I remember the first time I heard of Cathy & Randolph was back in August when Meliss showed me her favorite rendition of one of her favorite songs:

A couple weeks later, Meliss & I saw Cathy & Gabe at The Boat (thai restaurant). A couple weeks after that, I (officially) met Cathy at USC's Mabuhay and Randolph at It's A Grind.

It's been incredible these past few months. From first watching these guys on YouTube, to meeting them, to chilling with them...and just watching them grow as musicians & people.

But unfortunately, part of growing up is dealing with heartbreaks.

Randolph, it's been such a blessing. You've touched so many lives here in Cali. If we have to let you go and watch you move on to the next chapter of your life, we hope you to touch even more lives while you're out there. We expect to see more smiles, music and acting from you on The Filipino Channel...just like your last video, hahahahahaha.

Much love,

Mel

from Chicken Soup for the Soul

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.

Holy crap! Thank you guys so much for all the birthday wishes. My facebook, twitter and cell phone were going crazy the whole freakin' day!

Not gonna lie, I've had some miserable birthdays in the past...so I've learned to appreciate the simplest birthdays of facebook/myspace comments, twitters, text messages and just being around people that I love. Yesterday was all about that and I loved it.

A few days ago, I was thinking of doing something like, "for every person that wishes me happy birthday, I'll do a body roll for one second." Damn, if I actually did that, it'd be a video of me doing body rolls for over 2.5 minute!! :laugh: Maybe next year. Maybe.

Anyways, lotsa love to the people that wished me happy birthday (in chronological order):

• Wush
• Michael
• Hazel
• Melissa G
• Michelle T
• Hammy
• Kris Mark
• Joanne
• Paolo L
• Mom & Dad
• Sheena
• Ernie
• Sierra
• Phatts
• Tracie
• Tops
• Chany
• Roth
• BM-Mike
• Loval
• Loris
• RJ
• Raelynne
• Crissy
• Mquerol
• Nessa
• Naythen
• Jackielyn
• Jae -- omg pole dancing video??! :rofl:
• Nikki
• Kina Grannis -- :biggrin:
• Drew -- loved the body roll video :bangin:
• Roy
• Van
• Marlo
• Confi
• Cristina Blake
• Tillmann
• Stefan
• Hollykinns
• Slimbeats
• Courtney
• Nicole P
• Japstaboi
• DesoMatt
• Fred
• Nam
• Stephanie C
• Michelle
• Meliss
• Dru
• Jimbo
• Amanda H
• Ulysses
• Jon G
• Tam
• Abel
• Dee
• Rochi
• Julie
• Lorraine
• Kulay Mike -- awww yehhh :hehe:
• Adriee
• Melissa V
• Ashley
• Angel
• Justine
• Renabette
• Sara
• Renato
• Mike E
• Vicki
• Pete
• Erin
• Amy T
• Samir
• Paolo
• Ariana
• Jasper
• Justin H
• Kim T
• April
• Nadin
• Rachel
• Pat
• Jason C
• Deland
• Ernie
• Phil
• Kishan
• Richard J
• Mary
• Dae
• Noa
• Wing
• James
• Chris P
• Dimples
• Preston
• Jennie
• Allie
• Erleen
• Chain
• Erin
• Lisa J
• JR
• Joanne
• Ashley S
• Norm
• NJ
• Stephanie R
• Elisa
• Bobby Lee, I mean, Cathy Nguyen -- :chill:
• Thomas Yu
• Gayle
• Devin
• Jon Chan
• Katzy -- <3 video mail
• Alex John -- all the way from Chicago?!! :noway:
• Jec -- zomg, awesome drawing skillz!! :coold:
• Josh S
• Darwin
• Daniel
• Chris P
• Brianne
• Goldy
• Nirav
• AJ -- thanks for dedicating a song to me with Cathy. :cheers:
• Janice
• Jessica M
• Kathleen B
• random people at AJ's show that apparently recognized me from blogtv (whoa!?!)
• Ronan
• Bryan Keith
• Angel
• Rex
• Amy
• Megan
• Ray
• Mark M
• Kim
• Tiff
• Dana
• Heather
• Stan
• Adoboy
• Laila
• Sara T
• Elwood
• Khaing
• Ron P
• Audrey P
• Cynthia

And on a random note...

This Ralph Emerson quote popped into my head yesterday. I've posted this before but I just love this quote so much I wanted to share it with you guys again:

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

To laugh often and much.
To win the respect of intelligent people,
and the affection of children.
To earn the appreciation of honest critics,
and endure the betrayal of false friends.
To appreciate beauty.
To find the best in others.
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition.
To know even one life has breathed easier,
because you have lived.
That is to have succeeded.

Love you guys. <3

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