| Wednesday, December 31, 2003 |
| Tne End |
I know I promised all of you a year-ender Jax Place Best of the Blogs Awards and here it is!
Best Christian Blog
*SuperBlessed - Ganns has been my spiritual inspiration. Everytime I feel down, I remember him and I am inspired to go on and believe Him more. He is a true brother in Christ and it is evident in SuperBlessed. Indeed, he is truly Super Blessed and I am, too, because of the simple fact that I know him.
Favorite Filipino Blog
*I Remember, I Remember - Everytime I go there, I know I will leave with some thought. It's funny and amazing how I seem to agree with a lot of Imo's thoughts. And Imo seems to be the only blogger that I like to "argue" with. Hehe. Maybe that's why her blog is my favorite.
Favorite Foreign Blog
*Living Room - Darren always tries to make his readers feel welcome. From his brilliant ideas to his desire to share relevant news with others to relating his experiences, there is never a dull moment in Darren's Living Room. Darren's Living Room is one of my favorites because he always tries to make everyone feel important. He makes everyone feel like they matter. And he gives everyone a chance to be able to help.
Most Thought Provoking Blog
*He Says, She Says - Whenever I read what Sinta has to say, she always makes me reflect and think. Some of the questions I've tried to answered are questions she has asked at lockload. And I guess that's what a lot of people like about her because everyday she has so many visitors. Well, I don't blame them.
Best Written Blog
*Patatas Project - Mitzie is a writer and it shows here. I cry when she's down, I'm happy when she is, and I'm embarrassed for her when she was asked to do the ocho-ocho. ;) All of this is apparent because she writes so well and so full of emotions. Poetic, actually. That's why I keep coming back for more.
Most Entertaining Blog
*I had the hardest time with this because all the blogs I read have entertained me in one way or another so it's hard to single out just one blog. But I have made a decision and the award goes to Renegade Ramblings. Everytime I go to Bundi's blog, I seem to smile a lot. Maybe he knows how to live his life. Maybe he's got a very amusing life. Whatever it is, Bundi brings me smiles. And for that I am thankful.
I know I said five. But while I was finishing this up, I thought of another
one. And besides, it's my awards and I can add if I want to! ;)
Happy New Year, everyone! 2004 is fresh start for all of us. Don't go back to the way things were and look forward to a new and better life. |
posted by Jax @ 5:27:00 AM   |
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| Tuesday, December 30, 2003 |
| The Year That Was 2003 |
December 31, 2003.
I think it's safe to say, 'Time flies so fast'. Because really, time flies so fast. I can still remember January 1, 2003 and all its promises of a better life for me in 2003 than in 2002. And now January 1, 2004 is just less than 12 hours away with a promise of a better 2004.
Right now, I think it's only appropriate that I look back on the year that was.
I think 2003 has been the hardest year for me in the 23 years I've existed. So many things have happened (or not happened) and each and every trial has tested my patience, determination, will, confidence and, most importantly, my faith. No matter how many challenges I had to experience, I knew, every single time, that I would be alright. Because I had God with me. He took care of me. He carried me when no one else would. And you know what? Despite all the heartbreaks, shattered dreams, false hopes and everything bad that happened to me this year, 2003 has been one of the best years of my life. Because if not for all of this, my faith would not have grown stronger. My life would have lost all meaning and to tell you frankly, all desire to live life would have been lost.
But I'm happy now. Not because I don't have any problems, but because I know, despite all the problems, I'll be fine. Because of Him.
***
I know I promised a "Best of the Blogs" Awards here in Jax Place at the end of the year but *surprise surprise!* I haven't finished it yet. Since this is the first time Jax Place will be conducting this, I only have five awards.
Favorite Christian Blog
Favorite Filipino Blog
Favorite Foreign Blog
Funniest Blog
Most Thought-Provoking Blog
Hopefully, more awards will be added every year.
I will post winners in a few hours. |
| posted by Jax @ 11:27:00 PM |
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| Monday, December 29, 2003 |
| Miko Sotto |
You know what's shocking? People dying because of suicide.
You know what's even more shocking? People dying from accidents.
Rest in peace, Mikko Sotto. |
| posted by Jax @ 5:40:00 AM |
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| Sunday, December 28, 2003 |
| the aftermath |
I'm back from the cold world that is Tagaytay. Christmas 2003 is now officially over. After months of anticipation and gift shopping, it is now over. Just like that.
It's strange and sad though that when Christmas is over, you can feel the spirit leaving. Freaky and strange, but true. It's almost as if people are only nice because Christmas is approaching. But when the day after Christmas comes, it's almost as if something clicks in the minds of people that says, "Christmas is over now. I don't have to be nice to people anymore".
Who knows? Maybe it's just paranoia but it really saddens me, you know?
But anyway, how was your Christmas?
***
Hehe.
I just remembered a funny story that the homilist said at the start of his homily during the Christmas Eve mass. There was a priest who needed a horse to get around a town. So this local guy helps him by providing a horse. "If you want him to run," said the local guy. "Just say 'Praise the Lord' and he'll run. If you want him to stop, just say 'Halleluia!' and he'll stop. Got it?" The priest got it and rode the horse. "This is easy. Ok, I want him to run now. Um, Praise the Lord!", the priest says. And the horse runs. The priest kept repeating "Praise the Lord" and horse ran faster and faster. Then the priest noticed that if the horse didn't stop now, they will fall into a cliff. So he tried to remember what the local guy said. "Oh right. Halleluia!", the priest remembered. And the horse stopped just in the nick of time. "Hay," the priest said. "Praise the Lord." And the horse started running again.
Hehe. That certainly woke me up.
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| posted by Jax @ 6:58:00 PM |
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| Monday, December 22, 2003 |
| Season's Greetings! |
As I will be going out of town again this holiday season (Tagaytay!), let me do this now:
Season's Greetings from Jax Place!
Enjoy the holidays everyone! Will be back next week! |
| posted by Jax @ 8:31:00 PM |
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| Sunday, December 21, 2003 |
| Return of the King |
Omigoodness. Omigoodness. Omigoodness. Oh. My. Goodness.
I just came home from watching advanced screening of the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, which ended around 4 hours ago. Has it really been 4 hours already? It feels like I just finished watching the movie 4 minutes ago!
I am so tempted to post all the wonderful scenes from the movie but I won't because of course I don't want to spoil it for everyone who hasn't watched it yet.
But let me just say: Peter Jackson! You are amazing! You have turned the most detail-filled book ever written into the most amazing, wonderful, legendary movie ever directed and produced. You have turned the impossible and seemingly improbable to the possible and the brilliant. How will I be able to compete with that?
I'll probably be posting my review of the movie tomorrow here. I'll keep you guys posted! |
| posted by Jax @ 7:08:00 AM |
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| Saturday, December 20, 2003 |
| Secret Santa |
What a wonderful idea Darren has! Right now, my Secret Santa has been sending me e-cards, posting some wonderful comments here. Call me sentimental but I like it. It makes me feel more happy, especially now that it's the Christmas season. I've also been sending my, um, "baby" some comments and e-cards.
This is so much fun!
***
Last night, my friends and I had our annual Christmas party. Too bad some of the others couldn't go. But oh well.
I'll upload the pics in awhile.
***
Watching Lord of the Rings: Return of the King this afternoon and I can't wait! |
| posted by Jax @ 5:52:00 PM |
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| Thursday, December 18, 2003 |
| new home |
So I have a new home here. But no worries my friends, because I am not letting go of the original Jax Place. I love this. I'm not letting this go.
***
Mel's due to give birth any day now! Gosh. If ever, Baby Nico may become a Christmas baby! Won't that be fun? Sharing your birthday with Jesus?
***
I've started to erase some of the blog links here not because they're not good or anything like that. I just don't get to visit them anymore. All the remaining links are daily reads so if you're looking for a great blog to read, check them out! Of course, I have my personal favorites but I won't reveal them na. Just check them all out! |
| posted by Jax @ 6:07:00 PM |
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| wow |
This afternoon, I had the most amazing, most relaxing, most detoxifying Oriental massage. It was so good and relaxing, my sister had to come get me -- an hour after it was finished!
Yes, my dear friends, I fell asleep.
Oooh... The massage felt so good! I just want to get back right now and have another one. But I can't because it's already closed.
Oh well. There's still tomorrow.
***
It's sad that a lot of people don't feel Christmas in the air while I do. They don't feel it for a lot of reasons and it saddens me. It also saddens me that people only seem to equate Christmas with shopping, gifts and vacations.
Yes, I do, too. But I also know that Christmas isn't just about shopping and gifts and vacations. It's also about preparing ourselves for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's also about teaching ourselves to stop thinking about ourselves and start helping others in need. It's the season of love and yet I feel like people are forgetting that.
And that saddens me.
But I still have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas.
Thank You, God, for taking care of me all the days of my life. And I will do everything that I can to please You. |
| posted by Jax @ 7:18:00 AM |
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| Tuesday, December 16, 2003 |
| good news AND Good News |
I read her blog entry yesterday and she said something happened, a life-changing event. I quickly emailed her, anxious. What was it?
Then I got an email from her today.
Congratulations, Cha! People, Cha is officially engaged to be married! Hop on over to her blog and congratulate her. I'm so happy for you, girl! After all you've gone through, you deserve to be happy!
***
Last night, I officially started the Christmas season by attending the anticipated first mass of the Simbanggabi. This is something I've never really done. But it's a promise I'm trying to keep to God to make myself more useful and actually make a difference to people. I'm trying to make an effort, I really am. Right now, I've gathered old books of mine that I've decided to sell. Proceeds from this book sale will be donated to a charity (I have not decided which charity/ies yet).
So if you're interested in buying some used books, please let me know by leaving your e-mail address. |
| posted by Jax @ 8:01:00 AM |
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| Monday, December 15, 2003 |
| Sunday's worth |
I attended the christening of my very good friend Ida's 4-month old baby girl as the godmother. I went along with 3 of our other friends. Some of them I haven't seen since July or August and some I saw last month. But you know what? It doesn't matter how long we haven't seen each other. Because it doesn't matter how much we missed each other. So much has happened in all of our lives that 4 hours is not enough to catch up on old times.
Good thing we'll be seeing each other again this Saturday on our annual Christmas party here at my house. I can't wait to see them!
Check out my friends here! |
| posted by Jax @ 6:22:00 AM |
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| Saturday, December 13, 2003 |
| a day's worth |
Guess who's coming here next year?
According to Aura, he's coming here for a concert!
Can you take it?
I'm so excited!
***
Speaking of more good news, I had my hair cut!
Yes yes. Vain moment here. But I feel freer! And lighter!
***
By the way, does anyone know where I can get a secondhand copy of Book 1 or 3 of the Forgotten Realms: Dark Elf Trilogy? I'm getting it for my friend and I'm having a hard time looking for a copy.
If you do, please let me know. I'm supposed to give it to her by December 20 coz that's when my friends and I will be getting together.
***
I got my Elliott Smith Figure 8 CD last week and have been listening to it non-stop. He is amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
Grab a copy if you don't have one yet!
***
I'm reading a book now called Thirty Nothing by Lisa Jewell and it's about two best friends (a guy and girl) who can't seem to realize that they were the perfect person for each other. And while reading it, I was thinking, "Oh I hope this isn't one of those 'love stories' where they realize their love for each other and they get together and live happily ever after."
But you know what? I'm not as realistic and as "cynical" as I think I am.
Because in the end, all I want is for them to get together and prove that love really can be as simple as 1-2-3.
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| posted by Jax @ 6:19:00 AM |
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| Thursday, December 11, 2003 |
| An Ode to Great Teachers Part II |
(continued...)
II. Doc Sol
Doc Sol is the chairperson for my department in college. But back when I was still a student, she was still a professor for the same department and my premier adviser and mentor. She became my professor in 3rd year college and I loved her ever since. I learned so much in her classes and not just about what she was teaching. Our relationship didn't stop when class ended. I always went to my department to look for her and just talk to her about different things. She was the one who advised me where to apply in the UK. She was very supportive and very loving. She was one of my second moms.
III. Ruey
My writing professor, my writing mentor. He always believed in my writing and always encouraged me to be more than I can be, even though I was too lazy to do it. A lot of the things I learned about writing, I learned from him. He was one of the people who helped me hone my skill and eventually discover my strongest points. People who have had him for a professor are lucky.
*More to come...
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| posted by Jax @ 5:28:00 PM |
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| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 |
| An Ode to Great Teachers |
A lot of us hate school. Sometimes, we only go to school to see our friends or to avoid our nagging mothers or because of some other reason.
But there comes a time when a person goes to school because they look forward to learning more. They look forward to learning more because of a great teacher.
This is an ode to the great teachers I have had.
(in random order)
I. Nanay Dette Windsor
Nanay Dette was the English professor in my high school that everyone feared. Ever since I was a freshman and heard stories about her, I prayed that I would never get her as my homeroom adviser come junior year (she taught English to HS juniors). But on my first day of my junior year in high school, when we find out what class we were in, I found out that I was assigned to the homeroom of Miss Windsor. Oh no, I thought. But you know what? First impressions really never last.
Nanay Dette, as my classmates and I fondly call her, became our second mother. She took care of us, made sure we were okay. She was always looking out after our welfare, all 42 of us. She knew each of our lives. She had the most genuine concern for us.
And she was the first English teacher who inspired me to love English literature as much as I do now. She inspired me to eventually dedicated my life to literature.
She doesn't teach at my old high school anymore because she migrated to the US last year. Hay. I miss her grabe.
*More to come... |
| posted by Jax @ 5:50:00 AM |
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| Tuesday, December 09, 2003 |
| Asia Weblog Awards 2003 |
Having been nominated for Best Foreign Blog in the Weblog Awards 2003, they decided to start the Asia Weblog Awards 2003. Nominate and vote for your favorite Asian blogs!
I will be coming up with my own version of blog awards before the end of this year. |
| posted by Jax @ 7:24:00 AM |
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| Christmas is in the air! |
Christmas is definitely in the air! It's getting colder and colder every day!
Simbanggabi is starting next week.
What are your plans for this Christmas?
How are you celebrating it this year?
Who are you gonna be with this Christmas?
Who will you remember this Christmas?
Who are you forgetting this Christmas? |
| posted by Jax @ 5:50:00 AM |
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| Saturday, December 06, 2003 |
| boy crazy |
No matter how "serious" a girl may appear, there are still times when she goes all boy-crazy. This was one of the times. Even though I go out a lot, I rarely see really handsome guys. I know because I look around.
Well last night was different. I was at Starbucks Greenbelt 3 last night, with my sister and my high school friend and there was this handsome guy in the table in front of me! He looked like one of my crushes. Grabe! Haha!
Anyway, there. First handsome guy I've seen in months.
Boy-crazy moment, over. |
| posted by Jax @ 6:22:00 AM |
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| Friday, December 05, 2003 |
| The Pianist |
I was finally able to watch The Pianist starring Adrien Brody last night. Ever since the Oscars last March, I've been trying to find a copy of this so I could see for myself whether Adrien Brody and Roman Polanski deserved their awards for Best Actor and Best Director, respectively. And they did. Adrien Brody gave a spectacular performance as Wvalek Szpilman, a Polish pianist whose up-and-coming career was thwarted by the onset of World War II. I was awed by Roman Polanski's direction of this great masterpiece. He was able to show me and make me feel the emotions and what the Jews might have felt during World War II and how despicable the Germans were.
I don't like discrimination, prejudice, racism and the like. No, actually, I hate it. And I hated what Hitler and the Nazi soldiers did to the Jews back then. They had absolutely no right to do that. No right at all.
Please enlighten me. Why did Hitler hate Jews that much? When the war started in 1939, there were, according to the movie, around 400,000 Jews in Warsaw. By around 1943, there were only 60,000 left. These Nazi soldiers never gave them a chance and killed the Jews whenever these soldiers felt like it. How low and despicable can one get?
I hope this never happens again. EVER. |
| posted by Jax @ 7:56:00 AM |
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| Thursday, December 04, 2003 |
| Yonex |
Badminton has never been this much fun! Check out my new racket: Muscle Power-99!
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| posted by Jax @ 1:48:00 AM |
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| Monday, December 01, 2003 |
| World AIDS day |
Today is World AIDS Day. How did you celebrate it?
Did you all know that in 2001, 5 million people became newly infected with HIV, and 3 million people died from AIDS? Nearly 20 million Africans have already died from AIDS and millions more will die during 2002.
-- information from Stop Global AIDS.org --
And more and more will get infected if we don't try to do something about it.
What have you done to stop AIDS lately? |
| posted by Jax @ 4:03:00 AM |
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