CandyMag.com

One of my favorite things to do is searching for random things online, making random lists and icon-hunting! Here’s my list of 5 Random Things About Me. I’d love to hear yours too

1. 
   Balloons are what I like to give/get during birthdays! Aren’t they so festive? I don’t need those printed balloons, or the ones shaped into animals or flowers, I just want plain old round (oblong?) balloons, in every color possible!
2. 
   I bake chocolate chip cookies and brownies from scratch, and only those two—just because they’re my favorite, and I have to have them freshly baked! I should really expand my baking, um repertoire ;p I would love to learn how to bake cupcakes next.
3. 
   I memorize the weirdest things. Capitals of countries, cheesy nineties pop songs (Christina Aguilera, M2M, Michelle Branch… Haha), names of random people, and Lea Salonga Live 1 AND 2! I wish I were as enthusiastic when it comes to memorizing dates for tests. Oops. Hahaha.
4. 
   I used to have a ratty old stuffed bunny named Pachochay. It’s quite an ugly name, but I know I loved him/her/it! I still sleep with stuffed animals to this day — Ducky, my moose, Tiger, my puppy, and Spongebob! They’re all oversized, and I want an huge stuffed pig or an elephant next! Hahaha oops :p
5. 
   If I were a boy I’d be Ned from Pushing Daisies. I love everything about him! He’s adorable in that awkward kind of way. He reminds me of Seth Cohen of The OC but so much better in every aspect! Hahaha.

Oh, and here’s a site that I came across while doing random surfing. It’s called The Face Your Pockets Project. You take everything you find in your pants pocket, or the pocket of your bag or jacket, whatever it is, and place them on the scanner. Then you place your face or part of it on the scanner too, and then you send the image to them afterwards! You see all the trash/treasure from pockets of people from all over the world! I love this site. Click! http://www.faceyourpockets.com/index1.html

<3Gaby

Posted in Etcetera, Lists | 2 Comments »

February 25 isn’t only the EDSA commemoration but also student elections in UP. I am particularly involved in my college, the College of Mass Communication (CMC) elections. No, I’m not running nor am I part of any party; I’m just supporting a few people. I won’t name anyone or any party because I don’t think this is the right venue for that. I have my multiply blog for that. Instead, I want to write about what I’ve observed and learned during this campaign period.

Campaigning is not a breeze; it’s a tornado, a volcanic eruption, an earthquake. All the candidates have to go from room to room to discuss their platforms and answer any questions that the classes in the rooms they go to might have. In addition to that, they have to be prepared for the meeting de avance, which in CMC is called Hot Off The Grill (I can’t write about it yet since this entry was due at the same time as Hot Off The Grill). All their free time is devoted to campaigning, making campaign materials and manning the booth. In short, it takes A LOT of energy and time.

The candidates also have to have thick skins because the spotlight is definitely on them. It’s only natural that people judge them. They look into the candidates’ backgrounds and ideals to decide which ones they would like to run the student council next school year. This is ideally good, but I have seen things get uber ugly before. I don’t think it’s as bad this year. Anyway, this spotlight means that the candidates have to present themselves well and they have to be ready to defend themselves in a respectful way.

What I like most about this year’s election is that friendship and political colors are separate things. Being friends with someone doesn’t mean that you automatically support him/her. Also, supporting a friend’s opponent doesn’t mean that the friendship is over. Maturity is in. Haha. Whether you are yellow, red or independent, friendship is not a factor. Candidates and supporters from different parties can still share a table at the canteen. I even saw a huge tarpaulin of an org that said it supports a candidate from the yellow party and a candidate from the red party. I don’t know if my experience is the same as everyone else’s; I hope so.

College election is very different from my high school election. We had room-to-room discussions too but it was never as intense as college campaigning. Makes me wish that national elections had debates and discussions instead of commercials and candidate sing-a-longs.

Anyway, if you’re from CMC or UP, remember to vote on February 25. Apathy is so last season.

Posted in Reflections | No Comments »

The world we live in seems to be failing miserably. The problems seem to be endless as they pile on top of each other, non-stop. When we turn the television on, all we see on the news are horrific events that transpire across the globe. When we ride through the city, we can clearly see that poverty hovers above the lands turning people to hopelessness and despair. It makes you wonder if there is still anything good and pure left. It makes you question, “Has the world been squeezed of its faith and kindness?”

Whenever I hear of stories like civilians being killed in Gaza or see pictures of kids suffering from extreme malnutrition, I feel my heart break and ache a little. But despite the hopelessness that seems to resurface from the present tragedy, I honestly believe that the world can still be saved. It really can. The world can still be saved from the selfishness, the sadness, and the suffering. Call me crazy, call me too idealistic and overly optimistic, but from the little fragments of love and hope left, I think that that humankind can retrace the steps back to peace and joy. All we really need to get there is effort, unity, and most importantly, heart- from each and every human being.

Because of this arduous desire to make the world a better place to live in, I have so much I want to do. In the near future, I want to hold a children’s party for a certain beneficiary. I want to be able to give the less fortunate children a day of utmost bliss. Besides that, it is also one of my biggest dreams to go to Africa and render service to the AIDS victims. On television, I often see news about these people and seeing their condition makes me want to help them. When I grow up, I want to spearhead a global charity organization and probably be a UNICEF ambassador.

I want to do all of this so that I can do my part in creating waves of impact and change. And hopefully, when others see me reach out to those in need, they will be inspired by the beauty of giving that they will so want to do the same thing too.

Amidst the guns and the bombs, the fights and the wars, the hunger and the thirst, the world can so still be saved. I believe that the difference that can happen has to come within each and every person. Everything is just going to be okay if we try; if we put all our effort into it. The world we are imagining? A place without extreme suffering? A place of unadulterated bliss? It’s there. It’s ours for the taking. All we have to do is place our bet on it… and believe.

Posted in Etcetera, Reflections | 2 Comments »

I just finished my last term in school last December. So to keep myself from getting bored, I decided to engage myself with some productive activities while waiting for my graduation! Yay! *jumps for joy*

Last week, I was lucky enough to take part in 100UnitedPhotographer‘s February studio shoot. I really enjoyed the day since the team photographers, make-up artist, and models were all very accommodating and fun to work with.

Below are some photos taken from the “SleepUber” studio shoot at Indios-Bravos Multimedia Photography Studio with models Paula Vinoya, Rose Anne Valledo, and Victoria Fenelle.

Behind the Scenes (Photographed by Robert Regala)

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Etcetera, Red-Letter Days, Reflections | 2 Comments »

The Secret Life of Bees

Set in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees directed by Gina Prince Bythewood tells the tale of teenage girl discovering herself and the world around her.

Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning, I am Sam, Uptown Girls) has moved on. From being playing an abused rape victim in CSI, to having a controversial rape scene in Hounddog, the Pennsylvanian-bred star has taken the lead role of a South Carolina native who, runs away to Tiburon with her convicted nanny, Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson, Dream Girls).  She wants find out the truth about her mother (Hilary Burton, One Tree Hill). Lily, who accidentally shot her mother when she was younger, grew up believing that she was unlovable and alone.

In Tiburon, she finds three sisters, June, May, and August Boatwright played by Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo (Aeon Flux), and Queen Latifah (Last Holiday), respectively. June, the austere and stern teacher, despised the white teenage girl who suddenly started living with them. May, who believes that she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, showed the two guests around the kitchen. And finally, August, who produces the best honey in the entire South, turned out to be Lily’s mother’s nanny who raised her and took her in when she was running away from her abusive husband played by Paul Bethany (Wimbledon).

As Lily struggles to understand the significance of racial lines, she ends up discovering the meaning of love and family.

While the story line is unique and inspired, the strength of The Secret Life of Bees lies on its colorful characters. The actors who played them added even more depth and personality that really made the story come to life.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Etcetera, What's In | 2 Comments »