Explosive first episode

As expected, the latest season of Gossip girl started with a bang. And it looks like one of my predictions was true-- Dorotha is having her second child (or so it seems). But hey, will the Waldorf family welcome a little baby this season? I can't wait. Yes, B has her real prince for now, but with Chuck (and Dan) still on the way, will her fairytale romance continue? Anyhow, I think that Louis is great. But he is too much of a "momma's boy". Well, at least he's starting to loosen up a bit at the end of the first episode. Of course, Serena had her own moment and spotlight.

As expected, Nate opened the season with a steamy romance. I must say, she's hot! But I still think that SereNate is better :P

P.S. I love Serena's outfits! Hello SPF, it appears that the sun might shine brightly on you Serena.

Embracing your braces

This might sound strange, but I really do miss my dental braces :| A common stereotype associated with people having dental braces is that they are geeks or nerds. In fact, the first person who might appear on your mind when it comes to dental braces is America Ferrera as she played Ugly Betty. But I don't happen to look at it that way. Actually, having braces gave me more confidence. I didn't really have any major problems with my teeth alignment but my parents were advised to put me on dental braces. And I am thankful that they did. I can smile with full confidence today. And for some odd reason, I'm really missing my braces. :'(

Image source: primoclipart.com

The picture on the left is me on braces then. Either way, I'm still a happy kiddo :)

P.S. the pretty girl beside me is my good college friend, Jelotin :D

Rebirth of a painter

Dear Mr. Zolan, you make me want to paint again.

It has been years since I last used my brushes and oil paints. But as my mother was cleaning our piles of boxes in the storage room, she was surprised to see my old paintings. Most of which were painted when I was in elementary (I was privileged to be enrolled on summer painting programs because of my mother's encouragement). Some were kept inside boxes since our house was renovated before while some were kept on display. And there it was, my urge to paint again somehow resurrected. 

As I was looking for an inspiration about what to paint, I encountered a page devoted to a very skilled painter, David Zolan. What particularly amused me with his masterpieces is that they are mostly based on childhood memoirs (and if you've read my previous posts, I don't think I can deny my longing for my juvenile days). The details in his paintings are very intricate and are able to capture some of the best moments in childhood. In other words, his paintings invigorated my love of painting and art again. It never died, really. I still draw and I'm still in love with it. And today, I'll be heading towards National Bookstore to buy a canvas cloth and additional oil paints. After several years, I'll paint again. 

Thank you for the inspiration Mr. Zolan. 

Here are some of my favorites among his collections:

Image source: Wallcoo.net

There is a time for everything

"Learn to trust the perfect time. So you may discover that all the pain found while waiting has a magnificent and awesome purpose."

image source: sleepzine.com

“My daddy said, that the first time you fall in love, it changes you forever and no matter how hard you try, that feeling just never goes away.” 

― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Hello again

It was during my freshman year in high school when I got captivated by foreign dramas. Who wasn’t obsessed in the F4 fever before, right? I even had meteor garden posters on my wall just so I can see Dao Ming Se before I close my eyes at night and happily gaze at him when I wake up. I was totally obsessed! As I read my high school diary, indubitably, almost half of it was occupied by my thoughts over the “hotness” and “kilig” feeling by becoming gaga over the boys and the story. At some point, I even thanked God for making meteor garden. You see, I don’t think I can deny how addicted I was with them before. I was even pleading for mercy to my parents so that I can go directly to Manila and see F4 in person—of course, I was denied. They just laughed at me and told me to just wait. It will be shown on tv anyway. And it took me almost a week of tantrums when my parents finally started to woo me. As a reconciliation gift, they bought me two original CDs and cassette tapes of F4 and the meteor garden OST. Of course, I wasn’t able to resist the offer. I became a very happy kid again.

Then another drama took my breath away—Winter Sonata. This one is definitely my ultimate favorite of all time. I broke up with Dao Ming Se and welcomed Kang Joon Sang wholeheartedly. Perhaps it’s because it’s somehow easy to relate with their love story since it started in high school (and I was a freshman in high school then). Also, Bae yong joon is so adorable; I dreamed about him almost every night. I also spent most of my nights gazing at the stars as I tried to search for polaris. Again, I tried to plea to my dad to buy me the same polaris necklace in the story while he was in Korea. But he failed to buy me one as it was highly in demand then and was immediately sold out (or maybe that was just his alibi).

Another reason why I fell in love with the drama was its sublime OST. The piano tracks and music used were very soothing and beautiful. Thank God for the internet, I was able to find the piano pieces for the OST. I practiced and played every piece on piano. In fact, there were days when I was playing just the same pieces over and over (even my mom was singing the melody after a while though she is not familiar with the show). My favorite would be “The First Time”. In fact, I still play this piece today—I’ve been playing it for years. It provides me with the feeling of falling in love for the first time (Try to listen to this song. It will melt your heart).

You might be wondering why I wrote this reminiscing post. Well, just last night, my brother knocked on my door and told me (in a gruelling tone) to switch my channel in Animax. There it was, the anime adaptation of my ultimate favorite drama—winter sonata in anime. I was appalled but in a good way—I was very happy indeed. It’s like musing over your first love again.

The anime adaptation has been released for quite some time now and I don’t know why I haven’t really heard about it immediately. And now I’m back to being fanatical over it.

image source: forums.e-games.com.ph

I'm sleeping with a smile on my face again.

On replay

We all have our "feel good" songs. This one happens to be on replay in my playlist today. For some reason, it kind of takes me back to my childhood days. After watching flipped, I can't help but recall my happy juvenile days and some ephemeral pleasures then.

image source: wallcoo.net

The first time that I saw you 

Looking like you did

We were young, we were restless

Just two clueless kids

But if I knew then what I know now

I'd fall in love

You're on a bus in Chicago

Three rows to the left

You know my heart is reaching for you

But we never even met

If I knew then what I know now

I'd fall in love

'Cause love only comes

Once in a while

And knocks on your door

And throws you a smile

And takes every breath

Leaves every scar

Speaks through your soul

And sings to your heart

But if I knew then what I know now

I'd fall in love

On a summer night in august

Backseat of my car

Said I'm trying to get to know you

I took it way too far

But if I knew then what I know now

I'd fall in love

Whoa, 'cause love only comes

Once in a while

And knocks on your door

And throws you a smile

And takes every breath

Leaves every scar

Speaks through your soul

And sings to your heart

But if I knew then what I know now

I'd fall in love

Whoa, I used up a lot of chances

But you give them back

But if again it comes crawling

I'm gonna make it last

'Cause love only comes

Once in a while

And knocks on your door

And throws you a smile

It takes every breath

Leaves every scar

Speaks through your soul

And sings to your heart

And if I knew then what I know now

Whoa, if I knew then what I know now

I'd fall in love

Slutty pumpkin revealed

Spoiler alert! The slutty pumpkin will finally be revealed this season!

Image source: crushable.nu

Who can forget about Ted's search for true love and his encounter with "the slutty" pumpkin with one of HIMYM's Halloween episodes? And who among us was not intrigued by this mystery woman? Finally, after six seasons, she will be revealed--- and she's no other than

image source: topnews.in

Mrs. Cruise. Yes, I am truly exhilarated to see Katie Holmes appear as the slutty pumpkin in this year's Halloween episode. I can't wait! :D See you slutty pumpkin!

A blessed first friday

Thank God for this blissful day. For months now, my social life somehow seemed to be in a hiatus. I was preoccupied with personal matters while my friends are busy with their academic life. But today, I was finally able to take a breather. I might have a few number of friends compared to others. However, I must say that I am truly blessed to have my closest friends who can tolerate all my kaartehan and kabekihan/kabaklaan. What’s the use of having a lot of friends who are not true to you anyway?

Spending sometime in solitude can really make a person to reflect upon the importance of her loved ones. In my case, this day became extra special as I was able to bond with my closest girlfriends, Jem and Roanne. And of course, we spent the day in our “most” favorite place—the house of Oble, our dear UPLB. Yes, I must admit that I did miss the place (I’m an alumna now, which means that I can finally take a picture with Oble!—the curse of having a delayed graduation if you took a picture with him as an undergraduate student has no effect now. Haha.) I was finally able to eat my favorite burger at the campus (clue: the burger place is near Raymundo :D). But the highlight of the day was our non-stop chikahan. When girls are together, we just can’t help but talk about everything under the sun—from the love life of my friend’s brother to make-up; you name it. We also had the chance to reminisce about our high school and elementary days (which made me to realize how horrible I was with my male friends; or boy friends? whatever). In the end, we all laughed our hearts out. It was such a euphoric day.

Our plan for next week:

• Play PlayStation 2 at my house
• Eat pizza and drink tons of softdrinks (oh no, it’s bad for our health! haha. but I suppose a glass would be enough)
• Videoke marathon
• Finish at least one full movie (at least one!)
• Chitchat, chitchat and chitchat

Oh how I love my two dearest best friends. Only you two can really accept and tolerate all of my kaartehans. (P.S. Ro, if you will get married ahead of us, you should make the two of us as your “Maids” of Honor :D— the same goes with Jem oki?) I love you sisters! J

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I must give my feet some rest now. Walking from UPLB to El Danda is not easy, okay. But you certainly won’t feel any pain if you are walking with the one you love as you gaze through the stars and just talk about everything. I am truly blessed. J