have a little faith in me

When I was dealing with my duty shifts way back during my college days, I found Surgery as the most fascinating of all. Every patient that would come in it defied all odds just to have themselves operated by the most skilled specialists.... Not knowing if it would be successful or not. But the greatest thing to know is that.... they contained big faith at the time they decided.

Last Tuesday, faith was explained as something that's a union of belief and trust.

Belief... from my own point of view, could be contained once all the 5 senses: vision, sense of smell, ability to hear & taste, and touch -- are satisfied. I strongly believe in something if I get to feel it.... if I could sense it. This is easy to achieve for most of us. Trust however is the thing that's hard to keep up with after believing. Because this time, you involve yourself and you can't help but expect from that thing you put your trust on. When you trust, you fully give yourself. You fully submit to this trust. Nevertheless, once you get to find out the most worthy of your submission, you can never be wrong.....

I found God.

yacht trip

singles night out

"There are two ways to become unhappy:

to desire what you don't have

or to have finally gotten what you have desired.

But the greatest thing that would lead you to loneliness is....

you, not knowing what you want."

can't wait!

Looking forward to this!!!!

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

by: Paulo Coelho

“By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept” is another novel by Coelho that proves that love is not an obstacle to materializing one’s dreams, but a force urging the lovers to conquer their dreams and thus find God. Coelho has once again used his successful formula when writing this novel: poetic prose, symbolism, an air of mysticism, and his usual “follow your dream” theme.

This is a story about a journey symbolizing the route towards self-discovery. “By the river Piedra…”, however, could more easily be described as a story of love, as it strives to show that “true love is an act of total surrender”. At a deeper level, Coelho also gives the message that as there are no rules when it comes to love, there are no rules when it comes to worshiping God: “to love is to be in communion with the other, and to discover in that other the spark of God”.

In this best-selling novel Coelho talks about a long-forgotten aspect of God: His feminine side, the so-called “Goddess”. The feminine face of God has been, as Coelho explains, present in every religion on the face of the earth: paganism (Great Mother), the ancient fertility goddess, Isis, the Virgin Mary. This Goddess, presented as generator of all life, is present in the love the two main characters feel for each other. It is as if Her presence haunts their relationship. The monk turned Goddess-worshiper at first thinks he’s faced with the dilemma of staying with the woman he loves and abandoning the life that fulfils him, or venturing on his planned mission to change the world. In the end he discovers that a choice need not be made: to love a woman is to love life itself.

The love between the couple is one that develops, and it goes through many levels: the childhood love, love hidden behind the bars of inhibition and oppressed feeling when they reunite, the liberated love whereby Pilar regains her “faith” and changes her philosophy on life, and whereby her lover decides to deny his nature and sacrifice his “gift” to have a normal life with Pilar, and the enlightened love which allows both lovers to conquer their dreams. Just like fear of failure prevented some people from achieving greatness in “The Alchemist”, fear of rejection prevented the lovers from expressing their love in “By the river Piedra…”

The expulsion of this fear is vividly symbolized with the deliberate breaking of a glass at a restaurant. This gesture shows that to surrender to love we must break through our fears and break all the rules and formulae. Also, to convert to the faith of the Goddess, which is seen as heresy by many, one must see beyond everything one’s parents taught one about religion and the limits of life. When the glass is broken and the two lovers are liberated from all inhibition comes the kiss, the description of which is an excellent example of Coelho’s poetic style: “a kiss born by the rivers of our childhood when we didn’t yet know what love meant…in the moment of that kiss were years of searching, disillusionment and impossible dreams”.

At an age when everything has been discovered, Coelho suggests that there are greater discoveries to be made: those of the spirit. The two lovers have made the discovery that all people can speak the language of angels and perform miracles. Now their mission is to let the whole world know, “and experience the agony and ecstasy of pioneers”. “By the river Piedra…” is an enjoyable love story that may also be seen as a metaphysical allegory. It is a characteristic sample of Coelho’s writing, and some questions are raised by the paradox of Coelho urging people not to use formulae in their lives and yet he once again uses the formula that gave him his best-selling status. Nevertheless, this novel, like all the novels he has written, is a delightful read which gives the reader a sense of much-needed faith in humankind.

-a book review by: Anna Hassapi

focus on God

Last night, I was able to attend a bible study here in Pa Mei.

And the speaker presented an awakening to me.

Realizations continuously poured on me until such time that I had a breakdown.

All my life, I've magnified myself alone,

leaving God on whichever side,

occupying only a tiny space of my peripheral vision.

But today, I learned that I've lived wrongly.

I've ignored how God had perseveringly proposed His love,

spontaneously romanticized me,

neverendingly courted me with true love.

I was overwhelmed more with the fame I get

when none of it would be ever possible if not for Him.

I was selfish of praise when it is Him who needs such rightful worship.

I was never mindful of how I could help others to grow and yet I pray for my own growth.

I criticized others without looking at my own actions.

I asked for so much from a person when I myself can't give it accordingly.

And then I broke into tears....

For all the people I've hurt,

for all the time I've wasted,

for all the concerns that I've shoved off,

for all the help you feel I've never appreciated,

for all the moments that I didn't try my best to share my talents or my smile,

for all the expectations I wasn't able to meet,

for all the blessings I've considered ordinary,

for the Love I could not give,

for my life taken for granted,

I am so sorry......

my favorite disney princess is...

Belle is a small town girl wanting some change in life.

Yes, she got the change that she wanted for so long and that

was what I wanted about her character.

I love the irony made about her.

She's simple, yet her name means "beauty".

She rides the horse but she's also into curling on

a chair over a book....

how we spend time here in hong kong

Work, work, work....
With our job, it's important that you have the talent, the dedication and the willingness to bring delight to families that spend their time here in Disneyland. Some of them maybe spending a once in a lifetime experience. So, even if it drains the hell out of us, nothing still beats a sweet smile given whole heartedly. We share a common inspiration... and that is the smile given back when we wink as we perform, to see them clapping and amazed, and the other cast members who spend their days off cheering and supporting us all the way.

Volleyball during the Weekends...

Lately, we were able to spend some time over at Seaview Crescent's in-door volleyball court. It's so nice to do things with the other cast members other than work. Not to mention, the hidden talents they have. I was able to reminisce my times as a Tigress when I was still with the UST HS Volleyball Team. But what's nice here is to get to play with the authentic Hawaiian spikers, and is stress-free due to the pictorials done in between.

Pictorials in the Park...

Of course, times in the park shouldn't be missed. One thing I love about my job is you get to take a walk in the park with friends after work. And you can enjoy all the attractions more than once. Disney's danish at Maxim's and ice cream crepes at the Adventureland are the mouth-watering treats you can't resist. It's nice to realize that you're able to submit to such craving. "Work hard to live it large!!!" Life is so sweet, isn't it? And, in the afternoon, the people are already tired to compete with us during fun shots so we get to have nice pictures.

Lan Kwai Fong Nights

Spending time with friends visiting from the Philippines......

Shopping...

This was taken while checking out some Disney products. Lean got me busted!

The other night, I caught Aubrey Miles indulging on Mongkok's goods. Because it really offers an attractive deal in terms of bags, shoes, digital gadgets and apparel.

Prince Edward, Central's H&M, Tung Chung's Citygate and Tsim Sha Tsui's Louis Vitton, G2000 and a lot more is a shopper's sanctuary...

my favorite color is blue.....

Calm and Cool :
Blue is calming. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Almost everyone likes some shade of the color blue.

Nature of Blue:
A natural color, from the blue of the sky, blue is a universal color. The cool, calming effect of blue makes time pass more quickly and it can help you sleep. Blue is a good color for bedrooms. However, too much blue could dampen spirits.

Culture of Blue:
In many diverse cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to keep the bad spirits away.
Blue conveys importance and confidence without being somber or sinister, hence the blue power suit of the corporate world and the blue uniforms of police officers. Long considered a corporate color, blue, especially darker blue, is associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism.
Just as seeing red alludes to the strong emotions invoked by the color red, feeling blue or getting the blues represents the extremes of the calm feelings associated with blue, i.e. sadness or depression, lack of strong (violent) emotion. Dark blue is sometimes seen as staid or stodgy — old-fashioned.
In Iran, blue is the color of mourning while in the West the something blue bridal tradition represents love.

Using Blue:
A deep royal blue or azure conveys richness and perhaps even a touch of superiority. Navy blue is almost black and is a bit warmer than lighter blues. Combine a light and dark blue to convey trust and truthfulness — banker's colors. Although blue is a year-round color, pastel blues, especially along with pinks and pale yellows suggest Springtime while deep blue is a colder weather color. Create a conservative but sophisticated look with subtle contrast by combining light and dark shades of blue.

Using Blue with Other Colors:
Mix the color of blue with green for a natural, watery palette. Add gray for understated elegance. Sky blue and robin's egg blue, especially when combined with neutral light brown, tans, or beige are environmentally friendly color combinations. Throw in a dash of blue to cool down a hot red or orange scheme. Grab attention with the contrast of blue and yellow.
Dark blue with white is fresh, crisp, and nautical. Red, white, and blue is a patriotic color trio for many countries, including the United States. Use dark blue with metallic silver accents for an elegantly rich appearance.

Language of Blue:
The use of blue in familiar phrases can help a designer see how their color of choice might be perceived by others, both the positive and negative aspects.

Good blue

• True blue - someone loyal and faithful
• Out of the blue - unexpected (could be positive or negative)
• Blue ribbon - first rate, top prize
• Blueblood - person of noble birth, royalty
• Bluestocking - well-read or scholarly woman
• Bluebook - register of socially prominent people
• The Blues (capitalized) - popular style of music sometimes characterized by melancholy melodies and words
• Baby blues - Blue eyes (also see Bad blue words)

Bad blue

• Feeling blue - feeling sad or depressed
• Blue devils - feelings of depression
• The blues (not capitalized) - depression, state of sadness
• Blue Monday - feeling sad
• Baby blues - post-partum depression
• Singing the blues - bemoaning one's circumstances
• Blue laws - laws originally intended to enforce certain moral standards
• Blue language - profanity
• Bluenose - puritanical individual
• Into the blue - entering the unknown or escape to parts unknown
• Out of the blue - unexpected (could be positive or negative)

Blue Words:


These words are synonymous with blue or represent various shades of the color blue.

Sapphire, azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, navy, royal, sky blue, baby blue, robin's egg blue, cyan, cornflower blue, midnight blue, slate, steel blue, Prussian blue.

disney on parade

last day today for the summer season.... i'll surely miss it!

scrapbook, n.

or now known as the so called, B-L-O-G!!!

--> A book that is commonly edited by a fool. Many persons of some small distinction compile scrap-books containing whatever they happen to read about themselves or employ others to collect. One of these egoists was addressed in the following lines, by Agamemnon Melancthon Peters:

Dear Frank, that scrap-book where you boast

You keep a record true

Of every kind or peppered roast

That's made of you;

Wherein you paste the printed gibes

That revel round your name,

Thinking the laughter of the scribes

Attests your fame;

Where all the pictures you arrange

That comic pencils trace -

Your funny figure and your strange

Semitic face-

Pray lend it me. Wit I have not,

Nor art, but there I'll list

The daily drubbings you'd have got

Had God a fist.

from: THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY

by: Ambrose Bierce

Check out how versatile the 14 finalists are as they perform effortlessly towards the top.

Magnificent techniques, attitude, strength to flow by the music all merged into one.

Do you have what it takes?

Mickey Waterworks Parade

It was launched on the 7th of July, 2007.... if you'd write it 7-7-07, you'd probably think Feng SHui had to do something with it. Luck or no luck, the parade was successful in bringing joy to the crowd that day. SUMMER is just so unbearable that getting sprayed at with water guns were even craved by the guests.
The parade had a pre-show orienting people what to expect as the parade moves along. People got their umbrellas ready not knowing that even if you have one, as long as you stand on the wet area, nothing escapes Mickey's waterworks!!!! Good thing for those who came wearing their bikini tops. They wouldn't mind getting wet at all...

I love seeing all the cast members who had their day off gathering over,

just to support the show. It was splendid indeed!

sudoku

It's important that you keep yourself healthy. But being healthy doesn't only account your "physical" health but also, mentally. Our brain contains zillions of power cells called neurons. These basically, make up your brain. One absolute fact that you may consider about your neurons is that, they are irrepairable... Our body has the capacity to heal itself if you eat the right kind of food, repair small wounds if you have enough protein. However, when it comes to your neurons, once they get damaged, damaged in the sense that you don't use them,.... they get altered that sometimes, it may result to irreversible conditions. Alzheimer's Disease is a good example of this irreversible condition. Good thing, there are little ways on how to contradict this.

Word Factory games like Scrabble, Boggle and Crossword Puzzles may help you stay out of risk.

I'll go straight to the point now. Lately, I got addicted to this game called Sudoku. Because of minutes waiting over the MTR to arrive, for long breaks taking place in between parades and sets, I learned to love it. It really brings my logic up a notch!!!

A deceptively simple game of logic, Sudoku is puzzling players all over the world. Whether you're new to this fun and addictive game or you're already hooked, Sudoku.com has everything you need to get started playing today! Sudoku is easy to learn but a challenge to master. If you're new to Sudoku, click the How to Play tab for a brief introduction to this brain-bending game of numbers and logic. Spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the rules of Sudoku and you'll be ready for hours of fun.

If you're one of the millions of players who have already been captivated by Sudoku and want to get started right away, check out our wide variety of Sudoku challenges. From brain-twisting puzzles to Sudoku adventures, Sudoku.com is your destination for super Sudoku fun!

SHOPPING IS A BLISS INDEED!
This is usually the first thing that would pop in someone's mind on a payday. Or we always find ourselves hooked on little pieces as soon as we find out a shop is on sale even if we really don't need these things or at least.... not yet.

I love how this book showed the consequences of this kind of behavior in the person of Rebecca Bloomwood. Like any other girl, Rebecca considers SHOPPING AS THERAPY from a stressful day. But not until she finds herself hiding from all the people she owed money from because of too much indulgence. Take a leap from the usual serious books you've read and experience the start of the shopaholic series. Have fun!

Mickey's Summer Blast!!!!

You're invited to summer's biggest party!!!

Mickey's throwing a party all summer long and you are invited!

Join Mickey and his friends for the all-new wacky WATERWORKS PARADE.

Plunder the fun at Pirateland by smackbuckling good times.

Good photos could be a good start with the group of pirates

mopping around... so cute!!!

And you can even learn how to draw Mickey at the all new Animation Academy!

Let the good times begin!!!

House Warming and Josh's Birthday

Event Name: Disco Kandi Asia Tour

Date: 23rd June (Saturday) 2007 Hed Kandi

DJs: Luke Neville & Rees Bridges (Dirty Vegas) on Percussion
Support DJs: Arun R. and guests to be confirmed soon

Tickets: HK$230 in advance and HK$300 on the door

Venue: FINDS, 2nd Floor, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong Time: 11pm till late

This was indeed a blast!!! I was so glad my friend Tim got me booked for this party. What I was surprised about? It was how Finds managed to handle all the people. Well.... to tell you the truth, there were some problems with the air conditioning units... they really can't handle the heat. I guess that's what the party's all about. Finds was swarmed with hot people, hyped up with hot music. What more could you ask for but more flowing drinks!But... being too hot to ask, Roy, the bar tender was nice enough to bill mine on the house..

WOOHOOOOOWW!!!

The HED KANDI core values is a boutique luxury brand, reveres style and represents quality. Is unisex is appealing to male and female/straight, gay and its signature images of beautiful girls which encompass everything that is HED KANDI (cool, sophisticated, glamorous, stylish, sexy and luxurious).

About FINDS:

FINDS’ chic interior is inspired by the Scandinavian winter.

Soft flowing ceilings with a dazzling chandelier and a turquoise circular banquette

seating as well as a barely visible Private VIP area, seen through a crystal curtain.

FINDS serves the best Scandinavian cuisines with a twist of style.

A private Urbane Terrace is the best place to see and to be seen.

I don't usually blog about movies but why is this movie substantial to my life? This is the first movie I've watched here in Hong Kong.

Still for me, Philippines' focus to entertainment is incomparable to other countries. USA's movie houses are seldom visited, Vietnam doesn't actually account much of their country's budget developing these and now, here in Hong Kong.... it still needs a lot of improvement. Their movie house is way far from our own SM cinemas when actually, that's our cheapest, right? ..... but here, watching movies is really luxurious..... But I have to get a load of the irresistable human torch and just for the hang of it, we indulged into this luxury last night after work.

Done with the History Class at Disney University!!!!