YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway

Christmas is just around the corner and the spirit of the holiday season is felt in the online community with generous people giving away great prizes.

Modu phones, Globe Tattoo kits and Php 500 Globe prepaid cards... how about that for Christmas gifts courtesy of Globe and Yugatech.com

Starting this week, Yugatech will be doing a series of promos for the “YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway.” Joining is simple.

First, they have the contest “Merry Tweetmas”.
Here’s the mechanics:
1) Follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe on Twitter.
2) Post a tweet “Just entered to win a Modu Phone. Quick! Go follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe and retweet: http://bit.ly/6e2q7O #thanks2yugatech”

Second, you can blog about the contest:
1) Blog about the “YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway”. Include the photo posted in the site and link to the contest page.
2) Don’t forget to include in your post the mechanics for the Twitter contest above.
3) Leave a comment in the said post with the URL of your entry.

Lastly, for YugaTech readers who don’t Twitter or blog:
1) Leave a comment on the 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?“.

To view the complete mechanics and list of prizes, visit www.yugatech.com

The New Me

My Christmas Wishlist 2009

I am almost done with my Christmas shopping. I have already wrapped the gifts for my friends and love ones come the 25th. The only person I have yet to buy a gift is myself. So, I made a wishlist for this year and blogged it just in case someone out there is looking for clues of what I want for Christmas:

1. a box of Mongol pencils
2. DVD copy of the complete season of The Wonder Years
3. Eraserheads’ first 3 albums--- Ultralectromagnetic Pop, Circus & Cutterpillow
4. a USB thumb drive
5. an Orocan keepsake box

Some of you might find my list a little odd but it’s actually for someone I love dearly.

I want a box of Mongol pencils since I am having a hard time finding this brand in my favorite supplies shop. I am a fan of Mongol and owe a lot to it since this was my tool when I first drew my first stick figures.

Back in high school, I actually believed that my life story is based in Fred Savage’s hit US TV series “The Wonder Years” because I can relate to every episode--- first crush… first love… first basted! (Yaiks!) *sigh*

When I entered college in 1993, a bunch of young rockers from UP launched their single “Ligaya” from their debut album. It started my love affair with Eraserheads’ music. Though it’s a toss between Circus and Cutterpillow as to what is their best album ever.

With a USB thumb drive, I’ll be able to put there memorable photos, videos and other files that I can safely keep for a special occasion in the future.

All of these items will then be placed inside an Orocan keepsake box. I can’t think of a cheaper time capsule that is as durable and dependable than an Orocan.

As I said, these things are not for me. I’m keeping them for my little Charles who is 8-month old as of this writing. I want him to experience some of the best things I stumbled upon in this journey called life. I just can’t wait for the moment we can talk about his first day in school or sing a duet of “Ang Huling El Bimbo”

If you have a wish list of your own, you might want to share it and join a contest sponsored by NomNomclub.com where you could win a limited edition Starbucks thumb dive.

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Legend of the Saint

I was inspired to blog about my PBA idol after his back-to-back 30-point games vs. Coca Cola and Barako Bull recently.

Did you know why Tubid was known as "The Saint" during his college, PBL and pre-Ginebra days?

Well, it was long story but I will make it short. During a game in his first year as a UE Warrior in the UAAP, Tubid was on the charity line for couple of freethrows. A high-ranked CBCP official was watching the game. This official was actually commissioned to look for "the face" for Pedro Calungsod, the Filipino who lives centuries ago who was ordained to be the second Filipino saint next to San Lorenzo Ruiz

After seeing Tubid on TV, the church official said to himself, "This is the face of Pedro Calungsod!"

And the rest is history!

Today, Tubid is known as "Mr. Fearless" --- 1/3 of Ginebra' "The Fast, the Furious and the Fearless" along with Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark "The Spark Caguiao".
There was also a time Tubid was referred as "The Rocket" by PBA commentators

Let's give the "Rocket" monicker to JC Intal who has been using in the amateur league. I've been a fan of Tubid since his college years. I followed his career to his PBL stint with Welcoat to PBA teams Shell and Air 21 and of course in Ginebra. One thing has never change, his flair and intensity as soon as he steps on the hardwood is still there. Not to mention his remarkable athleticism.

The last time I really got hooked to a basketball player was to the Living Legend Sen. Robert Jaworski (also a UE Alumnus) and NBA's Charles Barkley.

Going back to the monicker thing. I really prefer "The Saint" for Tubid. Since he glides in the air as if he has wings and has been the savior of the Gin Kings when Caguioa and Helterbrand are not available. But the "Fearless" is also a fit.

Hmmm.. how about St. Fearless... parang St. Elmo's Fire and dating :-)

Guess and Win GC's

I stumbled on this online contest where you can win GC's of your choice worth Php 500. Just guess the theme song of the couple who's hosting the contest.

Easy, right? Then follow this link:

http://livinglifetodfullest.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-will-be-giving-away-gift-certificates.html

FREE Go Nuts Donuts Ice Cream!

Do you want a FREE tub of Ice Cream? How about if I tell you that Go Nuts Donuts are giving away lots of them. You just have to hurry to grab a tub with just a click of a finger. How? follow the instructions below that I found from their FB Fan Page.

Become a fan of Go Nuts Donuts! First 2,000 fans get a FREE tub of Go Nuts Ice Cream. Succeeding 1,000 fans get a FREE double scoop of Go Nuts Ice Cream!

Just click this link below:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GoNutsDonuts/71655053301?ref=mf#

If you think this blogpost was helpful in anyway, kindly do at least one: click the drop button of my Entrecard widget in the right side panel, follow me, comment on this post, or subscribe to this site for more updates, promos and freebies.

I enjoyed My Century Bangus Fillet at Home

I can’t help but notice that ever since I became a family man, I sometimes smell like a fish.

No, I did not marry a mermaid or a fish vendor. It’s just that things are a little different now that I prioritize changing the diapers of my 8-month old son than performing personal rituals. Don’t get me wrong ‘coz I am not complaining about it. It’s just that I am someone who is used to smelling good, since my work often requires me to interact with a lot of people.

At home, I am a hands-on father. I see to it that my baby has taken all his vitamins, had a nice bath and finished his favorite baby music CD before I leave for work. My wife goes to work an hour earlier than me and we asked my mom to look after our son for the meantime while we are still looking for a baby sitter.

With this kind of routine five times a week, I feel in love with anything instant. From 5-in1 coffee mix to no-cook noodles to easy-open canned goods, I find an ally to anything I can prepare and eat while carrying my little Charles.

In my short list of favorite food-for-those-on-the-go, Century canned products are on top. Not only that they are delicious, they are also good for the health. It is naturally rich in Omega 3 DHA that helps boost brain function That’s why I don’t mind friends who would tease, “I smell something fishy around here.” They’re might just be referring to my new found tummy pleasure.

My wife and I have a current favorite among the many Century products in the market. It is Century Gourmet Bangus Fillet which is really tasty and quite an experience out of the can. We have tried it as toppings on hot sinangag for breakfast; brought a can to office for lunch; and served as main course in an impromptu candlelight dinner at home. The best part is you don’t need a can opener to experience a great tasting meal. Just pull off the lid on top of the can and the rest is fish-tory, err, I mean history.

Century Gourmet Bangus Fillet has become a regular fixture in our house, specifically in the kitchen where at least a couple of can should be on stock in the food cabinet.

I’ll share a little funny anecdote which involves my son and a can of Century Gourmet Bangus Fillet that was caught on video using my cellphone (pls check video post below). Charles has fascination on anything my wife and I use frequently--- TV remote control, PC mouse, cellphones, etc. He would take ‘em from our hands and stick ‘em to his mouth.

One night, I arrived from work with a small bag of groceries. While I was taking the stuff out of the bag, Charles in his walker managed to grab a can of Century. I took it from his hands and asked him what he was holding and immediately returned it to him because he might cry. When he got hold again of the can, he shifted his walker to left and run away from me as if trying to protect his precious. Charles made what I call “a Century dash” four months before he even hit his first year of existence.

For now, we have to consult first Charles’ pediatrician if he’ll be allowed already to take a bite of this fish offering from Century. I’m sure it will not be a long wait from now that I will finally be sharing a can with my little boy. And who cares if we both smell like fish as long it's for the love of Century. And besides, I just love the idea of like father, like son.

Lessons from a Storm

It was the worst storm in the last 50 years with a record 41.5 centimeters of rainfall in one day that caused a flood of chaos in the nation’s capital resulting to over two hundred of casualties, dozens of people missing, half a million displaced and a damage to crops and infrastructure that is estimated to reach P3 billion.  Sounds like a good synopsis for a disaster movie but unfortunately it is a real life story that will be remembered as one of the darkest days in our history.

For days, we have glued our eyes in front of our TV sets to wait for news updates and advisories about the devastation brought by typhoon Ondoy.  Every scene, video clip or snap shot flashed on screen is like a bitter pill that is hard to swallow.  “I thought I was just dreaming,” said by a woman in an evacuation center when asked by a reporter to describe how she feels that moment.  I’m sure many share the same sentiment.  I know because it really felt surreal to see our house soaked in dirty water with all our things cluttered just a few days after cleaning and arranging all our stuff before I left for the PMAP conference festivities. 

We have heard a lot of stories about that fateful day --- many were heartbreakers that can soften even the heart of stone.  But there were also tales that make us cheer in the midst of the tragedy from time to time.  Indeed, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Humbled by the storm, it will be easier for us to stand if we put in mind the lessons we can gain from the experience.   Here are some of those learning that I want to share:

  

If there’s a will, there’s a way.  Did you see the man on a wheelchair in the middle of a busy street wrestling against strong wind and rain to find a safe place to stay? How about the man trying to cross the ravaging flood walking on Meralco wires just to get home?  You can say things about their foolishness but you have to commend their heart and spirit.  They were not afraid to take what ever it takes to achieve their goals.  

Bayanihan still lives on.  Despite of the incidents of looting, overpricing of goods and alarming hoax text messages, the spirit of camaraderie finds its way to the hearts of the many.  It’s like Christmas where people become generous and ready to lend a helping hand.  But what really hit me was the story of two unsung heroes from Batasan, Quezon City. Muelmar Magallanes and Rolly Ignacio were already in a safe place when they saw neighbors drowning in the flood.  They were able to save many lives but did not survive the fury of the storm.  They who have almost nothing were the ones who gave everything they have for the sake of others. 

Even a click of a finger can save lives.  Forget the insensitive remarks of Facebook user Jacque Bermejo (Buti na lang am here in Dubai! Maybe so many sinners back there! So yeah deserving what happened), but we have to admit that being a little tech savvy these days is important if not a must.  I know some people who admitted that if not for a message posted in their Facebook and Twitter account, they might have been one of the many victims of Ondoy.  Members of such social network sites posted updates, notes and even videos online that made a lot of people aware of places or roads to avoid during the storm.  Now, text messaging has found a new partner in reaching out to people in the fastest way possible. 

There is life in after a tragedy.  Just like a promise of a rainbow after the rain, there is hope in every misfortune.  After two days on the rooftop of his house soaked in flood water, a man was finally rescued in the morning of his birthday.  It was drama yet joyful when his rescuers sang a happy birthday tune.  A female doctor of UERM hospital was inside his car when her vehicle was carried to nowhere by the flood.  Without hesitations, a security guard of the hospital jumped to save the terrified woman.  She lives another day and so does her patients.  A pregnant woman about to give birth was trapped in the second floor of a neighbor’s house.  He was saved by an American soldier who brought him to the nearest hospital.  The baby boy was named Jonathan in honor of his rescuer, Dr. Johnny Potter of the US Army.   

  

It’s not only the rain we should blame.  We can’t deny the fact that we could have also contributed to the enormous damage brought by the storm.  Garbage management has always been a problem in the past and we should be aware that even those little trashes that we just throw anywhere will return to us in bulks through floods and other calamities.  Be eco-friendly and maximize the use of every material at home or at the office.  We can get some inspiration from the people who created boats out of plastic containers, truck wheel’s rubber interiors, busted air bed and other things just to cope and survive the flood.

There is a thing called prayer to hang on to during desperate times.  I can’t remember when was the last time I prayed so hard for the rain to stop.  I usually devote minutes of prayer every morning to talk to God for all his blessings and wishes for my love ones but that Saturday morning during the wrath of Ondoy, I prayed the rosary with my wife asking for the weather to calm down.  I consider it a miracle to have saved all the important things in our home considering that we have no second floor and the flood outside was chest-deep.  Reminds me of a mother being interviewed on TV in an evacuation area.  She said (in tagalong), “We almost gave up because we really thought that no one can save us and we will all drown to death.  Then my daughter told us to pray and papa Jesus will save us.” 

 When you’re down, there’s no way to go but up.  Two years ago, tragedy struck our family.  Within the last quarter of 2007, we lost my first child Monique and younger brother Jimmy in two separate unfortunate incidents.  There was no devastating flood nor heavy rains but it felt like I was drowning.  Through the help of our friends, in their own little way, my family is learning to move on.  Now, this family is coping on how to live in a drenched house.  No, we’re not down because we’ve just been there and together we will all stand up to continue this journey called life.

We all have our own Ondoy story to tell.  Whether it’s a near-death experience, an unforgettable moment or a sad story, we should always remember that it is not only misery that we get from a tragedy.  Every obstacle in the roads we take can make us a better and stronger person.  We just have to learn from the lessons from a storm.

Ready, Get Set... Game!

My family is a game show!

My father-in-law is the “Banker”, my brother-in-law is the game master, my wife is one of the sideshow dancers while I always give my all to get the prizes of the games.

It just happened that we just love little competitions in the family from time to time. It could happen during birthdays, victory parties, holiday celebrations or even in an evening when we feel like locking our horns. Every family game night is an event that each member of the family is excited about. This tradition has evolved from a family of eight contenders to eighteen (our housemaid included) who tries to outwit and outplay each other.

We have tried different board games like Monopoly, The Game of Life and Uno. We have also played games of all sorts and silliness from the classic Charades to the no-brainer Hep Hep Hooray to the national pastime Pinoy Henyo. We would often do it in pairs--- me and wife vs. my in-laws and their spouses. On special occasions like Christmas, we usually divide the family into two groups. Last year, we draw straws to know in which teams one will be included. This year, it will be boys versus girls as we slug it out which group can best interpret the viral tune “Nobody” by the Korean pop sensations Wondergirls.

But before the main event of the evening, we always start our family game night with parlor games and fun activities. Each couple will take turns in hosting a game and should provide prizes for the winners. Every one gives their best no matter what the prize is. Last time, I got a bar of chocolate and a Php 50 worth of gift certificate for the two games me and my wife won. It’s actually the bragging rights of who won most of the games that we are after. The invisible trophy stays in your house until the next family game night.

What we actually like about such activity is that we learn new things (from trivia games), build trust, strengthen our relationship, discover more about each and everyone and enjoy the company of our loves ones without spending much. And so we say, “The family that prays and plays together, stays forever!”

Thanks to Animetric’s World and Color Mix Toys and Games for coming up with a great promotion that reminds us in a way the importance family game nights in every home.

Color Mix Toys and Games is the exclusive Philippine distributor of Hasbro games like the Family Game Night line that will bring back those fun times shared with our family when TV sets and PCs were just mere household appliances, unlike today that these things actually get a chunk from our family time.

Gingersnap's Warehouse Sale 2009

It's been an annual event for me and my wife to wait for the banner announcements of Gingersnap's Warehouse Sale. We have actually memorized where in Pasig they will post the said banners since their warehouse is just a walking distance from our home.

Today, Nov. 16 is the start of their much-awaited sale (lucky people who have no work today 'coz they'll have the first crack at the items) that will last until Dec. 29, 2009.

My wife is a fan of the brand 'coz she loves the style and fit of the preggy outfits of GS when she was still carrying our little Charles. This year, it will be "all Charles" clothes once we invade their warehouse maybe this weekend if our sked will allow us (boss, no weekend work please!)

Why are we that excited? Check the prices of the GS items at malls like SM. They are a bit pricey because of the quality and designs. Maganda naman talaga. In their annual sale, you can get items below P100 that still looks it is worth a thousand pesos. I have no reason to exaggerate nor to hard sell GS since I don't know anyone working in their company. It's just our way of spreading the good news to all moms and dads out their who are looking for better cloths at lower prices and also for those soon-to-be-parents and not yet parents in search for good gifts for the coming holidays.

TIP: If you want the items to look that you got them from a GS store or from the mall, buy GS gift boxes (there are diff. designs to choose from) that are also sold at the warehouse at Php 30 each. Price is based from our last year's visit.

Attached is the map going to the Gingersnap Warehouse. They are open from 8 am to 4 pm. Their address is Warehouse 19, Armal Compound 2, M.Eusebio Ave., San Miguel, Pasig City Call 916-1553 / 916-1542 for more information :-)

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Put Angst In A News Vol. 1 Issue no. 2

Headlines:

Gloria Arroyo is facing another possible impeachment complaint due to the ZTE scandal
Does this come with hidden videos? If not, forget about it

Gas companies accused of hording petroleum products
I smell something fishy… did someone pass gas?

Bomb explosion in Puregold mart linked to business competitions
This is scary since I go to Puregold to buy Colgate since I can’t find ‘em at SM

Showbiz:

Christopher De Leon wants “to be killed” in Lovers in Paris so he can move to GMA 7
How about him hanging himself in the Eiffel Tower… that will be refreshing and asteeg storyline!

Dingdong Dantes will replace potics-bound Richard Gomez in Family Feud
Will Richard win a senate seat? Survey says…oo. (doble zero ata ‘to e)

Sesame Street turns 40!
It also means that my age is not far behind

Aling Dionesia is open for kissing scenes in her next movies
Now that’s what you call real challenge, Manny.


Sports:

Kareem Abdul Jabbar has leukemia
Now that’s a tall order

Tickets to the Pacquio-Cotto fight are selling like hotcakes in local theaters
I don’t think this will be the case for Aling Dionesia’s music album

Put Angst In A News Vol. 1 Issue no. 1

Today is the first issue of Put Angst In A News in this Blog. This is where News and Opinion (mine) meets in 50 words or less.

Headlines:

Hillary Clinton will meet Gloria Arroyo on Thursday.
Lucky Mendiola studes… PAG-ASA might declare no classes that day!

There will be a crisis on fuel supply in the weeks to come.
Hmm… it’s beginning to look a lot like Crisis-mas

Mayor Alfredo Lim’s KKK supports Noynoy-Mar tandem
Noynoy used to have K then K got married to Mar. K to!

DOJ says convicted rapist Romeo Jaloslos unlikely to get pardon in time for 2010 polls
Lets take the soothsayers’ word for the meantime

Showbiz:

Willie Revillame is missing in ABS-CBN’s Christmas station ID
Technical malfuction lang siguro?

Ask if he’s leaving the Kapamilya station, Aga Muhlach says he will have a new show in “channel 4… channel 3?”
Put them together and remember me

Australian concert-goers says Britney Spears was lip-synching in her performance
At least they were also looking at her mouth

What type of employee are you?

This is my article published on the Philippine Daily Inquirer - Working People Section November 1, 2009

When I was still working in a call center, one of the events that employees look forward each year is the company’s Halloween party. It’s one of those times that almost everyone in the office really spends time and money and gives extra effort on what they would wear on that day. Aside from the fact they can be “someone else” for a day, some companies actually give generous prizes to those who can think of the best costume.

In the spirit of such fun-filled activity in the workplace, I have come out of some costume suggestion to those people who have yet to decide who they’ll be come Halloween. Why not personalize your outfit based on what type of employee you are from the list that I came out with:

The Joker. The official comic relief of the company. He may not be the smartest person in the group but his one-liners or punchlines can easily perk-up everyone especially during gloomy afternoons.

But Man and Robin. The former is someone who always has something to say before he accepts a task given to him. Maybe this is his way of bargaining if he can lighten his workload. The later is his partner in crime, sidekick and best friend rolled into one.

Invisible Men. There are actually two sub-types of invisibility in the workplace. The first one are employees who love to file leaves of absence while the other one are those who are present in the office but their outputs are seems invisible.

The Transformers. These people have the ability to change their behavior, work habits and opinions depending on who they are dealing with or talking to in the office.

Care Bears. Sometimes they are referred as the “mother, father, big brother or big sister” of the office. They care for everyone and has a bagful of advices, shoulders to cry on and helping hands to anyone in need. You can talk to them inside the comfort room or a sleazy beerhouse and they won’t mind.

Pussycat Dolls. This is a group of female employees who do almost everything at the same time—their rituals in the CR, eat lunch, go home. They usually have the same nightlife thus most of the time, all of them goes to work late.

Jonas Brothers. The male counterpart of the Pussycat Dolls. Like the girl group, they spend a lot of time in front of the mirror especially if there is a pretty visitor in the office.

The Celebrities (Politicians, Athletes and Performers). Politicians are those who are more concern about worker’s right in the company rather than their performances. Athletes might not be your ideal team player but when it comes to company sports fest, they are your leading scorers. Performers are those who excel during office programs—they can sing, dance and do cartwheels. One common denominator among celebs is that all of them have good PR skills.

The Saint. They are considered as the endangered species. They are straight “A” employees who have a good relationship with their bosses though they don’t want to be called as “teacher’s pets.” They amaze everyone because despite of their busy skeds and toxic workloads, they still find time to participate in company extra-curricular activities.

Gifted Child. The people who have an answer on every question and problem in the office. But sometimes they know too much that they tend to cross the limits and can be a bit annoying although they don’t really mean it.

Commoners. They are the so-called generic members of the class. It’s either they lack individuality or they always play safe at work that their boss won’t even notice if they will be absent for a week.

The above list should not be taken seriously although we can’t deny that it is a slice of reality from our workplaces. Whether you see yourself in one of the categories or not, a fact that remains is that every one of us has a role to perform in our respective organizations.

Finding bliss in White Forest

I am a fan of anything white.

I used to have a big crush with Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White, love watching Redford White’s slapsticks when I was young and would feast on fried white leghorns anytime of the day.

But lately, I noticed that I was hitting a snag with a lot of “whites in my life.” First, I found out that the whitening facial wash that I bought last month was down to its last drop and I can’t even see any effect on my face at all. Then, I read a college bud’s Facebook wall post that it was snowy now in Canada that means she just beat me in our who-will-first-experience-white-Christmas race. To top it all, my white polo office uniform is still missing up to this day since our home in Pasig City was soaked in flood water two weeks ago.

But in the midst of these sort of unfortunate events, I have learned a lesson that I want to share: there is White at the end of a tunnel!

Last week, my wife and I, with the help of her sister and some friends, decided to conduct a relief goods drive for the victims of the flood. I wrote an open letter and posted it to different social network sites asking for help in behalf of my neighbors who that time were experiencing difficulties in getting food due to the chest-deep water in our area.

Good Samaritans answered our plea and we conducted the distribution of the relief goods last October 10. It was not an easy task because of the many obstacles that we met along the way. It started when our vehicle was flagged down by two traffic enforcers but was later “pardoned” when told them that we will deliver donations to flood victims. Next problem was we were outnumbered by the sacks of donations but found helping hands who offered assistance when they learned about our intention.

The biggest issue came when it was time for us to cross the 4 feet-high dirty water for us to go to our site. Thank God for those creative people who turned truck tire’s interiors, plastic containers and even busted airbeds into boats that carried us to reach our target area. We were able distribute bags of groceries to more than 70 families in Lupang Pari in Brgy. San Miguel, Pasig City. It was such a great experience to be able to help those in need with the fact that I am also a typhoon Ondoy victim.

It was a tiring but worthwhile Saturday and I just have two things in mind on our way to our temporary home (house of my in-laws in Q.C. while we wait for the flood in Pasig to subsides) --- a hot shower and a great merienda.

When we arrive at the house, another snag… brown-out for the nth time that week! I did get my hot shower since I was perspiring to death. But God knows how to reward good deeds, alright.

On the table, we saw a box of Red Ribbon cake. When I opened it, I saw light! It’s the new Red Ribbon’s White Forrest just like the ones I see in news paper ads and tarpaulins that always get my attention every time I pass by the Red Ribbon store in Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong on the way to way.

Somebody must have been listening when I told my wife one time that I wanted to try White Forrest and will buy a whole next pay day. I found out it was my mother-in-law.

And soon the whole afternoon was filled with exchanges of stories of what happened that day and in spite of the power outage, everyone was perked up. I know Red Ribbon’s White Forest has something to do with it.

I know because with all the troubles we've been through that day, all the ill feelings we had were white-out with every bite of delight of this great new dessert experience called White Forest.

WWE Summerslam 2009 Results

The Highlights:

> Beth Phoenix won a 15-Diva Battle Royal prior to tonight's WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view.

> Rey Mysterio retains title vs. Dolph Ziggler
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

> MVP wins over Jack Swagger

> Chris Jericho & Big Show regains title vs. Cryme Tyme
Unified WWE Tag Team Championship Match

> Kane overpowers The Great Khali

> DeGeneration X dominated the Legacy

> Christian finished William Regal before I could finished sneezing
ECW Championship MAtch

> Randy Orton escapes John Cena
WWE Championship Match

> CM Punk dethrones Jeff Hardy
World Heavyweight Championship Match

> CM Punk gestures over the body of Hardy when the Undertaker comes up through the bottom of the ring and grabs CM Punk by the throat. The Undertaker gave him his signature choke slam and the crowd went wild. Summerslam ends

Miss Universe 2009 Winners

Miss Universe 2009 – Venezuela – Stefania Fernandez

1st runner-up – Dominican Republic – Ada de la Cruz
2nd runner-up – Kosovo – Marigona Dragusha
3rd runner-up – Australia – Rachael Finch
4th runner-up – Puerto Rico – Mayra Matos

Top 5 Finalist:
1. Dominican Republic
2. Australia
3. Puerto Rico
4. Venezuela
5. Kosovo

Miss Universe 2009 Top 10 Finalist:
1. Puerto Rico
2. Czech Republic
3. Dominican Republic
4. Australia
5. Kosovo
6. United States
7. Switzerland
8. France
9. South Africa
10. Venezuela

Miss Universe 2009 TOP 15 Semi-finalist:
1. Puerto Rico
2. Iceland
3. Albania
4. Czech Republic
5. Belgium
6. Dominican Republic
7. Sweden
8. Kosovo
9. Australia
10.France
11.Switzerland
12.South Africa
13.USA
14.Croatia
15.Venezuela

Special Awards:
Miss Congeniality – China – Wang Jingyao
Miss Photogenic – Thailand – Chutima Durongdej

Want to fill this grocery cart with FREE books?

Well, just to remind you guys... you have until the 15th of July 2009 to register at fullybookedonline.com to get a chance to be one of three lucky bookworms that will have the right to load a grocery cart with books in the Fully Booked Book Grab promo to be held at the Bonifacio on August 1st.

You have nothing to loose, just register and who knows... you might be picked! Just don't forget a few titles that I'll ask you to get for me :-)

Win Hannah Montana Premium Items

I know that not everyone are Hannah Montana fans, but i think you don't mind winning HM caps and notebooks by just answering a simple question. Then give it to a HM or Miley Cyrus that you know. I'm sure you won't have a hard time looking for one. Just ask your niece or daughter. You have until July 8 to send in your answers.

Here's the question, that could have originated from Tennessee, posted in last Sunday's issue of Junior Inquirer: What is Miley Stewart's home state?

Send in your answer to ji@inquirer.com.ph with your complete name, address, age and contact information. Don't forget to write Hannah Montana on the subject line. Winners will be published on July 12.

Win Ice Age 3 Premium Items

For fans of the Ice Age animated series, young ones and young at heart alike, here's a promo that I saw from Junior Inquirer last Sunday. The promo runs until July 8.

All you need to do is to answer this dinosaur of a question: In Ice Age 3, what extinct creatures will the Ice Age gang face?

Simply e-mail your answers to ji@inquirer.com.ph with your complete name, age, address and contact information with ICE AGE 3 on the subject line.

Winners will be published on the July 12 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ask your kid sister or brother, niece or nephew, son or daughter or apos to win these great prizes for you!

Win Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Items!

I'm sure I am not the only one hunting down Transformer items. As a fan of the classic cartoon series from the 80's, it's like walking down memory lane every time i got a hold of these amazing robot toys. My elementary years was one great era where I get to play with my school buddies with toys that are considered icons today. Aside from TF, we were fond of the Thunder Cats, Voltron, Voltes V, Mask, Bioman and a lot more.

The second installment of the TF movie series officially opened in local cinemas yesterday. My wife managed to win 2 premiere TF tickets from topgear.com.ph but we decided to give it to her sister and BF who's been bugging us weeks ago if we can snag them free tix for the said movie .

As a consololation, i treated my self for a Jollibbee Kiddie Meal with a free TF toy. There are four toys to collect but Starscream is the only available toy at Jollibbee-Star Mall. I was actually aiming for Ironhide for a good start. Anyways, I still have time to complete the set. I have the four toys from the first promo so I want to make this a tradition since there are at least two more TF movies coming out in the future.

Now, I want to share to all of you this promo courtesy of SM Cinema where you can win TF premium items by answering this simple question: Who played the role of Sam Witwicky? Don't join this contest if you don't know who Shia LaBeouf is, okay?

Just email your answer to watcmarketing@smsupermalls.com along with your name, address and contact nos. Congratulations in advance if you win!

Please do inform me if you know similar promos like this. Thanks

You're the Best Pinoy Athlete for me

Don’t you find it weird that until now, the Philippines has yet to get a gold medal at the Olympics. We’ll it just happened that the greatest athletes in the world are Filipinos. Coincidently, all the sports they have conquered starts with letter B--- Boxing, Billiards and Bowling (apologies to fellow basketball fans but the last time we were world hoops contenders was half a century ago).

Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio, who was recently included by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people for 2009 and also ranked 57th in Forbes Magazine’s annual listing of 100 most powerful celebrities, is currently the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Efren “Bata” Reyes, known as The Magician in the world of billiards, has been hailed by pool experts as arguably the greatest player of the game after dominating the world circuit for more than two decades beginning in the mid-80’s.

Third on my list is, who for me, is the best Pinoy athlete of our generation: six-time World Bowling Champion Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno. All in all, he has won an amazing 118 titles around the globe from 1972 to 2007, which is the most number of bowling tournaments won by an individual according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

His other world records are: having the most Bowling World cup wins and the youngest ever to win the Bowling World Cup at the age of 19. (I don’t have the latest Guinness book so please feel free to update me if somebody already broke his records which I doubt will happen anytime soon)

In 2008, Malacañang awarded Paeng the Order of Lakandula with Class of Champion for Life and was declared Best Filipino athlete of all time. Both the Philippine Senate and House of Congress have declared Paeng the "Greatest Philippine Athlete of All Time". (If Pacquaio wins a seat in congress next year, I would not be surprise if his first authored bill will be for change or update of the said declarations of both Houses)

But of all the accomplishments of Nepomuceno, the one that I really love about him is the fact that he is the first inductee to the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame in 1993. All firsts are special and should be praised to the highest magnitude if it was achieved in the international arena.

Before I end this blog with another great trivia, all sports buffs are invited to check out waterboy.ph, a site for sports fans of all ages.

Bonus trivia: The second individual to be inducted to the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame is Bong Coo, a Pinay.

The Most STIRRING story in STIR

There was not enough sun to make summer 2009 hot like an oven. No thanks to the early downpour of rain in most parts of the country. But this year proves to be one of the most stirring and hottest summers ever with big news and shocking scandals hitting pinoys from left to right. Every month, a new talk of the town is on the spot light. From the suicide case of the Mrs. Etong to the scary A(H1N1) spread, people were stirred like halo-halo.

But Hayden Kho’s video scandals will be on the radar for quite sometime since there were reports that at least 40 women have been victimized by the doctor in a sheep costume. Three of Kho’s vids with different celebrities have already been passed from laptops to cellphones to PCs and to only God knows where else.

All the while, we thought the issue will die as days pass but it only to gained more noise when, I think, the most stirring story in Stir, came out. It’s the story “KC Concepcion: Hayden’s Victim?”

Imagine this, the daughter of two powerful names in showbiz and politics in a sex scandal? She might even be the country’s first daughter in 2010. The truth about this video will be determined as soon as the hard evidence starts pop out like those of Katrina Halili and two models. Now, everyone is waiting who’s who in Hayden’s Top 40 list.

It’s funny that even people, whom I thought would find sex scandals are immoral, would ask. me if I have a copy of Hayden’s collection. They wanted the one with KC in particular. I asked them if I look like a pervert for them to think that I have the videos they want. They said they were just hoping since I have a cellphone and a PC at home.

This story beats the usual showbiz headlines: KBL. Kasal ni Juday at Ryan (April), Binyag ng anak ni Jennilyn (January) at Libing ni Francis M (March).

I am not a big KC fan (my wife is the one who adores her much) but I do hope that this controversy is just a product of a very playful mind. KC is a role model, a sweetheart, and an advocate of peace and just about anything wonderful in this world. If I see her naked with that Hayden singing, let say, For the First Time or Umbrella or even the Nido theme song that the Megastar sings… that will surely stir my head for a while.

A Meryenda Dilemma at Red Ribbon: Salisbury Steak or Carbonara?

Call me crazy or what but I think, Red Ribbon is stalking me.

Before you raise those trimmed eyebrows of yours, why not listen to my story first. It all started when I used to work as a copywriter/ publicity officer for VIVA Entertainment in the late 90’s. Our office was in E. Rodriguez Sr., Q.C. and just beside our building is Red Ribbon – New Manila Branch. After several years, I found my self working for HTMT, a call center in E. Rodriguez Jr., Quezon City. A few yards from work is Red Ribbon – Libis. Today, I am now employed by a NGO in Mandaluyong City. And two blocks away from the office is Red Ribbon – Shaw Blvd.

Am I complaining? Of course, Not! I am just sharing this crazy thought that in case I will be applying for a job with a new employer, my chances of getting hired will depend whether there is nearby Red Ribbon shop in the area.

Ahhh…too much thinking made me hungry so I went out to get Meryenda at RB. When I looked at the menu on the wall, I can’t help but notice the “new-improved meals” tag at the Salisbury Steak and Carbonara entries. There must something special in these two yummy delights that I have already tried during my previous trips to the store--- but there was no “new-improved meals” tag then.

Hmm… now here’s my dilemma. What will I try first? I may be a little chubby but my stomach can accommodate just one set meal that afternoon.

After quite a debate between my leaf and right brain, I decided to order the Carbonara Meal set for take out. In my cubicle, I spent 15 minutes of heaven. The last time I had RB Carbonara was last month but the moment the first bite landed in my mouth, I can tell that there is definitely something different with it. Creamier…yummier… more delicious… bitin-er (translation: craving for more)… simply a bargain at 120 pesos (I got a slice of Black forest and Coke light with it).

If you’re thinking that I will get Salisbury steak tomorrow. I can’t say yes. Because I might order Carbonara again. It’s another Meryenda dilemma tomorrow at Red Ribbon and I’m not complaining.

Did you know the Cool things we did last Summer?

Some say that one of the hardest things to do is to say goodbye to the people who have been a part of your life, it happened to me last year during our team's last summer getaway.

For three years, I have traded smiles, jokes, ire, food and coffee spills to these people I called officemates during our stressful but fulfilling job in a call center in Quezon City. And now, it will all end in our last group outing.

So to make sure that it will be a summer to remember, we need to come up with “cool” activities that we can do during our gimmick. I was one of those people assigned to think of the unthinkable.

We decided to get a private pool so we can do whatever we want to. With the meager budget and little time for preparation that we had, the nearest place we can get is situated on top of a mountain in Tanay just a few blocks from the middle of nowhere. As expected, some of our officemates opted not to come citing reasons of fear of malaria and NPAs, scheduled visit to the dentist, and RFBF (restrictions from boyfriend).

Despite of all the hassles and KJs, our trip to Tanay went as planned. We used three vehicles to accommodate the whole team. We left our meeting place around 7 p.m. We expected to be in a middle of a traffic jam in Libis so we prepared games that we can do inside the van. We played games like Follow the Leader, Name that Tune, charades and some no-brainer stuff.

Our vehicle is the last one in the convoy and someone joked what if we got flat tires or our engine got busted in the middle of our trip. We soon found out the answer when the van suddenly stopped in the middle of a dark long and winding road in a mountain in Rizal around 10 p.m. Our cellphones have no signal and there is not a single house in sight. We all step out of the van while our driver/ mechanic fixed his vehicle that we rented. The girls, of course, were scared. Some of the boys started telling scary stories and do howling sounds (one way of hiding the fact that they are as scared as the girls).

Good thing, a group of nice gentlemen passed by and offered help. While waiting for the van to be fixed, some started playing with their shadows while others look for good spots for picture taking.

We arrived at the resort before midnight and another “great” news welcomed us. The whole area is experiencing brownout. The generator has no fuel and that means we have to survive the evening with only make-shift lights and sounds of crickets to enjoy. It also means that all our plans for the evening ---AVP presentation, videoke session, etc --- will have to skipped.

But you know what’s cool with the experience, it became a blessing in disguise because the limitations of our situation bonded us more. We made a bonfire and everyone in the circle shared a story or two while roasting hotdogs and mallows. The calmness of the night created a mode that feels like we were a family that night. Some opened up and talk about his and her likes and dislikes about the group. I felt the sincerity in everyone who delivered their monologues. After the many stories and bottles of beer that I ingested, I found myself in dreamland.

The next morning, we were like kids playing. It’s cool to see smiles from people I used to think were reincarnation of Mr. Scrooge. The swimming pool was all ours. We stayed there until our skin turned maroon. It was one of those moments with friends that you wish would not end. But of course, we have to consider the fact that we only paid 12 hours for the venue.

After a month, our account closed. But what’s cool is the fact that we are still close to one another even now that we are working in different companies.

To sum it all, our last get together was a learning experience in a way. With all the unavoidable snags that came our way, we still manage to have a great summer. I hope others can get some pointers in this story on how people can still be cool this summer in the middle of unforeseen dilemmas.