What I'm Liking Now: DWTS' Tristan and Derek

w

Never in my life had I thought I would find ballroom dancers attractive.

These guys are cute enough just standing. But when they dance, they're smokin'. Super hot.

Intoxicated with the Man of Substance

Habang ang karamihan ay nasa bakasyon at lakwatsa noong Thanksgiving long weekend, I was just at home watching lots of TV.

As I was switching channels, I caught "Grow Your Own Drugs" on the Lifestyle Network and my first thought was "nice try to be clever with titles". Tapos nakita ko yung host; pretty face, british accent, nice smile, nice arms and shoulders, looking good in jeans and shirt. The next thing I knew - I was actually watching the show.

So maybe it wasn't just his looks that caught my attention. Totoo naman eh, he was actually talking about something to me was interesting - the benefits we get from fruits, plants, and herbs. And people close to me know that I am starting to embrace this stuff. Pero to be quite honest, habang half of me was saying "ah talaga, ganun pala 'yun.", the other half naman was saying "shocks, this is the kind of guy for me! We can talk hours about this kind of stuff! We're perfect for each other!" Hahaha. Really, I never knew na merong plant geek na ganito ka-cute. Always before, when I think of botany, ang naiisip ko, either si Ernie Baron, or yung show na Ating Alamin. But this guy? This is the type you introduce to your 'rents. They will complain about their arthritis and he'll gladly boil them some leaves that will relieve the pain. Ohh..they will love him! And...I'm also thinking...I should stop right about now because I'm starting to sound scary! Haha.

So this are some of what Wikipedia has to say about him:

At the age of 27, Wong became the presenter of his own television series Grow Your Own Drugs. The award-winning BBC Two series demonstrates a number of natural remedies sourced from plants, and soon became the highest-rated gardening series on UK television. Wong has also authored the two best-selling books that tie-in with each series of the television show.

Dahil din sa google, nalaman kong there were rumors about him being gay kasi he's a famous garden designer in England na equivalent daw ng pagiging male hair-dresser or interior decorator sa amerika. What? Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o mapapa-iling. Pero hindi yan ang deal breaker, dahil hindi naman ako convinced na bading nga siya. Ang alam ko kasi depende yun sa sexual orientation hindi naman sa hilig. Pero nabasa ko rin kasi na he believes in evolution and Charles Darwin is his hero. So bago ko isipin kung maganda ang tunog ng Raquel Wong and how exciting magkaroon ng anak na british accent, I've to do some reality check, we have different core beliefs! (Kung makasalita naman ako parang there's a chance in a million years na magkafuture kami together. Eh alam ko naman na lagi siyang busy sa research and taping. Haha. Ayaw talagang tumigil.)

Gay or not, Darwin worshipper or not, it doesn't change the fact that I like what he does and I will still try to catch the show if I can.

Ngayon kung ang tanong eh, if interesting pa rin siya sa 'kin kung hindi siya good looking...uhmmm...kapag fanatic na din ako ni Ka Gerry Geronimo, dun ko masasagot 'yan.

What I'm Liking Now: God Only Knows

What I remember the most about the movie "Love Actually" was how the ending made me feel. It was a montage and there was this song, and I was teary eyed and I was just so in love at being in love.

I encountered this song a few days back and I knew I've heard it somewhere. I confirmed it after googling it a little. It was that song. 

I guess what I'm saying is, there is something about this song that makes you feel good. One of best love songs ever. 

It was by the Beach Boys but this one is a cover by Switchfoot.

God's Chisel

It was easy to share this video but I gotta admit it was hard for me to start writing anything about it. It just talks about many bible principles that my limited writing skills may not give it justice.

So instead, I just thought of writing about how this video ministered to me.

For quite some time now, I find myself wanting to be a better person, either by accomplishments, or just plainly for being known as someone who is kind and nice. Parang, there is this person I am called and I want to be.

In a nut shell, this video is about God chiselling us into the masterpiece he created us to be, removing stuff that are not supposed to be there. I am comforted to have been reminded na hindi lang pala ako ito, that God is also part of the work, molding me into that person He wants me to be.

The video was right when it said that I care deeply about what other people think of me. Compliments and insults will be thrown my way but the only approval I should be aiming for is God's. And while I am so focused on my bait-baitan pa-image, circumstances in my life would just push me to show the opposite. Ang hirap maging peacemaker kung pino-provoke ka. Ang hirap maging thankful kapag may setback ka. But slowly, I'm learning to accept that God allows some circumstances in my life to produce character.

So who do I want to be? Eto medyo hardcore but it gives so much clarity to all the confusion: we want to look good, we want a good name, we want to be the best that we can be. But God will chisel away until when people look at us, they see Jesus and not us.

What I'm liking now: Indak - Up Dharma Down

Wala akong masyadong alam na UDD song because I don't really listen to them. Yes, the poser confesses. Haha. Pero pag may nagustuhan naman ako, I must say I'm all out bananas over it (Oo, Tadhana, Sana)!

This is my new UDD favorite and listening to this in my earphones at work is not a good idea. Gagawin kang unproductive. Parang gusto mo na lang mag-emo at tumingin sa kawalan habang iniisip "bakit ang ilap-ilap ng pag-ibig sa 'kin?" Haha.

They say the song is about being torn between two lovers, and though not everyone can relate, one can still personalize it because of the universal message of love being something you chase but keeps running away, something you believe but also confuses you, something that gives you joy but also torments.

Ang sinomang mag-isip na korni ang huli kong sinabi ay isang plastik. Haha.

Enjoy!

Lyrics | Up Dharma Down lyrics - Indak lyrics

Hot Sweaty Crazy Fun Franco Night

Nag file ako ng leave for a Friday with a plan in mind - to watch Franco in the flesh. Kasama sa plano ko na makapunta sa gig nila before the year ends, so when I learned that they are performing in Cainta Rizal, I thought it's only practical to go.

Dahil nakahanap ako ng kasama, tuloy ang plano. Ang daling kausap ni Kars, go agad kahit medyo rock ang lakad. Pagdating namin sa venue ang dami ng tao. Tatayo na rin lang kami, dun na kami sa malapit sa stage. From there I thought I saw some Jejemon's on mosh pit high on pot. Nakipagkulitan din kami sa mga katabi namin na members pala ng isa sa mga performing bands. Nakakatawang isipin na ang tagal namin iningatan ang pwestong 'yun, nung Franco na ang tutugtog, matataboy din pala kami sa area kung saan ang view ko eh kung hindi side, puro likod. Wala eh, rowdy ang crowd at hindi kami lalaban. Sabi ng isa kong kaibigan na nakita ko dun, nakapunta na siya ng ilang gigs ng Franco sa ibang lugar, pero hindi ganun. Nung nagkabasagan ng bote, Franco even had to remind the crowd to take it easy para hindi masira ang show. Nakita ko ang sarili ko bilang isang fan, wa-poise at walang pakiaalam. Ni hindi namin nakuhang magpicture ng sarili namin sa loob, feel na feel kong mukha akong dugyot. Para akong tinotorture pero ayokong ipatigil? Ayoko na kasi ang init sobra, ang dami kong pawis! Inspite of that, I enjoy watching them so ayoko pang matapos. The band was sweating big time too, but they were obviously thriving at the crowd's energy. We don't smoke pero nag-amoy yosi kami. Napaisip pa nga ako, "dapat ba sa 70's Bistro na lang ako nanood para medyo urbanized?" Then I thought, no, this is the way to best experience it: the waiting, the mixed crowd, the init and pawis. These make actually seeing them sweeter.

Thanks Kars for putting up with my Franco craze and for not being maarte. It was crazy and unglamorous, far from a sosyal gimik night or ideal date. But it was quite an experience. And we, church girls, survived!