Shake Shake!

It's been a very very interesting week. Been busy in school, going to hospital for check-ups, house chores... Last Sunday, May 17, 8.39pm was very freaky... when I'm doing the laundry & my hubby plans to put the photo frames on our jamming room. We were discussing how it should be look like when suddenly the ground shook & the toys in our shelves starts to fall down. Omigosh! An earthquake! It's actually 4.7 magnitude but it's pretty strong 'cause of the epicenter was near our city, just few miles north. Few aftershocks followed that.
We thought everything's okay when on Tuesday afternoon, May 19, another quake shook the ground. This time it's a 4.1 at the same epicenter as was last Sunday... o_o I was home alone that time & I started to freaked out! I was about to do the laundry again when it happened. I started to worry the ceiling fan above my head would fall down, but i might catch it with the laundry basket I'm holding. They said it was an aftershock from the Sunday's quake.
It's really scary the first time I've experience 2 earthquakes in 2 days time. The last time I've felt the strongest was back in 1990 in my home country where everything shook pretty good, thankfully our house is still intact. The epicenter that time was in the northern area where everything was really devastated & many died.

The Little Rockstar Coming Soon!

It's been almost a year I haven't blogged!! It's been a crazy year 2008... it's a sad one for most of us after the US is officially under recession, many had no jobs. I can imagine the EDD's flooded with unemployment applications...
Starting of this 2009, we went back to Manila, Philippines for a 3-week vacation. It's nice to see our families & friends again, having a whole body massage for under $10, eating out to a nearby grill resto, pampering ourselves in full service for a much cheaper price! The weather's great after living here for 1 1/2 years, I missed the humidity & getting sweaty actually! Here, there's something wrong with my sweat glands, no matter how thick I put on in a warm weather, I just won't sweat!
After our vacation, I went back to school to study Motion Graphics since it's the thing most Graphic Designers were doing nowadays. I really wanted to learn how to animate, especially I have designed few characters of my own that were kept for a looooong time. I just don't know where to start to learn the program. But unfortunately this sem, since it's my first time to study in US, the school won't credit my past units from my previous college unless I pay the extra cost. Hmm, might as well take the subjects. It's kind of a review for me also.
So I went.. at first it's exciting that I'm back in school after 10 years. But sometimes the subject got me bored. Maybe I took them up already & am doing it for a living. But I have this one subject that is actually challenging in terms of conceptualizing & structuring a design, which I didn't experience when I was in college. That's good also I have the chance to use my own characters to incorporate in my assignments. The prof is totally cool about it. But sometimes I have to get out of my comfort zone & think outside the box. :)
In few weeks time, the sem will be over & newer challenge awaits me & my hubby. I'm actually 4 months pregnant & will expecting the baby to come out sometime in October this year.. estimated date is a day before my birthday! :) Nice timing huh? I won't be back to school this fall but hopefully would be back next spring. :) I attached the ultrasound photo shot of the little rockstar.. with his winkie pointed out. LOL

Sears Sucks!

Last two months, we just settled in our new house. My husband & I did all the arranging & cleaning. After we had the kitchen remodelled, we thought of buying the appliances from Sears which actually they had a sale that time. Plus, I have a friend who's currently working for them. So it's actually a double discount. :D We went to Sears & chose the appliances we needed: stove, microwave, dishwasher, & the fridge. They delivered them the next week after we purchased. To our surprised, they delivered the wrong brand of refrigerator. We've purchased the GE brand but instead they brought Fridgidaire. So my husband called Sears. I tell you their customer service sucks! big time! He waited for 10 mins to get into a rep, then they will transfer him to another rep. until he was on hold for almost an hour! He was furious! Then we found out that there was a one-digit mistake from the stock # that's why they brought the wrong item. After he got from the call, eveything would be taken care of, they will bring the right item the next week. By the time they would deliver the item, it was brought to my friend who's working in Sears! They said that is was indicated in the billing statement.. my husband is really furious, why did they brought it to the wrong address while the first time they delivered it to our house? It's just only an exchange deal. He asked if they could bring the fridge to our house since my friend lives & that far from our place. They said they had to deliver something to elsewhere.. i mean WTFudge! That's lame! Anyway, my husband called Sears again to make sure they bring the right item to the right address. They guaranteed it by the next week. By the time they should deliver it, they called us & telling the item is damaged & was the last stock in their warehouse! OMG! my husband is soooo mad! He called the customer service again & demands to speak with the manager! He's so frustrated & furious that he started to cuss on every rep he spoke with! After a 30-minutes of holding, he was able to talked to the manager. At last, the right item was delivered to our house the next week. Whew!
So frustrating that this happening was learned by the Sears branch that we've first purchased our appliances. Be careful in purchasing from Sears, or just don't b uy from them for your own good. :p

So Wicked!

Last Friday, we've got to watched the musical "Wicked" taken from the book with the same title, authored by Gregory Maguire. The untold story of the witches of Oz, Elphaba & Glinda.
Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. The plot is set mostly before Dorothy's arrival from Kansas, and includes several references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
There's a lot of twist connecting the story from original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The production is great, from costumes, to effects, from makeups to music. It's all two-thumbs up! Definitely a must-see! :D

The Official Lifehouse "Broken" Music Video

It's finally here! The official Lifehouse's "Broken" music video... I actually grab this shot from the video where it has the shot of us.. :)

Click here for the full-length of the video. ;)

Lifehouse "Broken" Music Video

Yay! Last Aug. 24, 2008, we've been invited to be part of Lifehouse's music video here in LA, located at 2nd & Hill Street, the tunnel where I believe Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" also shot their video.

I've received an email regarding the shoot. We had to dress in 'fall' attire, that means we should wear coats & jackets in a 78 degress weather...Plus, we're so excited to meet the band!

When we're on the shoot, to my surprise, Kiefer Sutherland is the director! :D

It's a very great experience, especially being part of our favorite band's music video. Click here for their official music video. I've also upload some photos taken from the shoot!

Tower of Fed Ex Boxes

Well... work is alright... doing shipping for a jewelry company... always getting paper cuts from the boxes & papers which i enclosed within the package...
This is my own version of Tower Of Pisa...& goes on & on..& on... :D

Memorial Sale!

It's Memorial weekend! Went shopping from groceries to department stores...bought a hooded sweatshirt for only $3! Vic Firth drumsticks for $1 a pair!!!! boxing training set for less than $250 includes the gloves, jump rope, speed bag, punch bag & the stand! We also got rebates from computer power supplies.Wah! Why do holiday sale always as if your credit cards have been robbed. :D But oh well, it's worth the shopping. It's very rare when events like this comes. especially when signature or branded goodies went on sale or even free after rebate, BUY IT!

Work Now

At last, I've start working in Downtown LA just this Monday. The job's quite fine, Mon-Fri, 9-6pm as usual. The pay's a little ok, at least I could finally have a little income rather than staying at home all day. I hope I could pull this off...somehow :D

One Month To Live

Our church is holding a series called One Month To Live taken from the book with the same title. It's like The Purpose-Driven Life book challenge for 30 days, living your life as if you have one month to live. It challenges us to Live Passionately, Love Completely, Learn Humbly, and Leave Boldly. I personally have this weakness of procrastination. I always delay things that I have to do. And too lazy to do it. This week, Ptr. Gary, head pastor of our church conducted the 2nd week of the series. He named his own top ten "what would I do if I have one month to live?" list. So he named some until he reaches the #1. His top list is to sing a song and dedicate it to his wife. Here's the video clip of him singing a full-length song together with the worship band! :D That is why the emcee during the intro of the service said it's better if the people would sit in front. It's the best time to take videos. :D

Our Story by: Alvin

This is from Alvin's blog, recalling how everything was put together... in God's timing :D Enjoy!

Cheri and I go a long way back since 1997 where IRC (Internet Relay Chat) was one of the most popular past times people do. I started a channel called #christian. It was a small place where we talk about God, friendships and anything about life. Little did we know that this was the introduction to our story. We first saw each other during a gig by my old band Red Sea Parting at Liberty Hall back in 1999. Out of all the songs that was played there was only one song that stood out (yeah, we messed up on the other songs..) it was the song "If You Believe". I certainly had no idea that this would be the song that would tell the story for the things to come. As I recall, when our band finished playing our stuff, we mingled with the audience, and of those was Cheri. We both spoke briefly and later asked her to hit the drums after finding out that she herself was a drummer. I could only remember saying "WOW!, have I chatted online with her? She rocks!" to my other friends. It was merely a friendly acquiantance.

I left for the US the following year and haven't heard from her since.

In 2002, during my vacation to Manila, I met her again.. and to my surprise, she has been going to my church(Christian Bible Church of the Philippines) and are very good friends with my buddies. I got to know her better and this is where our friendship started. We've continued chatting online since then and got to jam together during my 2nd visit to Manila in 2004, around this time we became the best of friends. It was also during this time that Cheri also had me read the book "Boy Meets Girl" by Joshua Harris as I just recently gone through some rough times of breakup. The book pointed out the Godly ways of handling relationships which was completely opposite on what I was doing. It did put me on the right direction and allowed God to use me in the area of true worship. We both continued our communication online and even as world's apart, it felt really close as we were always there for each other.

After another two years, 2006. Me and Cheri both decided to do a recording the songs that I wrote, and upon my arrival, we both knew deep inside that our paths are pointing to each other and how much we like and appreciate each other as a person, we didn't rush anything, I went back to the States and allowed God to reveal His plan.

We both had been praying for the special someone for God to provide for years.

I had believed, so did she.

Thanks for reading this, hope you'd be blessed by it and continue to put your trust in Him.

IF YOU BELIEVE

words and music by Alvin Ong

Look above the heavens and see for certain signs
We're searching for the answers and ask the question why
That's how it's came to be
It's so hard to see

If it's for you and me to be

Chorus
If you believe that it's you and me
Then our God will set us free
You and me are meant to be
If you believe that the stars would shine
Then together we'd be shinning bright
It takes for you and me to see

If you believe

Love involves decision, baby look into my eyes
Give God each and every moment, He'd be the one to lead your life
Don't be afraid
Just bow down and pray
We'd be together someday

Bridge:

Someday when we'll find in each others arms
I know we would never be apart

Biking = Burning

For 2 weeks, we've been biking along beach shores. Last week we went north from Manhattan Beach to Marina Del Rey to Venice Beach... it's a nearly 30 to 40-mile bike route for 3 hrs. Very hot that day, but still wearing my jacket & pants. It served as my thermal suit. I forgot to put sun block. :D
This route is more adventurous that the other route going to the south. The yachts of Marina Del Rey (i didn't took photos of it :( ), then the busy streets or Venice Beach. It's quite scary at first, becoz I remember Quiapo, one place in downtown Manila, where many people, different lifestyles & different kinds. I can't keep from being paranoid of my surroundings and always keeping an eye of our belongings. :D But Venice Beach is a little different. There were many stalls, street performers, graffiti among walls & benches. It is fun but we can't go further towards the end of it...it's very very hot, there were many people and we have to go back another 20 miles. Talk about aching legs, we have to go up the inclined road of Manhattan beach :-/ Check out more photos at my multiply

Which Pantone Are You?

I remember when I'm still working at my first job as Layout Artist in a manufacturing company that makes character towels and stuff... We are use to Pantones instead of CMYK until we almost memorize the Pantone numbers of each color.. "Wow! Your shirt is Pantone 185! (red)"
These mugs are great for gifts especially to those people who are schedule-type, corresponding their attires each day of the week. The color-combination of socks to their tops even underwears!.. :D "Mondays would be red, tuesdays would be orange, fridays...i don't feel like wearing one..~ ~" :p

Portable Bev Cooler

Technology is really fast adapting in our personal needs.. even the luxuries we always dreamed of...the itsy-bitsy gadgets we are fond of...
Back in the days, when my brother always buy canned beverages in a box.. I forgot to keep them to the fridge, So whenever I wanted to drink one, I placed it to our aircon to make it cooler.
My friend shared this image to me recently... I thought she's only joking when she said there's a beverage cooler that is plug to a USB port of the computer....but i saw this.. it is a beverage cooler! I wonder if they selling this to the market already.. Hehehe...

OMG! Oprah Denies Jesus On TV!

I came across this video on You Tube about Oprah denying Jesus on TV and promoting some new age books & new age gurus. And she even had a church?? I was shocked when I saw this video. I think I'm a little late to know this issue.. but still shocked me. All along I know Oprah is a Christian or a Baptist or a Catholic...but I can't imagine she boldly denies Christ in front of the public. What?!
The Bible says that whoever denies the Jesus in front of people..He will also deny him or her in front of The Father and will be condemned. Another passage says "Jesus is the only way, the truth , & the life..no one can get to the Father except through Him.."
Here's the video I got...http://cherots.multiply.com/video/item/21
It's up to you how you react on this.


(video clip by: shockawenow - thanks man!)

California Livin'

Sun, palm trees, the beach, sand, surf, bikinis, tacos, & the seagulls too. These are what you can experience here in Cali, especially summer's is fast approaching, everybody's going to the beach! Pretty excited for it. Soon we'll be hitting the shores. We've joined the church's volleyball team, especially we bought mountain bikes recently. We could also go biking along Redondo Beach. :D Time to bring sexy back!

Orange & Lemon

Actually it's lemon chicken, but we ran out of lemons so i decided to make oranges as decors to this dish. Tastes tangy & zesty :-> yumyum...I battered the chicken breast with egg & flour, seasoned with salt & pepper then stir-fry it baby! The lemon sauce comes in a pack & is ready to mix. Pretty easy to do. ;)

C'mon Summer!

I can't take a dip in our pool. Weather's crazy, whenever it's hot, our pool is dirty, but when it's clean, the weather's cold..*sigh... Can't wait to hit the beach & surf or play volleyball or go biking...(an exercise too!)
Speaking of volleyball, we went to Redondo Beach last Sunday to join the church's volleyball team...It's been 2 years I haven't play the sport. And it's challenging becoz we're playing on sand..Back in the Manila, I used to play on concrete or rubber surfaces... But it's alright, at least I could dive without knee pads and without hurting myself. :D
I also wanted to practice body-boarding or boogie boarding to others since my husband, who is good on body-boarding, teaching me how.. Last time I surf, the waves almost took my bikini bottom off! It also took one of my flippers away from my foot.. Good thing a guy saw it & threw into the shore...I yelled "that's mine!" :D This time I'll surf at Redondo or Hermosa Beach first where the waves aren't as big as in Manhattan Beach. :D

The Prayer Room

It's the Prayer Room at South Bay Community Church...helds every first Friday of the month. We've done 3 prayer nights already, started last February. :D This is an opportunity to encounter God in different ways: praying, singing, worshiping, music, communion, quiet time, journaling, etc.
Feels good actually...especially seeing people are blessed.
It was adapted from a church in Kansas doing a 24/7 prayer-worship since 1999. http://theprayerroom.tv/
It's amazing how they do it.. for almost a decade now, singing, playing music, worshiping God for 24 hrs, 7 days a week...how are they paying their electric bills? hehe :D But many people are blessed even it's online streaming..How powerful are such small media nowadays...

Band In The Making

Last Dec 2006, me & Alvin & some of our church friends did an EP recording in our friend's mini studio in Greenhills, Manila. It's a unique package, an enhanced EP that's when loaded up in the computer, you could view some of our gig photos, behind the scenes video, lyric sheets, & even desktop wallpapers :D hehe...
It's hard to compile the CD though. That time Alvin's back in Cali, & I'm still in the Philippines. My computer's working crazily overtime everyday (thankfully it didn't hanged or crashed), downloading the files from Alvin in able to incorporate in the CD, not to mention my internet connection, I'm using wireless btw...also known as Slooooow....
After 2 weeks we did it! Final package is done! I can say it's not the best recording. The technicals are still be needing improvements, especially we only did 2 days or practice before the recording. But as a demo CD, it's good already. :D Check out www.myspace.com/alvinong for the mp3s. :D