Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Personal Preference
And so my K-drama addiction is back with this new series, Personal Preference.
Synopsis:
Jeon Jin Ho is a straight guy who pretends to be gay in order to become Park Kae In's roommate. His hobbies include organization and ironing, and he’s known for his stoic poker face. He’s a stickler for cleanliness, but he also has a talent for figuring out a women’s feelings. Kae In is very trusting even though she has a habit of being betrayed. However that doesn't stop her from giving people the benefit of doubt and Jin Ho is no different. How will Kae In react when she finds out that her gay roommate is not actually gay at all and that he has fallen for her?
Characters:
Son Ye Jin as Park Kae In
Lee Min Ho as Jeon Jin Ho
Kim Ji Suk as Han Chang Ryul
Wang Ji Hye as Kim In Hee
Choi Eun Seo as Na Hye Mi
Im Seul Ong as Kim Tae Hoon
Jo Eun Ji as Lee Young Sun
Jung Sung Hwa as No Sang Joon
Ryu Seung Ryong as Choi Do Bin
Park Hae Mi as Jin Ho's mother
Ahn Suk Hwan as Han Yoon Sub
Jang Won Young as Secretary Kim
Kang Shin Il as Park Chul Han
Yoon Eun Hye as Eun Soo (cameo, ep8)
Bong Tae Kyu as Lee Won Ho (cameo)
Jung Chan as bridegroom (cameo)
Song Sun Mi as bride (cameo)
Julien Kang as Chang Ryul's foreign friend (cameo)
Park No Shik as Goo Joon Pyo (cameo)
Kim Joon Ho (cameo)
Kim Na Young (cameo)
http://www.mysoju.com/personal-preference/
Monday, February 15, 2010
Baler, Aurora: Revisited
Visiting Baler, Aurora is becoming a kick-off activity for my friends and I. Ever since our first trip last January 2009, we always find ourselves going back to this beautiful surfing spot.
Going to Baler usually takes about 8 hours. Aside from the long drive, you have to endure about 2 hours of rough road. And I really mean a rough and bumpy road. It’s better to leave Manila at midnight so you will arrive in Baler at 8 am or earlier.
We left Manila last Friday, February 12 around 11 pm. We reached Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija at around 2:30 am, Saturday, February 13. From there, we travelled the next 4 hours through rough and bumpy road until we arrive in Baler.
Believe that you will forget the long drive the moment you see and hear the waves. 
Bart, the organizer, usually books the group at Bay’s Inn Resort. The resort has eight classroom-type rooms and a three-storey guest house. Before, we got one of the classroom-type on the ground floor. But for this trip, Bart gave us a corner room on the second floor. We loved our room assignment plus the fact that we have our own balcony. I think Bart is being nice to us because this has been my second trip and third for Zha and Jo. We are regulars already. Hahaha
We ate our breakfast before we start our activities for the day. We ate traditional Filipino breakfasts but it seems like everything tastes so good when you eat by the beachfront. 
Right after breakfast, we changed and communed with the waves. Then, we watched the first batch of surfers as they get their drills and start their lessons. Zha and I decided to pass surfing for this trip. Jo, on the other hand, decided to take the Sunday morning class.
Saturday afternoon went quiet cause Zha and I slept after lunch while Jo stayed up to read and stroll. At 5pm, Jo and I went back to the beach to watch some surfers and play with the waves. After tiring ourselves, Jo and I went back to our room to change and get ready for dinner.
There was a beach party at Bay’s Inn. Our trip coincided with the 4th Aurora Cup Championship. Surfers from La Union, Daet, CamSur, Siargao and Zambales were there. Oh, I got some really cool videos of one surfer!
By 10pm, we were already tired and sleepy. And so, we called it a night and retreated to our rooms.
Come Sunday morning, Jo woke up to watch the sunrise. Zha joined her and I followed them at around 6am. Unfortunately, the sun did not showed itself because there was a thick fog. We had our breakfast and Jo got ready for her surfing lessons. Our new found friends, Grace and Marie joined for the morning lessons.
After their lessons, we played around the sand. Jo was the victim of our antics.
It was another great weekend spent in Baler. As usual, I have compiled some quotable quotes from this trip.
“You shall be blessed!” – Cheng
“Want to know something, askcheng.com” – Zha
“Choice ko ‘to eh” – Grace
“Interrupting animals” – Jo
P.S. Did I tell you that this tour only costs Php 3,000? Cool, huh? If you want to experience Baler, Aurora, you can call or text Bart Dumlao @ 0917-256-2040 or email istokewa@yahoo.com You may also visit their Facebook accout, Istokewa Surf Tour. Experience Baler, get stoked!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
You're Beautiful
It's just too addicting...
To satisfy my latest curiousity for this new Korean series, "You're Beautiful", I watched the first two episodes online and the rest is history. :)
Title: 미남이시네요 / You’re Beautiful
Chinese Title : 原来是美男啊
Also known as: You’re Handsome, A.N.JELL
Genre: Romance, comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: SBS
Broadcast period: 2009-Oct-07 to 2009-Nov-26
Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 21:55
Synopsis
Tae Kyung and On Yu are in search of a new member for their idol group, A.N.JELL. However, Mi Nam suffers an injury at the last moment. So Mi Nyu, his twin sister, is asked to step in for her brother. The rest of the drama follows the behind-the-scenes life of an idol group.
Cast
Jang Geun Suk as Hwang Tae Kyung
Park Shin Hye Go Mi Nam (Male) / Go Mi Nyu (Female)
Lee Hong Ki as Kang On Yu / Jeremy
Jung Yong Hwa as Kang Shin Woo
Extended cast
UEE as Yoo He Yi
Bae Geu Rin as Sa Yu Ri (Fan club president)
Kim In Kwon as Ma Hoon Yi (Mi Nam’s manager)
Choi Ran as Choi Mi Ja (Mi Nam & Mi Nyu’s aunt)
Kim Sung Ryung as Mo Hwa Ran
Jung Chan as President Ahn
Choi Soo Eun as Wang Kko Di
Tae Hwang as staff
Yoo Seung Ho (cameo, ep9)
Production Credits
Director: Hong Sung Chang
Screenwriter: Hong Jung Eun & Hong Mi Ran
Awards
2009 SBS Drama Awards: Netizen Highest Popularity Award (Jang Geun Suk)
The series has a lot of cool songs and thanks to other bloggers, I was able to find English translations.
What Should I do? (Tae Kyung sang this in the series live!)
by Jang Geun Suk
When I let you go one step further, my eyes overflow with tears
When you walk away one step further, more tears are falling
As you move away to a place where I can’t reach you, even if I reach out my hand
I can’t catch you, I can only cry
What should I do? What should I do? You’re leaving
What should I do? What should I do? You’re leaving me
I love you, I love you, I cry out to you
But you can’t hear me, because I am only shouting in my heart
All day long I try to forget you, but I think of you again
All day long I try to say goodbye, but I think of you
Although you went to a place where I can’t hold you, even if my hand reaches out for you
I can’t find you, I can only cry
What should I do? What should I do? I can only see you
What should I do? What should I do? I love you only
I am sorry, I am sorry, can you hear me?
Please come back to me, if it’s not you, I can’t go on
What should I do? What should I do? I only have you
What should I do? What should I do? You’re leaving
What should I do? What should I do? You’re leaving me alone
I love you, I love you, I cry out to you
But you can’t hear me because I am only shouting in my heart
Without Words (originally sang in the series by Go Mi Nam, this is his first song especially written and composed by Tae Kyung)
by Jang Geun Suk
I shouldn’t have done that,
I should have pretended not to know
like I didn’t see it, like I couldn’t see it
I shouldn’t have looked at you in the first place
I should have run away
I should have pretended I wasn’t listening
like I didn’t hear it, like I couldn’t hear it
I shouldn’t have heard your love in the first place
Without a word, you made me know what love is
Without a word, you gave me your love
Made me fill myself with your every breath
Then you ran away
Without a word, love leaves me
Without a word, love abandons me
Wondering what to say next
My lips were surprised
It came without a word
Why does it hurt so much?
Why does it hurt continuously?
Except for the fact that I can’t see you anymore, and that you’re not here anymore
otherwise, it’ll be just the same like before
Without a word, you made me know what love is
Without a word, you gave me your love
Made me fill myself with your every breath
Then you ran away
Without a word, love leaves me
Without a word, love abandons me
Wondering what to say next
My lips were surprised
Without a word, tears starts falling down
Without a word, my heart is broken
Without a word, I waited for love
Without a word, love hurts me
If you want to download the songs, just follow this link:
http://alicechensworld.blogspot.com/2009/10/youre-beautiful-ost.html
Monday, January 4, 2010
I Ragioni
I Ragioni
Chi sono lei?
l'è l'uomo dei miei sogni
O qualcuno per reale
Che può faccio?
i Miei occhi possono vedere
solo UNA bellezza come lei
Quando l'ha fatto comincia?
desidero che abbia saputo il tempo
che il Mio cuore ha imparato il suo nome
Dove fara sono?
Una memoria conservata
O un passato dimenticato
Come non di fare?
ho mollato ho la volontà
non posso trovare la maniera
Perché
Ti amo
è la sola ragione che posso dare
(Reasons
Who are you?
Are you the man of my dreams
Or someone for real
What can I do?
My eyes can only see
A beauty such as you
When did it start?
I wish I knew the time
My heart learned your name
Where will I be?
A cherished memory
Or a forgotten past
How do I let go?
I don’t have the will
I can’t find the way
Why?
I love you
Is the only reason I can give)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Coffee, aging and me
Coffee, aging and me
Last night, I met with my friend Zha at Glorietta. We had dinner at Sbarro’s. Then we head to Landmark to do a bit of make-up shopping. I did a bit and got a new eye pencil which I totally love. I love the color and it makes my eyes look bigger. Hahaha Zha did THE SHOPPING. She will be attending her cousin’s wedding on Saturday.
After shopping, we headed for Starbucks Glorietta, the one inside Debenhams. Then we started talking about how we always end up having coffee when we meet and every time we feel stressed out.
To start with, I am a coffee drinker. Zha tolerates coffee-based drinks like café mocha, frappuccino and macchiato. My friend Jho likes frappuccino. My ex-Starbucks buddy (hehehe) Anton doesn’t drink coffee but he enjoys hot chocolate and caramel frappuccino. So coffee shops, in all names, shapes and sizes, are refuges.
Coffee has a very relaxing effect. The caffeine content in coffee stimulates the central nervous system and restores alertness. That makes coffee a good excuse when you feel stressed. It clears the cobwebs in your mind and lets you think straight.
Then Zha said that meeting friends for coffee is a sign of aging.
Then we looked back at how we spend our time before and now. When we were in college meeting up revolved around watching movies and dining out. Now, we still do that but we always preferred talking over a cup of coffee. We can spend hours in a coffee shop just talking and laughing.
Gone were the days of partying. Movies and dinners are still on the list but coffee is always a must. I guess it’s because we don’t see each other that often and catching up with each other’s lives is best done over a good coffee. We talked and laughed about the past, complained about the present and hope well for tomorrow. Trips and reunions are planned during these coffee chats. And I must say, I always look forward to every coffee meeting I have with my friends.
Having coffee with friends may be a sign of aging. Sounds dreadful? Maybe. But then again, I think I am aging well because I never run out of good friends to have coffee with.
Until my next coffee chat. See you soon.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Nothing beats good old things.
In this age of digital cameras, sandbox, picasa albums and what-have-yous, nothing beats looking at old, tattered photographs. Last Sunday, my family and I had such a great time looking at our old pictures. What prompted this? We were looking for old pictures of Ate Ana, a cousin of mine who will get married this December. Her wedding coordinator wants to prepare an AVP for her and her husband-to-be. And when we say old, the photographs were really really old.
Most of these photos were taken in my grandparents’s house in Sta, Cruz, Manila. I spent my first three years there. I grew up with Ate Ana before they migrated to California during the early 90s. In this photo, Ate Ana was about 5 or six years old and I was probably two. I know, I look like a baby boy! What the?!?!? And before I even used Cheng as my nickname, among family members, I am Chenglou.
Here’s another picture of me and Ate Ana. We seemed to have a fascination with “bed shots”. Hahahahaha Oh! I grew a bit of hair here so it made me look a bit girly. I guess. Ate Ana maintained the same apple-cut. I think I was three in this photo and Ate Ana was 7.
I know… This photo reminded me of the movie “Chicken Little”. That’s me at 3. After I managed to grow a bit of hair, my mom decided to give me a shave. I didn’t know why. Maybe I complained so much of the heat or when she put a lot of hair clips on my hair. This photo has an 8R-framed version at home. I guessed my mom had a grand time making fun of me when I was a kid – the curse of being the firstborn! But looking at this now, I am quite happy that my mom did that. Precious memories I would love to share to my kids someday. Will I shave their hair? I don’t think so. We’ll see. Hahahahahaha
And this is my favorite childhood photo of all. This is my Lolo Gemo, paternal grandfather. I was barely a year old in this photo, around 9 or 10 months. Just learning how to walk. See how happy I was when he showed me the beer bottle? Just kidding. I hate beer. I can drink just one. I just don’t like the taste and the smell and the heavy feeling it leaves me. I’d prefer margarita. As far as I can remember, I was very happy to be carried around by him. When I learned how to walk, he would always bring me to an ice cream parlor a few blocks away from their house. I always looked forward to this trip. Then when my parents decided to get the house in Binangonan, Rizal, where we currently live, my Lolo would visit us once a week and he would bring me in the backyard and taught me how to tend the plants.
He’s now very old and weak. He just stays in bed. I just miss him so much and our good times together. I hope someday we could that again.
Last Sunday, my family and I had a fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane. And I loved it.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Why I don't rent in a boarding house?
I have nothing against boarding houses, dormitories, bed spaces, room for rents and what-have-yous. As a matter of fact, I fancy living in one. When I was in college, I fancied how it was like to live in the school dormitories or rent a bed space in Krus na Ligas. I imagined myself waking up 30 minutes before my class. During my time, and I guess until now, the traffic in Katipunan is just soooo crazy every morning that during my first year, I really cursed my 7:00 a.m class. Years passed and until I graduated, I never got into finding a dorm or a boarding house.
Then came my time to work. I am working in Makati since 2005. I live in Binangonan, Rizal. Geographically speaking, the distance is relatively near. The travel time is usually 45 minutes to an hour. That is, traffic excluded. I know, realistically, you cannot exclude traffic so when added… 2 hours! Tada! I travel for two hours everyday. Then when it rains or there’s a freak road accident somewhere in C-5, travel time doubles or triples. Serioulsy! I experienced getting stuck in the traffic for 6 loooong hours!
I contemplated on renting in Makati. I asked around. I talked to friends. I computed my expenses. I asked my parents. The works. However, I still decided to endure the 2-hour travel to and from work, every single day.
Why?
I always look forward to going home - to my family, to my cats and dogs, to my bed, to my books, to dinners, to family “joke time”. After a long day’s work, the comforts of my own home are enough to wash all the stresses away.
Is it not a refreshing feeling when you get home all stressed and find out that your mom cooked your favorite food? Is it not relaxing to see your dad playing with your pets? Is it not a stress-buster when your favorite dog in the world excitedly barks and welcomes you? Is it not a comforting thought that you always go home to people who always believe in you and give you strength to go on no matter what?
Sometimes I arrive home and notice some problems or little fights here and there. During these moments, I thought that if I am in a boarding house, I won’t hear any of these. Then again, how can I be of help?
I know I may be missing a lot because I am not living independently. However, any time soon, I will have my own family and definitely, I will have to move out and join my husband and start building our own home. It will be a new home that I will look forward to. But for now, I will cherish these moments with my family.
I have nothing against boarding houses, it is just not for someone like me.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Back pains are killing me
I have disregarded my back pains for the longest time. Now, I am suffering the consequences of such neglect. I am already 26 and back braces are no option. Surgery? Spine surgery? Like inserting stainless metal to straighten my back? Oh no! I am so scared I think I might die. Alternatives are very much welcome now. I just had a talk with my doctor and he told me about chiropractor. I think it's a kind of theraphy. I will do my research on this one. I'd rather have several theraphy sessions that undergo surgery. Right now, I just want to lay still, with my back flat on the floor. No mattresses. No cushions. I dread to go back to work and sit for eight hours. For an uneven-legged girl like me, it's torture! I will have a good back massage tonight! Hopefully, it will comfort me even for a moment.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Happy Thursday!
I'ts a Thursday and I just feel a little happier than yesterday. hahaha While I was having breakfast this morning, I noticed myself humming to Andrew Gold's Never Let Her Slip Away. This is one of the old songs I love. I consider it old because it was released in 1978, about 5 years before I was born. I first heard this song from my cousin back in the late 80s. It's a simple song about the theme: love at first sight. The music is feel good. If you do not know the song, here is the lyrics and just google the mp3. Enjoy!
Never Let Her Slip Away
Andrew Gold
I talked to my baby on the telephone, long distance
I never would've guessed I could miss someone so bad, yeah
I really only met her 'bout a week ago
But it doesn't seem to matter to my heart
I know that I love her, I'm hoping that I never recover
'Cause she's good for me
And it would really make me happy
To never let her slip away
Feel like a kid with a teenage crush on a school date
I feel like the lead in 'Romeo and Juliet', yeah
I'm a little bit dizzy, I'm a little bit scared
I guess I never felt this much aware
That I love her, I'm hoping that I'll never recover
'Cause she's good for me
And it would really make me happy
To never let her slip away
I really only met her 'bout a week ago
But it doesn't seem to matter to my heart
I know that I love her, I'm hoping that I never recover
Yeah, she's good to me
And it would really make me happy
To never let her slip away
I love her, I'm thinking that I never recover
Yeah, she's good for me
I know it's gonna make me happy
To never let her slip away
Oh I know it's gonna make me happy
To never let her slip away
I never would've guessed I could miss someone so bad, yeah
I really only met her 'bout a week ago
But it doesn't seem to matter to my heart
I know that I love her, I'm hoping that I never recover
'Cause she's good for me
And it would really make me happy
To never let her slip away
Feel like a kid with a teenage crush on a school date
I feel like the lead in 'Romeo and Juliet', yeah
I'm a little bit dizzy, I'm a little bit scared
I guess I never felt this much aware
That I love her, I'm hoping that I'll never recover
'Cause she's good for me
And it would really make me happy
To never let her slip away
I really only met her 'bout a week ago
But it doesn't seem to matter to my heart
I know that I love her, I'm hoping that I never recover
Yeah, she's good to me
And it would really make me happy
To never let her slip away
I love her, I'm thinking that I never recover
Yeah, she's good for me
I know it's gonna make me happy
To never let her slip away
Oh I know it's gonna make me happy
To never let her slip away
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Painless
I wrote this back in 2008. Recently, a friend talked to me about his dilemma. I would like to think that this poem best describes his situation. Sometimes, you just wish to feel nothing. Forget about being too much happy because sooner or later you will have to withstand the pain. But as Zha would always tell me, "what cannot kill will only make us stronger". I have my own share of happiness and pain. I am not that strong but I am getting there. So there. Read on and enjoy.
P.S I would like to change the title of this poem so if you have suggestions, send them in. Thanks!
Painless
Watching the sunset
As it casts a shadow on two
Creating silhouettes
Familiarity dawns.
Seeing the moon
As it smiles on me
Hiding in the shadows
Reality stikes.
As darkness envelopes me
And the cold night numbs my senses
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Think Happy Thoughts (The Return of Ms. Maliksi)
Happiness is really a state of mind. When you think happy thoughts, everything else just fall into their respective places.
I woke up from a funny dream this morning. Let's just say that in my dream I was eating chess pieces made out of chocolates. I don't know how to play chess but it seemed like I was winning because I kept on munching the pawns and the knights. In my dream, I heard a door bell ringing only to realize that it was my alarm clock telling me to wake up.
It was five in the morning when I opened my eyes. I checked if there were any leftover chess pieces. Sadly, there was none. I got off my bed and prepared for work.
I left the house at 6 a.m and got to the shuttle in a breeze. After paying my fare, I dozed off throughout the travel. It was a good one-hour sleep, which is a nice treat especially for someone who travels from Rizal to Ayala on a daily basis.
I clocked in 7:15. Ready to work? Hahahahahaha Not yet. Official time is 8:30 am so I still have a full 75 minutes for myself.
I happily settled on my work station and switched on my computer. I prepared a cup of coffee while waiting for my computer to come to life. I switched on my radio and tuned in to RX 93.1 Morning Rush.
The first song I heard was "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West and Neyo. Now, that really made my day. *cheng stares at the ceiling and smiles* If you haven't heard the song, Google it or listen to RX 93.1 or Wave 89.1 It's really nice.
Then Chico and Delamar (RX 93.1) were doing their top 10 for the day, "Top Ten Signs that You Are Not Yet Ready to Go Back to School". The entries were so funny. One said something like, "you're not yet ready to go back to school when you ride the jeep and say, 'Manong, isang Bora nga po'. Plus Chico, Del and Suze of Radio 1 were speaking using this "sosyal" accent and some Spanish and French as well.
After several laughing fits, I checked my computer time and sadly, it said 8:30 am. I turned off my radio, checked my to-do list and started working.
I was facilitating a lot of things this morning and I felt like I was Ms.Maliksi again. hahahaha The day went by pretty fast and as I am typing this, it's almost time to go home.
I just hope that I will never run out of good things to think about tonight so I will have a happy state of mind tomorrow. It's Ms. Maliksi all over again.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Exploring Eastwood City
Exploring Eastwood City
My friends (James, Eloisa, Jean and Sylvia) and I decided to hang out in Eastwood last night. We had planned this last Sunday to celebrate two things: 1.) James new work as a professor in STI College and 2.) Jean's success in the recent board exam for Teachers
We decided to have dinner at Something Fishy. We wanted to try out the dinner buffet but it was a bit pricey. (We should have gone there for breakfast or lunch). Instead of the buffet, we ordered seafood platter, chopsuey, grilled pork and sizzling chicken. For a group of 5, we had a lot of food to munch. But we ate them all. Hahahaha
Sadly, James had to leave early. So the four of us girls were left. We had Eastwood for ourselves. Hehehehehe
After dinner, we headed to check out Eastwood Mall. But first, I brought my friends to Red Mango (located at the 2nd level). I had them try frozen yoghurt. This is a recent addiction, thanks to my good friend and officemate Anya.
I ordered medium original fro-yo with blueberry, kiwi and sliced almonds. Jean got medium original topped with blueberry, kiwi and mango. Eloisa tried topping her fro-yo with blueberry, kiwi and grapes while Sylvia had blueberry, choco chip and sliced almonds.
After we got our orders and secured a seat, we relished the heavenly dessert in front of us. And remarked in unison, "So good". For the next sixty seconds, none of us were talking because everyone was busy savoring the taste our own fro-yo creations. After a while, we realized that we had to take pictures so we paused and smiled. We had two photos because we didn't want the dessert to wait for long. Hehehehe
After dessert, we went down to the fountain area and watched as the waters dance to the tune of Dancing Queen and Buttercup. So new wave. We took pictures and videos.
Then, it was time to go home.
We had so much fun and I had a great time hanging out with my friends. I used to go to Eastwood with Anton but he's now in Canada. He has to see the fountain area and try Red Mango. When he comes back in December, we'll go back here and bring another good friend, Jho to experience Eastwood City.
It's fun to explore Eastwood alone, but it's best experienced with great friends! Until next time.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Immortality
IMMORTALITY
I wait in the shadows
For your return
Thirsting
For the promise
Of immortality
I never fear the unknown
The mythical
Only of losing you
Sheltered by darkness
A noble in hiding
Awaiting death
and eternity
I will be indestructible
Yet a prisoner of your memory.
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