我的秘密: Inspired by Jay

I am absolutely crushing on Jay Chou Chieh-lun right now. Ever since I watched The Green Hornet on the week of its premier, I’ve been smitten. So here’s what I got from my research (Thaaaank you, Google!).

Way before he wowed the world with his mysterious and dreamier version of Kato (albeit just as strong as Bruce Lee’s), long before his astronomic star power hit Asia (and then the world), Jay Chou was an average student who made his teachers worry that he was dumb due to his flat affect. In a Time Magazine article that featured this hunk, Jay’s highschool teacher, Ms. Ellen Hsu remarked: “He had very few facial expressions; I thought he was dumb.”

In fact, what confounds me more than anything is that in the same article in Time Magazine it says that “Idolmakers thought he was ugly”. That is just atrocious!!! But then again, minus the stylists’ magic, Jay Chou would just be another boy from around the corner. And I have to concede that in the Asian standard of male beauty, Jay Chou before the stylists’ magic wands would stop at average.

But wait, beauty is only skin deep.

What makes Jay Chou win over Jerry Yan (according to me, that is) is his stellar talent. Though Jay Chou was touted by his teachers as “stupid” (Yu tsun, still according to Time Magazine), and though his physical attributes were a diamond in the rough for Taiwan’s showbiz scene, Jay’s stellar prowess comes from something that cannot be fixed by plastic surgery or years and years in the academe. His creativity is sheer genius.

This is what put Jerry Yan second place and Jay Chou first in my fan heart.

His mother, Yeh Hui-mei (also made famous by Jay, through his song “Listen to Mama’s Words”), observed how Jay as an infant responded to pop music. From this keen inspection, Yeh enrolled her four year old son in piano lessons. Jay has often remarked that his mother has been strict with his music lessons, such that he envied how other children had the chance to play while he was stuck playing piano.

But all the hardwork (perhaps the ten 10,000 hours that contribute to one’s success, to quote Malcolm Gladwell’s thesis in Outliers) has paid off and proven WRONG! everybody who thought Jay Chou was retarded and ugly –

But first, Lady Luck:

A girl from Jay’s high school (someone he barely knew, again according to Time), signed him up for Taiwan’s version of American Idol. Jay, who is reputedly shy, was reportedly adamant against performing alone, agreed instead to accompany a singer (who sadly got sacked). But Jay’s musical score bewitched Taiwan’s entertainment godfather Jacky Wu. Jacky Wu’s instinct in hiring Jay was right on the mark; but it was apparently Jacky Wu who doubted that Jay Chou’s looks would make him a pin-up boy.

Jay released his eponymous debut album in 2000, collaborated with Vincent Fang (articles have called Vincent Jay’s twin star lyricist), made music videos that are actually watchable (and re-watchable) mini-movies (that are not about sex and drugs, but about fantasies, family, fans and forever). He also directed his first film entitled “Secret 不能說的秘密 (The Secret That Cannot Be Told)” which garnered several accolades in Hong Kong’s and Taiwan’s award giving bodies. Then, Hollywood embraced him and his talent (even making his Kato a piano playing hero) and the rest is history.

Now, tell me, what stroke of fortune made this boy, who was doubted for his looks and “intellect,” too significant to be ignored? His star shines not only to please the eye, but to inspire. Way to go, Jay Chou!

Sample Jay’s music/MV:

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Recent Global Updates on Blogging

Blogging has leveled up the meaning of freedom of the press. Press “enter” and voila! Anything gets published for the world to see.

A blog, as we know, is an online journal. A blog with sensational content is sure to generate traffic that would rival the world’s busiest streets. A blog with a niche would attract like minded visitors, and even haters of the topic (who would take time to search the thing they hate). Most of the time it is simply an avenue for voices which are otherwise unheard to be read, should a visitor be directed to one’s blog.

Recently, Saudi Arabia has imposed banning blogging for those who don’t have a license to blog. This has raised anxiety to bloggers from other nations who fear for their freedom of “press enter” – especially those who augment their incomes by blogging. It is reported that the Saudi Arabian government has established this law to enforce responsibility on blogging content (Read full story here).

In the Philippines, The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Margaux Salcedo reports of an unnamed Public Relations “firm” which used the term “blogging” in selling reviews to a restaurant owner (read full story here). This incident has given blogging a bad name, as many bloggers write reviews and opinions out of their own volition and pleasure.

As with anything that gains popularity, blogging has reached this point wherein one nation is restricting the people’s rights to press “publish” for better or for worse and now, another country’s blogging population is defending against those who use the term “blogging” as a con which would destroy the integrity of earnest bloggers who enjoy the convenience of publishing their work in realtime.

Super Great Finds: White Elephant Sale, Anyone?

I remember a long time ago the term White Elephant Sale used to fascinate me. My mom used to bring me everywhere she went and this included the university where she (and subsequently, I) attended. One of the best memories I have of that was when my mom brought me to the Christmas bazaar of the university. There was a White Elephant Book Sale, wherein we swam in the musty scented lobby of the old library and searched for books to buy and bring home. I still have the book my mom purchased for me from 1984, entitled Splendid Journey, a collection of children’s stories from various authors. I especially loved An Old Story From Hawaii by Mary Kawena Pukui, Aesop’s Fables on The The North Wind and the Sun and The Milkmaid, and the song “On Top of Spaghetti”.

This weekend, I went to the mall and made a side trip to the Book Sale. I systematically scanned the shelves, but found no book “calling out to me”. Undeterred, I crouched and looked under the shelves and to my delight, found some interesting books at less that $0.75 (USD). I got a used library copy of C.A. Belmond’s A Rather Lovely Inheritance and a dog-eared, food-stained, truly used copy of Bill Richardson’s Bachelor Brothers’ Bed and Breakfast. I’m pretty excited of getting more than my money’s worth of traveling in these worlds.

By the way, about the White Elephant Sale, I googled what it actually means. Here’s what google answers says: White Elephant: Something that is costly to obtain or maintain and provides little benefit or value… If you want to know more, click on the link. There’s a little bit of history to the term.

Well, books are great White Elephants. Sometimes, we have to dispose of them if it takes too much space and collects dust. Somebody is sure to benefit from it the way we benefit from other people’s “junk” or excess.

1/8/2011 – Tragedy in Tucson, Arizona

It is a tragic day for all who are following the shooting incident in Tucson, Arizona. U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition at the time of this writing, and was earlier reported to be dead. A nine year old girl, Christina Taylor Green, coincidentally born on September 11, 2001 (the day of the World Trade Center bombings), was killed during the shooting. Six people were killed, including Green. Four people are under intensive care.

The incident happened in January 8, 2011, at around 10 in the morning, outside the Safeway Supermarket in La Toscana Village. Congresswoman Giffords was holding a sidewalk meeting called “Congress on Your Corner”. 20 to 30 people were gathered around the table set up by Giffords’ party when the shootist pulled the trigger of his 9 mm model 19 Glock at point-blank range. Witnesses claim to have heard 15 to 20 gunshots, claiming six lives and injuring many others, including Giffords.

The primary suspect is 22 year old, college dropout, Jared Lee Loughner. According to interviews of his high school acquaintances, Loughner was known to be a loner and a political radical. Among his favorite books are Hitler’s Mein Kampf and Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. In his recently retrieved Myspace page, Wikipedia reports that his last entry was “Goodbye, Dear friends . . . Please don’t be mad at me.”

Sarah Palin’s name is also mentioned in almost all reports since Congresswoman Giffords’ district was included in the Sarah Palin Action Committee’s “to-defeat list” during the November 2010 elections. What makes this chilling and intriguing is how the Sarah Palin Action Committee campaign page “targeted” by way of gun cross-hair icons the districts that Sarah Palin’s team was going to defeat. Giffords voiced out her criticism towards the violent nature of the campaign by saying: “We’re on Sarah Palin’s targeted list. But the thing is the way that she has it depicted has the cross hairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they’ve got to realize there’s consequences to that.”

President Obama has called this matter an “unspeakable tragedy”, adding “What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.”

With this dreadful occurrence still fresh, we have still many days ahead of us listening to reports on the investigations of the crime.

In this painful time, we share our prayers for everyone, especially the bereaved families and the families of those who were injured. It is now time to be up and about among ourselves and with each other in looking out for everyone’s safety – not only in our neighborhoods, but globally as well.

(Information Source Wikipedia)

Lazy, Cloudy Days in 2002

It’s the third cloudy, windy day in a row, unusual for the tropic where it’s usually sunny and sweltering hot.

Got nothing to do?

Here’s what I remember from 2002, when I was still finishing my college degree and school was still out.

Bathed and scented with the tranquil fragrance of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Perfume, I’d spend my early mornings to infinity while rain pattered on our roof listening to Michelle Branch’s Spirit Room Album, Vanessa Carlton’s Be Not Nobody, Norah Jones’ Come Away with Me and John Mayer’s Room for Squares while curling up to Nicholas Sparks’ A Walk to Remember (the book and the movie) and the dogeared Jude Deveraux novels Remembrance and Sweet Liar. I’d check on my 2-liner Ericsson T10 model to see if I got any overseas call or text message from the first man I’d called soulmate.

Lovely, huh?

Was reminded of these slivers of recollection as I prepared for work and slathered lotion which smelled like Green Tea. Amazing what a whiff of sweet smelling beauty products could do to the memory.

Earrings and a Pen

I received belated holiday presents that really surprised me.

I got a Universal Studios Singapore souvenir pen (which is very useful to the writer in me: not only poetry, but work notes, to-do lists including groceries, and everything else) from the mom of the cutest little toddler who believes in Santa Claus (she actually hugged our guest Santa, a nice lady who made her own costume to join in the Christmas revelries).

Another was a pair of drop earrings: freshwater pearls set in sterling silver bought from the famous party-island called Boracay. The gift giver is a friend who spent the New Year in the lively island where she saw a lot of stars including Hayden Kho and Vicky Belo (still lovey-dovey together!).

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Thanks Gift-givers, may you have many returns! ❤

On Parenthood and the Skillful Way to Do It

Who among us parents have not bawled out in frustration over our noble vocation and privilege of parenthood? If you haven’t complained yet, then you’re definitely a saint!

Well, there is a school of thought that is loving and understanding both to the bewildered parents and the even more bewildered children.

Of course, parenthood is not all about frustration, but we have to admit that children can be a handful especially when deadlines are to be met, bills are piling up and the dear kids sound out their demands for the this or that.

Thankfully, there are recourses in the books authored by the late Dr. Ginnot who is the forerunner of healthy communication in parenthood and everyone in the childcare industry.

It’s all about validating feelings:

“Mom, I hate my teacher.”

How do we respond?

Normally we say, “Don’t even think of it, honey. We don’t hate, just forgive.” And understandably so.

But this doesn’t alleviate the feelings of the child or the situation itself. Hate, though strong and scary, is a real emotion. What kids need, though, is not the invalidation, but just the need to be heard. We, parents, don’t necessarily have to understand, but to listen.

So, what I understand from Dr. Ginnot’s books, we say:

“You must really feel strongly about what your teacher did. You sound so mad. Want to talk about it?”

And that’s just in a nutshell, not to mention it takes a lifetime to practice. (Believe me, I’ve relapsed so many times – and Dr. Ginnot says, I’m sure you’ll agree, a good and heartfelt apology is called for).

So what are these books I’m talking about? Check out “Between Parent and Child”, “Teacher and Child” and “Between Parent and Teenager”. These books are gems in the childcare and education businesses.

It is a loving addition to the library of any parent who loves their kids but are beaten by the nitty gritty of daily life and want a new way of dealing with children in a realistic and loving manner.

Book Report: Healing the Child Within by Whitfield

I just found out yesterday that it is my turn to present a book report as part of our monthly requirement at work.

With only three days to do blitz-read and understand the material, my boss suggested that I read “Healing the Child Within” by Charles L. Whitfield, M.D.

Thank God I am jargon-savvy on 12 Steps Recovery tools and principles that it has not been such a tedious task to skim and get what this author has lovingly compiled.

Healing the Child Within is a recovery book on how to reclaim the our True Self which has been stifled by dysfunctions, abuse (unwittingly or consciously done) by our families and the world at large. The book proposes that wounded children are survivors by the mere fact that they are still alive to this day despite the subtle atrocities that are done to them on a daily basis. This stifles the Inner Child which is basically spontaneous, loving and creative (among other characteristics) and distorts the person’s sense of reality, thus bringing suffering and chaos in one’s life. The order of the day is to work on Core Issues through the spiritual practice of trusting Life’s processes by means of a therapist, counselor or a support group (all of whom should have the requisite of working their own life issues if the process is to be a healing, instead of a further harmful one).

I am writing in long hand the notes and bullets of this gem of a book and am learning more and more about Life and the practical solutions in dealing with people at work and my own family as well.

Here is a sneak peak into the life’s work of Charles Whitfield. Click here to be redirected to the source.

Beautiful New Year

Hi Everyone –
I hope your New Year is going great! I got my holiday wish of being able to spend it the way I want to – in all peace and serenity sans the anxiety.

Things not being perfect, of course there was a normal dose of anxiety, but not one that rendered me bed ridden. Nonetheless, I am having happy memories of the recently concluded holiday season. And for this, I am much thankful.

Over the holidays, I got so many skin care sets from well-wishers and friends. I love them all! I have a basketful of body lotions and bath gels and I am having a grand time savoring my bath time, which serves as my private time as well.

One of the favorite presents I got is a Momoberry Hello Kitty hobo bag by Sanrio. It looks quite quirky but nonetheless, I am still so much in love with the adorable wide eyed, keep-mum, “I love you,” cat.

Sadly, I lost one of the presents I got, which is a sterling silver necklace with the Egyptian hieroglyphic translation of my name, a present from my friend who is assigned in Egypt. That’s what caused me much anxiety as I had to scour my whole room looking for it. But after I lamented to my best friends (the gift-giver included), I decided to let it go…

My other best friend also gave me a beautiful filigree medal pendant with semi precious stones and brilliantes set in sterling silver.

Oh, and my son bought me a cushioned lap prop for my laptop. It was so sweet of him to do that.

But the best gifts I had for the season was God’s presence in my life – the awareness that He’s in control of even my mind, because I asked Him in earnest to be with me!

Happy New Year to one and all and I hope you had a blessed season as well!

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God Loves Vanness Wu (and Jerry Yan… and Ken Zhu and Vic Zhou)

I’m a big fan of Taiwan’s mega famous F4, now known as JVKV, such that when I opened my Twitter Account, I followed Jerry Yan and Vanness Wu (JVKV/F4 doesn’t seem to have an official Twitter Page).

I went through each idol’s timelines and apparently, Jerry’s Twitter is just the shortened version of his official Facebook page. But still I liked following him on my Twitter.

Then when I went to Vanness’ page, I wasn’t surprised to see casual Tweets, since English is his native language (being born Stateside). What bowled me over was his Tweets on his feelings towards God. Here’s an example (I hope he doesn’t mind). ” I’m excited… Haven’t felt like this in awhile~ God is good… I don’t know why me, but I am grateful to Thee for deeming me worthy. Amen*” It was very refreshing to read this from a famous guy. It’s like I’m admiring someone who’s on the same page as me (in the God department that is). And if that’s not enough, his Tweets are very witty and fun to read too!

It’s a nice change to see Vanness, whom I’ve always associated with MeiZuo, in another light! (A halo over his head perhaps?!) Merry Christmas, Vanness! And please send my greetings to the rest of your posse!

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