Why Men and Women Can't Be Friends?

             

              Do you believe that men and women can be just friends? Without any "benefiting", without any attraction and just be friends to the full sense of the word? I used to have a lot of guy friends back in elementary and high school and I can say that they are just friends to me. But I am not really sure of what I am to them. I remember a guy friend once told me that men wouldn't want to be friends with a woman if he doesn't like her in the first place. I don't believe him. -C

Skyscraper

Skies are crying
I am watching
Catching teardrops in my hands
Only silence as it's ending, like we never had a chance
Do you have to, make me feel like there is nothing left of me?

[Chorus]
You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!

As the smoke clears 

I awaken, and untangle you from me 

Would it make you, feel better to watch me while I bleed? 

All my windows, still are broken 

But I'm standing on my feet

[Chorus]
You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!
 

[Bridge] 

Go run, run, run 

I'm gonna stay right here 

Watch you disappear, yeah 

Go run, run, run 

Yeah it's a long way down 

But I am closer to the clouds up here 

You can take everything I have 

You can break everything I am 

Like I'm made of glass 

Like I'm made of paper, Ohhh woaah 

Go on and try to tear me down 

I will be rising from the ground

Like a skyscraper! 

Like a skyscraper!

  

Like a skyscraper! 

Like a skyscraper!

                A friend of mine kept listening to this song countless times after her break up with her boyfriend for two years. According to her, this song best encapsulates her feelings right at that moment. She was crying for a couple of days and it helped her that she did and that a lot of people really care for her to be listening to her stories and wiping her tears. I was lucky not to be there because honestly, I don’t know how to comfort a hurting friend. I can claim to be a good listener but that’s just it. I’m just a listener. I don’t know what to say and when I figure out what to say, I don’t know how to say it. I guess it also contributed that I’ve never been into a relationship and never had my heart broken. Maybe I had but my heart was never shattered. Plus I don’t really share things. I don’t open up to anyone. And this is the funny part. My friends are hunting me when they had their hearts broken. They want me to listen. Maybe that’s the thing. They just wanted someone to listen to them. And that is my very purpose, to listen.

                This friend that I was talking about told us that every break up takes us one step closer to Mr. Right and it made me wonder how many Mr. Wrongs do I have to be with until I find my Mr. Right. Lucky are those who went straight to Mr. Right because I don’t think I can handle too much heartbreak. I don’t think I can pick up the pieces of my heart after it was shattered by some jerks. I don’t think I can rise from the ground like a SKYSCRAPER. -C

COCKY

Being too damn proud leads to being COCKY. Be careful, you might not realize you're becoming a bigmouth ranter rather than just a proud individual that you planned to be. -C

My Heart

                   Here's another photo I've experimented on using Instagram and iQuikDoF (both iPod touch applications). This was taken from Emiramona Graden Hotel in Tagaytay City. -C

before

after

Carry Your Baggage

          I chose to be alone because I am selfish. I don’t want to end up thinking of a solution to other people’s problems. So please stop throwing your problems at me for I have my own baggage. But before you presume anything, please re-read my blog description. -C

Westlife Splitting Up

                Twelve hours ago (1am, Oct. 20, 2011), I was reliving the moments of the Westlife Gravity Tour here in the Philippines last September 29. I searched for my used ticket and paste it in my 2011 planner as I usually do with all my tickets, whether for concerts, basketball games, or movies. I wrote a short description of how I felt that night, not realizing what’s gonna happen 12 hours after that.

                Waking up, I was thinking, there is something with Oct. 20. I can’t exactly remember and recall if somebody close to me is celebrating a birthday or something important happened last year or years ago. Reaching the office, I connected to the wi-fi and checked my facebook account. I saw this: RT @gonzobyrne gone thru this b4. time heals. Believe me: there are worse things in life than your fave band splitting up #westlifeforever. Yes it was shared on facebook. I was clueless. What’s happening? So I checked my twitter account as people there know more than people on facebook. And I saw this from WL_Lighthouse: #NextWeek starts our album giveaway J #GreatestHits #WlMemories. They also tweeted something about #ProudBecomeFanofWestlife to all your followers. What’s with the ‘memories’ and the ‘being proud’? Okay, I already get the idea from that #westlifeforever tweet. I just don’t want to entertain the  idea or I can’t handle the idea. I was still negative about it. I was waiting for a confirmation from the band themselves. Twelve hours ago, nobody even give a hint about THAT, no rumors, no gossip, no nothing. Nicky’s brother Adam tweeted “So, how are you?” Nothing unusual right? But you know when paranoia hits you, you can fuss almost about everything. 

                I was following every Byrne family member on twitter and his brother and sister tweeted these:

@Adamdoodles: I’m gonna hazard a guess and say, ‘not good’, then? pic.twitter.com/UEnfmcg8

@Adamdoodles: Gonna be a Sugababe. RT:@Byrnebyrne @adamdoodles With no more Westlife soon you’re going to lose all relrevance, so what is your Plan B?

@NailligEnryb: Chin up chicka ; ( RT @Fran_Tastic1: There’s no words to describe what feelin right now, I’m numb an emotional wreak but the show must go on.

                I am nearly convinced about the Westlife split up with this. Again, I was waiting for the band themselves to confirm the rumor. Adam again tweeted and shared a video but I can’t open it since Youtube is blocked in our office but he mentioned something about being sorry to hear that people are all “gutted” etc. I wanted to go straight to my Westlife list to see if anybody from the band, within the 10 hours that I last checked my twitter account, tweeted but I can’t seem to confirm the fact. I was nervous and trembling. Then finally a Westlife official US account talked about the news that Shane Filan is going solo, Mark Feehily a song writer, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne doing television work. All in question mark but aside from that, I can’t find anything from any of the band members. That’s when I decided to check my list.

                I saw a tweet not from the band members but from the band’s official twitter account that says, please read an important official statement from the band. Before doing so, I already knew what I was about to see or read. But there’s still little hope beating in one corner of my heart saying that the announcement would be to deny the rumors of splitting up. And as instructed, I visited their website and the letter, the official statement, confirmed my troubled thoughts and made it even more troubled. Really!? From the Westlife Live in Manila 2011 to Westlife to Split Up? You really broke my heart. It’s like giving me heaven then taking it away.

                I was thinking that they should not have come back to Manila after all. They only added more memories that I’m gonna have to learn to let go and they only made my Westlife memories fresher than ever, even more difficult for me to move on and accept the painful truth that my favorite boyband is about to split up. But then I thought, at least I was able to see them perform live before they’re part ways. I’m happy to have lived the dream for one night, two hours to be exact

                Why do they have this perfect timing of announcing things and breaking people's hearts? My heart, especially? First it was my 17th birthday when Bryan announced his departure from the band. Then this one. I finally remembered what's with this date. It was the same date, three years ago, when I passed the 4-day CPA Board Exam. It was the most treasured moments of my life. BEST.DAY. And now, Westlife ruined everything. Oct. 20 will be my best and my worst as supposed to be just THE BEST.

                It was my dream before to visit Ireland and see them do a concert there. I guess Irish people are crazier than people here when it comes to adoring Westlife since all of them are from there, some from Dublin, some from Sligo. Nothing compares to homie kind of love. And I want to feel that same emotion and vibe that I always see in their videos; those goose bumps effect every time I hear them sing; that feeling of almost wanting to cry every time I see them perform; that suppressed smile every time I hear them talk; those giddy laugh every time that crack a joke.

                Sending big hug and big kiss to everyone whose heart is broken by this devastating news. I know they still have a year before they are officially over but just the thought of them not making an album together and not performing together is already heartbreaking. I am hoping for a miracle that maybe on May 2012, I can go to London, it may not be Ireland just like my dream but London, and see just one of those farewell concert tour.-C

Westlife Live in Manila 2011

WARNING: 

              You are about to read an extremely long article. Better get your reading glasses ready.               

                 Do you have that one person who actually became part of your life without him knowing you? That person who made you, not literally, but that person who changed you, made the biggest impact in your life next to your family to become the person that you are now. He/She maybe the one who made you want to be different, better. You may think that I’m going too deep with this but actually all I’m talking about is Westlife’s Nicky Byrne. And yes, he is THAT person for me. He made me want to be better. Mushy, right? But that’s the truth. I won't explain how. This entry is long enough to be telling stories you wouldn't want to care.

Westlife Gravity Tour 2011

                I was 12 years old when I first heard of Swear it Again and instantly, I became a Westlife fan. And you can say I’m pretty fanatic kind of a fan. I am not denying that. I started buying posters and song books where I can find news and write-ups about them. Sometimes, even just a picture of them can encourage me to buy the item. And since then, I’ve been collecting every memorabilia that I can get – pictures, stickers, posters, CD’s, DVD’s and mp3’s, magazines, calendars, collectible issues of anything, clippings, I even made a scrapbook and I still have it, all of it.

                All high school years, I spent my free time reading articles about them, finding unpublished trivia, watching their music videos and documentaries, listening to their albums and unreleased tracks, and arranging my scrapbook. Come March 9, 2004, my 17^th birthday and my senior year in high school, Bryan McFadden announced his departure from the band. What a perfect timing Bryan. I was grieving. I thought it was the end of Westlife. I thought the next announcement would be the news of them being disbanded. Then after a year of waiting in vain, they released the Face to Face album, just the four of them – Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian. And I was alive again. The Westlife magic continues, for me at least.

                 In 2006, they visited Manila again and I was a junior college student then. I couldn’t afford to buy the VIP nor the patron tickets so I just settled for the general admission section. That’s the cheapest and the farthest. I just want to be there, see them perform and hear them sing. That’s the best thing I can do. That would be enough for that time. The thought of them coming back didn’t cross my mind for I feel that their magic is slowly fading, in the Philippines at least. I feel they were disappearing. Sorry but that’s how I feel. Their recent songs were not that big anymore unlike the first ones. But I continued buying every album that they release. I’m still familiar with the songs, still know the words.

                When I heard the news about them coming back, I was fired up. It was June of this year, 13^th I reckon. I planned to buy my ticket as soon as it opens. Since my experience with The Script concert, I’ve learned my lesson. I had 8 days to persuade someone to come with me before the tickets go on sale. I thought of a former officemate who is also an avid fan of them, of Mark to be specific. She wanted the patron too but she might have a flight on the same date of the concert so she was opting to buy the lower box just in case her flight will push through. Meaning lesser value forgone, lesser amount lost. So we can’t arrive at a final decision. It was the 21^st already and the tickets are already on sale.

                Good thing, another officemate made me a deal. I will buy two patron tickets (one for me and one for the former officemate) and in case the former officemate backs out, she will come with me to watch the concert instead. So there, done deal. Going to SM ticketnet, I was planning to buy the first row in the middle section right after the VIP seats which are the first ten rows, as they always are, therefore the 11^th row. But the sales lady wasn’t properly informed, or maybe just plain stupid, sorry for the term, about which is which so she is so adamant that every seats in the middle are VIP. Another irritating fact is that no seat plan was available yet so I can't support my claim. So being a polite customer as supposed to be a polite sales lady that she is, I just bought the ticket nearest the stage and her so-called VIP seats to avoid any argument. 

                As September 29 is approaching fast, I was really excited to see them close, closer than before. The only thing I’ll have to worry about is how I can sneak out of the office before 6:30pm so I can be inside the venue on time. Being in the Management Reporting group in the Finance department is like a doctor on call. You can never be sure of the time of your availability for other things. That last week of the month is when we are supposed to meet with our site directors (SD) and present the financial report and since my SD is on a night shift, I was afraid that he will set a meeting that same night I am supposed to be singing along with my favorite boyband.

                Monday, the 26^th, I was doing okay. Things are normal and I am working normally. Tuesday, typhoon Pedring was hitting hard. I can hear the neighbor’s roof nearly wanting to collide with another neighbor’s roof. Our manager decided that we can work at home since we have our laptops with us.  And that night, I'm not sure if I was just excited or I don’t know, I can’t sleep. Wednesday, another normal day except that I have to present a financial report for the first time without any preparation. Phew! That was something else. Come Thursday, I was thinking “This is it! This is the day!” And my mailbox contains an e-mail from my SD saying that he will be on leave on Thursday and Friday and he will be back on Monday. BEST.NEWS.EVER.

                As the clock struck 6:30pm, I almost wanted to drag my officemate to leave the office. We decided to take the MRT since we both expect it to be faster. Well, it is but we failed to consider the vast volume of riders, especially that time of the day. I guess half of the people hustling and muscling their way to get inside the train are all en route to Araneta Coliseum. I can hear ‘em whining, fretting and worrying about arriving late. I can read Westlife on their lips. 

                We were already inside the train station by 6:45. The concert starts at 8-ish and I don’t want to miss a thing.  By 7pm, we’re still inside the station standing face to face with everybody amidst hundreds of sweaty and determined riders. By 7:15 we're still in Makati and I was losing hope. Another 15 minutes passed and I was closed to tears. But crying is my last option so I tried very hard to be strong. Finally at 7:35 we we’re able to squeeze in our bodies inside the chock-a-block train. That's not luck, that's us willing to kill and be killed just to get inside the train. I’ve never been more indomitable my entire life.

The crowd before the show starts.

                We reached the dome five minutes past eight and it is evident that the show has yet to start since the fans are still out roaming around, taking pictures and inspecting Westlife merchandise. Thank God! Well, it's better that we're already inside the venue. We just bought some iced tea and went inside. I was surprised to see how close we are to the stage. Satisfaction! After finding our seats and putting down my heavy bag. Did I mention that it weighs a ton? Yes it is heavy. There was no sign that the show is going to start so I took advantage of time to go to the comfort room. While I was inside the CR, the crowd started yelling but then again, they’re just like that. Screaming when something new happens. Maybe the lights just got dimmer. And then I heard someone singing. No, it can’t be them! I was right. It wasn’t them. I didn’t know that there was gonna be a front act. Well, obviously, there is – Young JV, Van Roxas and Piero Vergara. They all sang one or two songs each. 

                When we get in, I thought the stage is too small for the band, too small for one hyperactive Nicky Byrne. What more for four restless men. But after the front act, the white curtain was removed. Oh, I see, said I. The Westlife crew started re-arranging and finalizing the stage. Westlife's band started checking and tuning their instruments and the fans started shrieking. From my seat, we can see who’s coming in and who’s coming out. So I’m  pretty still and decent at that moment. But when I saw those four very familiar faces preparing to get up on the stage, I started jumping up and down and yelling Nicky’s name. I was trying to hold myself from screaming “I love you, Nicky” but I failed big time. I know he’s beautiful but I didn’t expect him to be THAT beautiful. Crazy! Let him marry me NOW. Haha!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Nicky's face up on the big screen.

                They opened the show with an upbeat hit from their Coast to Coast album, When You’re Looking Like That. I can’t sing along. I just kept on screaming and jumping and still contemplating what’s happening before my very eyes. Then Mark made the talk, he was supposed to make an introduction for World of Our Own but he kept missing from which album the song was from. It was funny. Shane was laughing at him but in the end decided to bail him out. They followed this with another old hit, What Makes a Man. I can see Shane beaming while pointing the microphone to the audience and everybody is singing along to the latter. And his voice, wow! I really want him to sing to my wedding if possible. He’s one of those singers who sound the same whether recorded or live. I feel so proud. Parent kind of proud haha!

Kian Egan

                After playing three songs, they took a short break to change clothes. From formal to rugged, from black slacks, white long-sleeve polo, maroon necktie and black overcoat, they went to slightly torn pants, casual shirts and casual jackets. Ow-em-gee! I’m seriously kilig right now while writing this entry. It’s been 17 days after the concert and I still feel the same. I’ve been delaying to write this to keep away from inclined judgments and to avoid this extremely long article but I can’t. I really can’t. So going back, they sang their version of Michael Buble’s Home. I know that these guys are twitter addicts but I did not expect them to be shooting videos while doing the show. Anyways, I have searched the net for the possible set list of this tour and I didn’t see My Love. It was Nicky’s turn to talk and he asked the crowd to sing the song, acapella version, and he will record the video. When the chorus singing ended, the intro of the song played all at once and everybody can’t help but scream their lungs out. It was probably their biggest hit here in the Philippines and it’s a good decision that they included it in the list. It was a No. 1 song for more than 12 months during 2000 or 2001.

Nicky Byrne

                When Nicky announced via twitter that they are going to have a concert here, he was excited to meet Manny Pacquiao as much as he wants to meet the fans. Well, maybe more than meeting the fans. Haha! I envy you Pacman. People who are following him on twitter, including me, witnessed how adamant he was upon meeting his boxing hero. He even contacted GMA News when ABC CBN is their official media partner. He even thought that the press conference was a ruse for him to meet the boxer. Crazy Nicky! And despite all his efforts, Pacquiao didn’t make it due to conflicts on training schedules. Thank God! I like Pacquiao but not the idea of him singing with my most-bestest-super-duper-favoritest Westlife. Did I mention that Westlife is my favorite? Okay, I love Westlife.

                Because Manny can’t make it, they just invited five as supposed to be four fans on stage. I.AM.SOOO.JEALOUS! I was yelling “over here!”, and occasionally “please pick me” to Nicky but too sad I didn’t bring a banner nor a poster with me. They chose one fan for each member based on the banner that they’re holding. Nicky chose a girl named Gina with a banner that says, NICKY, I WANT TWINS. LEND ME YOUR GENES. Okay that was catchy. Nicky said, “You can come up to the stage.” and when she did, HE PUT HIS ARM ON HER SHOULDERS. How about that?!!! Right at that moment, she is that person I envy the most, but for the most part of my life, it is Georgina Ahern.  That should be me! The second person is holding a banner that says, ‘Kian, is it hot in here? Or is it just you?’ I swear, just Nicky saying “You come to the stage.” can make my kilig-meter explode. The third person is for Mark with the banner ‘Mark, you’re the king of my heart.’ And then it was time for Shane’s fan. So Nicky goes…

NICKY:         Who do you want for Shane?

SHANE:         I got, I got one right there.

NICKY:         I thought you said, “Fire away”?

SHANE:         No, she’s in there, lad.

NICKY:         Where is she? That one that says Carlyn loves Nicky?

SHANE:         No, no, no, that girl there with the signs up.

NICKY:         You’re breaking her heart (pointing to another fan)

SHANE:         Come on.

                They’re so cute. If you are familiar with Shnicky nights/moments, that’s one of those moments.

               

Shane and Nicky

Kian and Mark

                While Nicky was interviewing his fan, another guy wanted to come up on stage. Hold on, Security, he’s coming up, says Kian. Nicky says, “he wants to kiss Mark. I’m not sure if we can arrange that but we can definitely get him onstage”. It’s his birthday that’s why he wanted to be onstage and that lucky guy gets them Westlife singing a birthday song. What a perfect gift. They asked the basic questions to the fans and Kian’s (fan) name, coincidentally, is Mandy and she is another lucky girl for Kian started singing their cover of Mandy to her. And the three guys followed. What a treat! When everybody is settled and subdued and tamed, they took their positions, the band and the fans, and they sang Beautiful Tonight then left the stage again. Sweet!

               

                Before they become visible again, I can hear the intro of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida playing and I was like, “Are they serious?” as if I haven’t seen the set list. But it looks like they were. They were wearing jeans and Mickey Mouse shirts under colorful jackets. Cute! Shane started singing the song and that’s when I decided their damn serious. Shane will do a Coldplay. When I first saw the set list I was afraid that Shane might get compared to THE Chris Martin but it looks like he did just fine. Good job! Kian was shooting a video every once in a while. All of them follow certain choreography and you can tell that Nicky is lovin’ it with all the make-faces. He’s the best dancer among the group and I can say that with all fairness and justice. Haha!

                Mark did Only Girl in the World ala diva. I can feel that he wants to grind ala Rihanna too but he’s tryna hold back. Good decision. I may have accepted him being gay but I’m not yet ready seeing him acting so gay. Give me some more time. They also sang a bit of The Time (Dirty Bit) by The Black Eyed Peas and they went Gaga with Bad Romance. And then they left again, running like they haven’t had enough. Vigorous men.

Mark Feehily

                It took a while before they become visible again. It was Kian who first got up the stage and sing. He was wearing jeans, white long sleeve polo folded to the elbow and black-in-front-white-in-the-back vest on top of it. And then Nicky showed up. That was the most beautiful Nicky Byrne I have ever seen. He was wearing jeans too and white long sleeve shirt folded to the elbow with matching suspenders. I don’t know what’s with white but I always find guys wearing white, attractive. What more when you’re more-than-crushing on a guy and you see him wearing white? You guessed it right. I am swooning and drooling. And same with every gays and girls inside the dome, each Westlife member fan base scream their heads off every time their favorite is up on the big screen. And I can say, again with all fairness and justice, that Team Nicky screams the loudest. Well… While Shane was singing, some gifts were handed out to him by some fans from the audience. Isn’t that sweet? Westlife fans are the sweetest. #PatOnTheBack

                Another cover song followed, You Raise Me Up, which according to the band is one of their favorites. I even saw a video of Rocco and Jay (Nicky’s sons) singing the song inside the car while Daddy and Mommy look so amused watching them. Awww, family moments! Tissue please! Haha! As if the fans are hard as a rock, they followed it with another tear-jerker song, I’m Already There, which is also a cover but I love every Westlife version of a song so there won’t be any problem plus I love the song. One of my favorites too. It’s about being far from your loved ones. And I guess the band is emotionally attached to the song since most of them are married, most of them have kids -- Nicky having two, Shane with three (Nicole, Patrick and Shane Jr.) and Kian soon-to-be-Daddy on January. Who wouldn’t be touched by the words of the song? They also played I Will Reach You from the new album Gravity and Flying Without Wings which is one of the songs that started everything for them.

Nicky, Kian and Mark

                Then End. Of course we know it’s not. We want Westlife! We want Westlife! We Want Westlife! The chant goes on and on until the band showed up for the encore dressed up half casual, half formal. Formal with bow ties in the upper half and slightly torn jeans in the lower half.  They first sang What About Now, a Daughtry cover and the carrier single from Where We Are. Maybe it wasn’t that big a hit here in the Philippines but that’s one of the band’s considered hits. The last song took me back to high school, reminded me of the sexiest bartenders on TV haha! It is my favorite Westlife video next to I Lay My Love on You. Nicky is the hottest in that video and it shows some acting talents of the boys. Uptown Girl, I've never heard of the song until they made a version of it. I'm not a fan of remakes but every Westlife version is perfect for me. That I can say, I'm a little biased of. I don't know if everybody knows that it's gonna be the last song for the night. But what I know is that everybody is sad because somehow, they know that the show must end. Then the band was showered with confetti. A flight back to reality. Every good thing has to end. I was hoping they’ll sing Swear it Again but they didn’t. That maybe is the single disappointment I have from watching the concert but all in all, I’m inlove, errr, I mean, I’m satisfied and contented.

Westlife

                After the show, I was waiting for tweets from the guys about the concert or the videos that they shoot. And as if Nicky knows I’m waiting, he tweeted this,

RT @nickybyrneoffic  One hell of show tonite .. Will upload video from stage later .. Amazing Goodnight Manila .. Wherever you are ..

                And this,

RT @nickybyrneoffic Ok so here's the mexican wave from tonites show in Manila ... Epic crowd http://twitvid.com/L2SO1    

                I was hoping to see myself in the video but I know that’s kind impossible since there are thousands of people in there. At one point during the show I thought Nicky was waving at me but I know that's kind of delusional of me. Forgive me. Here’s also some of the tweets from the other members:

RT @MarkusFeehily Tonights audience were loud,crazy,and mmmmm...thank you Manila! See u soon,love ya x

RT @MarkusFeehily Spanking you very very much x

               This is maybe because of the bra thrown on stage that Kian picked up and spin around then tossed back to the crowd. Used-to-be-good-teenagers gone wild-and-crazy-adults.

RT @ShaneFilan79  What a show tonight in manilla!! Crowd were the loudest I've heard in a long time ..!! Thanks guys See u soon

                That’s good to hear Shane ^_^ I’m proud to be part of that epic crowd. I hope you won’t leave us too long. See you soon. -C

Jokes

           Some jokes are funny, some jokes are offensive. Please try to be a little sensitive at throwing one. You'll never know how low only a person can take. -C

The Prince

              When I was 9, I had my first crush. Sounds like that Justin Bieber song. Haha! But Seriously, I had my first crush when I was in the 3rd grade.

               I was a young girl who got hooked at, of all things, basketball. Having two older sisters who are both basketball fanatics, I guess will be enough to influence my young, vulnerable and hungry mind. First, I saw them watching those Chicago Bulls games Michael Jordan era. Then, I saw them following those Ginebra games Coach Jaworski era.

               I got curious when I heard them cheering and screaming in the other room so I joined them. Since then, there were three loud girls watching every Ginebra game on TV. Screaming our heads off on every hang time move, trip to the line, shots from the rainbow country, tap on the board, sneaky drives, unexpected jump shots and diving for the lose ball. My oldest sister's favorite was Noli "The Tank" Locsin to the point of naming his first son Luis Manuel, Locsin's full name. My second sister loves Vince "The Prince" Hizon and Bal "The Flash" David like covering her room with Ginebra team and individual posters.

              Me, I was different. I just write his name (Hizon's) on my arm together with his jersey number using any ballpen I can get, enough reason for my mother to scold me. She really doesn't like tattoos, real or not, permanent or temporary.

               My classmates from Grade school and high school know how crazy I was over Vince. In 2004, I've witnessed his live-on-Philippine-TV proposal to PBA courtside reporter, Patricia Bermudez. And that was my first broken heart.

                When I entered college, I stayed in Manila and started watching live PBA games a lot. I was able to meet a lot of people - PBA superstars and not. But the irony of life, I think I've seen everyone except him

                Now that I've graduated from college and been working for almost three years. I think I have given up the hope of seeing him in person. He's retired from the PBA and I don't know where the hell am I supposed to "bump" into him. And then, I found out that he's friend with one of our company's HR managers and he will be guesting on our sportsfest.

                After four grade school years, four high school years, four college years and three working years, all at once, I was a 3rd grader again.

                He's now 40 years old (turning 41) and looks more mature (I won't say old), he got fat but still got the charm, now a father of two - Vicente and Paul Andrei. Some things may have lost, some things may have changed but he will always be The Prince that I know.-C

Vince Hizon and I during our company's sportsfest

Beautiful People

         This is my favorite shot from the Westlife's Gravity Tour Concert last September 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. I will post my review later. 

Nicky Byrne

          I saw some clips of Westlife interview on youtube and apparently, Nicky is the favorite among them four. I thought it was between Mark and Shane, and Bryan when he was still with them. I thought Nicky and Kian are the least favorite since they are just doing the back-up vocals and very few people (like me) notice them.

          One interviewer, a guy, was trying to recall them one by one and he started with Kian, Mark, Shane and when he pointed to Nicky, he said "and Bono?" So everybody laughed then he added "Wow! You are the most good looking. And the others aren't bad either." I was like, whoah! This is a guy admiring Nicky's good looks! Not unless he's not a guy at heart.

          Another interview was with Sharon. I'm not really familiar with her but I saw her name from one of the comments. She stared at Nicky and blurted, "you are beautiful! How old are you?" and she found out that he is the oldest among the group but for her, he is the most beautiful.  It also came from the three that Nicky is really the favorite one. And I love  how she used to describe him, beautiful. 

          And since we're talking about beautiful people here, here's another guy I found so beautiful that I want my future sons to look like him.  

Chace Crawford

          Someday, when I get pregnant, I will isolate myself and lock inside a room full of his pictures so my baby will look like him. Or I can ask him for a sperm donation. Hahaha! Silly thoughts. Please lend me your genes! Those eyes are perfect. 

          And speaking of perfect, how many of you have heard the name Zayn Malik? I made a collage of his pictures because I can't get enough of his beautiful face. He's a member of Simon Cowell's newest favorite, One Direction. Look at his lips, eyes, eyebrows, nose, everything's perfect. But I don't want to be a cradle snatcher so I'll leave this kid alone.

Zayn Malik

 Special mentions:

         Cam Gigandet from never Back Down, Twilight and Burlesque.
        David Beckham, no more introductions needed, who else doesn't know Beckham?
        Josh Duhamel from Life as We Know It, When In Rome and Transformers and the husband of very a lucky girl named Fergie.
         Ryan Gosling, he should be Sexiest Man Alive of 2011 if only it wasn't stolen by Bradley Cooper.
         Ryan Reynolds, this hot and sexy man was once married to Scarlett Johansson and People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2010.
          Mario Maurer, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Thai movie). -C