Books are a huge part of my life and my “clutter”.

When I saw Virginia Woolf’s home in “The Hours” filled with books all over the place, I could so relate to that. Thus, To put some semblance of order into my cluttered reading list (I like going through three-four books at a time, taking forever to finish! Right now it’s an Obama biography, a book on running and a memoir…) I’ve decided to pledge to completely finish one book a month and put together this reading list for 2009. Some of the books are already on my shelf (half of them are, actually) the others, I still have to purchase. Some are new, some published a few years ago.

“Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are…” Below is my 2009 selection which more or less is a reflection of my interests, currently, at this point in time. I’ve included brief reviews that I culled from various sources throughout the worldwide web.

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

We earn our livings and raise our children, but our parents continue to shape us. So when are we really grown-ups? Kelly Corrigan, 40, answers that question in her insightful, often funny memoir about surviving breast cancer only to find that her adored father has been diagnosed with cancer too.

Outliers: The story of Successs by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the “self-made man,” he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don’t arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: “they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.” Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, “some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.”

Prayerwalk by Janet McHenry

Life today is busy and full of demands, and often the very things that are vital to daily life, such as prayer and exercise, are moved to the bottom of the priority list. In PrayerWalk Janet shows how to connect the sacred act of prayer with the everyday act of walking. Three years ago, depressed and overweight, McHenry found a simple plan for her life: she would pray while she walked. Little did she know, it would change her life personally and open her eyes to the needs of her community. Mc Henry says — “Prayer walking is not an easy way to ‘take care of prayer’ while you get good exercise. It is a call to spend rich time with God, carrying others’ loads. The walking is only a means to make it all happen.”

Why Good Things Happen To Good People by Stephen Post, Ph.D. and Jill Neimark

“Stephen Post and Jill Neimark make the scientific case for generosity eloquently, humanely, and compellingly. This book meets Nietzsche’s criterion for good philosophy: ‘Change your life!’”
—Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD, Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment

“Stephen Post and Jill Neimark have brought together the main findings from the new science of genuine love and translated them into helpful, practical advice that the reader can easily apply. Those who take this book to heart will surely make their lives better, and will help to make the world a better place as well.”

—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD, professor of psychology, Claremont Graduate University, and author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin

Sparked by her long search for inspiration in her life and work, Gail McMeekin has worked closely with some of today’s most highly creative women for her one-of-a-kind guide to maximizing creative energy. “For many women,” she writes, “breaking free of our societal and psychological chains is a prerequisite to truly creating a life that expresses our genuineness and uniqueness.”
The dynamic women sharing their secrets for the first time include Sarah Ban Breathnach, who channeled her creativity into the book she was “born to write” (the best-selling Simple Abundance); interior designer Chris Madden; and software tycoon Brenda Laurel. From interviews and conversations, McMeekin distilled the common themes in these innovators’ lives and work into practices any woman can use.

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

In these eight exquisitely detailed stories, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lahiri lights on private moments of sadness that come in the aftermath of painful family conflicts. In “A Choice of Accommodations,” Lahiri writes refreshingly about an aging body: A man puts his hands on his wife’s hips, “over the stretch marks that were like inlaid streaks of mother-of-pearl that would never fade, whose brilliance spoke only for the body’s decay.” Subtle and wise, Lahiri captures a universal yearning. — Carmela Ciuraru

To be continued…

As a new year dawns upon us, my prayer for each and everyone of you is this..May There Be Peace Within

May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be…
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you…
May you be content knowing you are a child of God…
Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to
sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you…

–Author Unknown

Happy New Year!

Here’s to new beginnings and yes, infinite possibilities. Find strength in knowing and trusting that HE is fully in control and that everything is in HIS hands. Be in HIS flow in 2009 and that world crisis notwithstanding, HE holds true to all HIS promises so live and believe that all shall be well. God bless us all!!

When I first saw the print ad for this campaign I was sort of incensed. How could they do that to President-elect Obama?! BUT…after seeing it in the full context of this TV ad, I was rolling stitches! Congratulations to the ad agency who thought of this really funny and effective campaign I love Motilium

If yoiu can’t see the video — check this link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRkczEUW0T4

Feigning headaches appear to be a thing of the past.

As more women have become tech savvy, an interesting AFP news report on Yahoo News caught my eye this morning while checking email and doing Facebook…The report says that in the United States, nearly one out of two women would rather give up sex for two weeks than go without the Internet, according to a survey released Monday.

“Forty-six percent of the women polled said they would rather go without sex for two weeks than give up access to the Internet for the same period of time, according to the survey, “Internet Reliance in Today’s Economy.”"

Now, I don’t know about the sex part, I’d rather keep that privy, but this part of the report, I could relate to…

“Sixty-five percent of those surveyed rated Internet access above other discretionary spending items such as cable television subscriptions (39 percent), dining out (20 percent), shopping for clothes (18 percent) or a health club membership (10 percent).”

Yes, between buying a pair of really expensive shoes, I would rather buy the latest Dell laptop. How about you, what’s your preference?

There is so much to be thankful for…

1. Our home is now, finally our own.

2. P was accepted into a university yesterday. One down, by God’s grace, four to go…

3. The wonderful news that someone has offered to shoulder the expenses and cost of bringing Hannah’s ventilator to the Philippines!

4. The wonders of acupuncture and good health.

5. The love of family and friends.

In a world fraught with so much trouble and crisis, we count our blessings. HE is the true and constant ONE who provides for everything we need. After a weeks stay in the hospital, so much work and many chores and tasks waiting to be done.

I really wasn’t feeling all “Christmassy” and my best girlfriends and I were wondering if it was a function of our wonderful age. Over a cozy lunch, we pondered about how we just wanted to cocoon with family and the friends who matter, or just simply get away for a day to be by ourselves, to do things that would enrich our tired bodies and spirits. Somehow, parties have become a chore so you learn to prioritize and only go to the ones that matter. The traffic all over is no help so nothing beats staying home and wrapping a few meaningful presents while enjoying the chill (yes, the weather here at home is just so lovely this year!) of a quiet December evening.

This morning a good friend wrote me on Facebook — “Don’t get lost in the Christmas rush, I know you won’t.” Yes, she’s so right. It’s a simple Christmas this year for me, and I guess for many others all over the world. On Christmas eve I look forward to a quiet dinner away from the crowd and just be with my loved ones in a quiet place. We stop to remember the reason for the season and remember that no matter what 2008 may have brought us — it is in HIM alone that we find hope and reason to rejoice this blessed season. The lights on my tree may be dimmer this year but Jesus’ love burns brighter than it ever has before.

Photo borrowed from Maynila Daily Photo

Found this interesting sign on my friend’s FB site…

Nora lives in Canada so I’m guessing she found this there. Could this be for real. I wonder what’s the story behind it? Sign kaya ito sa Pinoy supermarket doon — we get priority parking ha!

Where do you think they would install a sign like this?

I know it’s strange…to talk about death during the holiday season. But loss, is an essential part of life and the holidays are often a difficult time for anyone who has ever lost a loved one.

I watched “100″ the other evening with H and was very much impressed with the way that Director Chris Martinez handled the subject of death and dying. And contrary to popular belief, it’s the type of movie that won’t make you cry buckets but rather, get you to think about your own life and the hundred or so things you want to do before you go. And rather than cry, it will make you laugh, and smile and remind you about certain people in your life…

“100″ is a 2008 Cinemalaya Film Festival finalist. The movie chronicles the life of Joyce, a strong, hardworking and driven woman, and how she makes her remaining days worthwhile. She makes a list of things to accomplish from the most trivial to the most important. She spends her remaining days accomplishing the list with her loved ones. The story helps us face mortality in a positive and optimistic light.

Okay, maybe some scenes will get to especially if they remind you of issues you may have in life with certain loved ones. There was one scene that got me teary-eyed but I’m not saying which one it was The actors turn in such memorable and fabulous performances! Mylene Dizon and Eugene Domingo are so worthy of their actinbg trophies.

I made this film a requirement for my grief class at the Ateneo and I am looking forward to using it as a jump off point for what I hope to be will be an interesting and lively discussion.

“100″ won Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the 2008 Cinemalaya competition. It’s limited run has been extended for another week. Go and catch it at –

GLORIETTA 4 : Extended until Friday
SM NORTH : Extended indefinitely
STA. LUCIA : New cinema
ROBINSON’S GALLERIA : Extended indefinitely
ROBINSON’S ERMITA : Extended indefinitely

Anong gagawin mo kung bilang na ang araw mo?

When a child has died, the holidays are an extremely difficult time for the family. While others are enjoying celebrations and holiday good cheer, bereaved families find themselves simply trying to figure out how they can survive what used to be, for many, such a special time of the year.

Bereaved families now have one special day when they can join together to remember all children around the world who have died, regardless of age or cause of death. The second Sunday in December is The Compassionate Friends worldwide Candle Lighting. More than 500 formal services planned for December 14 are expected to be listed on The Compassionate Friends national website with hundreds more planned for that day. Dozens of countries will be hosting services around the globe.

The worldwide Candle Lighting is sponsored by The Compassionate Friends, the world’s largest self-help bereavement organization. The event is officially held the second Sunday in December at 7 p.m. local time for one hour creating a 24-hour wave of light around the earth,
‘/>”/>

In MANILA, the event will be held at the second level, University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries, E. Virata Hall, UP Diliman Campus, Diliman, Quezon City

View map: http://www.map.upd.edu.ph/updmap/index.phtml

Email noemidado@gmail.com for more information. Please pass this information to others who may wish to participate in the service.

Have you heard about the International Information Program’s “Democracy Video Challenge?” If not, this is:
The Challenge — Create a video short that completes the phrase “Democracy is…”
AND
The Prize — An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, New York and Hollywood to attend gala screenings of the winning videos, gain exposure to the U.S. film and television industry and meet with creative talent, democracy advocates and government leaders.
Complete details about the Democracy Video Challenge are available at http://www.videochallenge.america.gov/index.html (in English and in several language translations). Please note that U.S. government employees are not eligible to enter this contest, and contestants must be 18 years or older at the time of submission. Contestants do not need to obtain the U.S. embassy’s approval before submitting their videos.
If you know someone who would welcome this Challenge, please be sure to tell him or her about it. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2009!