I came, I saw, I conquered: The 30-day Blogging Challenge

Finally! Yesterday, I posted the last entry for my 30-day Blogging Challenge. Whew! At first, I didn’t expect that I would be able to finish it, what with my busy schedule and attention span. The topics given weren’t that easy to write about everyday, but I have gathered thoughts and ideas from my daily reads and experiences. From serious philosophy to almost forgotten childhood memory, I have braved the challenge to simply write and express myself.

Being a new tool to prevent my seemingly writer’s block, I can say that it had successfully pushed me to write even about mundane things. My brain kept on thinking of interesting ways how to present a day’s theme as well as on how to start or end a post. It went on for a month. And like muscle memory in training, my brain became used to thinking new ideas for writing.

I couldn’t succeed in this challenge without support. For my two colleagues who also joined me in this endeavour albeit hectic work and personal schedules and complaints about a day’s topic, I thank you for staying with me through it all. And of course, who will forget my active and enthusiastic followers, commenters, and likers? I owe this to you guys! All of you inspired and motivated me to continue writing things that would be appealing and interesting to you. My heart skipped a beat everytime I received comments. Oh, how glad I was when someone read (and suffered) from my often distractedly long posts!

Thank you all for sticking with me for this past six months. I know I am a beginner in blogging and that most of my posts are created in trial-and-error method, but you stayed. It made me feel that I have, even a little, a knack in writing. I will be eternally grateful for your help in making me realize that.

So what’s next for me? For the horror of some, I will continue writing more! And how about for you lovely readers? Hmm. Stay tuned for a surprise!

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30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 30 (A motto or philosophy)

Before the month of October ends, I finished reading my first Paulo Coelho – The Alchemist. I remember I was in high school when his novels started gaining attention, but I didn’t find myself included in the hype. I tried leafing through the first pages of one of his books, which I have forgotten the title, and found it uninteresting. So I put it down and changed to another.

However, last week I was looking for a new book to read. This sounds funny at first since I have a long list in my TBR pile. Too many books to read, but I wanted to try something different. I think you can relate to this, especially when you have read two to four YA, historical, or dystopian novels consecutively you’ll find yourself searching for another thing to interest your palate. Not that the books you have read are boring; it’s just that you need a breather from the genre you are currently addicted. Am I making sense?

In this situation, I happened to be looking at an eBook site (yes, I don’t only read the printed words) when I saw Paulo Coelho’s name. Now, I don’t want to put much melodrama in this so I’ll just say that high school memories flooded me and I found myself choosing his novel that first came to mind – The Alchemist.

I’m not sure if you can follow with my ever so distracted mind, but those who are kind might ask, “What’s the relation of the novel with today’s post?” while others who aren’t might blurt, “Just get to the point!” Well, okay. I’ll answer both of you.

Today’s topic is about motto or philosophy. I can give you a lot about this, but I want to share one that has captured my heart and attention while reading Coelho’s book. It’s not the actual message of the novel per se, but the wisdom shared in a section of the book.

The two drops of oil

by PAULO COELHO on FEBRUARY 4, 2010

A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.

“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage of sages. “The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”

The analogy there couldn’t be clearer. We must be happy that we are living and enjoy existing in this wonderful world while having a goal in mind to achieve. We must not forget that we can enjoy everything life has to offer provided that we won’t stray and forget our dreams and goals – they are very much as important as happiness. For how can one enjoy living without its purpose?

Now, now, perhaps some are raising their eyebrows. How about those unhappy people who don’t have any choice but not to spill the oil? Many  of us are aware that some less fortunate of us, who are always having problems on how to get money for food, rents, education, and medicine, are so focused in their economic dilemma that sometimes they forget the feeling of being happy. On one hand, those who were born in silver spoon and are well-off are mostly happy. Keyword: mostly.

Living in the country like the Philippines, I can testify that wealth is not the only factor for happiness. Contentment, satisfaction, and peace of mind are, too. One can see a man who owns half of the major establishments in the country always drunk and has suicidal tendencies, while a family of 12 living near a dumpsite is happily sharing leftover food from the garbage truck.

Indeed, happiness is such a simple concept found to be complicated by some. But for me, after all I have read and listened to so far, can only be felt when one feels contented in a situation. Achieving one’s goal and succeeding with the presence and support of his family and faith in God while enjoying his existence in the process is what I call life. Life with happiness.

Carpe diem!

30-Blogging Challenge: Day 29 (Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days)

Today, it’s 53 days before Christmas. Add another week, and it would be the start of another year. Indeed, time move so swiftly. Roughly 60 days and we would bid goodbye to 2012. So fast. And today’s topic made me think of advance New Year’s resolution though unlike those things being written and promised, I hope my answers would be met and done.

Since I am limited to 365 days only, I’ll mention those that are attainable within a year. And behold, my dear readers, my hopes, dreams, and plans for a year:

To read more. It isn’t surprising that this would be the top of my list. Like breathing, it is essential for my existence. Few minutes before I started writing this post, I just finished a novel by Julia Quinn, making me one point nearer to my goal to Goodreads Reading Challenge. For the next year, I am planning to double the number of books I must read.

To have a better job. My current one is pretty good, but perhaps it will soon be needed for me to venture out and try a different one. As my first, I felt lucky to land on this particular job though I don’t want to get stuck here. Perhaps in the near future I must search for greener pastures…

To speak in different tongues. In my About Me page, I have already, though unintentionally, prided in languages that I can speak and understand. But they aren’t enough. First, I want to hone my language skills up to the point that I would sound like a native when speaking them. Second, I want to add more to my list. I am thinking of learning either French or Spanish soon, but polishing my Mandarin would definitely prove to be such a Herculean task I’m afraid I won’t learn much of other European languages.

To travel more. I like going out especially with my friends, but for the next 365 days I want to explore more places in the country. For Filipinos, and those familiar to our country’s geography, we are an archipelagic state with 7, 107 islands, not counting those in low tides. How great it would be to hop from island to island and enjoy varied cultures from different regions of the Philippines? Hmm, and I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I’ll try to have an Asian tour, too?

To continue this blog. It’s official. I am blogging for almost half a decade now. For some, it sounds like normal, but it is such a feat for me. I am known to my friends to have a short attention span to some things, and not being a natural writer myself, I find it a challenge to remain active in the blogosphere. Sure, I won’t be short of random and silly thoughts to write, but I am not confident that these could be read-worthy. Until now, I can’t fathom how I get visitors, commenters, and even followers, but I am eternally grateful that they exist. Because of them, I am more encouraged to write more.

I don’t want to make this list long as I believe having too many things to do would make the mind stressed to achieve all of them. However, I think adding one more to those five above wouldn’t hurt, even though this sixth one might prove to be the hardest to achieve.

To find a new boyfriend. It’s been almost a year since I broke up with my ex. I think it’s high time that I find someone new, right? Hehe.

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30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 28 (A scar you have and its story)

I know I am far from beautiful and my face, if not ordinary, is below average. People always notice my too big eyes enhanced with dark circles which are getting darker everyday. I look like panda. Not only that, I have too much moles in my face. Two prominent ones are under my right eye. And the left? Right above the eyebrow lays a scar.

Yes, right above the left eyebrow, not forehead, so you may now quit imagining me with a lightning bolt scar. LOL. It is smaller than my eye mole and is not really that visible unless you’ll look nearer to my face. If I make my brows well, it will be hardly noticeable.

I got that when I was in fourth grade, I think. I was feeling unwell so my teacher had to call my parents to go to school. I was having chills. My mom fetched me and I remembered her wrapping a jacket around my shoulders. I thought I was down with a nasty fever, but it was worse than that.

It was chicken pox. Of course, I haven’t had that before so I was scared. Who wouldn’t if one sees blisters growing all over his body? In my young mind, I was vain to look too ugly if I was to stay in that condition. Surely no one would approach me. But my mom assured me that it was normal; like any other disease, it would soon pass.

And it did. Slowly, the blisters dried up and during this time I was very tempted to scratch them. It was too itchy. Mom prohibited me to just that so I contented myself by slapping them. However, one was irritatingly itchy so I couldn’t help myself when the skin was already peeling together with the blister. I disobeyed my mother.

I didn’t know the consequence of such action. When I was healed, there came a a mark that would make me always remember that day. And yes, my smart readers, you guessed that correctly. It turned into a scar.

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30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 27 (A physical feature you love)

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”

― Joseph Addison

The number one physical feature I actually love is a beautiful pair of eyes. Since I have already written about it in my previous post, I will share you the second thing I like – a genuine smile.

A smile bestowed to others clearly shows that there is a caring and kind person within one’s self. There were many things written about its power and how even a single act can change a person, society, or even the world. How? I think it all depends on a different perspective taken by the beholder. For example, even amidst the storm, a young girl is still able to smile and thank God for keeping her safe from the disaster whereas others weep for their losses in properties. With optimism and hope, the girl can still smile. And this can change everything.

I love smiling. A lot. Even when I’m alone. Scary? Not really. I have even read somewhere that when you found yourself smiling even if no one can see you then that’s a true smile. I am not getting crazy and I know that even you are afraid to admit this, you also smiled by yourself. Am I right? J For those who nod their heads while reading this, then I’d like to give one reason why we do this. Sometimes, we remember a certain memory, conversation, photo, song, etc that could be hilarious, provoking, or sweet, thus making us smile. And it isn’t a bad thing.

Many people call me a very smiling person. I smile when something is funny. I smile when I remember that stupid line I have read in a book. I smile when I thought of the conversation I had with my colleague. I smile when I reread that joke sent by a friend. I smile when I got embarrassed. I smile when I feel happy. I smile when I count my blessings. Even in challenging situations, I still try to smile and it makes me feel light after.

Oh, how I love smiling! I smile to my family, friends, classmates, colleagues. I smile to promo girls, clerks, receptionists, guards. I smile to photos, books, and songs. I smile in return to a smile. I give back a smile even I haven’t received it yet. I smile even it seems not needed. I smile to almost everyone. Everywhere. Is there something wrong with that?

Now, to give you visual examples on how to smile and give it, I am going to share you photos of one of my favorite Korean actors, Jang Geun Suk.

a sweet smile

carefree smile

Charming, isn’t it? Smile!

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 26 (A childhood memory)

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.  ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Even as a child, I was a loner. Playing with other children my age was okay, but I prefer being alone. I didn’t like to play outdoors, especially under the scorching heat of the sun, for fear of sweating too much. I had this (strange?) outcome that whenever I feel hot and sweaty, I was easily pissed. Until now. So I rarely go outside to play. Instead, I found companions in the forms of chess and other board games, and of course, books. My parents could leave me in a corner for a day with those mentioned things plus food and I’ll be good for the day. Simple as that.

So I didn’t have much of childhood friends. If ever I changed my mind for a day and play, it would be with my siblings and cousins. Especially my sister.

My younger sister, Muriel, is a year younger than me. Being the eldest child, I never, according to my parents, had that elder child syndrome of being jealous with the new born sibling. At that moment, perhaps all I could think of (if a one year old already have that much to think) would be “Yeah, I’m not alone!”

We grew up very close together. More often than not, we were taken as twins! My mom had this phase to clothe us in matching outfits – shirts, shorts, jumpers, shoes, hairstyle, accessories, you name it. I think it lasted until I was ten? Gah. When we learned how to protest on my mother’s hilarious and extremely embarrassing way of clothing us, she made her way to adjust: same style, different color things! Really. I had blue Mickey Mouse shirt, she had red. Blue eyeglasses for me, pink for her. Red Converse for me, gray for her. And so on. It’s like I had a twin born a year later. LOL.

Even though many people looked at us whenever we go out, perhaps trying to decipher how come we wore same outfits but looked far from identical twins, we tried not to care. We were best friends. We always had fun together even when she tried to copy me when I wanted to be independent from my mom’s fashion style. We always had each other. My younger brother came six years after; long enough for my sister and me to be too close, stronger than your Hydrogen bond.

Now, for today’s post I will share you one of my excursions with my younger sis. Photos were taken at Euroland Garden with my two aunts.

my sister and I

These photos remind me of my happy childhood with my sister, and later, with my brother. It was fun, especially when I was in the mood to socialize with others. I am blessed to have siblings as I think I could be a real anti-social if my parents didn’t give them to me. I value them.

Do you have a sister? Or a brother? How was it like when you were kids? 

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 25 (A recipe)

The best way to Monica’s heart is through her stomach.

– Monica

For those of you who know me, you can testify that I am very much a food lover. I eat more than three times a day, almost every three hours. I have this strange jaw exercise every few hours resulting to my eating habit. But oh, I’m not fat. In fact, I haven’t reach 45kg and yes, I’m abnormal. I eat almost anything (spoiled food and poison excluded)! I love to try different kinds of cuisines in different restaurants and places.

Not so recently (a few years ago), I became fascinated with Korean food. Having tons of Korean friends both here in my country and their native land, plus the Korean wave, I was very much influenced to test my palate for this cuisine.

For years, I’ve been spending time trying out different Korean dishes in authentic restaurants here in the Philippines. When I get lucky, some of my Korean buddies give me a treat by cooking native food to me. With those, I learned a lot. Even for someone who doesn’t know how to cook (if you discount frying food and heating things up in a microwave, that is), I have gained fair knowledge on how to mix stuffs and turn them into a delicious meal.

So for this topic, a recipe, I was a bit torn between what dish to feature. You see, I have many favorites, but I guess I’d try to settle for a Korean dish. In one of my posts, I have already written about Kimchi spaghetti, bulgogi, samgyeopsal, and Korean ice cream so for today, I’d like to share to you one of my favorite stews: Kimchi jjigae.

Kimchi jjigae (김치 찌개) is a Korean dish obviously made with kimchi and other ingredients, mostly pork, seafood, and tofu. Now, to cut the chase, I’ll be giving you the recipe on how to make Kimchi jjigae. Since I am not prepared for this, (I have low resolution photos of my friend’s cooking), I grab some information and photos over the net to share to you. This recipe is courtesy of http://crazykoreancooking.com/recipe/pork-kimchi-stew-kimchi-jjigae.

Ingredients

11 oz      Kimchi 김치

7 oz        Pork Neck (uncut) 돼지고기 목살

1 cup     Kimchi Juice 김치국물

4 cups   Water 물

1 tbs      Red Chili Pepper Flakes 고추가루

2 tsp      Salt 소금

Instructions

1. Cut

Cut kimchi into about 2 inches long and add to the pot. Add 4 cups of water.

2. Kimchi Juice

Add 1 cup of kimchi juice. You may add 1-2 tbs of chili pepper flakes if you like it spicier. Bring into boil.

3. Add Pork

Add pork without cutting it. Bring into boil on high heat and boil for another 30 minutes on medium heat. Season with salt (Optional). Add gradually as you taste it.

4. Cut Pork

Take out pork and cut into bite-size pieces.

5. Serve and Enjoy!

Serve in a big bowl or a stone bowl. Place pork and chopped green onion on top or serve pork separately on the side. (If you like tofu, you can add at the end and boil for 3 minutes.)

Easy isn’t it? Let’s try!

Have you tried Korean dishes before? What’s your favorite?

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 24 (A movie no one would expect you to love)

Unlike books, I don’t spend much time watching movies. Sure, I go to cinemas at least once a month to watch in silver screen, but I think I haven’t watched enough movies. If I may put it in ratio, perhaps the rate will be 15:1 in favor of the printed words. I don’t have anything against films; it’s just that I find it more interesting and personal to read stories in fine details in a book than to spend watching it come to life in cinemas. Even though a movie may take only two to three hours compared to a day or two for a book, I still prefer the latter.

So if someone asks me if I have watched this movie, I mostly answer in a negative. I only have few movies in my memory bank that I found it a little difficult to answer today’s challenge. Alas, as I was accessing my previous email accounts, I found an inspiration.

I was in grade school when I first watched the movie, “A.I” or Artificial Intelligence. It was directed by no other than Steven Spielberg, but was originally a concept of Stanley Kubrick. A science fiction drama set in the 22^nd century, it tells about a story of David, a child android programmed to have the ability to love humans.

As usual, I won’t go into details for those who haven’t watched it. I’d just discuss here the reasons why I unexpectedly like this movie. Well, I am not a fan of sci-fi. I find advanced movies set in the future not too high-tech and instead a bit silly. Yeah, the world may not be far from being ruled by humanoids and flying trains, but I don’t think getting too excited about future events and turning them into a movie is a good approach. In time, we will all go there (supposedly we’re still alive by then) so there’s no need to rush. Even though I commend those brilliant minds with imagination as wide as the galaxy, I am still not enamored with science fiction.

But why do I like this film? The family drama at the first half of the story shows that even in the advanced years of the world, emotions still prevail. That is something I am often afraid for in the future. With the rise of mechas and autobots, it may come a time when human feelings will only be found in antiquated books. But in this movie, the characters were guided by emotions. Another reason, which is connected to the first one, is the universal need to be loved and belong. This was very much seen in the character of David, who, as an android, possessed these emotions. Up until the end, his only dream is to be loved by my namesake, Monica, his adoptive mother.

Most of all, I like this movie because of its shift from a family drama to violence to fairytale. I’m a sucker for happy endings. In the end, David had his wish to be loved. He had Monica for himself and even had the opportunity to sleep with his mom. As Monica drifted to her final sleep, David also went to a place where dreams exist.

Have you watched this movie? If you haven’t, I hoped this writing has piqued your curiosity enough for you to search it. This post will be open to your comments and reviews!

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30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 23 (A way in which you want to be remembered)

When I have reached my twilight years and the last breath has been snuffed out, I want to be remembered in a way that would personify my character. My thoughts, ideas and hobbies will remind those I have left behind of the existence that I had before.

I want others to remember me as who I was: a daughter to my family, sister to my siblings, faithful wife, loving mother, public servant of my country, and child of God. I want them to be reminded with fond memories of how much I enjoyed life with them. Filled with love, hope, faith, and happiness, I want my life to be an example of how beautiful God’s gift to us humans.

But I guess the best way I want to be remembered is through my writing and ideas. I want to immortalize myself through the things I have written that even those generations after I lived would still hear and know about me. Wait. I don’t want to make myself a saint along with my followers; no, I’m far from that. I just wanted to share my random thoughts and takes to everyone and it would feel nice if others will find it in themselves to agree to some things I have written.

Greek philosophers, for example, are more than decayed even before my great grandparents were conceived. Still, their political, social, and scientific thoughts are being echoed until now. How many modern philosophers derived their school of thoughts from those great men? I know I cannot draw parallels between me and those philosophers, but they are my inspiration. Even for just a little, I wanted to be remembered and quoted from my learning and writing.

Just as the Bard of Avon mentioned in one of his famous sonnets, “So long as men can breathe, and eyes can see, so long lives this and this gives life to thee.”

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 22 (A website)

Early this year, I signed up for free registration at this awesome (no exaggeration!) website. I often see this site popping up in my Google searches, but didn’t think much of joining. Then my colleague asked me one day if I have an account there and I answered negative. Nada. Zilch.

“What’s with it anyway?” I talked to myself again. Yeah, I do that more often now. I satisfied my curiosity by giving in to it: I registered. And my world never became the same again.

I created an account at Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) and what a wonderful decision that was. For some of few who do not know Goodreads, it is basically a reading site where users can create an account and improve their reading life. Millions of books, both international and local, can be found there. One can key in the title of the book and then he can update it to three statuses: read, currently reading, want to read. And it keeps track on your number of books. Say you have marked 53 books as read then it will show that you have read that number of novels. Same goes to currently reading and want to read.

All those books that you have marked from those three status choices will be included in your account. From there, you may rate it from one to five stars and can even write a review about it. Not only that. If you feel a certain book needs to be read by your friends, you can recommend it to them and link to their accounts.

But there’s more awesome feature. You may join a virtual book club! You may choose from your desired genre, favorite author, or a popular book groups. Most of them are very active and both the moderators and the team members will really welcome you warmly. I cannot generalize, but this was what I have experienced in my chosen groups.

Speaking of groups, I have joined one based on a trilogy that I have read this year. I know many of you have different views about this series, but I liked the way the story went anyway. The characters may appear very flawed, but more humanly, and the grammar and way of writing may not be as good as literary writers, but I liked the plot. End of argument.

Moving forward, I have joined The Fifty Shades of Grey support group and one of the mods, Bobbie, was very generous to provide all the new members free three bookmarks! At first, I did not entertain her question about my mailing address. You see, I live somewhere in the Pacific and know that most promos or samples like those were only for mainland US. But aha! It was open worldwide. A week or two (I didn’t really keep track) after I gave her my home address, I received these bookmarks:

 

Lovely? Yeah! And I paid nothing for it. Where did I get it from? A book club member I just met virtually in Goodreads. Perhaps there are more groups like that in the site and maybe they offer more freebies, I do not know. So why don’t you try to sign up and discover a more fun and interactive way of reading? And for those who were already a member, please add me as a friend!

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 21 (Something you know you do differently than most people)

Many of my friends have teased me, in more than one occasion that I am abnormal. Far from normal. Well, I believe that normal is relative, at the same time subjective, on the rules set by the society. No matter how interested I am to delve in the philosophy of that state of mind, I do not want to bore you with my insights on that. Perhaps in another post.

•  I am a tea person and I find it a bit difficult to find someone who shares the love for tea in this tropical country. Still, I go to coffee shops (there’s not much tea houses in my country) and buy hot tea. But no matter how expensive and good looking those teas seem to be, I prefer my own pure green tea.

Unlike others, I like my tea pure. I don’t appreciate the taste of strained tea        leaves with milk or lemon. Definitely not fragrance either. My taste buds don’t agree with jasmine or mint.

• Since I was young, I have the passion to read books. I can still remember when I was younger that I used to read the last page of any book before starting the entire story. I don’t know why. It’s not because I wanted to know how the novel will end; I actually forgot what the last page was while I’m reading the book.

 

• Speaking of books, I arranged my books in my shelves. Yeah! Do you? When I was younger, I arranged the books in alphabetical order. True. It’s a practice of knowing your alphabet! I stopped doing that when I reached high school. You will be relieved to know that I only arranged my collection according to heights now.

Don’t do this!

• Another thing that I do differently than others is my oral hygiene ritual. Unlike many others, I squeeze the toothpaste tube from the BOTTOM! Yes! When I was out for a trip with friends or schoolmates, I always feel a bit annoyed to see my borrowed toothpaste squeezed in the middle. I’m sorry if some of you also do that, but I just can’t comprehend why it seems a bit difficult to spill the guts of the tube from the bottom.

• If waiting to go somewhere, I always want to move at the time which ends in 5 or 0. For example, I have to leave home to go to office and I’ll do that after 5, 10 minutes after. Even if the time is 7:58 AM, two minutes before 8, I won’t leave.

• When I watch TV or in my laptop, I always adjust volumes in even numbers. I just do.

• Speaking of numbers, whenever I eat candies like Skittles and gummy bears, I always eat in even number. If there are five more left, I’ll give it to another person so I have to eat only even.

• Still with numbers, I count the steps in a flight of stairs or the square tiles in a floor when I’m walking alone.

• I talk to myself. I have this monologue syndrome, and sometimes I even argue with myself. I also have specific facial expressions on each emotion I’m having. I guess I got that from watching too much Korean dramas and movies, plus the fact that I have tons of Korean friends who I hang-out with. And oh, did I mention that I talked to myself loud enough for someone beside me to hear? And it’s in Korean language.

I always have internal monologue

• After brushing my teeth at night, and all my rituals done, it’s time to sleep! Trivia. I don’t sleep with a pillow under my head. Until now. I feel like my neck will break because it’s higher than my body. At first I thought it was just the wrong type of pillows, but after trying almost everything, I gave up. I love the feel of the bed under my head. Oh, I still use pillows. One to hug, and three more to surround me. I think I adopted the way I slept when I was a kid. My parents would put pillows around me to keep me safe from falling out of bed. When I grew up, I still do that.

I sleep like a baby

I can go on with this list and share you more of my weirdness (or idiosyncrasies). Maybe some of you are now diagnosing me with OCD. Sometimes I think what I’m doing is weird, but most of the time I didn’t even notice that I’m doing it. So yeah, I am strange. I guess we all are. So why don’t you share with us those things that you seem to do differently than others? Can you relate with some of what I’ve mentioned above? Don’t be shy! 

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 19 (A talent of yours)

Hello my dear readers. The topic for today filled me with dread. Perhaps after giving my answer for the question for this day, some of you might stop reading my posts or even un-follow my blog.

You see, the theme is “A talent of yours”. It took me a long time to answer this one. Lovelies, I’m sorry to say, but I think I am a very untalented person.

I believe talent is something that you have since you were born and honed as you grew up. I’m not sure there is anything in me that could classify as a talent.

Singing. I love music and singing, but that doesn’t follow that I’m good at it. Oh, but I’m always in tune. Due to media, I have this connotation that a talent for singing equates belching Mt- Everest-high notes while sitting or lying down. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that. Earlier today, a friend and I went to Music Bank, a huge karaoke house. After singing a few songs, my friend commented, “Why do you choose male/rock band music?” Hehe. But aside from videoke singing, I always participate in choir. Yes, choir! I was once a member of my church choir and Glee Club in high school.

Acting. Since time immemorial (okay, exaggeration here), I’ve been recruited to a lot of acting organizations. I even remembered someone asking my parents’ permission for me to appear on TV (yes, television!) commercial. I think I was in my early years in grade school and was extremely thin (if you complain about thin crust pizza, well, perhaps that’s how I looked). What’s funny? They were persuading me to advertise a children’s milk brand! Hilarious. Perhaps no one will buy that milk if the model looks like a walking stick.

However, I starred in different Broadway extravaganza events in high school. In university, I applied for fun in our drama club, Tanghalang Batingaw, and was immediately accepted. Uh, not that immediately, because one must showcase his/her acting capabilities before the panel (yes, like Philippines’ Got Talent) will deem the person “acceptable”. At one point, I was chosen to be the leading lady in one of the plays, but I didn’t feel any special about it.

Declamation/Oration/Storytelling. I think since I was four or five years old, I was ALWAYS volunteered to join such contests. Really. Even if I didn’t want to. When I was a bit younger, it was storytelling – fables, Filipino legends, to even popular fairytales. In my later years in elementary until high school, it was declamation.

My crazy high school, a specialized public high school system in the Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology, is an institution which offers scholarships to Filipino students who are gifted in the sciences and mathematics. Admission to the PSHS is by competitive examination only. The system is known to have a very challenging curriculum which produces the best professionals in the country. But the students there were not only honed by advanced and killer science and mathematics subjects, but also English. In my school, we have a month or two of English celebration. Even if my country’s native tongue isn’t English, the school believes that making the students feel comfortable with the language will help in their future career in both domestic and international world. So during our English months, we always had competition for those three things I have mentioned in the paragraph above. I was always chosen (believe me, I don’t know why) to participate in declamation and oration. It was fun, especially when I got the first or second place because it means exemption for upcoming major exams.  :)  But did I feel talented? No.

Foreign languages. In my About Page, I think I have mentioned that I have background in speaking Filipino (my native tongue, but always feel like speaking in tongue twisters), English (of course), Japanese (studied for two years in university), Mandarin Chinese (studied for one semester and few more times with my Fil-Chinese friends) and Korean (self-study and from tons of my Korean friends). Well, I am not so fluent with the last three, but I can understand more than the beginners. When I was in Japan last 2009, I felt like I could understand 80-85% of what the Japanese strangers are saying and 90% for my coordinator and foster family. I could also read and write Hiragana and Katakana, but only know less than a hundred Kanji characters. As for Mandarin, it became easy with my knowledge for Nihongo, but the accent and the characters made me insane sometimes. For Korean language, it was so easy. Really. I learned reading and writing Hangeul since I was in high school, long before I even met my first ever Korean friend. Aha! Also because of history, I know a bit of Spanish, too.

Some people say that I have a knack in learning foreign languages. I don’t know if it is true, but I feel comfortable and interesting speaking in different tongues. Well, perhaps my parents prohibiting me from speaking Filipino (English policy) when I was young may be a factor.

Writing. I’m a very talkative person and if you really know me you can easily see that I have I have a short attention span for some things. Result? I talk and write randomly about anything I see or think. More often, I will talk or ask about something that just popped inside my head. Seriously. Sometimes I wonder if I even make sense in what I’m talking  and writing about, but another part of me is saying, “Don’t bother”. And oh, yeah! I think I also like to argue with myself. Ha-ha. So do I have a talent for writing? I don’t think so. Do you?

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 18 ( A time when you felt passionate and alive)

I have many things I am passionate about. There was more than one time that I feel so passionate and alive in doing. But for this post, I’d talk about something that I really like doing. It makes me feel light and blessed whenever I do this.

I like participating to outreach programs. I love to volunteer for worthy causes. For me, some have the opportunity to share their money, but everyone has the chance to share their talents, skills, time, and blessings. I believe in the saying that we must pay it forward. Whatever we receive, we must try to give it back to others, especially to the society where they needed it the most.

I was very glad to join and be an active member of my university’s UNICEF chapter. Later on, I became an official of this organization and it made me feel more responsible in attending to the needs of our fellowmen, especially the children.

In the programs and activities of my club, we focused on the needs of the Filipino children and youth, as based in the UNICEF charter.  We were, and still are, firm advocates of children’s literacy and rights. As much as possible, we wanted to mold them into the “future” and “hope” of our motherland, much as what our national hero said.

Whenever I volunteer for an activity, I feel lightness in my heart that makes me want to jump for joy. This is no exaggeration. Sometimes, I feel so overwhelmed with this feeling that I find myself misty-eyed in a corner. There is nothing that can be compared to the pleasure of helping others. I feel humbled whenever we visit different sites and see the situation of families living there. I feel humiliated of asking things from my parents that I just wanted, but not needed. Before, I felt sad when my mom didn’t allow me to have the newest phone in the market, but seeing kids filled with ecstasy after receiving a new pencil case made me realized things that were once only in the books. Happiness cannot be bought; one cannot find it in material things. It was such a refreshing perspective.

Later, we teamed-up with Gawad Kalinga, a community of volunteers which hopes to build a new nation filled with hope. I became a student leader, and together with the new team, my university organization tied up with other projects.

Here are some photos taken to some of our activities:

judging for a talent contest in Baseco

Christmas lanterns made by people of Baseco using recycled materials

did I mention they’re huge?

Christmas party assembly

Kyulilits on-board: LPU UNICEF tutorials

our willing students

puppet-making! Argh, where’s my face?

smile!

These giving and reaching out to others activities made me feel so alive. It made me realize not only in one occasion that I need to make a huge step forward in order to help the needy. I need to fulfill my dreams so I can help them more. I wish I can simply do that.

We can all be angels to one another. We can choose to obey the still small stirring within, the little whisper that says, ‘Go. Ask. Reach out. Be an answer to someone’s plea. You have a part to play. Have faith.’ We can decide to risk that He is indeed there, watching, caring, cherishing us as we love and accept love. The world will be a better place for it. And wherever they are, the angels will dance. – Joan Wester Anderson

Let’s all try to make a difference and be alive in helping others.

 

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30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 17 (An art piece)

Last night, I have finished pouring over Rick Riordan’s The Mark of Athena. As the third installment of The Heroes of Olympus (Series 2 of The Olympians series with Percy Jackson), the novel focused on the quest the seven demigods from two camps (Roman and Greek) must complete and achieve. In the story, the Mark is a coin of an owl, an animal sacred to the goddess of wisdom, art, war, justice, and skill. The Greek daughter of Athena must go on a solo quest to accomplish something that generations of the goddess’ children failed to do. Guided by the new prophecy, the teens sailed for their quest:

“Wisdom’s daughter walks alone,

The Mark of Athena burns through Rome.

Twins snuff out the angel’s breath,

Who holds the key to endless death.

Giants’ bane stands gold and pale,

Won through pain from a woven jail.”

As I read the book, I found myself thinking about what happened during the Greek and Roman times. In the book, a work of fiction, yes, the Greeks accused the Romans of stealing most of the Greeks’ great and influential ideas, discoveries, and inventions and claimed them as theirs. There was even a part there where Archimedes’ stolen scrolls containing important illustrations and diagrams of his inventions and studies were found under a Roman tunnel. In the story, Romans apparently relied on the Greek’s ideas and tried to copy them.

Sorry for the Romans, but I do agree that the Greeks are a classical lot who thought much ahead of their time. Until today, their ideas still inspire and guide modern thinkers. The ancient Greek philosophy influenced much of our modern philosophers since the time of its inception. May it be about political philosophy, logic, biology, ethics; the Greeks liberated our imagination and opened our minds with their creative yet possible ideas. More importantly, they taught us how to reason. And that what philosophy is about.

So for today’s theme, I choose an art piece connected with this. Italian renaissance artist, Raphael, painted one of the most famous frescoes in the world: The School of Athens.

Also known as Scuola di Atene, the painting depicts almost all of the branches of knowledge. Many have suggested that those personalities found in the art piece are the great Greek philosophers of all time, in different schools of thought.

[photo credit: Wikipedia]

Numbered characters:

1: Zeno of Citium 2: Epicurus 3: unknown 4: Boethius or Anaximander or Empedocles? 5: Averroes 6: Pythagoras 7: Alcibiades or Alexander the Great? 8: Antisthenes or Xenophon or Timon? 9: Uncertain, Fornarina as a personification of Love or Francesco Maria della Rovere? 10: Aeschines or Xenophon? 11: Parmenides? 12: Socrates 13: Heraclitus (Michelangelo) 14: Plato (Leonardo da Vinci) 15: Aristotle 16: Diogenes 17: Plotinus (Donatello?) 18: Euclid or Archimedes with students (Bramante?) 19: Zoroaster 20: Ptolemy? R: Apelles (Raphael) 21: Protogenes (Il Sodoma, Perugino, or Timoteo Viti)

Now why do I like this? One, the masterpiece shows how even then, man wanted to let of his ignorance and instead learned how to think. Two, they helped us be brought to a level of consciousness and understanding of concepts and theories about life. Third, they taught us how to reason. And fourth, they inspired us to use our imagination and let creative ideas take over.

Do you like philosophy? If yes, who’s your favorite philosopher? 

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 16 (A song that makes you cry)

I love music and I especially like songs which have good lyrics and meanings. I admire songwriters who have the ability to put into words a certain feeling a person can have. Those songs can really move me. Sometimes, even instrumental music can do that to me. One piece by Yiruma, titled “Loved Me” is an instrumental masterpiece which mostly leaves my eyes watered after listening to it.

For a song that makes me cry and feel so burdened, I guess a song from a Filipino singer will be my answer. The song is titled “Let Me be the One” by Jimmy Bondoc.

I don’t like conflicts in relationships. And of course, break-ups. I think everyone does. I guess my own failed relationships in the past molded the personality that I currently have. Yes, I have been stronger, but along with that, I also became cynical.

“Let Me Be The One”

 

Somebody told me you were leavin’

I didn’t know

Somebody told me you’re unhappy

But it doesn’t show

Somebody told me that you don’t want me no more

So you’re walkin’ out the door

Nobody told me you’ve been cryin’

Every night

Nobody told me you’d been dyin’

But didn’t want to fight

Nobody told me that you fell out of love from me

So I’m settin’ you free

[Ref:]

Let me be the one to break it up

So you won’t have to make excuses

We don’t need to find a set up where

Someone wins and someone loses

We just have to say our love was true

But has now become a lie

So I’m tellin’ you I love you one last time

And goodbye

Somebody told me you still loved me

Don’t know why

Nobody told me that you only

Needed time to fly

Somebody told me that you want to come back when

Our love is real again

[ref then bridge]

[Bridge:]

Just turn around and walk away

You don’t have to live like this

But if you love me still then stay

Don’t keep me waiting for that final kiss

We can work together through this test

Or we can work through it apart

I just need to get this off my chest

That you will always have my heart

[ref]

This song is like a plea from a man to end things between him and his girl. The first two lines of the chorus really pain my heart:

Let me be the one to break it up

So you won’t have to make excuses

Most split-ups are really messy. More often than not, the couple ends up in separate ways and promise never to contact each other again. Only few settle to become friends. Why? I know you guys know this already, but the heartache of breaking with the one you used to love can really make someone’s world go upside down. More importantly, the reasons given why a couple must break-up can definitely burn bridges. Sometimes, they also make scars to those who were dumped. Results? Vengeance, low self-esteem, vow never to be involved again, etc.

Why this song makes me cry? Hmm. I think the theme of selfless love is obvious in the song. The man really loved his girl and is willing to set her free. He feels that she is no longer happy with their relationship and even if he still loves her, he decided to be the one to end things between them. He may not know her true reasons, but he doesn’t want her to give and invent excuses why they must split. As I have mentioned in the paragraph above, giving reasons for break-ups may only aggravate the crumbling relationship between a couple. It may only worsen things. In the end, the guy still wants to be a gentleman and be the one to break them up.

I don’t wish this to happen to you, but if you find yourself in a relationship that is no longer healthy between you and your partner, what will you do? Will you be the one to speak up and end things? How do you handle break-ups?