when was the last time you cried?
last night i had very vivid dream. my family was around the dinner table. my mom, sisters, brother and my dad were all present. in fact, i was sitting right beside my father. he was talking to me. the voice is exactly how i remember it - clear, fluid, strong and dominant but caring. he was telling me how happy he is for me and that everything is ok. he goes on to tell me that he wants me to have his watch and that i should keep it no matter what and 'even if he gets hurt'. in my dream, i started to cry. tears streamed down my cheeks like crazy.
i woke up - crying. tears streaming down my cheeks like crazy. my pillow was wet. the dream felt real. his voice so solid. and his words resonated in my head for the rest of the day.
'even if i get hurt'
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Six Most Fattening Summer Cocktails
Summer's here, and that means it's time for frosty cocktails and outdoor bars. But not all icy drinks are created equal: A couple of your after-work favorites can be equivalent to a whole day's worth of calories—or a nice big piece of cheesecake. Here's where some summer favorites stack up on the health scale. (The most calorific drink may surprise you.)
6. Daiquiri. A frozen strawberry daiquiri, made from strawberry schnapps, rum, lime juice, sugar and strawberries, contains about 220 calories. Using a prefabricated mix or fruit juices will boost the calorie count even more, says Jackie Warner, a fitness trainer and the star of the Bravo network's "Work Out." "You really want to not combine juices with liquor, because juices are loaded with sugar, and then liquor has alcohol sugar, so you're loading the sugars together," she says.
5. Mojito. The classic mojito—a mixture of lime juice, sugar, mint leaves, rum and soda—will run you about 242 calories, according to cookinglight.com. Rum is already a little more calorie-heavy than other liquors, so Warner suggests asking for a sugarless mojito to up the health value. "People would be shocked how tasty it really is," she says. "And the hangover the next day is much, much less." (A big dose of sugar can contribute to your morning-after headache.)
4. Mint Julep. You don't need a straw hat or a horserace to drink a mint julep. But the concoction of bourbon and mint-and-sugar syrup might set your diet back. One glass contains about 472 calories, according to allrecipes.com.
3. Piña Colada. If you like piña coladas, watch out: the rum, pineapple juice and cream of coconut drink can contain up to 650 calories. Using crushed pineapple, fat-free ice cream, sugar-free syrup and Splenda will make the drink significantly healthier, although maybe a little less fun.
2. Mudslide. A 12-ounce frozen mudslide—made with vodka, Kahlua liqueur, Bailey's Irish Cream and vanilla ice cream—tastes like an alcoholic milkshake and is just about as unhealthy. It has 820 calories and 27.2 grams of fat, according to drinksmixer.com. That's equivalent to a Carl's Jr. Loaded Breakfast Burrito or two 44-ounce soft drinks and would eat up more than half of a 1,500-calorie-a-day diet.
1. Margarita.Jimmy Buffet fans might not be too happy to hear it, but Margaritas may be the summer's least healthy drink. If you use a sugar-saturated Margarita mix, add tequila or Triple Sec, and then pour the drink into a salt-rimmed glass, the result could set you back 850 calories, Warner says. "That's insane," she says. "I would much rather have a slice of cheesecake." (Margaritas prepared from scratch can have half as many calories.)
But there's hope for the thirsty partygoer: Warner recommends opting for lower-calorie options, like a vodka mojito, or cutting back on unhealthy mixers like juices or sodas. "You can get sugar-free mixers or anything diet," she says. "You can get diet tonic [water] now, so you can add a little spritz of tonic and you can add lemons. There's all kinds of ways to flavor it with no calories whatsoever." Her drink of choice? A vodka on the rocks (115 calories). You could also go with a simple glass of rosé, which only has 105 calories and is probably cheaper than a frozen drink, too.
By Tina Peng | Newsweek Web Exclusive
6. Daiquiri. A frozen strawberry daiquiri, made from strawberry schnapps, rum, lime juice, sugar and strawberries, contains about 220 calories. Using a prefabricated mix or fruit juices will boost the calorie count even more, says Jackie Warner, a fitness trainer and the star of the Bravo network's "Work Out." "You really want to not combine juices with liquor, because juices are loaded with sugar, and then liquor has alcohol sugar, so you're loading the sugars together," she says.
5. Mojito. The classic mojito—a mixture of lime juice, sugar, mint leaves, rum and soda—will run you about 242 calories, according to cookinglight.com. Rum is already a little more calorie-heavy than other liquors, so Warner suggests asking for a sugarless mojito to up the health value. "People would be shocked how tasty it really is," she says. "And the hangover the next day is much, much less." (A big dose of sugar can contribute to your morning-after headache.)
4. Mint Julep. You don't need a straw hat or a horserace to drink a mint julep. But the concoction of bourbon and mint-and-sugar syrup might set your diet back. One glass contains about 472 calories, according to allrecipes.com.
3. Piña Colada. If you like piña coladas, watch out: the rum, pineapple juice and cream of coconut drink can contain up to 650 calories. Using crushed pineapple, fat-free ice cream, sugar-free syrup and Splenda will make the drink significantly healthier, although maybe a little less fun.
2. Mudslide. A 12-ounce frozen mudslide—made with vodka, Kahlua liqueur, Bailey's Irish Cream and vanilla ice cream—tastes like an alcoholic milkshake and is just about as unhealthy. It has 820 calories and 27.2 grams of fat, according to drinksmixer.com. That's equivalent to a Carl's Jr. Loaded Breakfast Burrito or two 44-ounce soft drinks and would eat up more than half of a 1,500-calorie-a-day diet.
1. Margarita.Jimmy Buffet fans might not be too happy to hear it, but Margaritas may be the summer's least healthy drink. If you use a sugar-saturated Margarita mix, add tequila or Triple Sec, and then pour the drink into a salt-rimmed glass, the result could set you back 850 calories, Warner says. "That's insane," she says. "I would much rather have a slice of cheesecake." (Margaritas prepared from scratch can have half as many calories.)
But there's hope for the thirsty partygoer: Warner recommends opting for lower-calorie options, like a vodka mojito, or cutting back on unhealthy mixers like juices or sodas. "You can get sugar-free mixers or anything diet," she says. "You can get diet tonic [water] now, so you can add a little spritz of tonic and you can add lemons. There's all kinds of ways to flavor it with no calories whatsoever." Her drink of choice? A vodka on the rocks (115 calories). You could also go with a simple glass of rosé, which only has 105 calories and is probably cheaper than a frozen drink, too.
By Tina Peng | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Sunday, June 01, 2008
the countdown begins ....
the tickets have been bought, the hotel in Hong Kong reserved, day tours in HK and Macau are booked and the balikbayan boxes are on its way to Manila.
the countdown begins!
56 days to trip.
the countdown begins!
56 days to trip.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
new favorite word
Manorexic
A man who thinks it is attractive to be skinny and lacking in muscle mass or any outward physical appearance of masculinity. The most amusing example being young, metrosexual males who weigh 120-140 pound and go to the gym to "tone" and "get cut", but fear "getting too big."
A man who thinks it is attractive to be skinny and lacking in muscle mass or any outward physical appearance of masculinity. The most amusing example being young, metrosexual males who weigh 120-140 pound and go to the gym to "tone" and "get cut", but fear "getting too big."
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
flexibilty and tolerance???
for a quite some time my daily Tarot Readings has been way off. so way off that sometimes i don't finish reading them or even ignore them entirely. but yesterday's reading is completely on spot!
"Things aren't running too smoothly today, dear APM, and if your relationship has reached a critical stage, Justice and the Tower are suggesting that the idea of a separation, even a divorce, could be in the air. If you want to avoid the situation becoming bitter and reaching the point of no return, you need to be more flexible and show some tolerance."
and below is the reading for today the 18th, the day after the storm.
"Today you're going to be rather unsure about your choices and decisions in matters of the heart, dear APM. The Magician brings a breath of fresh air, either in the shape of an unforeseen encounter or another event that opens new perspectives for you. Seize this opportunity in order to banish any feelings of uncertainty that are a source of anxiety for you. There is no good reason why you should torment yourself with all these questions!"
sigh ...
"Things aren't running too smoothly today, dear APM, and if your relationship has reached a critical stage, Justice and the Tower are suggesting that the idea of a separation, even a divorce, could be in the air. If you want to avoid the situation becoming bitter and reaching the point of no return, you need to be more flexible and show some tolerance."
and below is the reading for today the 18th, the day after the storm.
"Today you're going to be rather unsure about your choices and decisions in matters of the heart, dear APM. The Magician brings a breath of fresh air, either in the shape of an unforeseen encounter or another event that opens new perspectives for you. Seize this opportunity in order to banish any feelings of uncertainty that are a source of anxiety for you. There is no good reason why you should torment yourself with all these questions!"
sigh ...
Friday, February 29, 2008
leap year
do you know someone born on February 29th? if you do, make sure you give him a ring or invite him to dinner, coffee or drinks. give him a hug.
happy leap day!
happy leap day!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
so weird ....
i was browsing thru francis' blog and came across these 2 pictures he had recently posted... hahaha... what happened to my hair?!
Monday, February 11, 2008
welcome!
i look forward to meeting you ....
Friday, February 01, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
enero ... enero ... enero ...
i'm back!
the month of January flew by. it's as if it was only yesterday when i finished unpacking from my Canada trip. the holidays came and went - a fact that i'm both pleased and sad about. i'm pretty happy the holiday insanity, often referred to as holidaze, is over. incessant holiday parties, dinners, and get togethers while tremendously fun, eventually wore me out. 
meanwhile, my first sojourn outside of the United States in 6 years, ended even before i can finish saying Happy Ho Ho Ho. it was great to have the opportunity to spend Christmas family once again. it was a truly unforgettable eight days - my first white christmas, seeing my sister pregnant for the first time, finding a new meaning of christmas day as seen in the eyes of my niece, and exploring a foreign country with joel. i definitely look forward to the next visit.
everything has been a blur since then. work has been crazy busy. and as i struggled to find my footing and a complete sense of normalcy, i had to deal with my annual performance evaluation. on top of that, i have a new boss - yet again. it's certainly beginning to feel like im getting a new one every umm, six months. =( a new year, a 9% salary increase, a new commission scheme, a new boss equals a promise of a great 2008, adjustments in the work environment and more responsibilities. it's all in a day's work.
another major highlight of the month is jun's 30th birthday! woohoo!!! an awesome, talented and true friend! i wish you all the best and many more birthdays to come.
L-R philip, josh, rd, joel, alex, phil, jun
tomorrow is February 1st. fourteen days to V-day. let the countdown begin.
the month of January flew by. it's as if it was only yesterday when i finished unpacking from my Canada trip. the holidays came and went - a fact that i'm both pleased and sad about. i'm pretty happy the holiday insanity, often referred to as holidaze, is over. incessant holiday parties, dinners, and get togethers while tremendously fun, eventually wore me out. 
meanwhile, my first sojourn outside of the United States in 6 years, ended even before i can finish saying Happy Ho Ho Ho. it was great to have the opportunity to spend Christmas family once again. it was a truly unforgettable eight days - my first white christmas, seeing my sister pregnant for the first time, finding a new meaning of christmas day as seen in the eyes of my niece, and exploring a foreign country with joel. i definitely look forward to the next visit.everything has been a blur since then. work has been crazy busy. and as i struggled to find my footing and a complete sense of normalcy, i had to deal with my annual performance evaluation. on top of that, i have a new boss - yet again. it's certainly beginning to feel like im getting a new one every umm, six months. =( a new year, a 9% salary increase, a new commission scheme, a new boss equals a promise of a great 2008, adjustments in the work environment and more responsibilities. it's all in a day's work.
another major highlight of the month is jun's 30th birthday! woohoo!!! an awesome, talented and true friend! i wish you all the best and many more birthdays to come.
tomorrow is February 1st. fourteen days to V-day. let the countdown begin.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
world's largest malls hmm mmm...
Heading out to the mall--isn't that yesterday's way to shop?
Not in Asia, where a building boom has enormous shopping malls popping up in China, Malaysia and the Philippines...
AHA! Forbes.com recently came out with a list of the world's biggest malls and 3 of the top 10 are in the Philippines. no surprise there. it always amazes me how these massive commercial malls thrive in 3rd world countries such as the Philippines. it's just completely beyond me.
here's the complete list.
1. South China Mall
Location: Dongguan, China
7.1 million square feet
2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall
Location: Beijing, China
6 million square feet
3. SM Mall of Asia
Location: Pasay City, Philippines
4.2 million square feet
4. Cevahir Istanbul
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
3.8 million square feet
5. West Edmonton Mall
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
3.8 million square feet
6. SM Megamall
Location: Mandaluyong City, Philippines
3.6 million square feet
7. Berjaya Times Square
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3.4 million square feet
8. Beijing Mall
Location: Beijing, China
3.4 million square feet
9. Zhengjia Plaza
Location: Guangzhou, China
3 million square feet
10. SM City North Edsa
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
3 million square feet
mall highlights:
SM Mall of Asia has a 20 seater tram to take you around the mall, an olympic sized swimming pool and the first IMAX theatre in the country. SM Megamal has a skating rink. SM North Edsa is a 5 story complex with 100 retail shops.
ok now im ready to go shopping...
Not in Asia, where a building boom has enormous shopping malls popping up in China, Malaysia and the Philippines...
AHA! Forbes.com recently came out with a list of the world's biggest malls and 3 of the top 10 are in the Philippines. no surprise there. it always amazes me how these massive commercial malls thrive in 3rd world countries such as the Philippines. it's just completely beyond me.
here's the complete list.
1. South China Mall
Location: Dongguan, China
7.1 million square feet
2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall
Location: Beijing, China
6 million square feet
3. SM Mall of Asia
Location: Pasay City, Philippines
4.2 million square feet
4. Cevahir Istanbul
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
3.8 million square feet
5. West Edmonton Mall
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
3.8 million square feet
6. SM Megamall
Location: Mandaluyong City, Philippines
3.6 million square feet
7. Berjaya Times Square
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3.4 million square feet
8. Beijing Mall
Location: Beijing, China
3.4 million square feet
9. Zhengjia Plaza
Location: Guangzhou, China
3 million square feet
10. SM City North Edsa
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
3 million square feet
mall highlights:
SM Mall of Asia has a 20 seater tram to take you around the mall, an olympic sized swimming pool and the first IMAX theatre in the country. SM Megamal has a skating rink. SM North Edsa is a 5 story complex with 100 retail shops.
ok now im ready to go shopping...
Monday, January 07, 2008
first entry in 08
Here's your horoscope for January 07 to 13.
Your work and health zone looks fabulous this week, APM, with influences that can help you reap the success you deserve. Jupiter has moved into Capricorn, which is encouraging you to be bold and to step out of your comfort zone. You are going to be eager to sort out aspects of your everyday life and be more adventurous in the process. You are also likely to want to mix and mingle with those who pull the strings and who have both experience and status as well. Take a look at your routines and see whether they are serving you, especially when it comes to living a meaningful life. If you are bored with your job and your health is letting you down, then you certainly need to think about change. So why not begin this process this week when you have a New Moon in Capricorn? This is the perfect time to start afresh! Start a healthier diet, begin to exercise, and apply for new jobs that you are truly passionate about. The more you feel connected to what you do, the more energy and vitality you will have. A meeting on Saturday may result in a whirlwind relationship. Take it easy!
Your work and health zone looks fabulous this week, APM, with influences that can help you reap the success you deserve. Jupiter has moved into Capricorn, which is encouraging you to be bold and to step out of your comfort zone. You are going to be eager to sort out aspects of your everyday life and be more adventurous in the process. You are also likely to want to mix and mingle with those who pull the strings and who have both experience and status as well. Take a look at your routines and see whether they are serving you, especially when it comes to living a meaningful life. If you are bored with your job and your health is letting you down, then you certainly need to think about change. So why not begin this process this week when you have a New Moon in Capricorn? This is the perfect time to start afresh! Start a healthier diet, begin to exercise, and apply for new jobs that you are truly passionate about. The more you feel connected to what you do, the more energy and vitality you will have. A meeting on Saturday may result in a whirlwind relationship. Take it easy!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Oh-Seven
Miracles Await in 2008
i was browsing thru the Toronto Star while enjoying my coffee and a stack of pancakes when i came across this news article entitled Miracles Await in 2008. it was an astrological summary of the coming new year and every zodiac sign was detailed accordingly. here's mine:
LEO
Experiences that seem almost too good to be true will be yours to enjoy. You deserve them, so don't doubt it. There's a delightful development in your life coming up. And there's also a chance to apply yourself to a task that fires your imagination, unleashes your creativity and makes your feel much more confident about what you have to offer the world.
LEO
Experiences that seem almost too good to be true will be yours to enjoy. You deserve them, so don't doubt it. There's a delightful development in your life coming up. And there's also a chance to apply yourself to a task that fires your imagination, unleashes your creativity and makes your feel much more confident about what you have to offer the world.
Monday, December 24, 2007
there's no place like family
it's only been a little over 24 hours since i arrived in canada and i already feel very content and happy about the holidays. an unfamiliar feeling i have to admit, since i haven't had the opportunity to celebrate the season around family for quite some time. the past 6 years - christmas eve and christmas day for the most part, involves searching for a christmas dinner or party to crash or finding a friend without family to hang with (there's always somebody who stays in town) or going to the movies alone on christmas night. the past 6 years i have tried hard to detach myself from the familial aspect of christmas but moving forward i will have to try harder and regain a better appreciation of the holidays. i have to re-understand that holidays is about family as i hoping to spend more christmases with them and the people that matter. after all - there's no place like family, there's no place like home.
merry christmas!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
O Canada
woohoooo!!! i made it to Toronto in one piece (the flight was very rough due to an incoming storm). it is freezing here - feels like about 25 degrees right now. the sidewalk are lined with snow. my sister's house is very festive and finally i am feeling christmasy!
aiight ... more posts to come. it's time for some steamy rice, adobo and longganisa.
aiight ... more posts to come. it's time for some steamy rice, adobo and longganisa.
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