Drops of Jupiter

It's gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Jaded!!!

My August Song

Now that she’s back in the atmosphere

With drops of jupiter in her hair, hey, hey

She acts like summer and walks like rain

Reminds me that there’s time to change, hey, hey

Since the return from her stay on the moon

She listens like spring and she talks like june, hey, hey

Tell me did you sail across the sun

Did you make it to the milky way to see the lights all faded

And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star

One without a permanent scar

And did you miss me while you were looking at yourself out there

Now that she’s back from that soul vacation

Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey

She checks out mozart while she does tae-bo

Reminds me that there’s time to grow, hey, hey

Now that she’s back in the atmosphere

I’m afraid that she might think of me as plain ol’ jane

Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet

Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

And head back to the milky way

And tell me, did venus blow your mind

Was it everything you wanted to find

And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken

Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong

Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance, five-hour phone conversation

The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet

Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

And head back toward the milky way

And tell me did you sail across the Sun

Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded

And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star

One without a permanent scar

And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself

And did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

And did you fall for a shooting star, Fall for a shooting star

And now you're lonely looking for yourself out there

Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional!

Happy Birthday to me! If you know me well enough, then you'd say this photo is the story of my life. My parents behind me every step of the way and are always in my head! I'd say I'm a mix of both. Growing up, I thought I was every bit like my mom ( I still want to be like her)... now that I'm a bit older I just realized I am so much like my papa as well (and I want to be like him too). Flowers because I'm in love with love but forever running away from it. I can think of so many things to say about it... This is me now.

Finally after a few months of de-bratting and homesickness and circumstances forcing me to grow (up), things seem like they're falling into place. I still had a moment thinking about my second birthday without Ina (I doubt I'll ever get used to it) and I miss my hunnies back home but yay! They're going to visit me in March (ooh watch out Sydney!)

So how do you sum up a year? I've been thinking about it... 525,600 minutes, seasons of love, daylights, sunsets, laughter and strife, what about love...(download the song). And honestly I can't. But I do know this, every single day when I was 23, I had endless reasons to be grateful and to feel blessed. God is good.

How was my first birthday away from Manila?

It still felt like I was celebrating at home because Papa and Kyaw flew in and Auntie Loy too. Uncle Anky and Tita Nidia, my Sydney parents came over as well! Brights (I love you) is my girlfriend and boyfriend and besty all rolled in one amazing package.

Thursday night for salubong I was at Estab with Czarina, Nadine, Bryn, Vihn, Lily, Carlo and Andrea...and met up with Brights around midnight. Caz and Bryn finally saw my brat mode and they still love me so yay.

Friday was sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. I woke up early and Papa had just arrived. We had our traditional misua birthday breakfast and I went to work. I was greeted happy birthday by my lovely workmates and had lunch out because Lou was leaving. When I got back to the office, there was a massive bouquet of flowers for me! I thought it was from the team until I opened the card. Thaaaaaaank youuuuuu mr preservative!

This actually started a 30 minute discussion in the Dell village (we're mostly girls in the business management division) about how and why women love flowers so much. I wasn't there but we do all know that the best way to get flowers is when you least expect to get it and for some strange reason, flowers make you forgive and forget.

After lunch, they gave me chocolate brownie cake (yum!) and a card and we had champagne too(it's a Friday DDB thing)! Then I went to eat Italian food with the family and Auntie Loy, Uncle Anky and Tita Nidia :)

Then we went back to the apartment and they bought me a cake (chocolate of course!) with 24 candles on it! It looked like it was on fire when they lit it up. I blew it out in one breath but I ran out of air hahaha. Then I got to open presents! Anyone who's close to me will know that I love anything gift wrapped but this year I had awesome gifts! #1 of course was having the family together... I love love love everything they gave me. Tita Nidia had a funny story about how I had another present (they gave me 4 counting the cake!) and Uncle Anky wanted to make me work hard to open the last gift (see he always has something to teach us :) but when he cut the wrapper, he cut through the top they bought me hahaha! So now he has to learn how to sew? Thank you thank you thank you for the wonderful presents from Auntie Loy, Uncle Anky, Tita Nidia, Tita Bonnie, K (I'm wearing it all the time!), our maids and drivers, Ela, Brights, Paul, etc!

I slept with a big smile on my face :)

Saturday! Pub crawl time! We had so much fun last night. Kuya didn't want to go out and I had to pull the whole I'm your baby sister, it's my birthday, mommy and papa make kuya go I want him there (some things never change :P)... but I'm glad he had a good time with my new friends. oooohhh we're halfway there oooh living on a prayer (way to go zesto!) hahaha

We started at 3 wise monkeys: me, ate a, kuya e, kyaw, brights, paul, kaye, czarina (and her boys), bryn, anne, gabe, carlo, lily, vihn, shaun, rockstar, sneakers, nadine, anthony, lex, simon, james... did I miss anyone? Had a few drinks and moved to Equilibrium (eck) it was still fun fun fun... then we ended up in 333! hahahah so much for pub hopping! Thanks guys I had a blast! From MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, R&B, hiphop, 70's disco, rock, alternative, 80's, house... we were just dancing all night!

The quotable quotes archives worthy award of the night goes to KUYA!

1) "Bryn can dance! He doesn't dance like a white boy!" (Tall paul almost fell off his chair, me and brights fell on him!)

2) "I only have two words for you: Receeding hairline!"

3) While introducing him to a guy friend Kuya said: Hi, I'm tipsy!

4) Kuya was laughing and laughing and laughing and I asked why and he said "Eric said I'm coming out is his song!" hahahaha

If you wanna see the messy night it's on my multiply now http://dianechua.multiply.com

And today, is Sunday! Papa gave me a pearl necklace and matching earrings I can wear to work. And mom gave me gorgeous earrings, ring and necklace of south sea pearls with diamonds around (she bought it for herself when she started working). But I don't think I deserve them yet so she's keeping them for me :)

My July favourite song (I swear it follows me everywhere)

I'm Coming Out
I'm coming out
I'm coming I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out

There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I'm completely positive

I think this time around I am gonna do it
Like you never do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I'll make it through

The time has come for me
To break out of the shell
I have to shout
That I'm coming out

I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out

I've got to show the world
All that I wanna be
And all my abilities
There's so much more to me
Somehow, I have to make them
Just understand
I got it well in hand
And, oh, how I've planned
I'm spreadin' love
There's no need to fear
And I just feel so glad
Everytime I hear: I'm coming out I want the world to know Got to let it show I'm coming out I want the world to know I got to let it show

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADED!

Yes, I know I'm shit (ears) for not coming out on your birthday day. Sorryyyyyy *hugs*

Here's the painting I made of you :D I just changed the color tones a bit.

As you all know, Paul is Brightly's best friend and my first real guy buddy in Sydney. He's been such an awesome mate. So for his birthday, I thought of making him a list of reasons why his real friends love him.

1) He's so fun to be with. Hanging out at the apartment, dancing, playing pool, bar hopping... you're guaranteed to have a great time with him around.
2) He can and will dance anywhere. He doesn't care who's watching and what people will think. He just listens to the perpetual music in his head.
3) He can be a real sweetheart. This guy will do anything for people he cares about.
4) You can count on him to be there for you... whether it be a ride, help moving in or de-bratting, baby sitting me (yeah when I was still in I don't talk to people I don't know phase), getting carried, looking out for brights, or just a good laugh or distraction when you're sad. He's my and my sister's adopted big little brother who can eat 5 servings of pasta and put my tsinelas on the top beam of the balcony and uses my head as an arm rest.
5) He makes good pep talks! Brightly trained him well hahaha! GAME ON!
6) He gets girl talk. I don't know how or why but he always gets it... even if he pays you out like crazy after.
7) He doesn't shit in THIS backyard. hehe
8) He says what's on his mind. Yeah even if it can sound harsh at times, he'll always let you know what he thinks of the whole situation, of what you're doing or of what you're getting into. (And of course his real friends will do the same for him)
9) He's real. He makes mistakes, he falls, does stupid things... that's what growing up is all about. Atleast he acknowledges his shortcomings and makes an effort to be a better person (Don't regress!).
10) Because Tall Paul is who he is. You can't sum up his character because of a few actions, or words, or even phases in his life... Once you see through the fortress, the confusion, the jaded talk and everything else, you'll find one incredibly nice guy with a good heart.

We love you Paul! Mwah!

Hips Don't Lie

TROUBLE(noun): swept away, lost in the moment, affected, crazy, enamored, gaga, infatuated, taken with, smitten, first times, special ed, dance floors.

Where the heck is the rewind button?

To and fro... stop and go... that's what makes the world go 'round!

I feel like a little kid hiding under my blankie fighting to stay in dreamland with everyone else around me trying to wake me up... five more minutes please... press the snooze button... noooo go awaaaayyy... I'm desperately trying to relive and hold on to good memories of the past, of what has been and will never be again, of who I was before, of what I let go of and what I have lost...

Then life jolts you back to the real world by grabbing your sheets and pillows and throwing a pitcher of cold water at you... Wake up, it's time to face reality. Keep your head up baby, today is a new day. Talk about tough love.

Isn't life weird like that? It just tells you to keep going on and on and on.

Life goes on.


In my life (Beatles)
There are places I remember all my life,
Though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain.

All these places have their moments
Of lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I loved them all.

And with all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these mem'ries lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new

And I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life I loved you more.

And I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life I loved you more
In my life I loved you more

In Loving Memory of Leonardo Salang aka Tito Bombit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chewychua/81342037/in/set-1569822/ (I can't seem to upload his picture- taken during mom's grad party where we gave him the loyalty award and where he sang his last concert)


I woke up today to such awful news. Tito Bombit, our childhood driver passed away, at the age of 56 due to pulmonary embolism. He was so many things to us… tutor, sing-a-long partner, mascot… more importantly, he was family. Losing him is like losing a family member, an uncle, who has been with us for 23 years, my whole life really. I can’t imagine family parties without him. He always won our singing contests. The Mijares clan has lost a champion. The final curtain for “Strangers in the Night” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” has fallen.

Memories come flashing back, mostly funny antics about him. He was an engineering graduate, the older brother of mom’s childhood best friend and my second mom Tita Dads. Mom and I were told the same thing by him when we were children “Huwag kayo maglalaro at magsisi-talon pagkatapos kumain, sige kayo magkaka-diabetis kayo!” (Don’t play and jump around right after eating because you’ll get diabetes!”) He meant appendicitis.

I will miss everything about him. The way he found contentment in life. He lived for simple joys. You will always find him humming a happy tune as he hung out in the house. One recent new year we asked him, Tito Bombit what do you want for this year? He said “why would I want to change a thing when life is so good?” He loved good food and feeding him brought a big smile to his face. All he found lacking in his life were his “wedding bells.”

He was like a surrogate dad to us in many ways. When my brother was Grade 1 and was sick, it was Tito Bombit who searched all over the school to find my brother curled up by the staircase of the auditorium because he was too weak to walk. He carried my kuya home. When I was also in my first grade of school, I would hate to arrive late because I was scared the other kids would laugh at me. When my Papa would be to busy to bring me to school, it was Tito Bombit who would hold my hand and carry my huge bag and bring me to the classroom. Once, I refused to go down the car because I was 45minutes late (well it was my fault really I didn’t want to wake up) and I said I wanted to go home. He said ok, but I won’t tell your mom what you decided to do, you have to tell her yourself. At a young age, he taught me honesty and owning up to my decisions. I also remember the time when the earthquake struck when we were in Grade 2, he was the one who picked me up from school. He had a talent of finding me wherever I was when I was a kid. In a sea of children wearing the same uniform, he’d always zoom in and find me. He used to do our homework, when I had big drawing projects, it was him I’d run to for help. He was also our Mr. Fix It, he could repair and build anything. He made our Christmas trees light up beautifully. When I was in high school, apart from asking my mom if I could extend my curfew, I’d have to ask him too if it was ok. If he said I should go home, I did go home with him. He spent a great deal of late nights searching for my sister when she went gallivanting around town with her friends. Precious, my childhood best friend, and all of the Salang kids will truly miss him. He was so kind and generous. He was walking Christmas, the one uncle they could all run to and rely on.

He was truly unique and so were his ideas. Who could ever forget his “national bookstore should have a drive through” and the time when I was annoyed about missing confession and he said why don’t you just confess to me it’s the same thing, if you don’t confess to a priest face to face, you won’t know whether he’s a real priest or not. He said priests should be available for confession over the phone. Or how when you tell him to drive faster because you’re running late, he scolds you and says, “if you got ready earlier then you wouldn’t be late. If I drive faster we’ll get into an accident then you’ll never arrive at your meeting.” And how his shortcuts always take longer than the regular route. And how he’s never lost, the city hall, barangay hall, police station or land mark just disappeared. Or how he toasts and claps for every name mentioned in our yearly thanksgiving prayer because he’s had too much to drink. And how he sets up and lights up our fireworks at home every new year. And how he doesn’t remember street names and addresses but he remembers the place by who lives there…Nikki’s house, Ginny’s, Lala’s, K’s, Marivic’s, even Rica my grade school besty I’ve lost touch with. If you spent one ride with him, you’d have a story about him to tell other people that will last a lifetime. Tita Meng’s Baguio adventure, Carlos’ conversations (laugh when he laughs), K’s bonding time with him… the list goes on.

We’re all crying for his loss. As my sister put it, it’s like the end of an era. My brother (who Tito Bombit drives for now), said I’m holding the cellphone that I’ve always lent Tito Bombit. I always found it funny when he would answer in his funny way. It’s dead right now, the battery gave up last night. I’m crying ‘coz even if I charge this, he will never be on the other line again. Mom feels like she lost a brother, she’s known him since she was five. And I can’t describe how I feel. I just know it hurts that I can’t be there to pay my respects to the one man who’s always been there for us. When the tears stop flowing, I know we will all remember him with smiles and chuckles.

Today, the world has lost a kind soul. These words written here can never be enough to sum up who and what Tito Bombit was in our lives, but it does him justice to know that we love him and that he will sorely be missed and that he will live forever in our hearts. He is now driving off to a new and wonderful world where he will find eternal rest and happiness. (as he always says when we drive on flyovers)... *putputput* Ready for take off ...

It's Friday I'm in Love!

Concerts+white wine have the same effect on me as scotch with brightly. Dangerous Mix. Hahaha.

We watched Mark Sholtez last night for Perve Fest '06 CicStyles... ooooweeee! He sounds just like the cd but looks way better in real life. Rawr. You can check out his site here www.marksholtez.com I love all his songs. Pictures to follow at my multiply.

Thanks babe I had so much fun even if I flunked my pash and dash test :P

I had a really great week. Work is really fun so the hours fly by real fast. I love the team I'm in.
I can only describe this week through Van Morrison's words..."Well my mama told me there'll be days like this...." :D

Thank you to all the wonderful and beautiful people who have made my week amazing :)

Friday I'm In Love (The Cure)

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...

I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love

Monday, you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday - watch the walls instead
It's Friday, I'm in love

Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...

Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday, I'm in love

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

From Anne's Blog

Anne is one of my first girl friends here in Sydney. She's the sweetest good girl ever but she absolutely knows how to have fun. Gabe is really blessed to have her.
Check out her site. http://roxyheart.blogspot.com

This is my favorite entry of hers.


Scent of a Woman

A scent is a wonderful thing, it recalls memories of forgotten circumstances or specific events. There are so many fragrances throughout my life that i can remember by just a single scent wafting through the air or when a person passes carrying that definable moment in time. Times of love, betrayal, happiness, joy, excitement, growth and my stage in life. To me, a fragrance defines who i am and what i yet to be.

As i child i wore baby cologne of bubble gum and sweet scents of edible deliciousness, it defines an age of youth, simpleness, purity and laughter.I would always know if my mother was around because of her smell, and even then when she had left the house , her scent would always leave a trail in her room. It somehow gave me comfort.As a teenager i dabbled on perfumes given to me as gifts , they smelt nice , lovely, light and airy, fragrances smelling of the ocean , gardens and trees. I dabbled on what was in fashion then. Cool water, Ralph Lauren, Victoria's sceret colognes. At that time i felt a bit more mature, a bit more complex in personality as opposed to my simple colgnes in my childhood.

I have always borrowed perfume from my mum, i would always sneak in her room and squirt a bit of this and a bit of that on all parts of my clothing. She always liked floral scents and i liked them too. They reminded me of soft pillows, gardens filled with flowers and puppies. My mother always changed her perfumes yet theys seem to have tones in common. Traces of rose smelling with enough hints of gardenia. I recall spritzing on Pleasures, Glamorous and Arden, Fifth ave.

As i approached my late teens, well in my college years i wore Green Tea. It was synonymous with the things that i liked at the time... Food. Green Tea had traces of citrus lemon, rhubarb, peppermint, oakmoss, musk and amber. People would know i was approaching or if i had been in the room,i thougt then it was my signature scent. Yet as i approached the big 2 0 i sorta out grew it.As of this moment i am in limbo, i have been borrowing everybodies scent, like as if im borrowing their personality and their moments. Zsa wears men's perfumes, because she hates the sissy prissy scents of ladies. She had Issey for a long time yet everytime i smelt it gave me the chills...reminding me of a not so distant pass.

Yesterday i went into David Jones on Elizabeth St to choose my fragrance. The scent that would and could encapsulate me before my birthday. I tried just about everything..... i got sick after 4 hours in there....so i went home with all my little trial cards...

Am i giving myself a headache? maybe ...i asked Gabe about this and he wasn't much help at all.

Yet when i embrace him , when i smell the soft musk on his neck i feel that im home.