Giving Thanks

So today is the day.  The one day out of the entire year in which we have all grown by and labeled as Thanksgiving.  It’s the one day where we sit around with our families and friends in pure happiness as the sweet theme of thanks intertwines in the air with the blissful aroma of that wonderful turkey and pumpkin pie.  It really is nothing short of a joyous occasion.  But let me throw in something here.  Why is it that our entire nation chooses just this one day to give thanks?  Why does being thankful for the people and things that you have you life belong to a single day out of the entire year.  I mean, we were given 365 days out of the year, not to mention our occasional leap years, in which we have 366– yet we only give time to celebrate just one day?

If you ask me, I’m glad we even take this one day to give thanks for what we have.  Imagine if we didn’t have this gracious holiday.  Would people even stop for one second in their busy-bee lives to realize how incredibly blessed we all are if we didn’t?  Who can say?  But what I can say is this: be thankful.  Not just today or tomorrow, or the next day.  Make being thankful a year round event.  Take even the teeniest moment of your day, no matter how terrible it may have been, to just think of how great you really do have it.  You may have no money, no car, no home to go to, no ‘whatever it is.’  No matter how long your list of “what is missing in my life” may be, be thankful that you are alive, healthy, and breathing.  Personally, I think even being able to wake up this morning is a gift in itself.

So go all and enjoy this wonderful holiday.  Enjoy your family, friends, and the cornucopia of food that we will be placed before us.  Simply, be thankful for the life you have lived, the life that you are living, and the amazing life that is yet to happen for you.

But before I end, I would like to give a personal thank you to a number of incredible people.  Firstly, for the past two months, CREA has finally been able to get out there and reach out to you all by launching our first line at Friendship Games, scKcSA, and Gawad Kalinga.  Thank you to all who have come out to so much as pay us a little visit and thank you that much more for those who are currently representing CREA.  Thank you, the reader for spending your valuable time to come and visit CREA via our blog and websites to check up on us.  Lastly, thank you to those are truly Spreading the Message through stickers, word of mouth, wearing the products, and so forth.  Honestly, you guys keep us inspired in an infinite number of ways.

Thank you all and have a truly Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at CREA.

Much Love,
Crystal

Cop-y [kop-ee] Cat!

Cop-y [kop-ee]: an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original.

When you cant sleep at nite, what else can you do than surf the net.  Upon late nite surfing, I came across this simple design:

WOW! Very flattering because it looks exactly like our popular “Press Play” design.  I guess if you’re doing something right, people want to be like you…but seriously people, create your own sh*t!…but I must say thank you to the artist for at least choosing our design to copy.  Now I know how 5StarArmy felt when the same thing happened to them.

Peace & Love….but don’t copy!

-J

Shakout Drill

At 10 a.m. on November 13, millions of people throughout Southern California participated in the ShakeOut Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history!  Since the previous earthquake we had in the summer, researchers have predicted that a big earthquake is going to hit Southern California in the month of November.  So if you don’t remember what we use to do back in elementary school…let me refresh your memory.  The three best survival tips grown ups have been teaching us since we were little are:

Why is important to do a Drop, Cover, Hold On drill? Just as with anything, to act quickly you must practice, practice, practice. In a big earthquake, there may be very little time to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you down or drops something on you. Most earthquakes have a sharp jolt a few seconds before the strong shaking, and we need to Drop, Cover, Hold On immediately when we feel the jolt. By practicing we will act quickly, rather than waiting to see if the earthquake will be large.  So protect yourself and if you see someone not under under something and you are, drag them with you with all your might.  Save a life!

-J

“Being the Change”

Our new President of the United States: Barack Obama 297 vs. 139 electoral votes

the company slogan and the new president have one thing in common, “Being the Change!”

-J

Flavor for your ear #4: Spread the message… Go out and VOTE!

Global warming. Abortion. Gay marriage. War in the Middle East. Equality for all. Education. Healthcare.  The Economy. Darfur. Gun Control. Welfare. Minimum Wage. Foreign Policy. Homeland Security . Crime. Government Reform. Peace. Drugs. Tax Reform.  Free Trade.  Social Security. Immigration.  Poverty. Corporations. Energy & Oil. Saving our environment. Technology. Your values. Your family. Your friends. Your children. Your life. Me. You. 

 

Why should you vote? Because I can’t find any reasons why you shouldn’t. The opportunity to vote is a blessing… I mean, people have literally died to be in the position you are now. People have sacrificed their lives so you can have this one day. Right now, people around the world wish they could live the day you’re going to wake up to tomorrow

The math is simple… One day = the next four years of your life. Vote this one day, or you’ll regret it a millie.

It’s not only your life, but the lives of those around you. It’s the life of your father, mother, son, daughter, sister, brother, cousin, co-worker, best friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, that girl you think is cute in math class, the person who opened the door for you today, Kobe Bryant, Will Ferrell, Lil Wayne, everyone, heck, even your pets.

If there is anything you can take from me from my blogs and the blogs to come, it is this: I am fortunate enough to live in a country where I am allowed to write these blogs. You can think whatever you want of them, but that’s the beauty of America… it is a country where its foundation lies in the ideals of Liberty. You have the freedom to take my words to heart or to throw em’ out the other ear. The choice is yours, but you have to recognize that in itself is truly a blessing, and your duty is to preserve that. I am not telling you how to vote, or who to vote for (although I’m about to express my opinion,) all I’m saying is, recognize the privilege you have on November 4. Respect it, embrace it, & most of all, exercise it.

So on behalf of CREA, it only makes sense, be the change, go out there and vote! 

“It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change. (We want change.)
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant ……….. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea: Yes We Can.”
                        

                                                                                                                                  -          Joti

 

And Breathe…

Alright so I’m sure that most of us are being forced to endure the hardships of that lovely time of the school year entitled: midterms.

Let me just say that I am at the epitome of knowing exactly how incredibly stressful midterms are. The best part of it is that this number of weeks does not solely consist of monotonous studying for a thousand and two tests. It entails projects, presentations, and the like. Personally I think this week should be considered to be more of a balancing act. It’s all about balancing all this craziness and still somehow be able to live something called your life. So much fun isn’t it? Catch my sarcasm?

Anyhow, one of the many things that I have first hand experience on during this wonderful time of the year is learning how to take things not only in school, but in life as they come no matter how frustrating they are. We all have those times in which we work ourselves so hard, in hopes to get a good grade, and yet end up with something so far from our expectations. It’s a crushing feeling I know. So what do we do when you start traveling down a bumpy road? Do you floor it in hopes that you get through it faster? Or do you take some time to slow down and breathe? I would personally take the latter of the two, but no matter what gear you choose to use, know that there is definitely no use in dwelling on a bad grade or a difficult situation that life has presented to you. Never live in the past because as we all know, no matter what we do, there is rarely ever anything that we can do about it. Don’t live in the future because we really can’t even say or insure what the future may entail. Live for the now and focus on what is in your hands now. Put all your time in energy into what you have at this very moment. By doing that, how can you fail? Strive and keep trying. No matter how treacherous the road you are following maybe, remember to stop… and… here we go, everybody… breathe.

- Crystal

Speak Out!!!

November 4th is coming right around the corner and are you ready to SPEAK OUT?…let people hear your opinion and make a difference in the world by voting.  Today at school, Cal State Long Beach, the homie Stewart and I…lets just say, we left class a little bit early to go peep out the rally going on about the ever so popular Proposition 8.  The Yes side of Proposition 8 were basically out numbered by the No side.  So, go out and speak for what you believe in.  November 4, 2008….SPEAK OUT!!!

the rally at the bookstore

some Proposition 8 propaganda

Brother Jed…the leader of the YES clan!

One Love….lets get together and feel alright!!!

-J

Friendship Games 2008!

For the past two months, we’ve been preparing for our first big event, FG happening at Cal State Fullerton on October 25th.  Luckily, we were given the opportunity to design the FG shirts and help PASA print their member tees…and aside from that, we were anxious, yet excited to finally launch our brand and share with everyone what we’ve been working so hard on for way too long.

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY goes out to A.J. and a an applaud to him as well, since his birthday happened to be the day before FG.  Let’s just say we arrived at Cal State Fullerton at about 4:15am and celebrated the night before.  Sleep was not an option but it all became worth it.

Touching on background on what FG is, it’s basically the largest gathering of Philipino-American students that come together to celebrate S.P.U.F. (spirit, pride, unity, friendship). Over 50 colleges and universities across the nation travel to CSUF to be a part of this well anticipated event for friendly competition, dance battles, food, music, merchandise, and ultimately friendship.

CREA is grateful to have been part of this event and wants to thank everyone who supported not only us, but the Philipino-American community as well. Thank you to new friends and all who even came by to visit the booth.  Thank you to Jerome Cerame, Chris Cerame, and Theo Zuniga for working with us.  As for a personal shout-out on behalf of CREA, we’d like to announce a humbled thank you to the kids, Ating Kristine, Authentic Vibes, all of our families, friends, and eachother.  The hard work was paid off, but hey! there’s only one way to go from here, and that’s forward.

thanks scott!!

until next time friends =)

love, sam

sneaky peaky of Photoshoot #1

MODELS:

Boys = Andrew Egenias, Jared Egenias, Dustin Gramenz

Girls = Erin Crenshaw, Lila Mahjoob, Jennifer Nechvatal

Kids = Kelly Vitug, Natasha Lingad, Kyle Lingad, Maui Llenado, Kia Vitug, Taylor Llenado, Josh

thank you to all of you for coming out and making it happen. also, thank you to our photographer, Armando Tecson, great job!

update: the website will be fully launched very soon, keep us on check!

love, sam

creaLABORdayWEEKEND

With FG being our first big event, we had a lot of production to handle.  I mean, [we] as in Crea PLUS the junior squad that pretty much saved our lives.  If it wasn’t for them, we’d still be making bracelets!

thats how you do the damn thing! work with what you got, and don’t stress.  production keeps you working but labor day weekend felt more like recess because the kids made it possible to keep us grounded. thank you, we appreciate you, and love you.<3

love, sam