the wolf's lair

something wicked this way comes...

2010-11-12T21:51:00.001-08:00

the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...can't hardly wait!

ang pagmamahal ni paeng sa basketbol...at sa pilipinas

2010-09-02T03:35:00.000-07:00

hinde ko maalala kung saang blog (translation: blag?!) ko nakita ang bidyo (video?! ewan! hahaha) ng paanyaya ni rafael bartolome na pumunta sa kanyang 'book launch' sa isang cafe sa new york...pero natutuwa ako at nangyari yun...

siguro nga nakakalungkot isipin na ang isang banyaga na tulad niya ay mas matatas pang magsalita sa ating wikang pambansa...ngunit isang malaking karangalan ang mabigyang pansin ng isang banyaga ang madalas ay ating nakakalimutang pahalagahan - ang ating mga sarili. Ang ating sariling kultura, sariling wika at maraming natatanging bagay na likas sa atin at masasabing tatak Pinoy! Kaya salamat Rafe sa pagpapaalala sa amin nito sa pamamagitan ng iyong aklat na

Pacific Rims

Beermen Ballin' in Flip-Flops

and the Philippines' Unlikely Love Affair

with Basketball

Salamat sa iyong pagbabalik sa Pilipinas at sa pamamahagi sa mundo tungkol sa mga Pilipino!

Mabuhay ka, Rafe Bartholomew!

great photography

2010-07-25T00:06:00.001-07:00

great photos of my cousin's wedding...

ed pingol photography

harry potter and the deathly hallows trailer

2010-06-30T03:49:00.001-07:00

most forwarded video

2010-06-30T03:48:00.000-07:00

here's the link to an article about Rafe Bartholomew:

American Author's Fluent Tagalog can put some Pinoys to shame

LOVE this American!!!

2010-06-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

this is one fine young author who loves the Filipinos' passion for everything especially basketball that he wrote his book in Filipino! THAT IS SOMETHING!!!

too bad, we can't see ourselves as passionately as other nations do...BUT let's hope all that changes with our new president, a new government...

here's the great American endorsing his book on YouTube:

it comes in three's...

2010-02-09T02:29:00.000-08:00

i encountered three 'not-so-good' incidents in the span of only three days...

saturday - an 'offer'

sunday - a 'foiled' plan

monday - 'lost'

whatever this implies, i'm sure Bro has his reasons...to teach me a thing or two...

ingat palagi! ;p

what hollywod have to offer this 2010...

2010-01-13T04:19:00.000-08:00

i'm looking forward to this movies:

other movies to watch out for...

roses are red...

2009-12-28T03:07:00.001-08:00

i was looking for a new banner image for my blog and chance upon this cool .gif

2009 CNN heroes...

2009-12-26T07:16:00.000-08:00

brad blauser
http://www.wheelchairsforiraqikids.com/

roy foster
http://www.standown.org/

doc hendley
http://www.winetowater.org/

andrea ivory
http://www.flbreasthealth.com/

betty makoni
http://girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/

jorge munoz
http://www.anangelinqueens.org/

efren penaflorida
http://dynamicteencompany.org/

budi soehardi
http://www.roslinorphanage.org/

derrick tabb
http://www.therootsofmusic.com/

jordan thomas
http://www.jordanthomasfoundation.org

see the rest of this year's CNN Heroes:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive09/index.html

philippines' 40 richest...

2009-12-26T06:46:00.000-08:00

here are the top 10 richest filipinos:

henry sy
lucio tan
jaime zobel de ayala
andrew tan
john gokongwei
tony tan caktiong
eduardo cojuangco jr.
enrique razon jr.
manuel villar
george ty

and the rest of us are poor :(

check out the complete list:
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/86/philippines-billionaires-09_The-Philippines-40-Richest_Rank.html

world's friendliest countries

2009-12-25T20:47:00.000-08:00

Bahrain
Canada
Australia
Thailand
Malaysia
South Africa
Hong Kong
Singapore
Spain
United States

check out the whole story and ranking at:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/30/worlds-friendliest-countries-lifestyle-travel-canada-bahrain-hsbc-chart.html?partner=popstories

mabuhay ka, Efren!!!

2009-11-22T04:22:00.000-08:00

hope this would inspire every young Pilipino to help the less fortunate and promote education and literacy...more power to Efren and his commitment to empower the Pilipino youth!!! mabuhay ka Efren!!!

Stars come out for CNN Heroes ceremony
by lynn elber, ap television writer lynn elber, ap television writer

los angeles – kate hudson, pierce brosnan, neil patrick harris and other stars who are used to getting applause were giving it gladly at a ceremony honoring people who make a difference in the lives of others.

"i've cried twice and we're on hero three," harris said backstage after introducing one of the 10 "cnn heroes" celebrated saturday by the tv news network for their efforts to fight poverty, disease and other problems.

"there are so many awards shows every year for the hollywood community that participating in something as effective as this makes those others feel inconsequential" and provides perspective, said harris, star of cbs' "how i met your mother" and recent emmy awards host.

the top cnn hero of the year and a grant of $100,000 went to a young man who embraced education for himself and other filipinos as an escape from poverty. he and the other honorees received $25,000 each.

as a child, efren penaflorida picked school over gang life in cavite city and vowed to create a way for other children to make the same choice. he created a program that brings bring books to children in slums and on the streets, and the 10,000 members of his dynamic teen co. have brought reading, writing and hygiene to 1,500 youngsters.

"my message to children of all races, please, to embrace learning and love it for it will embrace and love you back and enable you to change your world," said penaflorida, now a 21-year-old college graduate.

"each person has a hidden hero within, just have to look inside you and search it in your heart and be the hero the next one in need," he said in accepting the top honor.

brosnan, honoring a woman who started an anti-breast cancer project, created one of the evening's most emotional moments as he recalled his late wife's failed battle against the disease. she was a "magnificent mother, a wonderful actor," he said of cassandra harris, who died of ovarian cancer in 1991.

"there are too many of us who have lost someone to this brutal disease called cancer, and we are all sick and tired of cancer winning," he said in introducing breast cancer survivor andrea ivory, who runs a mobile mammography project in miami that provides free screenings.

the pair posed backstage for photos, ivory glamorous in a gown with an oversized pink bow — symbolic of the ribbons that mark the breast cancer battle.

"stunning," brosnan said, smiling broadly as cameras focused on her.

"you make me nervous," ivory replied, but brosnan would have none of it. "you're the star," he said.

cnn anchor anderson cooper hosted the kodak theatre ceremony that was attended by about 4,000 people and will air on cnn at 9 p.m. est thursday, thanksgiving day, and on cnn international and cnn en espanol.

leona lewis, carrie underwood and maxwell performed, and other presenters included nicole kidman and george lopez.

the awards show, which is unusual for a tv news network, was created in 2007 after cnn producers and correspondents talked about meeting many unsung heroes, said jim walton, president of cnn worldwide.

"we do something that's not done — shine a light on everyday people that do extraordinary work," walton said before the event.

the 10 finalists were selected from more than 9,000 submissions by a panel that included former secretary of state colin powell, whoopi goldberg and ted turner. the winner was chosen online by the public, with nearly 3 million votes cast.

others honored saturday were:

• brad blauser, dallas and baghdad, who started a wheelchair distribution program for iraqi children.
• roy foster, west palm beach, fla., an army veteran who helps veterans battling addiction and homelessness.
• doc hendley, boone, n.c., a bartender who raises money to fund clean-water initiatives worldwide.
• betty makoni, essex, england, founder of an organization for young victims of sexual abuse.
• jorge munoz, queens, n.y., a school bus driver who helps feed the hungry.
• budi soehardi, singapore, founder of a children's home in one of the poorest areas of indonesia.
• derrick tabb, new orleans, founder of a free music education program for young people in his city.
• jordan thomas, chattanooga, tenn., who lost his legs in a boating accident and raises money to buy prosthetics for needy children.

___
on the net:
http://www.cnn.com/heroes

2009 CNN heroes of the year

2009-11-15T14:12:00.001-08:00

of brothers and sisters...

2009-08-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

LOVE this show!!!

for our most beloved president...

2009-08-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

what's in a name...

2009-04-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

discovered this cool site where you could check some history behind your name and countries that use it frequently...

my name is - CHRISTIAN ARMAN

CHRISTIAN
Gender: Masculine Usage: English, French, German, Scandinavian
Pronounced: KRIS-chən (English), KRISH-chən (English), krees-TYAWN (French), kris-TEE-ahn (German)
From the Medieval Latin name Christianus meaning "a Christian" (see CHRISTOS). In England it has been in use since the Middle Ages, during which time it was used by both males and females, but it did not become common until the 17th century. In Denmark the name has been borne by ten kings since the 15th century. A famous bearer was Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), the Danish author of such fairy tales as 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.

ARMAN
Gender: Masculine Usage: Kazakh
Other Scripts: Арман (Kazakh)
Means "dream" in Kazakh, of Persian origin.

so basically, my name means "a Christian dream"...strong enough...

check what your name means at

http://www.behindthename.com

let's start this again...

2009-04-07T03:03:00.000-07:00

hope i update this religiously this time...keep your fingers crossed...

of feelings and emotions...

2008-10-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

i received this text message last march 3, 2007 (19:22) from my good friend ruby ann and it goes like this:

"one cannot question the existence of feelings; they are there, raw and undeniable. but one can choose to not nurture what is felt. yet, no matter what they say, what has been felt will always be more honest than what was chosen. hence, true realities are not built by the mind but by the heart…."

recently, i chose to not nurture a certain feeling i felt when i found out about something. Too obscure? Let’s just say, I chose to accept the fact that I wasn’t the one and that somebody else got into where I’m supposed to be (or so I thought).

Hehehe Malabo pa rin ba?

I have always been positive about things. I was never a pessimist. I always try to look on the brighter side of things, even if sometimes, others tend to look the other way.

But it’s never easy… You will always feel the inevitable - fear, disappointment, sadness, anger, hate. And honestly, it’s really hard to shy away from these raw emotions. Even after ignoring them and moving on, they will still be there inside us.

(NOTE: this entry was posted on monday, march 12th, 2007 at 9:32 am and is filed under Text Messages @ my friendster account.)

the next step...

2008-08-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

i'm thinking of creating new blog sites in order to organize my thoughts more...

hmmmm...but would i be able to constantly update all of them? like how i have so many multiply accounts...

what categories should i group together? i'm thinking of creating just two - yeah, just two more - blog sites for fear of neglecting the others just like what's happening with my multiply accounts...in addition to my multiply, i also have two or three webshots accounts...coz i just can't stop taking pictures!

i know! i'll start with deleting pictures where i'm not a part of...but that would be a stressful work for me! i just can't delete a good picture...even if i'm not on it! we'll see what happens...

interview ala-starstruck...

2008-08-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

where: psBank
when : aug 05, '08
time : 8:30AM - 9:30PM

this has been a looooooong day! whew! but it was all worth it! i went in to have an aptitude exam at psBank... there were 73 of us who took the exam...but only 29 people passed...i was glad when i heard my number, "56", but was waiting for either numbers "55" or "57" to be called...alas, i was the only one in our table of around 9 or 10 who passed...i was relieved and very grateful that i managed to answer most of the questions right...even the verbal ability tests were really something...

so next stop, we filled up the application form, took sack's personality test, answered some situational questions...then waited...

and waited...for like 4hrs before we got interviewed ala-starstruck...

in the interview, we were to step up on the stage and present ourselves while our "judges" where seated in front of us...it really was like an audition where the audience are applicants like us waiting for their turn to be interviewed...

the first one, the judges called out her name so i understand if she were all nervous and unsteady...that must have been tough going first but that's how it goes...

for the next interviews, the "judges" asked who wants to volunteer...so "la sallite" went for it...and i must admit, i was impressed...nothing short of what i would expect from a "la sallista"...turns out he went to a mission for his church (by the way, he's a mormon) so he wasn't able to start his corporate career when he graduated...so now, he's vying for an IT post or the likes...he was really good onstage...knew the right words to say...hehehe i didn't get his name though...it's a very unique name, that's why...

the third "volunteer", he struggled with his answers and with his english...

the next one, is the husband of one of my favorite teachers in college (mam maggie)...he clearly stated his credentials and so we found out that he have 3 jobs right now...must be a feat to juggle 3 jobs at the same time...but i've known my teachers back in college and i know that it is humanly possible to do so...the panel asked him if he would be willing to give up his other part-time job, and that's when it went rocky...but as always, PUPians managed to survive...

up next, is another one of PUP's pride...ME!!! hehehe before i went onstage, i got the chills and felt the coldness of the a/c...so i wore my jacket to stop my teeth chattering and shaking...and i also remembered, like everyone else in the interview, i haven't eaten dinner...but fortunately, i was calm when i stepped onstage and i believe was able to answer each and every question correctly...speaking straight english and good grammar all the way...wooh! what a relief!

presenting my austin training has really been my trump card in my recent job interviews and i'm so thankful about it...the bond contract of 2 years is all worth it...

i was inspired by a lot of the other people who got up on stage and presented themselves...one was from tuguegarao and the reason she wants to work with psBank is because she wants to continue finishing her school...she's an undergraduate only in her 2nd year in college...

another story that inspired me, is one girl who lost his two brothers (one in aneurism and the other drowned)...apparently, one of these brothers left 3 kids...so her motivation looking for a stable job is to support his 3 nieces/nephews...

the last two people are the showstoppers...both full of personality that more than made up for their english...so the night ended in a good mood...

on the way to the elevator, "la sallite" caught up with me and said that he thought i was good...i didn't know what to say so i just smiled and said thank you...now, that must be something! hahaha for a la sallite to compliment me on my communication skill...in that moment, i felt proud for what i've accomplished...PUP got represented! and i'm on a roll...

waiting for a callback though...i'll keep you guys posted...wish me luck!

;p

quote of the day...

2008-08-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

"kung tutuusin, hinde naman masarap ang alak...

yung mga kainuman lang ang nagpapasarap..."

-Bob Ong

it's august!

2008-07-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

again, it's august and i failed to post as much blogs as i can during july...thanks to us having no internet in the office...bummer!

what's coming this august...a lot of my friends are having their birthdays this month...so i'll try to share stuff about those celebrants....

i'll try to finish my lists of stuff that i need to post in here...so much to do, so little time...

oh well, see you later!

;p

joke of the day...

2008-07-14T02:11:00.001-07:00

what if makasakay mo sa jeep ang MAHAL mo, kasama ung ipinalit sayo...anong gagawin mo?

AKO...simple lang!! sisigaw ako,

"MAMA, PARA NA PO! BYAHENG IMPYERNO PALA TO!"

hehehe ;p

quote of the day

2008-07-14T01:53:00.000-07:00

in your life, you meet many people.

some you never think about again. some you wonder what happened to them.

there are some that you wonder if they ever think about you...

and then there are some that you wish you never had to think about again...

...but you do

happy birthday papa!

2008-07-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

a great film...

2008-07-06T07:21:00.001-07:00

i just saw the digital film, "ang lihim ni antonio" and it's one of the BEST, if not, THE BEST indie film i've seen yet!

superb acting esp from ms. sharmaine buencamino and the two new actors kenjie garcia and josh ivan morales...the small but significant role that jiro manio played was given justice by the talented young actor...

great screenplay...great script...

award-winning film...

"ang lihim ni antonio"

directed by jose alterejos
written by lex bonife

the gossips about "gossip girl"...

2008-06-18T02:16:00.001-07:00

here's one sexy scene...teaching how to play pool...

the jonas brothers...

2008-06-17T15:27:00.001-07:00

i still have to know what gets every girl crazy about this group...

yeah i've seen the hanson's and the moffatts' to have an idea of what to expect...

but maybe they're even better...or yet - worst...

i'll let you guys know when i get the chance to hear this boys out...

thanks, dad!

2008-06-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

happy father's day, papa! thanks for everything!
you are surely missed!

i supported hillary...

2008-06-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

analysis:

clinton loosens up — finally

washington - this one's for the girls.

that was hillary rodham clinton's message saturday as she ended her presidential bid — a final, full-throated acknowledgment of what her pioneering quest had meant to women.

it was a moving, genuine and unexpected moment for clinton, who spent most of her campaign playing down her gender as a way to reassure voters who might have trouble imagining a female commander in chief.

speaking to supporters at the national building museum here, clinton finally seemed to jettison the counsel she'd received over the course of her 17-month campaign to be safe and non-controversial — advice that made her seem steely and dull and robbed her of the magic her barrier-breaking campaign might otherwise have had.

also gone was the careful, poll-tested message of "strength and experience" she had pressed throughout the campaign, which emphasized her toughness at the expense of her humanity and warmth.

in defeat, the former first lady was finally free — and clearly eager to let it rip.

"although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it," clinton said — a reference to the millions of voters who supported her in the primaries.

"the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time," she said to applause and cheers.

the former first lady who made history with her election to the senate in 2000 spoke of running for president as both a mother and a daughter. her weeping 89-year-old mother, dorothy rodham, and 28-year old daughter chelsea stood nearby.

she channeled suffragists who gathered in seneca falls, new york, in 1848. she noted that biases against women still exist. and she spoke to female insecurity, urging women not to take the wrong message from her defeat and fail to try to achieve their dreams.

"it would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, i in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours," she said. "when you stumble, keep faith. and, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on."

the speech offered a telling glimpse into what might have happened had clinton shed her pantsuit-clad androgyny and presented herself instead as what she was: a female trailblazer, going where no woman in this country had ever gone before.

clinton's passionate female supporters recognized that side of her all along — hugging her on the rope line at campaign events and whispering into her ear as though she were one of their girlfriends. they proudly wore her campaign buttons and angrily pushed back on what they viewed as sexist trash-talk by television commentators and political opponents.

but to her skeptics, she was "just another clinton" — a calculating politician driven by overweening ambition, ready to steamroll her opponents if that's what it took to get elected. they never for a second doubted she was tough enough to take the 3 a.m. phone call — they just wanted to elect someone else to do it instead.

would things have been different had the new york senator peeled back the armor and embraced her femininity? no one will ever know. but she won the new hampshire primary after finally showing some emotion.

polls show obama still has considerable work to do to win over clinton's anguished female backers — a matter she addressed in her speech by acknowledging how much both candidates had in common.

to do so, she linked the milestones each had hit — she as the first serious female candidate, he as the first black to be nominated by a major party for president.

"children today will grow up taking for granted that an african-american or a woman can, yes, become the president of the united states," she said.

watching the speech at home in chicago, obama clearly recognized the message clinton was sending to women and quickly embraced it.

"i honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run," he said in a statement. "she shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams."

___

by beth fouhy, associated press writer sat jun 7, 5:41pm et

EDITOR'S NOTE: Beth Fouhy covers presidential politics for The Associated Press.

See latest stories on Yahoo! News

whenever we ask God, "why me?"

2008-05-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

hot edu

2008-05-26T19:29:00.001-07:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

another fun site to play with...

gangsta rancer & edu

2008-05-26T19:01:00.001-07:00

Myspace Glitter Graphics

found this really cute site where you can add stamps on pictures and accessorize them the way you want...

try it out! it's cool!

disney fever...

2008-05-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

i chanced upon this disney makeover of the princesses' princes...it's funny and i must say, very creative...i will never look at these disney characters the same way again...hehehe ;p

bowling with EDD dream team...

2008-05-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

rancer & edu

kuya omar

edu puto

me...

rancer

minamino

happy birthday rancer!

2008-05-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

just want to wish my good friend, randy, happy 25th birthday!

thanks for the friendship - the laughter, the patience, for sharing the good times and the bad times and for being one of the reasons why working is stress-free and FUN!!!

although you drive me crazy sometimes, you also helped me a lot in keeping my sanity intact with every little thing i worry about...thanks for being there to remind me to be patient and calm in dealing with trivial things. i appreciate the effort and above all i thank you for accepting me for who i am (for the lunatic that i am)...

we're blessed to have the 25th of May to celebrate the friend we all love and depend on...

happy birthday, randz!

the last david standing...

2008-05-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

the first rocker to win the title!

after a seemingly close match between the two david's, david cook beat front-runner little david archuleta with a whooping 12 million votes!

david cook is a true rock star, and his win was a milestone for all the rock 'n' roll fans who'd previously speed-dialed in vain for past contenders like bo bice and chris daughtry and never thought a rock singer could really win this competition.

and cook's reaction--the tears (while his guyliner remained perfectly unsmudged), the gracious treatment of his opponent, the huge hug from his over-the-moon mom, etc.--was a mark of a true winner...

the new american idol...

thanks, mom!

2008-05-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

happy mother's day, mama! thanks for everything!

my top 5 finalists for american idol season 7

2008-05-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

in my opinion, this should have been the top 5 finalists for this season of american idol (all things considered - voice, personality, performance):

and below is the order from 6th place to 12th...

and this fellow should have been part of the top 12...

movie to watch...

2008-04-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite TV series, sex and the city and the much anticipated movie is expected to be a hit...

of course, what i love most about this series (believe it or not!) is the friendship of the four main characters - carrie, samantha, miranda and charlotte...amidst their triumphs and failures in life especially in their lovelife, their friendship acts as a cushion whenever any of them takes a fall...whether it's a break-up, an unfulfilled orgasm, a divorce or someone to watch over the baby - they can always rely on each other to listen to their stories, give them a hug, answer their late-night calls and set aside their differences just for the sake of their friendship...

a few of my favorite things...

2008-04-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

alas! i haven't done much this april...hehehe anyway, it's not too late...

to start off, here are my two most favorite cartoon characters...

KURAMA
the fox
a.k.a. Dennis, Minamino, Youko

my most favorite anime character, i love how kurama acts cool and calm in any given situation...even in tight and difficult ones...which i find hard to do...hehehe not to mention his fighting style and subtle but vicious means of attacking and surprising his enemies...

BUGS BUNNY

what's up, doc?

my all-time favorite cartoon character, this cunning and funny rabbit never failed to make me laugh...

where he gets his lifetime supply of carrots...and how he moves from one place to another, from one hole to the next...i would never know...

a blast from the past...(part 2)

2008-03-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

more pictures of li'l ol' me...

a blast from the past...(part 1)

2008-03-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

i found pictures of me when i was younger...and cuter...hehehe ;p check it out!

things to come...

2008-03-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

hey guys!

unfortunately, i'm not doing good when it comes to updating my blog so to make up for it i have here a list of things to watch out for in this little old blog of mine when April sets in...so here it goes:

1. american idol

my favorite idols...music i've learned to love since hearing it on the show...critique on each idols...

2. women who inspire me

people who defines the word "woman"...and exudes beauty and grace in inspiring not only me but other people as well just by being the women in our lives...

3. men who inspire me

people who represents the strength of "men"...people i look up to as "real men"...men who inspire me to be a better man...

4. features

i plan on having daily/weekly features of people, places and stuff that i love and admire...this would also coincide with my other blogs "women who inspire me" and "men who inspire me"...

but would focus more on people around me...like my friends...so if you are one of my "FRIENDS", then expect your face to pop up in here any time soon!

5. poem of the week

special poems that i love and poems that i've written...

6. quote of the week

inspirational quotations and famous sayings...text messages

7. movies to watch

movies i would love to see and movies i recommend! ;p

8. recent happenings/accomplishments/achievements

the usual stuff that happens about me...things i'm busy with...anecdotes and life lessons...

9. current events

my views on headlines and world news...

10. my top 10...top 21...

a list of the things i'm crazy about...

where i got the music...

2008-03-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

American Idol Season 7 Top 24

2008-03-03T01:44:00.001-08:00

Paano kapag ako’y nagmahal?

2008-02-14T03:26:00.000-08:00

haaaay...it's v-day again! another love-less valentine's...

the irony is, i have so much love to give but nobody seems to want it...oh well, maybe it's not the right time yet...maybe she's still searching for me...maybe i still am not ready for her...or maybe she's not ready for someone like me yet...

maybe...

anyway, here's a poem i wrote back in college days...to celebrate heart's day and to celebrate LOVE...

Paano kapag ako’y nagmahal?

PUP (2002)

paano kapag ako na ang nagmahal?

may puso bang handang buksan para

tanggapin ang alay kong wagas na pag-ibig?

paano kapag ako na ang umibig?

may isipan bang handang umunawa

sa tunay na nadarama ng puso kong ito?

paano kapag ako na ang umiyak?

may mahahabag kaya sa pagguho

ng mga pangarap kong wala nang pag-asang matupad?

paano kapag wala na ang tuwa?

may ngiti pa bang babakat sa labi ko’t mga mata?

paano kapag ako na ang nagmahal?

may handa bang maniwala sa mga katagang ito na aking sinasambit?

paano kapag ako na ang nagmahal?

sana huwag akong masaktan...

happy puso!!!

2008-02-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

hey guys!

in line with the upcoming season of HEARTS, please send me your v-day wishes and messages to the link below:

http://www.mtvasia.com/Funstuff/Valentine/vday.php?name=tian

create your own and lemme know about it so i could post my own v-day message for you!

happy puso! ;p

My Top Ten Music Tracks of 2007

2008-01-24T07:42:00.000-08:00

Following the tradition of year-end countdowns, here's a list of the top ten tracks that i kept listening to in my cellphone mp3 player:

10. i don't feel like dancin'
artist: scissor sisters

during my 4-month work-out in fitness first, i would always light up whenever i hear this song played during the cooling-down. i just LOVE this song!

9. ikaw

artist: sarah geronimo

the funny thing about this track, is that i had no idea who the real artist is. the first time i heard this on the radio, i immediately associated it to aiza seguerra because it was sung simply and with no belting out (which is so cliche among the young singers today). not until it was the year-end countdown last december, that i found out that it is actually sarah geronimo who really sang this song! silly me! but still, the melody and the lyrics are really catchy.

8. irreplaceable
artist: beyonce
probably the most sung out of all the songs listed here (even parents sing along to it!), i don't dare question the talent of beyonce...her vocal acrobatics and belting out and her originality and style in singing is no doubt one of the most innovative talent we ever had in years...a little over the top sometimes, yet beyonce always bring what we want from her - music, talent and entertainment...

7. wait for you
artist: elliott yamin
a track from one of my favorite american idols, elliot yamin proved that if you have the passion and the talent, you can succeed. probably one of the underdogs during the competition, elliot managed to stay long enough to prove to america that he CAN SING! and we'll probably hear him sing and share his love for music through his cds...

6. and i am tellin' you (i'm not goin')
artist: jennifer hudson
the song that catapulted jennifer hudson (another american idol alum) to being a certified hollywood star, and also marked lakisha jones status in the recently concluded american idol season 6, this song will keep on playing and will not go away for quite a while...

5. a hard habit to break

artist: martin nievera / jed madela & gary valenciano

one of the hardest songs to sing, it first caught my attention when martin nievera sang it on ASAP as part of his anniversary album. admittedly, martin also noted that it IS a very hard song to sing, yet he seem to have sung it effortlessly (martin still have some of 'it' left in him). recently, i heard a another version of it (a duet by jed madela and gary valenciano) and it was fantastic!

4. i'm here
artist: fantasia
possibly, my MOST favorite american idol, fantasia made her mark (not only on the american idol stage) but on broadway! singing this song with the emotions and conviction of a season performer, i wish fantasia the best in her career...more cds please!!!

3. wasted

artist: carrie underwood

the first time i heard carrie underwood perform this on the american idol stage, i just can't stop listening to it. it's on my itunes, my cellphone...it's the way she performed it onstage, it's the quality of her voice, just everything about carrie and how she sings...like simon said, "carrie has the likeability factor" ---to the highest degree! and to top it off, the lyrics of the song (though i haven't had this experience yet) is very well-written and timely...one of the best tracks in carrie's six-time platinum debut album!

2. taking chances
artist: celine dion
when i chance upon celine dion on the view, she sang two new songs from her latest album...and this track is just ---AMAZING!!! celine proved that she still and always have IT!!! plus, the lyrics and message of this song is so engaging (well, at least for me...) that you can't help but --- take a chance...cheesy!

1. no one
artist: alicia keys

no one - can ever top the a.keys reggae performance on the 2007 mtv video music awards of her first single from her latest album, as i am...and nothing can top this track on my list...

the lyrics, the melody...beginning til end...is a story in itself...i think this song not only showcases her amazing talent, but also shows her passion and love for music...can't get enough of this song...

only hope...

2008-01-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

last year, i told my very close friends that i asked for a sign in order to make a very important decision in my life...

i asked to see this one particularly "special" girl who will be the symbol of the little hope i'm holding on to...

i do hope i get to see her and tell her how special she was and still is for me and tell her that...

...she's my ONLY HOPE

starting anew...

2008-01-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

in relation to my 2008 new year's resolution, here's another list of things that i intend to start doing. these are things that will hopefully help me become better in everything i do.

i need to START:

1. making an events schedule

at the end of each day, we always forget some "little" things that we promise to do but never gets done. that's why i think it's only necessary to have a schedule of all the things that needs to be done and accomplished.

2. making an expense schedule

following my resolution to handle my finances wisely this year, i intend to keep track and make allowances for both expected and unexpected expenses that may come my way. MS excel and i would probably the best of friends this year.

3. making a paying schedule

2007 must be my most challenging year when it comes to paying my debts which i try my hardest to limit to only a few bucks and only to a few people (who in turn trust me enough to lend me money). and so starting this january, i plan to start paying them and i guess it's only necessary to prioritize paying them. i hate having debts especially to my friends. but like i said, 2007 was a very trying year for me when it came to my finances.

now that i think of it, as i close the previous year, there were only two friends from whom i owe something. from one of them, i owe like 500 bucks. and from the other, too many to mention...that's why i need to strictly follow a schedule to start paying the other one in order not to get burden with it later on. plus, i need to (as much as possible) not add more to my already big debt. awww...i hate being broke! hehehe

4. making a savings schedule

this one, i'm not sure how i can accomplish...with so much to pay, and so little earnings...awww, i need a miracle for this one! huhuhu :(

5. making a study schedule

i plan to take advantage of my remaining 9-months in spi and try to learn and hopefully master sql. also, i plan on learning other stuff through the internet and the e-books that i'm keeping in my documents folder...learn, learn, learn!

6. making a birthday schedule

though i was in time in greeting most of the birthday celebrants of 2007, i still missed a few of them. i want to strictly follow my birthday schedule this time. and hopefully, (if funds permit) get them gifts.

7. making a gift schedule

again, this will depend on the birthdays and of course, christmas. but will greatly depend on the budget! so pray that i get lots of money this year y'all!

i want to be complete...

2008-01-04T08:15:00.001-08:00

i want to tour the philippine islands. i want to go to every single island and province here in our country. i want to appreciate the nature and the people and just how rich our history and culture really is. i want every young filipino to understand and appreciate our own colorful history and diverse culture.

i want to travel the world and see other cultures and historic places. i want to tour europe, the usa, the outback-australia and japan. i love to go and experience africa. i want to go to the beaches and surf the waves of hawaii.

i want to be more active and sporty. i want to learn how to shoot hoops and play basketball again. i want to play volleyball and badminton regularly. i also want to learn to play other sports like tennis, etc. i also love to learn martial arts, taekwando and karate. i want to live healthy and stay fit.

i want to learn how to ride a horse and have one of my own. i want to have my own ranch and agricultural business, have my own "hacienda".

i want to learn how to play more songs using the guitar. i want to have my own grand piano. i want to have it in my own living room or inside my own music room.

i love to learn difficult dance moves and techniques. i want to have my own dance room inside my house just like the ones in dance studios complete with wooden floors and mirrors all around its walls.

i also want to sing and dance in the rain.

i want to learn how to swim. i want to go skinny-dipping.

i always wanted to sing and perform on stage in front of a live audience. i would love to perform a duet with one of my idols (OPM or international).

i want to have a girlfriend who loves me for who i am. i want to sing and dedicate a song when i propose to my girlfriend. i want the whole world to know how much i love her.

i want to get married and have my own family. i want a simple, garden wedding. i want it to be romantic, intimate and special. i want to sing a song while my bride is walking down the aisle towards me. i want our honeymoon to be just as romantic and intimate. i want to wake up the next morning seeing the face of the most beautiful person i love and will be spending the rest of my life with.

i want to have kids. i want at least a boy and a girl. i want my baby boy to have my name and be Christian Arman Arile, Jr. i want to see them grow up and have their own family. i want to see and play with my grandchildren.

i want to start my own foundation to help those with speech impediments. i also want to help those who are physically handicapped/disabled.

i want to be complete...

my 2008 new year's resolution...

2008-01-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

2007 - another year...of good and bad things that have happened.

2008 - another year...of good and bad things to come...

another year...of LIFE!

i'm quite excited this year because it happens to be (according to chinese calendar/zodiac) the year of the rat! i'm pretty sure a lot of surprises and BETTER things are bound to happen for me this year...so, i'm keeping my fingers crossed and my hopes up!

before i completely close my 2007, i have here a list of a few things i intend to leave behind me and try to change them this coming new year. more commonly known as new year's resolution, i also am listing things that i intend to start doing and try and make it a part of my routine. so here it goes:

this year, I will STOP:

1. drinking softdrinks

i have done this before and actually eliminated it for quite a while. i'm not sure what prompted me to start drinking again and getting addicted to coke, sprite, royal, etc. and just recently, i confirmed that drinking such beverages does not have any nutritional value whatsoever. but this stuff sure tastes great! awww...i'm gonna miss Coca Cola and Pepsi...

2. eating junkfoods

again, another one of those things that won't do you any good...i sure will miss funky, nova, piattos, and tortillos...

3. unneccessary eating

another unhealthy habit that i should start getting rid of my system...how i love to have my midnight snack, my afternoon merienda, my in-between meals, my double-breakfast, my double-dinner...

4. eating too much rice

i just can't have enough...i eat like a bandehado-ful of rice in the morning, during lunch and at dinner...i just take too much carbohydrates in one day (which is every single day!!!) i do have to learn to control and lessen how much rice i eat so as to help in toning down my tummy and making it slimmer...hehehe

5. unnecessary expenses

probably my most problematic year in terms of my financial needs...i swear that i wouldn't let anything like this happen again! though, basically the major expenses were because of our newly-built house, still i have to admit that i was a little too lax when it comes to handling my own money this year. and this year, 2008, i plan not to allow that to happen again and would focus all my energies in strictly following an expense schedule that i plan on having.

6. making comments about people (in front of other people)

just keep it to myself...hehehe although people would be surprise when i start keeping my comments to myself, i find that it has been better (and less stressful) when i don't speak against people in front of of others. as opinionated as i am, i discovered that i performed better when i leave people alone. and yes, there was a certain point in time when i didn't comment, lash out on other people's attitudes, shortcomings, failures or arrogance.

i guess leaving people to their weaknesses is more liberating and peaceful because of the fact that at the end of the day, we all end up doing the same things...we all end up doing the same mistakes, if not doing more mistakes than most people we talk about or comment on...and ironically, i was commenting these people for their mistakes, when i myself were committing them...

the worst thing about it is that talking against people (especially behind their backs) always ends up as a double-edged sword, it cuts us as well...

so this year, instead of lashing out on other people, i would focus my attention on dealing with my shortcomings, my mistakes, my attitude...my arrogance...when i come to think of it, i have a long way to go to be arrogant of the insignificant things i have done.

7. getting upset easily

although this has been a long-fought battle within me, i think it takes guts and discipline to really train yourself to be more patient and understanding...i pride myself in being able to control my emotions in numerous occasions considering the conditions that i'm in...aside from the fact that my temperament is innately aggressive, the medical operations i went through adds an indirect (if not, direct) side effect on my temper.

so it really isn't easy to control such natural forces especially when it comes to being upset and emotional. but nevertheless, i don't want to make excuses and opted to try and suppress these emotional "outbursts" to maintain a sociable and lively atmosphere especially among my friends and my siblings. so don't ever fool with me! hahaha ;p

8. being idle (doing absolutely NOTHING!!!)

there were days and precious time i've wasted all through out the year where i didn't do what i needed to do...i didn't start what needed to be started...in short, i was being LAZY!!! though i haven't really started on this, i promise to be more proactive not only physically, but mentally all year round! so books and tutorials, here i come!

9. being judgmental

i think the "mother of all evil"...the consequences of being prejudice can be lethal...and downright "inhuman"...

from our prejudices, other heart-crushing things roots out - discrimination, stereotypes, sexist, ageism, oppression, dominance, preferential treatment, etc.

from the things i've stated above, i'm sure you don't need anymore explanations on why i chose to eliminate this negative trait...just think of the golden rule: "don't do unto others, what you don't want others to do unto you."

10. being bitter

bottom line is, i need to leave all my excess baggage behind...leave it all to the previous year and start anew this new year - 2008...to those who knew me well, they know what i'm referring to...hehehe

win nothing...won everything...

2007-12-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

last sunday, we had our yearly corporate christmas party at bagaberde with the whole legal group. of course, everyone is excited about the raffle but not everyone is fortunate enough to win. in our team, only 6 people got to take home a prize. i was so frustrated i didn't get to win even a "microwaveable" oven toaster (a joke by one of my colleagues).

but then again, all the blessings i received from spi throughout the year is worth more than a plasma tv or a refrigerator or portable dvd player. after hearing the final prize given to someone with an employee number of FJ--, i just said a prayer and thanked God for all the blessings he gave me through spi. the winner of the grand raffle prize was the little guy who was behind me when i was in line for the food. he seems like a good guy and comforted myself that maybe he deserved it more than i do.

i wouldn't exchange the friends i made for a plasma tv. i wouldn't exchange the experiences i've had for a refrigerator. i would never exchange the laughters for a dvd player...

of closing doors...and looking out the window

2007-12-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

this week, there are two changes that took place in my daily routine: a) one is that i had to go back to working on our graveyard shift and b) transferring to a new house and leaving the house we lived in for 23 years.

after waiting for so long to be working the "normal" hours, i have to again shift back to working the wee hours for some reason. i don't want to talk about it anymore and i just resigned myself to accepting the fact that i have to be flexible enough to enable others to do what they want to do. enough said...

a more life-altering event happened when we transferred from 3992 tagumpay st. to 4644 tagumpay st. it may be a small walk from our old house across the street to our new house but nevertheless an important change in our daily routine. our family friend moved and flew to canada and entrusted us their house just across the street from ours. we were to live there and not pay rent or anything which is a big load off of our shoulders.

the difficult thing is, we're leaving the house we were so used to coming home to. and worst, we'll be seeing it from the window of our new house. i can't help but feel nostalgic and reminiscent of all the things that happened inside that compound every time i stare out the window. it has been part of my system, a part of who i am, a part of my life.

it's sad moving out and moving on to a new chapter of my life outside the house i grew up in. but again, part of living is being able to welcome changes no matter how drastic they are. ironically, as we close the doors to our old house, we look out of the windows of our new house and look out for new things that is to happen to our lives from now on. and as we look out of our present window, we will (once in a while) look back to the windows of our past...

walking out...

2007-11-26T23:07:00.000-08:00

today, i made a walk-out scene while talking with two of my colleagues a while ago.

trust me, walking out is something i'm good at! (hehehe ;p) as usual, the frustration that made me do it is my long-time frustration of not knowing something (in other words, being obviously left out of something). the three of us were discussing work-related stuff and then colleague A mentioned that he needs to discuss it privately with colleague B. what infuriated me was the "in-your-face" "you're-not-allowed-to-know" scenario that colleague A's statement brought up. and THAT is something i'll never be good at handling...hehehe

i stormed out of that conversation and went back to our workstation. once inside, i could not hide the fact that i was upset from the previous group of people i was with earlier. i keep brushing off my other officemates teasing that i was near tears or something.

nevertheless, both colleague A & B explained the reason behind "not-being-able-to-let-me-in-the-secret" because of some plan "not-yet-revealed" to everyone . anyway, we were able to resolve this "misunderstanding" and i was able to find out that something good is expected (or to be exact, there's a good plan to be expected out of all these) to take place.

oh well, all in a day's work!

moving again...

2007-11-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

we just found out yesterday that we'll be transferring from our current area to a new one - AGAIN! and ironically, we will just be returning to an area near the original one we were previously stationed. haaaayy...

well, life indeed present changes every once in a while and we do have to be flexible enough to adjust and cope with these changes. sometimes, these changes require dealing with certain people from the past.

you'll never be able to please everyone - and WE will never be please with everyone we work with...hehehe i just find it funny that the very people i'm trying to avoid, ended up being a few steps away - AGAIN...it'll be really awkward seeing those faces again, seeing them in the hallways and at the door.

oh well, it'll be just another day at work...

this is only the beginning...

2007-11-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

hey guys!

i finally did it!

i have now officially started my very first blog!

first stop, the title of my blog...music is a given - MUSIC IS MY LIFE!!! i think i'd die if i don't have the gift of music around me...

music has been with me since i learned to utter a sound...there's not a day that passes by without me listening to music or humming a tune or belting out in the shower...

how about the thorns...

i am actually thinking of using "roses" instead of thorns because that was really what first came to my mind...but i opted for the latter because i think it is more suited with the word "music"...enough said...hehehe

so basically, this blog is about thorns that made music...thorns that made - ME...

there are a lot of things that i would associate with thorns...like i said earlier, a rose is the very first thing that came to mind...then a chain of other stuff would follow; a red rose, red symbolizes lots of things like warmth, passion, love, sunset...and so on...

and thorns sometimes symbolizes being hurt...being wounded, feeling pain...and that's something that each and everyone of us experience and learn from...

so listen to the music of my soul...

imagine the words of my dreams...

...and feel the thorns of my life