Mayene de Leon

Born Franz Peter Schubert on January 31, 1797 to Franz Theodor, a schoolteacher, and Elisabeth Vietz, who worked in domestic services. The Viennese composer was no Mozart or Beethoven, but was still a musically prodigious child.

In a symphony named for the earth, what is one to expect? How does one grasp the world or the universe through words, much less through the sound of music?

In three of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's operas - The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte, and Don Giovanni - the question of love is at hand.

Without even thinking, music and painting have an inevitable relationship - they are both art forms. While the slurs or staccato sounded from a violinist's bow may parallel an artist's brush strokes on canvas, music and painting share an even deeper bond.

Perhaps I may sound like a lonely loser, but I just bought a Tamagotchi on eBay. Weren't those things all the craze a decade ago?

Maybe I'm gluttonous, but I love the feeling of stuffing delicious, moist, freshly made chocolate cake into my mouth. Because it's so soft and tasty, I can just stuff more and more cake into my mouth like a squirrel taking in acorns.

Neutrogena was the first brand I tried when it came to foundation.

Clear skin starts with clear pores. Clear skin? Not exactly. Clear pores? A bit. Improved skin? Yes, but with the help of other products as well.

I thought that Neutrogena's Body Clear Body Wash would work for me, since I've had on and off body acne on my chest and back and many of my friends have given it a try and continue to use it.

I stress the temporary aspect of this cooling lotion, especially for those who suffer from eczema such as myself.

When Dove first came out with shampoo, I was entering high school; my mom heard about it when I wasn't listening, apparently, and told me about because we both have fine, thin hair.

When I first saw Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle on the shelf, what attracted me to it was the image of Sakura and Syaoran -- two main characters from one of my favorite series by CLAMP, Cardcaptor Sakura.

If you've played the game, you know how unusual the story is. The music goes with the game very well.

This is currently my favorite Joshua Bell CD that I own, and one of my favorite violin concertos of all time.

I figured I'd write about attention-seeking bloggers. Or I don't know. Just my thoughts.

Among the many products, brands, and organic treatments my mom tried to soothe my flaring eczema skin when I was little, Cetaphil was one of them.

I was born with skin allergies eczema. I hate it. When I was little my mom tried everything from vegetable oil to baby powder mixed with water to wrapping my hands in mittens at night to keep me from scratching myself to the common non-prescription creams (e.g., Cortaid).

I was thirteen years old when I started high school. Ok, that is supposedly the beginning of hormones and dire need of privacy from parents and the huge popularity contest in school... oh, all the high school drama.

All the Powerpuff Girls fans out there know that without the Main Title theme, the City of Soundsville would be incomplete. But it's more than just sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Writing this review about 6 years after the CD was released, sometimes I wonder why I bought this CD (I remember it was the first CD I ever bought with my own money). Then I realize I was 13 at the time, and I giggle every time I listen to it.

Of all the cheesy shows I used to be a diehard fan of when I was younger, I can't say Lizzie McGuire was the cheesiest (compared to Big Wolf on Campus? Please... some people probably don't even know a show like that ever existed).

When it comes to make-up, I've had my share of awkward phases, especially when it comes to choosing foundation.

My brother gave this to me when I was in 6th grade, and I was ecstatic. This probably stayed in my CD player for a good year; I was pretty addicted. That was before I had seen the unedited Japanese version of Sailor Moon... and got older.

A good actor doesn't equal a good movie. Here we have a character trying to live up to Trinity from The Matrix, but fails.

Alexander Nevsky, a central figure in early Russian history, is overall depicted quite similarly in the medieval text "Tale of the Life and Courage of the Pious and Great Prince Alexander [Nevsky]" and Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 film, Alexander Nevsky.

Japanese animation is undoubtedly growing and becoming more popular in America. For someone new to the scene, there are a ton of good (or better) series out there, but many stay in manga form in America and never make it to the American screen in English.

Greek mythology bestows upon us numerous stories that many find appealing, such as the Prometheus myth. Johann Wolfgang Goethe takes this titanic myth and presents to his audience a different approach to the creation of mankind.

I got in trouble for drawing in the dark corners on my bedroom walls in permanent orange marker and dipping my fingers in paint, but what's a spank or two for creating art?

Music has come a long way from the Christian Church in the first millennium to the present day. From liturgical choirs to modern day Christian Rock in churches, coming to church sometimes seems more than just a religious service.

For almost 17 years, I attended mass at Holy Rosary Church in Antioch every Sunday at 7:30 AM. Elderly folks became my friends with their warm, welcoming hugs and genuine smiles.

One of the most popular magical girl anime series around, Cardcaptor Sakura brings a smile to people's faces.

Have you ever wondered why Asians love Hello Kitty? Well, I don't know. And Kim Wong Keltner didn't answer the question, either. But, I do think this is a cute book. Or maybe that's not the exact word I'm looking for... let me explain.

Although I usually go for the ultra-compact to compact cameras, this "medium" sized camera made my eye twinkle.

Alicia Keys... she's a soul singer, songwriter, musician, composer, pianist, and she's absolutely beautiful. If I were her I wouldn't be too impressed with the interpretations of her songs on this tribute.

Better to get a Chinese phrasebook than this. Not for seriously studying Chinese.

Here we go again with this subject: love versus like. This time, it's probably different from the "summer fun" I had... even though it felt like summer last week, running on sandy white beaches in perfect temperatures of 70 degrees and above.

In a room enclosed surrounded...

"Wo bu shi Zhongguoren" - it means "I am not Chinese." Ironically, I look Chinese enough for people to think I am Chinese, even though both my parents were born and raised in the Philippines by Filipino parents.

Mozart's great opera buffa, The Marriage of Figaro, displays love not only comically but musically as well. The audience can expect to laugh quite often, but to notice the romantic value behind Mozart's musical technique, one must be an attentive listener.