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Let's be clear, though: The main reason anyone wants to see a movie like Pacific Rim is to watch robots smack the snot out of monsters and vice versa.
Set in the not-too-distant future, Pacific Rim picks up after a string of apocalyptic sea-monster attacks. The movie is based on two simple concepts, the Japanese word ‘Kaiju’ which translates into ‘giant monster’ and the German word ‘Jaeger’ which means ‘hunter’. These initial definitions are given at the on-set of the film, as character Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) gives a narrative of the world as it is in Pacific Rim. It turns out that a breach in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean has ripped open and loosed an armada of kaiju. Humanity is defenseless against their massive, razor-toothed maws and battering-ram limbs — at least until the military's high-tech Jaeger program is born. The Jaegers are giant humanoid mecha robots operated by two human pilots whose minds are neutrally linked in a process called "the drift". The Jaegers are only as good as their operators, who must be able to read each other's thoughts and intuit each other's next moves. They shared mind would also be an intimate blending of memories of each pilot. How they feel, emote, react would be based on a mental synchronicity. The better the compatibility, the more successful the end result would be of fighting against the Kaiju. The Jaegers would become the global guardians, as an on-going war would continue for the next several years.
Pacific Rim is set in the 2020’s as the audience catches up with the war, how civilization has coped, and what could potentially be the end of humanity as we know it. Did I mention this is the first maybe 15-minutes of the movie? (And I won’t be going beyond that in reviewing this movie.)
The visuals in Pacific Rim are second to none, and Del Toro has outdone himself in creating truly terrifying beasts. The Kaiju, as they are called in the film, are movie-monsters that make Godzilla look like a lumpy beast.
You might think you'd get tired of robots whooping on monsters for two hours, but the action ramps up perfectly throughout the film as the Kaiju “evolve” and force desperate tactics from the so-called Jaegers. The fights are highly engaging. These are fight scenes that you can feel.
Not only does it begin on a fairly dark note, it's also a classic “turn off your brain and enjoy” kind of movie. One aspect of the film that definitely could have been improved upon was the number of plot-holes and inconsistencies. I do my best to suspend my disbelief, but there were some moments in Pacific Rim that is hard to gulp, and I'm not even talking about the idea of mind-melding with someone to control a robot together.
The characters and the situations come right out of comic-book and/or anime stock, giving the actors little to do but represent the old, familiar tropes. And the characters are pretty predictable too - the scientists who are a bit kooky and a comedy double act, Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day) and Dr. Herman Gottlieb (Burn Gorman) are figuring out a way to defeat the Kaijus. Both of them have different theories and bicker constantly.
Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) is a predictably hunky choice for the male lead but Rinko Kikuchi (Mako Mori) is a wonderfully unexpected one, and rocks as Mako. She's tough, she's tender and she has cool hair.
Herc Hansen (Max Martini) and Chuck Hansen (Robert Kazinsky) are a father-son duo who operates Striker Eureka (Australian Jaeger). Also in the mix is Hannibal Chau (Ron Perlman), a shady dealer of Kaiju body parts.
Of all the cast, it's Marshall Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) who brings some dignity and gravitas to the fore with yet another role showing his talents - he alone stands as tall as the robotic creations which inhabit this world (despite delivering a rousing speech to the troops that we've all seen before).
There is a balance of action, comedy, and a healthy dose of acceptable (or awesome) cheesiness. Del Toro works to satisfy both the adults and children in the audience and for both, you don’t stop enjoying what you are watching. The film is meant to be an adventure. It’s meant to be fun. It’s meant to entertain and leave you with a true sense of wonder.
The only other weakness of Del Toro's film is the character development, but frankly, I didn't go see this movie expecting an Oscar-contender, so I can't really fault him for that. Idris Elba is the big fish in the small pond of characters in this film. He gives a strong performance. The rest of the cast, notably Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi, are unremarkable at best.
So if you can forget some plot-holes, unexplained changes of heart, and a little bit of deus ex machina, then Pacific Rim will absolutely blow you away with its visuals. It is a spectacle in the purest sense of the word. Go see it.
There’s a reason to spend extra cash to watch this, better be in 3D for its superb special effects. It’s just a mindlessly fun movie which I enjoyed greatly. And again, yes, you should go watch it. So, here’s the trailer for those who haven’t seen it yet.
I've have been listening to Taylor Swift since she started singing way back when I was in college. I was a fan of her Teardrops on my Guitar and never knew that soon after she'll be famous for writing break up and heartfelt songs. You know what they say, whatever you feel; it always has a Taylor Swift song counterpart. I've listened to her Love Story and Another Picture to Burn countless times when no one else knows her except me and my iPod. And up to this day, I'm still a fan. I've heard a lot of rumors or probably facts that are not so nice about her but hey…her music is what I like.
The Red album cycle looks like Taylor Swift's biggest time to date. People started calling her a sellout as she released pop hits after pop hits with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Knew You Were Trouble and 22. Her latest single Everything Has Changed which features Ed Sheeran tries to redeem her from the public's new perception of her music.
Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran have just possibly made the cutest video ever with “Everything Has Changed,” a song they co-wrote for her current album, Red.
It revolves around two kids depicted as best friends. They are inseparable at school eating lunch together in the playground and staring in school play. In an adorable scene set in a music room, he's strumming his guitar while she's sitting at his feet and looking adorably at him. The girl resembles the country/pop singer with her long blonde curly hair and summery dresses, and the boy looks a lot like the British artist with his freckled face and curly red hair. Throughout the day, they are with their classmates, but are lost in their own little world: doing yoga when the rest of their chums are playing soccer or sitting quietly on the gym while the other children are rambunctiously run circles around them. They are happy just being in each other’s company, even when doing separate activities. It’s a little odd when he’s reading “The Notebook” to her, and when she’s giving him a tattoo. The storyline could likely spark curiosity about the nature of their relationship. But the clip is a total joy to watch as their mini-mesh has what seems like the perfect day. We don’t want to ruin anything, but make sure you watch this one until the very end for a surprise we didn’t see coming.
Can I get a collective “Awwwwwww.....” :))))
So here's the music video for Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran's song, Everything Has Changed. I know its kind of late and I already seen this video ever since its release but the video is so adorable especially the kids and I won't let this video slip in my blog! I thought Taylor and Ed won't appear in the video but I got shocked in the end! Haha. This is one of the best and my fave songs off her latest album, Red. Enough said, Just watch it and be amazed. Fall in love and adore the kids, rather. :) ♥
'Cause all I know is we said, "Hello."
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
Everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
And you'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed
Did you like the song after watching the clip? Hit the LIKE and sound off in the comment section below.
The bottom line of this post? Nah, I just want to share that for the past days I've been constantly listening to her Album Red, countless times. My favorite on the playlist? Stay, Stay, Stay and Everything has changed. Oh wait, include there her single Red and 22. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own all the pictures featured on this page belong to their respective owners. Got it from Google.
I don't know about you, but my Dad is AWESOME. It’s nice to spoil the man largely responsible for making me who I am today. I'm so proud of my Dad. He does so much more for me than I ever could have asked for, and he's always been there for me no matter what. He'd stand by me in any pinch and he'd listen to whatever I had to say. Over the years we've had more than several very good discussions. Here recently we even embarked on a Daddy/Daughter travel vacation chock full of good times, good talks, good everythings. I hope all of you out there with stand-up Dad's like mine took some time to really say thanks and to let him know he's appreciated. Having a strong, dependable, "look up to"-able father is so important. And no matter how old I get, I'll always be Daddy's Little Girl.
I LOVE YOU, Dad! Thanks for being everything you are, and for always being there for me. For putting a roof over my head, for putting cool gadgets in my hand, and being an all-around awesome man. You've taught me more than you could ever know—and that doesn't look to change any time soon. I'm always learning new things from you. I love you so much, World's Greatest Dad!
To the man who never gets tired of supporting all my silly ideas, who has loved me from the beginning and who still gives me awesome gifts even if I’m ‘pasaway’ and screw up big time and who I’m sure will love me forever. I’m lucky to have the coolest dad ever. I may be a lady now but I will always and forever be your little girl! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, Daddy-o!! And all the awesome daddies out there.
Hi everyone! In case you are not familiar with Visita Iglesia, Visita Iglesia is one of the most pleasant traditions that Catholics observe during the Lenten season. Every Maundy Thursday, also known as cuaresma or semana santa, it has been a tradition to many Filipino Catholic faithful to do the VISITA IGLESIA which literally means "church visit". This practice was introduced to us where Christians would visit churches during Maundy Thursday.
Traditionally, seven churches are visited with two stations per visit. Other Christians, with more time and effort, visit fourteen which symbolize the 14 Stations of the Cross. And as a devout Catholic, this practice has been religiously observed throughout the years. During these visits, prayer and meditation are the norms. Each church depends on your liking. Most people prefer it to be 7 like we do.
And with the numerous beautiful churches in our country specifically in Metro Manila, practicing this holy tradition has been an easy task. Another reason why Visita Iglesia is a wonderful tradition to uphold is that you not only get to remember the life of Jesus Christ on the Cross, but also you get to appreciate the beauty of the architectural designs as well as the history of the churches you have the chance to visit. Since I opted to stay in Manila for the holy week, I rather join this tradition as well as a great opportunity to explore Manila while most of the people are flocked in their respective provinces…means less crowd and less traffic. :) With the intense heat during the day, the fan is really a necessity, and of course, plenty of water or any liquid to avoid dehydration. It's summer and Mr. Sun sure is getting hotter.
In past years, we've either concentrated on a specific part of town; visiting churches clustered in that area, or worked our way to a final destination. This year, we went with the latter option - starting in Pasig, Quezon City and making our way to our final stop in Manila.
The following are the churches we have visited for this year's VISITA IGLESIA (in order of visit):
1st church: Sto. Rosario de Pasig, Rosario Pasig City
When I was still working or going somewhere in Ortigas, I used to pass by this church every single day, but I didn’t have the time to visit it. Finally, I had the chance to pray inside. The crucifix at the altar was veiled with a purple cloth, since it’s a practice to remove or veil crosses during Lent.
2nd church: St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Libis Quezon City
"Carry your cross and follow me". The way of the cross at St. Pio
It is located deep within the commercial district of Libis, and literally side-by-side with the tall buildings of Eastwood, is a picturesque little chapel dedicated to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, more affectionately known as Padre Pio. The chapel is quite unique among the churches that I have visited. They apply a very strict dress code, but they do not turn away people who come dressed less than appropriately. Instead they lend people “sarongs”, for free, with which churchgoers can cover themselves. Also, for people who didn’t wear proper shoes like flip flops or step-in shoes which is not allowed inside they usually ask to be barefooted and leave the shoes in the counter. To avoid exchange of shoes they give this small card with number so that after you pray you can claim your shoes. They also lend real wood crosses with different sizes which will be suitable for men, women, young and adults, to carry on the shoulder, for people who want to go through the Stations of the Cross.
3rd church: Christ the King, Greenmeadows Ave., Quezon City
Upon entering the church, a huge image of Christ the King on the altar will immediately capture your eyes. The image looks comely but nonetheless it is a regal image of Christ, crowned as King and enthroned in a magnificent altar. The parish church is one huge hall, upon entering one will truly appreciate the space inside the church plus the fact that it is well lighted and fully air-conditioned.
4th church: St. John Bosco Church, Makati City
I grew up going to mass here, because it is where my parents had their wedding and had my baptismal too, as well as this church is close to our house when we’re still living in Makati. It is commonly referred to by many as just the "Don Bosco Church". The highlight of the structure is the huge wooden altar sculpture, which resemble leaves in a star-shaped arrangement. The Church is light and airy, with excellent acoustics due to the impressively constructed waffled ceiling. It was also pleasantly cool because of the many air conditioners that line the church's circumference, as well as the numerous electric fans mounted on the side aisles.
5th church: St. Andrew Church, Bel-air Makati City
This church architecture to be a bit stuck in time, but this vision of the cross hanging from its high, vaulted ceiling was one that I found to be quite poignant and striking.
6th church: Manila Cathedral or Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, General Luna st., Intramuros Manila
This is one of my favorite churches in Metro; I even imagine myself having my wedding here and walking in its long aisle. Hehe Anyway, from a distance, the church looks open with all the people surrounding it. But when we approached the church, it was closed and the Stations of the Cross were stationed outside where people can pray, the sun was setting and the wind was blowing. I was a bit disappointed because I was not able to see the beautiful cathedral from inside. But, there will always be a next time anyway. We prayed and went our way to the next church which is the San Agustin Church located just a few blocks from the cathedral.
7th church: San Agustin church, General Luna st., Intramuros Manila
While walking towards the San Agustin Church, there were so many food stalls and booths surrounds the side of the road, where you can buy food or stuffs. I was thrilled to see the face of Intramuros where there are still old, beautiful and architecturally designed buildings. It was my first time to see the church. The roads, as well, were still preserved to be made of stones. The Stations of the Cross were perfectly posted in front of the church with purple cloth on each of it. It reminded us of Christ’s sufferings to wash away our sins. As we entered the church, I was so amazed by the architectural design from the ceiling to the altar. A world tradition site at that…the interiors features a classic baroque and historical significance that makes it a splendid site. The exterior of the church, though lacking a bit of charm and beauty, really showed the influence of the Spanish colonization with a touch of images on its wooden doors. After praying and lighting a candle, we stayed for a few minutes more to admire the church. It feels like heaven.
During our Visita, we carry along a booklet which guides us in our reflections. We read the designated reflection on each church we visit. Our route maybe a little too tiring considering the distance, but it is just our little way of paying back, sacrificing, reflecting and doing penance. That's actually the meaning of holy week, right? After all God is sinless yet suffered a lot more for us. But confession is much encouraged. To think, and thank God for everything that he has done for us. For all the unending blessings He's showering upon us. It's just my way to give it all back to Him because that's all I can do for Him right now. No complaints, just being thankful. :)) It may be a very tiring experience but it is also a very fulfilling one.
I hope that you guys are having a fruitful Holy Week. Thank you Lord for the gift of life, for the gift of wisdom, knowledge and grace and for your unending guidance and blessings to me and my loved ones! :))
P.S: Sorry guys didn’t take any pictures of the churches I went to because I left the camera at home and I forgot that I had my iPod with me. Haha Pictures not mine got it from Google images, credit all goes to the owner. If you are the owner and want it to be removed from this site, feel free to tell me and I'll remove it for you.
Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her...a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards... and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.
*REVIEW:
Hey guys! It’s been a while since I’ve done a book review. Today I’d like to review a book I just finished a couple of days ago, Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. Romantic? Cheesy? Cheesier? From the tearjerker ‘A Walk to Remember’ to the classic-epic ‘The Notebook’ to the downright depressing ‘Dear John’, to the new ‘Safe Haven’.
I am a self-proclaimed Nicholas Sparks fan. :) Without Nicholas Sparks I would never have added North Carolina in my list to travel to or walked down the aisle at my wedding to a guitar-violin playing “Only Hope” (just like in A Walk to Remember). Although I’ve only read couple of Nicholas Sparks’s books, and the few I haven't read are on my to-read list. I’ve watched enough of his movies to know that I’m a fan of his storytelling. I know, I know. Nicholas Sparks’ stories are cheesy. They are all set in a similar, small, southern town, and for the most part, they follow this predictable storyline…Boy meets girl, Boy falls in love with girl, For some reason, boy and girl split up, Boy and girl get back together, Boy and girl live happily ever after…. But I LOVE these cheesy stories. I love curling up on the couch with one of Sparks’ books or popping in a Sparks’ movie in my DVD player, and knowing exactly what I’m going to get.
I gotta warn you, there might be some spoilers following. Maybe this would be a good place to shout SPOILER ALERT! because, as in all my book and movie reviews, I can't be stopped from giving away too much things happened. So, if you don't want to know, then stop reading now and come back later (if you want to). :D
But on to the discussion.
Not too far into the story, I realized that this book was...different. Although it had all the hallmarks of a Nicholas Sparks tearjerker - an aura of sadness, and a safe, sleepy North Carolina town - it also had shadow of darkness.
Safe Haven is a really brilliant love story; we see love, fear, friendship, family and a controversial issue of domestic abuse, introducing us to Katie, a girl who has rocked up in Southport leaving people wondering where she’s come from. She is being hunted however, and life might not always be happy or safe. She catches the eye of Alex, not only because she is beautiful, but because she looks scared. He is owner of the biggest store in Southport, finds himself wondering about Katie, and the two slowly get to know each other. Alex used to be in the CID department of the Army and had learnt to read people.
Another person who befriends Katie is her new neighbor, Jo. Between Jo and Alex they bring Katie out of her shell and eventually, as she falls in love with Alex, she reveals what she is running from. The story follows her and Alex as they fall in love and Katie slips into the family, spending time with Alex and his children.
Around halfway through the book Katie reveals her real name and tells the story of her marriage, and her husband Kevin. What I liked is that after that we then follow Kevin’s story as well. I was intrigued that he regularly quoted Bible verses. I did like that both sides of the story were told, it added depth and meaning to the story. There were darker undertones to the novel, and I thought Sparks handled them sensitively. I’d guessed Katie’s secret, it’s well written and it didn’t necessarily bother me that I already knew. I don’t want to give too much away because although I knew what was going to happen and I’d guessed it, I still enjoyed the way Sparks presented it and there were many little surprises I enjoyed learning as I was reading. The novel is probably predictable in more ways than one, but for me, I got into it easily from the first page and I constantly wanted to pick it up and read yet another chapter.
I found the characters to be very well presented and very easy to like. I liked the characters, especially Katie and Alex. I loved how delicate they were at the beginning. Katie grabbed me from page one, with her hesitancy and her want for secrecy. Her life isn’t perfect and she isn’t perfect but I liked how direct she was. I also really loved Alex. It was so easy to feel sympathy to him as his wife had passed away…I found his kids Josh and Kristen to be totally adorable; I’m not that a fan of children but I could have totally kidnapped those two as they were so sweet. Her only friend, Jo, a grief counselor who lives in the neighboring cottage. I was incredibly surprised about what I learned about her and I liked her too. The one character I didn’t like in any way was Kevin. He was an awful, awful person. Memorable, very memorable, but horrible. I don't feel at all bad saying that he deserved what happened to him in the end.
In one scene where Alex gives a sealed letter from her wife to Katie or, as she puts it, to the woman he chooses. This is where things get a little weird. Katie's about to open the letter, alone at her house, when she notices that Jo's house is completely deserted and ramshackle-looking, as if no one has lived there in years. Before Katie even opens the letter she begins to think about her times with Jo. In a burst of the sixth sense-like clarity, Katie (and I) realized the obvious - that Jo was the ghost of Alex's wife. Well the truth about Jo truly knocked me for a loop. It was something I didn't see coming, and it was actually that secret that had me in tears more than the rest of the story. I had known there was something off about Jo but had chalked it up to her being one of those nosy, meddlesome friend characters. I was also a little creeped out. Jo's letter to Katie is every bit as heartrending as you'd expect it to be. Sparks pulls out all the stops with his signature story-telling device - the letter. It adds a whole new dimension to the kind of love triangle between spouse, deceased spouse, and new lover.
Finding out Katie's secret though, I pretty much saw that one coming, and had already guessed that it would lead to some kind of explosive encounter towards the end of the book...and it did. The character of Kevin made me squirm and feel disgusted, and I really wanted to reach through my iPod screen and kill the guy. So excellent job at creating this horrid and nasty character. He definitely falls into the villain category.
Anyway, I haven’t watched the film adaptation yet, but, I am looking forward to seeing it. I can already see a few changes they've made, based on watching the trailer. In the book Katie starts out as a blonde and then dyes her hair to become a brunette, but in the movie it shows her as starting off as a brunette and then becoming a blonde. Okay, not a huge change really but still it could have remained true to the story. Also, in the book Alex is described as being one of those younger men who goes grey prematurely, but in the movie he has a nice brown hair. Come on, again, it is a small detail, but they could have done it. There are a few other minor stories and plot details I noticed have changed, but I can't make a full comparison until I actually see the movie.
I thoroughly enjoyed Safe Haven. The ending is very fast-paced and I found myself constantly reading, reading, and reading so I could finish it and see how it was all going to end. It was frantic and I just couldn’t put it down. Nicholas Sparks is a hugely enjoyable author. I love his books and movies. There’s no shame that he’s a romance author, his love stories are traditional and I can see why he’s so popular and why a lot of his novels are made into movies. Safe Haven was just a wonderful read; it made me believe in love (corny, right?). I liked that Safe Haven eschewed all of the normal love story rules. Katie and Alex’s relationship progresses at a nice, steady pace. There are so few traditional love stories in Romance Lit that Nicholas Sparks provides a nice distraction. He always seems to have something sad in them but even so they are amazing!
The ending of the book was so exciting! Kevin came and chased Katie. I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down once he discovered where she was. The ending was tense, but really good. There was a twist that I didn’t see coming and I enjoyed the ending. I was satisfied and gripped until the end.
So overall, this is a must read story. This is a great book. I think Sparks dealt with the issue of domestic abuse and death very well. The characters were so easy to like. It has it all. The love story, the suspense, and a little bit of a 'wow factor' which is how I like to call it. I'm not going to spoil it but Jo is the wow factor in this story. I absolutely recommend this book. I believe you won't be disappointed. All I can say in the end is thank you Nicholas for this incredible story. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Last January 6, 2012 we had a “mini friend’s reunion” at Greenbelt and it was delightful! Finally, I could be with the friends I had missed so much. Reminiscing the moments, bonding and “kalokohans” we had for staying together for almost three months in a same condo, same building tower and two floors away but of course in different rooms. Hihihi :P 6O, 6S and 8F are numbers we’ll never forget. We are almost complete – Me, Bern, Sha, Gaena, Paige, Yo, Bobby and Josh are present. I’m kinda sad that Mommy Gina wasn’t able to attend and this calls for a round two. Communication was minimal, yet our hearts had remained close. Some friendships defy space and time.
This is one fun-filled day of laughter, togetherness, about hundreds of pictures, cam-whoring and photo shoot, dawdling and fooling around so it takes twice as long to get where we need to go, and did I mention laughter (coz’ there was a lot of it)! HAHA! :)) And by the way, it takes us almost an hour, deciding where to eat and choosing what resto to have our dinner. Finally, since it’s getting too late we eat dinner at Italliani’s. Pizza, Pastas, Chicken fingers, Mussels and smoothies. Sooo bloated!! Happy tummy!! Thanks to Joshie for the treat. :))
Dinner @ Italliani's
Seriously, when my friends and I get together we have the best time ever! Yeah! My friends are the greatest. I know that everyone had a great time and we're already planning subsequent mini reunions because we enjoyed each others' company so much.
But hey, let pictures speak for themselves.
Camwhoring at night! Girls and Boys!
Photoshoot on a sunny afternoon @ Greenbelt 3
Fooling around on the camera and dinner @ Italliani's
I've been good. I've been bad. I've been naughty. I've been nice. I've been up. I've been down. I've lost. I've triumphed. I laughed. I cried. I took a big leap and occasionally look back from where I came from. I let go.
It is New Year! It is 2013. Whatever 2012 was for you and me, we need to be thankful that we're still alive and we have a chance to change ourselves and the world (nah that might be too heavy for some! haha). The year 2012 was a roller coaster of emotions. I would be very happy at one moment but I would be crying thereafter. But I am still thankful that I was given another year. I got to learn new things, did a few things that I've never done before, been to places, met some good people and spent time with my loved-ones.
Everything happens for a reason. We may not understand the reason behind a particular situation but we will eventually realize what it was for. It has its own purpose why it was given to us. I'm speaking from my own personal experience and as well as the events that had surrounded our country the past year. We may not be able to change everything in a snap or a blink of an eye but we can be an instrument for that change. Change should start within us.
As usual, my intro sounds so heavy but really it is not. Hihi! I've gotta make some changes in my life. How do people call it? "New Year's Resolution" ?? I'd rather call it my 2013 Guidelines. This is not my first time to make a new year's resolution. In fact, what's new about this year is that this might be the first time I'll follow one. HAHA I made this yesterday when I got home from sundate with some friends. I can't sleep, ahh!! I made this out of spontaneity. Everything was just flowing. What's good about it is that I am aware of what to change and what to not. I'm kind of ambivalent though because I think 2013 is the turning point of my life. I hope soooo...I take the boards last December 2012 and I'm not yet even sure if I can make it with flying colors. I need to pass it or even top it. Yes! I'm not setting limitations for myself. I do the friggin’ best that I can! Oh good Lord, please give my RN license to me!! It's my number one and only choice.
Ergo, for me to succeed this year, I have to be guided by the following.
2013 Guidelines:
Never miss nor be late for a Sunday mass.
Rekindle relationship with God by constantly communicating with him.
Learn the GREAT gap between a "want" and a"need".
Realize that the best things in life are free. Be less materialistic.
Manage time wisely.SERIOUSLY. YUNG TOTOO NA.
Remove the word procrastination from my vocabulary.
Reflect on the gift of everyday.
Start healthy living. Lessen eating fatty foods and meat! Eat more fruits and vegetables instead. Gaaaaah!THIS IS THE HARDEST.
Jog at least once a week.
Fix my room at least twice a week.
Read more books apart from those for academic purposes.
Write. Blog. Express my thoughts even more. It's my way of unloading my feelings and it does help.
Lessen my McDonald's/fastfood food trips.
Be nice and smile more.
Pamper myself once in a while. A good massage, facial, out of town getaway, not so much with food.
Be a more relaxed driver. Understand other motorists for being so stupid on the road.
Drive slower. Don't step too much on gas pedal. As requested by my dad. OK FINE!
Not aim to be the best but try my very best.
Breathe, chill, and relax.
SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! We don't know what will happen next.
Accept other people as they are. I'm not thinking highly of myself. It's just that I'm not very comfortable with "some" people.
Watch concerts. I hope I can...I need tooo much penny!!! Sponsors puhleeeease!!:'(
Have good clean fun. I can only live once. YOLO.
Don't let time and chance slip by because I'm too sleepy.
Be more assertive.
Remove the word procrastination from my vocabulary.
As this cliche goes, LIVE. LOVE. LAUGH. Enjoy life! Carpe diem!
I'll add more just in case. How about you? What are your 2012 guidelines?
Let's all stay positive and start the year right. :)
I know, I suck! I haven't blogged in a while. I wonder if there's any 'blogging juice' left in my brain. :P I'll only briefly apologize for the lateness of this post, which I meant to have written up within a couple of days of it happening. But I'm just a 'little' girl reveling in a break, so I got lazy and am just now getting to writing it up. But anyway, excuses, excuses, right?? Hihihi
Congratulations!! I've made it this far! With that trending "end of the world" thing...Naahh!! Sure 2012 has been a hard and tough year; yet I survived it!! Clap! Clap!
2013 is fast approaching, and whenever a new year is on the horizon I get a bit nostalgic for the one I am about to close to chapter on. I tend to think about all those things I did or didn't accomplish, and look forward with hope and wonder about what opportunities this year will bring. Another 365 days are ahead of me. What's in store of me? I don't know what God's plans are for me. But whatever it'll be, I know it would be for my own good.
My 2012 started out quite rough. There were so many challenges I needed to face that almost put my spirit down. It was like a machine gun firing continuously at me, and the tough part was I didn't die with the first, second or third shot...It wasn't anything like the real thing. I had to endure all those bullets being shot at me. There were so many things going on and being my normal self who is an optimist, it was not really a pain in the ass. {Sarcastic me! I'm human too! I feel pain! Hehe} Still, I'm thankful! It was not like I had the world's biggest problem. I know I'm still blessed compared to others.
It's been a crazy year. I'm sure this applies to a lot people. There are many reasons to be thankful for what you've brought about, but at the same time there are also plenty of reasons to be pissed off. I've had my fair share of trials and tribulations with you but I can honestly say that I don't blame you. There are many things that I've learned from you. There are many things that I picked up from the pain you've brought about but also many good memories from the smiles you've brought to me.
Looking back at those hard times, it made me somewhat proud of myself probably because I was able to face them rather than cry in one corner or run. I feel like giving myself a big, big pat on the shoulder now. Haha! :)) Looking back, it also made me realize how God truly loves me unconditionally. Though, I wasn't really giving my all to Him, He did....He was still faithful with his promises even though I wasn't really in complete obedience in the past years. He was (and is) answering my all-time prayer: to not give up on me, no matter what, even if I have given up on myself and on Him. There were moments I felt like not seeking Him, but he was still there. He never left and that was what I truly needed, not a timeout with Him. It was God who carried me through all life's obstacles for the past years. I'm sure he will do the same thing, even more, this 2013.
Then it took me to a cloud, you brought me up so high. Met new friends along the way. You gave me hope; gave me something to believe in. Inspired me and reminded me of what it's like to have faith, to believe in something you can't even see, to fight for something that you truly think is worth it.
Last year was not just dark moments. I still had my fair share of life's ups and downs. My family received a handful of blessings before the year ended. I was able to discover something I can do, career-wise. I had accomplished, even not all, more than what I had planned for the year. Yeeeyy!! :D I made new friends, great friends actually. Most of all, I made a lot of realizations and learned many lessons before the New Year kicked off.
It taught me fear, reminded me of trauma and reminded me that life doesn't always work out the way you want it to, no matter how hard you believe in it or no matter how hard you fight for it. It taught me that there are some battles you can't win, that no matter what, friends and family will always be there for you. They will stand with you through thick and thin and they will support you no matter what how hopeless you may seem to them. They will always have your back as long as you're in the right path and that they will give you advice even if you don't seem to pay attention to them.
Reminiscing how I've lived my life, I've realized I'm still missing out a lot in life. I want to do sooo many things and I promise myself that I'll do my best to achieve it!! This year, it wouldn't be the same thing. I want a "new" year. It's not about becoming new.....I just want a better me. I want to look at life from a different perspective. It just feels good when you feel good about life whatever it brings. Life doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to be beautiful in our sight, and we can choose to see it this way. Well, this 2013 I've got another year, another 365 days to fully embrace and celebrate life's beauty and goodness, to choose happiness every single day. I guess that's not so hard to do. While we cannot change the things in front us, the things of the world, we can change our outlook on life: to appreciate more and complain less; to thank God more and question Him less; and to love and live life to the fullest no matter how tough the world may seem.
With that, I say goodbye to you 2012.....I thank you for the lessons you have taught me, the people you've brought into my life and the trials that you've given me. I say goodbye to you with a smile on my face not because I'm glad that you're over, but because I'm glad that you've left me several lessons which I have yet to learn.
So today, we face a new beginning. A new hope was given to us. We have to set our minds and hearts for what is about to happen. As long as we have faith in God and we believe in ourselves, nothing is impossible. ;) This year let us make ourselves better, wiser and bolder. Cheers to confidence, maturity, witty and love. Always remember that this 2013, a new journey awaits. For those who were part of my 2012, THANK YOU for sticking around and let us continue this little journey that we started. I will greet 2013 with a big resounding hello and I can only hope that it's as great as you've been to me.
2013 here I come!!! Just walk, talk and enjoy the roller coaster ride. :))
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! HAPPY 2013!! Let's welcome it with a banggg!!
**Sorry it's kinda long for first entry this year! Too many thoughts to share.**
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2013 Guidelines:
It's been a crazy year. I'm sure this applies to a lot people. There are many reasons to be thankful for what you've brought about, but at the same time there are also plenty of reasons to be pissed off. I've had my fair share of trials and tribulations with you but I can honestly say that I don't blame you. There are many things that I've learned from you. There are many things that I picked up from the pain you've brought about but also many good memories from the smiles you've brought to me.
Then it took me to a cloud, you brought me up so high. Met new friends along the way. You gave me hope; gave me something to believe in. Inspired me and reminded me of what it's like to have faith, to believe in something you can't even see, to fight for something that you truly think is worth it.
Reminiscing how I've lived my life, I've realized I'm still missing out a lot in life. I want to do sooo many things and I promise myself that I'll do my best to achieve it!! This year, it wouldn't be the same thing. I want a "new" year. It's not about becoming new.....I just want a better me. I want to look at life from a different perspective. It just feels good when you feel good about life whatever it brings. Life doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to be beautiful in our sight, and we can choose to see it this way. Well, this 2013 I've got another year, another 365 days to fully embrace and celebrate life's beauty and goodness, to choose happiness every single day. I guess that's not so hard to do. While we cannot change the things in front us, the things of the world, we can change our outlook on life: to appreciate more and complain less; to thank God more and question Him less; and to love and live life to the fullest no matter how tough the world may seem.
With that, I say goodbye to you 2012.....I thank you for the lessons you have taught me, the people you've brought into my life and the trials that you've given me. I say goodbye to you with a smile on my face not because I'm glad that you're over, but because I'm glad that you've left me several lessons which I have yet to learn.
