Glad that everything is over and done with. I've coordinated and handled 'alone' a 2-days training workshop on "Upgrading Skills to Enhance Productivity at the Workplace on 28 & 29 April at the Promenade Hotel, since my boss was away for a personal leave. There were only 10 participants (mostly executives from 3 large & well-established companies) including myself (because I think I too need to improve myself) and that's why its very easy to handle. It was more like an informal training workshop and all of us has become like a 'family' after these memorable 2-days. I could say we all had fun, we laugh alot and freely share our opinions & experiences. I enjoyed and we all promise to keep in touch as friends. So now I think I want to be a better worker...more productive I guess(?).
Well, since it will be a long weekend & tomorrow is Labour Day, I would like to share here 10 Working Tips for you and I:
1) Do not get into trouble 2) Aim for greater heights 3) Stay focussed on your job 4) Exercise to maintain good health 5) Practise team work 6) Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back, take your time trusting others.. 7) Save for rainy days 8) Rest and relax 9) Always smile when your boss is around 10) Nothing is impossible
I learned that SUCCESS is a journey....so work towards it. HAPPY SMILEY WEEKEND!
I've yet to watch the new released 'BALER', a Philippino movie but I'm really looking forward to watching it...I might want to watch it on Cinema or just buy the VCD today. I heard it's romantic & beautifully directed & probably consider an epic as well (like the movie Australia). I'm having goose bumps about it....especially when my fav Phil hunk, Jericho Rosales is on it starring together with Anne Curtis. (Aaaaaarrghh, I'm screaming now - crazy!)
Synopsis (taken from WikiPilipinas): In 1898, a band of Spanish soldiers heroically defended Baler (which would later be the capital municipality of Aurora in 1951) against Filipino forces for 337 long and grueling days.
Filipino barrio lass Feliza (Anne Curtis) and Filipino-Spanish soldier Celso (Jericho Rosales) are caught in a forbidden love, torn apart by the societies they came from. Feliza's father Nanding (Philip Salvador) is an anti-Spanish government fighter, which puts pressure on the young couple to keep their relationship a secret. Outnumbered and out-gunned by the Indios they once governed and abused, the Spanish soldiers in Baler, including Celso and buddy Lope (Mark Bautista), are now forced to hole up in a church as they wait for non-existent military reinforcements to rescue them from the band of Filipinos who have now surrounded them and are waiting for their surrender.
The music is great as well & of course I've always love the voice of Sarah Geronimo. Sarah sings the Baler movie theme song 'Ngayon, Bukas at Kailanman', composed by Louie Ocampo.
Brought Carmen to the beach at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Tuaran last Saturday evening. It's been quite awhile that we have not been out at the beach and get to see a spectacular sunset such as these...what a beauty! Unfortunately, I don't have a VERY GOOD camera so this is all I could shoot for now (pity huh?...but I'm working on getting one very soon). Anyways, Deb went jogging/brisk walking there, Carmen joined her for awhile and enjoyed running, playing the sands and sea water & feeling the breeze after that. The sky also looked like an art masterpiece - a spilt splash of watercolour...COOL! We intend to do this kind of outing pretty often...its great for Carmen.
AUSTRALIA, a beautiful epic..... Synopsis: It tells the story of English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (played by Nicole Kidman) in the 1930s, who inherits an Australian Outback cattle property. To save the animals from local cattle barons, Lady Ashley joins forces with a rugged cattle drover (played by Hugh Jackman) to drive 1500 cattle through Australia's Top End, only to be caught in the events surrounding the bombing of Darwin during World War II. The movie is directed by Baz Luhrmann....remember his 2001 musical success Moulin Rouge(?). (I'm a fan of all his films)
The real star of the movie is not a name you would recognise. Brandon Walters plays the boy 'Nullah' and narrator. A small boy being asked to carry the vast majority of the film in a genre that’s pretty much been in deep stasis (if not actually extinct) for a number of years is a tall task. That he pulls it off is astonishing. That he does it with aplomb is breathtaking. An emotionally nuanced performance that carried the audience on a rollercoaster of laughter, drama and sadness that in and of itself is a reason to watch this movie.
Eleven-year-old Brandon Walters makes his film debut in Australia as the Aboriginal boy Nullah.
I really adores this little aborigine cutie...I wish there's a 'Nullah' doll that I could cuddle-ha! I learned that this is his very first film and 1st time actor...but boy he's really, really GOOD....I think he could be nominated as Supporting Actor in the next Oscar's award. And this epic could be the next Oscar's Best Picture.
This movie is really worth watching, great cinematography and good acting of all the casts. It's also very dramatic and heartfelt...especially when it comes to some scenes how the aborigines were treated unfairly and casted out. I love that Nicole and Hugh are also great together/perfect match...I mean Baz Luhrmann or any directors should get both of them to act together on more romantic films in the future.
Check out trailer here:
WATER by Deepa Mehta
This is quite an old movie but it's not a typical Hindi movie. It's one of the 'Elements' Trilogy feature films by Deepa Mehta after 'Fire' and 'Earth'. But on all CD stores in town, I could only find 'Water'. Synopsis: The year is 1938, India is ruled by the British, and it is around this time that Mohandas K. Gandhi has arrived from Africa to begin his tryst with the British, as well as battle the traditions that bind the Hindus. Not yet in her teens, Chuyia is married to a much older and sickly male, who shortly after the marriage, passes away. Chuyia is returned unceremoniously to her parents' house, and from there she is taken to the holy city of Banaras and left in the care of a wide assortment of widows who live at "the widows' house," shunned by the rest of the community. Chuyia believes that her mother will come to take her home. Here she meets several elderly women, including the head of the house, Madhumati; a quiet, confident woman named Shakuntala; and a gorgeous young woman named Kalyani -- all widows. Chuyia does not know that according to Holy Hindu Scriptures she has been destined to live here for the rest of her life, for when a woman's husband dies', she has three options: One, to marry her husband's younger brother, if his family permits; two, to kill herself on his funeral pyre; three, to live a life of celibacy, discipline, and solitude amongst her own kind. A new law in India which permits a widow to re-marry is not popular, and it is these customs and openly welcoming the lower castes that will pit Gandhiji against his very own people, apart from struggling with the British to leave India. Kalyani meets and falls in love with young Narayan, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, who wants to marry her, despite his mother's protests. The question remains, can Kalyani marry the man she loves? Will he still want to marry her when he knows everything about her? And is Chuyia destined to live the rest of her life as a widow among shunned widows? Written by rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
The movie was originally supposed to star Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. It was nearly abandoned by Deepa Mehta after protests by Hindu organisations halted filming in the year 2000. The director received death threats and was forced to shelve the movie after Indian authorities shut down filming amid protests by Hindu outfits. She finally shot the film in Sri Lanka five years later. With new casts, crew and a little twist in the story.
Like Australia, the movie potrayed more on the child actor as the main character. I think Deepa has her reasons (probably more on security) for casting Lisa Ray (played the role of Kulyani), a Canadian citizen and whom is of mixed parentage - Bengali Indian father & Polish Mother, even though she can't really act that well (my opinion) and she looked too much of a 'Mat Salleh' than a real Indian woman in that movie. The real star there is the child actress Sarala who played Chuyia...what a superb acting and very talented young soul! Overall it was a creative and well done movie yet touching (you may have some disturbing feelings too) by Deepa and of course the music by A.R. Rahman contributes to its greatness. I enjoyed it.
If you would like to learn more about the lives of the widows in India, you should also watch Forgotten Woman by Dilip Mehta (Deepa's brother).
Just love epic movies and feature films like this - A MUST WATCH!
Rubina Ali, the child actress (played little Latika) from the award winning Slumdog Millionaire is for sale for 200,000 pounds by her own father. This is so sad news, very controversial and a ridiculous thing for a father to do! If I'm rich enough...I will definitely adopt her. I just wish/hope Brangelina comes to the rescue...buy/adopt here and give her a better life (Please!) Read more and check the video HERE (taken from News of the World)
I dedicate this post especially to all mothers, soon-to-be mothers and women who would love to be a mother in the future. And this is also a good read for all daddies too.
7 TIPS TO BE A HAPPY MOM
Have you heard the saying “being a mom is the best job you will ever have’? For some it is a huge responsibility that can be overwhelming and not as fulfilling as it should be. If you have experienced being overwhelmed, unhappy for any reason, or not feeling totally fulfilled in your role as a mom, you are not alone. Here are seven tips to change your life for the better.
Tip #1: Believe it is possible. In order to be happier and more fulfilled as a mom you have to believe that it is possible. Have you heard the quote, “You have to believe to achieve?”. Well it is true and this is where it all begins.
Tip #2: Be willing to do things differently.You can’t expect to be happier and more fulfilled if you continue to do things the same way. So, you have to be willing to make some changes and do things differently from the way you have been.
Tip #3: Get support.It is easy to fall into the role of “super mom” and feel like it is your responsibility as a mom to do everything yourself, but you will be happier if you get some support. There are many different means of support for moms if you seek them out.
Tip #4: Ask for what you want.Have you ever gotten angry at your spouse because he didn’t do what you wanted him to do, but he often said that you have never asked him to do it? Moms often don’t ask for what they want and need. Learn to speak up and ask for what you want.
Tip#5: Love yourself first.Feeling loved is the universal basic want we all have. While it is great to get and feel loved by others, most people don’t love themselves first. You need to love yourself first and set the example for others to love you too.
Tip#6: Focus on YOU!Ask yourself, “What do I love to do that I’m not currently doing?” or “What would I like more of in my life that will help me feel more fulfilled?” Discover what it is that is missing in your life to make you feel fulfilled and do it!
Tip#7: Let go!When moms focus on themselves or take time for themselves they tend to feel a bit guilty. Carrying around this burden doesn’t benefit anyone including you, so let it go! When you are happy and fulfilled you will be better in your role as mom and as a partner, so enjoy it. Extracted from the New Straits Times Cool children play stuffs from a very cool online shopSerena & Lily
Some of my favourite mother & child paintings from Mary Cassatt whose paintings are mostly on the social and private lives of women particularly the intimate bonds between mothers & children (so love it!)
While still on motherly subject...I too would like to share an article by Susanna Schrobsdorff taken from Newsweek many weeks ago about 'When a Young Mother dies'which I think is pretty interesting and could be a wake up call for all mothers out there.
Now here are some sweet thoughts on being a mother....
The baby was born and your life was changed more than you ever dreamed. You found you had sprouted invisible antennae that picked up every alteration in breathing, every variation in temperature, every nuance of expression in your tiny daughter. No one told you that the change was irreversible. That you would feel in your own heart every pain, every loss, every disappointment, every rebuff, every cruelty that she experiences - life long. By Rosanne Ambrose-Brown, b.1943 Having a child....has opened my heart in a way that I don't believe anything else could have done. The whole rush of feelings from a love for your child that is so forgiving, so full. Experiencing your own child: taking care of that small human form, watching them reach their milestones. There's nothing else in life like that, although you can watch other people's children and be part of another family. The love for your child is an eternal, unconditional love. Having had my own child has made me a better person, I think. I'm more open, more giving, more forgiving. It's probably made me a better teacher - more compassionate and empathetic. By Deanne Burke, from "On Women Turning 50" Its (motherhood) demands are so compelling, so clearly important, and also so profoundly satisfying. You give up yourself, and finally you don't even mind. You become your child's guide to life at the expense of that swollen ego you thought so immutable. I would'nt have missed this for anything. It humbled my ego and stretched my soul. It awakened me to eternity. It made me know my own humanity, my own mortality, my own limits. It gave me whatever crumbs of wisdom I possess today. By Erico Jong, B.1942 from "Fear of Fifty"
Happy Mothers Day in advance...with love from Mama Rock
Weekend is here again....time passes so fast. I'm gonna do and work on something worth while this weekend...I must not waste my time like last weekend (sigh) so firstly I need to come up with my 'list to do things'.
Happy weekend people! I'll leave you with some important tips to take care of your health.....
1. Answer the phone by LEFT ear. 2. Do not drink coffee TWICE a day. 3. Do not take pills with COOL water. 4. Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm. 5. Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume. 6. Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night. 7. Keep your distance from handphone CHARGERS. 8. Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time. 9. Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning. 10. Do not lie down immediately after taking MEDICINE before sleeping. 11. When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times.
And also you may want to check out Gwyneth Paltrow's website GOOP to make you feel good and energise your soul this weekend. It's really worth while reading it...inspiring and amazing actually, besides those negative controversy from critics that they "do not get it" but I totally get it.
Mmmmmm....listening to Jazon Mraz cool music now...I'm really looking forward to my weekend.
Remember be happy, put lots of smiles on your face, have a good heart and most of all have fun!
.bmp)
