The Winner Takes It All

The truth is I don’t know how it all began.

Maybe it started with my first gold medal in Math back in my third grade. Or watching a dear friend read her graduation speech one Thursday afternoon. Or the fact that I don’t know how to swim, play a guitar or deliver an impromptu speech very well.

Thinking about it now, how it all started seems trivial. I believe one’s main attitude towards life can’t be defined by one single moment (unless it’s one very life-changing/traumatic moment), it’s a series. Of a moment after moment after moment that shapes winners to be whom they are.

I got my first achievement in third grade for a Math quiz bee. Before that, I’m not anybody so it was a surprise for many that I actually won. And even after that, I wasn’t “somebody” too, didn’t got me instant popularity as cheerleaders and athletes. Nerds weren’t the best people to cheer you know.

So by the time I learned that being good in academics won’t make me lots of friends as being fair-skinned can, I was at a loss because by then I don’t know of any talents I have than getting good grades. But it was alright, I have a small intimate circle of friends and a bunch of little clinking medals after.

Getting older, I focused and did what I do best and most of the time in high school, I was rewarded with that. When I got in UP for college, I knew I will have a hard time to be a winner among a sea of winners so I kinda gave that up and enjoyed the college/UP freedom and you know what I found out.

I’ve learned that being a winner does not limit me in academic aspects, I had lots of friends and I’m not fair-skinned, a cheerleader or an athlete. I became a leader of an academic organization and the editor-in-chief of a newsletter. Graduating college with flying colors made me happy, but doing more than just achieving excellence in academics fulfilled me. I realized I am capable of more choices than when I graduated high school.

So now, a year into the real world and I’m still a winner. Recently, I was able to pass the first actuarial exam in one take

Got my name printed in COSMO magazine, it was short but cute and yes, it made me happy

And now has one of Cory Aquino’s copy of a Hello Kitty painting when I submitted an essay for a Mother’s Day tribute. (I’m seriously thinking of writing as a serious to-wile-away-the-time hobby!)

The truth is, at first I thought winners are too self-absorbed individuals who likes to get ahead of everybody and boast about it after. But losers are a more appropriate term for those people. Winners are much more different, even if you started it because you wanted to be noticed. Because who wouldn’t want to be notice eh? Winners – they’re those who overuse their God-given gifts to the brim. And then use it again to inspire others to do the same.

I would love to think about my achievements that way, no matter how personal they are sometimes, that they can be used to inspire others. With this thought, it’s a win-win situation for everyone but mostly for the winner himself.

In the end, maybe the song got it right. The winner takes it all. :)

PS. I know you're also a winner so go tell Jayson your winning story here and get to inspire!

FREE Perfect (Custom) Fit Jeans by DEFACTO!!!

HitaBargain is giving away a Perfect custom FIT Jeans by Defacto.


Click HERE to learn more.

I feel I am Ganda Ever So Much!!!

No, this is not me na nagfefeeling maganda, although I can't deny that. Hehe This is about the latest blog I've found, gandaeversomuch.com.


Here's how I found out about this very cute and unique blog: you see lately I am very lazy to do things I needed to do, study for my next SOA exam or finish Prozac Nation to name a few. Instead, I busy myself with Plants vs Zombies and browsing the internet, which is exactly how I stumbled through the online gem, gandaeversomuch.

If you ask me what I first thought about this blog, well here goes, although Mr. orman might not be too happy with my first impression of his blog. Do you see that big scaly frog on top? Well of course you do. If you follow the site that is the first thing you’re going to see; and for blogs, the first thing that caught the readers’ eye matters a lot.

So what did I think upon seeing this little (or big) creature hanging on the blog’s main bar is perhaps what you dear readers thought too: how can an icky-with-pouty-red-lips frog, much uglier than the Disney inspired Prince Naveen of Princess and The Frog say I am so gandaever! I mean, really my little lovepug in the right can say the exact same line and I might manage to raise just a few eyebrows, but a frog??!!!? Hehe

Enough of that, with this frog as a mascot, I had a notion that this is one unique blog. And Mr. orman didn’t fail me at that.

The first blogpost I read from gandaever really did made me smile. It is the Kailangang Ma-In Love uli Ako.

Not that I am loveless at the moment, but reading this I remember many times in my life that I felt the same. Where is that handsome prince who is going to take my breath away? Or the beat-up jock cleverly dancing my two left feet in the right rhythm? Or the carinoso who would serenade me in front of our patio, as if may patio kami?

Of course, hindi ako tumitingin sa mga fairy tale criteria but seriously, nasan ang love kung kailan pwedeng-pwede ka na. So I read orman’s blogpost and laughed and reminisce and felt nostalgic.

With his recent blogpost and my medyo-malabong-lovelife past, we were related. That’s when I started to scan through the rest of his blog where I found out that some of the entries are something I can totally relate to.

Like when I had feisty fights with my two “bestfriends” where we ended on being full-pledged enemies in his Para Ito Sa Mga Trinaydor Ng Kaibigan.

And on thinking days and nights if my super-gwapo crush then would like me back, I wish I have read this that time.

Plus a post for Vice Ganda, my favorite stand-up comedian.

These are just some of the reasons I keep coming back to this site for more.

I know gandaeversomuch have a lot more stories to share and I would love to be a part of it as a loyal dear reader.

PS. Oh I do not have problems with frogs. I just think they are slimy and greasy and if I touch them, I think I’ll be infected with warts. But really I don’t have problems with frogs.

PPS. And I understand the thing of loving specific creatures/animals to the point of making them your blog mascot. My lovepug, for one received so many raised eyebrows from my friends because they just don’t understand the irresistible cuteness I feel when looking at my lovepug. But so they say, love is love. =)

*This is an entry for the Week #3 Blog-Writing Contest. Join now!

Booklet Necklace from Papemelroti

Papemelroti is giving away a dainty booklet necklace!


It has a glazed cover with tiny words that say "Miracles come to those who wait". Artwork made by Papemelroti artist Patsy.



How to win:

First entry (mandatory):
Leave a comment on this post telling us which papemelroti product would you like to see more of in our shops or online and why! To pick, go to our website at www.papemelroti.com You can go directly to the products using our sidebar.

For Extra entries you can:
1. Become a follower of our blog or if you are already a follower, tell us in another comment.
2. Become a Facebook fan of papemelroti or if you are already a facebook fan, tell me in another comment..
3. Follow papemelroti on Twitter and retweet the following: RT @papemelroti giveaway alert! win a charming necklace from papemelroti! http://papemelroti.blogspot.com (do this only once).
4. Add papemelroti button to your blog (you can find link details here). 5. Add papemelroti giveaway picture and link in the sidebar of your blog.
6. Blog about this giveaway and leave us the link.

To join, click HERE.

Cats in Manila Blogger Contest

I sincerely want to watch CATS in Manila simply because:

- the last time I saw a real screenplay was like... boy, I can't even remember it was way back college for sure;
- I miss watching screenplays and their rare vivid musical scenes;
- Lea Salonga's there so I know it will be fantastic.

If you want to catch CATS in Manila for FREE then just write a blogpost about it and create a link to http://facebook.com/catsinmanila or http://catsinmanila.tumblr.com.

CATS in Manila will be shown on July 24 to August 15, 2010 in Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP.

Table for Two

Treat yourself to a tale filled with breakups, hookups, and more from the author of the Every Girl's Guide series.

In Table for Two, a corner table at a quiet coffee shop takes center stage, the latest release from Summit Books author Marla Miniano. The table is the setting for pivotal moments in the lives of the main characters—who, as it seems, are quite the lovelorn bunch. First, there’s the long-time couple on the verge of calling it quits after college graduation. Then there’s the serial dater who accepts her younger brother’s challenge to go dateless for two months. There’s also a photographer who attempts to dissuade his best friend from getting married (and we’re curious to find out why). And finally, there are the two hopefuls: a young man who meets with the girl he never stopped loving, and a young lady who pores over romance novels, waiting for her turn to fall in love.

Continue reading HERE.

Win a copy of the newest Summit book, Table for Two!

Take home one of ten copies of Table for Two from the author of the Every Girl’s Guide series.



From the author of the Every Girl’s Guide series comes this book of colorful tales about breaking up and making up. In Table for Two, Marla Miniano brings us to a table in a humble coffee shop, the setting for the main characters’ various love situations. Follow the protagonists as they rediscover love in the most unlikely of places.

Interested in adding the latest in Summit chick lit to your bookshelf? Good news, ladies! Female Network is giving away 10 copies of this brilliant novel.

Continue reading HERE.