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A very Merry Christmas and a great 2009 ahead of you!!!

We’ll make sure to give you a lot of things to look forward to next year!

Love,
Mia, Stephie, Mimi, Marla, Angel, Margaux, Macy and Roch

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What makes our Assistant Features Editor heaven-sent?

This may sound totally corny, but it’s true. When Angel walks in with her sunny smile and warm voice, the room—and our day—is instantly brighter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her masungit, not once in all the years we’ve worked together! She’s a bundle of energy and positivity without ever being over the top or cloying. And it shows in everything she does. She’s really pushed herself to do more and be more this year—“workwise” and “lifewise!” Her passion and joie de vivre are really remarkable. She’s a true explorer and adventurer, and she has the photo wall to prove it! Most recently, she’s spearheaded an outreach campaign for Candy and Bond, Girl!, and she also completed the 21K marathon in Singapore (she was so disciplined and trained for months!). Hearing her kwento and seeing her photos, I realized all over again that Angel really is an angel—of strength, beauty and light. Happy birthday, Angel! We love you! Mwah! —Mia

Angel is passionate about what she does—be it mountain climbing, sports, writing, editing. This is why she’s truly an Angel. I remember a time when I was feeling down, she immediately approached me and asked if I was alright. Maybe she doesn’t remember this anymore, but I really appreciated her at that moment. Happy, happy birthday, Angel!!! Big hugs!!! —Steph

Happy birthday to our resident go-getter! Angel has inspired me to try new things (like swim with whale sharks) and to contribute to worthy causes (like when a big typhoon hit Bicol, Angel suggested the team donate money and forgo the Christmas gifts that year). She is overflowing with goodness (a true goddess of light!) and makes this world a better place to live in. —Mimi

Angel is heaven-sent because she inspires me to be more healthy and fit. I see the hard work and determination that she puts into her healthy lifestyle and it makes me want to do the same. —Margaux

Angel is heaven-sent because she always shares (from apple slices to Archie!), always convinces you to try something new and fun (from karting to eating fried worms), and always sees the best in people (she’ll tell you to forgive when everyone else tells you to forget). —Marla

This is really random, but Angel loves sharing her healthy snacks. I know it’s nothing special, really, but the fact that she always (as in consistent talaga!) offers her tub of apples or cherries to the team shows how super generous she is. Just one of the few qualities that makes her truly stand up to her name. —Macy

I remember the time I had to shoot Andi Manzano and she accompanied me. I really appreciated that gesture because she knew I got shy around celebrities and helped me interact with Andi the whole time. I felt at ease with her around. (It also happened with Aki. Haha!) —Roch

Happy birthday, Angel! We’re so happy you’re still a part of the family.

Love always,
The Candy girls

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After my studying stint in Singapore last 2004, some of my ASEAN friends and I decided to take a trip to Thailand and Vietnam. The study program officially ended on December 10, so we traveled for the next 14 days. I wanted to be home in time for Christmas. Unfortunately, the earliest flight we could get back to Manila was on December 25 already. So in effect, I spent most of the holidays abroad.

That year, I spent my birthday (December 21) in Dalat. It’s like Vietnam’s version of Baguio, only Dalat is much colder and cleaner! There was a flower festival that time so the place was packed with people. I was missing my family on my birthday, but my friends made sure I’d feel special by surprising me with a birthday cake!

The next day, we were on a bus to Ho Chi Minh City. Christmas lights were everywhere and the streets were alive with merrymakers. It almost felt like Christmas in Manila!

On the 24th, the Pinoys and I had to fly back to Singapore before we could catch our flight back to Manila. I spent Christmas Eve at a Christian church with my Singaporean friend. We had to stay at a back room with all the kids and the young people. We couldn’t even see the pastor and the rest of the congregation in person. Instead, we participated in the service via a screen where the mass was projected!

After the service, we met up with some of our other friends at a nearby hawker center to have supper. It was fun, sure, but nothing could replace our traditional Noche Buena at home.

By the time I got back to Manila on Christmas day, I was exhausted from all the traveling. Though I made it in time for our Christmas reunion with relatives, I went to bed after a few hours because I was so sleepy. Plus, now that I was home, I was starting to miss my ASEAN friends and getting a tad depressed because I knew it would be a long time before I saw most of them again.
Talk about conflicting emotions! ;_;

Looking back on it now, I guess I can’t really say I “lost” Christmas that year. I simply celebrated it in a different way. I’m really grateful for the experience because aside from the chance to see how Christmas is celebrated in other countries, it made me appreciate my own home even more. Simbang Gabi, caroling, Christmas Eve mass, and the Noche Buena with my family became more than just traditions, but something I know I will always look forward to. (Plus, some of my ASEAN friends visited me the following years because they heard the Philippines is a fun place to be during the Christmas season!)

Christmas celebrations with my family are always fun and a tad crazy!

So before we sign off for the holidays, allow me to greet you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May you find joy and be showered with numerous blessings this season…
wherever in the world you are. :star:

Looking forward to Christmas in Manila,
Angel

P.S. We’d also like to greet Candy Cutie Nate Day a Belated Happy Birthday! Send him a shout-out over here: http://www.candymag.com/magazine/lifestyle/nate-day

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Every year, for the past 6 years (although I missed 2004), I have a made an annual soundtrack. A year in songs. It may just seem like a list to some, but to me, these songs remind me so much of the past year.

Sometimes, the list is just a random one. Things I loved listening to throughout the year, songs that I rediscovered through the magic of “shuffle,” or songs that were released that year. Sometimes, the entire list says so much more—especially when I start listing down song lyrics (I love song lyrics.).

So this year, I picked 26 songs (I started picking the same number of songs as my age last year) to represent the rollercoaster that was 2008. Allow me to share this year’s soundtrack. (:

For lyric snippets, click on the jump.

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Dear Candy Girls,

In the Ed’s Scrapbook for December, I suggested you make a list of 12 things you’re thankful for in 2008—one for each month. I think Christmas is ultimately a time to be grateful, for life and love and laughter and family and friends. I think Christmas is a time to focus on the things you do have instead of the things you want, to focus on simple joys and small, everyday triumphs. I think Christmas is a time to be happy, no matter where you are or who you’re celebrating with. Here’s my list:

January
2008 started out with a big change—my brother (and best friend since birth) got married. You know how the saying goes: I wasn’t losing a family member, I was gaining several! Here’s a photo of my new, bigger family at the wedding.

February
I officially started working on my book, Every Girl’s Guide to Heartache. Yes, the irony wasn’t lost on me, either—I was writing about heartache during the month of hearts! But I love the creative process (a friend told me earlier that I have an “artist look,” a dead-serious expression my face morphs into when I’m concentrating on writing or styling or taking photos), and I love how negative emotions can always be channeled into something more positive and productive.
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