk, otherwise, we should have been given two mouths and one ear." So listen to your man when he talks. There is just as much value in listening as there is in speaking. Someone who is different from you has as much value as you do. "If two people agree on everything, then one of them is not necessary in the relationship." So what I mean by listening doesn't necessarily mean that you don't voice out your opinion about things. Hell! I'd be the first person to disobey my own rules if I get to have a guy who won't let me talk. I'm a talker, don't you know!!! ;0)

Oh and, create memories with him. He might find it a nuisance that you interrupted him during his meeting to tell him you love him and you enjoyed your night out last night or he might find it irritating that you've kidnapped him in the middle of the day so you can spend the afternoon together at some cute place somewhere, but trust me, he will really appreciate it and bring a smile to his face when he looks back on it. :)

Oh, here's another quote I've read somewhere "True romance is making a decision to let your mate know in many ways that he means more to you than anyone else in the world." Jeez, this one sounds really hard for me to do. I don't even think I can do it ... I do things based on my own decisions. Whew!! I didn't know it's this difficult to keep a guy until I made this list ... there's even more but this is already long. Girls, it takes hard work, but if you want to keep your guy, then there's no harm in trying what I mentioned, is there? :) I wish Nicole Kidman could have read this before she and Tom got divorced ... or Demi Moore for that matter. Liz Taylor is a hopeless case.

Happiness

2007-01-30T21:50:00.000+08:00

I posted this in my old blog: alyxandriabarbie.blogspot.com last Oct. 1, 2004 and i thought i'd repost it!

Ok... today, I would like to talk about "Happiness" for i know it's something very significant to all of us. I think that most people find happiness an elusive word it makes unhappy individuals crave it all the more. On the other hand, I see some people blessed with happiness that it makes me wonder "Hot damn! How do they do it?", "Is there a secret to it?", "What would it take to make me happy?" Then I remembered Leo Tolstoy's words: "If you want to be happy, be."

It sounds very simple, isn't it? But it's very hard to do. Sometimes, most people's facades give a semblance of happiness, some project a happy and contented countenance, but are they really happy? Or are they just trying very hard to make people see what they want to feel inside?At my age (which is still quite young, I assure you), with the help of my outgoing personality, I have met and gotten to know many people in different walks of life, with diverse lifestyles and varied ages, and I have observed and noticed that many people build prisons for themselves.

You see, I have seen, known and met people who weren't happy with the kind of lifestyle they were leading and the kind of jobs they were stuck with, and yet ... they never tried doing anything about it. They didn't try going out there and seek for something that will make them fulfilled, satisfied and happy. They've remained in the prison walls they've built for themselves.I think it must be because they've occupied their prisons for a period of time and they had gotten accustomed to their walls and they had accepted the false premise that that was all they wanted. They were secure, therefore they were happy.Some of the people I've talked to didn't like the lifestyle they were leading, and yet they didn't try to do something to correct it. Some didn't like the jobs they've had, and yet, they didn't try to find something more challenging, more fulfilling, simply because they were scared of venturing into the unknown. I've met some who didn't like living with their families or their in-laws, and yet, i didn't see them doing anything to change that.

I have noticed that most people have simply abandoned all hope of ever giving their dreams a chance to be fulfilled. They had become puppets and had mistaken security for fulfillment and happiness. They began to suffer living deaths. Which is a waste ... a big waste.

I had wanted to tell them that it may be praise-worthy and noble that they had sacrificed their lives to a business, a cause or the happiness of others, but if they were miserable and unfulfilled with whatever they were doing, then remaining in it was a hypocrisy and a lie. And it would be a long, empty and sad existence to look back on.

I should know because I had been there. I had known what it's like to be unhappy; had known what it's like to be imprisoned in a lifestyle I had wanted to get away from, which I did, thank God.I had been unhappy in my own prison walls that I had done everything imaginable to claw my way out of it; had done something really drastic it took me years to forgive myself. My fear of the unknown, my lack of self-confidence and my low self-esteem were the culprit.

I've shared my past with my family and friends, my close friends, and they knew what I had gone through, they knew how difficult it was for me to get lose, the buckets of tears I've shed trying to think of something to escape ... and I had.I want to thank my family and my friends, the old friends and the new ones I've met, for they have shown me that all was not lost and as a way of showing my gratitude, I am posting this so that whoever might stumble on this story might just benefit from it and will feel secure in the knowledge that there are people who have escaped their own emotional prisons and are now leading normal and happy lives. We should live life to the fullest because we only live once. What a waste it would be to look back one day with regret in your heart. If you want to travel, then save money so you can go. If you want to change jobs, then do it. If you want to ask somebody to marry you, then ask them. There's always a risk to everything ... but at least you can say to yourself you had tried your best, then you won't be dwelling on "what ifs."

Furthermore, I would like to say that in every endeavor you do, always accompany it with prayers. Prayers can really help and they can be very relaxing to the soul. This, coming from somebody who seldom go to church.I remembered a text message my father sent to me once, it said: "God will either give you what you ask for or something far better. Keep praying and be thankful that His answers are always wiser than your prayers." And that's exactly what I did to get out of my own emotional prison ... I tried my best and kept praying. I still do.

Paris is great with friends to hang out with

2006-11-15T16:10:00.000+08:00

Pictures!!!

I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that the picture is too dark and doesn't show my face!!

With Filipinos in Paris at the flat where I'm staying at...!!!

With Naoko, Dmitry and Shiem at Laduree in Champs Elysees

With my Iranian classmate, Sepi, at the Louvre

At the Louvre... showing Napoleon III's quarters behind me.

At Musee d'Orsay

With Naoko and Helene at a Tibetan restaurant near the school

Walking around Paris at dawn

Men always get it wrong

2006-11-15T16:05:00.000+08:00

A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.

"I'd love to be eight again" she replied.

On the morning of her birthday he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops and then took her off to thelocal theme park. What a Day!

He put her on every ride in the park:The Death SlideThe Wall of FearThe Screaming Monster Roller Coaster.

Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Right away theyjourneyed to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate milk shake.

Then it was off to the movies: the latest Star Wars epic, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favourite lollies and M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure.

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted.

He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked "Well Dear, what was it like being eight again?"

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed."I meant my dress size, you f*ckin tw*t."

The moral of this story:
Even when a man is listening, he's still going to get it wrong!!

Random thoughts

2006-09-16T02:20:00.000+08:00

You cannot keep a determined man from success. Place stumbling blocks on his way and he takes them for stepping stones.

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

When we seek to bring out the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
-William Arthur Ward

Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be because you only have one life to live and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

My last few days at the Inquirer

2006-09-15T23:45:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow is my last day at the Inquirer. I am going to miss it, and the people I've come to care about, like crazy. But, like Sir Joey and Sir Bill said, I am moving forward and that's a good thing. Those two are among the top people I'm gonna miss. I'm gonna miss Ma'am Emmie very much and the girls and guys at the editorial pool, Kuya Toto's teasing me about my clothes and my weight, my crush's stoic face and towering height (well, he's one of the tallest people at the Inquirer), the people at the arts and opinion sections... they've all been really nice to me, and despite my unusual (kinda weird) personality, they've actually been able to tolerate me. Hehehehe :)

This is very nice

2006-08-05T01:53:00.000+08:00

September has come, it is hers

whose vitality leaps in the autumn,

whose nature prefers trees without leaves

and a fire in the fireplace.

So I give her this month and the next

Though the whole of my year should be hers

who has rendered already

so many of its days intolerable or perplexed

But so many more so happy.

Who has left a scent on my life,

and left my walls

Dancing over and over with her shadow

Whose hair is twined in all my waterfalls

And all of London littered with remembered kisses

--Louis MacNeice

Mama Tina

2006-07-18T01:47:00.000+08:00

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone...

I never knew I’d say it one day that I can personally attest to that quote being true. My paternal grandmother died recently and it really broke my heart.

I never even got to tell her how much I loved her and how grateful I was to her for loving me that much. She showed me her love in every way possible. She spoiled me terribly and tanned my hide when I needed it. (Can I say that? Tan my hide? Is that even a girly expression?)

She was in every piano and ballet recital I’ve had when I was younger... like a true doting grandparent. She had been a really big part of my life and I can’t believe that she’s really gone now.

My grandmother had the best fashion sense for a woman her age that I know of… and she was a great seamstress, too. She used to make some of my clothes some years past. I can safely say she loved dressing me up. And they were amazing, frilly dresses… fit for princesses.

She used to teach and when I was a child, she used to take me to the school where she taught and made me sit in her class.

She was the first one who taught me how to read at age four. Because of her, I had learned to love reading, and it had taken me to wonderful, beautiful places, and I am so grateful for that. She was the one who taught me to write, too. My grandmother had a very nice penmanship.

My grandmother was fiercely loyal to family and friends alike. She raised her children with an iron fist along with overflowing love. Mama Tina never beat around the bush. When she didn't like a person, she either told them what was on her mind or simply avoid talking to them altogether. She gave a new meaning to the word tactless, but it was in an adorable way. Well, we never stayed mad at her for long... she was just too funny. I loved listening to her laugh because it was an honest kind of laugh.

One of the things I can’t forget about my grandmother was the way she talked to me. Like I was her equal… She’d share things with me; reminisce about her childhood and tell me things about her life. Not even my parents did that… talk to me, I mean. Like really talk to me. And she listened. When I had things to share, secrets to divulge, glories and victories to relate, she was there. She always listened.

There were times when she’d tell me stories about the hardship of life when she was younger (that was during World War II and there were Japanese soldiers swarming in Leyte)… and she had told me how she had to stay strong to survive along with her family. She was such a great woman, my grandmother. She had faced adversity and survived. She raised seven children and sent them all to college. She pinched, and she saved, and she worked hard, and she survived through it all. Her children are all professionals: engineers, a doctor, another one who works at the hospital and a businessman.

And she had always believed in me. Always. She was really proud of me; and she showed me and told me in a hundred different ways. I can’t even remember if I told her how much I appreciated her. I hope she knew that… or that wherever she might be now, she’d know that. I loved her and really appreciated her. When I started working and was able to buy her better presents than the ones I gave her when I was younger, it made me feel very happy. Making her happy made me happy. She always liked my gifts. I loved her so much. So much.

She was such a strong, larger-than-life woman that I never expected her to die at age 87. I miss her so much. She died weeks ago (June 8), and yet I still cry when I think about her. I pray that she rest in peace.

I love you Mama Tina

Harry Potter again

2006-05-26T00:13:00.000+08:00

don't they just look good together?! :)

Fit for a prince

2006-05-08T22:17:00.000+08:00

If I could butt in on Prince William's life, I would definitely tell him to go for Princess Caroline's daughter Charlotte Grimaldi Casiraghi instead of that Kate Middleton girl.

She's just plain amazing, I think. She's smart, pretty, a good equestrienne, has a great fashion sense (well, what do you expect from Grace Kelly's granddaughter?) and I think she's nice... plus, she speaks four languages: English, French, Italian and German.

If you look at Charlotte's pictures below, you'll see she's as royal and aristocratic in every way, and I think she'll make William a wonderful wife. Hehehe :) I know! I know! I read too many fairy tales... but I can't help it!

Dancing

2006-05-01T05:01:00.000+08:00

I hated myself for quitting ballet. Why did I do it? Just because I wasn't as good as Lisa Macuja or any of the foreign prima ballerinas doesn't mean I wasn't any good at all.

I love to dance, it's in my blood (well, not really. I'm the only one who dances ballet in my family). I feel remorseful everytime I see movies with ballet as a theme (like Center stage) or something or somebody in that movie dancing ballet... It makes me want to go look for the nearest studio and enroll. But I haven't danced in ten years. I wonder if I still know how. I do some of the simple exercises... but I don't have a dancer's body anymore... and it makes me sad thinking about it.

I wish I'd get the courage to go back... even if I won't get the chance to dance any lead roles again (I've only had three in the eighteen years that I've been dancing). Looking back, dancing had always made me feel happy. Ballerinas are always taught to feel like they're the most beautiful women in the world... well, at least that's what my teacher used to say when I was younger. I hope I'd find the time... one of these days...

Pacman

2006-03-28T17:08:00.000+08:00

I hadn't played Pacman in a lloooonnnnggg time!! I think the last time I played it was when I was in sixth grade and I was only 12. hahaha :) a lifetime ago. Anyway, I came across this site that has this Pacman game on it and I felt nostalgic.

To those who haven't tried it yet, or to those who felt like reliving their youth, here's the site address:

www.bennychow.com/pacman

go and have fun!! :) ciao!!!

Memoirs

2006-03-02T23:13:00.000+08:00

I watched the movie adaptation of the book "Memoirs of Geisha" with my cousin, Nica, last Sunday, and I was sorely disappointed with it.

They changed a big portion of the book---not that most screen adaptations don't do that---but this one's just different... in a really bad way.

I liked the first few chapters in the book... and the screenwriter took that out. Too bad! But I liked Michelle Yeoh and her presence in that movie made up for it. She still looks really stunning, even at her age.

Country of my dreams

2006-03-02T18:38:00.000+08:00

I have always wanted to visit France... see what it's like. I have always been curious about its history ever since I read Iris Johansen's "Storm Winds" (the second book in her Wind Dancer trilogy) when I was thirteen years old. That book was set in France during the French revolution and I found it... intriguing, fascinating. And since then... I've read whatever French history book I could get my hands on (next on my list is Russia... I've wanted to see it after I've read about Tsar Nicholas II's history)!!!

Recently, I finally got to visit the country of my dreams... and it was as wonderful as I expected it to be... and what's more, I got to visit it on the week of my birthday. It was the best birthday gift my parents gave me... I very much appreciated it!

At the Jardin des Tuileries... I walked through there on my way to Le Musee du Louvre! It was beautiful... the weather was perfect!

Having coffee with my French pal, Nathalie, in one of the cafes near Invalides.

In Bordeaux. Buildings there are as old and as beautiful as the ones in Paris.

Every devout Catholic's dream is to visit Lourdes. It was a very solemn place... quiet but lovely.

Chronicles of Narnia

2005-12-15T00:33:00.000+08:00

A movie has been made on C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and it will soon be showing in theaters worldwide. I can't wait to watch the movie and see if it's good or not.

I have read all seven books in the Chronicles of Narnia series... and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the second book. I've collected all the other books, and, personally, I like the books 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 better. I didn't like books 1 and 7 much, but it comes with the package and both were still fascinating nonetheless.

I don't know the actors who will play Lucy, Peter, Susan and Edmund, but I'm sure they'll be great.

It was said that J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis sat down and said they'd write famous book series and so Tolkien had The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and Lewis had the Chronicles of Narnia. They were close friends. :) and yes, their books are indeed famous series that were turned into movies and read and watched by many. :)

Oh well, I'm so sleepy now, I guess I'll have to turn in. :)

Charlotte Grimaldi

2005-12-14T23:13:00.000+08:00

I watched this show at the Lifestyle channel the other night featuring the royal children of Europe. Of course, the main reason why I watched the show was to see Prince William on TV... he is awfully cute.

Anyway, they also showed Princess Charlotte Grimaldi of Monaco, and I think she's the perfect princess bride for Prince William.... as in seriously!! hehehehe :) I'm, like, matchmaking here... but I think they would look good together. Princess Charlotte loves horses and she's even competed in some events, and she has an amazing dress sense. She's even more beautiful than her grandmother, Grace Kelly.

Vacation

2005-12-14T22:45:00.000+08:00

I haven't gone home to Ormoc for quite some time, so nobody can fault me for being very excited that I will be spending Christmas at my hometown this holiday season. I have so many things to do, so many presents to buy and so many things to prepare that it seems like I don't have time for anything anymore these days.

This picture was taken in Ormoc two Christmases ago. It's a picture of me (in the center) with my brother and sister.

I am currently listening to the Miss Saigon musical soundtrack. And even if I've listened to this record for like a hundred times, it never fails to move me. A really tragic love story, I wish I can see this musical live one day. The show was brought to Manila a few years back, but I wasn't able to watch it, much to my dismay and disappointment. Of course I would also like to watch Madame Butterfly, Puccini's opera in which this musical is based. Both have the same plot... well, almost, but the countries were different. The girl in Miss Saigon was from Vietnam and the girl from Madame Butterfly was from Japan. I read somewhere that Schonberg said his music for Miss Saigon was inspired by a picture of this Vietnamese mother holding the hand of her half-Vietnamese, half-American daughter at the airport... and the mother had to let the daughter go because her life would be better in America where the father is. It was just so sad. I saw the picture and it was really touching. The picture was surrounded with an air of hopelessness.

Feeling hopeless in whatever situation is something I never want to feel. I am the most positive person I know and I will never let failure defeat or crush my spirit.

Whatever

2005-11-01T15:47:00.000+08:00

J'ai toujours beaucoup parler de choses et d'autres. Je trouve lui irritant et frustrer n'exprimer pas bien mon idees et opinions parce que j'ai empeche par manquer de savoir en particulier langage.

J'ai fini de lire le livre "The Last King of France." C'est tres interessant.

Rien

2005-11-01T02:15:00.000+08:00

Je suis une grande liseuse. J'aime beaucoup les livres. J'achete au moins deux livres par mois.

Je lis quand j'ai de temps libre au bureau. Mais, aujourd'hui, je n'ai pas lu, parce que nous avions tant de travail au bureau.

J'aime beaucoup travailler pour un journal. Il y a toujours quelque chose d'interessant quise passe.

Chaque fois que je lis, j'ecoute toujours de la musique classique.

J'adore Air on the G string par Johann Sebastian Bach, Moonlight Sonata par Ludwig van Beethoven, The Nutcracker Ballet Suite par Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Concerto No. 21 par Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claire de Lune par Claude-Achille Debussy, Romeo and Juliet overture par Tchaikovsky aussi, Canon in D par Johann Pachelbel, et Polovstian Dances from Prince Igor par Alexander Porfyrievich Borodin.

Polovstian Dances Nos. 8 and 17; est celle que je prefere.

J'aime la musique classique parce que je joue du piano depuis que j'ai eu huit ans jusqu'a maintenant.

Maintenant, il faut que j'aille dormir; il est deux heures du matin et j'ai un peu sommeil.

Le Petit Prince

2005-10-05T20:19:00.001+08:00

Je lire le livre Le Petit Prince par Antoine de Saint-Exupery en le version francaise. J'adore Le Petit Prince. J'ai le livre en le version anglais depuis que j'ai eu 14 ans.

Voici ma favorite citation:

"Tu te jugeras donc toi-meme. C'est le plus difficile. Il est bien plus difficile de se juger soi-meme que de juger autrui. Si tu reussis a bien te juger, c'est que tu es un veritable sage."

Le Petit Prince

2005-10-05T20:19:00.000+08:00

Monet

2005-09-16T22:45:00.000+08:00

J'aime beaucoup les peintures du Claude Monet.

En Norvegienne by Claude Monet 1887 (Le Musee d'Orsay)

Soleil Levant by Claude Monet

Les oeuvres d'art de Monet

French blah blah blah

2005-09-10T20:48:00.000+08:00

C'est le 10 Septembre 2005

Bonjour.... j'ai eu la classe de francais aujourd'hui!!! j'aime beaucoup le langue!!! j'aime moi professeur aussi... il est tres gentil... et... il aime blaguer. j'adore camarade de classe... nous avons varie professions!!! :)

je doir partir!!! bonne nuit!!!

Try Writing in French Gurl!!!!!!

2005-09-09T01:50:00.000+08:00

Bonjour!!! :) aujourd'hui, je me suis reveille tard et je manque le film "The Brothers Grimm".... demain peut-etre....

oh, je lai vu un tres, tres beau homme a l'ambassade de france a makati... je pense il est directeur a division la... ou... quelque chose. il est tres, tres beau!!! hehehehe :) il est grand... je pense il mesure 6 ft..... :) et le coleur ses les oeilyeux ont bleu!!! :)

bon, ben... je ne sais pas n'importe quoi d'autre a dire...

je doir partir... maintenant, il faut que j'aille dormir, il est 1 heure du matin... j'ai un peu sommeil.

je suis desolee... je ne suis pas tres bon avec le francais...

bonne nuit!!!! :) mwah!!!

Don't Ever Give Up Your Dreams

2005-08-13T22:26:00.000+08:00

You never know until you try.
And you never try unless you really try.

You give it your best shot;

you do the best you can.

And if you've done everything

in your power, and still "fail" ---

the truth of the matter is

that you haven't failed at all...

When you reach for your dreams,

no matter what they may be,

you grow from the reaching;

you learn from the trying,

you win from the doing.

2005-08-12T17:56:00.000+08:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Desperate Housewives

2005-08-02T23:09:00.000+08:00

I'm so getting hooked on the series "Desperate Housewives" these days... reminded me of the time that I got so hooked on "Sex and the City"... I so lurve series with funny dialogue and witty repartee!!

Anyway, I think the only thing that's not good about both these series is the fact that they're making me even more scared of getting hitched than ever.

In every TV series, you always have your favorites among the cast.... with "Sex and the City" it was Samantha... in "Desperate Housewives," it's Bree!!! Isn't she just crazy??!!!!

Les Choristes

2005-07-26T22:44:00.000+08:00

I just finished watching "Les Choristes" (The Chorus) movie
on DVD and I think it's really good. It's like a French version
of "The Sound of Music"... well, the storyline is not the same,
but the thought of reaching the hearts of children through music
is their common denominator.

The songs were really amazing! The composer was Bruno Coulais.
The songs that I really like among the soundtrack of the film are:
"Cerf-Volant", "Caresse Sur L'Ocean", "Vois Sur Ton Chemin" and
"La Nuit" (but it's not Coulais' originally).

Among the four, this is my very favorite, so I'm gonna write down
the lyrics:

"Vois Sur Ton Chemin"

Vois sur ton chemin
Gamins oublies egares
Donne-leur la main
Pour les mener
Vers d'autres lendemains

Sens au coeur de la nuit
L'onde d'espoir
Ardeur de la vie
Sentier de gloire

Bonheurs enfantins
Trop vite oublies effaces
Une lumiere doree brille sans fin
Tout au bout du chemin

Sens au coeur de la nuit
L'onde d'espoir
Ardeur de la vie
Sentier de gloire

Bonheurs enfantins
Trop vite oublies effaces
Une lumiere doree brille sans fin
Tout au bout du chemin

Talk with an ex-CNN reporter

2005-07-21T19:13:00.000+08:00

A former CNN correspondent, Maria Ressa, gave a short talk
at our office's conference room earlier about news reporting and
the media as a whole, and it was highly fascinating. I really learned a lot.
She now works for ABS-CBN and she talked a little bit about her plans
for the network, which are things to really look forward to.

Anyway, after the talk, the people went over to her and
congratulated her about her book (because she just had one
recently published), wishing her luck about her new plans for ABS-CBN...
etc. etc.... but when I approached her, I said: "I really love
Christiane Amanpour. I have always liked her ever
since I saw her on CNN when I was 14 years old... Could you
tell me something... anything about her? I'm sure you've met
her in person, right? Because you're officemates, right?"

And she looked like she was taken aback but she answered
me anyway and said: "Oh... she's a really good person to
work with... actually, a hard person to work with but good
with her job and she's very smart. She just had a baby..."

And tactless me went: "Ooohh... you mean she still had
time to have a baby? But she seemed like she's always
everywhere at once..."

Luckily, she didn't think I was this weirdo from
Mars and she just laughed and said "Yeah... she's
based in London, mostly."

Mind you, I do not go gaga over actors and actresses who
drop by the office for photo shoots... (I think I will though if I
meet Nicole Kidman in person)... but with anything or anyone
remotely connected with Christiane Amanpour, I start acting
like somebody I don't even want to be associated with.
Hehehe :) Crazy, huh?!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2005-07-17T16:26:00.000+08:00

I finished reading "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
ten (10) hours after it came out in the bookstores worldwide...
and I am so upset but elated at the same time.
Let's start with the part that upset me so much.
How could she (Rowling) have let Dumbledore,
a really great wizard, get killed that way? By Snape?
and disarmed by Malfoy? Jeez, that was the height of UNcool!!
And she made him beg Snape... I really hated that part.
It was very undignified.
Cried my eyes out.
I just can't stomach the thought that Dumbledore died
knowing somebody he trusted so much betrayed him.

I was thinking, though, that there must be more to it than that.
Maybe Dumbledore begged him not to blow their cover
because they had a plan or something.... or maybe Snape
was just plain evil that he really didn't feel anything but hatred
and disgust for Dumbledore that he didn't feel any guilt in killing
him... but he didn't kill Harry, though, when he had the chance
and, he said it was because Voldemort ordered that
Harry should be left for him (Voldemort) to kill... but,
was that true or did Snape just make it up so the other
death eaters will leave Harry alone?
Hermione said the half-blood prince (which turned out to be Snape)
didn't sound like he's "evil"... Aaarrgggghhh!!!
I can't wait for the next book!!!!!!!!!!!!
When is the next book coming out???!!!!!!!!!

By the way, I think the initials R.A.B. stand for Regulus Black.

Anyway, I am so happy with the Ginny and Harry love story....
I had been hoping it'd be them in the end
(ever since I read Chamber of Secrets).
Well, there's still one more book to go, but I don't
think their romance will end even then. (Hehehe I'm so corny)

Federer

2005-07-04T14:34:00.000+08:00

I have nothing against Roger Federer but I resent the fact that he is now being mentioned alongside Pete Sampras and the other Wimbledon champions. His game with Andy Roddick wasn't even that good because Roddick was a lousy player (I was actually wondering how he reached the finals with that kind of playing).

Pete Sampras, in the prime of his career, was a really good player and he was a formidable opponent in grass. Sampras won 7 Wimbledon titles ('93-'95 and '97-2000)... it would have been 8 if Krajicek didn't beat him in '96.

I have always watched the Wimbledon games since 1994 and I know Roger Federer is still not good enough to be compared with Pete Sampras. I kinda liked it, though, when he said Pete's one of his favorite players.

Maybe in next year's Wimbledon I'll change my tune...

Oh man, I just want to say I really love watching men's tennis.... it's fascinating to watch all those men with sexy bodies concentrating to win a game.

Federer

Wimbledon 2005 (women's category)

2005-07-03T01:41:00.000+08:00

I just finished watching the longest women's singles match in Wimbledon history and it was amazing and thrilling. Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport gave the audience a highly entertaining game to watch. Williams won, of course, recalling to mind their last game in 2000.

Below is a news article about the match... got it from the wires:

By Bill Barclay

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) -- Venus Williams outlasted fellow American Lindsay Davenport 4-6 7-6 9-7 to win the longest Wimbledon women's singles final in history on Saturday.

Venus's staying power proved the greater in a two-hour 45-minute endurance test against the top seed and world number one, whom she also beat in the 2000 final.

She saved a match point at 4-5 in the third set before eventually breaking the resolve of Davenport, who had needed treatment for a back injury, with a decisive break at 8-7.

It was Venus's third Wimbledon title in all and her first grand slam triumph since the 2001 U.S. Open, capping a remarkable return to form for the former world number one.

"I have to thank God, thank you for letting me be healthy," Venus gulped as she clutched the Rosewater Dish on an overcast Centre Court.

"Thank you for letting my family be with me. You never know what life is going to throw at you and each and every day I just expect the sun to come up, that's all, these days." At number 14 Venus was also the lowest seed to win the women's title at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old also won Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001 before losing the next two finals to her sister Serena.

Davenport, the Wimbledon champion in 1999, has now failed to win a grand slam since her 2000 Australian Open triumph.

The 29-year-old took advantage of two double-faults by Venus to break her for 2-1 when the elder Williams sister blazed a backhand long and consolidated to lead 4-2 before breaking again.
Venus slipped to 15-40 and the world number one slapped away a forehand volley to lead 5-2.

Davenport immediately lost serve to love but Venus could not sustain her revival and Davenport made no mistake in her next service game, taking the set with a heavy serve which Venus could only net.

It was the first set Venus, who upset defending champion Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals, had lost in her run to the final.

At 4-4 in the second set Davenport was incensed when a serve from her opponent that appeared to be well wide was called in.

She vented her frustration at the umpire but to no avail and Venus held to love.
Davenport was momentarily rattled and had to save a set point after double-faulting in the next game before holding for 5-5.

BACK PAIN

Venus suddenly trailed 0-40, saved one break point but slipped in the backcourt to go 6-5 down, leaving Davenport to serve for the match.

The older American faltered, however, losing serve to love as Venus went for broke and she continued in the same vein to go 5-1 up in the tiebreak before taking it 7-4 with a clubbing forehand.

Davenport still started the third set looking the more confident and Venus cracked at 2-3, spraying a forehand out to lose serve.

By now, though, Davenport was suffering pain in her lower back and lost her next serve from leading 40-15 before calling the trainer for treatment. She then left the court for further attention.

When she returned Davenport bravely held to go 5-4 up, leaving Venus to serve to stay in the match.

She promptly double-faulted to gift Davenport a match point but saved it with a crunching backhand winner before holding serve.

Despite her evident suffering, Davenport kept holding serve until 7-7 when Venus finally broke her compatriot's resolve.

Serving for the match at last, Venus took victory on her second match point when Davenport netted a forehand, leaping around the court in delight.

The previous longest women's Wimbledon final was in 1970 when Australian Margaret Court beat Billie Jean King of the United States 14-12 11-9 in two hours 28 minutes. REUTERS

chad michael murray

2005-06-23T05:17:00.000+08:00

What is it with younger guys these days??? They're getting cuter and cuter!!! No wonder Demi Moore decided to date a younger guy... they're like an entirely different species from the guys I've seen in my teenage years.... I have a new star-crush... younger than 20, I think... he used to date the highly endowed Lindsay Lohan. He stars in the series "One Tree Hill" and he was Hillary Duff's leading man in "A Cinderella Story".... Chad Michael Murray. I'd love to meet that guy up close... (of course, next to my one and only Prince William of Wales). hehehe :) ciao!!!

yummy!!!

My Trip to China

2005-06-18T18:47:00.000+08:00

I have read several books written by Chinese authors,
the most recent being "Shanghai Baby" by Wei Hui.
The book was good, but me,
being the romantic that I am (I'm still not very sure
if I'm a romantic) didn't like the ending of the story,
and I was pretty mad at the heroine
for making Tian Tian (her impotent boyfriend)
even more depressed than he already is
and for cuckolding him... with a married German guy, no less.

The book sounded more or less like an autobiography,
although the author mentioned in the book that she was
trying her best to disguise herself from the readers.

Anyway, the book mentioned places in Shanghai that
I fell in love with on my trip there: the Pudong area,
the Bund, the Huangpu River, Nanjing Road.... etc. etc.,
and it made me want to go back. I would like to go back
to Shanghai soon and experience it's nightlife to the fullest.

A picture of me in the Pudong area where you can see the Huangpu River and Asia's tallest TV station (described in the book as a phallic symbol. hehehehe)

Below are more pictures of my trip to China

Inside the Forbidden City in Beijing

At Tiananmen Square

Watching a show in Shenzen

At Tiananmen Square

Requisite picture at the Great Wall of China in Beijing

Eragon

2005-05-20T03:12:00.000+08:00

I saw an officemate reading the book "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini and I thought I'd borrow it when he's done. I expected it to be a not-so-good reading material considering that I haven't read any other books from the 19-year-old author.

I was sadly mistaken. The book was really good. It was fun and full of adventure and magic... and the way they talked about dragons seemed very interesting. There were definitely touches of Tolkein's Lord of The Rings in the book, but you can see the author's distinctive style. The book is the first of three series (I'm definitely going to get myself a copy for my collection)... the next one is Eldest, and I don't know the third.

The only part I didn't like about the book was Eragon's quest for vengeance... most adventure books these days have that kind of plot and I don't think this should be encouraged because children will think it's okay to waste time, energy and effort to seek vengeance... which, in truth, it really is. Albeit some people would certainly contradict me in that and say vengeance is fulfilling.

Oh well, all in all, the book was well-written and I've encountered some new things about dragons. :) Dragons interest me because it's my Chinese sign.

I can't wait to read the next installment.... they said Hollywood's going to make a movie about the first book... I wonder how it'll go. I was sorely disappointed with how they treated the Harry Potter movies.... it was vastly different from the books.

By the way, I think the name Saphira for a female dragon is really interesting.

Tennis

2005-05-13T21:21:00.000+08:00

Woke up at 7:30 a.m. today because I had to meet up with Jaimie at YMCA. We played tennis for an hour (8-9 a.m.) and, well, as rusty as I am, she won, of course. Actually, my lousy service in the last two sets made me lose the game. It's okay, though... I felt amazing afterward. Playing tennis always makes me feel.... rejuvenated. :)

Episode III

2005-05-13T14:54:00.000+08:00

I just finished watching Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and it left me feeling... disappointed. I guess I was just expecting too much because this is the last installment of the Star Wars saga. I expected it to be grand with a very interesting plot... I waited years for this movie, and after I watched it, I could really say, it falls short of my expectations.

I should have gone inside the movie house with no expectations whatsoever... I think I would have really loved it. But then again, I love the Star Wars saga, and even if Episodes I, II and III left me wanting, I still liked the thought of having completed everything. I had watched Episodes IV, V and VI when I was a kid, so having watched the prequels gave me immense satisfaction.

Besides, seeing Hayden Christensen in this last episode was thrilling... he had really gotten cuter than ever and gotten sexier. There was a scene where he had woken up from a nightmare and got up without a shirt on... I think he has a really gorgeous body. Hehehe :)

My officemate, Rommel, gave me one of his invites to the premiere at Greenbelt 3... it was very nice of him. And even if Episode III wasn't what I expected it'd be, I still enjoyed watching the movie... it was totally high-tech and highly digitalized. Well, it's George Lucas, I expected he'd excel at that.

Stephen Glass

2005-05-05T01:47:00.000+08:00

I had just finished watching "Shattered Glass," a true story about a journalist of The New Republic Magazine who fabricated stories for esteem. His name is Stephen Glass (the actor who played him in the movie was Hayden Christensen).

Stephen Glass

Hayden Christensen

It was a scary movie... not in the sense that there were monsters in it or people being killed... it was scary because stories of journalists fabricating articles are getting rampant these days, and they do it all for the sake of getting up there and being noticed by editors and readers. And being caught in one's own web of lies is terrifying, especially if you're working in a big media outfit. That will definitely be the end of your career.

Remember Jayson Blair in the New York Times? He fabricated quotes and materials in several of his stories, too.

Big-time journalists like them who fell in disgrace have set really bad examples for people striving to be up there and be known in their field... it makes one think, "if they got away with writing more than 30 articles without their lies getting noticed by the public, maybe we can do it too."

See how scary that is?

Personally, when it comes to tragedies like these, I think most of the blame lies on the editors. How could they not have checked the facts before letting that story be printed? The researchers should share the blame, too. How could they not have researched everything down to the minutest details?

For big newspaper companies, the main reason why lots of errors get printed and escape editors' notice, is the lack of time. Newspaper companies are pressed for time, they have to meet deadlines...

I guess these kinds of incidents would really have to depend on the journalist himself... Moral values and ethics should be instilled in him before he has to venture in this field, or in any kind of profession, for that matter.

Below is an excerpt I got from www.cbsnews.com

Glass talks to Correspondent Steve Kroft in his first interview since his journalism career ended in disgrace.

“My life was one very long process of lying and lying again, to figure out how to cover those other lies,” says Glass. “Like a stock graph, there's going to be exceptions in this. But the general trend of the stories is that they started out with a few made up details and quotes. And granted a few too many, of course. But a few. And then they progressed into stories that were completely fabricated. Just completely made up out of whole cloth.”

Glass' main job was at The New Republic, a distinguished magazine with a 90-year history of publishing political and social commentary. It also has a reputation for discovering young, talented writers like Glass.

He was editor of his college newspaper at the University of Pennsylvania and joined The New Republic as an editorial assistant in 1995. Not long afterward he was assigned to write a story on an arcane piece of Washington legislation.

He thought it needed sprucing up and a serial liar was born. “I remember thinking, ‘If I just had the exact quote that I wanted to make it work, it would be perfect.’ And I wrote something on my computer, and then I looked at it, and I let it stand. And then it ran in the magazine and I saw it. And I said to myself what I said every time these stories ran, ‘You must stop. You must stop.’ But I didn't.” “I loved the electricity of people liking my stories. I loved going to story conference meetings and telling people what my story was going to be, and seeing the room excited. I wanted every story to be a home run.”

Leon Wieseltier is the literary editor of The New Republic: “He had a way of hovering affably around everything. He was sweet in what turned out to be this very sinister way. He was aching to please.” Wieseltier has worked at the magazine for 20 years. He says he never suspected that Glass was making things up, but it did seem as though he had an uncanny knack for stumbling onto people and stories that seemed too good to be true. It became the trademark of a Stephen Glass story.

“Everything around him turned out to be incredibly vivid or zany or in some other way memorable,” says Wieselteir. “And at the meetings, we used to wait for Steve's turn, so that he could report on his next caper. We got really suckered.” His imagination knew no bounds. There was a piece about a political memorabilia convention featuring Monica Lewinski condoms and one about an evangelical church that worshiped George Herbert Walker Bush. But his articles could also be vicious, taking on public figures, like former presidential advisor Vernon Jordan. “I said that he had behaved lecherously towards young women,” says Glass. “And I provided anonymous or poorly identified individuals to say that about him.” “I wanted a story that I thought would be the perfect story. And that the readers would most enjoy to read.”

How did this all work? How did Glass draw readers into these lies? “I would tell a story, and there would be fact A, which maybe was true. And then there would be fact B, which was sort of partially true and partially fabricated. And there would be fact C which was more fabricated and almost not true,” says Glass. “And there would be fact D, which was a complete whopper. And totally not true. And so people would be with me on these stories through fact A and through fact B. And so they would believe me to C. And then at D they were still believing me through the story.”

By 1998, he was earning more than $100,000 and selling fabricated stories to Rolling Stone, George, and Harper's Magazine. He was also getting his face on television. His articles always generated lots of interest and very few angry letters to the editor. “And that's because much of the time I wrote fictional stories about fictional people at fictional times doing fictional things. And those people don't write letters,” he says. Most magazines, including The New Republic, have fact-checkers assigned to vet articles for any inaccuracies.

But Stephen Glass knew how to subvert the process, because he himself had been a fact-checker at the magazine. “I knew how the system worked. And I made it so that my stories could get through. I invented fake notes. I later would invent a series of voice mailboxes and business cards. I invented newsletters. I invented a website,” says Glass. “For every lie I told in the magazine, there was a series of lies behind that lie that I told-- in order to get it to be published.” Consider his notes. With a polished scrawl, Glass drew diagrams of meetings that never occurred attended by people who didn't exist talking about events that never happened. Still, Charles Lane, the executive editor of The New Republic from 1997 to 1999, says the magazine was ultimately accountable. “It was really the magazine's responsibility to ensure that the stuff went in was good journalism. And it totally failed in that respect,” says Lane. “The only thing I think you can say in defense of The New Republic was that we were up against somebody, at the time, who was really determined to deceive the magazine. And that is quite unusual.”

Lane, who is now a reporter for the Washington Post, says that Glass might still be duping editors, if it weren't for an online version of Forbes magazine, which was trying to do a follow-up on an article glass had written about a convention of computer hackers in Bethesda, Md. - specifically, a 15-year-old who had hacked into a company called Jukt Micronics and then extorted tens of thousands of dollars not to do it again. The Forbes editors told Lane they were having trouble confirming a single fact. “My first move was to call in Steve. And he came into my office, and the first words out of his mouth were, ‘What did I do?’ That seemed odd,” remembers Lane. “So I told him you’ve got to come back to me right away with the phone number for this guy, and the place to reach that guy. And we'll get in touch with all these sources.”

Sure enough, Glass returned with a list of email addresses and phone numbers for everyone featured in the article. “And I started calling them,” says Lane. “And they all turned out to be these weird voice mails. You know, some with seemingly altered voices, and stuff like that. And he gave me an email address for this supposed hacker, this 15-year-old hacker he made up. And I sent him an email, and got weird answers back.” Glass also produced angry emails that he claimed to have received from the adolescent hacker: "I hope you rot in Hell." There was also an agent for hackers that Glass admits never existed. The Center for Interstate Online Investigations and as the Uniform Computer Security Act was also invented as well. “They were real howlers, weren't they? But again, Steve presented the notes,” says Lane. “He presented the material that supposedly backed this up.”

Lane says he called the voicemail for The National Assembly of Hackers. He also received a copy of the newsletter, Computer Insider, from Glass – both of which were made up. Glass called it the official publication of the National Assembly of Hackers, which doesn't exist either, but he used it to document a number of facts that he had written in his story. "There isn't that much going down, folks, cause the big conference is coming up." He even went to the trouble to create a Web site for Jukt Micronics. “It was ostensibly a web page from Jukt Micronics, which contained this letter claiming that The New Republic had portrayed them inaccurately in their story,” says Lane. Was the Web site convincing? No, says Lane. “The second I looked at it, I thought, ‘This isn't a real corporate Web site.’ I mean, first of all, it was on AOL members. You know. I mean corporations that make high-tech products in Silicon Valley don't go on AOL members.”

Lane eventually demanded that Glass take him to where the big conference had been held. Making it up as he went along, Glass brought him to a complex of buildings in Bethesda, Md. “I'm juggling so much at this point and I just made so many more lies on top of what's in my story I can't even remember what's in my story,” says Glass. Did he know what this building was? “I had never been in this building in my life,” says Glass. It turned out to be a poor choice. “I came in here with Chuck and I sort of looked around at this area and I just said, ‘This is it, you know, this is where the conference was.’ And he said, ‘The conference was here?’ I'm like, ‘Yes, the conference.’" It was definitely not the most likely site for a conference. “I think it's impossible to have a conference in here,” admits Glass, who then said that Lane told him the same thing. “Yeah and so then I lied again. I just said, ‘You know, there were tables around the perimeter.’ I just was thinking up anything I could, you know.”

And with that, the journalistic career of Stephen Glass ended. He dropped out of sight and spent much of the past five years in therapy, trying to start over. He has earned a law degree from Georgetown University and written a book for a six-figure advance. This time, it's clearly labeled fiction: A novel called “The Fabulist” about a young Washington reporter who is a pathological liar. “What I did hurt the people I worked with. It hurt my editors. It hurt my family. It hurt my friends. It hurt the readers,” says Glass.

Several people at The New Republic told 60 Minutes that when this whole thing started to unravel, Glass literally cried on their shoulders. “Yeah,” says Glass. “I’m sure I did.” But then he admits that he continued to lie to them. Did he ever apologize to any of them? “This is the very beginning of a very, very long process of apologies. I didn't apologize to people. Because I was so ashamed.” Certainly Glass could forgive them for perhaps being a little bit cynical about this apology, since he’s doing it on national television and not in person. “I don't think that's right though, saying because I'm doing it on national television,” says Glass, even though he has a book out now about his life and hasn’t been in touch with these people for five years. “I didn't want to give an apology when I didn't yet understand why I had done what I had done wrong,” says Glass. “And so I've spent five years coming to understand why I have behaved so terribly.” “He's a worm. I have no place in my heart for him any longer,” says Wieseltier, who doesn’t think he can change. “I don't mean to have a hard heart, but I think frankly that what you're covering now is contrition as a career move. I have no reason to believe otherwise.”

Glass now lives in New York City, and has written a novel about his life called “The Fabulist.” He hopes to be admitted to the state bar, and he's passed the written exam - but there are questions about his character and his fitness to practice law. Now, is the Stephen Glass in this 60 Minutes interview really Stephen Glass or just another character that he has invented? “I know people are going to think that," says Glass. "And while I know I am not inventing the person I'm sharing with you now, I can't make you believe that. All I can do is continue to behave in a way that earns your trust.”

“If it was sunny outside and Steve and I were both standing outside in the sun and Steve came to me and said, ‘It's a sunny day,’ I would immediately go check with two other people to make sure it was a sunny day,” says Lane.

Star Wars Freak

2005-05-02T02:13:00.000+08:00

I admit it! I am a huge Star Wars fan.... a Star Wars freak... and I had been waiting for this last Star Wars installment for years. As in totally. I have searched for spoilers of Episode III years ago, right after I finished watching Episode II.

And they're finally going to show the last episode in cinemas worldwide on May 19 and I'm eagerly counting the days (as I know every Star Wars buff is doing as well).

*Hayden looks so cute in the Episode III trailers.*

New Pope

2005-04-20T04:09:00.000+08:00

CNN had just announced that the Vatican has a new Pope. We had to do a remat. The new pope is the German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and he chose the name Benedict XVI.

The Pope's death

2005-04-04T14:41:00.000+08:00

I was sitting in front of the TV crying as CNN reported Pope John Paul II has died when I got home from work this morning. I was crying like I would've cried if someone very close to me has died. I cried because I think the world has just lost a great man. A man who always had his own convictions and stood by them. A man who reached out to people and made them feel God's presence and understand His word. He reached out to the younger generation because he knew the youth should be made aware that God is always there when one needs Him.

People have described the late pontiff as a "champion of human freedom," "a tireless advocate of peace," and a "charismatic man." And all of that fit him perfectly. He was all those things and more.

Thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Vatican when news of the Pope's poor health was announced a couple of days ago. And thousands more will arrive to pay their respects and bid him farewell. I just wish I could have had the means to go. This will play a major part of world history.

I have never met the late pope up close because I was never able to join any World Youth Day event... but I didn't need to meet him in person to know that I love him and will always think of him as a great and amazing man who touched my life in more ways than one.

Farewell Holy Father...

Hate

2005-03-02T04:19:00.000+08:00

Hate

I hate the way I think of you; it brings me pain and agony.

I hate the way you talk to me; it makes me want to make you linger.

I hate the way you hug me; it makes me want to keep you closer to my embrace.

I hate the way you kiss my cheek; it brings back bittersweet memories.

I hate the way you look at me; it makes me want to savor each moment.

I hate the fact that I don’t really hate you… it makes me cry and tell myself not to let you go.

Joyce C. Abano

Haïr

2005-03-02T04:15:00.000+08:00

Hair

Je deteste la maniere dont je pense a toi ; elle m'apporte la douleur et l’agonie.

Je deteste la maniere dont tu me parles ; elle m'incite a vouloir prolonger notre rencontre

Je deteste la maniere que tu m’etreinds ; elle m'incite a vouloir te garder plus pres du mon pour embrasser.

Je deteste la maniere que tu embrasses ma joue ; elle me rappelle des souvenirs aigres-doux.

Je deteste la maniere que tu me regardes ; elle m'incite a vouloir savourer chaque moment.

J’hais le fait que je ne te deteste pas vraiment... qu'il me fasse crier et me dise de ne pas te quitter.

Joyce C. Abano

French lessons and my birthday

2005-02-25T23:41:00.000+08:00

I had a really great birthday party last February 16... okay, I turned a year older... but I don't care anymore! I used to think "Oh my God! I'm getting older!" But, well, seeing the Hollywood babes Demi Moore, Julianne Moore et. al. who are all in their 40s and still look stunning, it made me realize, it's not a question of age, but how you feel about yourself. So now, no more "Oh my God, I'm getting older" stuff stuff.

Anyway, about my birthday part... I spent it in Ormoc with my family and my friends. God, I never realized how much I missed them. Oh and, this is the cherry on top of the icing... my long-time crush was there. He was just sssooo cute and seeing him at my party really made my day. Hahaha :) pathetic, I know. I sound like some high-school kid. But, hey, seriously, I've liked this guy for years and years... and I really still do like him.... so much!!! But, I'm trying to quit this obsession because they said he has this really very pretty girlfriend... and I don't intend to compete with anyone... so I'm trying to forget the guy and just befriend him. After all, I like having friends...

While we're still on the topic of crushes... I really like this guy in my French class, but he's really very young... he's years younger than I am... but dig this, he is very smart. He's funny and he speaks four languages other than English... which he also speaks fluently. Whew!! I am so attracted to smart guys. Hehehe :)

Well, until next entry. Au revoir! :)

News (that is not so new anymore)

2005-02-09T05:35:00.000+08:00

I have forgotten to post it here that the book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is coming out this July. This is such wonderful news... at least she's (J.K. Rowling) not letting us wait for three years, like she did with the fifth one.

Reminiscing

2005-02-09T05:09:00.000+08:00

Going clubbing to listen to live-band music with Fran and Alli reminds me of my college days. Those days when I finally experienced what it felt like to be out with friends at night... clubbing, going disco-dancing, dating different guys every night, karting. That was awesome!

I remembered my life in Ormoc where my parents never allowed us (me and my siblings) to get out of the house at night... before dinnertime, we all have to be at home. And yet, I never really did go ga-ga over going out... I had my books to compensate for it, the rented movies, the TV... and I even had my piano practices to keep me busy.

Recently, I'm craving for the night life again, and I thought I cured that itch already (I used to go out every night in my first year here in Manila). I got to thinking, maybe I'm getting homesick and compensating my loneliness with going out at nights when we get off work early. Maybe I'm sinking into some deeper gloom that I don't even want to touch on... but I have to... it sneaks up on me from time to time.... that gnawing thought "What if I fail? What if I fail to accomplish my dreams and my goals in life?" The dreams that I hold dear? I don't want to lose hope. I really don't. But I don't know how I will be able to face myself in the mirror again when I turn 30 and I have nothing to show for it except failure.

I have turned down the guys who have courted me because I wanted to concentrate on "my goals," "my career," "my ambitions," "my future"... (well, not that I really cared for any of them. Come to think of it, I don't think I've never really felt deeply for any guy. Oh God! Am I made of stone?), I have acted rashly on several occasions and had been such a brat for some things that has something to do with "my future" that I have hurt my family and some friends in the process.

I think that maybe, I have to start to balance my views on some things. I have to start living my life... for the present... and saving some of it for the future. Whew! Thinking... It really scares the sh*t out of me!

Men's Rules

2004-09-21T18:14:00.000+08:00

MEN'S RULES AND REASONINGS!

This is a mail forwarded by my cousin, I find it really funny, hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

We always hear the rules from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules: (please note: these are all numbered 1 ON PURPOSE)

1. Breasts are for looking at and that is why we do it. Do not try to change that.
1. Learn to work a toilet seat. You are a big girl. If it is up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You do not hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Saturdays = sports. It is like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Shopping is not a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: subtle hints do not work. Strong hints do not work. Obvious hints do not work. JUST SAY IT!
1. Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That is what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
1. Anything we said 6 months is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
1. If you think you are fat, you probably are. Do not ask us.
if something we said can be interpreted 2 ways, and if one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not BOTH.
1. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.
ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. And we have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say nothing, we will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it is not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don’t want to hear the answer to, expect an answer you do not want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.
1. Do not ask us what we are thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as sex, sports, or cars.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round is a shape. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight. But did you know men really do not mind that? It is like camping.

The Half-Blood Prince, who is he?

2004-09-18T22:12:00.000+08:00

I have read the transcript of the J.K. Rowling interview when she went on a book-reading tour to Scotland and she has definitely let out a number of clues about the next Harry Potter book.

I know everyone must be wondering who the half-blood prince is and websites upon websites are pouring in telling us about their ideas as to who readers think he is.

The very first clue that Rowling specified was, the half-blood prince was neither Harry nor Lord Voldemort (a.k.a. Tom Riddle).

Secondly, she said he was mentioned in the second book, The Chamber of Secrets, and even mentioned something about this person's background, which she had then since removed because it was not really very relevant to that book yet. So she decided to mention it in another book where it will be more appreciated, hence the sixth book.

She mentioned that the prince was a contender in the second book, which means he was either thought of to be Slytherin's heir or some half-blood they thought would die... but however you may look at it, he must have really had a bigger role in Chambers.

There were several wizards, some half-blood, some pure bloods, mentioned in the Chamber book that had big and significant roles:

* We discount Harry and Voldemort (a.k.a. Tom Riddle), of course

* Draco Malfoy = Harry and his friends thought Draco was the heir of Slytherin....but we have to discount him as well because he's pure blood.

* Hagrid = He was accused by Tom Riddle as the one letting the monster of the chamber loose and Hagrid is a half blood... but what significance would his being a half blood be? We are already aware of that.

* Neville Longbottom = Gotta discount this one as well, he's pureblood.

* Godric Gryffindor = Well, I think there's more sense in him being the half-blood prince. He was mentioned often in the second book as well, but we were never told of his background, of why he invited half-blood wizards and witches to the school... besides, read the excerpt of the sixth book:

“He looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp.”

The excerpt keeps talking about a man who is already old and is like and old lion. Isn't the lion the sign of Godric Gryffindor?

What will the significance of the old school's cemetery be if the half-blood prince is still a live... and there is an importance of that old cemetery.

Remember what the director, Cuaron, said when he wanted to put a cemetery on the scene? Rowling stepped in and asked him not to put a cemetery because it's in the other side of the castle which will play a big role in the sixth book.

To me... this all makes sense, what do you all think?

My crush

2004-09-16T06:26:00.000+08:00

There are times when we like or dislike people for no reason at all. Or maybe there are lots of reasons but you just can't name them or can't put a finger to them. But whatever the reason, it creates a puzzle.

I have this huge dilemma. I like this guy, and I have liked him for years, without even knowing why.

I think he drinks a lot, but he's not a drunk. He doesn't seem like he's a responsible person, or maybe he is and I've just seen that irresponsible side of him. But I do know he's really smart, or if he's acting like he's smart, then he must be a good actor, because he does seem smart to me. And he has a totally sexy body, that's a plus, I know. You know what I think is a major plus, though? He likes to read. And it made me wish I didn't know that because it made me even more interested in him.

I don't know anything about him except from what I've heard people say about him, but in the grand scheme of things, would that even count?

I really want to get to know him better... maybe I keep thinking that when I do get know him better, I'll either get over my crush on him, or... it might magnify and leave me... what, I don't really know... maybe leave me wanting more... wishing something amazing will happen between us. This is just so weird... everytime I see him, I can't seem to talk or make decent or even passably decent conversation with him. I can barely open my mouth, period.

I think it's really exciting, though, having a crush on someone, and getting really excited when he's around seems very childish... but it's such an amazing feeling. I keep thinking, that even if there's a cure to this, you know, making me not like him anymore, I might not even take it. I won't trade this for the world. The excitement is like an adrenaline rush... seriously... especially when he's around. :)

Mixed feelings

2004-09-13T23:28:00.000+08:00

I have mixed feelings about the sixth Harry Potter book. In a way, I'm so eager to read it already so I'm waiting for it to be finished, but I keep thinking, if the sixth book is finished, Rowling will only have to write one last book and the Harry Potter series is over. Is that sad or what?!

This is an excerpt of the sixth Harry Potter book taken from J.K. Rowling’s site:

"He looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp."

Some facts about the sixth installment that I’ve collected online in different websites:

This book will be shorter than Order of the Phoenix

There will be a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher

There will be a new Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor

We will see less of the Dursley's than in the past books (Rowling mentioned this when she was interviewed in a book reading in Scotland)

We will see more of Narcissa Malfoy now that Lucius is locked up

We will see Moaning Myrtle again

We will learn what Dudley saw during the Dementor attack in Order of the Phoenix

We will learn more about the locked room in the Department of Mysteries

We will learn more about the veil that Sirius fell through

We will learn why Dumbledore didn't kill Voldemort when he had the chance

We will learn what happened to Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail)

We will learn about the circumstances of Voldemort's birth

A new character in book six will have the surname McClaggan

Hagrid's brother, Grawp, will be more controllable

Harry becomes even more powerful and will be learning new things

Harry’s interest in Cho will wane and he will like someone new (I hope it’s Ginny Weasley)

Harry will tell his dearest friends about the prophecy once it has had time to sink in

There is a graveyard near Hogwarts that will play a large role (it was a hint that the Prisoner of Azkaban movie director Alfonso Cuaron let slip. He said he wanted to put a graveyard out back to make a scene look better but Rowling said no and mentioned that the cemetery will be in the other side of the castle which she will mention in her sixth book)

People have been wondering about Mark Evans, and Rowling has an answer for that. She said Marks Evans is a nobody and his was just a name she picked out randomly

Rowling specifically said that the Half-Blood Prince is not Tom Riddle a.k.a. Voldemort or Harry.

Arthur Weasley won't be the new Minister of Magic.

Harry is a half-blood, a fact that we all know already, but, like I said, Rowling has mentioned that he is not the half blood prince

Ginny's real name is Ginevra Weasley.

By the end of books 6 and 7 "you'll have all the back story you'll need", says JK Rowling, and a prequel will not be necessary.

In books 6 and 7 we will find out why Dumbledore trusts Snape. (I’ve always wondered about this even in the first book)

More about the animosity between Snape and Sirius will be revealed in the last two books.

JK has said that giving away the form of Snape's boggart and patronus says too much. We'll definitely find out what Snape's worst fear is, and it'll be important.

Hermione and Ron will eventually get together (as in a real date) in book 6… their furtive glances and unusual fights are leading up to this

We will find out what exactly Dudley saw when he looked at the dementors.

The reason Voldemort and Harry both didn't die when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, will be revealed.

We'll learn more about Harry's scar in the last 2 books.

The wizarding world will really be at war in the sixth book.

We will learn more about Harry's relatives, including his grandparents (though JK says they aren't really important to the story).

We will find out what happened to Sirius's motorbike. (he lent it to Hagrid and we don't know what happened to it afterward)

Book 6 will be shorter than the 5th book (or at least JK's 99% sure, but will not swear on her children's lives) possibly because she said this about OotP when she was writing that book and that turned out to be huge (and I loved every page, I do hope she’d make this one even longer)

There will be no "new" nationalities of children at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is a British school, and JK says that adding foreigners for the sake of it is not in her plans.

It's very important in the plot that Harry has his mother's eyes, and that her wand was very good for charms.

The choice between what's right and what's easy will be a pillar of the plot in Harry's last two years at Hogwarts.

Harry's parents' professions will be a big part of the plot.

Something huge will be revealed about Lily Potter.

Harry Potter

2004-09-11T04:51:00.000+08:00

She gave us the title, but not a release date, and this is what I find so frustrating. It's the same scenario as in the fifth book. She gave the title before it was released more than two years later.

Okay, every Harry Potter fan knows that I'm talking about the release of the sixth installment, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." I think millions of people worldwide are waiting with bated breaths for this book (me included).

I for one want my questions answered...I waited years for my questions to be answered when I first read the first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone." "Why did Voldemort want to kill Harry?"; "Why does Snape treat Harry like he's his mortal enemy?"; "Why does Voldemort fear Dumbledore?"; "Why didn't Voldemort die when he cast that spell on Harry and it backfired on him?"....those questions were finally answered in book five, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

And yet, even in book five, more questions have mounted in my head which is now making me very impatient to get my hands on the next book. "What exactly was that thing Sirius had fallen into?"; "Why didn't Dumbledore kill Voldemort when he had the chance?"; "Will Harry finally notice Ginny and treat her as girlfriend material?" (yes, I'm all for a Harry-Ginny tandem); "When will Ron and Hermione finally get together and have a date, as in a real date?"; "What will happen to Percy's estranged relationship with his family?"; "Since it was said in the prophecy that either Harry or Voldemort will die since one cannot live
while the other is alive, then who will die in the last book?"; "How did the kids fare in their OWLs?"... and so on and so forth. Oh and, just to make a little detour, my favorite of all the Harry Potter books is "The Prisoner of Azkaban"....after reading the book, i got teary-eyed. "The Chamber of Secrets" was fascinating, that's the book when I first started thinking of a Harry-Ginny thingy. :)

After reading the news online that the title of the new book would be the Half Blood Prince.... the top question that came to my head (as, I'm sure, everyone else's) is "Who is the half blood prince?" J. K. Rowling said it's neither Harry nor Voldemort (a.k.a. Tom Riddle).... so who is it? If there are some people out there who know the answer to this question, or just have hints to this question, please try and tell me about it. Thanks heaps!!! :)

Serious thinking

2004-09-10T01:42:00.000+08:00

I have come to a point in my life where I wonder, where exactly am I going? I know I want to work for CNN, but what exactly am I doing to achieve that? Here's my answer. Nothing! Am I taking advance classes to prepare me for broadcasting? No. Was my broadcasting training in college enough to make the people of CNN notice me? I don't think so.

I write good stories, I think. I have good job experiences, or so I think. I have worked in good newspaper companies, that's what I know. But would this be enough? Or am I putting too many obstacles on my way without my even trying to go around them?

Sometimes, I would wonder, what has happened to me? What happened to the girl I used to be? I used to do anything I could think of doing regardless of any hindrance. I used to try anything I've put my mind to and do it. I used to be different.

But the girl I used to be was a childish, immature, act-before-you-think person (not that I've changed much), and I want to think I've moved on from there. It's not such a good thing to be cleaning up my messes after I've made them... knowingly and unknowingly.

Which reminds me, that at least, in hindsight, I used to be a girl with guts and a great fighting spirit. The girl I used to be always thought she could take on the world singlehandedly. And you know what? I think I want to be that girl again, or maybe, just borrow that spirit I now lack.

I want to achieve my goals, at least before I turn 35, and that's only a short eight years away.

I need to do some serious thinking, and I hope, whatever it is I come up with would be extra amazing with a cherry on top.

Tata for now!

(Writing always helps me ease some of my problems! It's just plain cool!)

Missing my friends

2004-09-07T02:51:00.000+08:00

There are times when I'd sit and yak with my officemates and suddenly, it would cross my mind, "My God! I miss my friends!" Not the friends I've met and known in college, not my friends in the dormitories I've stayed in, not the friends I've known here in Manila, not the friends I've made in the office, but my old friends. The friends I've known since grade school. My friends from Ormoc.

I can be myself when I'm with them, mainly because they already know me. The real me... they've shared my triumphs, my successes, my failures and my sorrows. They've been there for me, through thick and thin.

It makes me happy to know that there are people I can share things with, every embarrassing and weird details, and know that they'd still be my friends no matter how weird I'd get.

They know my personality, my every quirks and still they've accepted me for who and what I am. This is not a tearjerker, I just wanna express my gratitude to them, for always being there when I need people to talk to. :) Especially Angela and Bonita! :)

Me and my friends from Ormoc

Lovely poem

2004-09-02T01:55:00.000+08:00

This is one of the nicest, most romantic poems I've read:

Puedo escribir los versos mas tristes esta noche

By Pablo Neruda

Puedo escribir los versos mas tristes esta noche.

Escribir, por ejemplo: La noche esta estrellada,

y tiritan, azules, los astros, a lo lejos

El viento de la noche gira en el cielo y canta

Puedo escribir lo versos mas tristes esta noche

Yo la quise, y a veces ella tambien me quiso

En las noches como esta la tuve entre mis brazos

La bese tantas veces bajo el cielo infinito

Ella me quiso, a veces yo tambien la queria

Como no haber amado sus grandes ojos fijos

Puedo escribir lo versos mas tristes esta noche

Pensar que no la tengo. Sentir que la he perdido

Oir la noche inmensa, mas inmensa sin ella

Y el verso cae al alma como al pasto el rocio

Que importa que mi amor no pudiera guardarla

La noche estra estrellada y ella no esta conmigo

Eso es todo. A lo lejos alguien canta. A lo lejos.

Mi alma no se contenta con haberla perdido

Como para acercarla mi mirada la busca

Mi corazon la busca, y ella no esta conmigo

La misma noche que hace blanquear los mismos arboles

Nosotros, los de entonces, ya no somos los mismos

Ya no la quiero, es cierto, pero cuanto la quise

Mi vos buscaba el viento para tocar su oido

De otro. Sera de otro. Como antes de mi besos

Su voz, su cuerpo claro. Sus ojos infinitos

Ya no la quiero, es cierto, pero tal vez la quiero

Es tan corto el amor, y es tan largo el ovido

Porque en noches como esta la tuve entre mis brazos,

mi alma no se contenta con haberla perdido

Aunque este sea el ultimo dolor que ella me causa,

y estos sean los ultimos versos que yo le escribo.

Translation (but translations never do original poems justice, so bear with it):

Tonight I can write the saddest lines

By Pablo Neruda

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write, for example, 'The night is starry

and the stars are blue and shiver in the distance.'

The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines

I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too

Through nights like this one I held her in my arms

I kissed her again and again under the endless sky

She loved me, sometimes I loved her too

How could one not have loved her great still eyes

Tonight I can write the saddest lines

To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.

To hear the immense night, still more immense without her

And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture

What does it matter that my love could not keep her

The night is starry and she is not with me

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.

My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

My sight tries to find her as though to bring her closer

My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.

The same night whitening the same trees

We, of that time, are no longer the same.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her

My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.

Another's. She will be another's. As she was before my kisses.

Her voice, her bright body. Her infinite eyes.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her.

Love is so short, forgetting is so long.

Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms

my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer

and these the last verses that I write for her.

My Photo Album

2004-09-01T00:40:00.000+08:00

My photo album:

Me

Me with my brother and sister

Me with my cousins

Me with my friends

Me with my grandmother

Manila by night

2004-08-31T04:46:00.000+08:00

I would never have found Manila as enjoyable as I do without my officemates and Bonita and Coeli to show me around. Below are pictures of me and my officemates.

A*** look-alike

2004-08-30T02:30:00.000+08:00

I was at a press conference earlier and I went there without even knowing who will be interviewed and for what.

Anyway, I was late, I'm sorry to say, but when I got there, the presscon barely started. So, there was this guy sitting in the middle of the table being asked questions by media people, so of course, without even asking, I knew he was the guy we were supposed to interview.

The chair next to him was the only vacant chair in the room, so i went down and sat there. God, when i looked up and saw his face up close, I thought he really looked like my long-time crush A***.... anyway, i was given a press kit and saw, to my horror, that i was supposed to interview Gary Valenciano's son, Paolo. And i was sitting between him and his mom. Jeez, how embarrassing. I didn't even know Gary V had a grown-up son already.

Anyway, he was sitting there, looking like A*** and being interviewed by all these people, and I almost got tongue-tied (like I usually am when A*** is around). Since I was closest to him, I was able to ask personal questions in a low voice, so nobody could hear, well, except his mom.

God!! I think he has such a cool, sexy voice.... he speaks great english, and his mom made us listen to his demo tape, something he recorded....man, can he sing!!! He sounded just like his father but with a touch of distinction, as well. He's even a big-time romantic. He said he wrote the song, the one we listened to, after he broke up with his ex-girlfriend. And he said he was even crying when he sang the song. Which explains the touch of huskiness to it. hhmmm..... where can I find a guy like this who is closer to my age? (Paolo's only 19)!! He's really smart...he wants to be a director someday....and he is totally religious. He is such a dream guy... thing is, he only likes chinita girls. What is it with these people??!!! hhmmm...well, I think I am chinita, a little. hehehe :)

Unforgiving??

2004-08-17T06:20:00.000+08:00

I sounded quite unforgiving and very resentful in my previous post, but maybe it stemmed from the fact that my sister had said some terrible, unforgivable words to me. I can't even believe she would think that of me.

But I'll still try and get along with her because she is my sister... and blood is always thicker than water.

Sibling issues

2004-08-16T04:46:00.000+08:00

Can sibling rivalry really turn into sibling revelry in time? Or does it only turn into a low dose of tolerance and a huge amount of hidden resentment?

I have always resented my sister since we were kids. (Or maybe resentment is too strong a word) I have tried really hard to get along with her, no kidding. But she just has that special something to put me off all the time and maybe it's the same for her. Our personalities clash and we bicker a lot.

I have tried really hard to understand her, to no avail. I just can't understand her, period. She acts like she wants to hang out with me and when we do, she spends the entire time texting other people or, this gets even worse... she talks about herself all the time... she should understand that conversations don't just center on one person talking about herself. When she does ask me about something and I start talking... she replies with criticisms. Tell me, have I not tolerated enough? I try and get along with my sister, and she gives me criticisms for almost everything I do or say, and it's not like she's entitled to, because she is definitely not.

I just keep thinking, though, that I hope, one day, we would at least get past the sibling rivalry stage and have a little dose of tolerance on both our parts. We are sisters after all. But this time, I want her to make the first move. I've made all the first moves I can remember, now, it's her turn.

Religious detour

2004-07-28T04:06:00.000+08:00

People would be very shocked if they hear me talking about God and religion this way. It just isn't my style... my facade just doesn't seem the religious type. But I want to share what I know and feel.

I feel very grateful that God is always there for me. I feel very blessed that He has given me talents and skills that I can take pride in. I feel proud that He has given me intellect and freewill to help me decide about my future and help me cope with daily tasks. I feel very humbled that He has given me very good opportunities and all the second chances I have needed... there are times when I'm too stubborn and too strongwilled to see them, but I am thankful that He has made me, grateful that He has shown me the way.

I am especially grateful that God listens to me when I pray. I talk a lot and I complain a lot, yet I know He's there... listening... always. And I'm glad He listens, it has always made me feel better after I've shared my problems and joys with Him. When I talk to God, I can feel every burden I carry being lifted. Honestly.

I am not a very religious person. I have missed a lot of Sunday masses and sometimes, I forget to pray, but I believe in God and I know He's always there for me when I need Him most and I am very thankful for that. Do you believe in God?

Why men are just happier people

2004-07-24T05:56:00.000+08:00

Why Men Are Just Happier People

What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be president.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a
water park.
You can wear NO T-shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas
station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut in a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental -- $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is
practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister,
or mangle your feet.
One mood -- all the time. Phone
conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only
one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or
she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95
for three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than
enough.
You almost never have strap problems in
public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your
clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original
colour.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe
decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
Your belly usually hides your big hips.
One wallet and one pair of shoes one colour for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do"
your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of
choice concerning growing a moustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24
in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier!

The Sea Prince and the Fire Child

2004-07-24T05:39:00.000+08:00

I think the people who have watched "The Sea Prince and the Fire Child"
will agree with me when I say it was one of the loveliest and most
endearing animes ever made.

The tale was spun with such magic and beauty that I still think about
it until now.

It is the story of the two lovers, Syrius, the water child, and Malta,
the fire child. It is a story about love, friendship, the importance of
family, ideals and determination, with a touch of adventure.

(Syrius and Malta)

The anime tells of the forbidden love story of Syrius, the Sea Prince,
heir of Oceanus, the King of the Sea, and Malta, the fire child,
daughter of the Queen of Fire, Hyperia. Of course, what is forbidden is always
interesting and sweet.

Anyway, I digress. The story begins, as legends go, a long time ago
when the King of the Sea, Oceanus, and his sister, the Queen of Fire,
Hyperia,are brought apart by the web of lies which the Lord of the Winds,
Algaroc,spins between the two. The hurt goes so deep and the chasm so wide that
the siblings have forbidden the fire children to play with water and
the water children to never go under the sun, or there will be recriminations.

(Oceanus)

(Hyperia)

(Algaroc)

The anime starts with the coming of age of Syrius and Malta. Oceanus
gives Syrius the responsibility of watching over the ocean and the beings living in it, and of taking care of the Eye of Algaroc, which was taken to subdue its owner, and forbids him to cross the forbidden zone.

Like I said, people are always drawn to what is forbidden.

Anyway, Syrius crosses the forbidden zone and reaches the surface where
he sees Malta guarding the Holy Flame, the flame that indicates the
boundary between the fire people and the water people.

It doesn't take long for the two to realize that they have fallen in
love, an unhappy fate for both of them.

They try to seek answers to their main question, why they can't be
together, and Aristurtle shares the story of the two siblings' quarrel.
He also tells them about the star where water and fire children can live
happily ever after and can be reached through the flowers of the Calia
plant that blooms during the eclipse at the Hill of Elysium.

Syrius and Malta considers this as their only recourse since she finds
out she will be crowned the next queen when the sun shines after the
eclipse and she will never see Syrius again. The two agrees to meet on the hill
during the eclipse to catch the flowers that flies to the stars.

Hyperia finds out about Malta's relationship with the water child,
Syrius, when she has been negligent of her duty and lets the Holy Flame die.
She has been imprisoned but she escapes with the help of her friend, Piale.

(Piale and Malta)

Syrius has not been doing his duties as the Prince of the Sea and as a
result, chaos erupts in the kingdom. When he admits his love for the
fire child, Malta, Oceanus has him imprisoned.

The time of the eclipse comes with Syrius having no way of escaping.
Malta makes her way to the hill and waits for Syrius there as she watches the
Callia flowers blooming and flying to the stars.

Malta
tries to hold on to some of the blooms but she is powerless to
stop them. She is deeply heartbroken when the last of the Callia flowers are
gone and there is still no sign of Syrius.

With the help of his friend, Bibbles, Syrius manages to escape from his
imprisonment but is too late because the eclipse has already passed and
the Callia blooms are all gone. Syrius is heartbroken when his friend
Bibbles is hurt. Bibbles has helped him escape by giving Algaroc his
eye to wake him from slumber and shake the bowels of the sea.

Syrius is blinded by the incident when his prison breaks with the force
of Algaroc's power. With determination, he makes his way up to the hill
where Malta has transformed and is being crowned as the new queen. Malta sees
him and asks him to go because she thinks it's already too late for the
both of them. She is now the new queen.

Syrius is drawn to Malta's voice and keeps on going, unaware that the
sun is glaring brightly.

Malta warns Syrius not to come any closer but as he progresses, he gets
under the heavy rays of the sun and dies. He falls off from the hill.

Malta cries and releases all the pent-up rage and sorrow inside her as
she holds Syrius' lifeless body in her arms.

She decides then and there that if Syrius has died because of the sun,
she should die in the water so she can be with him.

She flies to the ocean carrying Syrius' dead body after which Oceanus
appears and holds both the dead bodies of Malta and Syrius in his hand
and raises them up to heaven where their souls fly to their star and live
happily ever after.

Cartoon obsession

2004-07-23T04:29:00.000+08:00

I have always loved cartoons when I was a kid. I think every child does. I still view a number of cartoon shows until now. But I can't help thinking that the cartoons I've viewed when I was a child were better than the ones I've viewed now (with the exception of the disney fairy tales, of course....I still think they're great).

I'm an '80s child and I had been such a total TV freak. I've even memorized bits and pieces from the cartoon shows I've viewed back then.

Anyway, I would like to post my favorite cartoons on my blog. I'll think of this as my way of reminiscing about my childhood. I'll start with "The Sea Prince and the Fire Child."

I will be putting new ones daily if I have nothing better to do! :) Ciao!

My Prince

2004-07-22T04:50:00.000+08:00

Isn't he just downright gorgeous? :) Mela taught me how to post pictures on my blog earlier.... Ugh!! I am such a total retard and technologically challenged. Anyway, I can't just have a blog devoid of any Prince William pictures, so I decided to put one. :) Kiss! Kiss! :)

"Imelda"

2004-07-21T16:20:00.000+08:00

I just finished watching the movie "Imelda" with my friends. It was a video documentary about the former first lady, wife of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Man, it was really enlightening. I don't want to sound like a traitor to my people and I don't want to imply that I've forgiven what she and her late husband did to my countrymen, but I just want to say that I kind of understand her for being what she was, and is. Not because I'm also from Leyte, but because I was also thinking, that if I had become the wife of the most powerful man of the regime, I would also want to buy beautiful things, expensive jewelry, beautiful clothes made of great quality, designer-labeled shoes and travel to wonderful places.

I love art, I love music, I love dance..... and that's something I want to share with people..... and she brought it into the country.

But that's how far my understanding goes because in my entire life, I can't believe I've ever known a woman as vain and self-centered as she was and is. She gave an entirely new meaning to the phrase, "vanity, thy name is woman." She really exudes vanity, in the classic sense of the word. I wonder what kind of books she'd been reading when she was a kid (maybe Greek mythology that centered on Venus or maybe Medusa before the curse) but it really made her way obsessed with "beauty."

She's too.....vain for words, but the thing is, there's something about her that makes people want to gravitate to her, be her friend, hate her, admire her. She actually said in the movie that she's not smart..... but I don't think that was the case, for her success and her failure indicated otherwise.

I didn't know whether to laugh or snort when she said "When I see ugly things ... like garbage or dirt ... I just turn my head the other way." I think that was her downfall. She never really understood that beauty comes hand in hand with ugliness and sometimes, people have to deal with it.

She was just absolutely, positively clueless about the real world.

In the documentary, she said things that made her seem like a child playing dress up and joining the grown ups for dinner. But she exuded strength that I never deemed she possessed.

Imelda's main problem, I think, was her lack of compassion. She treated people like her subjects and if they didn't conform to what she thinks was their role, she turned her back on them. That's
how she treated the people living in poverty. She treated them like dirt. And since those people qualify for what she termed as ugly, she turned her back on them. And that was a mistake, because they needed her to think of their needs too. The people needed a role model that always extends a helping hand and she came in lacking with the latter.

I had been wondering though, on my way home, that if ever I get the chance to talk to her, I really want to ask her: "If you were to go back in time when you were the first lady, would you have done everything differently?"

My favorite poem

2004-07-21T03:32:00.000+08:00

Invictus

By William Ernest Henly

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gait,

How charged with punishment the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.