disappearances happen

somebody to love

2010-03-16T16:04:00.001+08:00

Can anybody find me somebody to love?

Okay. That's not a plea. I can find somebody to love on my own. And lucky me, I found a lot of somebody to love and I would like to think that I would still find a lot more in the coming years. ;-)

Anyhow, Somebody to Love is one of my uber-favorite songs. Since I'm the type of gal who has NUMEROUS favorites, the uber-favorite category is pretty much the ULT (as in ultimate, thanks Mavis Freestone of the In Death series for this MAG {as in magalicious} word, by the way). Somebody to Love has been sung by the greatest (and not-so) and newest artists in the world. I wouldn't hesitate to bet that this song is being sang EVERYDAY by someone, somewhere around our big, big world.

There's something about Somebody to Love that will make you say (as I've heard and read several times) "This is my themesong. Ever."

Thanks to Youtube, the following are the coolest versions of Somebody to Love. Com'n let's sing-a-long!

God bless Anne Hathaway! I ♥ her so much. (Anne Hathaway. Ella Enchanted.)

Awww. Brittany Murphy singing Somebody to Love. The video was a tribute for the late actress.

(Brittany Murphy. Happy Feet.)

One of the best Idols ever. (Elliot Yamin. American Idol.)

Gleek! (Glee cast. Glee.)

Scruffy-but-still-cutie Nicoplos cover of Somebody to Love. (Nicoplos.)

Chills! (George Michael w/ Queen. Freddie Mercury Tribute.)

*bow* *bow* *bow* Freddie Mercury! (Queen.)

***
Everyday - I try and I try and I try -
But everybody wants to put me down
They say I'm goin' crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
Yeah - yeah yeah yeah

LSS much? :-)

Gone Too Soon

2010-03-07T14:07:00.001+08:00

A week ago, Trixia Maglalang was hit and run by a car. The damage was so horrible that she never had the chance to leave the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. The percentage of chance to survive given by her doctors to her family and friends was bleak. And though prayers were abundant, the Lord's will was done. She left the world to join our Creator. Everyone can say that, in hindsight, it's better this way, so that she won't suffer anymore. But this fact doesn't diminish the pain. Trixia was just 17.

My family is intertwined with hers. My paternal cousin is her maternal cousin. My mom serves as one of our brgy. officials while her dad's the chairman. My eldest cousin used to be her dad's old flame. My dad's first-cousin is married to her dad's sister. I had special relationships with some of her cousins. And right now, my biggest worry is her family. How would they cope with her death?

And all I can really offer is a prayer. If you happen to read this entry, please take a minute and say this entreaty:

Lord, whose ways are beyond understanding, listen to the prayers of your faithful people: that those weighed down by grief at the loss of this child may we find reassurance in your infinite goodness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

***

Trixia, you will be terribly missed.

my love

2010-03-05T17:34:00.000+08:00

A Ghra ♥

Fascinating Taipei

2010-02-22T11:29:00.000+08:00

1. Taipei Zoo- Pandas, koalas, hippopotamus, gray wolf, emus, Asian & African elephants, zebras and a lot, lot more.

2. Way too cold! 9 degrees C. Coming from a tropical country, Taipei's COLD weather was a breath of fresh air.

3. Night Market! I want to live at Shinlin Market. :-)

4. Taipei 101 Observatory. Fastest elevator in the world. From 5th floor to 89th in mere 40 seconds (more or less). Plus 360 degrees view of the city.

5. MRT. Fast. New. And more importantly, HYGIENIC.

6. Temples. The aromatic incense and the devote patrons offering their prayers and fruits absolutely warmed my heart.

7. The yummiest street food ever.

8. Everyday is Fashion Day!

9. Ximending Store. Stalls after stalls, stores after stores of anything and everything that you want to buy.

10. MUSEUMS! Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy.

I planned to document my every move but with my tight, fun-filled schedule, I wasn't able to. Nonetheless, every memory will forever stay in my heart. And now... I think it's time for me to start saving for my next trip. ♥

bon voyage!

2010-02-15T18:28:00.000+08:00

Off to Taipei, Taiwan tonight! Happiness it is!

Dear God

2010-02-09T21:13:00.000+08:00

Almighty and Eternal God,
You are the everlasting health of those who believe in You.
Hear us for Your sick servant (CARLITO)
for whom we implore the aid of Your tender mercy,
that being restored to bodily health,
he may give thanks to You in Your Church.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

***
Mom's bringing Dad to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up. He's been complaining of short breaths and stomach pains. He's been a cancer survivor for 8 years, a heart attack survivor for 6 years. Just please say a little prayer for him and for the betterment of his health.
Thanks.

soy latte

2010-02-08T23:43:00.002+08:00

So there I was, minding my own business, reviewing articles, plurking with friends, enjoying my soy latte and eating tuna dill when a Starbuck's barista delivered a steaming cup of latte at my table.

Brat: Huh?

Barista: Someone bought this latte for you Ma'am. It's like the one you ordered a while ago.

Brat: Hmmm. What? (semi-annoyed voice, imagine that.)

Barista: (pointed the guy in front of me) He ordered a cup of coffee for you. Enjoy!

*remembering our conversation made me realize that I sounded like an idiot. hahaha*

The grinning barista left me without a choice but to accept the cup. After all, he already turned his back on me even before I finished saying thanks. Mildly embarrassed as a lot of patrons were starting to stare at me, I faintly raised my right eyebrow to culprit (aka the guy), wordlessly asking "who the hell are you? and what's all this about?" He then approached my table and introduced himself. And yeah, I'm lousy because I really can't remember if his name was Ian or Ryan. But since he looked more of a Ryan, with a smile-bedimpled cheeks and clean cut hair, we'll just use that name.

Ryan: Hi! *Ryan. I ordered a cup of coffee for you. It's soy latte. Sabi sa counter, that's what you ordered.

Brat: Actually, it's soy latte with 1 pump of hazelnut.

Ryan: Oh. I can order another if you want.

Brat: No. Thanks, by the way. Pero, do I know you? What's with the coffee?

Ryan: No, you don't know me. But I can't help it. Haha! Napapatingin kase ako kanina sa'yo. You looked annoyed tapos tatawa ka ng konte. Tapos you'll be annoyed again then you'll smirk. You just looked so cute when you have that annoyed expression.

Brat: (definitely raised both eyebrows) Ngayon ko lang nalaman na bagay pala sakin iritable.

Ryan: No, no. Hindi ganun. Natuwa lang ako sa facial expressions mo. It was sort of intriguing.

Brat: Ahhh. Okay. Thanks for the cup again. Anything else?

Ryan: (chuckled) No. No. You look really busy. I'm just gonna take my seat again.

Brat: Okay.

He went back to his table and I resumed working. I knew that, once in a while, he would furtively looked at me as I felt my cheeks reddening but I did my best to be keep a straight face. After an hour, I saw him packed his things but before going down, he stopped at my table and said

Ryan: Take care. See you around....

As his sentence was obviously incomplete and he won't turn his back on me, I finally conceded and said

Brat: It's Melai.

And with that, he gave me a casual salute and walked away.

***

And yes, at the confines of my own room, while writing this entry, I can officially say, yes, I felt girly girly. Hahaha. Twitterpated (thanks Nina). That's truly what I felt.

travel girl

2010-02-05T12:07:00.002+08:00

Behind closed eyes, colors fade and blend into beautiful new creations. Fate is left at the shaking hands of our imaginations. Places new and amazing, faces remain unseen. How, then, does our heart feel as if racing in the anticipation of a dream?

Less than two weeks from today, one of the pacts I made with myself will breathe into life. I'll be leaving the country for 5-day (working) vacation. Though I fervently wish that I'll be stepping on the sands of Ireland (soon I promise), Taiwan is not a bad choice. Read this: museums, parks, museums, Taipei 101, museums, out-of-the-ordinary restaurants, museums, temples, museums, gadgets and MUSEUMS. :-P

My bags are almost pack. Though I'm certain, in the coming days, I'll be unpacking my stuff again to check, double-check, triple-check my things. I have post-its, online reminders, checklists for everything. I even have printed and store-bought maps (goodness!).

11 days to go. And no, I'm not nervous at all. :p

0130

2010-01-30T08:00:00.001+08:00

crazy years

and

year after my promotion.

HAPPINESS IT IS!

Congratulations Steffi and Jayson! Happy Wedding!

Congratulations Naomi and Gan! Happy Independence Day! HAHAHA!

Congratulations Mykulet and Mahkulet!!!

Vacation is almost here!

2010-01-26T09:46:00.000+08:00

So. THIS IS IT.

After enormous struggles, Taiwan will welcome me with open arms! Can't wait. :-)

***
thanks to dans' and fjny's for the pics!

HBD doc!

2010-01-17T12:29:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday Coffeemate!

*yeah! my memory is sharp :-)*

Courage and Honor

2010-01-14T17:58:00.000+08:00

Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a dumb idea or a mistake, but you’re not supposed to question adults, or your coach, or your teacher because they make the rules. Maybe they know best but maybe they don’t.

It all depends on who you are, where you come from. Didn’t at least one of the six hundred guys think about giving up and joining with the other side? I mean, Valley of Death, that’s pretty salty stuff.

That’s why courage is tricky. Should you always do what others tell you to do? Sometimes you might not even know why you’re doing something. I mean, any fool can have courage.

But honor, that’s the real reason you either do something or you don’t. It’s who you want to be. If you die trying for something important then you have both honor and courage and that’s pretty good.

- Michael Oher (The Blind Side)

Check That OFF The MUST-Do List

2010-01-14T09:00:00.000+08:00

Updated must-do list:
Legend:
[x] - done
~~strike through~~ - low in the list of priorities :-)
M.U.S.T - obviously MUST do

I wish for/to...

... trip to Scotland. M.U.S.T
... learn a new language soon. [x]
... live in another country for a year or two.
... visit Broadway in New York.

~~... learn to play drums.~~
~~... bungee jump.~~

~~... enroll in a fashion school~~
... play a part in a musical

... learn more about world war II [x]
~~... meet Oprah.~~

... visit museums more often [x]
... study abroad
... learn to paint properly
~~... learn to surf~~

... own a bookstore coffee shop- M.U.S.T
~~... visit Hogwarts (hahaha)~~

... have an affair with Johnny Depp. ;-) - M.U.S.T

And sooooo many more:

... drive my own car SOON (please)
... find time to start learning French
... build (or more likely buy) another bookcase
... build (or more like buy) another shoe rack
... travel with my whole family SOON
... have an affair with David Beckham (MUST MUST MUST)

Verdict: The quoted list was posted almost two years ago. Slow crawl but at least I'm making something out of my life. Ohhh, if one day is equivalent to 48 hours-- what a joy!

musings

2010-01-12T09:00:00.003+08:00

I'm pretty much workaholic. I tend to work and work and work until my eyes are screaming for mercy. My cousins and nieces are already complaining; saying that the only way for them to meet me is if they give me at least a week to pencil sked our appointment. Spontaneity seems to elude my life these days. I guess, it's part of growing up, of walking down the road of maturity, of finding the balance between work and LIFE.

There are so many things I crave to do- my thirst for knowledge, if don't watch my steps, will definitely consume my time for my loved ones.

I want to learn new things. I want to maximize my potentials. I want to explore my talents.

I don't care if it'll take years to reach my goals but I'm determined to take each shaky step, each rocky road to be the best person that I can be.

I don't mind getting hurt. I don't mind the bruises and scars that will definitely welcome my way. After all, in this world, you'll have your share of wounds, might as well get one fighting and aiming for what you want.

Whew. I think I'm really growing up. It warms my heart to know that I have aspirations in life. It's a blessing to realize that I have miracles in my heart in the form of my loved ones.

I guess this is my late-but-not-so-late New Year's resolution. Day 12, first month of the new decade, and I'm loving every minute of it.

***

By the by, my simple happiness is here. *yeah, I'm weak. Sue me. :D*

back

2010-01-11T12:36:00.000+08:00

"You can't go back. Can't fix what broke. But you can go forward. And every step matters. Everyone makes a difference." - Eve Dallas

because everyone's getting engaged...

2010-01-08T09:00:00.000+08:00

I'm selfish.

And I don't think that there's something wrong in admitting this particular "shortcoming" of mine. After all, there's only one aspect in my life where I tend to be demonstrate this trait- my lovelife. Sure, I talk about it, talk about him, talk about the other guys in the past and talk about the possible guy(s) in the future, but my friends can attest to the fact that I never bring my guy to any events where it's but normal to bring a partner. Not before, not now and not in the near future.

I used to be teased by others about this peculiar view of mind. Some would even ask nonsensical questions like "Is he bald?", "Is he ugly?" "Does he have stinking feet?" "Is he overweight?" "Is he married?" "Are you sure he's human?" "Does he even exist?" My, my, of course, Mr. G, Superman, Doc and Q exist. No one is bald. Fortunately for me, they are far from being ugly. No stinking feet. No excessive flab. Everyone's still single (sans the exes today).

And besides, I'm not a close-minded individual. Of course, I would love to have Derek-look-a-like (or Derek himself) for a guy but hey life's life. I love hearing and witnessing love stories of childhood love, of cougar-love, of age-doesn't-matter-love, of same-sex-love, of we're-freaking-complicated-love, of i-love-you-you-love-me-but-we-can't-be-together-love, of i-love-you-you-love-her/him-(s)he-loves-him/her-love and so on and so forth. I have friends and families who are living in these kinds of love so I'm not gonna be all pompous and haughty and declare "No, only the most handsome, only the smartest, only the most disciplined, only the cream of the crop for me." For one thing, I'm just ordinarily pretty (hahaha!) and more importantly, I'll get bored with guy-ala-droid.

So yeah, I choose not to "show" my man (as well as not showed the others before) because I'm selfish. I want to savor what I have, what I had, what we have, what we had. Yes, I want to tell my friends my stories and I do tell them, but I want the spirit, the core to stay with me and only with me. I'm pretty sure not everyone can understand my standpoint. Even readers of this post will have questions on their own. But I sincerely don't think it's a big of a deal. Anyhow, if you're really a friend, you don't just accept what you can see but what is being felt. And I know my friends are happy when they know, when they see and when they feel that I'm happy.

Someday (possible 10 years from now! Hahaha!) I'll introduce the man that I'll spend the rest of my life with. He can be Q, he can't be Q, I still don't know. But when the time comes, my man and I will be all over my loved ones' lives, to the point of nuisance, for the rest of our lives. So until that time, I'm happy being selfish. I'm happy hoarding my affection with my man.

***

“Love is an expression and assertion of self-esteem, a response to one's own values in the person of another. One gains a profoundly personal, selfish joy from the mere existence of the person one loves. It is one's own personal, selfish happiness that one seeks, earns, and derives from love.” - Ayn Rand

come let's celebrate

2010-01-07T10:49:00.001+08:00

Welcome to living the life!

However crippling things might be remember that our hopes should never waver. Life does not hesitate so we need to keep on going heedless of all these crazy monsters on our back. Decisions are being made every second of the day, big or small, silly or sensible, so never fear making the wrong one. Bottom line is every decision you make is life changing. If your choice turns out unsuitable then never regret whatever the outcome is. Accept whatever trials that comes along your way but always remember to hold on to the good things that come out of it and the lessons you’ve gained.

Every living soul has, at one point or another, tasted the sweet tranquility of life. Everybody went through a phase when you think you can no longer hold on. But look, if we hang on just a little, if we let others take our hands then the gratifying contentment will be seen at the end of the every journey. Do not hurry with life. Learn from the past. Listen to the sounds of comfort. Stop when you see the signs ahead. Experience every pain with the courage that you have so that you won't be hurt again the same way.

Live in the present. There is more to go through in here than in the past that you can no longer touch, than in the future that’s still so close yet so far. Celebrate your relationships; with yourself- because there’s only one you! Don’t hate yourself because of your physical flaws. Don’t abandon your heart if it let you down. Enjoy yourself. Be thankful for your family however eccentric they may be. Cheers to your friends who will grow old with you. Triumph over love, seize it inside and whisper the words in your heart. You’ll know you’re victorious if you’ve felt the words more than heard them.

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start and make new ending. Life is fun and complex but you are great and multifaceted. All you need to do is to live the life that you have right now. Don’t wish for the end yet. There is more to your life than a fairy that flutters in our world yet concealed to the naked eye.

(Edited original post. Posted 09/10/07. Reposted for a friend who's going through a rough time. Stay strong Bebe! I'm here all the way. Wabyu!)

2010

2010-01-04T16:43:00.000+08:00

If there is something better than sharing with others the best of what you have, it is sharing with others the best of who you are.

Wishing everyone a fruitful and rockin' 2010! Let's all start the year with simple wishes and big dreams.

***
Note to self: Buy the damn car this year. :D

last post for 2009

2009-12-18T11:24:00.000+08:00

EPH Christmas Party 2009

2009-12-13T21:11:00.000+08:00

Less than three weeks in the making.
Numerous sleepless nights.
Mind-blowing discussions.
Life Work-threatening schedule.
Pasta Marinara-ala Melai.
Grip-blessed budget-shopping.
"Snow" building and +1.

Excited writers.
Excited bosses.
Excited and soon-to-be-proclaimed-insane editors.

One night.
One exhilarating night.
And it's all worth the while.

EPH Christmas Party 2009!
Wooooooohooooooooooo!!!!

- bosses and editors-

-editor melai-

-purple team-

-(almost complete) Tumba Gang :-D-

***

conquer corregidor

2009-12-07T11:10:00.000+08:00

I came.

I saw.

I conquered Corregidor.

***

updates soon. manic monday. hectic week.

dada's girl

2009-11-27T12:18:00.000+08:00

I ♥ you daddy!

Happy Birthday!!!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

2009-11-26T19:00:00.000+08:00

My current LSS:

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It doesn't show signs of Pauseping,
And I've bought some corn for popping,
The lights are turned way down low,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight,
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bying,
But as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

***

Can't wait for our office party! Awesome! ♥

heart

2009-11-24T12:04:00.000+08:00

"Don't wait for a knight in shining armor. Be your own heroine."

ma'am melai is loved

2009-11-14T13:04:00.000+08:00

One birthday gift that I'll surely treasure forever. Thanks EPH! I love you guys!