Bye-Bye to Old Things!

In a few hours, 2010 will be officially part of history. It has been a great year for me but I just don't like the fact that I have no planner yet to welcome 2011. You see I am very much into organizing things. Planning "Things to Do" for the next day is part of my daily routine before sleeping.

I believe that my planner should be a reflection of who I am- chic, light and simple. Back in college, my planner was the Papemelroti recycled planners that costs less than 20 php. Then I switch to Luxe Prints Planners which can only be found at Fully Booked because I have to do more things and plan more activities. Unfortunately, Fully Booked stores do not offer the Luxe Prints Planners anymore. I've searched for it from SM North to Mall of Asia and all possible Fully Booked stores in between. I rummaged through Power Books and even try to find substitutes from National Book Stores. But there's no planner that can match my Luxe Prints Planner. I guess some cosmic entity is trying to tell me that 2010 is over just like your romance with your Luxe planners. Try another brand, another style. Dare to leave your comfort zone. Have a bigger plan with your life!

So I'll give up my search for my perfect planner. I guess I have to do less planning and more living.

... I Never Want to be Found...

Though it's not yet Valentine, the holiday season is making me feel so much in love. The no-work days allowed the Boyfriend and I to have some quality time together. And reflecting the romantic mood I am in is this song by Phillip Laurie- Found.

I just discovered this song recently while browsing YouTube. The guitar sounds at the start made me listen to it and finish the song. Just sharing some "kilig" moments with you...

Faster than a shooting star
Baby you stole my heart
I never want it back
I never thought it'd be like this
So surprised by your kiss
I didn't have time to react

Truly love is something people can't get enough of. So get lost... in love! *cheesy!*

There's Only Grace

Feeling God's love in this cold Wednesday morning. What a fitting way to start the day after a night of "lw-morales." Thank you Lord for the message through Matthew West. Truly your love is great. Let me keep that in mind and in heart.

"There's only grace, there's only love

There's only mercy and believe me...

it's enough"

A Literary Diamond: Sundays with Tiffany

I am not much of a James Patterson fan since I'm not into action, suspense and thrillers. But his book, Sundays at Tiffany's, is a breathe of fresh air. It's light yet deep, realistic and fanstastic at the same time. It is a love story of Michael- an imaginary childhood being in Jane's life. The catch is that Michael is not human and is not supposed to fall in love with Jane, even if she grew up. But they fell in love anyway. And as most love stories go, conflicts arise when the lovers finally fall in love.

My copy of the book courtesy of Power Books

It's not actually the typical Patterson plot which made me respect him all the more. A writer trying a different genre and be successful at it is a BIG SOMETHING! I am not an expert or anything but just someone who loves to read, read and read a good read. And for those like me, this book won't let you down.

Things to Do in Boracay: Best for First Timers

As a first time tourist in Boracay, I spent lots of time researching about the place before I went there. As much as I wanted to experience everything what Boracay has to offer, my time and resources are limited. For a three-day vacation, it took me sometime to "weigh" things I should prioritize doing. If you are as pressed for time (and money) as I was, at least don't miss the following activities.

1. Paraw (Sunset) Sailing

My mom taking a pose during the paraw ride

Paraw is a water vehicle similar to the vintas in Zamboanga. It is powered by the winds and manually steered. What's good about it is that it is s environmental friendly and (according to the kuyas who steer the parawa) it can withstand strong winds unlike the motor boats. Sailing the paraw is a an authentic Boracay experience since, as far as I know, paraws are native to the Aklanons. No other tourist spots yet have these sails to boast. No need to reserve for a ride since there are a lot of paraws which you can avail at P150 per head. They are ducked at Station 1 before Willy's Rock. Just make sure to have your cameras waterproofed since it is quite bare. The best time to sail is at around 4 or 5 pm just before the sunset.

2. Jonah's Shakes

Most blogs on Boracay recommended for tourists to taste Jonah's shake. Following their tip, I also decided to try their shakes and compare them with the other shakes in Boracay. And true enough, Jonah's shakes are outstanding! It has no rock ice. The blend is thick and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. It's just unexplanable! A glass of shake can be consumed by two people. Plus, the service is great! You can find their store at Station 1 near Willy's rock.

Chillin' with Jonah's Shakes

3. Night Stroll at the Beach

A stroll at the beach is always romantic. In Boracay, however, it's more than that. If you're into observing people and discovering places, strolling the shores of Boracay at night is an experience in itself. Some parts of the beach are very much alive with fire dancers and party people grooving the night away. Some parts are quiet that beckon lovers to sit and share some moments together. Some parts are throbbing with activity with all the merchandises stores have. Some parts are made for a fun evening together-whether with family or friends.

4. The Sand Art

The natives of Boracay found another way to earn extra with their artistic hands. You can find some kids and even adults making some sand figures such as the one above. Then you can pose with the figures that they made for a minimal donation. (It's up to you how generous you can be.)You can also request them to make your own choice of figure for a minimal fee.

There are still a lot of things that Boracay can offer but you can also experience them in other beaches. Those that I've mentioned are, so far. authentically- Bora.

In Worship

“Everything is worship if your mind is focused on the present moment.”

                                                                                    - Edda (The Witch of Portobello)

            Being a Christian, I believe that everything I do should be a worship. Before, I thought it’s only when I excel that I worship God so I was bent on being excellent in everything. But it was too tiring so I thought maybe God just wants me to give my best- whether I’m the most excellent or not. So that’s what I did. But there are just times, a lot of times, when I’m simply not my best. And sometimes, my best is too much.

            When I read the passage from Paulo Coelho’s novel, I thought how worship goes in the church. Usually, we sing solemn songs while the worship leader asks us to focus ourselves on God- to thank Him, to think of His grace and mercy, to state our love for Him. And that’s when I realize that when we worship God, we’re simply concentrating ourselves to Him. I’m trying to simply feel His presence and just enjoy singing to worship Him.

So in effect, I should learn how to “live for the moment.” Simply put, I should simply enjoy and be thankful for what I might be doing right now. If I’m eating, I should enjoy eating and not think about what I should do afterwards. If I’m teaching, I should simply enjoy teaching and not think about tasks that I should finish. There’s a time for that when I should be focusing my mind on tasks. And as for the tasks, I should simply be thankful that I have something to do and I have the capacity to do them. Simple as it may sound; it’s actually hard for me to do and maybe for people who have a lot of things in their minds.

            How many bus and jeep rides I had while I’m thinking of home works, of people and of memories without appreciating the view outside? How many times my mind wandered and slept in seminars and lectures which could have been useful for me? How many times have I been distracted while watching not fully enjoying the show? How many times I wished I was in some other place while talking to another person wasting the chance to know the person?  A lot of times. Countless. And in those times, I failed to worship Him simply by not living and enjoying those moments.

            That’s when I also realize that the best moments in my life are those moments when I’m simply enjoying what life has to offer during those times. How can I forget my first kiss? My high school and college graduations? My bonding times with my friends and family? My dates with my special someone? My vacations in beautiful places? I can not forget these things even there may be no pictures to remind me of them. Not only because they are happy moments but because they are the moments when I feel alive.

            And I can’t also forget the moments when I taste failure, sadness and pain; when my grandfather died, when I learned I won’t graduate on time, when I knew the family business failed, when I fought with a trusted friend, when I almost lost him, when I simply shed tears of frustration. These things also made me feel alive- sometimes more alive than the happy ones; because I’m feeling something beyond what the mind can control. I’m simply living in those moments. Somehow, even in those seemingly heartbreaking moments, I’m worshipping Him because I’m acknowledging what He’s allowing me to go through.

The Gift

With the Christmas spirit all over the air, this book is a must read to remind us all of how this season should be celebrated. That is, let's spend time with the people we love, the people that matter to us. For as the book points out, you can earn lost money but you can never earn lost time. So spend your money wisely but spend your time MORE wisely.

This story revolves around a workaholic man named Lou Suffern who had neglected his family for such a long time. His work is his life. He justifies his working habits by providing for his family. With a promotion up for grabs, Lou cannot resist to spend more time at work and less time at home. It was not until a beggar named Gabe appeared in Lou's life. With a seeming magic pill, Lou can attend to two places at the same time- work meetings and family events. Only it was just a chance for Lou to make things right because time had ran out for him. The time Gabe gave to him to be with his family was just a gift.

Though the plot may seemed cheesy and cliche, the narration was well-crafted and fast-paced. There were no abstractions and there was no attempt to be philosophical. I guess, it was just aimed to illustrate a life of what many people may have been leading and to remind them to stop and pause for awhile. In the end, the book will leave you with a question "Who/ What do you live for?" A question just in time to be reflected upon at the end of this year! The Gift

I Should Have Been Finished But...

I wasn't planning to start my own blog site. Though I tried to create blog sites in the past, I always endeed up with 1 or 2 posts then absolutely no activity at all. I also always promise myself that I will write again. So here I am again, fulfilling a personal promise that wasn't really intentional.

Thanks to a boring academic paper that I was supposed to finish, I ended up browsing the net. I checked my mail, posted on a lot of people's walls in Facebook, downloaded videos in YouTube, browse the news and I still do not have the heart to finish the paper. I am bored with my own writing!

After clicking a friend's blog post, I thought of starting  blogging again. So here I am in the middle of the night starting a blog site again. Hopefully, by the time I end writing this, I will have the drive to finish my paper. And hopefully, this will not be my first and last entry.