2010 BEST PICTURE

We're of the same wavelength as the Golden Globe jurors -- "The Social Network" won as Best Picture (Drama)! It's our bet, see my Golden Globe entry yesterday (Jan 16, 12:03am).

The film also won Best Director (David Fincher), Best Screenplay, Best Score. Yey! (Babaw joy.)

"The extraordinary

left brain right brain combination

of Andrew Garfield and Jessie Eisenberg!"

-- The Social Network Producer

accepting the Best Picture award at the Golden Globes

PARA KANINO KA BUMABANGON?

We're no coffee drinkers but I really love Nescafe's campaign, "Para kanino ka bumabangon?"

Sunrise image from edwebproject.org

Their TV Commercial script goes like this --

Para kanino ka bumabangon?

Para sa anak. Para sa kaibigan. Para sa ‘di mo kakilala.

Para sa bata. Sa isip-bata.

Para sa marami. Para sa sarili.

‘Pag may Nescafé Classic na puro at tunay, sumasarap ang umaga.

Para hindi ka lang basta gumigising.

Bumabangon ka nang may dahilan.

Dahil pag tinulungan mong bumangon ang isang tao,

parang buong bayan na rin ang bumabangon.

Bangon na sa Nescafé Classic.

Check out YouTube for the video. =)

So for whom do I wake up for every day? I wake up for my dreams -- dreams for J and me, dreams for my family. Maybe that's why no matter how tough life could be sometimes, I go on. If I were selfish, dahil pagod o hirap na ako, tama na. But because I live for my loved ones, kakayanin ko lahat, para sa aming lahat.

What else do I rise up for? For our daily dates, for J's jokes and lambing, for my parents' stories, for my sister and niece's laughter, for my family's "I love yous," for hugs, for gray skies, for long walks, for the quiet time while running, for long talks with old friends, for family reunions, for hand-written notes, for the fun of dressing up, for melon milk and ube ice cream, for my Mama's binagoongan, for surprises, for heartfelt "Thank Yous," for new beginnings, for another chance to make things right...

Ikaw, para kanino/saan ka bumabangon?

GOLDEN GLOBE

The Hollywood award season begins with the Golden Globes. We're no award addicts but I'm in the mood to place our bets this year.

We've seen four of the five Best Picture (Drama) nominees:

1. Black Swan
2. The Fighter
3. Inception
4. The Social Network
5. The King's Speech -- haven't seen this one

And our vote goes to the dialogue-driven and very engaging The Social Network. To me a good film leaves you talking, discussing, affected long after you've seen it. We don't care if the film was truthful to Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook story or not. Bottomline: it's an example of superb storytelling. All about the meat of the plot. Seeing it made Facebook-ing (Is that an actual verb? Haha!) even more interesting.

But the buzz is on the dark drama, the Black Swan (and Natalie Portman for Best Actress). It's (they're) most likely to win.

We've seen three of the five Best Picture - Comedy / Musical nominees:

1. Alice in Wonderland
2. Red
3. The Tourist
4. Burlesque -- haven't seen this
5. The Kids are Alright -- haven't seen this

J enjoyed Retired and Extremely Dangerous (Red). And we were entertained by The Tourist. But we're not sure they're award-worthy.

So maybe we'll go with Alice in Wonderland for this category.

And the Golden Globe goes to...

We'll see tomorrow, January 16 (USA time).

TANGLED

Sharing my favorite bit from Disney's "Tangled"...

Rapunzel: I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?

Flynn Rider: It will be.

Rapunzel: And what if it is? What do I do then?

Flynn Rider: Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.

Like Rapunzel, I'm hoping to get out of my "tower" (aka comfort zone) this year, and explore another world. And if it doesn't work out, well, then I'll go find me a new dream. =)

GIFTS OF THE NEW YEAR

The future's so bright, we gotta wear shades!

Our 2011 glasses.

(Yes, that's a number "1" with a hole, haha.)

Started the year right.

1.1.11 Family Reunion

We've been hosting it two years in a row.

I pray 2011's starting out well for you. The first week of the new year has gone by and there are already so many blessings to be grateful for. All I can say is THANK YOU, Father.

Gift #1: a career surprise!

Gift #2: the first step towards a long-time personal goal

Gift #3: the chance of healing a wounded friendship, minus the drama

Gift #4: nth investment for our future

Gift #5: the opportunity to help a friend in need

Gift #6: full lives beyond work

Gift #7: going back to "school"

Truly, God's Plans are greater than our dreams.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BEST MEMORIES of 2010 (in random order):

1. J and I experienced all four seasons this year (see the gift tag I made above). A first for us! Yey! But still no snow (Maybe by 2011?).
2. Welcomed 2010 in HongKong!
3. Attended a wedding in Singapore one week before the Chinese New Year.
4. Shanghai Spring! I was like a giddy little girl when I saw cherry blossoms for the first time.
5. Celebrated my birthday "on top of the world," at the Taipei 101, Taiwan.
6. Trekked one of the Wonders of the World – The Great Wall of China!
7. Treated my parents and sister to a Palawan vacation! One more item off my Bucket List. Next goal: To treat the whole family to a vacation outside of the country.
8. Started running (Loving it!). It has helped me lose weight. Today, I'm one pound away from my original weight goal. I'm considering pushing myself some more.
9. Back in the boxing ring. Whew!
10. Started Blog #2: My Little Black Book of Style
11. My sister P continued to excel in class. She actually scores perfect in her exams!
12. My niece S started school. I tried to be present in all the major school events -- for her, for my parents (I document the events for them).
13. Another year of us being blessed with good health, safe travels, stable careers, lots of love and laughter.

Some of the things I’m looking forward to in 2011 (also in random order)...

1. [Accomplished. School started 012911.] Student life. Part of my Year-End Bonus went to my tuition. So excited!
2. My family coming home. I want my parents to enjoy the fruits of their labor and the company of their beloved granddaughter (they miss her too much!).
3. I’m praying for a BIG LEAP I’m planning to take. (So help me, God.)
4. [Accomplished 010211.] New hair color.
5. Going back to yoga.
6. Back to 110 lbs.
7. More travels.
8. More discoveries.
9. More life lessons.
10. The successful launch of the new channel.
11. My dear sister P’s grade school graduation. And her move to high school (Oooh, I’m getting very sentimental. Ang bilis ng panahon.).
12. More of the good stuff: good health, safe travels, fulfilling and rewarding careers, lots of love and laughter for all of us.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."-- Oprah Winfrey

NO CHRISTMAS

We do not celebrate Christmas. You read that right. The non-celebration is due to our religious belief. But I’m not getting into discussions of Faith here. I just want to share a different December point-of-view.

I grew up in a household with no parols, no Christmas trees, no belens. If you greet me “Merry Christmas,” I’ll most likely respond with “Happy Holidays!” I can’t relate to the Pinoy idiom “Ano’ng hinihintay mo, Pasko?!” Literal translation: “What are you waiting for – Christmas?!" (What it means: “Move it...now!”)

In our religion, December is more about Thanksgiving. Maybe that helped shape my ever-thankful character (remember my Gratitude Journal?).

All my life, the Holiday Season has been more about family and friends’ reunions. I look forward to the change of weather. Manila gets a little bit cooler in the evenings as soon as December sets in. I get excited over gift-shopping (My lists are on Excel worksheets, O.C.D.). We do exchange gifts during the reunions. I appreciate the Christmas-themed mall decors and street lights. I enjoy listening to Christmas carols (someone gave me the Glee Christmas Album this year, yey!). I have zero EQ when it comes to gifts – I open them as soon as they’re handed to me (one of the perks of not having to wait for December 24^th). And I go gaga over post-Christmas sales! Some of my most favorite films are set against the Holiday Season – “Love Actually,” “Serendipity,” “The Holiday,” and yeah, even “Home Alone.”

I hope I’m proof that “no Christmas” does not make one a Scrooge. Because if Christmas really is about loving and giving and sharing – well, I’m into that all year round. *wink*

TITA TIME

Remember my Auntie Brigade entry? Well, one of my favorite Auntie / Tita moments this year was skipping work (morning lang naman) to attend my niece's school party. Yes, I'm that kind of Tita, I make time for milestones. Family over work. *wink*

Above: The classroom window.

Love the artwork!

Above: Happy 4th Birthday to our dearest S!

Her classmates sang the birthday song in Chinese! Cute!

They had their Chinese class that day kasi.

Above: Tita A & Tito J's gift --

Toy Story cupcakes for every one!

Above: I'm a fan of super cute cupcakes!

I'm loyal to Kiddie-party.com, love their creations.

Below: Last year's Strawberry Shortcake set.

Below: Their Hannah Montana creation for my dear sister.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

Above: Our condo's lobby tree

The sinamay (fabric made from banana plant fibers) makes it very Filipino.

I appreciate that especially since the building's tenants are multi-cultural.
Ibida ang Pinoy touch!

Above: Our neighborhood mall's tree of toys!

Shangri-la Plaza

Above: The Shangri-la Mall hanged their stockings!

Have you done the same?

Giant stockings could only mean lots of gifts!

Above: Our office is dressed as a Gift Box for the Holidays!

GMA Network, EDSA side

The Network's annex pedestrian gate

How are things looking at your side of the world? =)

TREATS AT THE AYALA TRIANGLE GARDENS

Triangle Treat #1

We're fans of Singapore's Chicken Rice. So upon hearing that Wee Nam Kee's opening a branch in Manila, we had to try it!

We arrived earlier than the usual dinner hour. We had our names listed around 5:30pm, we were 9th in line. To kill time, we went around the garden. We came back around 6:15pm; and were finally seated by 6:30pm. Yes, one hour waiting time. The resto's still on soft opening. If you really want your chicken rice, patience must be on your menu.

Above: Roasted Chickens

Above: Bird Cage lamps

Dips: Hoisin Sauce, Ginger & Chili Sauce

We loved their very tender & flavorful

Medium (Half) Steamed Chicken!

Php488

Above: Chicken Rice

(Kanin pa lang, ulam na!)

If not for my weight-loss program, I would have ordered extra rice!

It was sooo good!

Drinks: Lime Juice

(Water na lang, dear.)

Triangle Treat #2

After dinner, we were off to the Lights & Sounds Show, still in the Garden. It's a 10-minute spectacle every 30 minutes, from 6-8pm, daily. Free!

The added aliw factor for me: watching with the super excited kids. They were ooh-ing, aah-ing, wow-ing and clapping all at the same time. Cute! Around 200 families were gathered in the garden when we watched the show. I wonder if this will turn out to be the 21st century's Pinoy Holiday tradition (remember C.O.D.'s Christmas shows in the '80s)?

Triangle Treat #3

Golden Spoon's frozen yogurt. Plain. No toppings. We shared a cup. The best option for those on a "diet."