The Department of Tourism's new campaign It's More Fun in the Philippines might have earned controversy again knowing that it carried the same thing for the 1951 campaign of Switzerland. And I never thought to delight in it. Just this week, I was browsing on my Facebook page and discovered It's More Fun in the Philippines (OFFICIAL) page. There I saw how other people showed their creative side by adding their thoughts about what's good about the Philippines. Consider these:

You'd think you're in ancient Spain or Mexico

If US has Hershey's and Switzerland's got Lindt, we've got out own too -- and it's definitely cheaper!

Real life Farm Ville? It's here!

Just among the items in my bucket list!

Nemo is for real!

And yes, my hometown too is among the reasons why Philippines is a must-see country!

And this is the place where we have a wholesome version of the pot session! Indeed there are a lot of reasons to be proud. The campaign itself may have similarities but with how people represented and showed their ideas made it different. I just thought that if I only have my Adobe Photoshop software available, I could have uploaded a picture too. How about you, what could make you say "It's more fun in the Philippines"? photos from It's More Fun in the Philippines (OFFICIAL) page on Facebook.

Since I have been though a lot of downs this week; as much as I would like to air it out, I guess, my handy-dandy journal would be the best place to rest it. Thank goodness, there's a creature that in a way was able to let those awful pent-up feelings aside.

Sino'ng adik?

We all deserve a breather! Break free from the nuisance of the planet and the world. It's everyone's right. You're free to claim your share.

I remember riding the cab to Ortigas -- SM Megamall to be exact. I was meeting someone for the first time in two years. Yes, I dated a colleague who I used to have a crush on. After three weeks, we decided that on this date, we shall meet. He picked me up at my happy place, another bookstore while I was jittery holding the book To Kill a Mockingbird. A book where, he later on confessed, his name was derived.

That day was the hardest for me -- in terms of telling my mom where am I going, the reason behind and the person I'll meet. But it was the best moment I ever had considering that I used to tag this person as "someone special".

It was a usual talk over coffee. Who would think that before we knew it, it was getting late, but we still managed to continue talking over dinner that night. But before you think more thoughts, the story never went far, for much of our beliefs are far and different (at least as I see it). The talks over coffee might not have led us to those sparks, butterflies and sleepless nights but I don't regret it. For me, I'd like to see it as an experience that's part of being an adult. That at a certain point, I met and was with someone who knows how to honor my choices, great and engaging at conversations and who knows how to make me cry -- out of laughter.

I'd like to think I am one of those creatures with a unique name. Unique in the sense that some people have a hard time to pronounce it right. But likewise, there are a few who still manage to be on the safe side. Back in one of my previous jobs, one of my friends from the US (hi, Drew!) requested me to spell my name over the phone. When I asked him why, his reply was because he wanted to be polite and to avoid "murdering" my name.

Sweet. Someone once said that a person's name is by far, the sweetest music to the ears. So, imagine how I cringe whenever someone calls me by a different name despite repeating it a lot of times. Believe it or not, to them, I was Rachel or Sarah. It sends creepy feelings which made me decide that if time comes for me to have kids, I won't be giving them "complicated" names.



Thankfully, with my job now, people seem to get my name pretty well. I get calls from different people and so far, it's about 97% (funny but I am now the one having issues with their names because they've got a different accent). Just yesterday I received a call from someone, a guy named George hoping to talk to someone in the office. While this person was unable to reach who he needed, he was that kind to recall my name after leaving his message. Who'd have thought, someone who I don't see in person and don't really know well ( except for that info that he works for a famous software company) would find time to recall my name.

Talk about priceless experiences at work. And for being one of those courteous people, I'll remember his name as well -- his name's George.

A few days before I took my holiday break at work, I took time to drop by the Fully Booked branch near my office to browse the available books that they have. Visiting the place during my lunch break has been a wonderful routine for me for the past few months.

Their books are a bit expensive; but then, they've got lots of titles from different authors. I was busy checking out the large print versions of Nicholas Sparks' books when lo and behold, I found this familiar title book quietly ignored at one corner:

Often, we believe and choose that straight path to be the shortest but best way to our destination; that we tend to ignore the broken paths and only see them as the road that deserve to be less traveled.

But what we don't realize is this: It might be broken, but it doesn't mean it's useless. For in that broken path lies one blessing that we might not find in the  shortest, easiest road.


Thanks, Patty Laurel for your wonderful blog post that inspired me to write this today and for encouraging me to believe in one of the best things (or probably, forces) in the world.

I am writing this on the first day of the year; looks like an achievement of some sorts because despite the traditional allergy attack, I am doing this first thing on New Year's Day.