MEG FACE SEARCH IS BAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!

It's officially back! MEG magazine is inviting all stunning, fun-loving and pretty MEGgurls aged 18-24 and who have NOT appeared in ANY commercials, TV shows, movies & print ads, go visit the MEG Grand Go-See on the following dates and venues, starting TOMORROW, Sept. 5th! Check out the attached image for the exact dates and venues:

Special thanks to megmagph@gmail.com for allowing me to repost the photo
For more details, please visit http://meggurl.com/


--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

Sorry, I Could Not Resist Eh!

A few twittering months ago I saw Sidney posts tumblr updates on twitter.
I checked her posts and thought that tumblr was just another twitter wannabe.
Yesterday, though, while I was tasked to something blog related, I come across this website called Tumblr.
I checked it out and upon signing up (not mine, ok) I did a little searching inside the website.
It was fun to use pala.
You could post texts, photos, quotes, videos...
All in one go.
Nice!
But then, I thought.

"I must resist myself from signing up."

Ang hirap kasi mag-maintain ng maraming accounts.
At kung mags-sign up na naman ako for another account, super dami na ng accounts ko online.
But this morning, while I'm doing tumblr again...
Di na'ko naka-tiis.
So I signed up.
Just now.
I did kasi there were some features na wala (pa) ang Twitter.
Although I could say that I still love Twitter very much;
I guess tumblr will be another site that I will really enjoy.
So if you even care to check out, see my account at

http://littlejc.tumblr.com/

There.
I've said it.
So goodluck sa'ken di ba?
Ciao!



--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

For the Philippines' Mother of Democracy

I know it's been a week since former President Cory Aquino died and this blog entry may be a little too late but I think it's better late than never. I've been thinking about posting a message at the Salamat President Cory website but every time I log on to the site I can't seem to find the right words to say. So after watching the burial I decided to write an entry regarding her death but I was able to finish two days after she was laid to rest.

So now, exactly nine days since she passed away, I finally decided to post the entry I was able to finish last Friday. This is an open letter for everyone who loves former President Cory - her supporters, loved ones, and every Filipino around the globe.

While most of the Filipinos cried because of the loss of a great President, I, together with my family weep for a different reason. Six years ago, our own mom passed away of colon cancer and when I heard that former President Cory Aquino contracted the disease as well, I can't help but felt sad. I prayed to the Lord to give former President more years to spend with her family, although deep inside I kind of felt that Him granting my prayer is no guarantee.

When we discovered that our own mom had a colon cancer, we tried our best, prayed harder just to beg God to heal her and extend her life. We visited different churches of different religions just for my mom's wellness, but her cancer was already in Stage 4 when we discovered about it, which is often incurable. I blamed the doctors for making a misdiagnoses on my mom; saying that she has a cancer of the ovary, only to realized that it was colon cancer in the middle of her supposed operation. She attended chemo therapies and for three years, going to the hospital seemed like a normal thing for us already. I was with you, Kris Aquino, when you said that it was hard to see your mother cry, knowing that you can do nothing to make her feel better. It hurt so much knowing that someone with a good heart contracted such incurable disease. It hurts more thinking about every single day might be your last with her.

When she passed away peacefully on the 16^th of January, it felt like my own world crashed down. I kept saying sorry to her during her burial; sorry for being a bad daughter... sorry for not being there all the time she needed me. What hurts more for me is when she died, it was just 9 months before my 18^th birthday. My mom's passing broke my little heart, feeling very disappointed that I wasn't able to do the things I was supposed to do or say the things I've been wanting to tell her all these years.

Your speech during the funeral mass send lumps on my throat and tears in my eyes. It feels like I can relate with every word you said, every stories you shared, and every heartaches you blurt out. However, I think that you were still lucky, Kris, because God gave you more than 30 years to be with your mom. I was watching the news the day after former President Cory's burial but it still makes me cry; feeling sad for her loss.

I was born two years after Sen. Ninoy Aquino died, so the only way I know about the things President Cory had done for the country was through our lessons in school or from the stories of the elders around me. I barely know your mother, except for what I have heard, read and seen on videos; but seeing someone who touched many lives died felt like a part of me was ripped apart, like someone close to me died as well. I cried not because such a great leader passed away, but because I felt the pain you and your family felt - losing your mother dearly for colon cancer. And you were right, Kris... it will take a lifetime for us to be Ok. It's been six years since my own mom passed away but there were times when I still wake up in the middle of the night and just cry, thinking about mommy.

Cancer is a bitch; it took our loved ones away from us. However, the least thing we could do when we lose them is to wish that they were already in peace, watching us from heaven with God the Father, and hoping that they will help us move forward.

My sincerest condolences.
Jhack Telan

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Photo credit:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i175/giannerory/misc/cory-aquino-headshot.jpg

--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

MEG, Myself and I

11 Secrets you need to know about me and my Ultimate Style Sister

For the past 11 years a lot of things have happened to me. I’ve been into the best and the worse case scenarios; and even lose the most important woman in my life. Because of these things I've change a lot... but there's definitely one thing that didn't changed, and that's my love for MEG. I don't know why or how but as I aged, my love for MEG just grows deeper. Maybe it's the content every ish, or the people behind it, or maybe... just maybe, it's how every ish is being made.

I, myself, was lucky enough to have experienced "real MEG work" and it's not an easy task. People may think that working for a magazine is the best job in the world because of its perks, but I tell you, it's real HARD WORK. I may not have stayed as a MEG intern for so long but I sure have my own "MEG Secrets." (=

1. Inner Poet. When I was a high school freshie, my fave section was Inner Poet. Whenever I buy MEG, I wouldn't really care about the other pages except Inner Poet. I even copied some entries on my journal!

2. The Editors. During my first few years as a MEG reader, the only editors I know were Liza Ilarde, Karen Vera and Pierra Calasanz. So when MEG was reborned and Pierra become the new Editor-in-Chief I felt soooooo happy and started to really pay attention (to every pages) because I know that MEG is in good hands.

3. The Word + Sneak Peek. Since I got so hooked up with MEG, The Word became my most favorite section because I love the fact that EIC's give personal spin to every sneak peek.

4. Soulmates??? During our Magazine Documentation, my friends kept saying that me and Pierra were "soulmates." The reasons? Well, first of all, we share the same birth date; then during that day, we're both wearing skirts, have the same phone, and everything that they could compare us with. I felt sooooo embarrased that day I wanted just to die and disappear.

5. MEG Intern Notebook. During my internship, I always bring a small notebook and a pen with me. It's where I write all my suggestions, instructions, realizations, schedules and all other stuff I could write about. The contents were kept hidden though until now.

6. Backward GNIDAER. Ever since I read MEG, I always start reding the magazine backwards. What I will do is scan the magazine first, read THE WORD, and then read the rest backwards. I love doing that coz I'm more interested in serious topics first before the rest of the pages.

7. Ask Angel. During one of the brainstorming sessions while I was still training for MEG, I was asked to think of ladies that could replace Lucy Torres-Gomez in the column ASK LUCY. I wrote down possible ladies such as Toni Gonzga, KC Concepcion, Bianca Gonzales, Angel Aquino, and even Lea Salonga (*wink wink). I didn't really shared it during the meeting but I remember telling (then Managing Ed) Mabel David-Pilar about my suggestions. A few months (?) later, Ask Angel was born! I'd like to think I was the one who suggested her. (=

8. Fashion Plate. Fashion spreads in MEG are amazing. BUT, I have to admit that I rarely follow the styles, especially the clothes, shoes and accessories they featured. Ok, well, I sometimes buy things from the magazine, but only if I really really want it. On the other hand, I'd have to say that ALL MEG Fashion Editors are the best stylistas! (=

9. Beauty Booty. I used to ignore the Beauty Booty section because no matter how insightful and helpful the features are, (most of the) products are just too expensive for me... at least at that time. Thanks to Kim Reyes and Beauty Booty is now one of the must-check out section for me!

10. Think About It. My article debut in MEG came out May 2005 entitled, "Remembering Mom." The said article was actually our assignment for our Feature Writing Class in college. Three years later, I co-wrote another controversial story (alongside d'great Nica Inoturan, of course) entitled, "Girls Like Girls." In those three years (and counting) I told myself that I wanted to keep writing for Think About It because like the other TAI writers, writing for TAI and hearing that people are touched by your writing made me feel proud of what I am doing, even if some people stopped me from doing so.

11. One more, please!?! During my internship, I only get to train from July-August because I seriously believed that we are obliged to fulfill 2 internships within one semester. Little did I know that it's actually ok to do just one so when I graduated, I told myself that I want to be a MEG intern again. But of course I know that it's soooo impossible now because according to Mabel, "May bayad na daw ako!" Darn!

There you go. I may not have been a MEG intern for more than three months but I definitely learned a lot from this Ultimate Style Sister of mine. Maybe that's the reason why after over a decade now I still choose and love MEG. (=
Happy 11th Anniv, MEG!


Photo Credit: http://www.meggurl.com/

--

"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

Learning The "Kalinangan" Language

It's been almost 11 years now since I joined the Kalinangan Dance Company in high school and I'm glad (and darn proud) to say that I still love performing for this group, which helped me transform from being a shy girl to what I am now. So dahil pasukan na naman and for sure magkakaro'n na naman ng new dancers, allow me to share you (some of) the terminologies that I have learned through the years.

Lamonera - take this as an example: pag group dance, dapat precise yung galaw pero ikaw yung pansin na pansin dahil larger than life ang galaw mo out of all the other dancers.
Soloista - is someone who dances most, if not all, of the solo parts of a dance.
BG - short for Background. Ginagamit ito mostly during Rural Suites kung saan kailangan ng "extra" para maging lively yung stage.
Spot - as in "Spot turn." Yun yung parang pinaka-focus mo pag umikot ka.
Run-through - rehearsing with music (live or taped), either performance level or marking lang
Block/Blocking - this happens before the show, kung saan you run-through the steps without actually doing it kasi ang mahalaga sa blocking eh yung positioning sa stage i.e., spacing ng bawat isa sa bawat sayaw.
Center Stage - ito yung sinusunod ng lahat kung saan makikita ang marking/scotch tape, which is palatandaan kung saan ang center.
Marking - ginagamit 'pag nagrrun-through without doing the steps pero ginagawa mo yung blockings mo
Stand by - ibig sabihin, "malapit na mag-show so dapat oks na ang costume, make-up, accessories at props mo at wag na dapat maglilikot at pupunta kung saan-saan!"
Stand-in - is simply just anyone "filling-in" for someone who is absent (during rehearsals), not necessarily yung understudy. Kahit girl or guy yung sasayaw, ang stand-in eh yung pumapalit sa naka-cast sa sayaw kasi "wala lang."
Understudy - someone who learns the steps, usually of a Soloista, in case magka-conflict sa casting.
Company Call - is done after a rehearsal... parang meeting ba.
Bale - ang pag-bali ng upper body (pero dapat you look tall pa rin), ginagamit usually sa Maria Clara Suite.
Warm Up - aka stretching. Done before the rehearsal proper.
Flooring - warming up pero sa floor like sit ups, scissors, etc.
Performance Level - is used (mostly) during rehearsals, kung saan ang galaw ng isang dancer ay hindi "parang nagre-rehearse" lang kundi "pang-show" na talaga!
Green Room - meaning "praying time" before the show.
Raket - is a show na hindi connected sa "real" company (that you belong to)
Show - ang tawag kapag may sayaw for an event, raket, etc.
Danceroom - dito kung saan kami natuto ng Philippine Folk Dances. Dito rin sa danceroom ginagawa ang rehearsals, run-through, marking, company call, warm up, at kung anu-ano pa.
Ka-dancer - kung sa teatro ay "co-actors", sa amin naman ay "ka-dancer"
Tour - basically means "out of the country shows", either competition, festival or just invitational shows.
Rehearsal Tags - are what we (should) wear during rehearsals - t-shirt and jogging pants (pero 'pag alumni ka na, you can wear whatever you want na! =p)
Stretching - is what you do before the show... pampataas ng energy! usually it's like warm up pero you do this by yourself unlike with warm up na it's a-must.
Sides or Corners - during warm up, after flooring, sides/corners naman where you are tasked to do the spot turn at kung anu-ano pa.
Master Tape - is what you use kapag shows (if hindi live music)
Live Music - 'pag live music, ibig sabihin may real-time na tugtugan at pag may real-time na tugtugan, shempre may musicians.
Rehearsal Tape - is a copy of the master tape; it's what you use during rehearsals para hindi magasgas yung master tape.
Sapatilya - girls' footwear na ginagamit sa Maria Clara and Rural Suites.
Full Show - ang full show ay 30-45 minutes show (minimum), live or taped.
Technical Rehearsal - run-through with the technicals (without costumes). pwedeng performance level or marking.
Dress Rehearsal - run-through with the costumes without the technicals, pero dapat performance level.
Dress-Tech - run-through with costumes, technicals, props and accessories, performance level.
Labor of Love - show na walang bayad/TF!
Nanay/Tatay - aka Nanay-nanayan and tatay-tatayan. Sila yung elder dancers na tinuturing ng younger dancers na "takbuhan" pag may issue.
Nak - yan ang tawag sa mga younger dancers na tinuturing na "anak-anakan" ng mga elder dancers aka "nanay/tatay" nila. However, yung term na "anak" eh hindi general; depende lang yun sa elder dancer kung sino ang tatawagin niyang "anak" (note: usually, kung sino yung magaling na younger dancer siya yung tinatawag nilang "anak").
Be - is usually used to call someone who is younger (or youngest) in the group.

--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

17 No More!

Since I was a high school freshie, I was a meggirl. Although I've tried reading other teen glossies like Candy, W.I.T.C.H., and Total Girl, I still find myself reading and liking meg at the end of the day. After feeling so disappointed with Candy upon reading the first (and last) issue I bought, I never subscribed to any other teen magazines except meg. However, I have to admit that I am a fan of one more teen glossy - Seventeen... US!

The first ish I had was actually (my younger cousin) Angel's copy - because her mom forced her to leave it to us na lang (before they go home to Tracy). After reading the magazine from cover to cover, I realized that Seventeen (US) wasn't so bad after all... it's like reading an older (earlier) version of meg, with more "serious" topics, more beauty and fashion spreads, and anything "meg." I even told myself to one day try and buy the Philippine version, which I wasn't able to do so.

This month though, when Nica told me that Marie Claire, T3 and Seventeen (Philippines) are saying goodbye already, I (surprisingly) felt sad. I always thought that it is meg's direct competitor and that Seventeen is waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy better than Candy. So last Wednesday, I visited Booksale and (finally) purchased their last issue.

The farewell issue was heartbreaking, especially when I first read the EIC's note. It's sad to see a magazine like Seventeen go because looking at the pages, I think that the magazine is a good "guide to college girls." Although I think that meg is mas-maayos than Seventeen (because with meg, each section is segregated properly), their version of The Word really breaks my heart. I suddenly thought, "what if this happens to meg?" Siguro I would really feel devastated when that happens. Oh well, I'm just thankful that meg is still around and I hope that it will stay for as long as it could because I (still) believe that meg is the best teen glossy in the Philippines. ANYWAY.... (BACK TO SEVENTEEN =p).

Surprisingly after I finished reading the magazine, I can't help but compare it to meg. There are some sections I actually ended up liking but there are also some which I think were kinda corny. The fashion and beauty pages are cool; it's like meg when Pierra was still the EIC, and this issue was filled with Fashion spreads... features about fashion, beauty, guy section and their "teen drama/real life." yun nga lang, kalat-kalat yungSaka honestly, I think that meg tackles more serious topics than Seventeen (when it comes to Think About It and Guy Section). Plus they don't have a store info, where you can find the locations of the stores featured in the (current) issue.

Sad enough though, I still like it than Candy and I'm sad that Seventeen Magazine Philippines "graduated" this month. Sana yung Candy na lang ang nag-bye bye! =p

Photo credit: http://a1.vox.com/6a00c2252114a48fdb011018172c09860f-500pi



--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

CALLING ALL KALINANGAN ALUMNI!!!

The first rehearsal for the 25th Anniversary will start this coming Saturday, February 7th @ 1pm, at the ERJHS KDC Room. Please notify everyone you know.

All Alumni are welcome to attend and participate in the upcoming concert.

The show will be on February 21st, Saturday.

(Hope to) See you there!


Jhack (=


--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

That Same Old Dream

It's almost dinner time and there I was walking with Peewee to their house for dinner. As we walk our way to her home, she told me that she's earning P120,000 a month and that she would be really happy if I make it official. She said that she's willing to do anything and will give me the position if I said Yes. I was shocked by her determination and willingness to give it to me, knowing the fact that I kinda lack of experience when it comes to the business (although at the back of my mind I was happy and thrilled by what she just said). She opened the door and assist me inside, as she kisses her husband and introduced me to him for the first time.

After a few Hi's and Hello's to her husband, Peewee said, "Anak, tara samahan mo'ko, bili tayong food." I wasn't really hungry at the time but I did come with her to gp get some food for the three of us, anyway. As we were walking to Jollibee, Peewee and I continued chatting about her plans for MEG and how she enjoys her job, even if it is really stressing her out most of the time. She said that once I made it official, then things would probably be less stressful like how it is before. When we reached the counter in Jollibee, Peewee asked me what do I want and I said, "No thanks, Mommy. Busog pa po kasi ako eh," but she insisted me to choose so I just said, "fries and ice cream na lang po." After we get our orders, Peewee and I headed back to their house and was about to continue our conversation but before she could even start talking, the dream was cut short.

This isn't the first time I had a dream about me calling Peewee "Mom." The first time I dreamed of it, it was when I was lost in a forest and found myself in some school's dormitory. The setting was dark and creepy, I even get to a point where I was running so fast that I could almost lose my breath but Peewee came to rescue... comforted me and pointed me to the right direction. When I was about to go, I said, "Thank you so much, Mie" with a look in her face that describes either happiness, contentment, or relief.

I really don't know why I was having dreams like this about Peewee. I never saw her as a "Mom-like", although I could say that I really like her as a person, as a friend, and of course, as a MEG Editor-in-Chief. As I woke up this morning, I felt confused as to whether I would think of Peewee or my own Mom. However, as I dream about her being my "Mom," I noticed that the "scenes" are getting pleasant compared to the first dream. I think that the dream is more about my mom rather than Peewee, which is not to say that I'm dissing Peewee in those two dreams. She has been one of the kindest MEG peeps I have ever known and I am just really thankful that she's there for me, even in my dreams.

I also come to thinking that my mom is trying to tell me something, especially now that she just had her 6th death anniversary. My siblings and I weren't able to visit her grave and me having that dream serves as a warning, informing me (us) that we may have forgotten her (but we didn't, I even light a candle for her on a Sunday after her death anniversary). I also dreamed of my Mom's mother who passed away one or two years after she died, but that was another story.

I would refer to my book when I get back home and see if my thoughts are correct.
I just wish I could find the answers to this recurring dream.


--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

Almost three years ago, I wrote an article entitled, "Remembering my Mom" that landed a space in meg magazine's Think About It section. It was an article I wrote for our Feature Writing class that actually took me a week to finish the article because every time I remember what happened I would stop and cry, regretting the things that I wasn't able to do, share or show while she was still here. It was a painful story but opened many eyes. However, it was last year (2008) when I felt I miss mom the most. I don't exactly know why, but 2008 was a really heart breaking (and so far the most stressful) year for me; so much that I could only wish I can astral project to where she is right now and share things to her.

Yes, even now that I'm 23, I still feel jealous whenever I see mothers and daughters together. Sometimes I even tell myself, "what if mom is still here?" and "if only she was here...” despite the fact of knowing that there is a purpose of her leaving us that early. I don't know; I just miss her terribly. There were times when I would hate my younger cousins if I see them talking shit to their moms, and I would tell myself, "You have no idea what the heck you're doing." I know I'm not the best daughter my parents ever had, but I wasn't raised to talk like that to my mom (or my dad). I just wished that those who disrespect their parents (their mom especially) will learn their lesson sooner than they think.

Anyway, ever since she left us, everything changed... at home, within the family, especially me. After mom's death, I thought that doors will open its way for me to feel "closer" to the rest of my family but it didn't happened (or at least I think it didn't yet). Things get worse... I had many sleepless nights, falling asleep crying, or waking up in the middle of the night crying... all because I remember (or dreamed) about mom.

Speaking of dreams, I once dreamed about getting lost in a forest when a fine lady pointed me to the right direction. I said "thank you so much Mie" when I was about to leave, even though I was very sure that she wasn't my own Mommy. At the time I was having second thoughts whether it was really my mom who pointed me the right path (only on a different face) or if I just see that person as a "Mom figure." It was kinda weird because whenever I see her in my dream she would barely say anything to me. Even though I wish I could talk to her even in my dreams, she just wouldn't. I wish I know why.

Of the six years that she's been "away" from us, life gets harder and harder everyday. Sometimes I already want to give up but her passing made me realized that I shouldn't... that somehow, she's "up there" guiding us and will not let anything bad to happen to us. And even if I wasn't as kind, open, and patience like my siblings, I think (I wish) that I somehow made her proud... not only for finishing school without any failing grades, but for following my dreams and slowly making them come to life (even if she's kinda doubting "what I want" at first).

I miss you so much Mommy.



-- "When you lie, Be Consistent. (="

A Word from an Angel

i was having a conversation with my bestest cousin and she once shared a blog entry that she wrote on her myspace that really speak to me. in the blog she said, "You never know what you have until it's gone. Whether it's someone you know, something you had, or the life that you're living." i guess she was right. sometimes, we take something, or someone for granted only to find out that that something (or someone) will actually be the one who will be with you amidst all trials. i'm talking about lost friendships, loved ones, partners, even something we bought (that we thought was actually useless) or was given to us. there have been mishaps in my life... lots of it. i've lost friends, a valuable thing, even a parent. but as i look back at all those loses, i realized that why should i bury myself thinking about the past when i have a life and loved ones to take care of while they are still here? things happen for a reason and we must learn to realize the real purpose of the things that has happened before we question ourselves, or for the matter of fact, God.

if only words could kill, we could've all be dead by now. each of us have had word wars with someone before; something that started out of miscommunication turned into a world war III. when the word war is over and you've lost the person, it will either make you realize that either of you are wrong... that you shouldn't have done what you did... that what happened served him/her right. sometimes we give second chances, which will either make us be real friends or frenemies. after a week or two, someone will take it for granted... again! it's just pathetic!

there are things that are worth saving for... but sometimes, reconciliation isn't just enough. as carrie bradshaw said, "how could we forgive if we cannot forget?" forgiveness comes along not only with forget-ness, but also with maturity and clarity. and maybe, when that happens, we would never regret things that should've been done or not.



--
"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="