Looking Back at 2010

Oh, it’s New Year’s Eve.

I love this day - a day to reflect on the past year and look towards a new one. I usually do an annual recap of each year in my past blogs. This time, I won’t elaborate much and focus on my general experience of the year that was.

Looking back at 2010, I must say it has been a fun and eventful year. Amidst the stress and expectations of my job, I managed to slip in some fun times too. I'm so blessed to have a good health and to be surrounded by true friends and loving family.

2010 was a huge year. I experienced so much and it has made me a completely different person to who I was this time a year ago. This year had brought me good memories. Good memories that I will cherish forever. Of course, I had my ups and downs, but the good times outweigh the bad. The good and bad things that have happened in this year have brought me to realize who I am today. I thank 2010 for teaching me wrong from right. I realized who my true friends are. Yeah – because of the bad times, I definitely grew in a lot of aspects this year. I've matured tremendously. I feel stronger and more confident in myself. It’s taken a lot to get to this point. But I don’t regret one bit of it. I’m really happy and proud of myself. I met some pretty amazing people, and made awesome memories that I’m sure I’ll never forget. I thank those new people I’ve met this year for giving me the chance to share such wonderful experiences with them. I say sorry to those I hurt. I guess some things are really not meant to happen in the first place. And to the old people in my life, I thank them for staying and I’m looking forward to creating wonderful memories with them.

This year had brought me this far, so as I say goodbye 2010 and hello 2011, I say that in this year, I learned the most in my life. Hopefully, next year will be better and I will be happier. Many moments in 2010 were my downfall, so 2011 will be my pickup. So 2010, I say goodbye to all of your regrets, opportunities missed, and those shitty times. I know that I’ll be so much stronger this coming year.

2010 – You have been tough on me. This year is full of goodbyes. But whatever, I really don’t mind now. Past is past. I wouldn’t want the past to be in my future - with the exceptions of some events and people. I'm not sad to see you go, but I'll always remember you as one hell of a year life changing full of heart break and drama. But, overall 2010 was okay. I mean, it could have been better, but then again, it could have been a lot worse. I am just thankful that I have the support and love from everyone I do.

2010 - I’ve learned. I’ve loved. I’ve lost. I’ve lived.

2010 - Thank you for the great year! you made me cry - you made me laugh - you made me sing - you made me dance - and you made me stronger person that’s ready to face a new battle.

Okay, let me cut this before I get too sappy.

Peace out, 2010!

2011, please be kind ♥

Lovin ' DJ Earworm

Here are the 25 songs included in the Don’t Stop The Pop mashup for 2010:

Ke$ha -- Tik Tok Lady Antebellum -- Need You Now Train -- Hey, Soul Sister Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg -- California Gurls Usher Featuring will.i.am - OMG B.O.B. Featuring Hayley Williams -- Airplanes Eminem Featuring Rihanna -- Love the Way You Lie Lady Gaga -- Bad Romance Taio Cruz -- Dynamite Taio Cruz Featuring Ludacris -- Break Your Heart B.O.B. Featuring Bruno Mars -- Nothin’ On You Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull -- I Like It

Young Money Featuring Lloyd -- Bedrock Jason Derulo -- In My Head Rihanna -- Rude Boy Lady Gaga Featuring Beyonce -- Telephone Katy Perry -- Teenage Dream Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are Mike Posner -- Cooler Than Me The Black Eyed Peas -- Imma Be Jay-Z + Alicia Keys -- Empire State of Mind Usher Featuring Pitbull -- DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars -- Billionaire Eminem -- Not Afraid Iyaz -- Replay

Please be in the Dunk Contest

..and please don't be injured again! =)

I still can't get over.. #1 is the best "non-dunk" dunk eva!

My Current LSS: Just A Dream

I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me.
Thinkin about us, what we gonna be?
Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream.
So I travel back, down that road.
Who she come back? No one knows.
I realize, yeah, it was only just a dream.

I was at the top and I was like I’m at the basement.
Number one spot and now she found her a replacement.
I swear now I can't take it, knowing somebody's got my baby.
And now you ain't around, baby I can't think.
Shoulda put it down. Shoulda got that ring.
Cuz I can still feel it in the air.
See her pretty face run my fingers through her hair.

My lover, my life. My shorty, my wife.
She left me, I'm tied.
Cuz I knew that it just ain't right.

I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me.
Thinkin about us, what we gonna be?
Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream.
So I travel back, down that road.
Who she come back? No one knows.
I realize, yeah, it was only just a dream.

When I be ridin man I swear I see her face at every turn.
Tryin to get my usher over, I can let it burn.
And I just hope she notice she the only one I yearn for.
Oh I miss her when will I learn?

Didn't give her all my love, I guess now I got my payback.
Now I'm in the club thinkin all about my baby.

Hey, she was so easy to love. But wait, I guess that love wasn't enough.

I'm goin through it every time that I'm alone.
And now i'm missin, wishin she'd pick up the phone.
But she made a decision that she wanted to move one.
Cuz I was wrong.

And I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me.
Thinkin about us, what we gonna be?
Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream.
So I travel back, down that road.
Who she come back? No one knows.
I realize, yeah, it was only just a dream.

If you ever loved somebody put your hands up.
If you ever loved somebody put your hands up.
And now they're gone and you wish you could give them everything.
I said, if you ever loved somebody put your hands up.
If you ever loved somebody put your hands up.
And now they're gone and you wish you could give them everything.

I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me.
Thinkin about us, what we gonna be?
Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream.
So I travel back, down that road.
Who she come back? No one knows.
I realize, yeah, it was only just a dream.

And I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me.
Thinkin about us, what we gonna be?
Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream.
So I travel back, down that road.
Who she come back? No one knows.
I realize, yeah, it was only just a dream.

♫ Glee - Teenage Dream ♫

I think this is better than Katy Perry Haha.

What I love about Christmas?

Wow, exactly a year ago, I was in San Francisco celebrating the freezing Christmas. Time flies really fast. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I’m just like a kid, literally screaming “It’s Christmas!” even if it is still weeks ago.

Why am I getting sentimental every Christmas? Is it maybe because it reminds me the past – those things worthy enough to repeat every year? Or maybe because I find myself letting go of some memories that I want to start some new ones.

When I was a kid, all I enjoy is unwrapping Christmas gifts and going to my Godparents to receive those mighty cash. But as an adult, I admit that I am secretly still enjoying the GIFTS. It touches me in personal way. There’s something to be said about the thought behind a gift being the important part.

Actually, it really was never about the gifts, but about making the whole season special for us and for others. I say that holiday is all about being with FRIENDS and FAMILY. It’s all about reconnecting what could be left behind during the time of the year. Christmas time also brings in us the spirit of giving. It's a very glorious feeling indeed. We are really like a rolling cart, going houses to houses just to give this food made by my mom. It’s really an awesome feeling to give. It's not about "stuff" but about giving to others in whatever way we can.

Of course, MUSIC is special. When you start hearing them anywhere, you know the Christmas spirit is already in the air, even as early as September, the start of the -ber months. I love Christmas songs. Hearing Jose Mari Chan’s Christmas album being played over and over again gets me blue and relaxed in such way. Christmas songs truly warm the heart, even those upbeat ones.

What’s really the best thing about Christmas? FOOD. OMG. I love our default food – Lechon, Menudo, Fruit Salad, Lumpiang Shanghai, my mother’s delicacies etc. There is no gym but I always keep in mind that it’s all temporary. All weight loss plan get thrown out the window. I love it! It’s Christmas! This, too, shall pass. Haha. Eating during Christmas is the best!

Seriously, at the end of the day, I never fail to thank HIM for the reason of everything. I'm just happy that God gave me the strength to overcome all the troubles I experienced this year. I'm so thankful for this Christmas. It is the perfect moment to just stop for a moment and really think of the intangible gifts of the season. Good health, prosperity, and LOVE.

Anyway, I hope all of you are having a Merry Christmas, eating too much, drinking (not) too much and enjoying the company of friends and loved ones or just relaxing in the solitude mood of a Christmas evening alone, awash in holiday nostalgia and good memories.

Willow Smith

What's with the Smith family???

This kid is so amazing!!!

Christmas Lights

My sentimental song this Christmas.. Incredible song by Coldplay.

Mag-wee-wee ako sa Fairy..

Finally listened to the whole album of Tanya Markova. Ang kulit ng album!!! Other than Disney & Picture Picture, I also played these songs multiple times on my iPod.


Talk about being EMO!




Oh C'Mon!



The title says it all!




This one sounds like Silent Sanctuary!

Cartoons of the 90s!

I remember last December 4 when almost everyone on Facebook changed their profile pictures to cartoon characters. Their status stated the following:

"Change your facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until monday there should be no human faces on facebook, but an invasion of memories! This is for a campaign against violence on children."

For my case, I chose Bioman. It's my all-time favorite childhood cartoon TV show. I even watched it again in DVD like 2 years ago and I am listening to its soundtrack on my iPod once in a while. Haha.

BIO-INTERGRATE! red 1! green 2! blue 3! yellow 4! pink 5! bio team fight! bioman!

It’s fun. It’s reminding us of our favorite cartoon characters when we were kids.

So let me begin to reminisce the cartoons that we used to watch every 10AM or every 4PM on ABS-CBN during the 90s. Let's face it, these are the cartoons that made our day complete back during our elementary days.

I'm sorry GMA fans. I don't know but only ABS-CBN, IBC13, and ABC5 showed few cartoons that really struck me when I was kid.

1) The Trapp Family Singers



2) Sarah - Ang Munting Prinsesa
Not only did Sarah became famous in this show, but also Miss Minchin, Lavinia, Becky, & Ermingard. Haha.



3) Cedie - Ang Munting Prinsipe
Because of Cedie, I learned how to play flute.




4) Julio at Julia
Oh, that very famous opening song - "Si Julio at Julia, kambal ng tadhana.."



5) Si Mary at ang Lihim na Hardin
Still being replayed in QTV over & over again.



6) Peter Pan
One of my super favorites!



7) Remi
Kapitan Vitalis.



8) Pasko ni Santa
Where can I get a DVD of this? =( FYI. Jolina Magdangal sung the opening song.

Sino nga ba siyang nakasuot pula?

Hila ng mga usa

Puti ang balbas niya, siya'y mataba

Lahat ng batay's naghihintay sa kanya

Namimigay siya ng mga regalo

Tuwing sasapit ang araw ng pasko

Mula sa araw na ito

Maghihintay kami sayo

Saan ka ba, nagmumula?

Sana doon kami'y isama mo

Nais nais makita kung pano ginagawa

Mga regalong pinamimigay mo

Nais naming... laruan, libro, damit na pamasko!

9) Time Quest
Takure!!!




10) Ghost Fighter
We even created a cheering based on the tune of this. 2nd Year Highschool. Addict. Unforgettable. Haha.




11) Sailor Moon
Almost every guys in the classroom wants to be Tuxedo Mask. And so are we - the Sailor Girls haha. By that time, I am Sailor Mercury on the group. Funny to think it now. I can remember Angelika dela Cruz sung the Tagalog version of this.



12) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer



13) Masked Rider Black
I even collected "Teks" cards that are included in the Cheesedog snack. This is the most dramatic ending song of all cartoons. Title is "Long Long Ago 20th Century" - of course I have soundtrack Haha.




14) Shaider
Annie..Alexis..Shigi-Shigi..




15) Machine Man



16) Ultraman
Very bad production but still good to watch.



17) Maskman
Waaah. I miss this. It was sad when the robot died.




18) Five Man
Loved the soundtrack too.



19) Voltes V
Need I say more?



20) Magmaman
Same as Ultraman, very low and bad production but still worth watching Haha.




21) Turbo Rangers
Not "Power" but Turbo.




Now I can say, I am so lucky to be a child of the 90s!!!

Philippine Holidays 2011

Oh C'mon!!! Goodbye Long-weekends.. =(

Miami @ LaLaLand on Christmas Day

Who will win?



Even if I don't want to, I can feel it's Lebron who will win. Hope I'm feeling wrong Haha. Lakers is actually a better team but Lebron is desperate to prove something more right now especilly if Wade is out again. He's a monster. Goodluck Kobe & Co. Hope it's gonna be fun woohoo!

Super Can't Wait!!!

Biggest Loser Asia Season 2 Grand Winner

After six months of serious diet and extreme workouts, Raj came out as the Biggest Loser Grand Winner out of the 16 contestants. This 24 year-old walked away with the prize money of US$100,000 after losing 67 kg from his starting weight of 144 kg making him the contestant with the highest percentage of weight loss (46.53%). I actually like Nai (the Thai Dragon) to win the contest. Nai's an awesome guy, never arrogant, never talking behind someone's back, and always work harder than before but with 1 kg more than Raj, he failed to win the title. Still, Nai looks like a model during the finale. Genghis Khan is from the Philippines but his weight loss is too far from the two finalists. Well, it's been a very great season 2. Looking forward for Season 3.

Nasty!!!

Lakers' Photos of the Week

He's back!

Mamba Fashion.

The new gymnasium at Lower Merion High School was named and dedicated to Kobe Bryant.

Kreepy Kardashian Kristmas Kard of the Day

Obama and the Lakers

Lakers present Obama with a signed championship banner.

Jim O’Brien on how it feels to coach against the Lakers when they’re firing on all cylinders.

Laker fans in Indiana.

No confirmation that this is actually Sasha Vujacic.

Season's Greetings from Lakers

No more "Machine" @ La-La Land =(

I felt sad when I heard the news that Sasha's going to be traded to New Jersey Nets for Joe Smith & future 1st round pick but loooking at the brightside, he could play more minutes now than just sitting on the LA bench. Good luck "The Machine!"

An article worth sharing:

Good riddance to narrow-minded Vujacic

By KEVIN DING

WASHINGTON – The reality of his trade away from the Lakers sinking in, Sasha Vujacic said Tuesday night: "Sometimes things have to change in order to restart, rebuild and go forward."

Who knew so much wisdom lay under so much hair?

The Lakers sure didn't.

They became increasingly frustrated by Vujacic's years of inability to listen in that deeper way of listening that triggers actual growth. Even those within the organization who were close to Vujacic began to drift away in recent years, especially last season.

It was inconceivable that Vujacic could go this entire season without being traded given how overpaid he was on such an overstuffed payroll. Matt Barnes' signing back in July – a move not initially in the Lakers' spending plans – ensured this day in December would come at some point.

I was just talking to someone about Vujacic on Monday night, saying that the feisty competitor with such an insatiable passion for playing and especially shooting has had his spirit broken this season. "No fight left in that dog," I said – and not in a good way.

Vujacic acknowledged Tuesday night that it felt "terrible" to be so useless to the Lakers now, invoking his young age (26) as further reason why.

It right now seems unlikely that Vujacic can ever remix that tasty cocktail of intensity and touch while playing for a new contract that made him a downright good NBA player in 2007-08. He has been bitterly drunk with power and privilege ever since.

He has gotten to play in almost every Lakers game the past five years and continued to put in tons of individual practice time ... and ultimately has not gotten better in any way.

That speaks to a mental block, which isn't surprising considering how emotional Vujacic has been ever since being drafted by the Lakers in 2004. Even playing for the same team his entire career, he never found stability.

Why? Because he's the king of sweating the small stuff, and that throne really stinks.

More than any player I've ever covered, Vujacic complained about things that were written about him. That invariably happens from time to time for sportswriters, but Vujacic hasn't been a fan of mine since I reported his on-the-bench dispute with assistant coach Brian Shaw last March in Oklahoma City. Vujacic yelled back at Shaw and pointed a finger in the coach's face, and Jordan Farmar went from being kind of happy that Vujacic's screw-ups were being cited to literally holding Shaw back.

I'd written a column a month earlier about how the Lakers should give Vujacic more chances considering Shannon Brown at the time had proved unable to execute the triangle offense. But Vujacic never was able to regain Phil Jackson's trust beyond situational substitutions as the team went on to win another title last season.

Vujacic got one last taste Monday of being on a championship team, standing right behind President Obama during his speech. Then Vujacic spent his final moments as a Laker sitting on the same Verizon Center visiting-team bench that Pau Gasol occupied back in February 2008, when he'd been just traded to the Lakers and was with the team for the first time. Gasol was healing a sore back then – and having his right ear filled by Shaw with the initial download of triangle-offense data.

Vujacic doesn't depart as memorably as Vladimir Radmanovic did a year later, going through his final Lakers practice in Vans sneakers and then being traded the next day. But Vujacic surely doesn't depart as fondly as Brian Cook, whose attachment to his teammates when traded in November 2007 was such that he showed up at that night's Lakers game at Indiana's Conseco Fieldhouse as a fan – and stood behind the Lakers' bench and leaned over a railing to give hugs farewell.

The time had beyond come for the Lakers and Vujacic to part ways. And besides $9 million in savings this season, the Lakers get the chance to deliver give 15-year veteran Joe Smith his first NBA championship.

"I can't sleep," Smith posted to his Twitter account at 4:23 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday. "Kinda excited about joining the Lakers. Yessiirr ..."

You can bet everyone in the Lakers' organization who grew tired of Vujacic's act will find Smith's enthusiasm refreshing.

What Vujacic needs to find, in the meantime, is a way to be a better listener.

source: http://www.ocregister.com/sports/vujacic-280314-lakers-time.html

Where Fall Happens

Nate Robinson jumps over Paul Pierce after hitting the game-winner vs Knicks @ Madison Square Garden. Ouch!

ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2010

With 5 free tickets from Joe c/o Mickey Perz, we were able to watch the annual ABS-CBN Christmas Special last December 14 at the Araneta Coliseum. Wow. The show was spectacular. The productions are sooo freakin' amazing. Of course, all I want to see among the Kapamilya stars are Toni Gonzaga & Zanjoe Marudo. But my favorite part is when Arnel Pineda did the Air Supply medley along with the UST Singers & Orchestra. Goosebumps. Also, many were touched in Gary V's solo rendition of "I will be here" and "Warrior is a Child". I saw some people crying in the audience. Overall, it was one of the best concerts I ever watched. I can't wait to watch it again on the telecast tomorrow.

Chie, Joe, Tinmay

My fellow green team rep, Memon

The best comedian today, Vice Ganda!

Toni, Vhong, Bea, John Lloyd, Anne, Echo, Christine, & Zanjoe woohoo!

Sam Milby with the Star Magic Talents

More of Sam Milby with the Star Magic Talents What a production number!

Mr. C with the UST Orchestra

Mr Pure Energy - Gary V

Oh that is our choreographer, Mickey Perz!!!

Toni, Gary V, Zsa Zsa, Billy doing songs from the movies

The seductive performance of Greta with Jason, Jake, Derek, and Zanjoe

Megastar, Piolo, and all the Kapamilya Stars doing the finale

Funny Noah.. again!

Kalye Manila 2010

Finally, HSBC Christmas Party is over. A&S Team can now breathe. Green Team can now relax. Haha. It has been a very busy two months for me. After all the planning, meetings, and practices, I can now take my time in the gym woohoo! Bring it on. Oh and by the way, Green Team won 2nd place in the Christmas Party presentation. I think we are the overall champion once again woohoo! But the other team presentations were also really good and you can see their efforts. It's just really a matter on the judges' point of views. Of course, I like our team - especially the Narda scene.. goosebumps. Hands down to all the organizers including Joe, Memon, Chari, Ruby, Tinmay, Abi, and of course, to our choreographers Mickey Perz & Co. They are really very professional and super nice. I like Mickey & Ryan's accent. Haha. For some reason, I have to leave the party early.. I just can't take the risk.. I have to stay away.. after some stupid incident.. just to avoid what is about to happen. What can I say? "GET LOST! Eew eew eew! Haha." Still, that night was a blast! Cheers to the A&S Overall Champion! =)

Here's our "ASAP XV" presentation:

My MVP so far..

Killer crossover. Crunch time player. Hang time.

Coming Soon..

Gimme Some Lovin'

“That’s the greatest player in the game right now.” -John Wall on Kobe Bryant (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

What I want to see by 4th Quarter =)

And it all comes down to 1...

Two months after all the challenges & weigh-ins, our A&S program "The Amazing Road to Fitness Challenge" will now come to an end this coming Friday, Dec 10 as we will announce the major major winner. After watching the 15-minute video that summarizes all the hardships that all the contestants ran into, I really got goosebumps. Of course, I am part of the program being one of the organizers. I felt sad that it will now end. We really can't imagine that two months is really over now. But hey, the winner lost 37 pounds.. Not bad. But what's most important after all is the cammaraderie & new friendship we built as the trial goes on. Congratulations to all the contestants, the Fit 6, and of course to us: Memon, Guads, Cha. Double down!!!

CCO Christmas Party 2010

Last December 3, we had our department Christmas Party. Of course we have a contest but this time, we only have two teams involved: BGC vs iHub. This year’s theme is HIPHOP!!! Although we are not all skilled to dance hiphop, we have to create a music video that will look like we are a dance crew. Because we are so busy in BGC, we just shoot our video for one day, lunchtime. Miel just did a great job editing it to make it a better video than expected. Of course, we already knew that iHub team will win the contest after knowing that they shoot for almost a week in different venues. Career! Plus they have dedicated dancers to do the choreography. Still, it is just a matter of making the video for fun. Yes it is fun – especially after watching the two videos.

We also had a live rap contest after the film showing. It was just announced a day before the party so there is really no time to prepare. Glad that “Stupid Love” is included in the playlist so it is our time to shine together with my gangsta partner, Brylle Genio. I'm not really in a hiphop mode that night but when we are about to rap, I suddenly changed my attire to something I'm not really used to. I borrowed Brylle's extra jersey, Ish's cap, Jana's ponytail, I did a little folding in my pants, and put on my high cut Chuck Taylor shoes (which is always under my workstation) and I'm ready!

There are five teams and we won the contest. I also won a raffle prize. So I guess it is one lucky day for me. The iHub FTS also showcased their dancing talents by acting like Jabbawokeez. As usual, Brian Diche never fails to impress us. It is really a fun night and I was amazed that many people came and joined the party. We really need this kind of event. After all the things that our department experienced, we all came together as one. I am still proud to be in CCO. Next stop.. HSBC Christmas Party!!! Goodluck Green Team! Cheers!