happy songs, my stress relievers
...But I was wrong! Because contrary to my initial thoughts on freelancing, it actually is stressful. I juggle two jobs at the moment and everyday just gets so tizzy, teehee.. despite the everyday stress that I experience though, I actually feel great and I always look forward to my next classes and next writing sets. And to help me de-stress, I listen to happy songs. After handling say 6 or 7 continuous classes or after accomplishing a set, I listen to these songs and I just feel good in no time.
One of my favorite "happy songs" at the moment is this...
xoxo. =D
Hello again, blog!
This is all that I have today. Please spare me as I have not slept well for days already. I promise to come back with more exciting or interesting stories. I hope. =)))
xoxo.
resurrection
here are some of the highlights of those four months though:
- i resigned from my job. (boy i miss being a Quality Specialist)
- i didn't take the comprehensive exam again because my shift to another program is not effective until next term
- i did something stupid in the name of love (grinning here) and i don't want to delve into details anymore
- i resumed my stint as a freelance writer
- still trying to figure out/contemplating what my plans are for the next three months
- i have been working out (doing yoga and weight-lifting) and i've been trying to stop smoking. So far, i'm down to 1-3 sticks a day now. That's an improvement, isn't it?
- i'm happier. i don't think and worry too much anymore. ;)
i guess time management is still a problem of mine. but that doesn't mean i can't do anything about it. and besides, i have my whole lifetime to accomplish everything that i want to do. looking back, the last four months made me realize not to take each day for granted, to procrastinate and settle for medioctrity.
having said that, i think i need to revisit the lectures that were given to us when i was still a QS. they were like moving forces that make me want to be a better me... i think i need to write more often in this blog as well coz it's a form of reflection for me.
***
three years ago, i decided to take a leap in my career. i enrolled in graduate school and this was the essay that i submitted as part of the application process. i got this while browsing through my school files and i want to share it with you. three years have passed already, i still have two more years to actually make my dreams substantiate. =)
...
Charisma Grace Oliveros
Masters of Arts in Education major in English Language Education
Five years after, I’m expected to have finished my Masters degree at De La Salle University. Thus, wider horizon and bigger opportunities are in store for me. Personally, I see myself as a better educator, possessing the knowledge and skills acquired from the two-year course. It had been a part of my plans to take graduate studies from a prestigious university to help me improve in the field that I chose. I’ve been working as an English instructor, particularly to Koreans, for more than two years now and I believe that this is a big factor to be admitted in the said program. I have learned some ways/styles in teaching English as a second language. I have also finished a certificate program (ESL Certificate Program) from De La Salle University wherein I had a bird’s eye view of how to teach the second/foreign language to foreign students effectively. Furthermore, I’m a graduate of Journalism at Centro Escolar University and I had gained some knowledge regarding the technicalities of the English language. Pursuing further studies would help me grow more as an English educator. This will also enable me to hasten my English skills and knowledge and would give me the chance to contribute in the promotion of English proficiency in the country.
The Philippines is known to be the third largest English-speaking country after the United States and United Kingdom but according to recent statistics, the Filipino’s English proficiency is declining. I hope to contribute in solving this rising problem through continuous research and studies about the second language and sharing them to other people. I would be able to share the things I’ve learned from these investigations through teaching. Through studying new approaches in teaching English, I would be able to teach English well and help the students to be more adept in the use of the second language. I would also like to study or investigate about the English proficiency or literacy in depressed areas or public schools. This would probably be the focus of my thesis since English proficiency is expected to be low in these areas and I would like to think of ways that could help address and alleviate this issue. I hope to teach ESL students as well. At this age, the Philippines is not just considered as a tourist spot but as an English hub, especially to Koreans. A lot of foreign students opt to study in the Philippines now. I would like to contribute in this endeavor and I could only do that if I’ll have enough knowledge of the second language.
I see this opportunity to study as a career move. I hope to be admitted in the program so that my dreams and plans will materialize. This step will not only benefit me personally but other people as well.
...
xoxo..
on mary grace, friends and leaving
person. it's one of those cafes where freshly brewed coffee and mouth-watering baked goodies are available. but what set it apart from the typical cafes is its homey ambiance. i really love their artsy tables and home-like interior! it is this very homey concept that also makes this place a perfect spot to unwind and catch up with friends. and so i didn't wonder why this cafe was chosen as the venue for my so-called reunion with two of my good friends in the office who happened to be my former classmates in graduate school as well--- Kriz and Cookie. actually it was our first get-together after grad school. we never really had the chance to hang out prior that because we were busy making sense of the career that we chose. teehee. anyway, i'm glad that we pushed through with our plan of having a reunion last December 23.
with friends (Cookie [L]; Krizz [center])500 days of summer

gifts for keeps
a look at the piece of wisdom embedded in each page. Below is a picture of the November 8 message:3. Inspire by BENCH. This perfume was given by my good friend, Melai, for my birthday. Aside from the person who gave it to me, what made this gift extra special is the fact that you are helping women with breast cancer by just purchasing the item.. Thank you pangga for this special gift. It truly is inspiring!
4. Origami. Our department, Development and Quality, has been emphasizing on creativity and establishing change. Hence, my very creative teammate gave us origami papers as presents. She said it's a way for us to express or enhance our creativity. She also gave us a link to different paper designs and i'm gonna try them real soon! This is a very unique gift that's why I just love it!
11. Family. I guess it's a no-brainer if I say that my family is, has always been, and always will be the best gift given to me. Our simple get-together during the holiday really made the last days of the previous year and first two days of the new year very memorable. My sister abroad and my brother in the province were able to witness the said reunion as well and I'd like to thank modern technology for that. Also, I get to spend time with my second family, Shey's family. Shey amd I are just so happy that everything's falling into place. My family knows about my extra-ordinary relationship and so does my partner's family. I was so elated to finally meet Shey's sister as well. It was a happy new year indeed!



***
"Every gift which is given, even though small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection."
reminder for next year
When you want to be happy and successful
Focus on what is right now!
Learn from the Past
When you want to make the present better than the past
Do things differently in the present!
Plan for the Future
When you want to make the future better than the present
Put your plan into action in the present!
--Spencer Johnson
****
currently reading: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
as the new year dawns, it's a good thing to be reading this book. actually, my goal is to finish it before the clock strikes 12 tonight. it's about "CHANGE" and i think it's just very timely since i have a lot of plans for next year. wish me luck!
P.S. I would like to thank my good friend, Cookie, for giving me the book as a going-away present. I will surely miss talking to her at work.
something Christmas-ish
to start off, i'm sharing with everyone my all-time favorite Christmas song...
MY GROWN UP CHRISTMAS LIST
Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream
So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal the heart
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end oh,
This is my grown up Christmas list
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something shiny
Wrapped beneath the tree
But heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
Oh, This is my grown up christmas list
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list
This is my only life long wish
This is my grown up christmas list
***
now, allow me to share with you my very own grown up Christmas list:
1. Clean and honest government
2. Englightened leaders.
3. Cleaner, greener environment
4. That all people devasted by Ondoy and Pepeng be able to recover.. soon.
5. Healing for all those who have loved and lost. Or, those who have lost their loved ones.
6. Peace of mind for everyone.
7. Good health.
8. Steady recovery of the economy. And, more jobs, especially for the poor.
9. Stronger family ties.
10. WORLD PEACE.
***
and lastly, here's a wallpaper that vividly depicts the Yuletide season. Since we don't have winter here, I've always loved looking at pictures with snowmen. ^^

***
Having said all those, let me greet you once again a HAAAAAPPPPY CHRISTMAS!!!
xoxo.
c & d
***



xo,
New year gitters
and so just like everyone else, i'm making my New Year's resolutions once again. the last time i made a list of resolutions was years back so here goes nothing...

1. SAVE money! Start up a bank account.
2. Gain weight/exercise regularly. i'll do yoga as religioulsy and regularly as possible.
3. REEEAAAD books regularly.
4. Spend more time with friends and family.
5. Refrain from focusing on bad and negative thoughts. Happy thoughts all the time!^^
6. Write more! Blog more often.
7. TRAVEL! go somewhere far during weekend or holidays.
8. Find a job that I will really enjoy.
9. Finish watching all the TV series that I have started to watch this year: Smallville, Charmed, CSI's, L Word and many others. Oh boy, I really have to watch all seasons of each series.
******
speaking of New Year, Christmas is also just around the corner. And since every one's shamelessly plugging their Christmas wishlist, here's mine:
1. BOOKS. (National Bookstore is offering a set of book series. hope someone would get me a set of the Twilight saga, Shopaholic, Harry Potter or Lauren Weisberger's series)
2. SLR camera.. i'm soo drooling over this kind of camera.
3. Coffee maker. i could buy this kitchen must-have anytime but i'm hoping someone will give me one.
4. Little Black Dress (LBD). They say that every girl should have one in her closet. But guess what? I don't have one. Thus, I fervently hope that someone will give me this piece of girl thing.
5. Gladiator sandals. This pair has become very popular since early this year. But, I didn't by myself a pair because I still prefer flip-flops. Next year, I want to perk up my footwear collection with their edgy look.
6. DVD copy or (read:) copies of the movies in my "must-watch list:" Coco before Chanel, 500 days of Summer, The Piano, The Usual Suspects, Lorenzo's Oil, and John Hughes films. Heard that the flicks back in the 80's are unbeatable so I hope someone will grab a copy of any 80's films for me.
7. Rihanna's newest album. Or Lady Gaga's, hehe.. I so love "Bad Romance."
8. Tee with the map of the Philippines. hehe, dunno how it's called, eh..
so that's my wishlist for now. just off the top of my head so i may or may not add more in the coming days.. ;p
Happy Christmas every one!
xo,
leadership and random thoughts
so what else have i got aside from those random thoughts. well, i have here a list of inspiring/motivating tidbits of leadership wisdom. got them from the leadership materials regularly sent to our department. I thought they're worth sharing because they could be used in any aspects of life. Whether you are a leader, a mere neophyte in the work force, or even a student, you could relate to it...

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
When attempting to do anything new, voices inside us will whisper "No, don't do it." Those who give up listen to such voices; those who persevere ignore it. When it comes to making big and bold changes, either in our lives or our careers, there will always be those around us telling us no; it is up to us to follow our own inner yes.
"Talk does not cook rice."
As this Chinese proverb implies, you must do more than talk about what you want to do next; you have to take action to make it happen. Large organizations fail not because of lack of good intention, but for lack of effective execution. The same applies to us. We fail to move from thinking and talking to actually acting.
"He who has no fire within himself cannot warm others." You need to have passion for what you do. Otherwise no one will follow you. This is critical for anyone seeking to build a business or start a new career. You need to radiate a passion about what you do so that others can feel and share it with you. Entrepreneurs need passion to attract capital; job seekers need passion to convince employers of their worthiness.
"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives," said Abraham Lincoln. "I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
Xo,
inspiring friday!
***
also,got this message from "Vessels of Honor" as yesterday's advice. it's a very timely quote since I myself have been in search for something these past few days.. right now, am clueless. but i greatly hope that with the grace of God, I'd find something which is of great significance...
"the search for significance is the most significant search of mankind. But if our significance is found in insignificant things, our search is itself insignificant."
Xo,
update
xoxo.
almost 26
such my age!
hopefully, i won't get sick. been suffering from sore throat since last night and now am feverish.. still, thank you Lord for another fresh year to re-invent and re-evaluate my life.
korean film
First of all, Happy MONDAY!!!
This was advertised by our company last Sept.. too bad I was not able to watch them. I'll just blog the promo poster here so that I'd remember to watch them and to make known to others these movies as well... I've always loved Korean TV series and I'm pretty sure that their flicks are also must-see's on their own rights. Period/ historical films are, in particular, very poignant! I hope you'd also find time to see their flicks...
Movies have always been a way for us to learn more about a country's culture. I'm positive that these movies would help boost our knowledge about one of the most historical countries in Asia, South Korea. =)
***
Here's the list of the feature movies:
1. Barking Dogs Never Bite
2. Sa-kwa
3. Old Boy
4. Forbidden Quest
5. Driving with My Wife's Lover
6. The Show Must Go On
7. Beyond the Years
winner =)

RULE: To accept this award, here are the rules. Post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his/her blog link. Pass the awrd to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the blogger to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
**
To my fellow blogger/sister here in blogspot, jhaney, thanks for sharing with me this award. I may not have a lot of readers, but i'm happy to have been blessed with followers/ blogger friends like you. Thanks sis!
Now, I'm sharing this award to the following people:
*could only come up with 6 bloggers, though =)
...
thank you one again, jhaney. I'm capping off my night now, opps, morning na pala, hehe..
on prioritizing
****
In the days before modern plumbing, families put their battered tin bath in front of the fire, filled it with hot water, and took turns to wash away the weeks grime. As baby always went in last, a tired mum was at risk of throwing the baby out with the dirty bathwater, as she couldnt see the good from the bad.
Prioritising Work Tip #1 A tired, emotional brain is not best placed to make decisions – this is when the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater. Good decisions are made by alert, objective minds, so make an effort to keep your energy levels up and your stress levels down.
Prioritising Work Tip #2 Know what’s important – learn to distinguish the baby from the bathwater. Ask yourself what’s important, and what’s urgent. Take pressure off and make good prioritising decisions by creating a list of questions to ask yourself when deciding what you should be doing and when.
Prioritising Work Tip #3 If you’re still struggling to separate the baby and the bathwater, maybe you need help. Help can come from anywhere – from your manager, your peers, your partner (or optician!). Someone with clearer sight or more experience may provide you with the insight and objectivity you were lacking. It’s okay to ask!.
Learn from history how to prioritize tasks better and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!
--By Lyndsay SwintonOwner, Management for the Rest of Us (http://www.mftrou.com/prioritizing-tasks.html)
***
quote for this choose-day
30 Should Have's and Should Know's
30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30
By 30, you should have:
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know:
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. How to take control of your own birthday.
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30.
***
While reading through it, I realized that I still have a long way to go. But what the heck, I'm just 25, I have all the time to do all these and more =)






