As usual at this time of (the new) year, Funfare lists down 50 things for you to do between now and Dec. 31. You can either take them or leave them. Here we go...
1. Catch any or all of the 2003 Metro Filmfest entries. Guaranteed good. Still showing in Metro Manila and key cities around the country.
2. Quit smoking. It’s bad for your health and that of your neighbors.
3. If you love Japanese food, check out Teriyaki Boy.
4. Get a foot massage at Mercy Ong’s MTO (with clinics in Malate, Manila, and on Timog Avenue, Quezon City).
5. Have some "lifting" experience at Vicki Belo’s clinic (one in Makati, another near Timog-Morato Rotunda, Quezon City, and a few others somewhere else).
6. Follow Yoyoy Villame’s advice: Mag-exercise tuwing umaga.
7. Treat your family and friends to a sumptuous Chinese dinner at Little Asia (Morato Avenue, Quezon City). Owner-manager Charlemagne will welcome you anytime.
8. Have a Japanese dinner at Okuya Tempura House (ground floor of the Imperial Palace Suites, Timog-Morato Rotunda, Q.C.) which is marking its second anniversary with 10 percent discount on food and drinks (Jan. 8, 9 and 10). Try the set lunch and executive meal. Place an extra order of the yummy Imperial Maki ("It could satisfy even an emperor," assure Divine and Rodel, the sister-brother tandem behind Okuya. Call 925-9894 or 925-9895 for inquiries.)
9. Enjoy Filipino lunch or dinner at Liberty Ilagan’s Barrio Fiesta (Makati Avenue near corner J. P. Rizal, Makati City) while the singing cooks and waiters serenade you with Pinoy songs.
10. Don’t stay out too late. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night.
11. For your beauty needs, consult Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz, publisher of Hair Asia.
12. Read Mitch Albom’s Five People You Meet in Heaven. Kris Aquino cried when she read it. You might, too.
13. Read one chapter of The Purpose Driven Life every day for 40 days. It’s an eye-opener of a book.
14. Catch Disney on Ice: Beauty and the Beast at the Big Dome. It’s on only until Jan. 4.
15. Hear Mass on Sundays. Pray every day. Thank The Lord for everything, no matter how small you think the blessing is.
16. Try the mouth-watering pizza – and various pastas – at Napoli (ground floor of Imperial Palace, Q. C., and a few other branches somewhere in Metro Manila). Gilbert and Amy will be happy to serve you.
17. Listen to the album of Michael Bublé.
18. Find time to watch those DVDs gathering dust in the shelves.
19. Read The STAR "from cover to cover." It’s the one paper you can trust.
20. Watch The Buzz religiously Sunday afternoons (4 to 5:30 on ABS-CBN).
21. Save for Brian McKnight and the Boyz II Men’s back-to-back show on Feb. 13 at the Old ULTRA Open Field.
22. Scoop: Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid will have a back-to-back concert on Feb. 14 at Clark Expo Amphitheater, Pampanga, and on Feb. 15 at the Araneta Coliseum. Save for it, too!
23. Have your hair trimmed at least twice a month at Bruno’s (owned by RMN DZXL’s Atty. Aga, father of Drew Arellano, the cute guy in the Palmolive "pare" TV commercial). You might have the pleasure of rubbing elbows with the stars who go there.
24. Keep your ears open for the latest showbiz tsismis.
25. Stop wondering if Kris Aquino and Joey Marquez will reconcile. (Kris said they wouldn’t.)
26. Vote wisely in the May elections. Use your head.
27. Put those old, faded photographs – and even the new ones – neatly in albums.
28. Stop biting your nails – especially if they’re uncut.
29. Buy Diana Zubiri’s music video (released by BMG Records). It’s "uplifting."
30. Be kind to animals. Help that stray cat cross the street. Don’t run over it!
31. Watch for Jose Mari Chan’s new album in Feb. 2004. It’s worth the long wait.
32. Tune in to Korina Sanchez’s TV Patrol every day.
33. Enjoy the hilarious debates on Pareng Oca and Mareng Winnie every Thursday night on GMA.
34. Tune in to Jun Banaag’s Dr. Love on DZMM every night (starting at 10). Jun is the shoulder to cry on, the moral support of the problem-laden and the lonely hearts.
35. Watch the sunset at Manila Bay from the Baywalk (thanks to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza for turning that portion of Roxas Boulevard into a promenaders’ paradise), maybe over cups of coffee.
36. Hold on to your cellphones. The guy next to you may be a cellphone-grabber.
37. For your peace of mind and peace in your soul, do drop by at the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel on Hemady Street, Quezon City. It’s oh-so-quiet you will hear yourself think and your heart beat.
38. Be kind to your household help. Give them a raise.
39. If ever, by any rare chance, you go to Las Vegas, watch Martin Nievera in his concert series there.
40. Stop being a worry wart. Worrying will only add wrinkles to your already wrinkle-crumpled face. Ouch!
41. Have yourself fitted with glasses by Vivian Sarabia.
42. Buy only original tapes. Go to Video City.
43. Start looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend if you’re hitting 30. Soon, you’ll be "out of the calendar."
44. Go to Ricky Reyes for your beauty needs.
45. Never, never, never bribe a cop even if he stops you for a traffic violation. Beg for mercy if you must.
46. Don’t entertain prank callers. Bang the phone on them.
47. Don’t overspend – especially if it’s not your own money.
48. If you need tips on how to take care of dogs, call Lolit Solis. She has more than 35 pet dogs at home, complete with names.
49. Are you diabetic? Consult Dr. Wilson Lim (at St. Luke’s, Metropolotan Hospital and FEU Hospital). He’s the expert, very sweet without causing your sugar level to rise.
50. Stop making New Year’s Resolutions. You’ll only break them, anyway.
(Note: Does today’s column read like a plug for my friends? Yes, it is. A nice way to start the New Year, isn’t it? That’s what friends are for.)
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)