bowow213's Xanga

The Princess Comes Home

Thu, 03 May 2007 16:22:07 GMT

She's been to places, she's ben to the seas;

Travelled with pirates, climbed countless trees.

She's jumped up and down,

Torn off her gowns,

Stretched her arms wide open,

Screamed her lungs out, and danced like a brazen.

She's met with elves, giants, gnomes, and fairies;

Partied with fools, peasants, and gypsies.

She's drunk pale and ale and beer...

And oh, how she did with cheer!

She's been there, done that, and more...

But now, she's thinking, "What's it all worth for?"

She walks up the GATES slowly,

Eyes afraid, scared to see...

The KING's gentle gaze pierce her own,

And at once, she couldn't but bow down.

Yes, she's back in her courtyards

With her horses, gardens, and orchards.

But now and then she stops, and looks yonder...

She pauses, to remember.

Someday, her two worlds will collide.

If someday, pigs will fly.

Mysteries will be revealed;

Wounds will be healed;

Questions will be answered,

And wishes will be heard.

"go forth and MULTIPLY..."

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:18:39 GMT

Daisy just opened her heart to the public and entered blogsphere (daisy's xanga). I contemplated on moving out. But all those comments I received from Daisy (resulting from my "where have all the comments gone?" moment) moved me to stay. But I didn't just stay. I MULTIPLIED!

I'm still keeping this blog solely for blogging...for anyone interested, you may view my pictures, video, music, and other stuff at my multiply site.

Ang masasabi ko lang, "BLOG ANG MUNDO!"

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 09:30:43 GMT

My New Look

Yes, my previously 20-20 vision is gone. At least I had it for 6 years. Those were the sweetest years for my eyes. Alas, because of strenous editing, lack of sleep and stress, my poor eyes suffered... This is me now, with glasses.

The future for me? Constant visits to my optometrist (again). Dizziness. Nausea. And my nose and ears will suffer the heavy frame (again). I thought I'd never have to experience them again til I'm like, in my 40s for my reading glasses. But then again, I never thought I'd be working in the broadcast industry that requires nonstop staring in front of monitors... sigh...

Happy Birthday to MOI!

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:27:45 GMT

My birthday week is ALMOST over. Yes, week. Ever since I can remember, I've always regarded my birthdy as a whole week. Hehe... GOTTA LOVE THE PRESENTS!!!

This year, my week started last Feb. 10, when I had my pre-birthday celebration at The Old Spaghetti House in Sgt. Esguerra (almost all of my guests got lost locating the place. haha). For most of the people who know me best, they know that I don't like celebrating birthdays. They are, for me, just ordinary days. (My opening line contradicts this, but that just proves that I am REALLY a confusing person. hehe) In fact, I haven't really treated anybody over my birthday. This year, though, is different. Aside from the fact that I'm turning 24 this year (which to chinese is very important--the mark of 2 whole cycles of life)part of the many realizations I've had lately is that I haven't been spending time with the people that matter most to me. So I decided to invite my closest friends from college. Whom I love deeply and whose friendships I truly value. I had a grand time with them! To all of you, thanks for coming! Thanks for the gifts! And thanks for the friendship. Love you guys!!! click here for more pictures of that night

Come Feb. 12, my inbox was filled with text messages--greetings from A LOT of people. To the people who I hardly see anymore, your greetings are deeply appreciated. Thanks for remembering!

I spent my actual birthday shooting in Talim Island in Rizal Province. I wasn't really expecting much of my birthday because of the work I had to do (and you know me in my work mode). Besides, I wasn't looking forward to going to Talim for the nth time. I've been going back and forth since last week for endless and problematic shoots ugh... And the travel is no joke. You have to get to Binangonan wharf (which is about 1 and 1/2 hours from GMA), and then take the 2-hour boat ride with the noisy motor buzzing in your ears to get to the island. By the end of the ride, your body is sore all over. And you still have to do your job. So anyway, I was in my grumpy self, "helping" the Talim Daycare Center...when storytelling time came. Our invited storyteller came from OMF Literature and she was a head on Christian. She was sooo nice and kind and understanding and encouraging...even encouraged me to write! My spirit was uplifted. Then the mother of my guest artist, childstar Paul Salas, and I got to talk. She's very pretty and genuinely nice too. Then she told me about the church she's attending. Guess what church? You got it. VCF Galleria. She sent me a text message, praying for me and wishing me a happy birthday. I was so blessed and felt God's presence with these people--something I haven't felt for a long time. I guess this is God's gift to me on my day. I really felt him hugging me through the people he surrounded me with that day. *sigh*

When I got back from the office, we were supposed to have a staff meeting. I was coaxed by my executive producer to treat them...which I did (kiss ass, abi! hehe). We held our meeting at Yellow Cab over yummy pizza and pasta. The highlight? My EP and I shared a real hug after the meeting. Yeah, it was real. I felt it. No kissing asses this time. hehe

The rest of the week was just usual. Editing, editing, editing... But gifts still kept coming. I appreciated this gift, a stuffed pig, from our associated producer, Kuya Ali, who I really look up to. I wasn't expecting that. And I just loved it! But the real surprise I got was from my friends from work--Baby Joy, Ian, and Jess--who gave me different sorts of challenges before giving my actual presents. In the end, I received a stuffed puppy and Mitch Albom's "For One More Day" (amazing book!). What brought me close to tears was the fact that they prepared for it...and that it was a total surprise. I didn't expect them to give me gifts, even more, I didn't expect that they valued me as a true friend.

I do not care about the gifts, really (but don't get me wrong. I love them!). But I realized, for the first time in 24 years, that I do care about the greeting, and the remembering, and the thoughts poured over a simple text, email, card, letter, or an extravagant gift. I realized, that I cared about birthdays after all. ESPECIALLY MINE. hehe.

So, happy birthday to me! I still have one more day to cap my week--tomorrow, which is the CHINESE NEW YEAR (trivia: I was born on the chinese new year in 1983. So every Chinese New Year, it's my birthday. Pretty cool huh?). And I'm celebrating it with my mom and sister.

"Love, love, love...there's nothing you can do that can't be done"

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:20:14 GMT

Some pictures that prove that "love, actually is all around." (line quoted from one of my favorite movies, "Love, Actually")

"Love in the Time of Bird Flu"

Two swans swim together in the Rhine river in Germany, forming a heart. Coincidentally, it's bird flu time once again. These swans, though, seem unmindful of it.

"Romeo and Juliet -- Prehistoric Age"

Love transcends time...stronger than any force in this or another world can. These skeletons attest to that.

ROME Feb.7, 2007-- It could be humanity's oldest story of doomed love.

Archaeologists have unearthed two skeletons from the Neolithic period locked in a tender embrace and buried outside Mantua, just 25 miles south of Verona, the romantic city where Shakespeare set the star-crossed tale of Romeo and Juliet.

Buried between 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, the prehistoric lovers are believed to have been a man and a woman and are thought to have died young, as their teeth were found intact, said Elena Menotti, the archaeologist who led the dig.

“As far as we know, it's unique,'' Menotti told The Associated Press by telephone from Milan. “Double burials from the Neolithic are unheard of, and these are even hugging.'' -Reuters

Lovapalooza 2007

Thousands of lovers crowded the SM Mall of Asia in Manila to participate in what they call, "showing of their passionate love for each other." Totally unbashful, I say. But hey, it must be love.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S, EVERYONE! :)

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:09:29 GMT

THE PRINCESS SYNDROME

Once upon a time there was a beautiful baby born in a safe, sheltered, and towering castle. Everything was perfect around her--she was surrounded with good things and good people. And she grew to be the perfect PRINCESS--kind, sweet, loving, and GOOD.

But she grew up. And with growth comes curiosity. What lay outside of these high walls? she wondered. But she never dared to go out, because she dearly loved her parents and knew the propriety required and expected of her. Until one day, while the princess was walking in her courtyard, she saw the gates opened. She was amazed by what she saw: the bustling town, shouting and busy people, impatient horses. And then she saw the PAUPER. It was her first time to witness poverty in a very real way. And she was surprised to see that the pauper was just like her--except very, very poor.

She went out, befriended the pauper, at first only out of sympathy and compassion (for the princess was very kindhearted). And she wanted to give the pauper a taste of the GOOD life. They became friends. The princess would give the pauper apples and chicken and cakes (the good stuff) and the pauper would teach her how to climb a tree, run freely in the open fields, and swim in the lake. The princess realized that being a pauper is not BAD as the people in her palace described it to be. And she marvelled over the fact that there is such a thing called social class. And social norms that follow a certain social class. Why can't a princess not wear a corset if she wants to? Why can't she shout her lungs out in the field? Why can't she go out in the rain? Why can't she eat with her bare hands or walk barefoot?

The princess and the pauper became friends. And the princess found herself enjoying her time outside very much, even more than riding her straddled horses in the palace stables.

And this is her DILEMMA. What's a princess to do?

Right now, she's still in a stage where she still knows that she is a princess. And she is aware of the responsibilities expected of her royalty. And she still goes home to her castle everynight.

But she terribly wants to spend her time outside, in the real world as she calls it. Because there, she feels free. And she feels human. She feels.

The princess is confused. She has to make a decision soon.

***

Postsript: This, I believe, is a reality ALL princesses face. Learning and accepting the fact there is polarity in everything, and experiencing both sides. The dilemma of balancing royalty and normalcy.

Of course, not all princesses are alike. There are those who sees the outside world but would rather not experience it. They like the finer things in life; and they believe that what they have is the best life to live.

And there are those who goes out to the outside for a while. But the responsibility of their royalty wins over. They go back to their castle, forget about the pauper, and becomes a queen detached to their subjects--who once became their friends.

But there are princess who would want a different ending. A mixture of both. But alas, these princesses have yet to find a way to end their defeaning dilemma. But they will have to very very soon. For coronation, they know, is fast approaching.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:27:05 GMT

Simple Joys

I just came off from work...and on my way to my dorm I saw a familiar sign: "Nid's Binalot." Reminded me of the branch in LB...which was near to my apartment.

For memories' sake I ate there, though I was alone. The food was terrible (as it was in LB), but the feeling of just being there--the ambiance--was irreplaceable.

And for me, I got the high of my day.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:45:49 GMT

Of musings and regrets

How many times have you heard the line, "No regret"? Countless. Sickening propaganda. And like many of you, I have been a victim. It's like, we've been programmed by our fast-paced society to just go--and not allow ourselves to stop, think about what happened, or what could've happened.

What else are there? "Just do it." "No fear." I say blah. What if you DON'T want to do it? What if you're scared? What's wrong with that? There wouldn't be BRAVERY without FEAR. And what if you just want to pause, look at your reflection, and allow the feeling of regret wash over you, if only for a moment? We are, after all, human.

Regret, I realized, is good (to some extent). It is for me, SELF DISCOVERY. It causes HOPE. And CHANGE. These might take a while, but I know, if you really think about your dislike over the past, and if you so wish things to turn around, it will.

Just this week I've thought about a lot of things I'm regretting. Things I did and didn't do, words I've said and didn't say, time I've wasted and used, people I've taken for granted and loved deeply.

It's not a very good feeling. It's like you want to pound your head against the wall for being so stupid and unknowing. But sometimes "we bleed just to know we're alive."

I know things may never be the same again. It's also part of being human. But after my musings and regrets, I now feel a fresh surge of hope for the future. It's good to know that yes, I can never undo things, but I can do things differently this time.

Things can only get brighter, I hope...

"Make the most of your regrets...To regret deeply is to live afresh." - Henry David Thoreau

I Want to be a Supermodel

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 13:00:09 GMT

Marami sa atin ang naghahangad na maging model o artista. Tumulad sa mga sexy at glamorosang international supermodels gaya nina Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks, Kate Moss. Makalakad sa mga runways at magsuot ng magagarang designer clothes.

Ganito rin ang pangarap ni Pamela Elagio, 22 years old at isang simpleng dalaga. Dati siyang saleslady sa isang mall at habang tinitingnan ang mga panindang mga damit, nangangarap siyang balang araw, siya naman ang makapagsuot ng mga ito. Sa udyok ng kaniyang ate, sumubok siyang mag-extra sa mga tv shows at commercials. At nang matikman ang liwanag ng camera, lalo niyang nagustuhan ang mundo ng modelling.

Pero hindi lamang pangarap ang pagmomodel para kay Pam. Ito rin ay paraan para siya'y makatulong sa kaniyang pamilya. Siya at ang kaniyang pitong magkakapatid ay maagang naulila kaya't sa isa't isa nalang sila umaasa.

“Gusto kong maging model para kumita ng mas malaking halaga para makatulong sa aking pamilya,” hiling ni Pam.

And, wish granted! Narinig ng At Your Service Star Power, QTV Channel 11's public service show, ang kahilingan ng dalaga. Isang espesyal na araw na babago sa kaniyang modeling career ang sumalubong kay Pam nang dalawin siya ng beauty model at beauty queen na si Nina Ricci Alagao sa pamamagitan ng At Your Service Star Power. Modeling at Personality Development lessons with John Robert Powers, fitting ng iba't ibang designer clothes mula sa Sy-Kat Couture, makeover sa Circle Salon, at pictorial sessions with photographer Louie Aguinaldo—ilan lang ito sa handog ng programa para sa dalagang may pangarap.

Binigyan siya ng mga mahahalagang tips ni Nina Ricci, kasama na rin ng mga professionals na pinuntahan nila. At para sa baguhan sa modeling industry, priceless ang experience na ito.

“Sobrang tuwa ko po. Hindi pa po kasi ako nakakaranas ng ganito. Ang dami-dami ko pong natutunan,” bigkas ni Pam.

Sa loob ng isang araw, nabago nga ang buhay ni Pam. She turned from a simple model wannabe to a superglam potential model.

And for her, hindi lang mga damit at letrato ang naibigay ng At Your Service Star Power sa kaniya. Kasama ng mga ito ang confidence at bagong pag-asa na posibleng matupad ang kaniyang pangarap.

At Your Service, Star Power is hosted by Iza Calzado and airs every Sunday, 12:00nn-1:00pm on QTV, Channel 11. Watch out for this particular episode on February 4!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:36:09 GMT

I Sold Constantine (at a very low price)

Because I was frustrated with him.

Because I was so stressed out.

Sometimes, I think, you just have to learn to let go. Even if you love something (or someone) too much. The battle just isn't worth it.

Or I could be wrong. Maybe, love isn't like that. Maybe, love is giving all you've got, fighting fiercely for something (or someone) til your last breath.

Maybe, I just didn't love Constantine at all.