CandyMag.com

I’m pretty sure that by now, most of you have seen the Candy Council of Cool 11′s Mini Mag. The magazine came with last month’s issue with Selena Gomez on the cover. I spent most of my summer break working on this magazine as the Editor in Chief so seeing the final product was such a thrill for me. I can never express how blessed I feel to have been part of the 11th Council. I never really expected to learn this much but I take a lot of lessons with me as the stint finally comes to a close. I didn’t only get to see the process of how the magazine buy in your favorite bookstore materializes but I was actually able to partake in it. It’s a childhood dream come true and I can’t be any more thrilled to be sharing it with everyone!

The entire council wants to share with you some photographs from the shoots we had for the magazine. We were able to meet TV personality Kylie Padilla, Basketball freshies Kiefer and Von, and two of your favourite Candy girls Kirsten Rice and Linn Oeymo.

Our cover girl, Kylie Padilla, is such a sweetheart. She doesn’t say much but she would smile in between takes and dance to the music playing in the background. It’s a wonder how shyness and confidence can overlap in one person but this girl is a testament that true confidence shines through without having to have a hint of boastfulness. With a face like hers and grounded sensibilities, the COC gang all agreed that she’ll be going far! Don’t you just think she looks lovely on the cover? Don’t forget to check out our interview with her!

For the Guys section, we chose two of the youngest players in UAAP Basketball, Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal. I’ve already gotten feedback and some of the photographs from the shoot have been found circulating in the internet so I assume most of you loved the feature on the two! If I’m correct, glad to know.

To read more on these two crazies, I suggest you head on to my Sports blog and read more on the BTS of this shoot! http://theclosetcheerleader.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/von-kief-in-coc-11s-october-mini-mag/

The entire council agreed on featuring two easy ensembles that can take you from school to party without having to try so hard. All you need to do is add on a little bling here and there and slip on your heels after a long day of being in flats in school. After that, you’re good to go! What do you guys think?

For more on the behind the scenes, check out my blog:
http://heymissalmazan.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/bts-candy-council-of-cool-11s-mini-mag-coc/

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September is undoubtedly the busiest month this year. I, together with my friends, have been drowning in video presentations for the past few days. As tedious as they may sound, we actually enjoy doing them! We’ve already accomplished a K-POP music video parody and now, we’re working on a Meteor Garden trailer parody. We have so much fun doing them that we don’t actually mind the humiliation when we present. Haha. Putting school matters aside, September is also an eventful month because of birthdays! So many important people I know are celebrating their birthdays this month:

1. September 1 – I watched a live UAAP game this day. However, it wasn’t an ordinary game day because it was Kirk Long’s birthday. Until now, I couldn’t believe that we had the guts to have a “Happy birthday, Kirk!” banner hang on the railing in front of us. Fan na fan? (Hey, it’s his last year anyway!Haha.)
2. September 3 – My blockmate, Jinky, celebrated her debut this day (Her actual birthday is on the 31st though). I really had fun with my friends since it was a nice break from the chaotic world of academics. Loved the ’70s theme!
   
3. September 5 – Skandar Keynes turned 20 this day. Relevant.
4. September 11 – My best friend, Amy, turned 19 this day! We’re of the same age now! Haha. To Amy: Hope you had fun on your birthday despite it being on a weekend before your exams. I love you even though you’re heels and I’m flats; you’re pink and I’m blue; and you’re Archie and I’m Cook; Here’s to more fun, slightly awkward, starstruck, life-changing moments with you!
   
5. September 16 – This is the day Nick Jonas turned 19. Let’s just pretend I know these celebrities in real life. Haha, Kidding!
6. September 17 – My mom’s and…
7. September 19 – my dad’s birthday. I find the fact that my parents’ birthdays are only one day apart. It’s meant to be! Belated happy birthday mama and papa! <3
8. September 21 – Last July, I saw this girl again after not seeing her for more than a year! I’m proud to say that nothing has changed. We still talk like we’re not beside each other. Haha! I miss you, Fatima! I wouldn’t have survived 2nd year high school without our recess-lunch-dismissal moments. Good times, good times. Happy birthday!
   
9. September 26 – Esty is my kinder 2 best friend. She calls me ‘Cinderelly’, and I call her ‘Mulan’. I’m really happy that we’re still studying in the same school after all these years! Friends for 14 years and counting!
   

To all the people mentioned above, again, happy birthday! Hope you all enjoyed your birthday month!

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June has marked the end of my HR internship aka my “summer break” and the beginning of senior year.

Again, I apologize for not being able to update my blog regularly. I didn’t expect the first month to be so hectic already. Nonetheless, I’m happy that everything is working out well for me. In case you’ve been wondering about the things that kept me busy, here’s a rundown of what I’ve been up to this month in photographs:

1. Volunteer Work
   I was lucky enough to be given another year to become a part of the TNT (Talks and Tours) committee of the annual Freshman Orientation Seminar. The 3-day program comprised of activities designed to welcome new students to the Ateneo community. Despite having served as a volunteer last year, this event was still a memorable first for me because I have been trusted to handle a block of 20 Biology majors on my own. Amid the challenges of not having a partner to share tasks with, I found the experience very worthwhile. I was able to embrace my limitations and prove to myself that I am still capable of doing great things. I owe my strength to the TNT family who has been very supportive of one another. Finally, I feel really blessed to have been given a group of smart and talented people to call my “anak” aka my OrSem babies for the last time.
   
2. Foodtrips
   Like my fellow girls in the council, I love food. Unfortunately, compared to them I am not as adventurous. After 3 years of living in Manila, it finally hit me that I ought to go out and try food in unfamiliar places. Well… my progress only goes as far as a couple of lunches and dinners in the streets of Katipunan. But thanks to my roommate Angie, I’ve discovered delicious and affordable milk tea (Moonleaf), delightful burgers (Craveburger), cute diners (Mile-Hi) and quiet hang out spots (Fruit Magic)!
   
3. Managerial Tasks
   I have been appointed as The GUIDON’s (official student publication of ADMU) Training and Development Manager for this school year. It’s basically the human resources arm of the publication and my task is to organize events and training sessions for the members. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year as a member of the Editorial Board but more than anything else, I’m very excited to work with exceptionally talented and hardworking people! The photo below is taken from the behind-the-scenes album of our column photo shoot led by the lovely Pia Guballa.
   
4. Planning the rest of our lives ahead.
   My bestfriend Carol always says that she does not plan her life (10-20 years) that far ahead. But since it is thesis year and minor year (I’m taking up additional subjects in English literature) and we are both involved in a couple of extracurricular activities, we know that to make it to the finish line aka graduation, we have to set our priorities straight. We don’t have that much time for one another like we used to but I’m glad that when we do sit down and talk we always learn something new from one another. Here’s Suzie reading my planner for “life updates”—one of the many rituals we’ve gotten all too familiar with since freshman year:
   
5. And finally, hanging out and catching up with friends
   Would you believe that even after all of the things mentioned above, my social life is still afloat? Haha! I managed to squeeze in movie dates, isaw trips, pool parties and tambay time in between my list of things to-do. I was also able to visit my family in Subic together with my boyfriend, Miguel and even meet up with my high school friends!
   
   All in all, this has been a good way to start the school year, don’t you think so?
   For more photos, visit http://documentingsenioryear.tumblr.com

With happiness and a hopeful heart,
Mikee

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Ever since I was little, my father would drive our family all the way to Nueva Ecija to visit my grandparents. My aunts and uncles, who came from far away places like Isabela and Manila would be there too. While they catch up on each other’s lives over card games and good food, I would find myself soaked in the sun, playing with my cousins. Even now that we’ve all grown up, we still find time to meet with each other. A number of our summers were actually spent in Puerto Galera, Mindoro but this year we wanted to go somewhere we’ve never gone before.

Last weekend, I was on a roadtrip with the Garcia clan to Lumban, Laguna. We stayed in a resort called Caliraya. I believe the place was meant for big companies to hold their teambuilding seminars but since we are a big family we were able to make use of the different facilities that they offer. Despite the rain (why Typhoon Bebeng, why), my cousins and I enjoyed our stay in “laguna’s best resort.”

First, we toured around the place and discovered that they had a beautiful man-made lake, 3 swimming pools, a fish pond, zipline, fly pinoy, bungee jumping and wall-climbing areas (which I wasn’t able to try because it rained), a large field full of obstacle courses as well as several courts. The package we took was inclusive of meals so we really enjoyed the buffet in a pavilion overlooking the entire resort.

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When I received the text from one of the eds, asking who wanted to go to Lee Dewyze’s press conference, my heart literally skipped a beat and I felt like my world froze for about a minute or two there. Just a few nights before, I was reminiscing old American Idol crushes with my friend Erica and how we used to go gaga over them. Then we were making plans about going to Eastwood to see Lee Dewyze perform live and we were telling each other that if one of us faints, we’ll still stick together side by side until Lee comes over and gives whichever fan-girl fainted an earth-shattering wake-up kiss like Snow White’s Prince Charming. Yes, we’re really a couple of weirdos like that. One of the reasons why that girl’s my best friend actually.

Anyway, so last May 7, while you girls were having loads of fun at the Candy BFF Camp, my event buddy, Elise and I were over at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, feeling uber-kilig that the American Idol season 9 winner is sitting just literally a few feet from us.

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