Best Bits of 2011

2011 is such a great year for me in terms of my career and craft. It is also the year of learning and new opportunities for me. In order for you to know that, let us go back and recall the top 10 best things happened to me last 2011.


1. I've got my new job as a teacher. This is the most special birthday gift I ever received where I was hired as a teacher in a school for permanent position. Definitely, I will give my best shot in this job to stay longer. 


2. Giving birth to a new blog entitled "Perspectives in White Scratch Papers." I was able to enhance to improve my writing skills via updating this blog. I am so thankful that it reached almost 7500 viewers from different parts of the world.


3. Attending the Writers Block Workshop. I was a follower of this group in Facebook since when I made it on OfficiallyPhilippines online writing contest last 2010. It was May 2011 in Greenbelt 4, Makati, I attended this workshop entitled "Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career 4.0" and I learned a lot of things to improve my writing skill, as well with how to get in to the freelance writing business. I met new friends there.


4. Laguna Loop Travel. Because of curiosity and passion to travel, I decided to visit the place called Laguna Loop. I discovered the rustic side of Laguna as well with the culture and natural beauty of the place. I visited the towns of Victoria, Pila, Santa Cruz, Liliw, Magdalena, Nagcarlan, Paete, and Mabitac.


5. Meeting Stanley Chi in the 32nd Manila International Book Fair. I added Stanley Chi in my Facebook account because of his humor and wit in terms of comedy. We chatted in Facebook as well with joining his contest about a review of his book "Suplado Tips." I didn't make it on the Bloggers Night to meet him in person. However, I had a chance to go in the 32nd Manila International Book Fair in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay where I had a chance to meet him and complete his books from Chopsticks to Suplado Tips. He also signed the books written by Stanley Chi.


6. Meeting New Facebook Friends. I met a lot of Facebook friends last 2010 especially the ventriloquist in Pilipinas Got Talent, Ruther Urquia and the 2010 presidentiable JC Delos Reyes. This 2011, I met my new friend, the sand artist of Pilipinas Got Talent 2 Mark Kenneth Dolom. He is such a nice person and very understanding. I am looking forward this 2012 to meet him soon.


7. Mall Show of Sample Prince, Ryan Bang. It was happened in Robinsons Dasmarinas where I met the funny and talented Korean actor, Ryan Bang. He was such a warm-hearted person and I really appreciate his love for the Philippines.


8. My comment was included in TV5's news program Aksyon Journnalismo. It was happened one year ago when Journalismo posted a question about New Year where my Facebook comment was included about the topic on changes in 2011.


9. Learning new things as a teacher in Korean school. I learned a lot of things which helped me as a person in Korean school especially on dealing with students and learning the language.


10. Family and friends. I also met my new friends where I learned a lot of things which helped me to do the good things in life and my family who always supported me. Last June 2011, my older sister was married and looking forward for her to have a happy family life.


Thank you Lord for this wonderful year and I am looking forward for a prosperous and happy 2012 as another chapter of my life enters

Best Pick of 2011: Couch Potato Review - Pilipinas Got Talent

Top: The judges of Pilipinas Got Talent namely Kris Aquino,
Mr. Freddie "FMG" Garcia and Miss Ai-ai Delas Alas.
Below: The hosts of Pilipinas Got Talent Luis Manzano and Billy
Crawford.

This 2011, Pilipinas Got Talent aired its second and third seasons. Right after the success of Jovit Baldivino, there are many aspiring hopefuls who wants to show their unique acts and talent to the world.

In the second season, from almost thousands who auditioned in different key cities from Dagupan, Naga, Cebu, Davao, Batangas, and Metro Manila, 174 acts were selected by the judges: the queen of all media Ms.Kris Aquino, comedy concert queen Ai-ai Delas Alas and the expert Mr. Freddie "FMG" Garcia. After a long deliberation of 174 acts in the Judges Cull, only 36 were selected. I am expecting that there are eliminated contestants should be in the semi-finals and other contenders who were chosen by the judges are deserving. Then the semi-finals round for almost six weeks. There are talents who stand out that amazed the judges and the crowd. During results night, only two acts were selected: the act who got the highest public vote and the judges choice. We also have the Wildcard Round where two acts were selected via public vote. In the end, 14 acts made it to the grand finals. In the end, falsetto singer Marcelito Pomoy won the second season.

After two weeks, the third season of the talent show franchise continued its search for the best world-class Filipino talent. The auditions are held in almost 70 cities and provinces around the country. After the auditions, 187 acts made it to the Judges Cull where 36 acts made it to the semi-finals. This is the most diverse batch of acts for almost three seasons of Pilipinas Got Talent. Then, every week six contenders will compete for the twelve slots in grand finals when two contenders per week will make it. In the end, Maasinhon Trio won the third season which leads to controversy and others believed that shadow theater group El Gamma Penumbra or aerial acrobatics troupe Synergy will win the season. 

See also:

• Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2: Auditions Review 1
• Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2: Auditions Review 2
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: First Semi Finals 
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: Second Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: Third Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: Fourth Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: Fifth Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent: Sixth Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: Wildcard
• Pilipinas Got Talent 2: Grand Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3: Auditions Review
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: First Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: Second Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: Third Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: Fourth Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: Fifth Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: Sixth Semi Finals
• Pilipinas Got Talent 3: Grand Finals

My Perspectives in Looking Forward to 2012

Hi! Good day everyone!

2011 is such a wonderful year for me. There are two reasons why 2011 is such a great year for me. First, it was a year of new opportunities in my professional career as a teacher as well with the blogging world where I created my Blogspot website. It is also the year of improvements in my skill as well with the fact that many readers and browsers from different parts of the globe discovered my blogs. Second, it is also the year of meeting new friends through social networking as well with knowing my true friends and reuniting with my old friends. I gain my confidence in trusting people as well with the fact that they recognize me for my help and kindness that I've shown. I met a lot of friends and I learned a lot from them. In addition, I exposed myself to new activities which helped me to improve my skill and to know myself better: attending writing workshops, teaching students, doing my responsibility in the workplace, interacting with my online friends and travelling or backpacking. I also became a family oriented person where I always dedicate my work to my mom, dad, sisters, cousins and relatives. Most of all, I become closer to God where I learned to talk to Him in times of troubles, asking a particular thing as a solution to my problem and giving thanks to Him in times of happiness. 


Although I received a lot of blessings, I feel so sad to those people and places who became casualties of natural disasters. I am praying for their recovery because there are lives and properties that lost. I also feel the sadness for those people who are victims of backstabbing, conspiracy and gossips, as well with people who were affected by bad influences and vices around them which results to conflicts. I am hoping in the coming years that these cases will be minimized and looking forward to the ideal life which is full of harmony and friendship.


I am looking forward this 2012 to have a peaceful life in the world. I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me. Thanks for all the success and blessings I received from the previous years and looking forward to new challenges in the year 2012. Thanks God for this another year and looking forward for prosperity, peace, and success this year.

My 12 wishes for you this NEW YEAR:

1. Happiness. Down deep inside.

2. Serenity at every sunrise.

3. Success in every phase of your life.

4. Family beside you.

5. Caring friends around you.

6. A love that never ends.

7. Good health within you.

8. Beautiful memories of yesterdays.

9. A nice day with so much to be thankful for.

10. A pathway leading to better tomorrow.

11. Dreams that manage to come true.

12. A great appreciation for whatever you do.

P.S. This is also the year where I was starting to become active in blogging by sharing thoughts to other people around the globe. Thanks to the readers of my blog. This 2012, I will make a new blog to the Filipino bloggers and readers. Coming soon!

Christmas Greetings All Over The World

To all the Bloggers and all the Browsers and Readers of my Blog, first of all I would like to greet you a Happy Holidays. It's been a cool year to have you in my blog as my support. It was an overwhelming thing to know that there are some readers from different parts of the world. I would like to greet you in different ways:

• Filipino: Maligayang Pasko
• English: Merry Christmas
• Arabic: عيد ميلاد مجيد
• Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
• Spanish: Feliz Navidad
• Portuguese: Boas Festas
• Greek: Kala Christouyenna
• Norwegian and Swedish: God Jul
• German: Froehliche Weihnacten
• Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
• Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom
• Danish: Glædelig jul
• Dutch: Vroliijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
• Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
• French: Joyeux Noel
• Indonesian: Selamat Hari Netal
• Hindi: Shub Naya Baras
• Vietnamese: Vui Chơi Ch
• Thai: สุขสันต์วันคริสมาสต์
• Korean: 메리 크리스마스
• Japanese: メリークリスマス
• Chinese: 聖誕快樂

To all the readers of my blog from different parts of the world from my home country, Philippines to neighboring countries in Asia and Pacific, as well with the readers from Europe, North America, South America and Africa, MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Timeless Christmas Songs: Christmas In Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan

1. CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS (Jose Mari Chan)
The song reflects the ideal Christmas in the Philippines and in other countries as well because Christmas is for the people you loved and valued and most of all, it is the season to be happy and remembering the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Whenever I see girls and boys

Selling lanterns on the street

I remember the child in the manger as he sleeps

Wherever there are people

Giving gifts exchanging cards

I believe that Christmas is truly in our hearts

Let's light our Christmas trees for a bright tomorrow

Where nations are at peace,

And all are one in God

Let's sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday

This season may we never forget the love we have for Jesus

Let him be the one to guide us as another new year starts

And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts

In every prayer and every song

The community unite celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ

Let love like that starlight on that first Christmas morn

Lead us back to the manger where Christ the child was born

So come let us rejoice

Come and sing the Christmas carol with one big joyful voice

Proclaim the name of the Lord

Let's sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday

This season may we never forget the love we have for Jesus

Let him be the one to guide us as another new year starts

And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts

Let's sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday

The season may we never forget the love we have for Jesus

Let him be the one to guide us as another new year starts

And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts

Timeless Christmas Songs: The Christmas Song by Celine Dion

2. THE CHRISTMAS SONG
The song was covered by many artists which reflects Christmas in Western countries (especially for those places who have winter season) and the most important message there is the last five lines of the song.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows

A turkey and some mistletoe

Help to make the season bright

Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow

Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way

He's loaded lots of toys

And goodies on his sleigh

And every mother's child is gonna spy

To see if reindeer really know

How to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety two

Although it's been said

Many times many ways

Merry Christmas to you

Timeless Christmas Songs: A Perfect Christmas by Jose Mari Chan

3.  A PERFECT CHRISTMAS (Jose Mari Chan)
An OPM classic which describes the ideal Christmas. Very meaningful lyrics.

My idea of a perfect Christmas

Is to spend it with you

In a party or dinner for two

Anywhere would do

Celebrating the yuletide season

Always lights up our lives

Simple pleasures are made special too

When they're shared with you

Looking through some old photographs

Faces and friends we'll always remember

Watching busy shoppers rushing about

In the cool breeze of December

Sparkling lights all over town

Children's carols in the air

By the Christmas tree

A shower of stardust on your hair

I can't think of a better Christmas

Than my wish coming true

And my wish is that you'd let me spend

My whole life with you

Looking through some old photographs

Faces and friends we'll always remember

Watching busy shoppers rushing about

In the cool breeze of December

Sparkling lights all over town

Children's carols in the air

By the Christmas tree

A shower of stardust on your hair

I can't think of a better Christmas

Than my wish coming true

And my wish is that you'd let me spend

My whole life with you

My idea of a perfect Christmas

Is spending it with you