Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Happy

This'll be short.

Just wanted to note that I felt happy today; a different kind of happy, something I have not felt in a long time. I felt quite satisfied.

I was eating dinner by myself. I enjoyed my partial solitude. I just felt good.

Today:
  • Started reading "Like the Flowing River" by Paulo Coelho
  • Talked to Ai via YM; missed her a lot
  • Nice quiet time overlooking RCBC's deck on the 4th floor
*** There was something I wanted to take note of yesterday. Dad picked me up. He was pretty hot-headed. I felt pretty bad and uneasy. We didn't talk much during the first half of the drive home. He warmed up after a while. During the silence, I was reminded that I didn't know my dad very well; I practically grew up without him. But I realized that I did not want to pass from this world without knowing my dad at all. So, I hope and pray that I get enough time to know my dad better. ***

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Repost about JLC and Bea Alonzo

I reposted this because I liked what was written about John Lloyd and Bea. I'm a fan, not ashamed to admit it. For someone who can be considered half-American in terms of taste, watching John Lloyd and Bea keeps me Filipino.

I cannot pinpoint when I fell in love with their loveteam. I didn't catch them in Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, I was in Chicago then. I saw a bit of them in that show with Claudine and Diether, but I just got back from the U.S. around that time and I felt like I outgrew the whole teleserye thing. I remember watching Now that I Have You, I'm not sure why I did, but I liked it. Then Maging Sino Ka Man came and I just totally fell in love. I don't know if I tuned into the special premiere by accident, but I thought that the cinematography was beautiful and that the storyline was pretty interesting. I continued watching but I missed an episode which caused me to miss several more because I ended up being confused. After a while, I decided to tune in again and I was hooked from then on. If I remember correctly, I even rescheduled some activities just so I could watch the finale. I loved the show so much I bought the entire DVD set as a Christmas present to myself. I haven't gotten around to revisiting the series; I think I'm on the 2nd or 3rd volume.

Nevertheless, from then on, I was a John Lloyd-Bea fan. Watched all their movies. Have them on DVD as well. Followed Book 2, waiting for the DVD but I don't think it's coming. I followed I Love Betty Lafea but not as closely as Maging Sino Ka Man. I'm wishing that they'd release DVDs so I can watch the series completely, but no luck there until now.

As a fan, I'd have to admit I wish they'd end up together off-screen. But that's for fate to decide. I've grown to love both as individual actors as well; both are equally astounding. I watch their individual projects to show my support, but of course, nothing beats watching both of them together. I just simply love their tandem. Aside from the fact that they're absolutely beautiful together, their chemistry is simply unparalleled. Their tandem is classy; it's honest, it's unforced. I can't find the perfect word for it, it's something I'd still have to search for, but it's lovely and simply beautiful.


Reading some of the articles about their upcoming movie Miss You Like Crazy, I got a bit disturbed by the comparisons, especially with John Lloyd's team up with Sarah Geronimo. I'm probably biased. I find JL's team up with Sarah entertaining; I saw both of their movies, I enjoyed it, it was cute. But it doesn't give me the affecting satisfaction that John Lloyd and Bea do. Similarly, I saw And I Love You So, and I was very happy that Bea was finally recognized and given rightful credit as an amazing actress. But my heartstrings just do not get pulled the same way, unless it's John Lloyd and Bea.

With that said, I guess I don't really care what other people say. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. But I sincerely hope that Miss You Like Crazy does extremely well. But regardless of how it does, I'm going out this weekend to watch it. And I know that I will enjoy myself and I will feel like a Filipino once again, because Hollywood love stories definitely tug my heartstrings differently and no one delivers like John Lloyd and Bea.

(And no matter how cheesy it sounds, I have missed them like crazy... :p)

***

Fate brings them together…Fate tears them apart…Will faith in love be strong enough to keep them together? The blurb for their latest movie, Star Cinema’s Miss You Like Crazy, might as well be the testimony to the loveteam of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo who have been brought together by fate and been seemingly sealed together by fate.

As in the case of such immortal loveteams as Carmen Rosales and Rogelio dela Rosa, Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa, Gloria Romero and Luis Gonzales, Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez, Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon, there’s no romantic love but only pure friendship between John Lloyd and Bea off camera, and yet their loveteam ticks and clicks because on the screen, they seem so real and so true, and that’s all that matters.

You can’t help but fall in love with them, whether on the small screen where their love started to bloom or on the big screen where it continues to flourish. Theirs is a loveteam for all seasons, for all reasons.

Bea was only 14 when she was paired with John Lloyd in the ABS-CBN soap Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, with Lorna Tolentino among their co-stars, followed by a few more including Maging Sino Ka Man Books 1 and 2 and I Love Betty La Fea. Before Miss You Like Crazy, they starred in three movies, all for Star Cinema, namely Close to You, Now That I Have You and One More Chance.

They have been paired with other partners, Bea with Piolo Pascual and others and John Lloyd with Sarah Geronimo and others, but their fans clamor for more of them together. That’s why the title of their new starrer is really apt. Their fans miss John Lloyd and Bea like crazy.

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, Miss You Like Crazy will surely rekindle in moviegoers the same beautiful feeling nurtured by previous John Lloyd-Bea starrers.

“I’m happy to be working with direk Cathy again,” said John Lloyd.

“Direk Cathy knows very well John Lloyd and my working habits,” said Bea. “Sanay na kami sa isa’t-isa.”

Also starring Maricar Reyes, Miss You Like Crazy is direk Cathy’s first project since she lost her husband in a freak biking accident in Baguio City last year.

In the story, John Lloyd and Maricar play sweethearts until Bea, while on holiday from her work as a hotel front-desk officer in Kuala Lumpur, comes into the picture. Bea and John Lloyd meet and match, only for fate to step in and bring them apart. Then they meet again, only for John Lloyd to find out that it isn’t possible for their love story to start all over again because fate is playing tricks on them. But then, true love triumphs in the end somehow.

http://www.accesspinoy.com/will-moviegoers-say-miss-you-like-crazy-to-jlc-bea-loveteam/

Friday, February 19, 2010

Becky's Top 5 All-Star Moments

Love Becky Hammon, what can I say? Was thrilled when I found out she was competing in the Haier Shooting Stars again. Made my All-Star day when they won.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Silly Mistakes

It happens...

Read the article, at least he knew how to laugh about it.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/The-ugliest-missed-free-throw-you-ve-ever-seen?urn=ncaab,218461


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Repost: Living a healthy life at 56

Some nice tips.
***

Living a healthy life at 56

FROM THE HEART By Gina Lopez
(The Philippine Star) Updated February 02, 2010 12:00 AM


Over the past few days, I have come to realize that at the age of 56 I am actually much healthier and happier than when I was 18! Oh, my bone density tests could be better and I am working on that; but overall, I just feel soooo much better. I am on to a
recipe that is working — and which I aim to keep up to the time I will graciously bid this world goodbye.

Diet

I keep away from overly fatty foods like pork, deep-fried stuff or dishes swimming in oil. It just doesn’t feel healthy. Keeping the body alkaline is the rule of thumb. But hey — I do enjoy cheese, especially goat cheese... but overall I try to eat really healthy. I have even come across ice cream made from coconut milk — and no sugar but agarve syrup called Coconut Bliss. You can get it at Healthy Options. You must try the coffee and cappuccino flavor. Heavenly is the word and it’s wonderfully healthy! Even my candy is healthy. I have bags of Citrus Vitamin C candy (also from Healthy Options) that I keep in the car and at home, since I do have a sweet tooth. I keep away from white sugar (whenever possible) and white flour. I love the French Village Bread in Santis, and I have a preference for rye over wheat. Oh — you have to try these cinnamon donuts (also at Healthy Options): gluten free, dairy free and very yummy! I didn’t even tell Rommy Sia that I was going to promote his products — but yes, I often do rack up a bill there. I make it a point to read the ingredients of everything I buy — trying my level best to keep away from chemicals. It just does not make sense to wantonly and irresponsibly load your system with junk.

I detox at least once a year — which means just taking supplements or juice to rid the body of accumulated toxins. I sit in an infrared sauna with color therapy at least once a week. It detoxes and energizes. If I go to the esteros, then I go right after; I do not mind going to gunky places, but I do not want to get sick. And some of these creeks are horribly bad.


Vitamins

I take lots and lots of vitamin C, ordinarily 3,000 mgs. When I go to the esteros I double that — and if I am feeling under the weather, I go up to 8,000 mgs. I also take calcium, vitamin D and zinc. My doctor friend says that zinc is essential if my body is to absorb all these vitamins I am taking.

Medicine

I don’t like taking pharmaceuticals. When my children or I get sick I have it worked out to a T and it hasn’t failed me yet. Even my household staff follows the same regimen. On the first sign of discomfort, I take echinacea (an herb medicine): four tablets on an empty stomach and in between meals at least twice a day. I take heavy doses of garlic: either three cloves of garlic with the meal, or garlic supplements. What also works is Kyoli — this is a mushroom and garlic supplement to be taken after the meal. What also helps are the nanotechnology sprays I get from Dr. Chat Austria (call 724-3242). One is for chemicals and the other is for bacteria. The sprays are amazing. They can take the place of chelation (treatment to remove heavy metals from the body), and they can even be sprayed topically. Over the holidays my tooth started throbbing and the dentist said that I should have a root canal. So I sprayed it every three hours on my aching tooth, gargled with healing salt crystals and warm water. I did the whole bit with echinacea and vitamin C — and in two days my tooth is now completely well. It works.

When my children can’t breathe, I boil onions and let them inhale the steam. I don’t like the smell, but it does clear the head and nasal passages.

Bees Machine

I have this machine by Serafin Oriwella. It won the gold medal at a United Nations event. The machine transmits positive ions. What Serafin says is that disease is due to an imbalance of ions in the body — so whatever the problem is, applying the machine to the body addresses the imbalance. In October of last year, the father of my kids’ friend — his name is Sona — had a severe case of gallstones. He was in pain and was bedridden. So he came to my home and I asked a therapist from Dr. Oriwella’s clinic to come. The next day, Sona was up and about — enough to make the trip with us to India! When my children are not well, I apply the machine together with my arsenal of health things — and the results speak for themselves. When the son of Reach — the technical head of Kapit Bisig — was reeling from abdominal pain, the doctors at St. Luke’s and Medical City couldn’t figure out the problem. So he came to the house, and the therapist of Dr. Oriwella applied the machine. In half an hour, the child was well. It works. (Dr. Oriwella’s cell number is 0917-9181245.)

Healing Crystals

This is salt that has been exposed to 196-centigrade temperatures for 94 hours by Dr. Rey Viloria. He is the doctor at our resettlement site in Caluan. It’s very inexpensive and it works. I brush my teeth with it to keep the bacteria out. When I had a cough that wasn’t going away, I decided to gargle with the salt twice a day — and in three days the cough went away. Amazing. When my teeth were giving me trouble, I applied salt and the pain went away. When Sona’s teeth were hurting he did the same thing and the pain went away. So now, I carry salt with me in my bag. I use it for everything. Even eating. It is purified and energized salt and beats the Celtic Salt from France I used to buy from the health food stores — and it’s just a few hundred pesos. (Dr. Rey’s number is 0908-7328777.)

Exercise

I do yoga exercises daily, but this is more to keep me peaceful and prepare me for meditation. Then I work out two to three times a week. Weight-bearing exercises are good for the bones. I have a yoga teacher who comes twice a week. But over the past week I have stumbled across what is called a Cellexerciser — which is a rebounder or a mini trampoline, but built much better. Sturdier. Safer for the body. This has been superb! The instructions said start with one minute — but I got bored, so I went right up to 10 minutes and it was wonderful! I watched the DVD that went with it. The inventor David Hall has well-developed abs, biceps, is attractively lean — and he did this all with just 10 minutes a day! Then I read the book — full of testimonials from people who have slimmed hips, thighs, improved their eyesight — addressed health problems with just 10 minutes a day! So I have been doing 10 to 15 minutes for the past 10 days, and the results are amazing!

I already have a lot of energy — but this boosted my energy level up even further. I also sleep better. I had a tingling sensation in my left arm, which has been greatly reduced. In short I am experiencing a wonderful sense of well-being, which came after only the first session! Contact Rica Villalon, 0917-8397839. She can deliver it to your house. Or look up Cellexerciser on the net to give you a clearer understanding. What got me attracted to it is the “only 10 minutes a day”!

Sleep

The quality of one’s sleep is vital. There have been days when I am on a high the whole day — but by the time evening comes around, I am so tired I sleep tired. Then I wake up tired. So what has worked for me is soaking in a hot bath at the end of a stressful day — topping that with a cold shower and not watching TV or working on the computer before I sleep. I meditate and relax each part of my body, thus going into a deep, peaceful space — and waking up much more refreshed even if I haven’t slept for many hours.

Protect Yourself From Your Phone

I have a gadget that I put in the back of my BlackBerry called IProtect. I also have phone shields given to me by a German friend. Mary Tan sells these cell protectors. (Her cell number is 0917-8737188.) And I have the phone shields. Bottom line is that our cellular phones transmit harmful radioactive frequencies. I can’t imagine life without my BlackBerry. But there is a need to “protect” oneself from the downsides.

Nature

This is really important. Every time I go out of town I feel like I get an injection of well-being. It’s being away from pollution. It’s feeling land energies that are healing and peaceful. We are so blessed to be in this country, where nature and healing abound. This is what I tell the people I relocate to Caluan from Estero de Paco: I point to the mountains, I point to the blue sky, I raise my hands and feel the wind, and say, “You are all so very, very blessed!” If you don’t have time to go out of town, there is the La Mesa Watershed. My brother Ernie, who is an Iron Man, says it has the best biking routes in the country. And we now have a new pool at the La Mesa Eco Park where you can do laps if you are after exercise more than recreation.

Meditation

Of all the things I do for health, this takes the supreme cake. What is happening to me is that I attend retreats twice a year — and then I meditate every morning, for a minimum of an hour. Regularly practicing to feel the energies of the Divine leads me to feel this when I work, and truly nothing can give greater joy than to feel God working through you, or to feel one’s angels around. Because what happens through meditation is a concomitant awareness of the beauty in other people as well.

Work

Getting involved in something that brings joy is a key to health. We spend much of our lives at the workplace. If one is happy, then that happy energy flows through one’s system and carries healing energies. It’s like being in love. When one is in love, one feels really healthy — because those “kilig” energies coursing through one’s system give one a natural high. It’s good to be enthused with what one does. Contributing to the web of life and love in a productive way is the way to live a life steeped in blessings.

Keep Positive, Be Humble, Make A Commitment To Inner Growth

We won’t live forever. By making a commitment to our own growth, by having the courage to see oneself and the bravery to evolve, we continue to raise the level of our existence. We don’t only leave this world more in tune with our higher selves but we will have made a positive impact in the reality that we have lived in.

* * *

Monday, February 1, 2010

Excerpt: "Can We Demand Anything from God?"


Here's an excerpt from last Sunday's misallette front page. I liked the article and so I brought the misallette home.

***

"Authentic praying is waiting, letting God be God to decide what is best for us, not enforcing on him what we believe is the best for us. We wait on him full of trust, appreciating his presence more than his answers. [...] When we show God that we are more interested in his person rather than what he can do for us then we truly develop a deep personal relationship with him, a faith founded on surrender and total trust in him, a faith which means friendship, a belief that Jesus walks with us and he is never absent even in our worst moments. To live like this is 'awesome'."


- Tim Melliza, SSP