Truth be told, I wanted my 25th birthday celebration to have a fireworks theme.

For me, reaching a quarter of a century is a big milestone that merits having grand fireworks light up the sky for all the world to see.

Yet as the day approached, my way of thinking leaned more toward keeping it an intimate affair for family and friends. Like my previous birthday celebration, I celebrated my red-letter day in advance at a newly opened mall. Last year, it was at Gateway Mall and for 2006, I celebrated it at the SM Mall of Asia.

I’m now a certified "quarter-lifer" and thankfully, I haven’t been experiencing the confusion and frustration that has been dubbed as the quarter-life crisis.

I feel so lucky and blessed that instead of undergoing a quarter-life crisis, I’ve been treated to a quarter-life celebration - a celebration of health, happiness and good fortune.

Speaking of good fortune, I won in Cosmopolitan Magazine’s 9th Birthday Blowout after submitting almost 200 entries via email. Since I am really a big fan of Cosmo (with a huge stack of back issues to prove it!), I decided to spice up my entry by showing my appreciation for this wonderful magazine.

In line with their ninth anniversary, I listed my top nine reasons why I love Cosmo:

1. It inspires me to reach my full potential — whether in the bedroom, in the boardroom or in the home.

2. It offers the perfect blend of health, relationship and career advice for Filipinas.

3. Cosmo confessions. ‘nough said.

4. It appeals to Filipinas (like me) who don’t want to be boxed in by the Maria Clara stereotype.

5. It’s the only women’s magazine that I read from cover to cover — twice!

6. Every new issue shows me an aspect of womanhood that I’ve never realized before.

7. It shows me how to live life to the fullest — with or without a guy byu my side.

8. It encourages me to pursue my passions and learn from the wealth of experiences shared by the women featured in its pages.

9. Its sooo cosmopolitan and sophisticated.

I might not have planned for fireworks but I certainly got more than my fair share of sparklers in my life. Keep on shining everyone!