It’s amazing because the lyrics are actually the words of an essay written by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich. The song is very upbeat and unique (this is so going on my feel-good playlist!) but more than that, it’s actually a great song that all young folks should hear!

On another note, the song reminded me of this assignment I had for my Psych 101 class, where we had to write a letter addressed to our future teenage children. My feeling-Yoda-level wisdom came out as I wrote that letter, despite having only 19 years of experience!

So I was thinking, why not share it with you guys? Here are five things you girlies need to know!

Love yourself. No matter what flaws you may think you have, use them to your advantage. Moreover, learn to love yourself because no matter what others think, never forget that you are a gem—priceless and irreplaceable!

Don’t let anyone get in your way. Have the courage to stand by what you believe in, but don’t forget to listen, too. As teens, we often think we’re always right to the point that we fail to listen to the people around us. Sometimes the most unexpected people can tell you exactly what you need to hear!

Cliché, but it’s flat-out true: Everything happens for a reason. You may not understand why or how certain things happen at first, but in time you’ll understand.

Learn to let go. This is a major setback for a lot of us, but we forget that letting go can be good sometimes. People often think it’s something bad, but it actually isn’t! The act of letting go isn’t just giving up and allowing something to slip out of your hands—it’s understanding that the best is yet to come.

And of course…

Quoting A Cinderella Story, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” Never let fear keep you from doing anything. Don’t be afraid to dream, don’t be afraid to fall in love, don’t be afraid to set big goals. It’s okay to be impulsive—sometimes taking the plunge can lead to the most life-changing events in your life!

That’s all I have to say to all you Candy Girls! Then again, I’m only 19 and in all honesty, I have the experience of a baby panda and I’m still learning too. But hey, go and write your own story. Just get out there and experience all that life has to offer… oh, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!

I interviewed three pairs of juniors and seniors about how they got asked to prom. I categorized them based on their relationships: friends, best friends, and a little more than best friends (hihi). Oh yeah, sorry for the quality of the videos and the noise.

1. Friends – I just had to include this story because it was so cute! I think this prom proposal is perfect for those who are friends—it’s not too cheesy, but it’s really such a surprise! If you two are just friends, don’t go over the top but make it heartfelt.

2. Best friends – I witnessed this during Mitchelle’s surprise birthday party. I was there when Andrew was fixing everything, and you could see that he really wanted it to be perfect for her. He was running around carrying the materials, and fixing the candles and lighting them. If you want to ask your best friend, don’t just do the usual illustration boards. Go a little beyond it. Show how thankful you are by making the proposal unique and memorable.

3. More than best friends – Anton actually talked to me before he asked Alicia to prom, and I saw the effort in him. Who would have ever thought that this guy would spend his free day burning himself with a glue gun and being artsy by making the PROM banner? If you’re more than best friends or a couple, it’s time to go all cheesy and romantic! Go the extra mile.

Prom is just around the corner, so good luck to all of you, Candy Girls (and the boys reading this). I hope you got inspired. For those who still don’t have dates—TAKE A CHANCE!

As for my prom proposal? It’s yet to be written, but last year’s was something I’ll never forget. Hihi!

This blog post is dedicated to my love for love. A hopeless romantic? Yes, indeed! During my spare time, I usually watch several couples’ pre-nup and wedding videos, sing my heart out, or get kilig while watching my all-time favorite movies. I decided to list (hope you’re not getting tired of this, haha!) some of my no-fail, feel-good movies since this is the month of love after all!

It’s nice to be in someone’s shoes for a few hours from time to time—getting trapped in all the emotions running, proving whether or not love could really conquer all, and proving that non-fictional characters actually have the power to melt our hearts!

Here’s my It List of romantic movies that I’ll never get tired watching over and over again.

A Walk to Remember – I bet this is every teen girl’s favorite! Ready your pack of tissues ‘cause you’ll be needing tons once Landon starts ticking things off Jamie’s bucket list! (Being in two places at once? Included in mine!)

Something Borrowed – Dex and Em’s story is enjoyable, and the cast will make you laugh while you’re all excited to see the ending.

Serendipity – Seems impossible? Mind you, destiny does its magic at no particular time

The Wedding Singer – “I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad…” Who wouldn’t fall in love when someone serenades you with “Grow Old with You”?

50 First Dates – A rom-com like this is undeniably worth remembering!

10 Things I Hate About You – This might be cliché, but I swear, this movie will claim a spot on your own list too!

If Only – The mind-blowing story exposes why people should not wait for tomorrow to show their love and appreciation for others.

These movies can really make my heart skip a beat. But still, I have a lot of watching to do. What are your personal favorites?

Dana xx

P.S. I have really high expectations for The Vow! Can’t wait! <3

Oceana Nail Club, located in the heart of the metropolitan city of Makati, offers you an escape from the work and stress you have to deal with everyday. Refuel yourself for another crazy week ahead by pampering yourself with their treats. From their full-body massages to hand paraffins, and foot spas to body scrubs, Oceana provides the best and finest treatments and services for their customers.

Aside from their wide range of services, I love their treatment area! Their seats are so comfortable and their extra pillows help you feel right at home while getting your hands and feet done. Not to mention, Oceana plays really chill music. Sometimes, you can hear the ocean while getting treated! It really helps you relax and drift away from the city.

I personally enjoy their Get Glowing Spa Manicure (P280), Tension Relief Peppermint Power Pedicure (P350), and Stressed Back Relief Massage (P250). Still, you should definitely try their spa treatments, paraffin treatments, and body massage treatments! I love how they have services for little kids—Kiddie Manicure, Kiddie Pedicure, Bubblegum Yummy Spa Manicure, and Bubblegum Yummy Spa Pedicure. They even have treatments for guys so you can take your boyfriends, dads, and brothers along when you get your nails done!

Oceana Nail Club
Ground floor, GF&P Building,
139 HV Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village
1227 Makati, Philippines
Book an appointment: (02) 519-6030
Visit Oceana Nail Club’s Facebook group here.

I’ve always loved going on vacations and the thought is almost heart-breaking, so when my school department organized the annual team building seminar, I couldn’t let the opportunity to go out of town even just for a day pass.

Honestly I didn’t have the slightest idea what the TBS would hold for me. Personally I wasn’t really excited with the idea of bonding with my other org mates but with the idea of having a mini vacation. Nevertheless, I decided to let things just go with the flow.

We arrived at Chateau Royal Batangas at around 11 in the morning, but before we settled into our rooms, we first had to participate in the Amazing Race. We were randomly grouped and many of my team members were strangers to me. Still, we had to accomplish the tasks as if we’ve known each other forever. Running around with random people felt weird at first; of course it isn’t the same experience with the people you know, but in the end it was still rewarding.

After washing all the dirt and grime from a physically exhausting afternoon, my friends and I got to dress up for our Talent Night/Luau Party. Our cabin (or my bed rather) was practically filled with dainty floral dresses while we spent hours getting ready.

Lights off was supposedly scheduled at 11 PM but I’m sure you can already tell that we stayed up later than we should have. Although tired, we still managed to get up early and pack our things.

As short as it was, the one-day vacation still proved to be an amazing one to me. After all, it’s not how long the vacation was that matters, but the experience you had and the people you shared it with. ‘Til next time!

Love lots,

Anna

I headed to the Meralco Theater in Pasig to watch the highly anticipated musical. I’ve read about it before and I knew that it would be interesting because it’s the first musical to be made about such a recurring and relatable topic. Unlike most musicals staged in the country, this one is original.

When I got there, I watched as family and friends of the cast lined up with members of the press. People were mostly clad in blue or green to show their support.

Between the two options, I wanted to be where the grass was greener.

The musical started with a powerful song-and-dance number that immediately guaranteed a dynamic performance. The sound system was loud but clear, which would make you appreciate the original lyrics and powerful voices.

Set in 1968, the story revolves around a family divided into Ateneans and Lasallites. The competition was intensified by the NCAA, when what should have been left on the court affected family relations and love triangles as well.

You’ll appreciate the small details as you watch the musical, like how even the people in the background remained in character, or how changes in the scenes proceeded smoothly because of precise transitions and good stage management.

I was also glad to see familiar faces like Athena Tibi from A Journey Home and MYX VJ Nel Gomez, both of whom I’ve already seen perform.

Even if you’re not part of both schools, it is still highly relatable because of the underlying themes covered like love, family, friendship, and loyalty. If you decide to watch this musical, you can definitely look forward to witty inside jokes, original compositions, and cuties (from both the green and blue teams).

Credit goes to Joel Trinidad, lyricist; Jaime del Mundo, book and director; and Ed Gatchalian, executive producer, composer, and arranger.

Tickets can be purchased in advance via TicketWorld or at the Meralco Theater itself just before the show. Catch the musical from January 27 to 29, February 5 to 12, and February 15 to 19.

Additional photos courtesy of Ateneo-La Salle the Musical

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway that isn’t so far flung but still promises a spectacular amount of fun, I suggest you and the family venture out to Clark, Pampanga for the 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. An annually anticipated colorful event, the Fiesta starts on February 9 (Thursday) and culminates on the 12th (Sunday).

There you can enjoy an impressive show of hot air balloon flights, kite flying, sky diving exhibitions, and many more aerodynamic exhibitions. For a certain fee, you can also ride inside one of the hot air balloons that are anchored to the ground—but still go up to an impressive height!

I, myself, enjoyed this pleasure last year. Though the 5 a.m. wake-up call my dad imposed wasn’t the greatest thing in the world for me and my brothers, it was well worth it!

A flurry of balloons ushering in the rising sun. What a view!

And after the launch of the balloons, we got to go around and enjoy the display of fighter jets and old air planes set up. Very Tom Cruise circa Top Gun!

So grab your fave pair of aviator shades, pile into the car with your family and get lost in the sky for a while!

See the website for the complete line-up of events for the four-day fiesta.

• A bargain hunter
• A shopaholic with an eye for the latest fashion trends
• A self-proclaimed foodie!
• A fearless gal who always makes sure to rock something that will definitely cause a major stir
• A quirky bella who always adds some sparkle in very surprising ways

If you ticked off at least three out of the five statements above then MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the first ever Immaculate Conception Academy’s Entrepreneur Bazaar.

And just to give you Candy Girls a peek at what’s in store for all bargain hunters, here are some of the booths that will surely leave you on the edge of your seats.

Potterheads and Jabberjays rejoice! You’ll surely be the talk of the town with the unique Harry Potter house shirts (love the blue one!) and the Hunger Games shirt.

The name pretty much sums it up; all their products are either filled or laced with cheese. Watch for stuff like Cheese Pancakes, Fried Oreos with Cream Cheese, and the Jell-O Surprise.

Attention to all fierce fashionistas out there! Fab Lab’s here and they’re taking the world by storm. With chic crop tops and a huge army of rings and bangles, you’ll surely be the center of attention of any occasion. And get this: there are only a limited number of stocks per design.

With the whole country going loco over P120 milk tea, Everything @ 50 offers you the same milk tea goodness at half the price! And while you’re gushing over their delish tea, don’t forget to check out their affordable rice meals as well.

Now on to the best booth of them all (alright, I may be a li’l bit biased). With super cute and affordable backpacks and carry-ons, you’ll surely cause a major stir by carrying a piece from Bag It Up’s luxe collection!

Head on over to Immaculate Conception Academy on February 11, 8 to 6 p.m., and knock yourselves out with these super fab finds you won’t get anywhere else.

Xx,
Janelle:-*

This is Eggbert! Isn’t he the cutest?

Although only two weeks have passed and I would probably say something similar as I write about this again for the class after two weeks, the project has given me an entirely different take on parenting. I know it’s difficult to understand at such an early age, but I owe it to the project for teaching me a thing or two on becoming a parent. The experience is surprisingly a lot more difficult than it looks, so I guess you guys could say that the respect I have for all the parents out there has grown even more.

So what am I trying to say? Well, here’s the thing. My mom is a single parent who has managed to single-handedly raise her two kids. And I’d like to think that she has actually done a pretty excellent job! I owe it to her for making me and my brother the strong-willed people we are today, despite the numerous times we’ve probably gotten on her nerves for the craziest things we’ve done.

A photo of me with my mom and brother Luigi on New Year’s Eve!

At the end of the day, no matter how many mistakes we’ve made, she still loves us. And really, when you have a mother like her, what else could you possibly ask for?

So I’m dedicating this post for all the moms and dads out there, especially my mom because no matter how many times we fight, I will always be her number one fan. All this because of what a special egg taught me: parenting is something we kids take for granted too easily.

I know it’s a bit too early for that Mother’s Day or Father’s Day greeting, but remember, Candy Girls, you don’t have to wait for those days to remind your parents of how much you appreciate all that they’ve done for you. Everyday should be parents’ day, so don’t forget to tell them—or show them, if you’re not the verbal type—how much you love them!

7:00 AM – Go on a morning jog around Central Park (maybe with Nate Archibald, hihi).

8:00 AM – Have breakfast in a place overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

9:00 AM – Go ice-skating at the park.

10:30 AM – Chat and hang with friends while reading magazines.

12:00 PM – Cook lunch.

1:30 PM – Go on an afternoon shopping spree.

3:00 PM – Get some shakes in a nearby shop.

3:30 PM – Get a tan by the beach.

4:30 PM – Decide to take a swim.

5:30 PM – Make some cupcakes to pass the time.

7:00 PM – Have dinner in a Japanese restaurant.

8:00 PM – Head out to a fashion show (WITH MATT LANTER ON THE RUNWAY).

9:00 PM – Drop by a super fun costume party.

11:00 PM – End the night by goofing around with friends.

That, my friends, is MY perfect weekend. Sadly, all I can do now is just daydream about it! Hopefully one day, though, this comes true. As for now, I’m enjoying my six-day weekend surrounded by the best family and friends one could ever wish for.

P.S. I know that most of the photos here are from Gossip Girl. I really do love that show! I wish I were part of the cast, HAHA.

Photos courtesy of MTV (Awkward), The CW (Gossip Girl and 90210), and CBS (2 Broke Girls and How I Met Your Mother)