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100% Honest, No B.S. Reasons To Win An iPad

2011-04-30T12:59:00.001+08:00

7 Reasons. Nothing fancy, just pure honesty...

I want to show it off!
Most iPad owners bought the shiny thing to show it off, although hardly any of them would admit it. If I win, I will do the same, I'll show it off, and I will proudly proclaim to anyone who asks that I won it from a contest sponsored by Sherweb Hosting.
I want to understand what the hype is all about.
What is it with Apple fanatics who queue up to buy everything that Apple churns out?
I'm not willing to shell out my hard-earned money to buy a brand new iPad.
Obviously, I'm not a fan... yet. So I would never own an iPad unless somebody would give it to me.
I want a genuine touchy-feely surfing experience
Not like those iPad clones with annoyingly slow response times.
When the need arises, I want to have something to sell for emergency cash.
What? I want to win the iPad so I can sell it? Let's be practical here. If there is an opportunity to invest in something (like hot shares in the stock market) that could earn a quick profit, I would sell my stuff, buy the shares, make a profit, and possibly buy back the stuff I sold.
I want something even more portable than a laptop
A clunky laptop with its tangled cables, slow start-up time and heavy physical frame can be a pain to carry around.
I want an inconspicuous gadget
I suppose I'd be willing to purchase one of those protective casings. I've seen some that are so sleek yet "invisible". "Invisible" because thieves won't know that they're looking at an expensive toy.

Seven real reasons. Listed all in the name of fun. =)

This Broom Is Worth 1000 Pesos

2011-04-26T23:27:00.012+08:00

I just realized that this broom is worth 1000 pesos...

So is this one...

And this one...

Maybe not this green thing over here...

Not sure about this one...

This one's not worth 1000, I'm afraid...

Er, this one's the broom's partner, but no.

Cute partnership. Still a "no".

What the?!

Oooh, a tall one, eh?

Now this one's ridiculously long, I couldn't even fit it into the picture.

The handle is over seven feet long! Yes, it's worth 1000 pesos as well.

But all these loyal sweepers can't hold a candle to "The broom of the future"...

It's the Electrolux Dynamica vacuum cleaner. How it works is self-explanatory. But the question is: why in the world would you need to spend a few thousand pesos to replace your trusty walis?

Time is money. Get the house cleaning done quickly so you could have more time to make money. One "sweep" per area and you're done.
No need to come in close contact with dirt, dust, and other forms of eewness. Just let the Dynamica suck them up and throw them out.
Without it, backache medicine and massage expenses can pile up quickly. You probably know how it feels to bend over a hundred times during every clean-up session. Or maybe not, because you have household help. We haven't hired any helpers since 1986 and we do everything on our own. And we have felt the aches.
Hard-to-reach areas will be less of a problem. The "sucker" will do wonders for you.
It's not the traditional, old-school vacuum cleaner.
Coolness is priceless. How about showing off your shiny cleaning toy to your neighbors? Don't forget to collect your yabang points.

Oh, and if you're wondering why I overpriced my broom collection...

Quite a heck of a deal.

If you refuse to part with your beloved broom because of all the sentimental value, go buy a new one at the mall, sweep about 10 square meters of dirty floor space to create that "used" look, and trade that one in.

I've illustrated and justified the value of the Electrolux vacuum cleaner. Admittedly, it's an expensive alternative to the good ol' walis, but in the long run, it will pay for itself many times over.

I need change. I want to start the doom of the broom. I need help!
Doom and gloom for the broom sounds rather harsh, but hey, it rhymes!

Take Advantage

2011-04-14T02:09:00.000+08:00

Saw this in my inbox...

As a marketing enthusiast, I was fascinated by this promo. It's a very simple one, but somehow it moved me.

My friends and relatives could attest to this, I'm a frugal guy and I think thrice before buying anything. I still refuse to enter a pay toilet even when my bladder's about to burst. Okay, so I'm bordering on stingy. But for some mysterious reason, I actually thought of buying the darn travel set, pink pouch notwithstanding. That was until I realized that I was being seduced. It also helped that I saw the ad at home and not at the mall.

I'm trying to dissect the ad to discover why it had such an effect on me. I think it was the combination of the words "safety", "save", and "exclusive". Perhaps it was because the set stayed within the 2-digit price range. Or was it because of the subtle "time pressure"... Oh no! It won't be available at such a bargain price after April 30.

I'm still trying to figure this out.

Innocent Macho Dancer?

2011-03-19T05:00:00.034+08:00

Bandwagon time! Since people are talking about this, I will too.

Much has been said about Willie's abuse of the innocent 6-year old who was "forced" to giling like an adult dancer.

I think it's all about perspective. Regular viewers - fans who watch the show day in and day out - saw nothing wrong with it. They honestly think it was okay. Those who were against it only saw the video on Youtube. It's easy to turn this into a class war, since most of those who are rigidly against it clearly belong to the privileged class.

Christian Pinoys devour lechon with gusto. But have we ever wondered what our Muslim brothers and sisters think of us bite after bite? Different perspectives.

Hilarious!

2011-02-08T01:32:00.003+08:00

It took my brain 2 seconds to figure this out, and after the lag, I literally laughed out loud! =D

From http://palpakblog.com

Most of the entries from the blog circle around grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, but some are simply brilliant! And funny!

You Call Yourself A Leader?

2011-01-26T14:26:00.002+08:00

Dear Student Leader,

As I mentioned a few times via sms, I've been out every day for the past week due to several tasks and obligations, with limited time to do anything else.

I'd like to clarify something. From what I gathered during our sms exchanges, you're asking me to take time out of my tight schedule to write a report so that you could win some kind of award, am I right? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I do hope that I just misinterpreted the whole thing, because my current interpretation is making my blood boil.

Regarding your request for me to send you an assessment of the seminar I conducted, I'm not comfortable "assessing" my own workshops and broadcasting it others. Of course, from my extremely biased point of view, I would say that I delivered a slam-bang, mega-awesome presentation. And it would be utterly wrong. Pagbubuhat ng sariling bangko yun, and I won't do that. Because my opinion doesn't count, only the participants' opinions do.

It's so easy for attendees to say "Your seminar was great!", but I would really want them to substantiate their hollow praises. I want to know what they learned. And that's what we need to include in the report for the contest.

I understand that you have a deadline to meet, an award to vie for. But if I send you a half-baked, biased "kahit ano" narrative of the workshop, both of us will suffer. Pareho lang tayong mapapahiya. If you want to win the award, you need to send an excellent entry. I offered to bend backwards and help you with it by sharing an idea that would facilitate the drafting of the narrative, but you said "medyo gipit na po kasi". In short, you don't want to help me help you. You just want me to do everything while you wait. That pissed me off even more.

Now, what's worse than being in a "gipit" situation? Having nothing to submit at all!

Thrilla in Winila

2010-12-15T01:33:00.001+08:00

I first found out about Winila when I saw their bustling booth at the Egames Domination at SMX early this year. Sometime in April, if I remember correctly. Instantly, I recognized that the business concept is uttery brilliant!

I also found out where their office is located. They were just 2 minutes away from our previous tv show studio.

Despite all the evidence that Winila is a legitimate business, I was hesitant to try because I was risk-averse when it comes to these things. But I finally had the chance to give it a go when Jayson Biadog gave me two bid cards with 20 bids each.

Since I only had 40 bids to play with, I wanted to bid for what I thought were less competitive items. So I decided to bid for a 500-peso GC. This was the lowest-cost item during the time, so I expected only a few bidders.

Well, surprise, surprise! Once the countdown timer hit 3 seconds, some of the (presumably) more experienced bidders showed up and drowned me with their flood of bids.

I chose to compete for 500 pesos worth of Max's GCs

By the end of the furious process, 147 bids have been placed!

Joining their bidding contest was quite an experience. You do have to know what you're getting into, because it could get a little addictive.

I realized that going into the auction with an I-will-bid-on-this-item-on-a-whim just won't work because the others would just run me over, and they might not even notice that I was there!

I'm thinking that the better strategy would be to prepare a significant number of bids, and pick an item that I really want, and go for it!

Nokia and LG Promo War

2010-11-13T01:54:00.000+08:00

Nokia versus LG

versus

I hope they do this more often.

Cosplay Parade at SM Cyberzone Cyber Christmas

2010-11-11T16:09:00.000+08:00

What's up with November 13? It seems to be a ridiculously busy weekend, with at least 5 different events I want to be a part of.

In the country's biggest mall chain's case, they're preparing a parade of cosplayers and it sounds like a load of fun.

Electrolux Wash-a-palooza Amazing Eastwood City Race

2010-10-18T01:41:00.006+08:00

Last Friday, Arvin invited me to join his team for a mysterious sports event the following afternoon. I was booked in a two-day seminar, which meant that my Saturday was filled. But given the opportunity to join a sports fest, I decided to "cut class" and run off to Eastwood to join the game instead, without even knowing what the event was about. Talk about priorities!

Turns out, Arvin couldn't make it, as well as some of his original teammates. Still, through the magic of reshuffling, everybody who was assigned a team.

I was absolutely happy with my decision. Wash-a-palooza was a boatload of fun! Thanks to Electrolux for organizing an amazing (yes, I had to use that word) event. Thanks to Jane and Marie of CaPRI for taking really good care of us. My fellow bloggers and I were almost spoiled rotten from the pampering.

More about this next time, I'm still gathering my photos (and thoughts) ...

Spot.ph Under Attack!

2010-10-01T23:29:00.003+08:00

Saw this while random surfing...

Then came this...

I tried visiting a different page using a different browser...

Creepy!

I wonder why Roy decided to hack and attack spot.ph, among the jillions of websites in the world? Was it something they said?

Entrepreneur Magazine's September Networking Night

2010-09-01T23:12:00.003+08:00

On September 7, Tuesday night, Entrepreneur Magazine will be hosting another get-together with the theme... Innovators: Facing Up to the Giants.

You can probably tell from the title that it'll be about the "little guys" who dared to go toe-to-toe with well-established corporations. Learn from the special guest panelists who will share some of their success secrets (you weren't expecting them to share all their secrets, were you?).

Check out the impressive lineup of guest entrepreneurs:

Siu Ping Par - President, PR Gaz Haus
Federico Moreno - President, Ystilo Salon
Mark Ruiz - Founder, Hapinoy
Jonathan So - President, JC Franchising

The "party" will start at 6 PM, and will be held at ThreeSixty Restaurant Bar which is on the second floor of the A. Venue Mall along Makati Avenue in Makati City.

And all you need to bring is a copy of this magazine...

If you don't have the magazine yet, no need to stress yourself out. You may buy a copy (or two) at the venue. A single copy of the magazine will serve as your "ticket" to dinner, freebies, expert advice, and new friends.

To register, send an email with your contact details to sirius.langkay@summitmedia.com.ph

Here's the event's official webpage: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/netnight

See you there!

Solar Power in a Box

2010-08-26T14:22:00.002+08:00

Here's a picture of our place at the height of Basyang's inexplicable rage last July...

That's me on the right, and my neighbor on the left.

Hey, it was dark and the wind was howling like mad. Taking a photo was the last thing on my mind. Besides, my two pairs of camera batteries were dead. And my cellphone's battery was on its last bar. Bummer.

Since there was really nothing anyone could do during a blackout, I just mumbled some nonsense and went to bed. When I woke up the next day drenched in sweat, I immediately realized that there was still no power and the electric fan was still motionless. And since I had a deadline requiring me to submit something to a client via email, it was absolutely necessary for me to go out to look for an Internet shop, because my laptop battery was (you guessed it) also dead. Bummer again.

At the humid mall (they were just using generators), there were long queues of people waiting for their turn to charge their cellphones. I would have taken a photo, but I just remembered that my batteries were dead. D'oh!

During those dark hours, I wish I had something like the Adtel solar home kit. According to their website...

"There’s the 40-watt Plug ‘N’ Play system, which includes an AM/FM radio, a multiport cellphone charger, and two 1.8W LED lamps."

"Adtel also has a cheaper five-watt option. The solar home kit includes a control box and a 2W LED lamp and can power a three-volt radio and a cellphone charger.

I would recommend using it not only during brown outs, but as often as possible, without sacrificing practicality. Since I am a bit of an environmentalist, I appreciate any form of power savings.

I found out from Adtel's website that they were influenced by Republic Act 9513, "the Renewable Energy Act that promotes development, utilization and commercialization of renewable energy resources". If we use those solar home kits only during brown outs, then it would just be an emergency power source and not a renewable power source. Sayang ang potential!

When I get one of those solar kits, I would volunteer to help the project by jotting down notes and sending suggestions about the product. I'm not claiming that I could help redesign the system or anything like that, I'm just saying that I will send feedback from a consumer's point of view. All in the name of progress!

Please visit these links for more details...

Lopez Link at http://www.lopezlink.ph
Adtel Home Solar Kit at http://lopezlink.ph/promos-and-offers/1234-exclusive-offer-adtel-plug-n-play
Adtel at http://www.adtelinc.com.ph

Who's Afraid of Aging?

2010-08-20T03:43:00.078+08:00

I am!

It's amazing how time catches up with someone who thinks and feels he's still young. I got over the "feeling young" part after I played a basketball game a few weeks ago and found myself panting and drenched with sweat... after 5 minutes of running up and down the court. Five lousy minutes! We used to play ball for 5 hours. But now, five friggin' minutes and I'm back to the bench. That's not me being out of shape. That's me being lame.

That is why I signed up for the event the minute I read about it. I've attended two of Coach Jim's sessions several years back. He discussed about plyometrics and I remember that it was quite obvious that he knew what he was talking about. And it is also quite obvious that I haven't been practicing what he taught. So, I'm looking forward to this event to re-learn his fitness techniques. I haven't met or heard about Dr. Heath Motley, but it says there in the poster that he is a respected chiropractor. So, sure, I respect him as well.

What I'm really excited about is the 3k cardiovascular endurance training run. I'll probably undergo some mild depression when they scientifically measure my degree of lameness. But my emo moments will be temporary because it will be instantly erased once I find out that some other dude is wussier than I am. I'm so easy to please, as you can tell.

Whatta Promo from Samsung!

2010-08-14T00:35:00.000+08:00

No matter how often I see it in various forms, the hypnotic effect of the magical phrase "up to" in marketing campaigns still fascinates me.

Any retailer may have 10,000 items for sale, but if he has at least one item that is legitimately 70% cheaper, he has every right to use the mystical phrase. And it's completely legal! After all, a 1% discount is still within the scope of "up to 70% off".

Expect a large crowd jockeying for position way before the 10 a.m. mall opening. And why not? The possibility of getting a 20,000-peso phone for only 6,000 bucks is too sweet a deal to resist. If you can find such a deal. =)

World Food Expo 2010

2010-08-03T06:52:00.032+08:00

Dubbed as "The Country's Biggest and Most Effective Food Show", the 10th World Food Expo or the WOFEX 10 will be held on August 4-7, 2010 at the World Trade Center and at the SMX Convention Center.

That might have seemed a little confusing. So which venue is it? The answer to that is... both!

The event has grown so large that one huge venue won't be enough. Free shuttle service will be provided for visitors so they can visit both venues. See how the organizers thought of everything?

Also being introduced for 2010 is the 1ST PHILIPPINE CULINARY CUP, destined to be the most prestigious culinary competition in the country where the best meet to compete!

Free seminars about food all day, every day during the 4-day expo. Check out the list here: http://filsites.com/wofex-10/events.htm

Are you hungry yet?

Nuffnang and HEAVEN Ice Cream invite you to a special screening of ‘SALT’

2010-07-24T02:36:00.000+08:00

Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.

Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors—Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.

Makulit Ba Ang Lahi Mo? O Kwela Ka Lang Ba Talaga?

2010-07-20T20:38:00.002+08:00

Makulit ang Binalot kaya akmang-akma ang pa-contest nila...

Ngayong ika-14 ng Hulyo, Miyerkules, ay simula na ng paligsahan ng pinakamakulit at katawa-tawang pagmumukha!

MAARI KANG MANALO ng FIVE free tickets to MANILA OCEAN PARK worth 2,000 pesos at libreng BINALOT PARTY PACKAGE para sa buong pamilya! Kaya sali na!

This mad, wacky contest is open to all Filipino-food crazy, fun loving families! Photograph your family (& other close relatives) at their zaniest best while eating, biting, crunching, munching their favorite Filipino food. Email photos to binalotpromo@gmail.com with your name, phone number and mobile number.

Shoot & send as many as you like! But only 1 photo per contestant will be eligible. The more, the funnier, the better!

Two lucky winners will win super fun family packages – FIVE tickets to Manila Ocean Park worth and a FREE BINALOT Party Package good for 5 people to enjoy!

Binalot will select eligible photos daily. We will then post these photos in a special album on our fanpage (www.facebook.com/binalotfiesta). These photos will be open for the public to vote on! TWO PHOTOS WITH THE MOST NUMBER OF LIKES WILL WIN!

Here's the official link to the Binalot promo.

Start emailing us your photos! LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION will be on July 31, 11:59 PM. Sa Sabado yun!

Photos posted in album will automatically be eligible for voting. So start campaigning and encourage your family and friends to LIKE your photo or your favorite photo to increase its chances of winning! VOTING CLOSES ON August 6, 2010!

Winners will be announced on August 9, Monday noontime. Tamang-tama, bago kumain ng tanghalian.

The Cats Are Coming (to Manila)!

2010-07-18T23:50:00.003+08:00

What: Cats Live in Manila!

Where: Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP

Why: Lea Salonga will be performing! Plus a whole bunch of other reasons.

When: Performances starting July 24 for a strictly limited season

Several show dates! Pick one (or two) from the list below.

SAT July 24 Matinee

SAT July 24 Evening

SUN July 25 Matinee

SUN July 25 Evening

TUE July 27 Evening

WED July 28 Evening

THU July 29 Evening

FRI July 30 Evening

SAT July 31 Matinee

SAT July 31 Evening

SUN August 1 Matinee

SUN August 1 Evening

TUE August 3 Evening

WED August 4 Evening

THU August 5 Evening

FRI August 6 Evening

SAT August 7 Matinee

SAT August 7 Evening

SUN August 8 Matinee

SUN August 8 Evening

TUE August 10 Evening

WED August 11 Evening

THU August 12 Evening

FRI August 13 Evening

SAT August 14 Matinee

SAT August 14 Evening

SUN August 15 Matinee

SUN August 15 Evening

How much:

Ticket Prices are exclusive of Ticketworld fees.

Matinee
SAT (3:00pm)
SUN (2:30pm)
PhP7000 PhP5000 PhP3500 PhP2000 PhP1000

Evenings
TUE, WED, THU (8:00pm)
SUN (7:30pm)
PhP6000
PhP4500
PhP3000
PhP1500
PhP750

Evenings
FRI, SAT (8:00pm)
PhP7000
PhP5000
PhP3500
PhP2000
Php1000

For more information, visit:

Their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CatsInManila
and their Tumblr page: catsinmanila.tumblr.com

Direk Freddie Santos Is Now a Blogger

2010-07-06T05:03:00.007+08:00

Last June 22, bloggers were invited to a mysterious weekday noontime blog launch. Quite odd, eh?

This was the only photo on the invitation.

Normally, these types of I-won't-tell-you-what-the-event-is-about-because-I-want-to-tease-you invitations annoy me because time is precious and I want to know exactly what I'm waking up early for. But because of the impressive (note: expensive) venue plus the promise of a chance to win an iPad... surprise, surprise! I was only one of many who showed up!

I was really glad that I was there, because it turned out to be a very interesting and entertaining activity. It was my first time to meet Direk Freddie Santos in person. Actually, it was the first time I heard his name, and because of that, I am deeply ashamed. Every Pinoy should know who Direk Freddie is, because he is an icon in the Philippine live performance industry!

Gary Valenciano listens intently as Direk Freddie
talks about the Big Mac meal served for lunch.

He's such a jolly and gracious host, and it was so cool of him to approach each one of us for a quick chit-chat before the main event started.

Direk Freddie enthusiastically talks about his new blog.

Republiq's dance floor was Direk Freddie's stage. He used the space well, as he moved around and animatedly discussed what his baby project is about. He shared that instead of writing a biography, he decided to come up with a blography. Blog + biography. Get it? Got it.

In his blography, he shared (and will share) his beginnings and evolution in the live performance industry. The blog also has a very useful feature: Direk Freddie will read the blog post for you. Perhaps up next is a video feature, and it probably isn't such a bad idea, because Direk has a distinct theatrical flair (which I appreciated immensely). I wish there was some way to showcase that as well.

Direksions is still in "beta" stage, but feel free to go ahead and take a peek. The stories will unfold as the days progress, so let's subscribe to his mailing list to keep ourselves updated.

After meeting Direk Freddie in person and witnessing how passionate he is about his craft, I am now a fan.

Feel Young with Bum Equipment

2010-06-23T15:08:00.001+08:00

People associate me with the word "bum" because of my home-based career.

But this blog post isn't about me, it's about Bum Equipment's newest line of clothing. Take a look at these...

As worn by pale mannequins.

How about some real people?

These are from Bum's Collar-Ups Collection. The colored collars come with a logo or design at the back. Plaids, houndstooth, and an array of design selections provides a distinct mark that Bum's modern, Goth feel exudes.

Check out the latest from Bum Equipment.

Hyper about Marketing in Hyper Speed

2010-06-20T18:54:00.023+08:00

If you're a marketing practitioner, consider attending this...

The Philippine Marketing Association is gearing up for the upcoming 41st National Marketing Conference on June 24 and 25 at fancy Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

This two-day learning event is jam-packed with intense sessions highlighted by a powerhouse cast of heavy-hitters in the field of marketing.

I'm particularly interested in these topics:

Tourism as the Country’s Express Lane Towards Economic and Market Growth - Can the Philippines successfully market itself as a major tourist destination? And more importantly, are we Pinoys ready for it?
The Green Scorecard in a Brown Economy - Doing business while taking care of Mother Earth sounds fascinating, since I'm a bit of a passive environmentalist myself. I'm not sure what "brown economy" signifies though, but we'll find out soon enough.
The Future of Marketing Communication - Best practices and effective strategies most suitable for delivering the message to the Filipino audience. Hey, that's my target audience! And most probably yours, too.

In terms of personalities....

I've attended a few of Ricky de Vera's and Jos Ortega's seminars years ago. Even back then, they obviously knew what they were talking about. They're excellent examples of "constant learners", reading the latest books and keeping up with marketing trends. I'm excited to witness their lively, updated, information-loaded presentations.

And of course, I'm looking forward to hearing what President Noynoy Aquino has to share. That's correct, the incoming President will be given an hour to discuss some of his thoughts about... marketing the Philippines, perhaps? I personally think that an hour won't be enough, and I'm predicting that the questions will not stop pouring in.

After two whole days of marketing wisdom at the conference, hang around Sofitel for the launching of Search Profile Index, a monthly subscription that helps you "grow and amplify your presence for business or personal growth". If you stay until 9 PM on Friday (June 25), you'll have a chance to win a luxurious one-night stay at The T in Tagaytay City. How's that as an incentive?

In preparation for this event, I've come up with my "7 ways to get the most out of the 41st National Marketing Conference". Here's what I'll do:

I'll go to bed earlier than usual so I'd be wide awake during the conference.
I'll jot down the speakers' ideas that I can implement immediately.
Before calling it a day, I will mentally review the lessons learned from the day's speakers, to aid retention.
I won't waste too much time eating, sipping tea, or taking too many bathroom breaks during the event.
I will focus on the presentations rather than thinking of what I'll have for dinner.
I'll make new friends and learn from them as well.
I will have fun!

I stand corrected for my initial statement. If you are a marketing practitioner, you shouldn't simply "consider" attending this conference. Just go!

Globe Tattoo Micro-SIM for the iPad

2010-06-10T21:20:00.010+08:00

Gadget geeks and early adapters who have acquired the hyped-up Apple iPad 3G now have the perfect "innard" for their device: The first-ever Micro-SIM available only from Globe Tattoo.

Designed especially for use in tablet devices like the iPad 3G, it eliminates the need to cut out a regular SIM card to make it fit into the iPad SIM card slot. Globe’s new Micro-SIM is small enough to fit the iPad 3G and connect you to Globe’s wireless 3G network so you can surf with style.

As explained by the Head of Globe Tattoo, Manny Escosa, “The Globe Micro-SIM is our nod to the gadget lovers out there who want the richest online experience they can get on their iPad 3G. And since the Micro-SIM is powered by our new Unlimited Data plan, it’s now a snap for iPad fans to get Globe-connected and get the best possible browsing experience.”

How do you know if your iPad is the 3G version or the Wi-Fi-only model? Just flip over the iPad and if you see a black strip at the top... Congratulations! You’re holding the 3G model.

After finding out that you have iPad 3G, you have two options to make full use of it's 3G capabilities:

Sign up for the Globe Unlimited Data Plan for P999/month.
Get the prepaid Micro-SIM for just P 50.00 and start surfing for P 5.00 every 15 minutes.

To know more about the Globe Micro-SIM and the Unlimited Data plan, call (02) 730 1000, surf over to www.globe.com.ph, or visit any Globe store.

All-Woman Team Relay

2010-06-08T16:23:00.001+08:00

Registration Fees

For Individual Runners:
• P 600 – Standard Entry Fee
(FOR BOTH ONLINE AND CASH REGISTRATIONS)
• P 450 – Discounted Fee, for registrants with 1 bottle of Woman by Lactacyd 200mL.
(FOR CASH REGISTRATION ONLY)

For the Team Relay:

• P 1,500 – Standard Entry Fee
(FOR BOTH ONLINE AND CASH REGISTRATIONS)
• P 1,000 – Discounted Fee, for registrants with 2 bottles of Woman by Lactacyd 200mL.
(FOR CASH REGISTRATION ONLY)

Check out all the cash prizes and sponsors (i.e. freebies)!

Help Build a Bottle School

2010-06-02T18:00:00.000+08:00

With your contribution of 1.5- or 2-liter plastic bottles, which will serve as the "hollow" portion of makeshift hollow blocks you can help build this...

And with a little architectural and decorative magic, turn it into this...

Very impressive!

This is another pioneering project by multi-awarded social entrepreneur Illac Diaz, who has made a name for himself by developing sustainable housing solutions for homeless and the lack of infrastructure in developing countries.

And to create awareness for this new project, his team will organize a Bottle School Run ...

... because it seems that people prefer to talk about running events than about socially relevant ideas. So, why not take advantage of that by linking the useful idea with what people are already talking about? Brilliant!

Unlike many of the half-hearted and seemingly insincere (in my opinion) "run for a cause" races going on almost every week, this one is rather different because you get to see concrete (and plastic) results.

I'm coordinating with the organizers to know where we could contribute plastic bottles without participating in the run. Hey, not everyone's into running.

But if you really want to run, I'd say go for it!

Registration for The Bottle School Run starts on May 29, Saturday and lasts until June 11, Friday. Registration centers are:

Planet Sports Trinoma (1pm to 8pm)
Planet Sports Alabang (1pm to 8pm)
Planet Sports Glorietta (1pm to 8pm)
Taguig City – Fort Bonifacio Satellite Office, 3rd Flr, Market! Market! (9am to 5pm)

Distance categories are 3k, 5k, and 10k. Registration fees are P200 for 3k, and P300 for 5k and 10k. All participating runners are requested to bring two bottles with a 1.5 or 2 liter size of any soda brand on race day. Gunstart times are 5:30am (10k), 5:45am (5k), and 6:00am (3k).

Inquiries may be directed to thebottleschoolrun@gmail.com or to Liza Fumar, Co-lead, The Bottle School Run, through 0927 284 54 36. Alternatively, interested parties may contact Edward Kho, Race Director, through 0915-9990187.

FREE Pizza with BPI Credit Card Purchases

2010-06-02T15:12:00.008+08:00

BPI credit card holders, magpa-pizza naman kayo!

This fairly new use-your-credit-card-more-often-and-win-free-meals trend is quickly becoming the norm, perfect for freebie-conscious people like me.

Take your pick:
Supreme Buddy Pan Pizza or Caesar Salad for each 1500-peso receipt
Fettuccini Ala King or Spaghetti Bolognese for each 3000-peso receipt
Family Supreme Pan Pizza for each 7000-peso receipt

Some notes to keep in mind:

Promo period is from May 18 to July 15, 2010, meaning the date of purchase must fall within this window, but redemption period is until September 15, 2010.

To redeem the free Pizza Hut dish, cardholder must submit for verification the original charge slip or transaction receipt and present the BPI card used for the transaction to any authorized Pizza Hut personnel before release of the free dish.

The redemption is valid for dine-in only. Take-out and delivery orders will not be allowed.

Only one (1) free dish can be redeemed per charge slip or transaction receipt. A customer is allowed up to three (3) redemptions per day per store only.

Two Year Old Chain-Smoker Video

2010-06-01T00:14:00.003+08:00

No, the video is not two years old. The smoker is. I guess Ardi Rizal, the Indonesian kid smoker, has a dad who believes in starting him young.

You probably noticed how nonchalantly Ardi puffs a cigarette. He's a pro!

According to the "noble" dad, who got the toddler started when he was 18 months old, he spends a hefty sum trying to sustain this prodigy's favorite hobby. Ardi now smokes 40 sticks of cigarettes per day. And he's loyal to only one brand... Marlboro. The Marlboro Man would've been proud.

Ardi's parents claim that they couldn't stop him from smoking because he throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. What a pathetic excuse!

I'm generally a cheerful guy who loves to laugh, but I find no humor in this disturbing scenario.

Power Mac Center Greenbelt All Set To Relaunch

2010-05-27T14:19:00.029+08:00

3-day opening blowout offering: up to 15% discount on products and accessories

Power Mac Center, a chain of Apple products and premium accessories retailers in the Philippines, is all set to relaunch its revamped flagship outlet in Greenbelt 3, Makati City on May 28.

With its efficient layout, shopping is made more convenient at the new Greenbelt store. New products, such as the recently launched MacBook and the premium Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, are now available in the new store.

Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Marketing Manager, says, “With the revamped Power Mac Center Greenbelt store, customers can expect a total sensory experience: ‘see’ a more lifestyle-oriented and customer friendly store; have a ‘feel’ of our products through our demo units; and ‘hear’ the best sounds from our wide array of audio-video products and our in-store Power Mac Center Radio.”

The new expanded services section now also features a 1-on-1 tutorial room (Wow! Talk about personalized service.), a dedicated software testing area, a new 20-seater classroom as well as an upgraded service center.

Customers will also be treated to prizes during the hourly games and a 15 percent off during the three-day opening blowout from May 28-30. In the same weekend, two days of free seminars on music and photography will also be conducted by Apple Certified Trainers in the new 20-seater classroom.

Simultaneously, Power Mac Center’s new website, which has been enhanced to provide outstanding experience to customers online, will also be available starting May 28. Customers may expect fresh updates on events, promos, new products and offers exclusively through www.powermaccenter.com.

Biki Waterworld Aqualympics

2010-05-24T04:15:00.013+08:00

A bunch of cheerful bloggers had loads of fun at the Biki Water World Aqualympics yesterday, wherein the happy people from Enchanted Kingdom arranged an Amazing Race-type game which required us to utilize 4 out of the 6 giant inflated pools in the area. A whole lot of running, sliding, splashing and a bit of drinking (from all that running, sliding and splashing) took place. Looking back, having dinner before such strenuous activities might not have been such a good idea. But it did power our team to victory! Yes, I'm bragging.

These were the scenes before the sun called it a day...

That's not a tiny man beside a tube. That's a 6-feet tall dude beside an enormous inflated hamster wheel.

I wish I had action photos to serve as proof of our competitiveness and will power, but we were all running around, remember?

The game is a fantastic way to make full use of the facilities. I would recommend this to companies who plan to do half-day team building activities. "Half-day" because Biki Water World is open from 2 to 9 PM during weekdays and 11 AM to 10 PM during Saturdays and Sundays.

If you have kids, bring them over because they will surely thank you for being such a wonderful mommy/daddy.

Bossing Ka Ba? Bosing Ako!

2010-05-23T04:33:00.003+08:00

Last may 20, PLDT SME Nation launched its Bossing Ako campaign at posh Society Lounge (tagline: "Inspired by French Fashion Food").

Hosted by style icons Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Tim Yap, the event unveiled the previously secret identities of 12 Pinoy Bossings who will serve as sources of inspiration for aspiring (and struggling) entrepreneurs. Hey, I think they're referring to me!

Sought-after fashion and advertising photographer Xander Angeles took care of the Bossings' profile photos. Together with birthday boy Gabby, they introduced the Bossings one by one...

Mother Lily Monteverde of Regal Films
Jay Aldeguer of Islands Souvenirs
Joey Concepcion, Founding Trustee of Go Negosyo
Les Reyes, Reyes Haircutters
Gardy Cruz, Pancit Malabon Express
Raphael and Jenni Soon, North Park
Ronald Pineda, Folded and Hung
Benjamin Liuson, The Generics Pharmacy
Darius and Carlos Hizon, Pampanga' Best
Louie Gutierrez and Dulzi Ocampo Gutierrez, Silverworks
Vicki Belo and Cristalle Henares, Belo Essentials
and of course, Manny Pangilinan, PLDT Chairman

Rico Blanco, an entrepreneur himself, was also at the event to sing "Para sa mga Bossing". According to the PLDT executives, it was the first time they heard it performed live, instead of the digital version (which the guests were also given a copy of). After the event, we had the chance to interview Rico and ask for his views about politics, entrepreneurship, and music. Cool dude, Rico is.

For more information about PLDT SME Nation, you may call 101-888. Call them if you want to be a Bossing.

Pacman on Google!

2010-05-22T02:19:00.001+08:00

I just had to capture it before it disappears!

It's an actual, playable Pacman game, complete with classic music and sound effects. Reminds me of the good old days. Very old days.

Adidas Knows How to (Street) Party

2010-05-19T20:22:00.003+08:00

Adidas Street Party at The Piazza at Venice, McKinley Hill last May 7. I only took a few photos because my low-cost camera can't really handle low-light photography. So, in no particular order...

The vicious bike is attacking the innocent yellow-shirted dude! Somebody help him!

I got a little confused because both streets were named "Originals".

Stop over for some all-you-can-eat barbecue.

Adopt a Zakumi. Take your pick.

Foosball for those who can't play real football. Namely, me.

Grand prize: a pimped up Adidas van. Kidding!

These are all mine. Go get your own.

I kept going back for more, so they gave me a large plastic cup full of my favorite, Boracay Mocha Blend.

Microphone-eating contest.

There were literally pools of free drinks.

Street artist at work.

Where?

There!

Showing off some moves.

What am I doing here, Mama?

Queuing up for the tequila shots.

"I need a shower."

More dance moves.

This was my view during the Darth Vader scene and fashion show (the main purpose of the event).

Dammit! Message sending failed!

Street magic

Leftovers.

Fun party! Thanks to Jonel for the invitation!

The Proof is in the Dirty Finger

2010-05-10T18:55:00.003+08:00

Now that I have obtained proof of participation, I can - and eventually will - lash out at public officials who do not fulfill their campaign promises. Lame threat, I know.

I consider myself lucky because I queued up for "only" 90 minutes before I got my chance to shade several bilog na hugis itlog. I used up 8 minutes because I was so paranoid about wasting my ballot with my carelessness.

My dad used his senior citizen privilege and took the "express lane". Good for him. And good for the others: the elderly, the disabled, and the pregnant women because they were spared from the torturous wait. I'm glad that the organizers quickly took that into consideration.

Another thing I'd like to point out was the volunteers' unbelievable patience. Their batteries were obviously running low, but despite the heat, hunger, and the occasional grouchy voter, most of there were still surprisingly cheerful. Kudos to them!

Usually, I whine a lot when forced to wait in line, but this afternoon, I saw that the volunteers did the best they could with whatever they had. And I had nothing to complain about.

Do you talk to yourself?

2010-04-19T17:37:00.002+08:00

Do you talk to yourself? Come on, don't deny it!

The moment you read that, you probably thought, "Do I talk to myself? Of course not! This anonymous blogger has gone loopy." And I rest my case.

Okay, now that you've accepted that fact, it's time to be careful what you say to yourself because what you say will make or break you.

Shad Helmstetter actually wrote a book entitled What to Say When You Talk to Your Self. Imagine, an entire book that promises to teach you how to talk to yourself. I'm pretty sure I have a copy. And I'm sure I bought it at one of my favorite hangouts: Book Sale. Now, if I can only dig it out from my rubble of old books.

Xtreme Fun with Lazer

2010-04-19T02:28:00.138+08:00

Photo stolen, I mean, borrowed from Rina's LazerXtreme blog post

Last April 13, a bunch of bloggers were told to wear black shirts to attend a party at Market! Market! Almost all the attendees followed the command without question. Well, it was a laser tag party, and the black costume was for ninja stealth. Thanks to Carl for the invitation, by the way.

Each laser tag game lasts 15 minutes. Once your guns and vests are activated, all you have to do is shoot and avoid being shot. Colorful lights spread all over your vest, with different corresponding point values, serve as your opponents' targets.

A quarter of an hour might sound bitin, but once your competitive juices start flowing, so will your buckets of sweat. Your thighs and trigger finger will thank whoever who came up with the time limit.

After playing three intense games (the last of which pitted us against a group of foreign elementary students, whom we bullied until the very last second), I looked as if I swam in a dagat ng basura. Dehydration was a serious threat. I must have gulped down 2 liters of iced tea and water in a span of 90 minutes.

What fascinated me most was the detailed stat sheet, which included information like my overall rank, my shooting accuracy, bases destroyed, how many people I tagged, how many sneaky opponents shot me from behind, my weight, my body fat percentage, and my horoscope. Err, I think the last three came from another machine.

Up to 30 people can play at the same time.You can choose to play by teams, or if you're the loner type, push for the free-for-all option and you get to shoot every colored vest in sight.

Just a piece of unsolicited advice: you absolutely have to bring an extra shirt. And if you're a wetter, you might want to consider bringing extra pants as well.

I highly recommend this "sport". Go ahead and schedule a trip to Market! Market! soon!

World Creative Imaging Competition

2010-04-10T01:40:00.000+08:00

Blackberry or iPhone?

2010-04-04T15:11:00.002+08:00

I've lost one too many mobile phones that I've become high-tech-phone-phobic (what the?!). So, as a tech-scrimper, I only buy the cheapest functional gadgets known to man. I don't bother myself with details about the latest tech craze.

But this email exchange between my Toastmaster friends might make me reconsider my abstinence...

--- --- ---

Michelle:

Hey there! I have a question that some of you might want to answer...

Which is better for me, an iPhone or a Blackberry?

I'm temporarily using a cheap Nokia 1202, and it's so funny cuz I just learned that it has a limitation on the number of characters I can save. So Boom's number is stored under "BNT Boom San Agu" and Faye's is "BNT Faye Melegrit" ... buy hey, I'm not complaining. I bought this phone for only P1400 from the Nokia store, and it came with a Sun SIM card, P150 worth of Jollibee gift certificates (which I promptly used to buy a 2-piece Chickenjoy for lunch!), and a raffle coupon for another cellphone and overnight stay for two at the Shangri-la. :-)

--- --- ---

Hi, Michelle!

I like your problem, choosing between an Iphone and a BB. anyway, hope this will help...

if you're looking for a smart phone with lots of applications, you should go for the iphone... but if you're looking for a durable and dependable smart phone, go for the blackberry.

People use Blackberries because they have to... People use iPhones because they want to...

The blackberry’s advantage is corporate support and email. Period. The iPhone is better for virtually every other activity. I think everyone knows that though, right?

iPhone's edge over the Blackberry are games, iphone has a shitload of applications and the “being cool” associated with it. The Blackberry has the hardware keyboard (you can’t write fast and accurate on an iPhone, sorry), the business features and the “being a businessman” associated with it.

iPhone is a personal phone, MADE for games and taking pictures, video, surfing the web, while Blackberry is a business phone MADE for business, that doesn’t have any reason to have games.

The iPhone is an entertainment phone, Blackberry is a business phone. The iPhone will never be a business phone as Blackberry will never be a gaming device.

I'll go for the BB.

- Bino

--- --- ---

Thanks for the comprehensive comments, Bino.

Yup, I sort of heard about these distinctions between iPhones and Blackberries but didn't really focus because I was determined NOT to have either one. I was happy with Nokia, and intended to use Nokia phones for life. And since Globe had the E75 as a retention phone, that worked perfectly for me. Until my E75 was stolen!

I guess having my phone stolen was a blessing in disguise, because I realized that as HR Director I am entitled to a company-paid phone (the company had saved on that item because I'd been using my personal phone for all business calls/messages! ) so they have now ordered my new phone. The standard issue would be a Blackberry but if I paid extra for the handset I could get an iPhone instead. I was thinking since I hate the "sent from my Blackberry" which I get whenever someone emails me from a Blackberry I might as well go for the iPhone BUT your "The Blackberry has the hardware keyboard (you can’t write fast and accurate on an iPhone, sorry)" just clinched it for the BB. I need to type fast so I'll just have to figure out a way to disable that show-off function... I don't want to advertise BB every time I email. Hmph!

Thanks again, Bino!

--- --- ---

* Bino is a sought-after sales trainer, and after seeing him in action, I believe he has every right to call himself a sales strategist (that' his blog, go ahead and visit).

A Book About Sustainable Energy (Endorsed by Bill Gates)

2010-03-31T14:54:00.001+08:00

"The problem with most discussions about ways to save energy is that they're based on incorrect information and it's time to have a serious look at what can and can't be done." - David MacKay

So where can we find the "correct information"?

Ta-da! Order the book from Amazon for $32.90.

Or better yet, download the ebook for free...
http://www.withouthotair.com/download.html

"I didn't write this book to make money. I wrote it because sustainable energy is important." - David MacKay

Life In Taborea: The World Of Runes Of Magic

2010-03-22T23:52:00.052+08:00

How's it going? My name is Bruce Kho and I want to tell you a little story.

But first, help me put out this flaming sword.

My science teacher taught me that metal conducts heat,

and now I believe her because I'm sweating like a waterfall in here!

I'm the lead vocalist in our band called Bakalatbalat.

We have a silly name and we don't care because we're cool like that.

That's our FB Fan page pic. From L to R: Bruce, Furfol, Wallace-tic, and Silveria.

We look violent, but we're really gentle. It's just an image thing.

This is where we hold our gigs, in Taborea's most chillin' hang-out, Hembashy (which closed down a few times due to extreme popularity.)

Someday we'll be performing there because we love to dream big dreams.

I used to perform solo, but I always attracted the wrong crowd.

Until I met my talent manager. I never asked for her real name. I just call her Mam.

Mam introduced us to each other, and BAM! Bakalatbalat was formed.

Together, we'll take Taborea's music charts by storm.
Sure, we'll fight some bad guys on the side, if that's what it takes, because...
"This is our Age and it is our destiny to shape the fate of Taborea."

Hey, I told you it was a "little story".

FREE 2-Hour Business Simulation

2010-03-20T00:31:00.000+08:00

I attended this last month...

...and it was loads of fun!

I was pleasantly surprised that 90% of the activities were brand new to me, to think that I've been a part of a whole bunch of seminars over the years.

The guys behind the workshop are planning a second run. And I'm predicting that it'll be crazier than the first one. Crazy in a cool, educational way. I just had to clarify that.

Instead of me explaining how it works, how about dropping by their FREE demo on March 25? Details below...

The maiden run of our B.E.S.T. Workshop proved to be such a success that we're doing it again!

Would you like to know more about why B.E.S.T. was such a hit? Well, instead of just telling you what the fuss is all about, we'll show you what B.E.S.T. can offer by giving you a FREE 2-Hour Business Simulation this coming March 25, 2010 (Thursday), 6:00pm, at Max's Restaurant, Shangri-La Mall, Mandaluyong City.

LIMITED SEATS ONLY... so make your reservations now! Contact us at 668-7318 or 0922-899-5585; or email us at info@bizwizresources.com and provide the following details: Name, Company and Mobile Number (to pre-register).

Food will be FREE for the first 30 participants only.

This event is being sponsored by PLDT SME Nation.

Somebody once said, "there's no free lunch". But there's free dinner!

Free knowledge plus free food. What a deal!

Playing Not to Lose

2010-03-14T16:26:00.004+08:00

At age 34, I think it's perfectly alright for Joshua Clottey to retire from boxing... with over a million dollars in the bank. No need get hurt or hurt anyone anymore. =)

Sure, he was fighting for personal and national pride. But looking at the fight betting odds, he really didn't stand a chance against Manny. So he did what he usually does, play defense. He's a defensive boxer. It was his choice to endure 12 rounds instead of going to bed early.

How many people on earth can claim to have dodged and absorbed 1,231 punches from the phonomenal Pacman?

Century Tuna Superbods Run Last-minute Advisory

2010-02-20T21:14:00.001+08:00

They're expecting around 11 thousand runners! Whoa!

And the organizers are offering shuttle service for runners from Market! Market! Quite considerate of them.

Crocs Mega Sale at the Mega Tent

2010-02-19T16:18:00.002+08:00

I am not connected with Crocs, the event organizer, or Citibank. I'm just a bargain hunter like many of you.

I didn't go to their mega sale last year, so all I have are bits and pieces of second-hand information. One friend advised that if I plan to go there and buy just one or two pairs of shoes, I might as well spend my time somewhere else. Last year, the queue to get in required her to wait for almost two hours (just to get in the tent!), plus 30 minutes of blitz shopping, and around two hours to pay for the bargain goods.

I therefore conclude that this event is not for me. But for those of you who plan to haul 15 pairs of shoes in one fell swoop, you have a month to plan your attack.

Binalot sa Dahon

2010-02-16T02:34:00.003+08:00

Jumbo sandals from Liliw, Laguna. Worn by...

Mang Bina, Binalot's cheerful mascot, who seemed like he was running for Mayor.

Actually, he was there to visit...

a community located in Nagcarlan, Laguna.

A bunch of us bloggers were taken to the location as well.

Robie was telling us about how he loved the special effects in Avatar. No, not really.

Robie is such a masterful storyteller. His calm voice and smooth delivery style conveyed the message effectively. He shared to us how the DAHON program works...

The members of the community gather the banana leaves, which they cut, clean, and bundle according to Binalot's specifications. Then, somebody would visit them at an agreed upon schedule to buy the bundles at a mutually fair price. This ensures Binalot a continuous supply of leaves, and provides the community (currently, 31 families) with steady, predictable income. Classic win-win scenario!

No wonder the kids were happy to welcome the Binalot team!

James Juan (cousin of Binalot's President and CEO Rommel Juan) is the benefactor of the daycare center which keeps the kids busy while their parents do the cutting.

Every Pinoy celebration needs a song and dance number.

After watching the kids perform, we were led into the deep recesses of the jungle (alright, it was just 20 meters from the main road) to experience what it was like to gather and "process" the leaves.

James snagged a fine banana leaf specimen while Rommel captured the whole event for posterity.

While Rins was busy with her new career as a leaf cutter, everybody else just stood there in silent awe.

Bundled up into a neat little package.

"Watch out for falling bananas!"

Rodney was "the first person to step up to the challenge" when Rommel and his team were still trying to look for a reliable banana leaf supplier. The community is now reaping the benefits of his (and his grandmother's) contributions.

We were treated to a feast to complete the tour. I liked the local dish Adobong Kalabaw sa Gata the most!

This is a perfect example of "teaching a man how to fish, instead of merely giving him fish". But the story doesn't end there. Binalot will be coming up with more programs to form similar communities in other regions. There are even more bright spots to look forward to!

Twenty Years of Science

2010-02-12T22:00:00.057+08:00

Twenty years! Certainly a huge reason to celebrate. This anniversary is even sweeter because it is a rebirth of sorts. Typhoon Ondoy did not spare this sanctuary of science, but thanks to generous sponsors and supporters, the Philippine Science Centrum is back in action!

The official PSC Mobile is ready to go.

We're here at last. The party has started... 70 minutes ago!

Come on in, anyway.

The Chairman.

Kiddie library. DVIWGA is not an acronym for anything, by the way.

Green goo. We actually got to take some home! No, that's not buko pandan pie.

So, kid, what does Infinity look like?

Alex and his wall of soap.

Little girl wants to travel back in time, a la Austin Powers.

Talk about being weight-conscious.

Still one of my favorite areas in the Centrum.

Patrick was about to do a backflip.

"Are you sure this a good idea? I just ate two bowls of wanton noodles."

Bring home a piece of scientific evidence.

Latest attraction, a typhoon simulator. Just the wind force, no accompanying rainfall.

Bye for now!

There's so much more to explore inside the Philippine Science Centrum than what my limited photos have shown. The entrance fee is still cheaper than a movie ticket. So bring your friends over and have loads of geeky fun!

My Century Tuna Superbods Run Training

2010-02-04T05:25:00.008+08:00

You might have observed that running is as popular now as badminton was a few years ago. There's at least one organized race somewhere every single week. So far, the most publicized one this year is the Century Tuna Superbods Run, because of its giganormous marketing budget and star-studded line-up of guest runners. The marketing campaign is so effective that even a lazy non-runner like me got interested.

Here's proof: I am preparing for this by...

working up a sweat on the treadmill...

and other activities that are difficult for self-photography, like:

climbing several flights of stairs with a heavy backpack,

doing several sets of one-legged squats, etc.
buying a running shirt (optional)

But the most important "preparation" for me was to go out and actually register for the race! There's no squirming out of this one now.

That white circular thing below the number 1 is the electronic timing chip.
High-tech, eh?

While everybody else is gearing up for 10- and 21-km runs, I chose the wimpiest option, the 3-kilometer route. Please refer to a previous statement about me being a lazy non-runner. Lame, I know.

Real Cooking

2010-02-02T23:41:00.000+08:00

It's amazing how a free cookbook was able to nudge me into preparing a non-instant dish... for the very first time in my life! No matter how impractical it was, I just had to capture some evidence of this historical event.

Al dente.

Chopping garlic, my second favorite cooking activity.

...more chopping action. In case you're puzzled, those are broccoli chunks.

Ta-daaa! Peppered Broccoli Pasta

Forget about artistic plating, I just ate it off the hot pan.

Ok, so I forgot about the camera in between the chopping and the eating (my favorite) steps. I just did some sautéing action with the exaggeratedly chopped garlic bits and broccoli chunks on extra-virgin olive oil. Now I'm just pretending to know what sautéing means. The fragrance was unbelievable (for my level, at least). Unfortunately, the smell was better than the taste.

I'm still motivated to try more dishes though. Perhaps after 3 months.

1.43% Chance of Winning 5000 Pesos

2010-01-31T13:32:00.065+08:00

Came across this booth while strolling along the halls of SM Megamall...

My eyes were immediately drawn to the large red font. A chance to win 5,000 in cash? Why not?

Distracted by the flame-themed hairstyle while waiting for my turn.

The trivia challengers, as I call them.
I need to correctly guess, I mean, answer 3 out of 5 trivia questions to qualify.

I made the cut! So now, somebody is preparing my lucky entry stub.

I have a strange feeling that I'll win!

I didn't realize that there would be so many hopefuls. There were probably 70 of us.

The first winner drawn was not around, and as expected,

everyone cheered because that meant another chance for us to win.

The raffle winner is in this photo!

My lucky entry stub was outdone by somebody else's luckier entry stub.
I'll try to find time to join at least one other contest at the other venues.
I have a hunch that I'll win next time. Yeah, that's what I said before.

Gelato Gluttony

2010-01-27T18:14:00.003+08:00

... at Greenbelt

Very tempting, but a bit pricey. Mr. Stingy (my alter-ego) is still trying to decide.
Who am I kidding? Mr. Stingy is my real identity!

What's this?! All-you-can-eat for only 500 pesos?! For two people?! Out of the way, Mr. Stingy!

Sixteen flavors to choose from.

Which one should I try first?

The greenish mound on the left is Pistacchio (that's how they spell it). My favorite!

The dark brown scoop is Cioccolato. It tasted a bit like Royce's dark chocolate nuggets. Yum!

The third flavor is called Nutella. Surprisingly good!

I ended up gobbling up 13 scoops. After that glorious "achievement", my taste buds went bonkers, which ruined my appetite for anything else. I guess I should've stopped after the 12th scoop. For the rest of the day, anything that resembled ice cream disgusted me. But as I was looking at the limited photos I took, I found myself drooling again. I actually want to go back for more! Too bad the all-you-can-eat promo ends today.

.

What's Inside?

2010-01-10T23:45:00.040+08:00

I wonder what's inside this heavy package.

I remember now! It's the prize I won from the Kubiertos.com contest.

I didn't realize that the cookbook was this thick, heavy, and mouthwatering.

Mmm, pasta.

I only "cook" instant food, but since I'm a fan of Italian food (plus the author makes Italian dishes seem more interesting than they already are), this book might make me take a shot at "real cooking". Note that the key word is might.

Thanks to Apples of Kubiertos.com for coming up with the contest!

YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway

2009-12-20T11:55:00.000+08:00

Look at all these goodies up for grabs!

Local tech go-to guy Yuga is giving away a truckload of tech stuff...
http://www.yugatech.com/blog/contests/yugatech-contest-1-merry-tweetmas/

Three ways to win on of 62 fancy items this week...

1) If you have a Twitter account:

1.a) Follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe on Twitter.

1.b) Post a tweet “Just entered to win a Modu Phone. Quick! Go follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe and retweet: http://bit.ly/6e2q7O #thanks2yugatech”

2) If you don’t have a Twitter account but you have a blog site, here’s another way for you to join:

2.a) Blog about the “YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway”. Include the photo I posted here and link to this contest page.

2.b) Don’t forget to include in your post the mechanics for the Twitter contest above.

2.c) Leave a comment here with the URL of your entry.

3) If you don’t Twitter or blog, here’s one for you:

3.a) Leave a comment on this contest page with the answer to this question — “If you’re stuck in an island with a phone and only have one call left, who would you call and why?“.

I participated in all three, of course.

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Granddaddy of Clothes Hangers

2009-12-06T13:24:00.005+08:00

What looks like an ordinary hanger...

Is actually a big-ass, 34-inch, monster hanger...

Thanks to Ida S. for contributing the raffle prize, which I technically didn't win, but shamelessly claimed.

Note to self: Sometimes you just have to be assertive (in a fun, wholesome way) to get what you want.

Take Two

2009-11-28T12:10:00.006+08:00

I thought it was just an "ordinary" flu, until my blood test showed that my creatinine level was off the charts. That meant that my kidneys were approaching destruction. Our family doctor requested me to get my overheating body to the hospital IMMEDIATELY. I was still reluctant. Hey, it was my first time to check into a hospital and I didn't think it of it as an exciting idea.

I'd like to thank Dr. Anderson Dy and my family for their persistence in checking me in. Just a few hours after I put on the hospital gown and arm tube, the leptospirosis-like bacteria (still unconfirmed, because I never waded in the flood), at its peak strength, sent me into a darn scary chill spell. My entire body was violently shivering like an old spin-dry washing machine, and my blood pressure dropped to a dangerously low 70/40. If it wasn't for the emergency medication... I don't even want to think about it.

It took five attempts (and five puncture holes) before the medical team found a blood vessel worthy of the tube, so they could inject the medication directly into my bloodstream.

After a few days of tests, results showed that my liver and kidneys were responding well to the treatment. The damages were being reversed. Otherwise, I'd have to go through dialysis. Gasp!

So, with the infection almost completely eliminated, it was time to address another problem. Being skinny to begin with, losing more weight was not a pleasant option. I was on self-imposed lugaw and liquid diet for the past 2 weeks. Solid food tasted funny. Well, not exactly. Solid food tasted horrible!

If I were to reverse the effects, I needed nutrients, but not from a tube...

I needed real food!

Problem is, if you've ever been confined, or accompanied anyone in a hospital, you know that they serve terrible (for lack of a better word) meals.

Compounded by the fact that my taste buds were out of whack, the stuff on that tray tasted much worse than it looked.

Oddly enough, my taste buds only recognized two flavors: "salty" and "weird". Since I was in no mood for weird-tasting food, I was looking for salty options.

Even these pasalubong chocolates tasted strange and unappealing. I can't believe I said that!

My sister, who was supposed to be on vacation, sacrificed her leaves to accompany me. Awww. My parents were there, too, of course. Family bonding in an awful location.

They had to eat, too.

And being the supportive group that they are, they ate what I ate. When I ate tasteless lugaw, they also ate tasteless lugaw. I guess they had enough of that, so somebody (I don't even remember who) scuttled to the nearby supermarket to grab stuff that resembled food.

After a quick evaluation of the grocery bag of goodies, all the canned goods were deemed useless (Duh! Who would think of bringing a can opener during an emergency trip to the hospital?), except for those canned vienna sausages and Century Bangus Fillet, who thankfully come in easy-open cans. The vienna sausages didn't seem enticing enough, so we went with the bangus.

I preferred the tausi variant, because it was saltier and therefore cooperated smoothly with my taste buds, while my family opted for the Spanish style. It was such a relief to be eating solid, normal-tasting food for a change. Not just for me, but for my family!

Now that I'm out of sick bay and "almost" back to normal, I now have a better appreciation of life. Yeah, I know, that's what all recovering patients say. I'm sure glad that frightening chapter of my life is over!

Bloggers Summit Down Under

2009-11-04T02:02:00.002+08:00

In Mindanao, not Australia. In Cagayan de Oro, to be more specific.

I didn't know what they meant by "City of Golden Friendship" ... at first.

The venue was surprisingly impressive. And cool! Literally. Interesting art pieces were all over the place.

I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much, because the registration fee was only 1000 pesos (which included multiple meals and a whitewater rafting adventure package). Talk about value for money!

Migs Hipolito warming up at the lectern.

Bloggers in action. No eye contact necessary.

Charles was always ready for the camera, even at the buffet table.

The morning session was loaded with high-profile speakers, some of whom managed to inject "subtle" campaigning into the mix. Okay, maybe I was being too cynical.

I found the second half of the show more interesting because the speakers were bloggers who wholeheartedly imparted their wisdom and spoke with genuine desire to share value.

Day 2 was different. No more sitting around. No more speakers. Three hours under the sun. 14 rapids. Five somewhat quiet (I probably made more noise than all of them combined) but fun-loving and supportive raftmates. Totally fun!

Didn't bring my camera to the river, because I knew the others would. Now, if I can only find a way to steal their photos.

Thanks to...

... Brendel, Lyle, Faust, and Jim - Davao bloggers who were forced to serve as babysitters for two days. They took care of my room accommodation, introduced me to their friends, eliminated the possibility of me getting lost, brought me to blog-worthy food joints, shared fascinating facts about Davao, shined my shoes, washed my clothes, etc.

... Baby Jane, May Ann, and Venus for the Lim Ket Kai Mall tour and lively chit-chat, despite the fact that their batteries were nearly empty.

... the generous sponsors for the prizes and goodies:

Nokia OVI
Smart Communication
Havaianas - I won 2 cellphone... pendants; for being the online and physical early bird registrant
Majesty Sales Center
OLX.com - free classified ads
1st Rafting Adventures - I won an introductory rafting package (a good reason for me to go back!)
UltraCraft
Syntactics
Clara's Shoppe
MakatiAve.com
Asterisk Event and Communications
Loretos Bar and Grill

... the CdO bloggers, for putting this together, and for being awesome hosts. I heard from an anonymous source that they even paid for their own registration fees! It was truly a labor of love.

... all the people I met at the event. Without exception (as far as I can remember), everyone deserved a Mr/Ms Congeniality Award.

The locals didn't tell me why CdO is called the "City of Golden Friendship" ... they showed me.

I'm definitely going back to see my Golden Friends! Wait, did that sound like a threat?

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What should we be praying for?

2009-10-01T20:52:00.005+08:00

I'm confused. I still haven't come close to figuring out how prayer works. But then again, who has?

It's ridiculously tricky. Sometimes we regret what we pray for, don't we?

Take this futuristic example: We pray for the raging Category-5 typhoon Pepeng/Parma (or whatever they want to name that blasted thing) to spare the Philippines... and it does! Should we celebrate? Maybe and maybe not. Because the storm has to go somewhere, it proceeds to hit a neighboring country instead, and kills hundreds in the process. Are we to blame for somehow "diverting" its original path? Was the other country not spared because they didn't pray hard enough?

WARNING: Obvious statement coming up...
God knows what He's doing, because He is infinitely smarter than all of us combined.
If that's the case, should we still try to convince Him to change His plans?

I understand that some people easily get offended when a loon talks about prayer logic or anything "blasphemous". Well, nobody visits this blog anyway, so I guess I'm safe. I'm posting this because I took a cue from my sister who jots down notes and posts them on her blog for future reference. I'm not trying to be a smart-ass here, just capturing my thoughts so I could analyze them at a much later date.

How about this: I will pray for Him to get whatever He wants, and for us humans to learn what He wants us to learn. Would that be a wrong prayer? How can I improve it?

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Victims of Record-breaking Rainfall

2009-09-26T20:22:00.009+08:00

The total rainfall from "Ondoy" in the first six hours of the storm, which measured 341 millimeters, broke the record for the highest 24-hour rainfall of 334 millimeters in metropolitan Manila recorded by Pagasa in June 1967. - more from GMA News

Holy crap!

After reading that, I feel really sorry for these people, all of whom updated their Facebook status bars:
"What an ordeal! Stranded at the airport for 4 hours."
"wawa kami, stranded sa greenbelt"
"cable TV is out ... can't watch the F1 qualifying race."

Never mind the senior citizens who had to climb up the roof to avoid the rising filthy flood water. Never mind the helpless children who are shivering in the cold. Never mind all of those unimportant victims because the cool, important people want their cable connections back!

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Cutting Losses: An Attempt at Analogy

2009-09-02T02:27:00.006+08:00

If you play the stock market and bought a million shares of XYZ Company at 100 pesos per share, then the market price drops to 90 pesos, you instantly lose 10% of your investment if you sell at that price. You'll have to postpone the thought of bringing home that brand new BMW M6 Coupé.

But if all indicators tell you that the stock price will eventually plummet to 5 pesos per share, common sense dictates that you get over the 10% dent, just cut losses and sell immediately.

From that perspective, it's relatively painless to lose 50 million pesos worth of commercials now than 500 million pesos of accumulated expenses on May 2010.

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Free Wifi at SM Manila Foodcourt

2009-08-31T14:23:00.012+08:00

Before the event: Proper spelling is crucial.

Stephen, the gracious host, welcomes everyone to SM Manila.

Why settle for an Internet cafe when you can go online in an Internet Foodcourt?

Some quick facts: This 1437-square meter Foodcourt, renovated last July 2008, can seat 540 people. To serve these people, there are 10 tenants:
Lydia's Lechon, Wok Yan, Kamay Kainan, Pinoy Toppings, Seafood Grill, Ilonggo Grill, Tropical Hut, Bodhi, Sizzling Plate and Chicken Company (the last two are the main attractions in SM Foodcourts).

If you think about it, ten options is not a lot. And if you think about it again, that's actually a good thing. Countless times I ended up wasting half an hour just trying to decide where to eat, then another half an hour trying to decide what to eat.

Hold it... since this is also a Wifi event, let's talk about the connection...
Not bad at all. There are about two dozen heavy internet users taking full advantage of the free Wifi.

Excellent signal strength. I never argue with my computer.

Quick side note: Last June 12, the marketing team came up with an Independence Day "Pinaka" event. Participating tenants showcased their biggest chicharon, biggest siopao, longest lumpiang sariwa, largest tofu, etc.

I'd say that's a huge testament to Pinoys' love of food. Pun fully intended!

Come over to SM Manila not just for the Wifi access, but for the food!

"Hey, Ma!" or "Hi, Ma!"

2009-08-30T02:30:00.026+08:00

Lifestyle and home design store Heima was still closed, but the owners allowed important people to get in. So I was asked to wait outside.

Jones, one of the important people invited inside, got disappointed when she found out that the Mercedes Benz on display was not for sale. Hey, the door's ajar! maybe I could sneak in to take a peek.

An onslaught of cheerful colors greeted my near-sighted eyes, and I literally felt a notch happier. By the way, it would take me years before I could come up with nice photographs, so I blatantly stole the image from the official website: www.heimastore.com

Ooohs and aaahs from the visitors.

This is what the storefront looks like at night...
Isn't that simply gorgeous? How would you like it if your place looked like that?
(Obviously, it's another photo I pilfered.)

The brilliant pair behind the concept:
Rossy is the Design Diva. She consistently comes up with fantastic creations without breaking a sweat. Because she does so in an airconditioned room. She is also skilled in evading paparazzo shots.

Bong is Mister Marketing. He is also a Lomo Legend. He eats, sleeps, and breathes lomography. I'm exaggerating of course. He just takes a few bites.

I have some friends who are into lomography. Heima is their headquarters.

The idea that people stay longer in smaller stores, as shared by Rossy, is such a fascinating theory. Apparently, it's theory in action for Heima. Something about the room hypnotizes you into lingering inside.

The unique products contribute to the positive aura. Each item has an endearing story behind it.

Visit often because the layout changes every three months. People buy their stuff almost as soon as they come out. I witnessed some customers buying shirts that weren't even on display yet.

So where can you find Heima?

You want something to cheer you up? Visit the store.

G/F Shop 33, Cubao Expo, Quezon City
+63 917 561 HEIM ( 4346 )

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X-Rated Cubao

2009-08-29T02:43:00.007+08:00

The security guard mockingly replied "Ah, Cubao X? Doon po!" when I asked him where I can find Cubao Expo. I could have sworn that I heard him mutter, "Napaka-uncool naman nito" as I was trying to figure out his vague directions.

Cubao X (Fine, you win, Manong Guard!), a retro-themed area near Araneta Center, is usually quiet during the morning and early afternoon, but not last August 21. A bunch of fun-loving photo enthusiasts and an amateur (me!) met up to learn about photoblogging.

It was early and most shops were still closed. So why the heck were all the parking slots taken?!

It made perfect sense to wear comfy sneaks for a walking tour.

I think Michi was trying to say something.

Instead of telling you about the stores, I'll just share some items you can find in Cubao X, then you can go on a treasure hunt. How about that? Not that you have a choice.

This old-school piggy bank is filled with 103,442.25 pesos worth of coins. Maybe not.

The Late National Artist Nick Joaquin's actual typewriter. Can you imagine updating your blog with that?

Every community needs a chismis factory, a.k.a. a beauty parlor.

Mam, Sir, pili na!

If I buy this, how do I play it?

Good answer.

Gard (co-owner of one of the shops) with his pet.

Gener (the other owner) with one of his two published books.

"Huy! Bawal kayo diyan sa taas!" Ruuun!

If I were a girl, I'd probably have these in my collection. Yes, I'm old. No, I'm not a girl.

Cubao X is so photographer-friendly, every nook (but not every cranny) provides plenty of opportunities to take a snap.

This was what the cashier used to tally up our bill.

The jolly guy in the middle is Budjim Aquino, the area's decision-maker. He informed us that there are strict rules and requirements in accepting new tenants. Randy (with a camera) was in negotiation mode.

Listening to an insider. Bong was telling us where to buy lotto tickets.

Back to base camp. Anton's students ask way too many questions, lalo na ngayon (~ especially now). Which is why he needs to recharge his cybernetic battery pack.

Visit Cubao X and unearth its hidden treasures.

Cheesy Dudes

2009-08-25T19:29:00.003+08:00

Ubiquitous pizza chain Greenwich recently unveiled their new Overloaded Extreme Cheese Pizzas and graciously invited a bunch of hungry male bloggers to try them out at their Megamall branch. The Greenwich marketing team is now focusing its cheesiness on male diners, which makes a whole lot of sense if you ask me. Why bother with diet-conscious ladies when you can sell three times as much pizza to dudes prone to gluttony?

Check out these high-grade photos:
Monster Cheese & Pepperoni Overload

Philly Cheesesteak Overload. Mmmmm.

The Cheese and Pepperoni Overload was served first, and it was quite delightful because it had "100% more pepperoni and a double layer of mozzarella cheese". But I quickly forgot about it after they unleashed the Philly Cheesesteak. I loved the roast beef topping, but I think it was the melted cream cheese that got me hooked. I ate four slices, and that was after I gobbled up a hefty serving of baked macaroni. My body weight instantly increased by 2%.

I noticed that Allan Tan, the person behind the Philly Cheeseteak variant, grabbed a large slice during our little get-together. I find that fascinating because several minutes earlier, I extracted information from him and found out that it took 6 months to develop that flavor. He told that they've been tasting and eating the variations all throughout those months. And he still likes it. It's that good!

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Jollibee Breakfast Joys

2009-08-09T17:10:00.015+08:00

I like to experience new and unusual activities, so I quickly said, "Sure!" when Jonel invited me to participate in a Jollibee-sponsored breakfast event. Normal people usually start their days at 6 AM. That's right about the time I start my REM (rapid eye movement).

What was the event about? “It’s really all about having stress-free mornings,” says Jollibee’s PR manager Arline Adeva. “Early in the day, Jollibee already takes care of preparing hearty breakfast fare with a wide variety of choices so you can do much more in the morning. You don’t have to worry about rushing to prepare and cook a good breakfast that you can actually enjoy.”

Since I usually roll off my bed at noon, a breakfast menu is such a strange concept to me. I don't even know what's available out there. So naturally, I wanted to try everything on their list. But instead of a menu, we were treated to this:

The buffet version of all their Breakfast Joys!

According to Arline: Those who want a traditional Pinoy rice meal can choose among any of the following: Longganisa, Crispy Bangus, Chicken Tocino, Beef Tapa, Hotdog, Corned Beef and Breakfast Steak which all come with garlic rice, fried egg and your choice of coffee, hot chocolate or any regular cold drink. Meanwhile, those who are looking for an alternative yet equally filling breakfast treat may go for either 2-pc Pancakes with butter and maple syrup or the signature Pancake Sandwich.

Quick survey: Do you think it would be a good idea for Jollibee to offer buffet meals?

Anyway, my favorite was the Pancake Sandwich, "a delightful treat of savory sausage patty and scrambled egg in between two pancakes". This is what the sandwich looks like from my low-tech camera's perspective:

And this is what it's supposed to look like:
I desperately need photography lessons (and a better camera, duh!)

Prior to the monstrous meal, we stimulated our appetite with some taichi and light stretching exercises.
Look at Jollibee go!
Still going...

The guy in the costume deserves a buffet meal, too!

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Uno Bloggers' and Contributors' Night

2009-08-01T21:25:00.002+08:00

It was not the stereotypical men's magazine event with flashing lights, gorgeous models, and lotsa skin (darn!). But it was a casual event that I thoroughly appreciated.

There was no barrier in the form of a lectern or an elevated stage. RJ, the host, was very conversational and engaging. The editors, writers, and people behind the magazine were seated right beside the "outsiders". They mingled with everybody else while we washed down the Krispy Kremes with scalding-hot coffee.

With the set-up, we were encouraged to ask about anything related to Uno. Being the nosy person that I am, I didn't need encouragement of any kind. I learned that their transition to version 2.0 was not a haphazard decision. When asked, "What's up with the changes?". "We chose to grow up." responded RJ.

Because of the nature of the event, it gathered a very sensible crowd. Many of the people present were intellectuals, albeit quiet ones. As usual, I did all the asking and learned quite a bit from them. There's my secret to getting free advice. Find a smart crowd and ask questions. Lots of questions.

I'm so glad my curiosity dragged me all the way to Bonifacio High Street to be a part of the event.

But wait! There's more! A surprise bonus was the "Chapter One" sneak peak at U-View after the interesting chit-chat. The darn movie scared the crap out of me!

Here's writer/director/producer/comic-book-artist/all-around-nice-guy Arnold Arre answering a tough question about his heart-stopping short film.

Side note: Who needs a camera when you can just grab all the professional photos graciously shared by the event organizer?

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Let's Go Surfing

2009-07-28T01:20:00.006+08:00

Let me assure you that I won't be sharing any "surfin' the net" jokes. Not in this post, at least.

Five days ago, I unearthed an old surfing book bought from Book Sale several years ago. The sticker price says P15.00, so I'm quite sure that it was an impulse purchase. I never even bothered to read the darn thing. Plus, I really couldn't imagine myself on a surfboard splashing around in salty water. There were multiple reasons for my lack of imagination: prohibitive cost, surfing cluelessness, hassle of long travel, and lack of surfing buddies.

I was ecstatic when I found out about a single event that promises to toss out all those petty excuses (except the long travel, but at least it won't be too much of a hassle), which was why I cancelled all my other appointments on August 15 and 16 just to sign up for this:
Let's Go Surfing!

All this was made possible by the main man Jonel, with the gracious help of the following...

Sponsors:
SM Supermalls
Starbucks Coffee Philippines
VMV Skin Research Centre + Clinics
Department of Tourism
Bico Australia

Partners:
Men's Health & Women's Health Magazine (Official Print Media Partner)
Web.com.ph (Official Webhosting Partner)
Yehey.com (Official Online Media Partner)

The event is also supported by:
Havaianas
GeiserMaclang
Travel Factor
DigitalManila.blogspot.com
JumpShotsPH.com

I'm excited!

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Not Just for Nerds

2009-06-08T19:00:00.012+08:00

As a semi-nerd (I'm still in semi-denial), I got excited when I received an invitation to join the Philippine Science Centrum tour in Marikina last May. And since I have a lot in common with my pal Scrooge, I decided to join because it was a way to get in for free. I was thinking that the entrance fee would come close to that of Science Discovery Center in Mall of Asia. Turns out, the fee was only 90 pesos (100 pesos starting June). Hey, even I could afford that.

My only rant was the airconditioning, or lack of it. It was the peak of summer and the heat just seeped through my skin. I completely understand though (refer to my bit about Scrooge). The center covers a huge area, and if they do install air conditioners, I'd feel very sorry for whoever gets assigned to pay the Meralco bill.

Since a bunch of other talented writers shared their thoughts about the event, I would focus on just one highlight called the Wonder House. That was one of the sickest rooms I've ever been in. I say that because I felt sick after the experience. Sick in a cool way, if you get my drift (maybe not). I was utterly fascinated with the way my head spun while inside. Logically speaking, it was an ordinary room with a minor adjustment... it was tilted 15 degrees. Warning: cliche alert! Perception is reality. The moment I stepped into the room, it just felt wrong. My stubborn brain kept resisting the fact that I was just in a safe, mildy tilted room. And I was ridiculously disoriented.

I would be willing to pay for the entrance fee in full just for a visit to this room alone. Of course, if I paid the full amount, I'd be an idiot if I don't explore the other cool exhibits.

Here are some other interesting blog posts about the event:
Hearthur's Blog
Ben-Ariel's Blog
Mauie's very detailed blog, complete with video coverage

Photos courtesy of Karen

Nerds and non-nerds smile for the camera.

Mystery of the Leaking Load

2009-06-02T17:36:00.006+08:00

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I just read this article "Enrile fumes over lost phone load" (old news, I know).

I find it unusual for a mega-millionaire like Senator Enrile to be using a prepaid cellphone account, but I'm glad he does, I'm glad he noticed the anomaly, and I'm glad he's going to do something about the mystery of the leaking load.

A bunch of my friends and relatives have been complaining about the same issue for months, to no avail, of course. This time, there's no way out. The telcos have a lot of explaining to do.

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Calling All Cosplayers!

2009-05-23T19:30:00.005+08:00

I'm not into Cosplay, but this sounds cool. Anything with the words "free" and "prizes" never fail to entice me. I won a neat Wi-fi adapter yesterday just for showing up at a free educational event organized by the same group. I'd say they know how to treat participants well. If you have some free time tomorrow, join in on the fun!

I Quit!

2009-05-14T14:00:00.004+08:00

After "investing" over a hundred hours buiding up my Mafia and accumulating boatloads of virtual dirty money, I've decided to give up mugging, smuggling, and whacking other thugs. I quit!

Here's proof...

Wait, that's not proof. It's just a screen shot of Facebook asking me if I am aware of the dire consequences of my actions. It's like a last-ditch effort to sway me into hitting the "cancel" button instead. Well, to show him who's boss, I clicked the blue "Remove" button (with emphatic force, mind you).

After the monumental triumph, I was suddenly overwhelmed by how much free time I had. I found time to do my laundry. Now I only have 2 hills of dirty clothes instead of 3. I found time to exercise. I'm down to 70 push-ups per minute, but I'll work my way back to 90+ per minute. I now sleep twice as many hours every day. This is the life!

All this talk about free time is driving me nuts! Let's see, what game should I play next?

iBlog 5

2009-05-11T13:54:00.000+08:00

The iBlog Blogging Summit held at the UP Law Center last May 9 got me interested in blogging again. Coming from someone who hates to write/type, that's a big deal. I'm looking forward to iBlog 6, and all the other blogging events before that.

No iPhones Allowed!

2009-03-04T14:57:00.003+08:00

Just read this interesting article about Bill Gates banning all iPhones, iPods, iWhatever in his ultra-high-tech home.

Initially, I thought it is just natural for someone to hate his competition so much that he would disallow any form of reminder about it (the competition). But looking at it from a business perspective, I sincerely doubt that the modern-day genius would go to great lengths to ban those darn iPhones.

On the contrary, I bet he has all the versions, from the oldest iPod to the newest upgraded iPhone, and maybe even a few Macs stashed somewhere in a secret chamber. How else would he be able to study the competitor's products first hand? Plus, if he were to allow his kids to play around with all these iToys, he will draw out valuable insights from his tech-savvy youngsters. An in-house focus group is far more precious than a group of random strangers, don't you think so?

Sampol! Sampol!

2009-02-18T01:49:00.005+08:00

Why do people instinctively shout "Sampol! Sampol!" Whenever somebody mentions that he or she loves to sing (or dance, for that matter)?

Are these Sampol-people really, truly, genuinely interested in listening, or is it just a default statement, a part of the script that needs to be uttered? Or do they fully intend to watch the "victim" turn red?

The next time we catch ourselves shouting "sampol!", let's mentally evaluate our intentions, shall we? =)

Doctors and Poor Penmanship

2009-01-12T02:45:00.001+08:00

"I do not know where family doctors acquired illegibly perplexing handwriting nevertheless, extraordinary pharmaceutical intellectuality counterbalancing indecipherability, transcendentalizes intercommunications incomprehensibleness."
-- from a forwarded email

Some time ago, I was in a queue when I overheard the guy at the desk commenting on someone's reservation form. "Are you sure you're a doctor?" was the witty remark. I consequently found out that the person in front of me was a doctor, and his penmanship was "surprisingly readable".

What is it with doctors and terrible handwriting anyway? Is it a requirement? Are they not allowed to append "M.D." after their names if they write legibly?

What, are they in too much of a hurry that they don't have time to write legibly? Lousy penmanship invites all forms of misinterpretation. The time saved by writing in the form of tumbleweeds will eventually be consumed by the person reading the "words" on the prescription. On a side note, pharmacists are required to sign up for handwriting analysis classes prior to graduation.

Every time I visit a doctor, I end up spending way too much time trying to decipher the cryptic messages he jotted down. I then resort to asking the good doctor about the drugs' names, after which the busy doctor is required to verbalize everything. In the process, we consume thrice as many minutes as it would have taken if he had exerted a little effort in ensuring legibility.

Future doctors of the world, please help everybody conserve time by improving your handwriting!

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By the way, did you notice that the very first sentence in this post was constructed using progressively longer words?

Doctors and Holidays

2008-12-30T22:50:00.002+08:00

Almost all of the "prominent" doctors are out of the country for a much needed vacation. This means that if someone falls ill,
"Mother, Mother, I am sick.
Call the run-of-the-mill doctor very quick".

But how can you blame those doctors? An overseas vacation is the only way a physician can avoid pseudo-emergency phone calls. They absolutely deserve to take a break.

If you were a stressed-out doctor, would you take a vacation?

Generic Greetings

2008-12-26T11:03:00.001+08:00

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

How did you feel after reading those "warm" greetings?

Probably didn't affect you at all. The same goes for generic and forwarded "Happy birthday!", "Good night.", and "Thanks for being a friend" emails.

With text messages, somehow I feel thankful for receiving a generic message because it carries some value (1 peso worth, to be exact).

I'm thinking, if I were to send something, I might as well personalize it. I have never used my phone's "send to many" function, precisely because of the reason stated above. It takes at least one minute for me to send a simple message, since I always have to think of something to let the receiver know that the note I'm sending was composed especially for her. Of course, I only do that to people I know.

So to you, generic reader, have a nice day!

Smarter Than Ever

2008-12-10T16:45:00.000+08:00

It is my secret ambition to be perceived as smart and cool. The "cool" part is rather tough. So I thought of working on being smart instead.

Please visit this blog...
Smarter Than Ever

Pacquiao VS De La Hoya

2008-12-06T13:07:00.002+08:00

Look at all these "experts" predicting the outcome of the Pacquiao versus De La Hoya "Dream Fight". It's like predicting how much damage an upcoming typhoon will inflict. I guess that it's just their idea of fun.

I particularly dislike "experts" who have never even stepped on a boxing ring. Allow me to extend an old saying, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can do neither, predict."

How about this idea: Every time an "expert" announces his prediction to the general public, he should plunk down a significant amount of cash on a special betting table. If he's correct, he gets to keep his money. If he's wrong, his money will go to a local charity. That'll take care of the wannabes.

I sure hope that the match will live up to all the hype. Pride, glory, and money are at stake (not necessarily in that order of importance). And I have another wish: I hope that whoever loses the fight will accept the result like a man. No excuses ("I'm not used to these lighter boxing gloves.", "I'm not comfortable with my new weight", etc) please!

Is It Really Better to Give Than to Receive?

2008-12-01T12:51:00.001+08:00

While talking about the overused quote "It is better to give than to receive", Harv Eker says: "Let me put this as elegantly as possible: `What a crock! That statement is total hogwash...'". Harv really has a way with words.

The rationale behind the impudent attack on such a widely accepted saying is simple and quite logical. If there's no receiver, then there will be no giver, which means that the receiver is as important as the giver. So if both are equally important in the equation, how can one be better than the other?!

It's wonderful to give, but it's also marvelous to receive. So go ahead and take whatever life gives you.

Targets

2008-11-21T01:04:00.002+08:00

Instead of listing down lofty yet vague long-term goals, I've decided to set very specific, somewhat challenging (to me, at least) yet achievable short-term targets.

Perform 90 push-ups in one minute (by January 21, 2009)
I read about this timed physical self-test in a fitness book and decided to give it a try. On my first attempt, I only managed to do 49 in a minute. With my skinny frame (note: not much weight to push up), there's plenty of room for improvement!

Write 3 blog posts per week (by January 7, 2009).
Evidently, this is a chore for me, as I prefer to talk than type. I'll start with 1 post per week for the rest of November, 2 per week in December, and 3 per week by January.

Learn 1 new Mandarin word/phrase per day. (101 new words/phrases by March 1, 2009)
I've been putting this off for years. Now's the time to actually do it.

Thanks to the following sponsors for forcing, er, encouraging me to do this...
The Moleskine Notebook is courtesy of Avalon.PH
http://www.viloria.com/go/go.php/avalonph

For the Viloria.net contest rules, please see
Viloria.net

Favorite Books

2008-11-08T12:26:00.004+08:00

I like books that inspire me to do things I've never done before. The following books fit that description...

1) "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki
The subtitle reads: "What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money-- that the Poor and Middle Class Do Not". The author presented the obvious (according so-called experts) in such a clear, simple manner that woke me up and got me started in entrepreneurship.

2) "Pour Your Heart Into It" by Howard Schultz
The story of Starbucks' humble beginnings, phenomenal growth, and eventual dominance. I rarely buy anything from Starbucks, but after finishing the book, I appreciated the establishment so much that I hopped over to the nearest branch and bought myself a cup of coffee (note: I don't even like coffee).

3) "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
Brilliant character and story development. Excluding all required readings in school, this is the only fiction novel I read from cover to cover. What's amazing is that I read it in one sitting! It's rather noteworthy if you consider the fact that I don't like reading fiction, I get bored easily, and I'm a terribly slow reader.

One Sentence Is Enough

2008-11-02T09:38:00.002+08:00

I’m joining this interesting contest… http://anothermiyaw.livejournal.com/146627.html

“I found a notebook on my escritoire… and started reading about her.”

“Diary” by Bread. Get it? =)

I know. The only thing worse than forcing a rhyme is forcing a semi-rhyme.

Other entries...

I thought snow in midsummer was inconceivable until I met a guy who badly needed anti-dandruff shampoo.

After five months of eating oatmeal, my ecstatic sister can fit into her old jeans again.

If my notebook can respond, it would probably shriek from shock.

I'm just agreeing to what you're saying because I'm tired.

I should have paid attention to the signs that read: "Watch Out For Falling Debris" and "Park At Your Own Risk".

Melamine in milk… big deal?!

2008-10-11T21:48:00.000+08:00

The recent anomaly in melamine-tainted milk products prompted the authorities to ban all products proven to contain traces of the harmful chemical. They even threatened to shut down stores which continue to sell those tainted products. Every single day you read and hear about melamine this and melamine that. I asked myself, “Is this really such a big deal or is the government overreating?” Then, I answered my own question, “Of course it’s a big deal! The government is NOT overreacting. It’s doing what it’s supposed to do… protecting the people.”

Let’s ignore the fact that I talk to myself a lot (but you got to admit, you talk to yourself, too), so we could focus on the issue at hand: Some greedy, no-good businessmen are cutting corners to make a quick buck at the expense of the consumers. It’s one thing to cheat and give less than what the customer is paying for, but it’s completely unacceptable to jeopardize a customer’s health without him knowing it.* And in this current scenario, innocent babies are being killed. Absolutely unforgivable!

It’s unfortunate that a number of helpless babies had to sacrifice their ultra-short lives just to educate the general public about the harmful effects of: melamine in particular, business cheating in general.

* The same case could not be said about the tobacco industry, wherein the consumers are willing victims. But that’s another topic.

Pay Attention!

2008-10-09T00:05:00.000+08:00

According to Seth Godin: “We’ve been trained since youth to replace paying attention with taking notes. That’s a shame.” It’s amazing how he encapsulated in one short sentence (ok, two, if you count the extra comment) what many of us have observed all these years.

In the Word Camp event I attended last September (wow, the days just flew by), a whole bunch of bloggers brought their laptops and decided to post the minute-by-minute events as they were unfolding. I think they call it liveblogging. That’s cool and all, but in one particular session, I was rather annoyed by a seatmate who was so busy liveblogging that he kept asking “Ano daw?” to his friend (a very patient friend, if I may add) whenever the audience would burst out in laughter in response to the speaker’s punchline.

Don’t you just hate having to repeat a joke to someone who wasn’t paying attention? It disrupts your enjoyment of humor because midway through your ha-ha-ha, while your mouth and nostrils are wide open, you have to cut it short because an “important” person wants in on the joke… which was there for the taking if only he was listening in the first place!

Some people think they have the capacity to listen to a speaker and compose an article simultaneously. Experts argue that multitasking is a counterproductive habit that causes more harm than good. I guess Mr. Liveblogger was just trying to prove that theory.