ALOE BLACC - I'M BEAUTIFUL

Sometimes people say things
that they don't really mean.
They just might call you names
to lift their self esteem.
But soon enough, they'll realize
that it'll never work.
Because inside they're trying to hide
how much they really hurt.

But as long as you know who you are
and what you're about
Nothing they say can shake your pride
and make you doubt
The beauty you have in you
and when they give attitude
you can tell them like this.

Say, I'm beautiful and spiritual
and I think it's about time to tell you this.
I'm gonna be the best me
that I know how to be.

One day you learn how much it means
to believe in yourself.
So take these words and share these words
to help somebody else.

You never know. Anything's possible.
You just might make a friend.
So when they try to make you cry,
tell them again and again.

Say it like this- I'm beautiful and spiritual
and I think it's about time to tell you this.
I'm gonna be the best me
that I know how to be.

Say it again my brother- I'm beautiful
and spiritual and I think it's about time
to tell you this. I'm gonna be the best me
that I know how to be.

I'm beautiful and I'm spiritual and I think it's about time to tell you this.

I'm gonna be the best me that I know how to be. [till fade]

-- "I'm Beautiful" - Aloe Blacc

Sarah, Manila

Ever thankful for the music.

The Look

weddings always bring out the hopeless romantic in the hardest of hearts. let's face it. we're in this world looking for our other half. we might be comfortable being by ourselves most of the time, but in reality, the thing that scares a lot of people the most is being alone. at the end of the day, we're in this world wishing we don't grow old by ourselves.

taken in august of 2008 at tina and tony's wedding.

in my family, it's rare to find someone who's not walking around with a heavy-duty dslr. so while everyone was scrambling to take as much photos of my cousin walking out of the church a married woman, i caught this aww-raising moment. this is my cousin, cynthia. she had just gotten married maybe 10 months before this photo was taken. sure, newly-weds will always have that sparkle in their eyes, reminiscing their own special days. but there's something about watching cynthia look so lovingly towards her husband. it looked so much like they were sharing a silent inside joke, and we were so unfortunate to not be in on punchline. i didn't feel left out though. in fact, i felt fortunate still to witness how sweet it was that even without words, they were on the same page.

my family has been fortunate enough to be blessed with great marriages. sure, everyone's had their ups and downs, but after the storm, everyone's managed to hang on, survive, and grow stronger. i can only hope that someday, i would receive the same blessing. and that further into my old age, i can still look at my husband this way.

--pat enriquez, new york

It was written

I thank God and the Universe for my gift of being able to translate my ideas into writing. It saved my life several times in the past, kept me company through out life and now the urgency to have it in my life is at the strongest its ever been.

Thank You.

---Erica, Manila

More than Friends

Sometimes, if you are lucky enough, you find friends that unexpectedly and amazingly become like family.

-Erica, Manila