The JANG KEUN SUK Charm

Jang Keun-Suk (Jang Geun Seok) or JKS, more popularly known as Sukkie, is a Korean actor-singer-model I have come to admire recently.  Well, what can I say, he's exceptionally multi-talented and extremely gorgeous.  But I admire him more because of his wonderful personality and character.  

I first saw him in the drama "Marry Me, Mary!" (Mary Stayed Out All Night), which I gather was the most recent one he did... and I thought he was absolutely amazing in his portrayal!  He was also stunning in "You're Beautiful" (He's Beautiful), the other drama he did which gained some sort of cult following.  This guy really has extraordinary talent and is very versatile!  He owns each and every character he portrays and does so much justice to it!

Before this, I didn't know who he is, or that he is actually pretty famous (not so much in his native Korea, so he says, but in other Asian countries, specially Japan & China).  I looked him up to know more about him and surprisingly, there's quite a lot written of him and a tremendous amount of YouTube videos as well.  One thing very distinct about Jang Keun Suk is his fashion sense, which perfectly fits the carefree person he is.  He seems to have a thousand and one looks, and has a very charismatic smile.  He wears his hair long nowadays and it gives him the "pretty boy" appeal and makes him look more mature, as opposed to the short boy-next-door crop he used to have.

Well, he is an incredibly good-looking and charming young lad, with an amazing personality and charisma that just draws people to him.  He is cheerful and outspoken; so free-spirited yet so serious and passionate about his craft.  And what's most admirable about him is that amidst the success and fame, he still manages to find time for his studies.  He goes to Hanyang University and majors in Theater and Film.  Not a lot of actors can find that balance between their career and education. Kudos!!!

At such a young age (he's only 24 years old), Jang Keun Suk already has a lot of things going for him ~ he's got numerous movies and TV dramas, various product endorsements and commercials, not to mention several commercial jingles and songs for the Original Soundtrack (OST) albums of his dramas, and a Japanese album under his belt.  He's so much fun to watch and listen to, whether in a drama or not.  He's got a rich, soothing baritone voice and he sings "from the heart."  My favorites among his songs are "My Precious", "Hello, Hello" & "I Will Promise You" (from "Marry Me, Me"), and "Still", "Without Words" & "What Should I Do" (from "You're Beautiful/Handsome").  I've seen clips of his shows and I can say he is one total performer.

It's definitely not surprising that he has become a household name all over Asia and some other parts of the world ~ he has the looks, the talent, the passion, sincerity, and an awesome personality.  And he also has a very good sense of humor... he sure knows how to have fun and make fun of himself.  Watching his interviews, I believe there's really more to Jang Keun Suk than meets the eye... he is a helluva person ~ the guy's got sense, substance, and character (which, to me, is the most important thing).

He is BEAUTIFUL, literally and figuratively, inside and out.  And he seems to be a genuinely unpretentious person which is why you can't help but really love and admire him. 

Follow him on Twitter:  @AsiaPrince_JKS

Know more about him from his websites (no English translation though):  www.jangkeunsuk.co.kr & www.cri-j.com

What Love Means to 4 to 8 Year-Olds...

I just got this in my e-mail (like, 5 minutes ago).  It's actually a chain letter but this is one of the many chain letters I've received in the mail that is essentially worth reading so I decided to post it.


What Love means to a 4-8 year-old...

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 

'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.  See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.  So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8


'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4


'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5


'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6


'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4


'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7


'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.  My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8


'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)


'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikkas on this planet)


'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7


'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6


'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.  He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8


'My mommy loves me more than anybody.
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6


'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5


'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7


'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4


'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4


'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7


'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6


'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
 

Jessica - age 8

And the final one...

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

A Filipino Does It Again...

I know this is a very much delayed post, but still worth blogging about.

Yes, fifteen-year-old Eumir Marcial bagged the gold in the Light Bantamweight (52kg) Division of the recently concluded AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships held in Astana, Kazakstan.  He bested the contenders from Turkey (2nd Place, Silver), Korea and Belarus (tied at 3rd Place, Bronze), and he is the first Filipino to do so.

I was teary-eyed as I was watched the latter portion of the video below.  I felt so gallantly proud when the Philippine flag was raised (together with those of the other winners) as the Philippine National Anthem played.  I can't help but feel so damn proud!

PROUD TO BE PINOY!

My TOP 10 SONGS of All-Time

Truth is, I am an old soul...

And these are the songs of my life, my heart, and soul.

Old as some may be, but these are songs that mean the most to me.


Ngayon by Basil Valdez (an Original Pilipino Music - OPM), 1981



"Make each moment of your life worthwhile... Live life with no regrets."


Beauty and Madness by Fra Lippo Lippi, 1988



"The beauty of life lies not in what you have but who you're with to see it through."


Say that You Love Me by Martin Nievera (Original Pilipino Music), 1989



"Loving someone so much so that it hurts..."


Go the Distance by Michael Bolton (theme from the movie Hercules), 1997



"YOU are destined for GREATNESS..."


Amazed by Lonestar, 1999



"I love you... and that is what matters the most."


Flying Without Wings by Westlife, 1999



"Having the person you love beside you makes each day worth waking up to."


Today My Life Begins by Bruno Mars, 2010



"The failures of the past are over and done with... time to start anew."


God Gave Me You by Bryan White, 1999



"I thank God for the gift of YOU."


I'm Yours by The Script, 2008



"Yes, love can be so unconditional."


Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer, 2011



"Life's challenges & failures are there to help you learn so you can stand back up."

I Got THAI'd: A Photolog

My trip to Thailand, though short-lived, was quite an experience ~ great place, new culture, new language, different people (on second thought, not much, as we look somehow the same), and… food adventures.

Bits and pieces of Thailand in photos...

1.  The BTS or Skytrain

It's similar to the MRT in the Philippines, only more spacious and the seats more comfortable.  But the very big difference?... the people are way more disciplined (no offense meant there. just objective observation).

2.  MBK Center, Bangkok

The mall has an entrance connected to the BTS or Skytrain

Swensen's in MBK Mall

UCC Cafe at the basement level

Right at the heart of Bangkok and connected to the BTS is this shopping mall.  What else can I say... it's a shopping haven (one of the, actually).  It is the most visited mall in Bangkok because of the varied items and reasonable prices.

3.  Siam Ocean World in Siam Paragon, Bangkok

A Chevy Fish Tank (no less)!

One of Bangkok's famous attractions is this underground marine showcase.  Located at the basement of Siam Paragon, it has hundreds of marine life species on display in the largest tanks I've ever seen.  It is amazing how each and every fish tank in the whole Oceanarium re-creates the natural underwater sea conditions - water salinity, temperatures, and all.

4.  The Grand Palace

Wall murals, intricately & beautifully done

5.  The Vimanmek Mansion or Teak Palace

Chanced upon a Komodo Dragon in the palace grounds