I Keep Love Real

Chastity Bands

noreply@blogger.com ("I Keep Love Real") — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:34:00 +0000

On the week of February 8, 2010 my Theo 131 groupmates and I had a mission. It was to give out as many “chastity bands” as possible and get as many “commitments” in our website as we could. My group was assigned to promote awareness about the Catholic Church’s stand on pre-marital sex and artificial birth control and WHY this was the Church’s stand.

To do this we set up a promo board in school with our website’s name and link. Then we placed standees on the tables in the cafeteria, again with a link to our website. However the real work was just about to begin.

Armed with a bag full of homemade chastity bands, my 5 group mates and I set off into the campus and started approaching people. “Hi would you like to be chaste?”, “It’s Pro-Life month! Want a wristband?”, “Don’t chase, be chaste! Free chastity bands!” were some of the more common statements one would hear from us. We spent most of our free time in school handing out wristbands and encouraging people to visit our website.

At home we would make our status messages on YM the link to our website. On facebook we posted the same link on all our friends’ walls. We even sent out group messages to our yahoo groups inviting people to visit our website.

By the end of the week we had given out all of the chastity wristbands that we made and in turn received a considerable number of replies from our commitment page in our website. No one refused a chastity band but some persons sent us negative remarks from our website. However it was very heartwarming to discover that the positive comments far outnumbered the negative ones. Also a lot of people sent in their commitments to stay chaste until marriage and to not use artificial birth control methods.

When we were first assigned this project my group and I thought it would be an impossible task or at the very least a really big hassle. How were we supposed to tell our peers not to have sex until they were married? Well the project turned out to be a success and the response we got was overwhelmingly positive. On top of that my group and I really had a lot of fun setting up a website and making chastity bands and posters. At the end of the day I would say mission accomplished. Don’t you think?

Stephanie Arenas

Theology131, Section I

Ateneo de Manila University

p.s. my group’s website is: http://www.wix.com/theologyadmu/Sex-is-Good/

Tagpuan by Abby Asistio

noreply@blogger.com (ivanish) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:33:00 +0000

Tagpuan is a song about waiting for God's perfect timing when it comes to finding true love. I wrote it as a love letter to my future boyfriend, and hopefully husband, knowing that it's just a matter of time before he actually comes into my life. In the song, I tell him that I'm certain that while I am patiently waiting and praying to God for him, I know that he is also doing the same thing while he is searching for me. I assure him that I am being faithful to him and am loving him even while I'm single by living in purity and having a vision of how I would want our future love life to be.

Also, this song serves as a reminder for singles like myself that it is possible to have peace and joy in one's heart even while we're alone. Because though the waiting could take awhile, and though it could get really hard sometimes, once we're finally with God's best, all the waiting would be worth it.

"Naghihintay, naniniwala,
Ang puso ay maligaya at payapa,
Panatag and loob kahit ngayo'y nag-iisa
Pagdating ng araw, kapiling na kita..."

Here's the lyrics. Hope you enjoy :)

TAGPUAN
by ABBY ASISTIO

NAGHIHINTAY PARIN TAYO'Y MAGKATAGPO
IKA'Y MAMAHALIN, IBIBIGAY AKING PUSO
PARA LAMANG SAYO, IAALAY BUHAY KO
SAGOT SA AKING PANALANGIN
AKO'Y MAGING IYO'T IKAW AY SA AKIN

KINALIMUTAN ANG LAHAT NG PAGAALINLANGAN
PAGKAT AKO'Y NANINIWALANG IKAW AY NARIYAN
NAGDARASAL KA RIN, HINAHANAP MO AKO
MUNDO NATI'Y MAGBABAGO
SA ORAS NA MALAMAN KO'T MALAMAN MONG
ITINAKDANG MAGING TAYO

*NANINIWALANG DARATING KA RIN
PAGSASAMAHIN NG TADHANA
MAKAKAPILING, AKING MAMAHALIN
IKAW LANG AT AKO HABAMBUHAY
LAHAT PARA SAYO AY IAALAY
SA ATING TAGPUAN...

PINAPANGAKO NA MAGIGING TAPAT AT TOTOO
MAAASAHAN MONG KARAMAY
MAGTITIWALA SAYO
KAKAYANIN ANG LAHAT BASTA'T KASAMA LANG KITA
IPAPAMALAS NA KAILANGAN KO AY TANGING IKAW
MAGPAKAILAN PA MAN
LUBOS NA PAGIBIG SAYO LAMANG ILALAAN

Repeat *

NAGHIHINTAY, NANINIWALA
ANG PUSO AY MALIGAYA AT PAYAPA
PANATAG ANG LOOB KAHIT NGAYO'Y NAGIISA
PAGDATING NG ARAW
KAPILING NA KITA

DARATING KA RIN
PAGSASAMAHIN NG TADHANA
MAKAKAPILING, AKING MAMAHALIN
IKAW LANG AT AKO HABAMBUHAY
LAHAT PARA SAYO AY IAALAY
SA ATING TAGPUAN...

It simply isn't complicated

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:28:00 +0000

I've always thought women to be the stronger sex. Of course, this did not arise from any provocation that men were in fact the ones stronger, but a belief I've held ever since. We go through so much in life, from the awkward changes in puberty, to being hypersensitive about the world around us as we grow older. There's just so much to deal with, that our minds remain imprinted with vivid memories of what was, and an endless introspection of what is yet to happen.

To be born in today's world is to be anything you want to be, because you are granted the liberty of the times. And yet, a reason for the misery women feel at the hands of men..is their very selves. They allow for the pain to come, if only to receive a fraction of the affection they so crave for so much from the people they love.

In interviewing Mrs. Lora Tan-Garcia, author of the inspirational book "I Keep Love Real", she imparts insights as to what girls really want from relationships: to love and be loved. Pleasure is not derived from a night's satisfaction of love-making, but the feeling of acceptance and security from the person you share your self, your world, to. The heart of this relationship is built on a different kind of experience altogether, one that surpasses physical intimacy.

Jason Evert, a Catholic public speaker who annually speaks to students in the US about keeping chaste, has this to say about girls today: “Sometimes, girls are so busy trying to turn a guy’s head that they forget they have the ability to turn a guy’s heart.”

We compromise ourselves, giving up our best years to receive half-baked effort from the other end of the line. We make ourselves so available that we allow them to treat us less than what is expected. Despite our efforts, we arouse only desire, and not evoke feelings of real love.

As the line goes, what makes you different makes you beautiful. Be different, say 'no'! Don't give yourself right away, let him work for it because YOU ARE WORTH IT. You'll find that through waiting for the right person, you'll be building up a relationship as solid as the church you'll get married in. Now, what could be more beautiful than that?

Let me tell you that my internship at I Keep Love Real has been, in the simplest words, a really cool experience. Knowing even a fraction of the gravity of love through this campaign has opened my mind to how much of it is such a great, great force in this world. Love is a mystery worth pursuing, yet you never want to uncover its depths because what makes it impossible to understand is what makes it worth pursuing in the first place. We can never really have a universal definition for love, but we can understand what it brings us.

And this is done through the IKLR campaign. Love, while subjective to each of us, becomes concretized through the relationships which bind and keep us afloat in this world. With the relationships we have, we begin to understand what love means to us, personally. Essentially, the kind of love IKLR wants for us to experience is the driving force that keeps us going in the right direction until we meet our other half, that person we're to spend the rest of our lives with.

I invite you to be part of the I Keep Love Real Team. Share your insights to teens everywhere and make a difference in their lives.

As John Lennon said, "Love is real, real is love." :)

*Image credit

true love waits

noreply@blogger.com (Gliza Marasigan) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:25:00 +0000

We yearn for long and lasting love. It seems to be in our nature, to be on the look-out for The One - that one person with whom we'd share real love. We go on numerous dates, trying to figure out which of those would work out. Give it more or less six dates and you're probably ready to venture into a deeper relationship with your significant other. Emotions get stronger and desires are amplified.

"If you love me, you'll do this for me. You'll have sex with me." Love? Are you sure it's real love? You're young. Breaking up, these days, isn't something new. We hear of break-ups everywhere -- from our own friends, and even in our own lives. What if, by chance, you and your significant other encounters a terrible problem that leads to tremendous amounts of fighting and misunderstanding. What probably seemed like "real" love then, appears like a total lie now.

Ms. Lora Garcia's book, I Keep Love Real, emphasizes the concept of chastity in our lives. Imagine having giving your body to the person who broke your heart, to the person who didn't fight for your relationship to survive, and to the person who has taken full advantage of your susceptibility to do anything for the sake of love. Then here comes this completely wonderful person, who simply sweeps you off your feet and shares with you, real and genuine love. This person, obviously different from all the others you've dated, proposes to marry you and vows to live forever and ever with you.

Won't you have this guilt feeling in your gut, stubborn and solid, haunting you like crazy?

Before you go into pre-marital sex, think of your future husband or wife. According to Ms. Lora, it's like cheating in advance. Sure, you might say you're too young to be thinking about marriage, but don't you think you're also too young to be cheating on your life-partner? What would you feel if your future husband or wife has been taken advantage of, by some jerk or slut? Wouldn't you feel helpless and weak, that you weren't able to do anything to protect him or her in that situation?

Let this be a helpful reminder, every time the call for sex comes. You have a choice and no one has to force you to do anything. Your decisions today would be reflected on whatever would happen tomorrow, and even in the future.

Allow me to wrap this entry up by inviting YOU to become a future blogger for I Keep Love Real. This experience has been simply amazing, and I'm extremely glad for having accepted this duty. Personal experiences and experiences from my friends have been my inspiration in doing this. As I typed in entries, I imagined talking to my own kabarkadas, giving them advice as I pat their backs for comfort. All of us are sick and tired of crying and aching, but we must never give up. Love surpasses everything. Though imperfect, the power of real love succeeds every problem, every heartbreak and every heart ache. I invite you to become a future blogger for IKLR. I invite you to share your insights, your thoughts, in the hope of lifting the spirits of teens everywhere.

Join us in spreading the real love revolution! :)

Marching out, marching into

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:55:00 +0000

I came across my old high school stuff the other day. Beneath my bookshelf, I found back issues of the school paper, prized essays, scrapbook projects, and dilapidated notebooks crammed with colorful post-its, old photos, letters, and whatnot. It was a nostalgic experience seeing even a fraction of the things which reminded me about pre-college life.

Call me the anti-drama queen, but I wasn't hit by an overwhelming sense of sadness. It wasn't as if I hated high school and wanted to forget it the moment I marched out of the auditorium, but it was just one of those moments wherein you find something you've totally forgotten about (maybe an old movie you haven't watched in ages) and find that it still has that fascinating quality which charmed you the first time you saw it.

In retrospect, I was pretty happy come graduation day. There were no tears, save for the ones from laughing too much with my friends during the ceremony. For my 17-year-old self, it was the paradigm of liberation, the front exit to oppressive homework and sadistic teachers! Surely it wasn't the end of the line, but the beginning of a whole new chapter of my life.

Graduation doesn't mean goodbye, but a mere 'goodbye for now'. For some, graduation is dreaded for it equates to a slowdown in relationships, such that they become victims of the high school fix. Here, they trap themselves in a replay of memories continuously played even after everyone has left the theatre.

Don't be afraid to let go of high school, because I assure you--there is a much bigger world out there, and you'll discover that there will be much to see and learn from it. It's a whole new life--a whole new adventure! You'll know more about yourself and meet a lot of new people, consequently forming new relationships. Just be ready for the changes that will come your way, because these will help you mature and be a better version of yourself.

As mentioned, graduation isn't goodbye or the end.. It's only the beginning of greater experiences in life! Good luck and congratulations, graduates of 2009! :)

Saving Love

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:14:00 +0000

The book, I Keep Love Real, by Lora Garcia invites to be true ourselves and really understand the essence of sex through the form of chastity and purity. She says, chastity and purity isn’t an archaic idea, it actually is something that is cool. It can be cool again, because the benefits of it are cool. And before you starting switching blog sites since sex is so taboo and we treat it as something private and not necessarily open for discussion – you thought wrong. Because of this notion, sex becomes such a mystery that most of us fall trap to the many consequences it fails to mention when you’re in that moment. That moment, that I must say, could truly be escapable, if we only knew…

But considering we don’t – chastity isn’t about what we give or what we don’t give but who we give it to and meaning we attach to the idea of sex when we regard it. Lora says that we, the teens of today, aren’t so different from the teens of yesteryear. We are, however, suffering from a “vision problem”. And she sums it up with this: “I don’t think we understand what we are waiting for. What are the benefits if we wait? What is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Teens have the capacity to wait. Present it to them in a reasonable and non-threatening way. These reasons are weak, lacking in water, those “Wag kang magssex kasi mabubuntis ka” reasons. We have access to more information nowadays. We are not a generation of people that will take everything sitting down, that we will just accept things. We have to be creative in trying to send the message across. The message is good. It’s true. That has never changed…but what has to change is the method.”

And we’ve heard it over and OVER again that it gets so sick we learn to tune it out. “Sex – everyone does it – so why can’t I?” – we keep telling ourselves. The book doesn’t close the idea that it won’t be able to touch on every audience or to inspire them to think of chastity in a new light. But it will directly or indirectly make us think, which the focal aim of Lora Garcia – to think about sex and what we’re really waiting for. What we’re waiting for? You’ll find out when you truly understand and respect yourself and your sexuality.

Let us not sell ourselves short. We are possibly led to wrong perspectives but at the end of the day, we all want respect. Chastity and purity in its greater essence gives justice to that. It allows us to experience the guilt-free pleasure of loving.

As I bid farewell to writing weekly blogs *sobs*… I must say this has been a great experience. I invite you to become future bloggers of the new love revolution! There is so much to learn with topics we talk about weekly and the videos we watch just so we can make sense of the lessons we impart to you guys. If there’s one thing I learned and have reasserted to myself is that I respect life and respect love. I see it as something so precious that when I find that great love, it will be divine. I hope you realize the beauty of love and why you guys, people capable of love, are truly so lucky to experience such a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’ve said it a million times and I will say it again… NEVER rely on fairytale-sweeping love but a love that is truly sustainable and sincere of its intention. Keeping love real is not about the physical appearance as I discussed in the Twilight saga, but understanding and accepting the entirety of ourselves and the person we’re with.

Kudos to love and the beauty it brings because what is life without it? We are always yearning for this because it never fails to deliver. Hurt, joy, pain – whatever it is, it’s amazing and we only grow to know so much. Everyday is day for love, may you cherish it as I do. When I’m with my friends, family or whoever, I think about love and how it encompasses my life.

Cheers, everyone. Remember: Love in a form of pain is still beauty in disguise ;)

Real REEL Love

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Real Love in Reel

Announcing the launch of IKLR’s latest friends, keepingreellovereal.

Yes, you guessed it right. They are a group advocating real love thorugh “reel life” aka as films and movies. This group claims to be an advocate of promoting chastity in Filipino movies. Their goal is to help make the youth, that’s us, more media literate and show them that everything in films is a reflection of reality and should be done.

How do you find them? Just look them up at http://www.youtube.com/keeplingreellovereal and watch all the videos. I guarantee you it will be a great larning experience. You can also be friends with them by simply adding keepingreellovereal.multiply.c om if you have a multiply account.

Check out the youtube channel. It’s packed with documentaries and other vidoes that would let you go through a journey of learning and discovery about love, sex, and relationships. The documentaries are really good, most of them executed at awesome creativity. There are video clips from some blockbuster Filipino movies for you better understand and enjoy learning the concepts. Just going through what they have could change or improve our outlook on love and sex. It will help you more on keeping love Real.

So take the journey, visit the channel, then you will be more enlightened.

This doesn't mean goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Gliza Marasigan) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:47:00 +0000

"Promise me that nothing will change. Promise me that nothing will change between us."

As the school year halts to an end, numerous emotions engulf students. Indeed, the graduation season brings about heaps of excitement, as well as tons of worries and tears. For most, graduation is the time to rejoice as they welcome a new phase in their lives; whereas for others, graduation may mean separating from their significant other for a long time -- or forever.

Let's face it: graduation means moving on to a new life, a new college, and a new environment. As much as we would want our high school life (and love life) to remain intact, things would indeed change as a person enters and grows in college. Different paths lead people to varied directions, and sometimes it becomes extremely complicated to force those to meet. But you know what? It's not impossible.

While it is true that changes happen, relationships could still work beyond high school . The key here is a constant communication, honesty, and trust with your significant other. You don't have to go to the same school, nor would you have to hold him or her by the neck so as to keep his or her loyalty to you. Be fair to your partner and let him or her grow as an individual. If what you have for each other is indeed real love, you'd constantly want the best for one another.

Here are some common problems graduating couples face:
1. "We're not going to the same university together."
You know what? It might even be better that way. I personally don't go to the same university as my boyfriend but our relationship's going really well. We get to see each other only on weekends and we're in constant communication through texting and YM. Sometimes, we surprise each other through impromptu visits and the like. What's good about studying in different colleges is that you get to develop your sense of independence and social skills. When you're always with your significant other, people would be quite reluctant to be close with you especially if they see that the two of you are all over each other. One major tip for this issue is a strong sense of trust and honesty between the two of you. If you really love each other, you'd remain loyal to one another and solve your problems together -- no matter what.

2. "He / She would be studying in a different country."
Ah, long distance relationships. Sometimes it just leaves you completely helpless with your relationship. With all honesty, I believe that long distance relationships are hard to maintain and I commend people who are able to survive such situations. But you know, surviving the distance and time difference isn't impossible, especially in an era in which we are exposed to numerous communications paraphernalia like the Skype, YM and Facebook. Don't think that because you and your partner would be living in different countries, you'd be forever separated -- because it doesn't have to be like that. Let me ask you this, do you think the relationship's worth keeping? Do you want a happily ever after for the two of you? If you said yes, then it could happen. The answer lies in the two of you. It lies in how well you'd make the relationship work. Be realistic with yourselves and don't give one another false hopes. Remember that real love could surpass anything, no matter what happens between the two of you. Things won't always be perfect, but the two of your could make it work. Believe in the power of love.

Whatever happens between the two of you, have faith with one another. If it's real love, then the feeling would be mutual. Both of you, no matter what happens, should act in order to make the relationship work. This is a new phase in your life and you should welcome it with a big smile on your face and your arms widespread. Let the both of you grow and develop individually, without sacrificing your relationship. You can make this work! You can do it! :)

This is your time to shine.
Congratulations on your graduation!
Enjoy your college life!

Weekly Dose of Poems: Edmund Spenser

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:31:00 +0000

One day I wrote her name upon the strand

One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
Vain man, said she, that dost in vain assay
A mortal thing so to immortalize!
For I myself shall like to this decay,
And eek my name be wiped out likewise.
Not so (quoth I), let baser things devise
To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:
My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,
And in the heavens write your glorious name;
Where, whenas death shall all the world subdue,
Our love shall live, and later life renew.

In Summer Heat

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:07:00 +0000

Summer flings come and go. You might never have one in your life, but if you do, here are a few things to keep in mind before you give in to the summer breeze of love.

We all want a summer romance, the feeling where this moment can’t get any better or that crushing trulymadlydeeply has never felt this good. But get this, did it ever occur to your love-bugged mind that this fling of yours could be a true stalker, sex addict or a 55-year-old man pretending to be your age (cause he’s an in-denial pedophile)? Whatever, right? But there are too many cases of missing people after a date of blissful beginnings that you just have to keep guard.

Don’t fall too fast or you might fall into a trap you just can’t get out of. Yes, nothing is too good to be true.

Tip #1: Say your name but NOT your whole being. Do not give all too personal information that will put you doomed if he really was a stalker. He might have hawked you down and just pretended to meet you accidentally in lover’s paradise.

Tip #2: If he seems like all he wants for you guys is to go intimate. Well honey, it’s easy to decode – he wants you in bed – and that’s it. Sex addict alert! Hate to break it to you; love is always misinterpreted as lust. Don’t look like a damsel in distress eager to fall fast in love, because 1. Fairytales seldom exist and 2. If he’s pleasing you too much, it’s because he can’t wait for you to give in to his fantasy of exploiting women to give him a much needed ego boost.

Tip #3: Be wary of wrinkles and white hair. If he says he’s just your age (considering you’re 13-19) and seems like he’s such a big fat liar, more often that not, he really is what his physical characteristics suggest him to be. Sadly, there are no Benjamin Button’s in the world – so don’t get your hopes high. He is most likely, a pedophile eager to date someone three to four decades younger than him. My advice: stay away, stay FAR FAR FAR away. Just imagine: summer flings are supposed to sweep you of your feet… not to gross you till you gag.

This may sound all too humorous and almost impossible to happen to you. And yeah, not all summer flings go down this tragic – but it pays to be wary, it pays to be cautious and smart with people you mingle with. People who live in 21st century seem to be more jaded, screwed, and complicated to please. Don’t be a victim – we want to fall in love not be robbed of our sanity.

Star-crossed Lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Gliza Marasigan) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:30:00 +0000

Ah, love. It gives you this rush; this sudden bolt which engulfs your body with sheer euphoria. You get butterflies in your stomach as you see your Romeo or Juliet, walking to you with a big smile on his/her face. You gush. Your cheeks flush. But then, there's one big problem: your parents are against him/her.

How do you do about with that?

Well, if it'd make you feel any better, you're not the only star-crossed couple out there. There are heaps of couples who face the problem of forbidden love. Let's face it, not all relationships are deemed as perfect. As the song said, "That you were Romeo you were throwing pebbles, and my Daddy said stay away from Juliet and I was crying on the staircase begging you please don't go." It seems as if despite the beauty of love, there's a huge barrier that hinders the love from happening and flourishing.

But I ask you, why are your parents against your relationship in the first place? There has got to be a reason behind it. Here are some possible reasons, and check which one(s) you're able to relate with.
1. "My parents think he/she is a bad influence!"
- Be honest with yourself, is he/she a bad influence? Has your relationship with him/her resulted to your addiction to some vice or to the low grades you've been having recently. If so, then they're probably right. A relationship must not degrade you in any way; rather, it must be able to keep you inspired to be on top of your game at all times. Solution? Well, at this point there's really no use rebelling against your parents because the more you'd be distant from them and numerous problems would erupt. You could opt to be more attuned with your studies and not let your addiction to your new-found vice destroy your life. Your parents love you and they only want the best for you. When it comes to the bad guy/bad girl radar, they're extremely good at it. If you want this relationship to last, tell your significant other about it, and if he/she is really serious with you, he/she will try to adjust to meet your parents' approval.

2. "My parents think that I'm too young!"
- A lot of couples experience this, wether they're really young or their parents think that they're not mature enough. I've had a share of the "you're too young to be in a serious relationship" talk, and I could say that parents need to find that sense of maturity in you. Despite my age (20), my mom still thinks that I'm too young. There's no point in arguing with parents on this case, because the more they'd have reasons to go against your relationship. The more immature they'd think of you, especially if you end up whining, locking yourself up in your room, and rebelling against them. Solution? Show them. Show them that it's not really in the age and that you can be mature. Be responsible in all aspects of your life -- be it in academics, in your family, and in your relationship. Don't rush things and expect your parents to pick up all the loose ends quickly. Give them time. If you're really serious, you won't give up on real love -- no matter how long it takes to gain their acceptance.

3. "My parents just don't understand us!"
- There are times when parents seem to be too far-off, and that their judgments tend to be out of this world. We grew up from a far different generation from theirs, and such gap might have resulted to their "shrewdness." Why not take time in letting your parents understand. Make it easy and light for them to comprehend. Try being more open to your parents. The more you're close-minded about things, then the more your parents would be puzzled and judge your relationship wrongly.

With patience, determination, motivation, and real love, the possibility of hearing, ""Marry me, Juliet - you'll never have to be alone. I love you and that's all I really know. I talked to your dad - go pick out a white dress; It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes,"" may just happen and you'll attain your 'happily ever after.'

of sunshine, sandboxes, and suspense

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:31:00 +0000

You watch all these films wherein everything just seems to be working toward the couple to get together at the end. The odds are minimal, and they usually discover that the self-inflicted barriers were meaningless, and that the external forces trying to break them apart only reinforced what they felt for each other in the first place.

It’s so “magical”, that feeling you identify with after watching a truly great piece of motion picture. An example of mine would be The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which is also one of my favorite movies), wherein the romantic plot isn’t as cheesy as the rest of those insipid, sugar-saturated-mass-produced teeny bopper flicks which only feed those hormonal, run-of-the-mill feelings. Isn’t it better if you actually see love in an otherwise uncontrived situation?

And in feeling such emotions without even having someone to share them with, comes John Mayer’s Love Song For No One. Most artists sing about loving someone in medias res, but this song stands out, addressing its lines to a person the subject has not even met yet. And unlike in Eternal Sunshine, this singer tries to remember what instances he and his nameless lover could have possibly met, instead of trying to forget love itself.

The song was effortlessly written for listeners to know that the topic was about love, but did not overwhelm its audience with complex and verbose declarations of a lonely heart’s “eternal devotion” to his future lover. It uses everyday scenarios people would most likely relate to, wherein the words in the chorus reflect the simple yet intense anticipation (even anxiety) over meeting “the one”. You may be frustrated over waiting for this person to arrive, but you might discover that these powerful feelings will make up for an even more meaningful encounter between you two.

In essence, John Mayer keeps love real in this folk pop hit, delighting music junkies for being able to capture such raw feelings of self-uncertainty and mind-blowing suspense over finding that special person—one’s eternal sunshine, so to speak.

Just wait for it, guys. The right person will come, and you’ll see that all you’ve waited for was worth it…a thousand times over. :)

----------------------------------
Love Song For No One
By John Mayer

Staying home alone on a Friday
Flat on the floor looking back
On old love
Or lack thereof
After all the crushes are faded
And all my wishful thinking was wrong
I'm jaded
I hate it

*** I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
Get here

Searching all my days just to find you
I'm not sure who I'm looking for
I'll know it
When I see you
Until then, I'll hide in my bedroom
Staying up all night just to write
A love song for no one

(***)

I could have met you in a sandbox
I could have passed you on the sidewalk
Could I have missed my chance
And watched you walk away?
Oh no way

(***2x)

You'll be so good
You'll be so good for me

*image credit

Forget About me

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Lavalle) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:33:00 +0000

Forget About Me by Little Bit

You Said It Wasn’t
Gonna Be Like It Was Before
Then It Happened Again
Pushing Me Back Out The Door
Thought It Would Be Forreal This Time
Love Me Forget About The Signs
So Now What Do I Do
Now, That I Know That We’re Through

Wish That I Could Move On
Can’t Let Go, It’s Too Strong
Just Like That And Then You’re Gone
Is This How You Wanted It To Be
Everything You Had To Say
Sent The Tears Right Down My Face
Now I’m Trying To Escape
The Misery

CHORUS:

Why Don’t You Love Me
The Way I Loved You
It Feels So Crazy
Cause I Dunno What I Did To You
If You’re Gonna Hurt Me
Then Do It Quickly
Cause I’m Tired Of Cryin
If You Don’t Wanna Stick Around
Then, Baby, Forget About Me

Too Late, Sorry
I Didn’t Even Have The Chance
You Said You Were Happy
Baby, I Don’t Understand
Gave You Everything You Asked For
And Was Ready To Give You A Lot More
I Would’ve Given The World
Right In The Palm Of Your Hand

CHORUS

Boy, My Heart Was True
And That You Can’t Deny
Don’t Be A Fool
And Walk Away From a good life
It’s Up To You
Cause Heaven Knows I’ve Tried
Tell Me You’re Still In Love
Yeahhhh Ohh

CHORUS

Forget About Me…

forgett about me..
oh baby oh

The Song "Forget about me" presents an interesting yet perfectly good example of a bad relationship. In short, it's the perfect example of the song for I Don't Keep Love Real or I Keep Not Real Love. This song definitely reflects a relationship that's going nowhere - for the sole reason that the Love in this scenario is one-sided. That's right, Girl loves Boy like crazy but Boy never loves her back. Love is not reciprocated here.

We all know that love is a choice; it is a decision. We also know that it is other-centered. It is definitely giving oneself to the other person. Love is a self-sacrifice because you eventually lose yourself because priorities shift to the other person. It's all good and the lyrics in the song definitely described in detail how the girl tried everything to love her significant other by giving her all and I quote: "Gave you everything you asked for, And was ready to give you a lot more". Although poetic this may seem, I find it a bit disturbing. She could be giving something sacred to the other person at an inappropriate context.

One person is doing a good job of loving the person based on IKLR definition. But the love she is giving is not reciprocated. Therefore, the love she is professing has no direction towards something bigger and more significant than just a relationship – that's a long term commitment called marriage. Loving someone is good but a love that is not reciprocated, painful as it may seem, is definitely a love that will not flourish. It's time to move on, and forget the significant other that is not reciprocating that love. Love is experienced best when reciprocated. That is Real Love, with a crystal clear direction.

The Trouble with Love Is

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:10:00 +0000

The Trouble with Love Is
Kelly Clarkson

Love can be a many splendid thing
Can't deny the joy it brings
A dozen roses, diamond rings
Dreams for sale and fairy tales
It'll make you hear a symphony
And you just want the world to see
But like a drug that makes you blind,
It'll fool you every time
The trouble with love is
It can tear you up inside
Make your heart believe a lie
It's stronger than your pride
The trouble with love is
It doesn't care how fast you fall
And you can't refuse the call
See, you got no say at all
Now I was once a fool, it's true
I played the game by all the rules
But now my world's a deeper blue
I'm sadder, but I'm wiser tooI swore I'd never love again
I swore my heart would never mend
Said love wasn't worth the pain
But then I hear it call my name(The trouble with)
The trouble with love is
It can tear you up inside
Make your heart believe a lie
It's stronger than your pride
The trouble with love is
It doesn't care how fast you fall
And you can't refuse the call
See, you got no say at all
Every time I turn around
I think I've got it all figured out
My heart keeps calling and I keep on falling
Over and over again
The sad story always ends the same
Me standing in the pouring rain
It seems no matter what I do
It tears my heart in two(The trouble with love is)
The trouble with love, yeah(It can tear you up inside)
It can tear you up inside(Make your heart believe a lie)
Make your heart believe a lie
It's stronger than your pride(The trouble with love is)
It's in your heart
It's in your soul (doesn't care how fast you fall)
You won't get no control(and you can't refuse the call)
See, you got no say at all(The trouble with love is)
Oh, yeah(It can tear you up inside)
(Make your heart believe a lie)

Before you jump into to the conclusion that Kelly Clarkson would never want you to love – let’s try to be more open minded and understand that love can truly be many things (however splendid or tragic). This song was created for the motion picture, Love Actually. The movie is an ensemble comedy that tells 10 separate (but intertwining) London love stories, leading to a big climax on Christmas Eve (netflix.com). There’s young love, forbidden love, comedic love, tragic love and even, “gay” love. There is no limit to what love can be or do for us. We may be in the crappiest condition where the guy we’ve loved for 10 years still fails to even see us more that just a friend, but you know what, it’s still love. We can define love for whatever it is in our lives. There is freedom to love that’s why it makes it so complicated – we could never encompass it, define it or limit it to how it grows, touches and changes lives. Love can be an anatomy, a feeling in our tummy or a deep regard of respect… for whatever it is, we all know what it feels, we have all had love at least one in our lives and it that moment, we have also felt hurt. If love can bring great things, it can also bring a storm that we must be willing and able to recover from. This song isn’t a bitter attempt to isolate love for its happiness isn’t worth the pain it brings. But I see it more as a challenge to engage in love that is hard to find, that is so beautiful and was really worth every hurt, joy and sacrifice. Don’t hop on every relationship that comes your way, assess it… is it really what you want to invest in? Does the relationship garner your needs as well as of the other? Our hearts will always yearn for someone or something to love. Love is in our soul and as humans we are but natural lovers eager to touch one life at a time. Though we set forth in life in search for love in a sincere manner, we can’t help but get hurt in the process, whether it was because our expectations weren’t met or we just didn’t see eye-to-eye with the person we ended up with, don’t make this a reason to stop loving. There is but many things in life that are free to love and is also in search for the one thing that will turn her/his world around.

Don’t hesitate to love – there are no solutions, no rules and no set plans – because for the moments we fall apart, those are the times where we learn and rise up to be better that what we were before.

Here’s the video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V4jSB0xY20
Also, check out the movie Love Actually (http://www.loveactually.com)

Weekly Dose of Poems: E.E. Cummings

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:07:00 +0000

I CARRY YOUR HEART WITH ME

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) I am never without it (anywhere
I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart(I carry it in my heart)

step it up this valentine's day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:26:00 +0000

It's Valentine's season once more, and most couples are in a whirlwind of uncertainty trying to figure out what to do for their lovers on this special day. What's good? What's original? How do I show him what he means to me? What can I do to make her see how much I love her?

Flowers, chocolates, and cards are standard gifts on Valentine's Day, but how do you stand out and ultimately show Babe, Honey, Sweetheart (or whatever nickname you may have for your partner) just how much you're crazy in love with him or her?

Well, look no further for here are some great ideas on how to spice up your Valentine's Day with your special love!

1) Learn how to say "I love you" in different languages! It'll be cute, and you can even take it a step further by having a theme on your dinner date! Play slow, acoustic Spanish ballads, have her wear a flower in her hair, and say, ¡Te quiero mucho!

2) Skip the stuffy restaurants! A lot of other people will probably be there, so opt to have a quiet night in your house with your boy/girlfriend! Have take out from McDonald's, and have a candlelit burger and fries meal. It's nice, quiet, and comfortable.

3) While you're at it, watch a movie together! Don't do the usual sappy chick flicks, opt for comedy! Try Shrek, Hairspray, Friends, Will and Grace, or whatever funny show that rocks your boat. Love isn't all about world-revolutionizing declarations of eternal love; it's also about feeling lighthearted and silly and utterly carefree. So go have a laugh and watch a funny flick!

4) Type random things you like about your girlfriend/boyfriend, then cut them up and tape them all over your house! Watch his/her reactions as she discovers each one in the weirdest places! You can even leave some in her bag. Girls, tape one on his car's dashboard!

5) The way to man's heart is through his stomach, as they say, so why don't you gorge your man on some homemade sweets? Don't fret, not-gifted-in-the-kitchen girls! There are a million recipes online; just follow them carefully then you'll be alright! And hey, if he doesn't end up saying "WOW! This is great!" and proceeds to practically shove the whole plate of brownies down his throat, you can be sure that he greatly appreciated the effort you gave. He won't say anything mean, and he'll even think you're cuter than ever!

6) Go to a theme park! Guys usually like being active, so why not spend the afternoon onwards shooting hoops and ducks, watching the view from the Ferris Wheel, going round and round the carousel, watching cool magic shows, eating cotton candy, and riding the rollercoaster? You can even shout out at the top "I love you____! AAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

These are only a handful of suggestions! If you prefer to stay traditional, then by all means, go ahead! At the end of the day, it's not how grand or how expensive your gift is that matters. The effort, careful thinking, and love that went through the preparation are the things which really count. Just let it come naturally—from the heart, and the moment will be perfect. Keep love real and you'll feel that everyday is just like Valentine's Day.

*Image credit

Weekly Dose of Poems/Songs: The Weepies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:31:00 +0000

weekly dose of poems/songs: the weepies

Somebody Loved by The Weepies

Rain turns the sand into mud

Wind turns the trees into bone

Stars turning high up above

You turn me into somebody loved

Nights when the heat had gone out

We danced together alone

Cold turned our breath into clouds

We never said what we were dreaming of

But you turned me into somebody loved

Someday when we're old and worn

Like two softened shoes

I will wonder on how I was born

The night I first ran away from you

Now my feet turn the corner back home

Sun turns the evening to rose

Stars turning high up above

You turn me into, you turn me into

You turn me into somebody loved

Somebody loved, Ooo, somebody loved.

This Valentines, whether you're single or not, be thankful for every love you've received and for every love you've given back.

Cupid, No More.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:29:00 +0000

cupid, no more.

Warning: This is catered to all the ladies out there.

Did Cupi d pass you by this year? (As Diana Vilibert would say it) – Fret no more – Valentines this year isn't going to be a spoiler. I've thought of reasons why we, single ladies, are going to have quite the blast this season of love. As I've said one too many times, love is pretty broad so if you're thinking the only way you'll b e feeling oh-so complete this Valentine's is if you spend it with someone special, then you're so wrong. Spending it with the people you love a.k.a. your family, friends, pets and even yourself with surely win you over. Remember: the true essence of Valentines''s celebrating love and all the beauty it brings.

My friends and I have always spent Valentine's together, whether we were single or not, we found it a point to get together as a way of toasting to true friendship. We make sure we're complete. We then have a simple dinner at a fancy restaurant (we saved up for it, of course). What do we do exactly? Well, we just talk, catch-up and enjoy the simple company of having one another in our lives. It's not everyday you find such amazing people. And that's how I see Valentine's Day. You don't have to feel gloomy or incomplete because no guy will offer you flowers or dinner by the beach. Set that fairytale aside and enjoy the real things in life – those that at the end of the day, you really feel a true romance because what you've witnessed is something real and life-embodying.

Why, you should be pretty darn happy you've got your gal pals and a pretty open heart for a pretty awesome day! "It is a great time to get dressed up, spoil yourself by having dinner with friends or your favorite guy friend that is also running solo. Have a glass of Champagne and cheer to love. Love is a wonderful thing whether you are in love, looking for love, quietly waiting for love or maybe just taking a break from love."

And, here are 10 more reasons to be glad you're by yourself as told by Laura Dempsey:

1. The invitations you receive are because you're you, not because you're so-and-so's S.O., or because the party-giver has a crush on your man. Your name is your own, and no effort need be put forth toward mashing together some Brangelina-type moniker. That kind of stuff often backfires, anyway: Blair and Bob (whoever they are) really resent being called "Blob."
2. Your spare time is your spare time. Spend it with Ben & Jerry, your pillow, a night's marathon of taped Dr. Phil, re-reading an old Harlequin or hours of World of Warcraft. Nobody's around to judge; nobody's calling to find out how you're doing or what you're up to. Saving the world is always an option, but if the couch beckons tonight, there's nobody to tell you it's time to work out.
3. Your money is your own. Spending $120 on face cream or chrome polish for your Harley isn't going to raise anybody's eyebrows or ruin anyone else's plans. You earned it, so you spend it. Or save it — another plus: Nobody's going to spend your money out from under you, either.
4. Introspection has one focus: You. Not you in relationship to somebody else, and not you in terms of how somebody else thinks you should be. You're alone, and whether it's by choice or by luck (good or bad), you've got time to think about the one person that matters.
5. Your dog can sleep on the bed. Face it: There's always one person in every couple who thinks dogs belong on the floor — if only those people would find each other to sleep with, the rest of us could sleep with our dogs. And dogs, though they may snore and smell and chase rabbits in their dreams, never ever complain about morning breath.
6. There's no need to dress up, tuck in, wash carefully or smile when you don't want to. After a long day at work, you're home and all bets — and belts — are off. The stomach relaxes, the hair droops, the toenails get cut. Wear what you find on the floor, as long as it's comfortable. Who's going to know?
7. Plans are constantly in flux — if that's the way you want it. He took the day off, so the trip to the Newport Aquarium is not an option. It's a plan, worked out and agreed upon and subject to change only under threat of breakup. Which, when you think about it, might be worth considering.
8. Nobody's going to buy you roses when you've always loved tulips. You've mentioned your aversion to roses dozens of times, but once you're a couple the listening stops, and roses it is. Roses are easy.
9. You're not about to get dumped. Think about it.
10. Finally, there's this piece of wisdom that turns up on blogs and T-shirt and bumper-stickers wherever single people can be found: It's better to be alone than to wish you were.

Read her full article: http://www.daytondailynews.com/l/content/oh/story/living/2009/01/03/single_valentinesday.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=47

The reason why we celebrate it

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Lavalle) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:40:00 +0000

February 14^th. Valentine's Day. The 2^nd most celebrated event after Christmas.

Lovers send or give each other Valentine's cards, chocolates, bouquet of flowers, and some balloons. They say love is in the air. Restaurants offer special Romantic dinners, shops sell different Valentine's gifts, lovers wear red garments and people greeting each other A Happy Valentine's Day.

Yes, the romantic feeling is there. Happiness is all around. But do people really know the reason why we celebrate Valentine's Day? Valentine's was further strengthened by commercialism, that's why it is being celebrated by the world. Historically, Valentine's Day is a Roman Catholic Holiday. We are supposed to be celebrating the Day of St. Valentine.

During the 3^rd century a priest by the name of Valentine, under Claudius II in Rome, secretly disobeyed the law. Claudius had come to believe that a single soldier was a better soldier than a married young man and so decided to outlaw marriage in order to have plenty young strong men with no wives at his disposal. Valentine, the priest, did not obey this law and continued to celebrate the holy bond of marriage for young couples in secrecy. Of course, the way it always works with secret clauses, he was caught and sent to his death.

Valentine's day was celebrated in honor of St. Valentine who went out of his way to preserve Love, marriage, and family. He believed in Love and secretly married couples. Today, we honor his heroic feat in defending and fighting for Real LOVE. So always remember St. Valentine's this season. He is the reason for this 2^nd most celebrated event of the year.

Happy Valentine's Season Everyone!!! Spread the Real Love Revolution!!!

xoxo, happy valentines

noreply@blogger.com (Gliza Marasigan) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:42:00 +0000

Valentines, for the coupled up, is a day filled with romance, love, kilig moments, and 'sexy time'. It's the time of the year when the traffic gets so unbearable that you can't actually get anywhere on time - except, probably, if you plan on leaving 3 hours before the time of your appointment. It's the one day of the year when couples suddenly become cheesier than usual, flowers and chocolates become basic commodities, and the PDA levels are sky-high.

Whether it's your first Valentines as a couple or you've celebrated V-Day for the -nth time, you probably have plans in mind by now. So what do you have in mind? Something simple and sweet? Or perhaps something extravagant to remember this year by? A romantic dinner for two in a posh restaurant, or probably a simple picnic at your neighborhood park?

What's important is that your bond with your significant other strengthens and that both of you enjoy Valentines day, despite all the expenses and stresses brought about by the horrendous rush of couples everywhere.

Valentines Day is simply a 'day'. A traditional day on which lovers get to express their love for each other. But don't you just wish that Valentines could occur at almost any time of the year? It's important for couples to instill that kind of romantic spark with each other, in order for their relationship to strengthen and flourish. Try being spontaneous and surprise your love with a homemade concoction, a cute little artwork or a sweet and meaning song. Overly cheesy? Not really.

You don't necessarily have to wait for February 14 to express your love to your significant other. Why not do it today? Why not now? Valentines can be celebrated at absolutely anytime and in anywhere. Share the love that you have with your significant other to people around you, and make them feel the wonders of real love.

sober club

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:37:00 +0000

It's amazing how liberal our country is becoming. Perhaps it has been so even before this insight, but I believe that it has become more pronounced in my generation. Away from the constant hovering of nuns and teachers in high school, college life has definitely broadened my perspective on how people act nowadays. Normally, you'd have your wild drinking parties and chimney smoking sessions, which usually induce spur-of-the-moment "sexy time" with people you've met only that night. Maybe it was the alcohol that gave you more courage to approach that stellar stud or gorgeous girl. Maybe it was the alcohol that made you more impulsive and just agreed to "get it on" with this hottie in his or her car. And maybe, it was the alcohol that plainly made this person look attractive to you, when in real life...Hahaha! Just kidding! Hallucinations. Aren't they fun?

Well, let's go on a deeper and more somber note here. Sure, parties may be fun and games and all that jazz, but you must always consider just how much you're going to allow yourself to "get it on". Let's assume that you and your partner have ventured into the green pastures of making out. Yes, not just first base, but nearing a home run—the full monty. You're living la vida loca, bottles of beer in hand, all giddy and excited and ready to try anything because you're just so freaking in love!!! But ask yourself in the morning, would you still be feeling all that great when you realize just how much your recklessness (not love) has cost you? This hangover sucks. Give me Gatorade and my life back, please.

You've lost your virginity to someone whom you've decided to have sex with when you had impaired judgment. That's not fair to either of you. Wouldn't it be better if you were both sane when you decide to do it, and won't be on a guilt-trip because you guys will be married by then? You'll have your security the morning after, and not probably have to battle some lifelong disease because you weren't safe or the rubber you used got torn apart. You'll even welcome pregnancy with an open heart instead of cursing the world and every foul person who conspired to make your life a living hell. Gawd! Save yourself drama.

Be free and live your life as any good teenager's supposed to. Study hard--party harder! Lead the worry free kind of life, wherein you won't have a hangover come the morning after.

*Image credit

Dating/Courtship...What's in it for me?

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Lavalle) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Boy Meets Girl. Boy and Girl Fall in Love. Then Boy and Girl Get Married.
The "Real Love Cycle" can be divided into these outrageously schmaltzy but valid stages. It always starts with acquaintance, or getting to know the person, and eventually flourishes into a family.

What I'm really trying to say here is that Dating or Courtship should be practiced with a view towards marriage. The goal here is finding a lifetime commitment. The ever after. Yes, you heard it right, it's there specifically to test the waters for tying the knot. Boy and Girl might be dating. Boy and Girl might be "in a relationship" in the eyes of their parents, friends, school, even in Friendster, Multiply or Facebook, but a Real Relationship has its eye on a Real Future.

Ever wonder why some pairs break up so easily? These relationships are not real. Real in the sense that, at the onset of their relationship, they didn't commit to that one clear, vital direction. There was no view towards marriage. They were there for a vague reason. It is just there for the purpose of comfort, for emotional need, to comply with societal pressures, to make oneself feel good/loved or at some point, for lust. Some mischievous people are there for the thrill of the chase. Ultimately, these relationships are only temporary. This is why they don't work out.
When dating/courting someone, one essential question is needed to be answered by you: "Is this the person I want to marry?" or "Do I see myself together with this person for the rest of my life?"

If your answer is no, I suggest you spare yourselves the trouble, and be real to yourselves. A relationship is an investment of time, energy, emotion, and resources. Would you be willing to pour all of that for a relationship that you don't see yourself in, in the future? Just move on. Parting ways might be the best gift you can give to both of you. If you are not ready to answer the question yet, then you are probably not ready for Real Dating.
So remember to always ask yourself that essential question when dating someone. Is there a clear possibility of a future?

Your future depends on it.

You have a message!

noreply@blogger.com (Gliza Marasigan) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:38:00 +0000

The internet has enabled us to communicate and re-connect with people who we miss, and with people whom we've never even met in our lives. I personally love the internet for being able to make the world smaller, by allowing me to communicate with my friends from all over the world. Through Facebook, YM, MSN, Multiply, Skype, MySpace, Twitter, and the like, we're able to socialize online. Relationships are made possible as we keep in touch with various people, all over the world. Have you ever heard of an online relationship? The one wherein people get to communicate with each other and meet various types of people through the use of webcams, forums, chatrooms, and even messages left in their Facebook inbox or random testimonials in their Friendster accounts. I'm not even referring to the romantic aspect of online relationship -- yet.

Reading questions like, "A/S/L?" or "What's your name?" isn't very new to most people, especially to those who have been exposed to the online networking bonanza. Now is probably a perfect time to ask: "Online Relationships: Yes or No?"

There's nothing wrong with being friendly and wanting to meet new people, but ALWAYS (and I repeat, always) exercise caution. While it's good to meet new people and gain new friends, we should always remember that the internet is a free-for-all domain and yes, it would include the bad and wicked people in society who'd be more than willing to take advantage of you. One of the major concerns would be your safety in the world wide web, because almost anyone is vulnerable to such heavy predicaments.

Think first before you give in to your friend (or lover) online. You probably wouldn't want everyone to see your personal information (like your address and telephone number), and risk having anonymous people invade your privacy -- right? Would you even want to risk the possibility that your online buddy might just post your little live show from your steamy webcam chat, on one of the porn sites one day? Would you want to fall in love with a seemingly unreal person, a minute element in cyberspace, not knowing if he or she truly loves you back?

The internet is deceiving, no matter how convenient and helpful it is to our lives. If a lot of information online are fabricated, how are we so sure that the information given to us by the web buddies are real? We can never be sure unless, probably, we're able to meet them personally and mutually have the initiative to get to know each other more. Whatever happens, always have a good set of real-life friends. Keep yourself intact to the real world.

For more tips, visit: http://kuyakevin.blogspot.com/2007/01/online-relationships-good-idea-or-not.html

Here's a good advice I found in YouTube :))

Weekly Dose of Poems: Pablo Neruda

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:22:00 +0000

"Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines"

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write, for example, 'the night is shattered and the blue stars shiver in the distance.' The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

Through nights like this one I held her in my arms I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.

She loved me sometimes, and I loved her too. How could one not have loved her great still eyes.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.

To hear the immense night, still more immense without her. And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.

What does it matter that my love could not keep her. The night is shattered and she is not with me.

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance. My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

My sight searches for her as though to go to her. My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.

The same night whitening the same trees. We, of that time, are no longer the same.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her. My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.

Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before. Her voice. Her bright body. Her inifinite eyes.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her. Love is so short, forgetting is so long.

Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer and these the last verses that I write for her.

it's not you, it's me

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:16:00 +0000

We all experience break-ups. It need not be with a boyfriend or a girlfriend to feel that same void, that same hurt that happens every time a relationship ends. Everyone has dreamt of their happy ending, may it be ala Cinderella or just plain, When Harry Met Sally. Don't deny – we all wish to find that someone who can make us happier than we are now. However, all good things must come to an end. And no matter how defeated (you've had around 30 failed relationships), how cheated (you've been two-timed EVERY SINGLE TIME) or how betrayed (you've been replaced for your friend) we feel after a break-up, we must learn to rise and analyze, is this how we want to be for the rest of our lives – soaking, weeping, and impossibly weak? NO! Do not sulk in the thought that you were less of a person, that you weren't enough or that you were the reason the relationship did not work. A relationship is a two-way thing, you both will have to accept and understand that you fall and rise together when committed in a relationship. But assuming that you and your someone has ended and there is no direction but to MOVE ON, here are some tips that you should keep in mind when this mind-boggling, very draining, and seemingly "unrecoverable" situation arises:

DO NOT COMMIT SUICIDE (or even think of it). You must be laughing right now thinking that you will never be that stupid to be in that situation. But let me tell you this: I've had a couple of friends who thought of committing suicide because their girlfriend broke up with them. That is no way of moving on and definitely, not a way of fixing your problem. There is no answer to death when it comes to mending a broken heart. If not for anything, you have a broken bone – or couple. Run to your friends, your family, the people who love you (don't tell me there isn't because God will ALWAYS AND FOREVER love you) and tell them how you feel. People who keep it real and who truly love you will understand and will be there to help you to recover every single step of the way.

DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF. Sadness will not go away when you think about it every single time. Replaying the situation every single time will not help you get over him or her (neither would watching sappy movies help). What has happened – has happened, you have to, whether you like it or not, get up and face the brighter day. There's a reason why we always wake up to a new day – He wants us to rethink the mistakes of yesterday to be able to form a more meaningful tomorrow. Sleeping in your bed for a whole week, crying and burning every single memory you have of him/her will not make you a better person. It will make your eyes swollen hence, an un-improved you. (And before you judge me, for I take it so casually, that's how it should be. When things end, they weren't meant to be. If he/she comes back, then you are improved. You have learned your mistakes and your new relationship will be bigger, better and more mature that it ever was when you were busy living a fairytale lie)

DO NOT PUT THE BLAME ON ANYONE. Moving on means forgiving. It means letting go and letting God. We don't want to enter into a new relationship (years later) and be all paranoid that he/she might do the same thing. If they cheated, I swear, it sucks but you know what, he/she is not the only one to blame. You might have been lacking in some aspects of the relationship and he/she needed someone else to fill that void. Don't get me wrong – I am not for third parties. I have experienced that agony but I realized, we're all to blame. Whatever problem, fault or mishap arises in your relationship, you have to work it out. And if you guys ended, you have to let go. Accept that some things aren't meant to be and when you've got yourself straighten out, you'll realize that day-by-day you'll gain your self back and be ready for tomorrow that is filled with hope, new love, and joy.

These are simple tips but they will go along way if you learn to:

1. Read between the lines.

2. Take it to heart and really dig deep within yourself and ask these questions:
Am I too young or immature to be in a relationship? Can I handle responsibilities?Are there destructive patterns that I continue to repeat in my relationships? Were there warning signs that I ignored? Do I repeatedly pick someone with the same character flaws (cheaters, liars, etc)? Did we rush things?

3. Believe in God that all things have a reason and they will make sense along the way.

Read more on overcoming break-ups, visit: http://kuyakevin.blogspot.com/2007/08/dumped-overcoming-breakup.html