still in Holiday Spirits...

Gotta hand it to my MOM, even amidst all the tragedy she has gone through over the recent barrages of TYPHOON that hit the northern part of the Philippines - she is still very much into the HOLIDAY spirits...

Typhoon Ondoy touched my Mom so much more that I had expected and known... her home was actually submerged, chest deep with water..all her belongings floating in the flood, with some being washed away... and the thing that broke my heart most, I learned that she was even in a SHELTER for a few days - as my half brother felt she is safer there while they wait for the water to subside.... My MOM worries so much about me worrying, she asked that I do not get informed... my first reaction was UPSET at first, but then I understood how my MOM was feeling/thinking - and I love her even more for it... she basically felt that I am going through enough right now, that she did not want me to just drop everything and fly to see her at once... she insisted on waiting for me to arrive on the date I said I would - my monthly scheduled visit...

I do not think anyone can even IMAGINE how I felt upon learning all this? what she has gone through? and what she has seen? Nor can I IMAGINE what she was feeling while going through it all... all I could do was break into tears upon hearing her tell the story... and even on my own, when I think of it all and try to IMAGINE - what comes into my mind haunts and breaks my heart...
anyway, am SUPER GLAD she is moved to a better place.... and to see her still in GREAT SPIRITS and FEEL SO BLESSED having SURVIVED it all - just gives me so much joy... she is in such Great spirits that the first thing she even did once moved is put up an XMAS TREE already... to signify that there is still so much LIFE & HOPE to be THANKFUL for....

ONDOY FUND: A BIIIG THANK YOU to you all!!!

Because of your GENEROUS HELP during my ONDOY RELIEF FUND DRIVE, we were able to DONATE a total of 25,000.00Pesos to the Philippine National Red Cross to help the ONDOY Victims.I could not thank you all enough in contributing to the drive... am sure that our efforts and contributions will be put to good use and help out many who are less fortunate.
To date, am told that 5 more TYPHOONS are slated to come through... not sure of their intensities - so let us now all help and pray that it will not be as sever/strong/bad as the previous ones... in the Philippines, and in the rest of the world.

Sounds of Taiwan: Taiwan MixTape

A cool and fun introduction to Taiwan from the "Sounds of Taiwan".
This video is made by the group 'Sounds of Taiwan' for the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. They've mixed it up to showcase the best of what Taiwan has to offer.

FnH X Phil. National Red Cross

One of my favorite clothing boutique in Manila, Folded and Hung (TRULY Pinoy with a Modern Flair and Fashionable) or FnH for short, and in collaboration with the Philippine National Red Cross, have produced some really cute. and I DO MEAN CUTE, cloth dolls/toys available now for purchase... and the BEST part is that portions of the sales from each UNITY RED CROSS DOLLS (see left photo) will go towards the Typhoon Ondoy Victims.

So if you happen to be in Manila - be sure to check out FnH, located in just about every MALL in Manila, and outlying provinces... COOL CLOTHES and now a CHANCE to HELP ONDOY victims...

going to bed with a WARM FUZZY feeling...

just saw the PIXAR Animated film, UP, once again..... I really love this film....

had to get my roomie to download it from the NET as I was dying to see again... and he was able to!!!! it is one of those films I will never, ever tire of.... the love story between Carl & Ellie in beginning is just too sappy... and Russell is one of the most lovable characters ever.....

Nitey Nyt World!!!!

Take U To The Philippines

Something Worth Smiling and Feeling Good About. . . :-)

To show his love for the Philippines and the Filipino people, Apl.de.ap (of the Black Eyed Peas - also of Filipino descent) and Department of Tourism Chief Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano spearheaded a new tourism campaign called “Take Me to the Philippines.”

come rain or come shine...

I was not going to let all this rian stop me from my routine run by the Dajia River Park - especially after all the mooncakes I have eaten over the MOON FESTIVAL holiday - i really need the run... hahahahahaha

so I decided to take an early morning break before helping Lyn & Shaun move into their new home... The Wu bois, David & Jason, went along for the run... what was to be a quiet, peaceful, wet run by the river - turned into one HILARIOUS, totally FUN TIME just goofing off with the bois.....
see, rainy days did not always have to dampen the mood... hehehehehe

More Fun Photos Here

Happy Mid Autumn Festival Day

For this Moon Festival Day, may your day be filled with lotsa' MOON CAKES, BBQ, Family & Friends!!!

Good thing I ahve been having all the moo cakes I could wish for, as today will be another day of helping Lyn & Shaun move into their new home -- in the rain!!!!

An Angel In My Mail

Wednesday morning, end of September - I took a break from helping Lyn & Shaun move and went to the Post Office to check my Mail Box.... and to my SURPRISE - a care package from Mary E was there waiting for me... I could not wait to sign for it; get it in my hands and run somewhere to sit so I can tear into it... I knew the FARRAH mags I asked about in a previous blog were going to be in them... I wanted to flip through them and see photos of one of my most beloved icon who recently passed away...

Not only the People Tribute was there, that Mary told me she had alread gotten for me... There was also a VANITY FAIR tribute issue that I did not even know existed... plus, just in time for the WINTER COLD FRONT, BLISTEX for my lips.... hehehehehe... am safe again for another Cold Season.

Then it was time to open up the beautifully wrapped package, within the package, from Mike Dawson... another good friend... he was the only one able to get me the TV GUIDE and to save him on shipping costs to me - I ahd asked hiom to go ahead and send to Mary so they can travel all together... I was a bit puzzled as the package was heavy and a bit large for just a TV GUIDE issus!!!... when I carefully opened - as I wanted to save the wrapping - I found not 1 but 2 copies of the TV GUIDE plus another People Farrah Issue!!! But wait, there's more... there were something else wrapped separately... another magazine... NOPE!!! They were GLOSSIES of beautiful photos of FARRAH from different years.... from a College girl in Texas - through Pre and Post Charlie's Angels years... some of the photos of course, being an avid fan, I quickly recognized but there were other outtakes too from different shoots.... some I ahve never seen before published anywhere... WHAT A TREAT!!!
Mary & Mike - I could not THANK YOU GUYS enough for sending me this WONDERFUL package... it is not everyday one gets an ANGEL in the mail (^_*)... WIll Love and Treasure them all -- even more so, as they came from you guys!!!

Rest of the Photos Here

XMAS Time is here... YIKES!!!!

OMG! Wed nite I went to a SPECIAL OUTDOOR SCREENING @ the RED BRICK Building in the Siemending area of Taipei... it was a HIGHLIGHT reel of Film Festival Films from past to present.... I was excited as it was an outdoor event, in a beautiful location - but it was all awash as the rain came... so the nite was cut short and ended up going home instead...

But the BEST part of the nite was seeing my first XMAS tree for the year... set up, right at the beginning of the Siemending Shopping Area, right next to the MRT Exit for everyone to revel on.... The XMAS tree was put up to actually promote the upcoming 3D Disney CGI Film, A Christmas Carol -- which looks like a spooky fun film. So there you have it my (and maybe yours!) first glimpse of the Holiday Season to come... ENJOY and remember, only 84 more shopping days till XMAS!!!

Typhoon Donation Fund Update

As of today, Oct 1st, we have raised $212.00US (10,070Pesos in todays' exchange rate) for the ONDOY Typhoon Relief Drive we are doing.... PLS CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

It was put to my ATTENTION a GREAT POINT - as some of you ahve just recently purchased dolls, or really have no more BUDGET for a doll, but still woukld love to help out. So YES, we can take straight out CONTRIBUTIONS through PAYPAL, as well..
SO email me for details.

NOTE: 8 Days to go for this DONATION DRIVE.... Thanks In Advance!

NO REST!!!

...I often hear people say: "There is No Rest For the Wicked".... but i did not even think am WICKED... so how come, I GET NO REST! :((

Oh Well - "SUCK IT UP, rudi... SUCK IT UP!"
Happy 1st of OCT everyone.... now, back to work....