twentysumthing

Source: NelsonMandela.org A few months back, I saw Nelson Mandela (also known as Madiba or Tata) on the cover of Reader's Digest and immediately bought a copy. I've always been like that. I love reading and watching news and documentaries about the world's greatest leaders. I do it because of course, one, there's the fascination. [The] fascination with their illustrious lives; their successes and the many failures and challenges they faced. I look up to them because they show me the kind of leader I want to be like. Second, there's the learning. Despite being different from many of us, one fact remains the same -- they are also humans who have strengths and weaknesses, just like us, and we can learn from their experiences.  Going back to Mandela, I felt sad upon reading at that time that he was ailing, so just imagine how sad I got when I heard the news about his passing. I know a lot felt the same. I was sad not only because he is Mandela, ...

#prayforthePhilippines Philippines needs help. I just left the Philippines to move back to Canada when the storm hit the country -- being away, this is the least I can do. As you all know, Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) made headlines around the world not just because it is one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded in history, but also because it had caused great devastation to many towns in the Philippines, and killed thousands and thousands of Filipinos. Even though the storm had left the Philippine Area of Responsibility, many are still in danger of getting sick or dying because many are without home, food, clothes and even clean water right now. Video from CNN It is known that Canadians are among the most generous of people in the world. Let us show, once again, how compassionate we all are by donating to the typhoon victims.  I have compiled links to different NGO sites where you can forward your monetary donations. Please feel ...

I am celebrating my birthday in the Philippines again this year after being away for almost three years!  For someone who's been away for a bit, you would expect a big party to celebrate my comeback, but I didn't have a grand party. All I wanted were princess-themed cupcakes, Martha Stewart-y utensils, good food, and my close friends surrounding me. And all of them I got! Too bad my family couldn't be with me because they're in Canada, but big thanks to all my friends for helping me organize it and still making it a great one!  If you find the cupcakes pretty, my royal birthday cakes were made by my friend Gwyn. The moment I told her about my idea for my birthday cupcakes (many months before my birthday), she got excited and said she could do it for me! Gwyn was sick on my birthday, but still, look at how beautiful the cupcakes still turned out to be ( partida ) !  I was very touched because she even named the cupcake with the crown on it after me. She...

I was watching Sex and the City 2 (the movie) last night, and it made me realize how much I love Carrie Bradshaw's curly locks. That love was probably what (unconsciously) prompted me to get my hair permed. Hihi . ;) photo source: www.hbo.com (I do not own this photo.) A day before Typhoon Maring entered the PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility -- just love using the term), I got my hair permed for the first time. So far, I'm lovin ' it. I would love to tell you the story of getting my "virgin" hair treated for the first time and the hours I spent at the salon (and not to mention, the money I spent). I know you would wanna hear that...  Just kidding. Haha ! That's too vain, I know. Selfie! ;) What I really want to share with you, since we're already talking about my hair, is a weird, little trivia about it. Everyone is complimenting my new hairdo, but little do they know that this isn't really the first time in my life that I...

photo courtesy of Iona Magsombol So Cinemalaya 2013 has just wrapped up. Congratulations to all the winners! :) I'm happy because, finally, I was able to attend a real film fest in the Philippines. Well, I've watched a few films at the MMFF the past few years, but, it's not really... it just doesn't feel like... uhmmm ... Anyway, I've been an attendee of film fests abroad, and what kind of Filipino would that make me if I didn't support our own now that I had the chance? Given my work schedule, I was able to watch just three films at Cinemalaya this year -- which, btw, are all superb: SANA DATI courtesy of cinemalaya.org Thanks to the director of the film, Jerrold Tarog, for giving us free tickets to Sana Dati's gala night! (The company I work for co-produced the film Senior Year with Jerrold. Hence, the association and the free tickets. Hihi .) I'm happy that this was the first film I watched because it made me want to watch ...

On July 3rd, I was invited by our former Program Council Adviser in La Salle to come and attend the annual general assembly for all Broadcast Journalism students, and give a talk about my experiences after graduating (sort of like a TED talk). It was kind of a long talk so I wouldn't explain everything I said in my speech. I just hope I inspired even a single soul in that auditorium.  It's been 3 years since I last stepped on this stage! with former professor, Ms. Q, current BJPC President Janine, me and Ted Days after giving that talk, I started reflecting about my life. Last night, I was out with friends back in college and we talked about how all of us are growing up (and older), and how life brought us to different paths. Today, I woke up with these thoughts in my mind: The problem I'm having right now is that I have two contradicting dreams: (1) my life-long dream of becoming a renowned journalist / writer/ story producer, and (2) my recently-discovered dre...

Despicable Me 2 is officially now showing in the Philippines! I can't wait to watch it! I'm such a big fan of the movie. I absolutely love each character. Who's not to love anyway? Gru , Agnes, the minions -- they're all adorable! I noticed, though, it's the minions that are gaining online popularity the most. I attended the SM Toon Fest event in May just to see Tim and Dave in person. (I found out about it at the last minute. Good thing , the mall is just a 5-minute walk away from where I live.) I was probably the only 23-year-old present there. Haha ! I don't really care.... Well, okay, yeah, I felt a bit shy lining up with kids, being the only 23-year-old to come up on stage to have a photo taken with the minions. But the moment I got close to them, I wanted to grab them by the shoulders and shake them and shout "YOU'RE SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIIIIIIIIEEE!!!" ;D Here's my Random Fun Caught on Cam #2: with Tim and Dave Eve...

source : canada -day . ca It's Canada Day! So of course, I'm writing about it today! ;) When I was still in Canada, I always talked about the Philippines. I didn't know if it annoyed them or not, but I couldn't stop telling my friends there about how beautiful my home country is. Funny, now that I'm back home, I talk about Canada -- A LOT. I'm starting to realize that even though I badly wanted to come back to the Philippines this year, there are so many things I love (and miss) about my other home as well... and here they are: 1. Canada brings me closer to nature.  There are so many places in the Philippines that will make you feel very close to nature too. But the thing is, sometimes, you have to travel for hours and cross many seas before you reach those places, unlike in Canada. I live on the Mountain (Hamilton Mountain to be precise), so whenever I want to enjoy the view of the whole city in 3D, all I need to do is cross the street and go ...