Orange Tree

             I took a picture of a tree (or a couple of trees) at Bonifacio High Street but I can't seem to like it. I don't see any beauty. So I made some editing and this is what I end up looking at.

before

after

SPi Singing Competition

                We were supposed to meet at 10:30am but I was late and I was wet after running under the rain. We taxied our way to Seventh High at Bonifacio High Street right after I arrived at the meeting place. Can you give me a break? Haha!. I was expecting for a bigger place, very concert-like one. Well, expect away! The place is a classy room designed for a club with a slightly elevated performance stage for the singers/bands I reckon. We arrived at 11:45 and Shane got dressed because the program is starting at 12nn but then it was moved to 1pm because everybody has to eat. The food is good, the drink is sweet, the music is dope.

                The show started and we were hoping that the singing competition be held first so that we can enjoy the dance part, but hoping, we were disappointed. The performances were alternated – the dancer, the CRM singer, the Tech singer then the dancer again and so on. Good thing Shane is the second performer for CRM singers. And the great thing… there is a free wi-fi.

carbonara & pizza was good, I didn't get to eat the burger

         With the dancers, I don’t have the perfect view of their performances because I wasn’t blessed with the height of a professional basketball player and of a beauty queen. So I cannot really tell who the best was. With the singers, I can fairly say that Shane was the best and this is not because she is my friend and she is our representative. Here's the reason why...

                Contestant No. 1 sang Miley Cyrus’ The Climb. It’s a good song and a good choice. But Miley has that powerful deep voice and she can hit the high notes. I don’t think the contestant gave that song a justice. Oppsy! Sorry if I hit some nerves. Her voice is far from powerful and deep and the range of her voice does not vary. From the first stanza to the chorus to the second stanza to the second chorus to the bridge, it was all the same. I can't say if she's just playing it safe to avoid screwing it up. But overall, she did okay.

                Contestant No. 2 was my friend. She sang If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys.  A week before the competition and she still doesn’t have a song to practice. Some suggested that she do an Evanescence, My Immortal. So she practiced the song for two nights (Tuesday and Wednesday). Then an e-mail from the HR says that there’s a 4-minute limit for a song and My Immortal runs for 4 minutes and 30 seconds. We thought of having it cut from the first chorus, it will skip to the bridge but cannot find someone to do it so she has to think of another song. Since she has that deep raspy voice, we thought of an Alicia Keys song which runs for less than 4 minutes. So that’s it, If I Ain’t Got You. For me, she sang the song with lesser flaws (if there is any) among the others.

                Contestant No. 3 sang Beyonce’s Listen. She was wearing a cute and sexy top and skirt which awakens the audience especially the boys. Hitting the high notes, check! But she has flats, lots of them actually. And singing for me is not just about hitting the high notes. It’s about singing the song flawlessly, complete with the right emotions, and connection with the audience.

                Contestant No. 4 is the smooth operator. She sang Kyla’s I Will Be There, a beautiful song. She can sing to a wedding but not to a singing competition. She has that chilling and relaxing vibes to her voice. But I don’t think she can hit the high notes too. She kept changing the birit part into a melody she can sing to and I think that was brilliant. But then that won’t give you a win.

                Contestant No. 5 sang Beyonce’s Listen, again!? I thought it was prohibited, two contestants performing the same song? In the end she still got to perform and win in fact. I think her performance was not far from the first lady who sang the same song, hitting the high notes but lots of flats and flaws.

                After the program, we wandered around Bonifacio High Street. We took some pictures then loiter inside Fully Booked where I was supposed to buy a gift for Mac (a key-chain with his birthday on it) but we rushed back to Seventh High because my friend left her mp3 player. We went back to Fully Booked but I forgot about the gift and we did some reading too so it was completely forgotten. By 4:30 we were starving (uhm, not really), so we had some cool, sweet doughnuts from Krispy Kreme. I had one free-from-Krispy-Kreme honey glazed, one soaring Falcons and one chocolate iced raspberry filled doughnut. We ate it at Starbucks while having frapuccinos. So it was an over-sugar-loading snack. We had some fun playing with the cute little girl across our table. She is so cute and so playful. Good thing her parents were cool about her playing with a couple of strangers.-C

Remembering Sunday

        All Time Low. I first heard a title of their song, I Feel Like Dancin' and I thought it was a dance song something like that of LMFAO's until I heard it on the radio and I realized, "oh so they're a band." Stupid me. That's when I started listening to their other songs and I found this and I can't stop playing it since then.

 

Remembering Sunday

by All Time Low

He woke up from dreaming and put on his shoes
Started making his way past two in the morning
He hasn't been sober for days

Leaning now into the breeze remembering Sunday
He falls to his knees, they had breakfast together
But two eggs don't last like the feeling of what he needs

Now this place seems familiar to him
She pulled on his hand with a devilish grin
She led him upstairs, she led him upstairs
Left him dying to get in

Forgive me, I'm trying to find
My calling, I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother, but have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
I'm gonna ask her to marry me

And even though she doesn't believe in love
He's determined to call her bluff
Who could deny these butterflies?
They're filling his gut

Waking the neighbors, unfamiliar faces
He pleads though he tries
But he's only denied
Now he's dying to get inside

Forgive me, I'm trying to find
My calling, I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother, but have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
I'm gonna ask her to marry me

There's a neighbor said, she moved away
Funny how it rained all day
I didn't think much of it then
But it's starting to all make sense

Oh, I can see now
That all of these clouds are following me
In my desperate endeavor
To find my whoever, wherever she may be

I'm not coming back, I've done something so terrible
I'm terrified to speak but you'd expect that from me
I'm mixed up, I'll be blunt
Now the rain is just washing you out of my hair

And out of my mind, keeping an eye on the world
So many thousands of feet off the ground
I'm over you now, I'm at home in the clouds
Towering over your head

Well I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home

A Walk to Remember

               "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful."

                After a zillion times, I found myself watching the movie A Walk to Remember, AGAIN. And countless times I caught myself crying a river AGAIN over this very sad movie.

                I remember the first time I saw this movie. I was in third year high school and I live in Laguna, that part far from the city and where theaters and cinemas are not really a hit. So I dragged my mother to come with me and watch this flick in SM Megamall. Manila is actually 3 to 4 hours away from our place so it’s not a normal thing an ordinary family would do. There are only two instances I can recall when I begged my mother to come with me because I wasn’t really allowed to travel with a friend. My companion has to be older than me and knows his/her way around the metro. The first instance was when I was a first year high school and I really want to see Cogie Domingo in person and that was Cool Dudes 24/7’s premier night at SM Megamall too. And the second was this one. 

                Going back to the movie, I love how Landon changed for the better and made everything on Jamie’s list come true from befriending someone she doesn’t like; to being in two places at the same time; to getting a tattoo; and to witnessing a miracle.

Landon:                         I'm sorry Jamie never got her miracle.

Reverend Sullivan:          She did. It was you.

                The saddest part for me when I first watched it was the ending. I was really drowning in tears when Landon Carter was walking and reminiscing with the voice over saying “Jamie saved my life. She taught me everything. About life, hope and the long journey ahead. I'll always miss her. But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it.” I was so sad that I was worrying about Landon even when they’re already showing the names and the credits and even when we’re already out of the movie house. I was thinking that maybe it was so painful for Landon living without Jamie. Just when he found the love of his life, just when he changed for the better then he’ll discover that Jamie is dying. That was so painful I can feel him. I can cry for him.

                After watching the movie I bought the cassette tape of the official soundtrack and every time I play it I can still feel Jamie and Landon’s, especially Landon’s suffering. It has officially become my most favorite movie, maybe of all time. I bought the DVD and I keep a copy in my iPod so I can watch it every time I want. I also bought the book version where I also poured a lot of tears and Nicholas Sparks become my favorite author alongside John Grisham. Can I just say that the essence of the “walk to remember” wasn’t emphasized in the movie but it’s okay since this might bring too much drama for the.

                Since then, I have been watching this movie over and over again and the point to crying a river changed from the ending to that scene where Jamie confessed her sickness to Landon to that scene where Landon thanked his father for paying for the home nursing. I remember imitating Jamie and deliver my favorite lines like:

Jamie:                I'm sick.

Landon:              I'll take you home. You'll be better tom…

Jamie:                No. Landon! I'm sick. I have Leukemia.

Landon:              No. You're 18. You - you're perfect.

Jamie:                No. I found out two years ago and I've stopped responding to treatments.

Landon:              So why didn't you tell me?

Jamie:               The doctor said I should go on and live life normally as best I could. I - I didn't want anybody to be weird around me.

Landon:              Including me?

Jamie:                Especially you!

                That father-and-son scene is one of the most poignant. How can a simple hug and a simple “thank you” can make me cry so hard? That part where Landon looked at his father and didn’t know what to say but managed to whisper “thank you” is heartbreaking. I always try to suppress a sob every time I see it. Then in the middle of the tight bear-hugging, shirt-ripping part, Landon let go an emotional “sorry” to his father. Ah, I was moved. It was so touching.

               

                Another poignant part is that scene where Jamie is in the hospital and his father asked Landon to go home because he needs a little time with his daughter so he gave in. The father and daughter were recalling the latter’s childhood and hatred of gravity. And the daddy goes, “the reason why I keep you to close is because I want to keep you longer.” He remembers losing Jamie’s mother and now it’s his daughter. How miserable is that? They say losing a mother or a father is hard but nothing compares to losing a child. Of all the characters, maybe the father’s was the most painful. He spent his life with Jamie. He raised her. She was his life. But then I remember Jamie’s lines to Landon, “I don’t need any reason to be angry with God”. Maybe Reverend Sullivan was holding to that too that’s why he remains strong and faithful, because of love.

                "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful."

Dr. Phil's Test

                  Have you heard of Dr. Phil’s test that is circulating via e-mail? That personality test where they are claiming that Dr. Phil himself scored 55 and Oprah got 38? This has been around for quite some time now. It just happened to reach my inbox at a later time. Later like now. The e-mail did not share some background about that certain Dr. Phil and even failed to give his surname. Or am I the only one who doesn’t know him? Anyways, an officemate sent me this e-mail and I decided to take the test.

            

                 It is composed of 10 questions. No right or wrong answers, just honest ones. Here’s the test.

1. When do you feel at your best?

             

                A. in the morning

                B. during the afternoon and early evening

                C. late at night

2.   You usually walk...

                A. fairly fast, with long steps

                B. fairly fast, with little steps

                C. less fast head up, looking the world in the face

                D. less fast, head down

                E. very slowly

3.  When talking to people you...

                A. stand with your arms folded

                B. have your hands clasped

                C. have one or both your hands on your hips

                D. touch or push the person to whom you are talking

                E. play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4.  When relaxing, you sit with…

               

                A. your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side

                B. your legs crossed

                C. your legs stretched out or straight

                D. one leg curled  under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

               

                A. big appreciated laugh

                B. a laugh, but not a loud one

                C .a quiet chuckle

                D. a sheepish smile

6.   When you go to a party or social gathering you...

                A. make a loud entrance so everyone notices you

                B. make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know

                C. make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7.  You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...

                A. welcome the break

                B. feel extremely irritated

                C. vary between these two extremes

8.   Which of the following colors do you like most...

                A. Red or orange

                B. black

                C. yellow or light blue

                D. green

                E. dark blue or purple

                F. white

                G. brown or gray

9.   When you are in bed at night, in those last few  moments before going to sleep you  are..... 

                A. stretched out on your back

                B. stretched out face down on your stomach

                C. on your side, slightly curled

                D. with your head on one arm

                E. with your head under the covers

10.  You often dream that you are...

                A. falling

                B. fighting or struggling

                C. searching for something or somebody

                D. flying or floating

                E. you usually have dreamless sleep

                F. your dreams are always pleasant

                I had the idea to create an entry about this test because of the result. It is so me. I just want to share it just in case you haven’t seen it. Take the test and see if the result fits you.

               Here’s how you are supposed to score your answer:

                    Add up the total number of points to get your score and compare the result below.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care."  You're seen as vain, self-centered, and extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality, a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones.  They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once, and someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure.  They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50  POINTS:  Others see you as fresh, lively, charming,  amusing, practical, and always interesting,  someone who's constantly in the center of  attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to  let it go to their head.  They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding, someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful and practical.  They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who’s extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return.   Those who really get to know you, realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy.  They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder.  It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist.   Some people think you're boring.   Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

                If in any case you are interested (or not, I wouldn’t care anyway. I will still post it hehe), here’s how I answered those questions.

1. When do you feel at your best?

                C. late at night – I am more focused and productive at night when everything is still and quiet. It is easier for me to stay up late than to wake up early. During a big day in college, my classmates are all up before sunrise to review for an exam while I am all drawn wandering the dreamland. I’d rather stay up until 3 am to do that. Now that I’m working, I still do the same. I stay in the office while everyone is rushing on their way home; I am working while everyone is snoring; and when everyone’s rushing back to the office to finish what was not finished, it’ll be my turn to snore J  

2.   You usually walk...

                A. fairly fast, with long steps – an officemate was questioning me on this one. Long steps? Because apparently, I have short legs basically because I am small. There’s no question about me walking fast because I do (walk fast). As far I know, I always try to walk with long steps.

3.  When talking to people you...

                B. have your hands clasped – I am not proud with this habit of mine but I can’t help but clasp my hands when I am talking to strangers or people I am not comfortable talking to. It doesn’t matter where my hands are, whether they are sitting above my legs, behind my back, in front of my chest or above the table, as long as they are clasped, I feel more secured.

               

4.  When relaxing, you sit with…

                D. one leg curled  under you – just like the way I’m sitting right now while typing these entry J Writing does relax me too.

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

                D. a sheepish smile – with this item, I have to categorize first if I am around the people I know or if I’m alone. If I am surrounded with the people I know, it would be a loud appreciating laugh. But if I am alone and I saw something amusing, you’ll see a timid and conscious smile on my face. Guilty of reacting to something I am not supposed to.

6.   When you go to a party or social gathering you...

                B. make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know – my friend and officemate says I am more likely to make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed but my stand here is that I am not going to a party or social gathering where I do not know anyone and I will only do letter C if I do not have the option of doing B.

               

7.  You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...

                C. vary between these two extremes – I can welcome the break and I can be really irritated. When I’m doing something I don’t understand and somebody interrupts me, I tell you, I can yell at that person. In fact, I’ve done that, unintentionally. I feel really guilty after what happened and I didn’t get the chance to say sorry. But it seems he doesn’t mind at all. I know it doesn’t justify my wrong-doing.

8.   Which of the following colors do you like most...

                C. yellow or light blue – I like light blue color, actually, all shades of blue. I just love the color. It’s relaxing and it reminds me of the blue sky and the blue see.

9.   When you are in bed at night, in those last few  moments before going to sleep you  are..... 

                C. on your side, slightly curled – at first I’d be lying on my back thinking and thinking and thinking then I will roll on my side, one knee bent and my hands hugging-squeezing my sponge bob stuffed pillow and I will drift far, far away from reality.

10.  You often dream that you are...

                F. your dreams are always pleasant – okay, this one may not be accurate but I don’t have dreams of me falling, searching for something or somebody, or flying or floating. I may have dreamt about fighting and struggling against black and evil dwarfs but that was once when I was younger. I can’t say that I usually have dreamless sleep because I don’t. So the closest would be that my dreams are always pleasant, almost always. There are times when I don’t even understand the reason why I am dreaming those pleasant things.

                And as a result of my answers, I got 36.

                This means that “others see me as sensible, cautious, careful and practical.  They see me as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who’s extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return.   Those who really get to know me, realize it takes a lot to shake my trust in my friends, but equally that it takes me a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.”

                I don’t know if my friends see me as a sensible person but I know they thought I’m smart. I repeat, THEY THOUGHT. I don’t have to hear from them my cautiousness because I know I am. That’s the reason why fighting for what I love is more of my problem than letting go of it. Careful, it depends on what aspect. In doing household chores, I am far from being careful. But in dealing with other people, yes I am careful.

                I don’t make friends easily, my friends does. Maybe that’s the reason why we are friends, for me to make more friends. I seldom talk to strangers. I even try to shake people off trying to open some conversation. If I can ignore them, I will. But if they are doing it politely, I won’t be rude. I won’t speak to a person unless that person talks to me first. I am afraid that if I try to approach a person, he or she will ignore me. Silly right? But that happens.

               

                My friends will be my friends, if not for forever, maybe for a loooong time. Maybe I am expecting the same loyalty from them but I haven’t realized it yet, maybe yes, maybe not. But if they can trust me, am I not entitled to expect some loyalty from them too? Plus I think they know that I am distrustful of people so they won’t do anything stupid to break my trust. And there’s no reason for them to do that. -C