20 Ways You Can Be The Best Friend Ever

As we grow older, our ideals when it comes to true friendship evolve. When I was young, my idea of a best friend is that "there could only be one" among my many friends that's why you call that friend the best.  I was so "by the book". Blame it on the comparative degree of nouns I was taught during grade school -- Good, Better, Best.  
  

I still remember the names of my 3 best friends -- one during pre-school, one during grade school and one during high school. Things changed when I got to college - I had many close friends and belonged to a group. We were a gang of 8. But before I had a group, I had one classmate whom I considered a "best friend".  Things again changed when I got into a corporate world.  I developed deep friendships along the way and considered certain officemates as my BFFs. Yes, I had different sets of BFFs, then. And I'm glad up to now, we still keep in touch. 
         

Just a month back on our way home, my husband and I were talking about friendships and best friends in general.  In the middle of our conversation, he paused and asked me who my best friend is.  I started to think and blurted out certain names but after a while, I stopped and said, "You."  My answer was what he wanted to hear. And then, he said, "You, too, are my best friend."

When I think about the qualities of a best friend, I couldn't help but think about Jesus, about God. He has been, not only a father, but a best friend to me, too. 

There are infinite ways we can be a best friend to someone but here, I listed 20 practical ways one can be the best friend ever.       

Be there...always.  

Encourage your friend to be the best that he/she can be.

Apologize when you make a mistake.  

 

Bring out the best in him/her. 

Ease each others' burden.
Share the truth in your heart.
Travel together as much as you can. 

Forgive. 

Reserve your most colorful and embarrassing insults for one another. 
Improve his/her life. 
Eat together as frequently as you can.
Never ever talk about your friend in a bad way or put him/her in a bad light.
Don’t set too many expectations and rules.
 

Find time to bond over things that you both enjoy doing.

Out-love your friend.  
Respect each others' individuality.

Listen, listen, listen.     

Indulge in all your guilty pleasures together and keep it a secret. 
Fuel each other's growth -- emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.    
Establish an open line of communication because a real friend calls.

BE A BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE!

Real friends talk to each other, update each other and is always available for one another. Communication is key.....      

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http://www.globe.com.ph/prepaid/gounli20

Definitely Japan. Definitely Kojie.san

Disciplined. Mysterious. Ninja. Cherry Blossoms. Sushi. These are the words that come to mind when I think of Japan.  

Geisha. Flawless.White. These are the words that come to mind when I think of Japanese women.

I cannot think of Japan without ever mentioning the beauty of its women. Never have I been as fascinated by any beauty ritual as those practiced by Japanese women. I envy their beautiful, white, porcelain-like and flawless skin.  I know in Japan women started young when it comes to following a beauty regimen.  I was in my mid 20's (maybe a bit late already when it comes to Japanese standards), when I discovered one of their secrets to having that youthful skin. And that secret is Kojic Acid. 

I got to try it after my sister recommended it to me who used to work for a dermatologist friend. She gave me half a bar of an expensive soap with kojic acid as its main component. Now that I think about it, maybe that was how expensive it was then since she gave me just half a bar, similar to those found in hotel bathrooms. But what struck me and made me use this aside from the fact that it was given to me for free, was that I learned that the kojic acid soap came from Japan. That was the magic word -- Japan. I wanted to have that "never-age look" that Japanese women possess, so I would try any beauty thing that originates from them. It made a lot of sense then. It still makes a lot of sense now. 

I still keep that mindset of not wanting to take risks when it comes to my skin care.  I will only use the original thing.  And because I am a believer of Japanese beauty regimen and kojic acid... I'm all for Kojie San.     

 

Right after using Kojie San, there's already the feeling of slight skin tightening as if having an instant face lift. That's how I know it's working. The kojic acid in it helps increase exfoliation of the skin. It aids in removing dead skin cells as well as dirt, old dull skin, sebum, excess oil, and many more. In addition, and what I like the most especially now that I'm not too young anymore, is that kojic acid digs deeper to help my skin have faster cellular turnover. The result -- a new skin formed which is better, whiter and flawless. 

This is a great soap to bring during out-of-town trips to the beach or just about anywhere this summer. I have naturally oily skin and the heat of summer makes it even worse -- yup, oilier & greasier.  We all know that the sun can be such a bummer at times. But what good is summer without the sun? Duh.

  

Knowing that I can take a bath or wash my face using Kojie San after I expose my skin and face takes away my fear of sun exposure. I don't need to hide from the sun all the time whenever I'm at a beach because of Kojie San. There's no need to worry anymore because I'm certain of Kojie San's magic of lightening those dark spots on my skin brought about by the sun. In no time, I will have renewed skin.

 

Not only that, I can enjoy myself to the max and be one happy soul relishing the best of summer!
 

 

Read just a few of the many facts and benefits of Kojie San:

• Kojie.san is the first kojic acid soap to be commercially available in the Philippine market.
• Kojie.san has a micro peeling effect, which makes it a potent whitening product.
• It does not contain any harmful chemicals.
• It contains antioxidants and 100% all natural ingredients.

Watch Cinema One #TheWayYouWantIt!

I am a person who rarely watches TV.  Yup, but how come I’m blogging about a topic which relates to watching TV?  Well, it’s because I thought the subject is just perfect for someone whose TV viewing time in a week is close to nada.         

You see, for someone like me, getting glued on the boob tube makes the entire TV viewing pleasure a real pleasure because it's not something done out of habit. Yes, it makes my TV viewing experience more memorable since it only happens but rarely.  And those rare times, I would tune in to cable channels. Just last week before retiring to bed, I chanced upon Cinema One and Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit starring Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta was showing. I finished the entire movie even though I already watched it several times before.  I remember watching a lot of cable shows, especially during the time when I was bedresting due to my delicate pregnancy.  Our bedroom TV was my best buddy and Cinema One channel proved to be a great help in curing my boredom and regaining my sanity. LOL.

 

I recall crying over "One More Chance" starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, even if I had watched it twice already that week.  I would even wait for it to be shown again the following days so that I could cry over it again. From the moment I would wake up until my sleeping time, our bedroom TV was tuned in to SKYcable channels like Lifestyle Network, ETC, Discovery Travel & Leisure, AFC, etc. but the afternoons were devoted to Cinema One channel. That was how busy I was then.

Now, whenever I get the chance to watch TV, the first channel I would check is Cinema One and then the lifestyle shows and cooking shows. That is, if my kids are not around or else Disney Channel would always dominate the screen.

I'm glad there's SKYcable. True to its motto, SKYcable has given me a world of limitless possibilities with its widest selection of channels and different ways to enjoy it.  Continue reading below to know its four (4) amazing features: 

First, it lets you add channels and packs that you like to your basic plan. Say you have a big family and each member has a favorite channel to to watch.  No need to brood, here is a feature that makes everyone in the family happy and gay.

     

Secondly, it has the most number of standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) channels. Who wouldn't want to watch HD all the time????  I do.

  

Thirdly, it lets you get access to special shows and events through SKYcable Pay-Per-View and Free View.  All you boxing fanatics out there or Manny Pacquiao addicts, this is for you! This is such a money-saver. You no longer have to fly to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao fight. You can watch, scream your lungs out, shout, and stomp your feet and do anything and everything you want in the comforts of your home while cheering for our Pambansang Kamao.    

And last but not the least, it enables you to take control of your TV viewing with iRecord. This is definitely for me and my favorite not because mommies, like me, tend to take control all the time, lol,  it is simply because I get to pause, record and then playback my favorite scenes of Popoy and Basha in One More Chance and get to do some household chores in between.

I can even record those cooking shows from AFC and Lifestyle Network while catching up some shut-eye or doing something else at home. This means, not missing any recipe from Barefoot Contessa and Giada De Laurentiis. How convenient is that?  With iRecord, iAmOneHappyMom!

"Today, over 800,000 subscribers have made SKYcable the number one cable TV service provider in the Philippines. SKY has grown to feature the best and most varied cable programs for the whole family with amazing value added services for your family’s viewing enjoyment."

SKYcable caters to the family and understands that TV viewing can be a great family-bonding activity.    

A Whole Lotta Love for Bohol: My Life-Changing Travel Story

 

 

I am still basking in the overwhelming feeling of bliss after one of my dreams came true just last week. Our vacation to Bohol was planned long before it was hit by an intensity 7 earthquake. Despite the images we saw from the news about the devastation, we were still determined to visit Bohol.

This would be our first time to travel to Bohol. Days before our take-off, I was done with our itinerary. Detailed as it may seem, I did not want to stress over it. The schedules were flexible because more than anything, what I wanted was to relax during our travel. Taking vacations are supposed to relax your mind, body and spirit and not to tire you even more. It’s like taking a medicine when you’re sick. It should make you feel better not worse. So, the day before our trip, I went on a coffee date with my Date and committed our travel plans to Him who can make us that perfect itinerary and knowing fully well that with His blessings, guidance and presence, nothing could go wrong.  How I wanted to experience and longed to commune with nature.  

      

The day of our arrival in Bohol came. The 30 minute drive to Doljo, Panglao was smooth yet uneventful.  We passed by a lot of damaged church buildings on our way to our resort. Bohol is a quiet place, we thought.

As I stepped out of the van that took us to our hotel, I gazed at the lobby and at the far end across, something captivated me - the smell, sight and sound of a beautiful ocean. WOW!! Complementing the clear blue sky was the calm sea in all its turquoise glory. It was spectacular! I immediately felt refreshed just by staring at the beauty in front of me. 
 

 

Just a good two-minute walk from where we were staying was this quaint resort and restaurant where we had what we wanted to have for our meals – all kinds of seafoods at very reasonable cost. Walking along that short stretch was therapeutic. It was like having our own island. Neither was there any sign of “busyness” nor loud crowd.  Everything was serene and I liked it that way. 
                   

 

For the adventure part of our vacation, we went on a city tour. I was excited and eager to finally see the pictures I would just usually read from my children’s Araling Panlipunan textbooks come alive. 

The tarsiers are Bohol’s living treasure. Yes, they are the stars of the show, so to speak.  I never knew they were that small and fragile until I was face-to-face with them. They are a perfect symbol for Bohol --  a picture of gentleness and quietness.  

Reaching the viewing deck at Chocolate Hills Adventure Park required us to embark on another journey-- that of climbing approximately 250 stone steps. Initially, I thought we signed up for the “Biggest Loser”, but, I took it as a challenge. Anyway, I haven’t been exercising for the longest time so I thought, taking those steps would pretty much count as my work-out days for the whole year. I was too exhausted to admire the view when I reached the top but just like eating real chocolates, the moment I saw the hills which, by the way, are made of limestones, I felt re-energized. And then, it was time to take those stone steps once again, this time going down.
 

Passing by the Man-made Forest was like being transported to another country. I was thinking what if zombies appear while we were having our pictures taken in the middle of the road surrounded by those gigantic trees.  But no, there weren't any zombie, only fast cars that made our photoshoot even more exciting.  

          

The River Cruise was another lovely experience. The live band and singing all the more made the experience one-of-a-kind. I couldn’t help but admire the picturesque sight of everything green in all shapes, shades and sizes while our big boat raft traversed through the wide and serene Loboc river.     

What I loved most about our tour to Bohol’s different tourist destinations was that each spot showcased Bohol’s natural beauty. There’s something here for everybody. Whether you are young or old, you will surely have an experience in Bohol that you will want to come back for.  Bohol is a big showcase of nature at its best.     

There were many moments during our vacation that I felt God’s love and hand upon us. I felt that this vacation was really meant for us.

 

 

 

It was such a joy to see our kids and hear their laughter while playing in and just relishing the pool overlooking the beach.

 

 



I had fun watching them fill their beach pails with starfish. But the following day, it was a touching scene when they bid their catch goodbye while releasing them back to the ocean.
 


I was thrilled to see my husband having a time of his life taking pictures left and right. Panglao is a slice of paradise and it is a photographer’s haven.    

 

Everything was wonderful, but what was life-changing to me about this travel was that I got my wish – to feel His gift of life through His works of art. As I stared at the vastness of the ocean in front of me, I couldn’t help but say, “Thank You, God, for this wonderful vacation.” My soul was refreshed and rejuvenated.

 

 

 

Then and there, I experienced the joy and peace of living in the present moment  and savoring it.  I realized that "everything has God's fingerprint on it," which makes every moment spent with those I value the most in my life so special.

I believe I found the secret to having an amazing & life-changing travel story to tell– it is simply having that “let-nature-take-its-course” attitude or better yet, it’s letting the One who commands nature to take over… Just as it should be in our lives. And yes, I wouldn’t want it any other way.   

 

GLOBE Project Wonderful 2014

Illustration by:  Noelle Aguilar

I am a dreamer… and I’ve been one ever since I was born 44 years ago. It’s easy for me to imagine the impossible coming to life.  

Ever since I graduated from college and started to earn my own keep, I have developed this desire to do something about the plight of our street children and contribute something (tangible items and non-tangible items) to an orphanage. Orphans and abandoned kids have a special place in my heart maybe because I'm an orphan myself. When I was still single, I would join my brother and his family to a Noche Buena food-giving project to street children or to those just living in a "kariton". Soon after, I organized a similar project, this time, with my yuppy friends, right before Noche Buena. There's always this feeling of blessedness when I'm involved in doing some acts of charity and kindness.  

 

Illustration by:  Nala Aguilar

When I got married and have kids, that dream of building an orphanage has taken a backseat but I still carry that in my heart.  As a parent, my plans and dreams right now revolve around my family, most especially, our 3 daughters.  But indeed, my dreams of building an orphanage has never left me.  In fact, during my daily walks, whenever I see a loose coin along my way enroute to wherever I'm going, I never hesitate to pick it up.  It started with just a single coin, of course, and after about 3 years, I see my collection growing. I call them my “lucky coins” and keep them in a wallet given by an officemate, an LV (Lucky Vivian's).  I am not at all superstitious but I really don't know why these coins fascinate me and why I have tagged them as "lucky". I'm thinking maybe, I will have these coins buried in the soil during the ground-breaking rites where I will put up my future children’s orphanage. These coins will symbolize the journey I took in fulfilling one of my dreams.

I know putting up an orphanage involves a lot of money. But I am inspired by the story of George Muller, a Christian evangelist who in the year 1836 put up an orphanage in Bristol, England.  This orphanage was built by prayer and it cared for a little over 10,000 orphans.  If there is one thing I can give to the Philippines, I will give a building to house orphans and abandoned children.  It will be more than just a building.  It is a gift of hope for the Filipino children who have been neglected,  have lost their loved ones, or in one way or the other, have been left on their own.  This orphanage will provide the basic needs of a child from food, water, clothes and education.  But more than these, this children’s orphanage will provide them with love and care just like being in a family.  In the confines of this building, they will never feel alone or abandoned or worthless.  Here, they will feel special and precious.  After all, they really are.  Here, the children will learn to pray,  experience God’s love and provision.  Here, they will know Jesus.  I want to give the Philippines a children’s orphanage that will center on Christ and depend on God alone.
 

Noelle's drawing of a children's orphanage

And when the children are ready for adoption, they will leave the orphanage equipped with Godly-values and prepared for the world.  These children will have a strong sense of compassion. They will share their joy and love with others who are like them.  They will make a difference and they will be the difference that the world wants to see. 

Nala's drawing of a family (night time)

I have big dreams for this children’s orphanage and for the children themselves. My prayer is that while inside the confines of this building, their lives will be impacted and once they get out, they in turn will impact the lives of others.

Maybe you will ask why an orphanage? Why not something that will benefit the majority or will help develop the country or translate to economic growth?  Having been orphaned at an early age, I know how it feels to almost give up hope.  Losing my parents at a young age is like losing everything.  Everything about a little child speaks of innocence and trust.  Children have pure hearts and can love with all their heart.  This love inspires us to see God’s unconditional love.  I want to preserve the purity of their hearts to love and accept love, if only I can.  Even Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven.”

A drawing of a family (day time) collaborated by Noelle & Nala

Maybe joining the #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 contest will be the start of it all, the start of something wonderful. 

(James 1:27) “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”. 

 

Should you be given an opportunity to give one thing to the Philippines, what would that gift be?  I would love to know, please share it with me.