Friday, December 26, 2008

ChristianPF gadget giveaways!

Even though Christmas has passed by and that none attempted to make at least a wish come true for me (Well, a friend actually volunteered to lend his "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" book after reading the list. It's just that I haven't gotten the book yet.), my hopes still continue and grow and are being fed by contests like this one.

Yes, this is another entry for an online contest by ChristianPF that will be giving the following prizes:

8 GB iPod Nano. I'd love to have this one!

1 GB iPod Shuffle.

6 months subscription to NeoBudget
.

Silicon Scrapers from Pampered Chef
. I'd like to have this one too! Even if I don't have oven at home that I could use for baking, these scrapers or spatulas might as well push or inspire me to add an oven on my wishlist too!

H&R Block Taxcut Premium 2008
.

C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce Audiobook
.

The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets by Peter Schiff
.

"Overworked, Overwhelmed & Underpaid" book by Louis Barajas
. I'd probably need this one when I get a job. First jobs are usually a nightmare. I hope mine won't be like that.

Yes. I've been fed up by too much dreams and generous people. But I won't keep dreaming. I won't keep posting wish lists for people to have an idea of my ideals. I'll work hard, real hard for them.

How much more will I wait to get a job interview? o_O

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

How to start the year right

Watch Grey's Anatomy marathon at Studio 23 on January 1! Seriously!

I was watching Myx on Studio 23 minutes earlier. And then, voila, I was just informed by the commercial (trailer?) that Studio 23 will be giving us a very nice treat for New Year, that is, the Grey's Anatomy marathon. How cool is that? For me, it's superduper cooooooooool.

I don't have much info about it. But based from the scenes the commercial showed, I think the marathon will only cover until the previous season--season 4. Nevertheless, it's still superduper cool! It reminds me of the Desperate Housewives marathon for Mother's Day this year by Star (?).

This is really a nice treat for me for the holiday despite that someone out there gets to have another Nikon D60 as a GIFT from her boyfriend's parents while I just got Patrick Dempsey on TV. Huhuhu I really need to work hard for my list.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

New doggie in the house

We got a new doggie. She looks like Bolt.

She already had her name before she was given to us, and it's called Angel. I don't like the name. Naming her after Angel Locsin is one reason. The name itself is another. That's why I made another name for her despite that she's already used to be called "Angel." I called her Maggie. The kusinera calls her Beauty. Now, she's confused. And it's a lot more confusing now that I gave that name Maggie to another dog at home.

Since, Bolt-looking puppy responds more to the name Angel, I gave the name Maggie to a lot newer puppy in the house. We just got her last night. She's a mixed breed. Her colors are brown and white, her fur is short just like a pug's and she has a creased face, which makes us assume that she has a Shar Pei blood. I kind of like Maggie. If only I got a pad in Manila that has balcony or is a dog-friendly place, I won't hesitate to bring Maggie with me there.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Hiling ng Isang Graduating Student sa Papalapit na Pasko

Mi Ultimo Christmas Wish List!

I originally posted this wish list in my multiply account last Nov. 5. Of course, as what Edward said in Twilight, the future is not certain... some things just change.

This wish list is the edited one as of December 17, 2008.


***

Hindi ko ito ina-address sa pamilya ko. Hindi naman kasi namin ugaling magbigay ng regalo. Ang manghingi at tumanggap lamang ng regalo ang tradisyon sa amin. Kaya, ikaw na lang, mahal kong kaibigan, ang mapagbigay na Christmas Wishlist Online Contest, ang pag-asa ng isang estudyanteng malapit nang maging opisyal na palamunin at pabigat ng bansang ito.

Kung hindi ka early birdie tulad ko na tapos nang makapamili ng mga regalong ipamimigay ko, binibigyan kita ng pagkakataong mapadali ang buhay mo sa pag-shopping ng regalo para sa akin kahit marami na ang species sa mall.



Gusto ko lang naman ng:

1. DSLR, para walang sawa akong magpipicture ng sarili ko.
2. Watch from Fossil or DKNY, para alam ko kung gaano ako katagal maghihintay ng trabaho.
3. Eraser Heads 2008 Concert CD, mga pare ko, P305 lang ito! Oo, original ang gusto ko… Aba'y syempre, kung magdedemand ka na nga lang, sagad-sagarin mo na, hindi ba?
4. Planner na maganda.. Iyong hindi bulky at magandang sulatan para naman maorganize ko ang magulo kong sarili.
5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad book, para ma-inspire daw akong maging businesswoman at tuluyan na akong maging unemployed.
6. Curious Incident of a dog in the Night time book, nakakatawa daw ito, kaya kailangan ko ito para sumaya ang buhay-palamunin ko.
7. iPod Nano (3rd Generation, color black), para magmukha naman akong sosyal kahit walang pera.
8. Cellphone (Nokie E66), kasi kalahating dekada na sa akin ang phone ko ngayon, kailangan na niyang magretire. Sa katunayan nga'y limang araw na siyang ayaw pumindot. Naghihikahos na po siya, mga friends.
9. Purple sandals sa Artwork na mukhang matigas, yung "tsinelas" style, P399, para magkakalyo ang mga paa ko, kunwaring indication of hardwork!
10. 10K worth of GC from Belo, para makapag-lipo man lang ako kahit isang braso lang.
11. One year supply ng Clean and Clear oil control film na color yellow/pink, I have excessive oil glands.
12. Last, but not the least, since kagagaling ko lang ng thesis at napansin kong tabingi na iyong metal part na sinasaksak sa usb port ng flash disk ko, I obviosuly need a new one! So bago bumigay ang flash disk ko, I think I need a SUPER TALENT 200X 4GB USB Flash Drive. Water resistant siya... Cool. I am just so amazed.

I hope I made your lives easier.


I'll be waiting. ;)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

experimental mushroom


I was always curious how any other housewives are able to cook an edible mushroom, because I always think nobody, except professional chefs, could really cook an edible mushroom. I mean, at home, whenever my mother cooks mushroom (the one we usually see in Chinese dishes, mother calls it “o-ong”), everyone just ends up chewing it like it was a bubblegum. And just like a bubblegum, one could not really swallow it.

So today, when I got the entire kitchen in my hands because my mother’s not around and that I had to feed my father and brother (Oh yeah, not to get you lost, I’m in the province already. So there are kitchen, sala, huge cable TVs, ref and noisy dogs), I tried to cook something with mushroom for dinner. Well, the plan was just to experiment with the mushroom and just to add it as a “sahog.” But then, due to too much excitement, it turned out that mushroom dominated the dish.

This is really vain, but I’m so proud of myself that I was able to cook an edible mushroom. Uh huh, you got it right. Of course, I just soaked the mushroom in water for almost one and a half hours just like what the other housewives who were able to cook and serve an edible mushroom did. Imma boast this to my mother when she comes back. Hahaha >:)

If you want to cook an edible oriental mushroom too, soak it in water a little longer than one and a half hours for best results, I think.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Link, come here.

*We were 40 minutes late. Oh, let me start that again. I was standing in front of the main entrance of Star City at eight o’clock waiting for my two high school friends while the show started and probably Tracy Turnblad was singing “Good Morning, Baltimore” by the time. Hence, we were late.

*During the fifteen-minute break of the Hairspray musical—curtains closed and lights on, I was caught by a member of the production holding a big and almost empty pack of chips in my right hand. Believe me, it wasn’t mine. I was just so unlucky that my beloved friend passed it to me and put me in the limelight. 0.o

*Anyway, the show was awesome! The stage was cutely designed. Pink dominated the stage, but other colors were still vibrantly visible. The cast was great! Aside from singing really well during the show, the artists really made effort to resemble the characters in the movie—from head to toe! If you were able to watch the movie before hand, you can surely identify each and everyone of them—Link, Tracy, Edna, Amber, Amber’s Mom, Seaweed, Penny, Seaweed’s mom, and so on. My personal favorites are Seaweed and Amber.

I like Seaweed, because the character was played by Nyoy Volante and because I like him as an acoustic singer and because it was first time to see him sing and dance.

I like Amber. I like it when she says the line, “Link, come here,” in a high-pitched note. She reminds me of Sharpey of High School Musical. Basically, I like kikay antagonists. I think they’re cute.

Without any biases, I also like Seaweed and Amber’s mothers, who happened to be Dulce and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo respectively. Of course, as we all know, Dulce is a really good singer. And, take this as a compliment, she looked like a clone of Queen Latifah, the actress behind the character who played in the movie. It is just so amazing to me. I felt like I was just watching the movie ‘live.’

And oh, before I forget, Michael de Mesa also did a good job playing Edna. :)

Friday, November 14, 2008

Davids

I've been hooked to David Archuleta's single, Crush. It's a nice song. And I like it even though I was more of David Cook fan during the American Idol season. For me, Crush is, well, not the typical song he used to sing during AI season. Crush is way younger than the songs he sung.

Anyway, David Cook will be releasing his album a week from now. His debut single will most likely be "Lights On" or something with the word "lights." Hehehe It is disappointing. I guess I should agree with the review on yahoo that that song is forgettable and so Nickelbackian.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Izzie and Alex, finally.

Okay, so Grey's Anatomy is truly making me "kilig" (Shet ang konyo, Hahaha). First, Derek moved in to live with Meredith. Next, Lexie is obviously crazy over her roommie, George. Then, Christina somehow found someone to replace Preston aka Burke. And now, Izzie and Alex are officially on (as of episode 6)! Yippeeee.

I so love Grey's Anatomy. =D


Oh yeah, btw, in episode 5, there's this man who cheated on his wife, most probably because the wife was too caring and loving that she does almost everything for the husband. It was too much, I guess. Annoying. Like what the husband said, he could do those things by himself, too... Mejo labo ba ng point ko? Oh well, heto na naman ako... alam mo naman na siguro yung point ko... =)It's just another bitterness of me.

And syempre, before I forget, I've finished Twilight last week! I really made it before the showing of the movie. Yeah! I rock. Hahahaha

Saturday, November 1, 2008

feisty fiesta

Heto ako ngayon sa bundok ko, nakikipagsaya sa fiesta, naliligo sa pawis. Umuwi ako dito nang labag sa loob ko.

Kahapon ay nagpunta ako sa terminal ng bus kung saan pumila ako sa napakahabang pila para sa ticket. Kung pag-uusapan ang benefit ng pagpapakahirap ko para lang makauwi dito, sabihin na nating nakakuha ako ng mga 5 free sachets ng Hapee toothpaste, at nakaranas ako ng express trip to Dagupan—iyong walang stop over sa Dau.

Tapos, ngayon… as in ngayon lang… almost an hour ago… may eksena sa bahay namin that made me say, “Yes, I feel a lot of pressure right now.” Siguro worth it nga itong pag-uwi ko, para hindi naman ako mahuli sa chismis. Hay, how I wish I have Jasper Cullen’s power to manipulate people’s emotions. I could have alleviated the intensity earlier.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Life Quotes from Bob Ong Books


Well, some of the quotes here are from this book. >>



"Mag-aral maigi. Kung titigil ka sa pag-aaral, manghihinayang ka pagtanda mo dahil hindi mo naranasan ang kakaibang ligayang dulot ng mga araw na walang pasok o suspendido ang klase o absent ang teacher."

"Nalaman kong marami palang libreng lecture sa mundo, ikaw ang gagawa ng syllabus. Maraming teacher sa labas ng eskuwelahan, desisyon mo kung kanino ka magpapaturo. Lahat tayo enrolled ngayon sa isang university, maraming subject na mahirap, pero dahil libre, ikaw ang talo kung nag-drop ka. Isa-isa tayong ga-graduate, iba't-ibang paraan. tanging diploma ay ang mga alaala ng kung ano mang tulong o pagmamahal ang iniwan natin sa mundong pinangarap nating baguhin minsan.."

"Hikayatin mo lahat ng kakilala mo na magkaroon ng kahit isa man lang paboritong libro sa buhay nila. Dahil wala nang mas kawawa pa sa mga taong literado pero hindi nagbabasa."

"Dalawang dekada ka lang mag-aaral. kung 'di mo pagtityagaan, limang dekada ng kahirapan ang kapalit. sobrang lugi. kung alam lang 'yan ng mga kabataan, sa pananaw ko ehh walang gugustuhing umiwas sa eskwela."

"Nalaman kong hindi final exam ang passing rate ng buhay. hindi ito multiple choice, identification, true or false, enumeration or fill-in-the-blanks na sinasagutan kundi essay na isinusulat araw-araw. Huhusgahan ito hindi base sa kung tama o mali ang sagot, kundi base sa kung may kabuluhan ang mga isinulat o wala. Allowed ang erasures."

"Kumain ka na ng siopao na may palamang pusa o maglakad sa bubog nang nakayapak, pero wag na wag kang susubok mag-drugs. Kung hindi mo kayang umiwas, humingi ka ng tulong sa mga magulang mo dahil alam nila kung saan ang mga murang supplier at hindi ka nila iisahan."

"Mangarap ka at abutin mo. Wag mong sisihin ang sira mong pamilya, palpak mong syota, pilay mong tuta, o mga lumilipad na ipis. Kung may pagkukulang sa'yo mga magulang mo, pwede kang manisi at maging rebelde. Tumigil ka sa pag-aaral, mag-asawa ka, mag-drugs ka, magpakulay ka ng buhok sa kili-kili. Sa banding huli, ikaw din ang biktima. Rebeldeng walang napatunayan at bait sa sarili."

"Tuparin ang mga pangarap. Obligasyon mo yan sa sarili mo. Kung gusto mo mang kumain ng balde-baldeng lupa para malagay ka sa Guinness Book of World Records at maipagmalaki ng bansa natin, sige lang. Nosi balasi. wag mong pansinin ang sasabihin ng mga taong susubok humarang sa'yo. Kung hindi nagsumikap ang mga scientist noon, hindi pa rin tayo dapat nakatira sa jupiter ngayon. Pero hindi pa rin naman talaga tayo nakatira sa jupiter dahil nga hindi nagsumikap ang mga scientist noon. Kita mo yung moral lesson?"

"Nalaman kong habang lumalaki ka, maraming beses kang madadapa. Bumangon ka man ulit o hindi, magpapatuloy ang buhay, iikot ang mundo, at mauubos ang oras."

"Wag magmadali sa pag-aasawa. Tatlo, lima , sampung taon sa hinaharap, mag-iiba pa ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong di pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang sa kaboses niya si Debbie Gibson o magaling mag-breakdance. Totoong mas importante ang kalooban ng tao higit anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan sa eskwelahan e nagmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka."

"Ayokong nasasanay sa mga bagay na pwede namang wala sa buhay ko."

"Hinahanap mo nga ba ako o ang kawalan ko?"

"Hindi dahil sa hindi mo naiintindihan ang isang bagay ay kasinungalingan na ito. at hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohanan."


"Sabi nila, sa kahit ano raw problema, isang tao lang ang makakatulong sa'yo - ang sarili mo. Tama sila. Isinuplong ako ng sarili ko. Kaya siguro namigay ng konsyensya ang Diyos, alam niyang hindi sa lahat ng oras e gumagana ang utak ng tao."

"Obligasyon kong maglayag, karapatan kong pumunta sa kung saan ko gusto, responsibilidad ko ang buhay ko."

"Masama akong tao, tulad mo, sa parehong paraan na mabuti kang tao, tulad ko."

"Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala."

"Iba ang walang ginagawa sa gumagawa ng wala."

"Iba ang informal gramar sa mali!!!"

" Para san ba ang cellphone na may camera? Kung kailangan sa buhay un, dapat matagal na kong patay."

"Pare, isa kang totoong tao at walang halong kasinungalingan. In English, FACT you, pare. Totoo ka. In English, FACT you!"

Autopsy on a Spoiled Girlfriend

This is an article from peyups.com. I'm posting it here baka lang ma-bother din kayo tulad ko.

May kakilala akong ganitong "boyfriend." May attitude siya, siga-siga and mayabang. Pero nagpapakaalila sa syota niya, as in todo pamper and bilmoko ang dramang binibigay niya.

May nag-comment jan sa article na this kind of boyfriend is something to die for. I disagree. Ayoko ng martyr na nagpapakaalila sa mga jowa nila. Ayoko rin ng masyadong caring na repapeeps, I find it annoying. Kahit nga yung simpleng pag-pat ng ulo ko ng spoiler na uncle, naiirita na ako. Parang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na, "Stop it. I'm not a dog." Siguro kasi I was not raised na OA sa pamper ng parents ko, which I think is good kasi at least natuto akong maging independent and that responsibility ko ang sarili ko.

BTW, natutuwa ako dito sa peyups.com. Haha La lang. At least nadadagdagan yung mga sites na pinupuntahan ko whenever I go online. Hindi na lang puro Y!mail, Multiply, Friendster, Facebook, Shelfari, Blogspot at PEx. Hehehe

* * *

Contributed by skrew_you (Edited by arwen)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 @ 06:54:01 PM


No cracks, no fractures, no missing bones whatsoever.

Taxi cabs were her favorite way to go around the city. The boyfriend would open the car door for her and assist her while getting off the vehicle. She would take his offered hand like a princess getting off a lovely carriage. She would tell his boyfriend, "That's what boyfriends are for." Her boyfriend would nod in approval, kiss her on her forehead and smile. Her every step was watched. Her boyfriend is her safety scout. Sweet.

"If you don't take care of me, I'll break up with you."

No pulled, strained muscles.

She did not suffer from any forms of fatigue. Her life was a bliss. No need to rush to a convenient store to grab a midnight snack. Her boyfriend would offer his phone and she would call the delivery hotline. And on those days when it was not possible to have the food delivered, he would buy it himself, not minding the time nor the weather. No need to go to a spa to relax. He would light an essence lamp and ask her to lay on her tummy. He would then sooth her tired muscles using his bare hands. He was not really good at this but it pleased her. "That's what boyfriends are for," she would think.

"Buy me food, or else I'll break up with you."

Perfect condition, from mouth to the intestines.

She was well-fed. Where to eat, what to eat.. it was her choice. Her every craving was satisfied. He would also introduce her to restaurants and plates she had never tried before. She would think it was fantastic. She would gain weight and think that was her boyfriend's fault. He would smile and tell her that how attractive she still was. Compliments. That's what boyfriends are for.

"Tell me I'm the prettiest or we're through."

Clean lungs. Healthy heart.

There was no way second-hand smoke could have harmed her. He was not a smoker. He lived a healthy life and so did she. He would take her to the country side and she would enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. He had to suspend several business trips so they could go together. Because according to her, that's what boyfriends are for.

"Let's go, or I'll find another boyfriend to take me there."

No signs of depression.

Hers was a worry-free life. Before she could even detect the problem, he already resolved it for her. She was trained not to care, not to worry about almost everything. Worrying was his job. That's what boyfriends are for. He would be sick but he would tell her not to worry. He would buy and take his medicines all by himself. She would be sick and he would worry to death. A simple migraine and he would panic.

"Make the pain go away, or you'll lose me."

She was in perfect health the night he left her and yet she was found dead the following morning.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Love quotes from Bob Ong

I got this from a friend. Bumenta siya sa akin, ewan ko lang sa'yo. If you'll ask me kung which book galing itong mga ito, hindi ko rin alam. Before I read this from my friend's post, I've been receiving some of these quotes through SMS. So since then, nagtataka na din ako kung saang libro galing mga ito. Haha I've read three of his books--Abnkkbsnplk?!, Paboritong Libro ni Hudas (pero hindi ko natapos, hindi ko kasi siya nagustuhan) and Stainless Longganisa (my fave :> ). Pero hindi ko maalala kung nabasa ko itong mga love quotes niya sa tatlong yan.

More quotes from Bob Ong to come. Yung mga susunod, masasabing nabasa ko na siya sa mga books niya.






"Kung hindi mo mahal and isang tao, wag ka nang magpakita ng motibo para mahalin ka nya.."


"Lahat naman ng tao sumeseryoso pag tinamaan ng pagmamahal. Yun nga lang, hindi lahat matibay para sa temptasyon."


"Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang taong malapit sayo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo."


"Huwag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hawak ng iba."


"Huwag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang."


"Huwag na huwag ka hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na."


"Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hagdan, ayaw mo lang pansinin."


"Kung maghihintay ka nang lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo..Dapat lumandi ka din."


"Pag may mahal ka at ayaw sayo, hayaan mo. Malay mo sa mga susunod na araw ayaw mo na din sa kanya, naunahan ka lang."


"Hiwalayan na kung di ka na masaya. Walang gamot sa tanga kundi pagkukusa."


"Pag hindi ka mahal ng mahal mo wag ka magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na di mo mahal pero mahal ka.. Kaya quits lang."


"Bakit ba ayaw matulog ng mga bata sa tanghali? alam ba nilang pag natuto silang umibig e hindi na sila makakatulog kahit gusto nila?"


"Hindi lungkot o takot ang mahirap sa pag-iisa kundi ang pagtanggap na sa bilyon-bilyong tao sa mundo, wala man lang nakipaglaban upang makasama ka."


"Kung nagmahal ka ng taong di dapat at nasaktan ka, wag mong sisihin ang puso mo. Tumitibok lang yan para mag-supply ng dugo sa katawan mo. Ngayon, kung magaling ka sa anatomy at ang sisisihin mo naman ay ang hypothalamus mo na kumokontrol ng emotions mo, mali ka pa rin! Bakit? Utang na loob! Wag mong isisi sa body organs mo ang mga sama ng loob mo sa buhay! Tandaan mo: magiging masaya ka lang kung matututo kang tanggapin na hindi ang puso, utak, atay o bituka mo ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari sayo, kundi IKAW mismo!"


Saturday, October 18, 2008

Traitor Tears

If there's one thing I have in common with Bella, it's when we cry out of anger--a totally embarrassing habit...

* * *

I just got back reading Twilight yesterday. And now, I'm already on page 190 and part of me hoping, the other part doubting, that I could finish the book and be able to watch the movie on its first few weeks of showing.

With the 190 pages I've read, I could now relate to what my friends tell me about the book, about Bella and Edward and all their cheesiness. To be honest, I find myself smiling and blushing when I read the cheesy lines of Edward. On the other hand, I find my normal, bitter self when it comes to Bella's lines. =))

One of my friends told me that the fifth book (?) is something she doesn't want to read, because it'll be from the perspective of Edward. She wants to preserve the mysterious impression she has on Edward. Well, I guess Edward's mysterious act is one factor that made me smile and blush. Nonetheless, I still want his perspective rather than Bella's.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Blogging for a Living

As interns, we were asked to do a research on money remittances. Because of that, I found out that bloggers who earn from ads, etc through Google AdSense can claim their money/earnings from Western Union. Haha.

Bets, you can claim your $.16 (?) from Western Union. Aja! =)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Hagulgol (pahabol)

It was mentioned in the movie about the 3-month rule.


Bago 'yon ah. Hahaha. Obviously, hindi ko alam yun.

Climax of OJT

Yesterday was a looooooooooooooong day!

Well, three of the five interns of our ad agency were given the opportunity to join the first day of shooting TVCs for a new account—the second day is tomorrow.At first, I thought it was going to be in a studio—not exciting for me, but it didn’t hold there, which was a good thing.

We were provided a shuttle by the production house and we were brought from the office in Makati to a golf club somewhere in Pasay/EDSA around 8am. Hahaha. They shot the teaser and intro TVCs for a particular campaign scenario there. It took them/us the whole day for that, but I should say that it was the best for that day. The weather was friendly albeit some rainfalls and muddy feet. The TVCs shot in that location also were a good laugh! Two thumbs up!

At around 6pm, we went to Shaw MRT Station for the next scenario/story, also for teaser and intro TVCs. The shoot started at around 9pm! So just imagine what time it ended. I don’t know the time exactly, because I insisted to my fellow interns for to leave at 12mn (we were not forced by the agency to finish the shoot. We’re still students after all). The TVC that was shot in MRT station was not as funny as the one in the golf club. That’s why I got bored. And my eyes were already tired of watching the monitor for the shots taken again and again… and again and again. I actually felt them burning last night.

Yes, yesterday was indeed a long day… and it came with buffet lunch and dinner… and air-conditioned portalets. :P

PS. I will, if sinipag ako, talk more in details on these TVCs after their first air on TV which I guess will be in early November. =)

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Hagulgol

Jologs kung jologs, pero naiyak talaga ako sa "One More Chance."

May laman yung kwento. Hindi siya super gasgas. Gasgas lang. Hahaha. Pero may something talaga. Umpisa pa lang ng movie, madrama na. Kung mababaw din ang luha mo, tapos magkatabi pa tayo manuod, sure nang maiiyak ka for the first thirty minutes, that's one-fourth of the movie. Hindi kasi siya yung dinaan lang sa fame ng cast or sa funny punchlines or sa kung ano mang gimik. But it was surely made to be more special to have John Lloyd Cruz as the lead actor. Ang galing niya talaga umaarte, madadala ka sa bawat eksena. Ganun din kasi yung feeling nung nanuod ako ng Close to You and A Very Special Love.

Haha.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

What's your flavour?

It's part of being a Marketing, Advertising or Business Management major to sell numerous products and must have at least P30,000.00 of sales. This is known to be the Learn By Doing (LBD) program in DLSU-M. I just had my turn last term and I was able to have almost P95K sales. =D And this term,I have a couple of friends who have been sending/flooding me messages about their task to sell almost the same products I sold last term. One of the messages I received in my email was the list of wines along with their prices. It was new to me. I don't know if I was just unaware that one of the wine items is Baileys. Well, during my time, different kinds of red and white wines were the only ones on the list. That's why the name Baileys really caught my attention.

Well, I'm not really a drinker. I don't like beers, even the light ones. They don't taste good for me. But when I tried Baileys... It was awesome. Obviously, it's because it's mixed with chocolate. No normal person dislikes chocolate!

Anyway, I searched for the website of Baileys. I didn't really know what to look for in their site. I just searched for it without any reason.

I was directed to this site. I took the quiz and the printscreened photos below is the result of the quiz.



I didn't know that the quiz entitles you to a raffle promo... something like that. So there, I continued filling up the necessary information. Who knows that I might be receiving one bottle of Baileys for the next few months?

I wonder when's the next time my tongue could taste another Baileys, 'cause as far as I can remember, it was November last year when I had a drink. I know I'm such a loser, but I don't mind. Alcohol is not really my thing. Chocolate describes me more. :P

Monday, October 6, 2008

The Cold Ones

I am already on the 133rd page of the Twilight book! Alam kong nahuli na ako sa uso. Haha. But, I guess, maabutan ko pa naman yung movie. The novel is a bit light and fast read. So kahit na asal-pagong ako magbasa, sure ako pwede na akong manuod ng movie kahit sa first week pa lang! :))

Naalala ko nung first year high school ako... Nagbabasa pa rin ako kahit showing na sa sinehan yung Harry Pooter. Kaya ang ginawa ko, since may VCD sa bahay nung movie, putul-putol ko siyang pinanuod. So kung hanggang saang part ng book pa lang yung nababasa ko, hanggang dun lang yung papanuorin ko sa VCD. Hahaha. But it won't happen this time! Itaga mo yan sa bato. Haha.

Anyhow, aside from feeling as if I were in high school again while reading the book this morning, si Juno yung napipicture ko sa utak ko for Bella. Siguro dala na rin ng asal niya and the fact that she drives a truck... so parang siga ang dating sa akin kaya na-associate ko siya kay Juno. And accordiing to my friend na nagpahiram sa akin ng book, the actress behind Juno was one of the actresses na pinagpilian for the role of Bella.

Ayun.

Hayaan mo, I will let you know as soon as I finished the book.

Start betting now! Joke lang. Donate niyo na lang yung pera na pang-bet niyo sa akin.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Books on my shelf


I was just checking and updating my Shelfari account when my eyes laid on one of the books on my shelf, Baby Farm. I was second year high school when I read this book. So it's more or less 6 six years ago.

I could not really remember the ending of the book. Haha. Well, I don't really remember the ending of most books I've read. What I remember on this book was that babies and pregnant ladies are being kidnapped for some reason I already forgot.

This I guess is one of the first few suspense novels I've read. I really loved it. I remember that I could not really put down the book even if it was already late. I just wanted to know what would happen next.

What made me try to read the book? Well, it was actually for a book report for my English subject. And my teacher suggested that we could choose from the books donated the previous year so that we don't have to buy from bookstores.

Yes, the book's one of those donated. It was actually donated by my classmate. She was even shocked to hear that I loved the book, because she just bought it from a book sale just to have something to donate.

Speaking of book sale, National Bookstore's having a book sale the past few days. It was just sad on my part that I didn't really go through the books on sale, 'cause I was really broke last week! I really don't know if they still have it. But it's okay... There's still next time! Let's start saving our money!

***

Anyway,

Book Update:


>>>Didn't finish Dean Koontz's Life Expectancy. I know I'm such a quitter. The book is a bit dragging and boring although it was funny. The book promised to discuss 5 major events that the main character will be experiencing. Well, I was halfway done already, yet the author hasn't finished telling the first event. So I gave up and just returned the book to the library.

>>>I'm reading Twilight now... You know, the one by Stephanie Meyer... The one everybody's talking about! I've heard of the book months and months ago, but I was just convinced last Saturday by my high school friends. Their wide eyes, dropped jaws and giggles just made want to read the book. :)

Thursday, October 2, 2008

I felt it

I don't know what time it was exactly. But it was surely midnight... early this morning... dark, early morning.

I woke up due to an earthquake. It wasn't really a major earthqauke. It was just same as with the one Metro Manila had last Saturday. It happened twice as well. But, the fact that I was just alone in the room and was being waken up by it, it scared me.

Now, I am asking every person I know if they felt it too. Apparently, they were all sleeping soundly when it happened. Even my dormmate who's just right below my room didn't feel it.

Was I dreaming? I really don't know!

Tell me, did you feel it too?

Friday, September 26, 2008

Seriously



Due to too much boredom here in the office (Isn't ironic to have a boring OJT? As in the type where you really have nothing to do...), I tried to search if there's a 5th season for my oh so favorite Grey's Anatomy. I really had no idea about it. I was not informed by studio 23 about the new season... Maybe because I'm not really a fan of studio 23. Hehe.

But it's seriously true... There is such thing as GREY's ANATOMY season 5! I just knew it now! And it actually aired its first episode yesterday! And not just that... the premiere lasts for two long hours. :O

I wonder when can I watch the new season. Hmmm.

*excited*

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

How many days to go before Christmas?

Sabi ng tatay ko, kapag September 1 na... 115 days to go before Christmas na daw. =) That's a start to answer my blog title. Haha

***

Every year na lang, gusto ng tatay ko ng christmas songs for december. Knowing him, mababaw lang talaga siya and ang luho niya is a bit 'childish.' Yung christmas songs, for instance. Another would be the "figurines" na "cute" para sa kanya. Hehehehe

Anyway, I'm downloading Christmas Songs for him. Syempre, as much as possible, dapat mejo classic. Pero what I found out from limewire were contemporary versions ng Xmas songs... Hahaha I like Hilary Duff's Jingle Bell Rock. Hahahaha

Sunday, September 21, 2008

So this is what I get...

UAAP ticket
Others might think of me as a pessimist. And to every pessimist's argument, I too would say that I am actually a realist. :D

Let's face it. The lost game 1 of the finals against the Ateneo Blue Eagles was inevitable. The Blue Eagles this season is just so strong and eager. Partida na nga ang drama eh! If you watched the game, Chris Tiu just scored two points for the whole game since he was just able to play for a long time during the fourth quarter. And yet, during the quarters where he was just a 'bench,' the Green Archers were already having a hard time to make points. Rabeh Al Hussaini of the blue side was just unstoppable. I hate him.

This is heart-breaking for me to say, but as far as I could remember, Green Archers were only able to make a 'lamang' ONCE. It didn't even take long enough for the Blue Eagles to earn it back. :(

Moving on, aside from the Accenture / Jollibee banners I wanted to have since the start of this season, I also got a free Animo Sim card by going to the game. Actually, before I entered Araneta Coliseum, I already took my share of that Animo Sim. But I left it on the seat I sat on. So on our way out after the loss, we were fortunate that there were still free Animo sims being given out. I signed up again and get another one. Hehe. I just want to have another spare sim since I plan to change (again) my number. Let's get rid of those annoying texts from annoying people. Hehe. The sim card holder is actually cute, better than the La Salle ID itself. Hehe.

Animo Sim

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Ellen and Portia

I was already in Manila when Second Avenue's The Ellen Show would air the Ellen-Portia Wedding. So I just resorted to youtube and watch about the said wedding (Tv in dorm is low-tech. No Cable!). =) Just wanna share what I was able to watch, especially for those living without cable like me.

Here are some helpful links:

1. The Ellen Show

2. Pictures

It's my first time to see the 'girl' in Ellen's life. I didn't know about her before the wedding buzz. She's (Portia) really pretty! I <3 her beauty (this isn't the lesbian talking, okay?)

Anybody heard of the show Mad Men?

Well, I did.

I first heard it on TV, during a commercial on one of the cable channels just last, last week (during the term break). It was really new to me since I don't have cable in the dorm!

After hearing about the title, even without any idea of what the show is about, I was so curious that I noted it on my phone so that I could search for it on the net. Then, on our first day at the ad agency where we're going to work with for 200 hours (for OJT), the managing partner, who was orienting us with advertising and agency backgrounds, happened to mention the show Mad Men. But I still didn't know what it meant.

So now, having the spare time to entertain myself, because I'm aware that I'll most likely not have enough time to enjoy once the real OJT starts (which is tomorrow! Gods, help me), I searched for the said show and found out that it in the context of ADVERTISING!

I have to see the show!! I hope I could relate to it and that it's a nice show--Oh well, I just want something happy, comic. =)

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Another 'love at first sight'

Mahirap ang buhay. Alam naman nating lahat ‘yon. Kaya as much as possible, we want to have the most value for the money we shell out. Sulit, in other words.

Gragraduate na ako, which I guess is synonymous with ‘begging for money on the streets.’ Lol. Pero the fact na graduating student na ako, this is my last chance na abusuhin ang kuryente ng eskwelahan ko, pati na ang internet na binabayaran ko, at ang mga libro sa library na pwede kong hiramin.

It became a task to me to borrow books from the library as a way to maximize the benefits I’ve paid for, especially now that I have this craving for books. Hindi naman kasi ako bookworm. I like reading novels, but I can’t say that I love doing it. =)

Sa kaatatan ko, dumaan na ako sa library a day before the school starts thinking na baka pwede nang manghiram kahit ‘term break’ pa rin. Napahiya ang lola mo, dahil obviously, hindi pa pwede. Kaya kahapon na lang ako nagpunta ng library, since kahapon lang ako naging free from OJT.

I searched for Rich Dad, Poor Dad through the OPAC, a computer system that enables you to check if books are available, or out, or reserved, or lost. Unfortunately, wala siya. As in, lost. So I tried to look for a nice book from the shelves. Kahit ano na, basta medyo maganda. But I didn’t have the instincts na nagsasabing, “Ah maganda itong book na ito.” Kaya I decided to just leave the library and maybe just come back after two to three if the librarians are able to find the lost Rich Dad, Poor Dad book already. But by the door of the circulation section of the library, merong maliit na de-ikot na shelf for fiction books. Doon na lang ako pumili. I saw Dean Koontz’s book first. I took it, pero hindi ko masyadong nagustuhan yung plot. Tapos tumingin ako ulit ng iba, meron ulit Dean Koontz. So I got this feeling na sikat siya, given that most of his books are being displayed by the door of that particular section of the library.

I got ‘Life Expectancy.’ And I just finished reading its first chapter. Maganda siya. And I could agree sa mga ‘ editorial comments’ na nakalagay sa cover ng book. Sa few pages na nabasa ko, I could say na the book has humor and suspense, just the things I like.

Let’s just see if I become a fan of Dean Koontz. =)

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Yum! Recipe

It's not like I'm Katherine from Desperate Housewives who would not give out or share a single recipe. And you don't have to be Bree Hodge who had to break in a house just to get it. =)

Actually, the recipe for my carbonara was just from the net (http://www2.kitchenomics.com/cgi-bin/dmk2006/read_recipes.cgi?action=show_recipe&start=0&recipe=159&template=recipe_category&category=Kiddie). For me, this is the easiest and safest amongst the available recipes online. I remember the recipe I tried the first time. It was horrible. It just tasted milk, milk, milk. And the hardest part of it was to force yourself to eat it and convince people that it wasn't that bad and that the taste was tolerable.

By the way, I actually didn't follow strictly the del monte kitchenomics recipe. I made some changes... I doubled the measurement for the pasta, butter and milk. I intended to double the amount of flour as well, but as I've mentioned, I ran of flour. So I guess I was only able to put around 2.5 tbsp. :) Also, for the water, I couldn't remember if I doubled its measurement or not. Hehe. The bacon was 200g rather than 150g. I used PORK broth cube instead of chicken (NOTE: and I didn't double its measurement). And I didn't put any cheese even if I have one whole quick melt cheese in the fridge that I haven't used since I bought it. Hehe. Sure that my mother's nagging routine affected my mood to put cheese. Haha.

Next time I would cook carbonara, I guess I would stick with the pork broth cubes. I'll also put cheese and I might add some canned button mushrooms. :)


The public demand for the recipe is really flattering. Hahaha Public demand talaga?
:)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Yum!



Last night, I made my second shot of Spaghetti Carbonara.

If I were a kindergarten student, I guess I would have gotten a star on my hand for a job-well-done! Actually, it’s more on me giving myself a star for a job-well-done. Lol.

To be perfectly honest, whoever would give me that star, I know I deserve it (pagbigyan niyo na ako). That Spaghetti Carbonara I made last night was definitely way better than my first attempt. Although last night’s sauce was not thick enough (because I ran out of flour), at least now, it already tasted like a real carbonara!

Here are the pictures of the pasta I cooked! I tried a lomo effect on the other one. I hope it looks ‘lomo’ to you. Haha!



Monday, September 8, 2008

McDreamy Trivia

I remember the very first time I watched Grey’s Anatomy in Studio 23. I couldn’t comprehend much of the story since that particular episode was already a part of season three. Nevertheless, I was entertained by the cute punchlines by the good-looking surgeons of Seattle Grace Hospital, especially by Dr. Derek Shepherd. ;-)

It was a love at first sight, both by the show and by the actor behind Derek Shepherd’s character. I liked Patrick Dempsey, but more as Derek Shepherd. To me, he’s this beardy sexy doctor you’d wish to attend you when you are sick, or should I say you’d wish you would get sick more often. He’s also the few dirty faced guys I consider to be sexy. But did you know that before he grew this bush on his face, he has this past that I can’t consider to be sexy? Not at all. Never.


I just knew this from cable. Patrick Dempsey got his first marriage at 21 to a 26 years older woman, Rocky Parker. And by that age, he was already a stepfather to a 22-year old stepson.

A very silly idea, isn’t?

Oh well, they don’t look like a couple to me, but they’re more of a mother-son relationship.

Good in Bed, Jennifer Weiner


It’s a chick lit. It’s up to you if you’d take it as a compliment, but for me, it’s a disappointment.

It was the ‘chick lit’ and being the author of ‘In Her Shoes’ and the humor that the reviews have been saying that made me buy the book. Contrary to the entertainment and the laugh-out-loud experience that I was expecting from the book, I find it as a chore to finish it, especially when I asked it as a ‘pasalubong’ from my Uncle who’s based in the States. But I have to admit that there’s a part in the book where her humor effected on me. It’s where she said that she dreamed that both of her breasts were rolling away from her due to the pain she was experiencing being pregnant. The rest of her humor, however, was hard to understand and I guess wasn’t a ‘universal’ one.

Another, I don’t know if the author wants to make an impression from the readers to have mastered vocabularies from the dictionary. She has this thing on using deep synonyms than using words that are easy to understand. Along with the chore of finishing the book, I also had to bring a dictionary with me in order to understand words I’ve never encountered before.

It was a surprise to me that the book talked less on the romantic part, which was the first thing I want from a chick lit, and talked more the issue of being a larger woman. The main character, Candace or Cannie Shapiro, was also a pathetic one during the climax. Giving a premature birth to her daughter served as the character’s turning point, but she chose to face it the rueful way, doing beyond normal activities. The author, I guess, wanted to appeal to pity from the readers, wanted to make the readers say their ‘awwws’ and cry. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the effect on a stone-hearted reader like me (sarcastic)!

Friday, July 11, 2008

In Need of Chocolates

I assume you've somehow heard of the saying 'Happiness is a choice.' Even before this was introduced in our Lasaret (LaSallian Retreat) last January or when my friend, Misha, mentioned it in her blog recently, I've always believed that everyone can be happy whenever he/she wants to ecperience it.


However, sometimes, it's not enough for you to choose to be happy if others just choose to make you sad. Some of you might say that it's the sadness or the pessimism talking. But when you think about it, I actually have a point.


As Nicholas Sparks' mother would say, what you want and what you get are two different things and that nobody promised life to be fair. True-laloo. It's not always possible to cut Charmie's hair (Yes, my friend allowed me to cut her hair for about two inches shorter, which made me feel better and worthy) to lift my spirits up--as if her hair grows an inch each day--whenever someone thinks of dragging me into the world of loneliness.

Mood: Reluctant. Apathetic. Gloomy.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Three Weeks With My Brother


I bought this book thinking that I would get entertained by both the memoir of Sparks family and Micah & Nicholas' trip around the world. Although the brothers' trip around the world didn't amuse me as a traveler, I could say that the book is still worth to read. It's not a total disappointment.

We've known Nicholas Sparks as the author who would really melt every reader's heart with his fictional stories. With this book, you'll know that even his real life is one kind of a drama.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Sodomy

Hmmm… It was really a relief for me after I’ve taken all the PE subjects every college student is required to take. As you can see, I’m not really into stretching my body get my muscles firm and healthy. I’m not the type of person who would want to have extra sweat running out of my little pores and down my sexy body. My sweat glands have been working 24hours and I don’t need to exert extra effort for it.

Nonetheless, I know the importance of getting a little insane to do some sports. So there, I reserved the weekend for something sporty.

I had swimming for Saturday. Therefore, I had the muscles on my tummy ached early this day. Moreover, I just had biking in the cemetery when we visited my late grandmother this afternoon. And I don’t know if it was the culprit of headache I am feeling this very moment. Anyway, after rounds of biking in the cemetery, we went back home and I went back to watch Desperate Housewives marathon which has been provided by Star World for mother’s day’s sake and which has taught me the word sodomy.
(PS. I don’t know when this marathon'll stop.)

*Desperate Housewives picture was from http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/214473.jpg

Friday, May 2, 2008

Whatsoever-Man

I marked this year's Labor Day as my Socialize Day. After going through the classic routine of going to our store and helping out in running the business, I went to watch Iron Man with my high school friends. It was a typical hero movie, typically nice.

I wouldn't have bothered watching Iron Man if I were wise enough to have asked my friends which movie to watch before meeting them in the mall. I went there thinking that all of us were thinking the same thinking and were dreading to see Aga Mulach's movie since it has opened the day before. I was wrong. Obviously.

I didn't know if it was me, but I always assumed that it was Paramount Pictures' problem that they weren't able to get my interest to watch the film and that I was just dragged into the cinema of a mixed aroma of rotten, not-so rotten and barely rotten foods because of peer pressure. Nevertheless, the movie had managed to fascinate me inside the cinema and made me think twice if I still want to say that Robert Downey Jr. is not the hero material for me, because he's old and that his hotness has been cooled down by time, or simply shut up.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Summer

It’s me. And my summer experience.


While others are in their bikinis busy getting tanlines under their necks, I’m here back to being a probinsyana for two weeks and a day already, has been spending the summer being scorched by the sun and getting tanlines on my feet.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Absence of Law in Romantic Movies

It's one of the famous cliches that the children of two single parents, who are dating and will eventually get married, will fall in love. And of course, as we all know, the problem that will surely arise is that somehow the young couple will be seen as siblings although by blood, they're not. Therefrom, the young couple will most likely be forced by their parents or by the community to stop their relationship asap... And the cliche goes on and on.

Technically, the Philippine Law used to allow this kind of relationships. These relationships can even go as far as getting married. But today, FYI, relationships like these are already forbidden. These are only allowed if the young couple gets married first before their parents could. And with this, we could stop the cliche of the love story.

Thank me for listening to my Law on Taxation (Bucotax) class even for just a minute. =) But of course, also thanks to my prof, Atty. Mejia.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Just a line from a movie...


Children are not coloring books that
you can fill them with your favorite colors.


from The Kite Runner


Leon Guinto corner Estrada

I always tend to tell myself to practice bringing biscuits with me anywhere I go. It’s not to eat them when I get hungry, rather to give them to street children and old peeps who are begging for something, for money.

I don’t really give money to these people when they beg… I just don’t. But, of course, there’s always a point that I pity them whenever I pass by [mostly by old peeps, ‘coz some children tend to be so naughty and makulit that sometimes make me irritable]. That’s why I came up with the biscuit idea although I have not started practicing it. The least I can do and I’ve done a couple of times is to give them the excess foods that I will no longer eat [but are still in good condition… I mean they’re still edible].

I always think of myself as a selfish young lady, but who would have guessed that I gave my two slices of embutido and bought a cup of rice from a nearby carinderia just to give the old lady sitting on the corner of Leon Guinto and Estrada this afternoon?




Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Vantage Point took my breath away


If you haven't watched the Vantage Point, you're missing half of your life.


Yes, the Vantage Point has a very simple and common storyline. And it's always a thumbs up to put the effort in delivering its simple story through a real unforeseen twist, sound effects, furious car chase--a real action!

Still showing in theaters nationwide! Don't tend to buy dvd, either fake or original, to watch this movie!! Swear, you won't afford to miss the sound effects and all! Syempre, I want you to feel somewhat heart-attacked with the sounds of the several bombs and gunshots in the movie. And also, I want you to have those paranoia of thinking that the cinema you're in might be blasted by a bomb anytime given that you're in the Philippines. XD You'll never know that the seat your butt is laid on has a bomb under it.


...Marketing Insight No. 2.1 (?)

I guess I was wrong when I said Buy-the-book has it all, the nice storename, great color of signboard, and the price. I thought, I really thought, I would buy Feng Shui Detective first before RJ Ledesma's book, but I found myself going inside National Bookstore to purchase Lies My Yaya Should Have Told Me yesterday. What was the flaw?

Of course, I researched first the Feng Shui Detective before I would buy it. It wasn't really a famous book. So I needed to read some reviews of it online to see if it would have my money's worth. But because Buy-the-book can only be found in Sm Manila and I prefer going to RP-Ermita when I want to leave my lungga (and that is to watch a movie with some friend/s), the "Lies..." book is more reachable than pure English hardbound books of Buy-The-Book. So afterall, branching out also makes it vital in one's business.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Mass production

Don't argue with me when I say Filipinos are very obedient. Don't be blinded by the continuously breaking of rules by the Filipino men that made Bayani Fernando spread all these pink and blue footbridges, fences, posters, and so on around Metro Manila.

In accordance to God's words, Filipinos surely went fruitful and multiplied. They fill up this country with children who are supposed to be loved and cared for, but are more or less starved to death.

More often than not, they continue to live in the confines of the saying "the more, the merrier." But who would have thoought that these people might actually believe that they could be like TomKat or Brangelina who were paid $4M and $2M, respectively, for having their babies' first pictures exposed to public exclusively through People's magazine? Or be like Joe Madden and Nicole Richie with the more humble price of $1M? Or be like Jamie Lynn Spears with nobody-cares-how-much-the-baby-would-cost-coz-who-is-she-anyway? Who knows? Everyone could live like H'wood stars if they want to.

Books Before Boys

I was surfing the net and came across a book review on a newly released book by a newbie Filipino writer we will call RJ Ledesma. For those who do not know, the author is said to be the "Royal-Tru-Orange" TVC guy. So, was that like a decade ago? No offense peeps, but the name doesn't ring a bell to me.

Despite that I do not know the guy, RJ Ledesma's Lies My Yaya Should Have Told Me actually got my attention. With the menacing look of RJ Ledesma's picture on the front of the orange-covered book, I have considered myself to put it on the list of the things to buy. The book is actually a compilation of essays on his insights on dating, courtships and the like.
The review I read cited some of RJ Ledesma's witty wisecracks from the book, which made it all special to me. =)

*****

Marketing Insight No. 2

In desperate need for a tripod for my 360degrees panoramic shot in my ADRAPHY (Advertising Photography) class, I went impulsively to SM Manila to buy one. Before leaving the mall to proceed to the photoshoot, I saw an attractive store I haven't seen since my last visit in the mall, which was just last month.

It wasn't just the strong color of the signboard, but the store name itself puts strong impact on the passerby people. BUY-THE-BOOK is obviously derived from the famous phrase "By the book." Aside from the homonym/spoof strategy on the brandname, it even asks.demands on the people to purchase the books it's selling. With this, BUY-THE-BOOK is able to attract and draw interest from the people and even make it possible and easier to act on purchasing its products since the price of their hardbound purely English books is very much affordable. Evidently, it made me want to buy "Feng Shui Detective" first before "Lies My Yaya Should Have Told Me."

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Identity Crisis in Nestle Factory Visit

I guess Nestle succeeded once again on their marketing strategy having more than 20 persons to attend a factory tour two days before the heart's day. And I was one of those people who eagerly wore green shirt and paid P170 to the sponsoring org in our school for the transportation to visit Nestle's factory in Aurora Blvd., QC.

Nestle has four factories here in the
Philippines. Each factory manufactures different lines/products of the company. For Aurora branch for instance, they manufacture ice cream and chilled beverages.

The list of flavors of Nestle ice cream is overflowing yet Nestle still manages to create more recipes and flavors for ice cream especially now that summer is near. It seems like Nestle is not contented to just stick on creating recipes for their company since it also manufactures other ice cream sold in the country such as McDo, Jollibee, Burger King, Dairy Queen and
Enchanted Kingdom. But of course, the recipes for these fastfood chains are customized according to their will. Nestle is just the one to "cook" the ice cream for them. No wonder McDo's sundae is whiter than Jollibee's. Anyhow, known for being an international company, Nestle still adopts different recipes for each country. Of course, the market will always be the determinant of the strategies, recipes and so on. However, there is only one research team for Nestle. And that would be the Nestle-Switzerland.


After the spoonfeeding of information, we were, of course, accompanied to see the factory in their viewdeck. Surrendering the camera phones and digital cameras to the receptionist before the tour started wasn't really useful (I hoped that my phone will be lost during their possession so that I could ask for the dealership in exchange of my lost cellphone >:) ). There weren't much things to see--just some machines that makes my favorite twin popsies and double dutch. After that, we were given a freebie--an ice cream, of course!

If I can't get enough of one ice cream from them, then I would have to go there every Saturday to volunteer myself for a taste test. Nestle conducts this every week, but slots have to be reserved ahead of time. You can call the office and look for Miss Hannah to register.

Closing Remarks: If Tweety Bird is male despite of its effortless curly eyelashes, what would be the gender of Chuckie, the ugly cow for Nestle's chocolate drink? Why?

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Zero Interest


Marketing Insight No. 1

Filipino-Chinese compose a big percentage in the Philippine population. Fil-Chi are Henry Sy, John Gokongwei and Lucio Tan. They are rich and famous and kidnap-able. Given thesesociety-given descriptions of Filipino-Chinese, they surely are a good market for real estate.

If you will notice, there are lots of condominiums already on their pre-selling or construction stages. (The industry of real estate must be thankful for the lowered interest rates on loans caused by the strengthening of the Philippine Peso.) And I’ve gone to some model units of condominiums around the metro. The units were amazingly beautiful (and reflective in their price). Even so, they still lack appeal to the Fil-Chi market. The floor plans of these condominiums neglect to consider the application of feng shui, even just the basic ones. One of the condominiums I’ve gone to had its door fronting the door of another unit. Even that simple mistake could make the whole beautiful condominium somewhat off and push away the interest of the potential buyers. And feng shui is not just believed by Chinese alone. I know Filipinos by blood who believe in this superstition.


Thursday, January 31, 2008

Billboard



I think that I shall never see

A billboard as lovely as a tree
Indeed, unless the billboards fall
I'll never see a tree at all.


http://advertising.utexas.edu/research/quotes/

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Are you one of us?


‘Di maikakailang isang napakalaking kulto na ang nabuo. Nagkalat ang mga myembro nitong nakasuot ng kanilang all-white uniforms sa kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas. Naitalang 386,531 na ang kanilang populasyon sa 460 na branches nationwide. Kada segundo nga’y mas lumalaki ito dahil sa mga taong patuloy na nagpapaloloko sa pagsali dito—ani mo’y sinasambit nila ang mga katagang, “Are you one of us?”

I’m not one of them. At masaya ako doon.

Advertising major ako ngayon sa De La Salle University. Sabi nga nila, we, kaming nasa advertising industry, don’t follow trends. We set the trends. Hindi ko naman inaasahang mapapadpad ako sa mundong ito, pero sa simula pa lamang ay hindi na talaga ako sumusunod sa pauso ng mga tao. Hindi rin ako sumusunod sa kung ano ang gusto ng mga magulang ko.

Dahil nga uso, gusto rin sana ng tatay ko ang kumuha ako ng nursing. Laking gulat ko na lang noong inimungkahi niya ang nasabing kurso. Hindi naman niya kasi usually pinakikialaman ang mga kinuhang kurso sa kolehiyo ng ate’t kuya ko.

Gabi na ‘yon noong tinawag niya ako para sa isang heart-to-heart talk. Hindi naman masyadong nagtagal ang madibdibang usapan kahit pa ‘sang katutak ang introduction ni tatay. Hinayaan ko na lang siya. Moment niya ‘yon.

Ganadong-ganado siya sa pagkwento ng mga istorya ng tagumpay ng mga nars—kesyo makakapunta ka pa ng ibang bansa at hindi na niya kailangan pang gumastos ng pamasahe namin sa mga tour sa ibang bansa at ang kikitain ng isang taon dito sa Pilipinas ay buwan lang ang katapat doon.

Natapos na ang moment niya nung sinagot ko ang nag-iisang tanong na ‘Deal or No Deal.’ Hindi ko na kinailangang mag-isip ng isasagot. Hindi ako nawindang. Alam kong nag-iisa lang din ang sagot sa nag-iisang tanong na iyon. No deal na agad.

Marahil ay nakitaan niya ako ng potential ng pagiging nurse dahil ako ang nagpapaalala at nagpapakain sa kanya ng gamot. Pero tapos na ang career ko dito kahit hindi pa nauumpisahan. Sa katunayan, wala naman talaga akong balak umpisahan ito. Imahinasyon lang ni tatay iyon.

Sumimple na lang si tatay at tinanong niya ako sa kursong gusto ko. Sa totoo lang, wala pa akong masyadong ideya dahil 3rd year hisgh school pa lamang ako noon. Pero journalism ang sinabi ko sa kanya. Isang kasinungalingan. Ang labo.

Hindi ugali ni tatay ang pumilit ng tao sa hindi niya gusto. Hinayaan na lang din niya ako sa kung ano man ang kukunin kong kurso.

Jackpot nga daw ang nursing para sa marami. Isang sumpa naman ito para sa akin. Walang tigil ang pressure sa akin ng mga tao-tao sa paligid. Ang hirap hindi pansinin lalo na kung lalaitin ka pa sa kursong kinukuha mo. Oo, pikon na pikon ako sa kanila. Kumukulo ang dugo ko hanggang sa mga oras na ito.

Hindi nga masyadong kilala ang kursong advertising. Kahit ako, hindi ko alam na may ganoong kurso at kung ano ang ginagawa at gagawin ng advertising majors, pero I fell in love at first sight. ‘Yon pa rin ang napili ko nai-apply sa mga unibersidad.

Mahirap nga talaga ipaliwanag sa mga tao kung ano ang kursong advertising. Sabi nga ng isang creative director sa isang ad agency na nakapanayam namin kamakailan, hindi din alam ng mga magulang niya kung ano ba talaga ang trabaho niya. Mahigit sampung taon na siya sa industriya. Iniisip na lang nila na director ng pelikula o commercials ang anak nila na malayong-malayo naman talaga sa trabaho niya. Mahigit sampung taon nang director ng pelicula at commercials ang anak nila.

Hindi naman kasi kasikatan ang kursong napili at kasalukuyang kinukuha ko ngayon. Kaya siguro ganoon na lang ka-nega ang mga tao ‘pag narinig ang weirdo kong course.

Marami-rami na ring nagsabi sa akin na dapat nag-nursing na lang ako, dahil kung iyong mga doctor nga ay nag-aaral ulit para maging nars. Pati nga ‘yong tita kong licensed med-tech ay nag-aaral ngayon ng nursing. At sabi pa ng mga kapatid niya, sabayan ko na lang daw siya mag-aral ng nursing. Okey. Napakagandang ideya. Magiging classmate ko na si tita! Ang saya-saya noh?

Pati na rin noong tinanong ako ng kaibigan ng tita ko na isang na uto-utong dermatologist na nagbalik-eskwela at ngayo’y nagpapakagaga sa nursing kung ano ang course ko. Taas noo akong sumagot ng, “Advertising Management at European Studies.” Hindi umubra ang pagmamalaki ng lola mo. Sa akin na lang ipinamukha na wala naman daw akong mapapala sa advertising. Mangangapa-ngapa lang daw ako ng trabaho pagka-graduate ko. Hindi raw tulad noong anak ng kaibigan niya na gusto sanang mag-engineering pero mas piniling magpakagago din tulad niya at kumuha na lang ng nursing. Nars na nga daw siya ngayon sa States. At wala pang isang taon ay nakabilli na siya agad ng kotse niya. Doon na lang daw niya i-practice ang pagiging engineer niya.

Tahimik kong inabsorb ang masasakit na mga salitang kanyang sinambit. Akala mo kung sino siya. Gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kanya, “PI, close ba tayo? Nursing mo mukha mo! Walang pakialamanan dito.”

Alam ko ang tungkol sa stiff competition sa job opportunities sa advertising industry, but my course is not limited in working for advertising agencies alone. My course can go beyond that, parang si Buzz lightyear. At saka, nandiyan lang naman ang call center eh. Haler?

Malaki ang sakop ng media. Pwede akong pumasok sa mga TV networks or production houses. Pwede rin naman akong maging photographer, web designer and the like. At hindi rin naman kami nalalayo sa business or corporate world, dahil marketing ang advertising. At ang advertising ay marketing.

Ilan taon na lang ay gra-graduate na ako. Masayang gra-graduate ang lola mo as an advertising major and, as what they say, mangangapa ng trabaho.

Hindi naman kontra to the highest level ang tatay ko. Hindi naman kasi siya tulad kong pinanganak na kontrabida. Pero pinayuhan niya ako minsan na dapat sigurado ako sa course ko at dapat may trabaho akong mahahanap after graduation. Style nga talaga ng tatay ko. Pero wala naman akong sama ng loob sa kanya. Concerned citizen lang siya tulad ko. Alam niya at alam ko kung gaano kahirap ang buhay dito sa Pilipinas. At bilang utang na loob din, gusto ko din namang makabawi sa lahat ng hirap niya sa pagpapaaral sa akin. ‘Di man ako nakasisiguro sa hinaharap, pero kakayanin kong tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa. ‘Di man sa unang taon, pero makakabili din ako ng kotse ko. ‘Di man ako tiyak na makakatsamba at makakapagtrabaho ako sa isang advertising agency, nangangarap pa rin akong makatanggap ng kanilang 17th-month pay. Wala namang masama kung mangarap eh. Sa katunayan, ngayon pa lang ay masaya na ako sa narating ko. Pero, syempre, ayaw ko sanang makontento na lang doon. Naniniwala akong there are some things that come in great deals. Hindi naman lahat kailangan isakripisyo ang kasiyahan para yumaman. Minsan pwede ka din namang maging masaya habang nagpapayaman.

Ang mga concerned citizen na rin ang nag-udyok sa akin na higitan pa ang pwede kong gawin. Ngayon pa lamang ay nadidiskubre ko na kung anu-ano pa ang pwede kong gawin. Nadiskubre kong pwede pala akong bumuo at pamunuan ang isang kulto—ang anti-nursing club. Are you one of us?