paranormal activity

i'm a big fan of blair witch project, cloverfield, and rec (also quarantine). there's something about the amateur hand-held camcorder point of view or found footage effect that creates a heightened sense of reality and a greater sense of dread. paranormal activity is at par with these films. the film will get you involved and keep you on your toes from start to finish. i suggest you watch it at night and with the lights off.

forget about the hype (i know it's over-hyped!!!) and enjoy the film as it is. for a film with only 15,000 dollars budget, it's pretty damn good.

rexona cup results

we finished third place !!! not bad... not bad at all... age has slowed us down but we still have that winning attitude. haha.

the last time i played football in zamboanga was 14 years ago. i was still in high school back then. i can't believe that it has been that long...

merry christmas...

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home !"

- Charles Dickens


one of my favorite christmas quotes... happy holidays everyone !!! cheers !!!

gulp

here are some of the best places to chill and lounge around or to have private parties around the ortigas/mandaluyong area.

1) for the road (madison complex, pioneer)
good food, cheap beer, and cool music. i suggest you try out the liempo for the road and buttered chicken. you'll see me here on most nights. haha.

2) bugsys (j vargas, citigolf area)
the buffalo tenders and chicken wings are too die for. you get lucky on some nights. lots of eye candies.

3) taverna (meralco corner j vargas ave.)
one of my fav bars in the ortigas area becoz of its ambiance. hirap lang ng parking though. it's such a pain.

4) pivo (home depot complex, j vargas ave.)
overwhelming beer list. need to say more?

5) cafe mondial (silver city, j vargas ave.)
an ideal place to chill and load up on beer before heading to alchemy or to the fort for a night of partying.

home at last

just arrived in zamboanga this morning for a much needed holiday break. it's been a stressful week. it seems that my body couldn't keep up with the "work hard. party harder" mentality anymore. haha. imagine 3 stag parties, 2 weddings, 3 xmas parties, 1 bday bash, and 1 binyag... all in one week!!! i had to double-book or even triple-book on some nights!!!

2009 is a bad year for me. but i should still count my blessings. looks like i'm coming out of it still in one piece. buti nalang.

to make most of my thirteen days, i'm listing below my things-to-do.

1) catch up on sleep
2) get a massage
3) lunch at alavar or maybe zackys (used to be sunburst)
4) dinner at antonios
5) start my aquathon training
6) join the rexona cup on the 26th and 27th
7) finish a book
8) watch lots of tv (i rarely watch tv in manila)
9) buy pasalubong
10) blog blog blog

for my first night here, it's tv time =) bye.

clive barker

thanks to an office mate, i got introduced to clive barker. i've heard about him before since he's responsible for hellraiser. i was just not convinced enough to try out reading his stuff. but after getting to read book of blood, it seems that i could be a future fan.

if you're fond of stephen king novels, my guess is you will like book of blood. i'm definitely planning to read more clive barker stuff next year.


note: i also got to watch the movie adaptation... it's okay. not bad at all.

apparition

i received urbandub's latest cd as a kris kringle gift last monday night. in my opinion, this could be urbandub's best effort to date. when listening... make sure to crank up the volume... and allow yourself to get intoxicated with udubs signature heavy riffs, screaming drums, and harmonious vocals blending of gabby and lalay. the signature melodic rock tunes and diverse songwriting are still there. but the best thing about this album is that their growth and evolution as artists are apparent. this band is not afraid to try out new stuff and go on full throttle while at it.

so what are you waiting for? reward yourself with good rock music this christmas. apparition can give you a good buzz equivalent to five beers. intoxicating music.

cheers !!! burp...

avatar

avatar is finally here.

the long wait is over. and it was worth it.

avatar has everything in it - including the "wow" factor. and it gives us a preview of the future of cinema. life is 3d. so why shouldn't films be?

it's really a blue christmas...

happy holidays to everyone !!!

happy blue xmas

this year is ateneo's year.

not only ateneo celebrated it's 150th bday... the blue eagles also completed the season with a PCCL championship.

after winning the uaap and uni-games, the dream season is now complete with this championship win against the feu tamarraws.

it's cherry on a vanilla sundae. sweet.

congrats to the blue eagles for making history.

wanted border

wanted border is a product of cineone festival. they say that this festival is more experimental than its more popular counterpart cinemalaya. watching this film validates that. wanted border is a film that everyone should see but not everyone will like. it's easy to dislike for a lot of reasons, but you can't not acknowledge the genius behind its creative process.

the dark subject and non-linear story-telling actually reminded me of christopher nolan films. and its being experimental, thought-provoking, and out of the box made me think of darren aronofsky. so it only goes to say that i love this film, and i give it a five out of five rating.

si baning, si maymay, at ang asong si bobo.

this is the only film i was able to watch last cinemaone festival. milo tolentino's work is pretty good. i like the characters he created, the film's crisp and vibrant colors, and picturesque backdrop. i have one complaint though. the film could be tighter with better editing. the film is 20 minutes too long. it often has the pace of a 25 year old car with engine trouble. sayang.

superbad vs sqs utd, 5 nil

we got our asses kicked big time !!! 5 nil...

o well... maybe we partied too much friday night. haha.

three straight loses. we better get our game going soon. hopefully, it's uphill from here.

a christmas carol

it's the timeless tale told in a very effective medium... 3D animation!!!

all i can say is that it is very truthful to charles dicken's masterpiece. maybe a bit over-the-top... yeah... of course... what do you expect... jim carrey is in it... but it is still a beautiful and memorable piece of work. a must-see this holiday season... a word of caution though... it's not your typical holiday movie. enjoy.

terra

it's hard to find a science fiction film that has all of these qualities

1) has a good storyline
2) original characters
3) emotionally engaging
4) thought-provoking
4) and a visual treat

especially if it's animated...

so get ready to be blown away by terra. it's something both kids and adults will surely enjoy.

lock and load. hehe.

double win

chelsea fc dominated arsenal with 2 goals to nil !!!

and barca prevailed against bitter rival real madrid (1 - 0) right after !!!

my trip to heckle & jeckle was worth it... plus i got free breakfast c/o ian. thanks to Ibrahimovic's superb second-half volley. hehe.

ateneo dorms

found this video on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VycTukVueQQ

... these were some of the best days of our lives...

i miss dorm life. we didn't have money back then but we truly had the time of our lives.

5th eccp soccer cup results

from http://s1de0ut.multiply.com/photos/album/219/Galacticos_Triunfar

20091114
European International School
5th ECCP Soccer Cup

DISCO DISCO! :p

Fresh from their podium finish in last month’s Liga Futsalista, the AFC continues to make its presence known by joining another external league. The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) in partnership with Siemens organized the 5th ECCP Soccer Cup held last November 14 at the European International School (EIS), Parañaque City. Participating teams from ECCP member companies were split into two brackets: the AFC Galacticos were pitted against Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) Mighty Cranes, Siemens Strikers, and Peninsula Manila; the AFC Huelguistas were to battle the LTP Hot Wings, For your EIS Only, Team Filtra, and Popeye D’ Sailor Maersk. As the sun rose, teams started filing into the fields, ready to start the games. After the opening ceremonies, the competition began. The hot noon sun accompanied the end of the eliminations, and hopes were high for an all-AFC finals as both teams topped their respective brackets. In the crossover semifinals, the AFC Galacticos scored a goal over For Your EIS Only, while defending champs Siemens Strikers refused to step down, denying the AFC Huelguistas a chance at the finals.

The championship then featured first-time entrants AFC Galacticos against last year’s top team Siemens Strikers. It was a tense first half as the afternoon sun took its toll on the tiring players. Attempts were made and missed, as the crowd collectively cheered and groaned. Halftime had both teams talking strategy to break the draw, and later the referee’s whistle signaled both teams to return to the field. After a few more scuffles, the AFC Galacticos executed a high throw-in followed through by a header past the Siemens goalkeeper, to seal the deal of the championship. To top off the AFC Galacticos’ championship, our own Captain Ryan Lim who scored the golden goal was also awarded Best Male Player, amid cheers from all the teams.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

congrats!!! disco disco!

finally, i won a football championship!!! last time yata grade 5 pa ako. haha.

world pyro olympics 09

Prepare for a more explosive, more spectacular experience! Witness the country's first pyromusical competition at the Bonifacio Global City.

The world's best teams will showcase their artistry and technical skill by shooting dazzling fireworks synchronized with musical scores. The competition's new venue, a departure from the past years' water-based firing, will allow for more creativity and versatility in the use of ground level and special effects.

For inquiries, call 509-4922, 568-6908, 384-0239, 904-1100 or 0906-366-9488.

http://www.worldpyroolympics.com/

------------------------------------------------------

i might check this out tonight!!! see you there.

adidas kotr 09 results

i don't think the adidas kotr 5K was actually a 5K race. i'm guessing it's around 6K. i find it surprising. and i'm not the only person who noticed it. i saw some blog entries out there with the same sentiments. anyway, i think i did pretty well considering i didn't train for the race. i was busy with football/futsal practices.

Place: 661
Bib No. 6734
Gun start time: 45:18
Pace 9:04
Net time: 43:15

i don't think i'd be able to join a race this november. maybe, december. i'm still aiming for a sub-30 minute 5K finish. kelan kaya mangyayari yun... i'm turning 3-0 soon. time is not on my side. haha.

15 minutes theory

It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship. Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations.
- Kahlil Gibran

at last i found something that supports my 15 minutes theory. haha. i believe that when meeting someone, the first 15 minutes defines the course of the entire relationship. during these short precious minutes, the guy, at the back of his head, would ask himself if he would want to continue pursuing or find a quiet way out. 15 minutes is all it takes – it is precursor to what will happen to the rest of the evening, to the rest of the relationship even.

my track record proves that i'm built this way.

maybe i can still change. who knows. all theories can be debunked right? hehe.

have a great weekend.

5th cinemaone festival

tomorrow is the last day of the 5th cinemaone festival screeenings. too bad i only found out about it this afternoon. it started last nov 13. it's indeed one of the lower profile festivals in the country. man, they should advertise more. yanggaw, which is one of my fav local films of all time, is a product of cinemaone. i should try to catch the last full show tomorrow night if work doesn't get in the way.

http://www.clickthecity.com/movies/?p=6383

my suicide

don't worry guys. i'm not yet suicidal. life is good. i hope i didn't scare you. hehe. 'my suicide' is just the title of the lone film i've watched last cinemanila 09. if i'm to rate it, i give it four out of five stars. the visual effects and animation were stunning and seamless. the editing was very creative. and the lead character also did one hell of a good job.

before the start of the film, i was glad to find out that the lead animator of 'my suicide' is a filipino american by the name arvin bautista. he treated us with a short introduction on what we are about to experience. i felt bad for him though coz we were only around 20 in the cinema, and half of the audience was relatives of his. the film is just too good not be be seen by many.

tired... need to rest...

life is good.

weekend futbol league 2009 kick-off

we finally kick-off the 2nd season of the Weekend Futbol League this weekend.

our first match is 3:30pm on saturday in ADM HS against Atletico FC. call time is 2:45pm. hmmm... i don't think i will be able to make it coz i'll be coming from bicutan (5th eccp soccer cup). traffic pa naman on satudays...

SQS Utd is ready... hehe.

5th eccp soccer cup 2009

Team Invitation! 5th ECCP Soccer Cup 2009
Date: 14 November 2009
Time: Kick Off at 8AM
Speaker: ***
Position:
Venue: European International School, Paranaque

Form your own corporate team NOW and join the fun of competing with other companies in the BPO, Logistics, Manufacturing, Telecom, Advertising and many more!

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) in partnership with Siemens is pleased to invite all
companies including Non-ECCP members to join! Here’s how :

• Form a mixed soccer team with a minimum of 12 and maximum of 15 players (Each team must have at least 2 female players and all players must be current employees of the company)
• Each company can send a maximum of 2 teams to participate.
• Fill-up the registration form below and fax back to 759-6690 or email sarene@eccp.com.
• Advance registration and payment is required, but the Names of Players can be submitted until 30 October 2009

The ECCP Soccer Cup is a great team building experience, proof that Filipinos do love to get a suntan, that soccer is more fun (and challenging!) when there are females in the team, and that the days of Basketball are numbered!

--------------------------------------------------------------

all set for saturday!!! we are fielding two teams. hmmm... two teams are better than one. haha.

wish us luck!!!

adidas kotr running clinic

i attended this running clinic by renowned tri-athlete and coach Ani De Leon last week at the fort. it was quite an experience. it's only a two hour course but i actually learned a lot. i learned that i have to unlearn a lot of bad running habits. hehe.

i didn't expect that there's so much science in running. now i'm back to square one.

zamboanga rebels 2009-2010 - my other league

my line-up for my other league (Ang Pantasya ni Kuya). two injured players in my roster - antawn jamison and blake griffin. tsk tsk. my fault. i wasn't able to update my draft rankings. too busy last week. o well, at least i have chris paul.

Chris Paul
Caron Butler
Baron Davis
Antawn Jamison
Josh Smith
Nene Hilario
Al Horford
Rasheed Wallace
Blake Griffin
Luol Deng
Trevor Ariza
Mike Miller
Peja Stojakovic

i still think this line-up can be upgraded. i better start looking into the free agent market.

zamboanga rebels 2009-2010

presenting my line up for the cersa 2009-2010 nba fantasy league season.

Kevin Durant
Gerald Wallace
Carmelo Anthony
Nene Hilario
Jason Terry
Al Harrington
Leandro Barbosa
Jermaine O'Neal
Chris Duhon
Tayshaun Prince
Grant Hill
Ryan Gomes

hmmmm. i'm happy with my picks. this year could be my year. haha.

thanks to johnb and cris cruz for being wonderful hosts in bulacan. sarap ng sisig sa orange resto. next year ulit.

cinemanila 09

please support cinemanila 09. it's currently on-going. you still have until sunday.

http://cinemanila.org/

who gave the green light?

from one of my fav local sports writer tommy manotic...

http://sports.inquirer.net/sport/basketball/view/20091022-231575/Who-gave-the-green-light

yeng guiao is an ass. the rough play and flagrant fouls were definitely triggered by the japeth aguilar issue and the trashing of the powerade team by smart gilas last month. the pba (especially the teams) should be thanking smart gilas for the improved attendance and tv ratings. who watches pba nowadays??? i watch the philippine cup only becoz of smart gilas.

i still like the whopper though. i'm actually craving for it now.

cineeuropa 09 in review

quick notes on the three films i watched last cineeuropa 09.

[rec] (Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, Spain 2007)
it is the orginal and far superior version of quarantine (the us remake). the film is kind of short, only 75 mins long, but it will stay in your head for a long time.

S certy nejsou zerty (Give the Devil His Due, Hynek Bocan, Czech Republic 1984)
this film is basically a screwed up fairy tale. it's interesting (and hilarious) coz hell is perceived in a different way. hell isn't that bad at all.

Mein name ist Eugen (Rascals on the Road, Michael Steiner, Swizerland, 2006)
this swiss film is fun to watch. witty, entertaining, and engaging.

pelicula 09 in review

i only watched two films but the two are among the best films ive seen this year.

la zona is a powerful and gripping thriller that touches the social contrast in a third world big city like mexico. i find it hard to believe that this is the first feature film of its director Rodrigo Pla. he will only get better. watch out.

caotica ana is a film on reincarnation and unending love. this film by acclaimed director julio medem got mixed reviews but i personally like it. it is beautifully filmed and charlotte rampling(lead character) is still a sight to behold.


hail to the spanish and latin america film makers. of all the film festivals, pelicula is still my favorite.

one big thanks

thanks to will and jason for the ateneo - ue finals tickets (game 1 and game 2 respectively). i owe you guys!!!

it was a superb season. back to back!!!

next year ulit. kaya 3-peat!!! hehe.

(too bad i wasn't able to go to the bonfire. next year nalang. haha)

thoughts on smart gilas

note: posted below is my friend aying's thoughts on the smart gilas team. we had this conversation three weeks ago after the thrashing of the powerade team.

i believe that the smart gilas team has tremendous potential. It has the right coach and system. It has a strong core, solid twin tower combo in giles and japeth, playmaking and leadership by chris tiu, solid point guards in barroca and casio, and versatile role players in barracael and ababou. rabeh and two guys from cebu, 6’9 junmar fajardo and 6’11 george slaughter are also now part of the team. 6’4 fil-am chris lutz, one of the top us ncaa three pointers will join the team eventually. japeth can even play sf given the bigs we have, especially if former atenean gian chiu decide to play. chiu is now a us ncaa division 3 6’11 center. we have two more years before the Olympic qualifier. the big test next year to gauge our strength is the asian games.

(i hope yeng guiao won’t come up with lame excuses why smart gilas clinically dismantled a talent-laden powerade team. i can’t wait to watch smart gilas shine in the pba.)

last days of disco

i consider myself semi-retired from clubbing scene. for the past two years, i rarely visit embassy, jaipur, ascend, alchemy, etc. they're not as fun as they used too. maybe it comes with age.

but last night, we were bored to death and low on ideas... so we decided to check out the club scene at qc (for the heck of it). first stop was white avenue then we moved to dolce after a couple of beers.

i've noticed a few things. and here it goes...

1) i was sleepy by 2am considering i wasn't tired at all. i actually stayed home the whole day. i'm really getting old. hehe.
2) i couldn't stand the smoke. i was teary eyed most of the time. it's weird coz i hang out with smokers all the time. i wouldn't even be surprised if i die of lung cancer.
3) my ears couldn't take too much noise anymore. again, i'm getting old.
4) it's TOO crowded (considering i frequent fat willys back in the late 90s which was 100X more crowded. i'm not exaggerating!!!)
5) recycled music pisses me off (they must have played 'i got this feeling' three times in the span of two hours!!! wtf!!! i don't care if the first one if the original version, the second is the extended version, and the third is dj dick's version. same banana.)

looking at my list... maybe retiring is a good idea. anyway, i'm just a low maintenance kind of guy who's happy with beer and a good conversation.

pelicula 09

the spanish filmfest will run from october 1 to 11 at gbelt 3. check out their website for more information.

http://pelicula.ph/

(i'm planning to watch a film or two this week. something light maybe... i don't think my mind could take in heavy stuff lately. stress is killing me.)

d-day

finally the sky has cleared up, the blue eagles are ready to soar!!!

i have a feeling that today is the day. back to back baby!!!

goodluck to the team.

(i wasn't able to get tickets. maybe i'll watch the game at a bar somewhere in ortigas. my consolation is at least i can get hammered while watching. hehe.)

funny but true (raw)

Repost: DZMM confirms that several crocodiles from Pasig Nature Park are reportedly missing. They advice the residents of surrounding villages (Parkwood, etc.) to be careful while wading the water. Please warn friends and family in that area.

call for help

CALL FOR DONATIONS

Dear partners, friends and fellow Ateneans,

The Task Force is currently in need of the following items: WATER, RICE, CANNED GOODS, DIAPERS, CLOTHES and TOILETRIES.

For donations, please bring them over to the Loyola Schools College Covered Courts. We are accepting donations from 6:00 a.m. to 12 midnight.

For concerns or inquiries, you may contact:
a) Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) - 426 6001 local 5090 or 426 1017
b) Ateneo Task Force Ondoy hotline – 0939 452 0980

Maraming salamat po!

The Ateneo Task Force Ondoy

silent film fest 09 in hindsight

i got to watch 3 of the 5 films namely people on sunday, the cursed village, and fantomas. i'm now utterly convinced that i'm not a fan of silent films... but i will be back next year becoz i like good music.

nyco maca + playground's performance (people on sunday) was a mind-blowing, hair-raising experience. napabili nga ako ng cd right after. johnny alegre's AFFINITY (the cursed village) was okay but i think they could have done better with more preparation. corporate lo-fi (fantomas) got us tapping our feet and bobbing our heads from the start until the end credits start rolling.

my wish list for next year are drip, taken by cars, up dharma down, and urbandub. i think that these bands could pull it off.

korean film festival 2009

i can describe my day in two words. korean invasion!!!

i got to watch two korean films today at shangri-la edsa - beyond the years and barking dogs never bite. i'm not that impressed but i can say that both are well-made. check them out yourselves. you still have until tuesday.

here's the schedule - http://pinoyfilm.com/korean-film-festival-2009-at-shangri-la-plaza

i decided to end my day with a sumptuous dinner - korean beef stew and kimchi. haha.

annyonghi jumushipsiyo.

i'm starting to hear the wondergirls singing inside my head right now... "i want nobody nobody but you..." hahahaha.

adidas KOTR 09

i just registered this morning for the adidas King of the Road 09. i signed up for the 5K.

pretty cool singlet design... i like the color!!! check them out at the following adidas branches - gb3, trinoma, megamall, podium, rockwell, moa, katipunan.

for race details, visit this link

http://takbo.ph/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=32&func=details&did=167

see you there!

rotarun 2009 results

my official time is 32:12 (bib 5294)...

and i'm the 79th of the 524 overall 5K finishers, and 69th of 317 in the men's category.

not bad considering i wasn't really able to train due to the weird weather lately and my toxic schedule.

hmmm... and i was kinda sure that my time was 31:59 (based on my ever reliable watch). o well... 13 secs off is still pretty accurate considering they didn't use electronic time chips.

coke in blue

guess what? there's a new promo from jollibee where you can get special edition coca cola bottle wrapped in the colors of your beloved alma matter. it's funny coz i already found them being sold at ebay for 80 dollars for one set (8 pcs). whoa!!! i better start collecting. hehe.

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-COCA-COLA-Wrapped-BOTTLES-Jollibee-Philippines-PROMO_W0QQitemZ350252560564QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518cadf0b4&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

kimmy

posting my cousin's text msg.

kumimmydora ka na ba? kumikimmydora na ang lahat! takbo na sa sinehan bago ka maubusan ng upuan! KIMMYDORA! the movie everyone is talking and laughing about! watch and find out why it's the funniest event of the year! now showing!

finally

congrats to the blue babble battalion for finally making it to the top three of the uaap cheerdance competition. i'm still in shock. hehe. to whoever came up of the aerial moonwalk concept... great job!!!

and also, congrats to the men's basketball team for beating feu last saturday. what a game!!! definitely one of the most memorable comebacks in recent uaap history.

keep it up guys.

cineeuropa 09

september is cineeuropa time. bad timing for me becoz my work right now is like being in basilan. stressful. anyway, here's the link to clickthecity's comprehensive guide on what to expect. it's showtime guys!!!

http://clickthecity.com/movies/?p=5593

tribute to adrian lyne

i rarely watch tv nowadays... i would rather spend time in my room catching up on my readings. anyway, two sunday nights ago, for some reason, I felt an urge to check out if there’s anything good on cable. i was just flipping through channels until I came across hbo. indecent proposal was being shown and I read somewhere that it’s an adrian lyne film. to those who don’t know who adrian lyne is… he is the director of fatal attraction, jacob’s ladder, lolita, and unfaithful. pretty good resume right? i ended up watching indecent proposal and was amazed again. adrian lyne has this gift for making financially/commercially viable mainstream movies without turning off film buffs like me.

what makes a good film? a good film still lingers on after the movie credits stop rolling… it stays in your head. sometimes it even makes you feel uneasy… uncomfortable, restless. and it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t have a concrete ending. the absence of a clear cut ending can be the focal point of a film. with this definition of a good film, i can say with confidence that adrian lyne has created a bunch of them. he likes creating complex characters in difficult twisted situations. most of his characters are people in which we can relate to… we see a colleague, a neighbor, a friend, or even ourselves in them… and he takes us to a ride where we begin to question our morality, principles, and values. what would you do if you were in their place? you tend to ask yourself. and as human beings, we have the tendency to be voyeuristic. so we let ourselves be immersed in their world for an hour and half, or two... and we come out of it affected by what we’ve seen and experienced. this is the magic of cinema.

1521

last night, i had the most expensive pochero and laing for dinner. our bill was around 750 pesos for something you could get for 200 or even less at a carenderia or canteen. but anyway, it was the best pochero and laing i ever had. good shit.

so if you’re tired of the dining scene in makati, maybe you should try out 1521 (located at 547 Shaw Blvd., Brgy. Wack-Wack) for a change. they serve good old filipino favorites with a twist.

you get what you pay for.

which beatle are you?

maybe i woke up on the wrong side of the bed... i find it hard to focus at work this morning. it seems that my mind is floating somewhere.

anyway, while browsing the internet... i came accross this quiz/survey. which beatle am i? to kill boredom, i took the quiz and here's the result.

----------------------------------------------------------------
you're paul mccartney

you're ambitious and hard-working, and you want to be appreciated for it. you're highly social and enjoy the company of others. things come easy to you, so sometimes you expet others to keep the same pace. you are quite the people-pleaser; sometimes to a fault. so you don't have to try so hard -- we see you standing there.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

so if you're also procrastinating at work, why don't you take the quiz and let me know the result. hehe.

http://www.spinner.com/2009/09/01/which-beatle-are-you/?icid=main|aimzones|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spinner.com%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2Fwhich-beatle-are-you%2F

121 quiz nights

time to bring out your inner geekiness!!! beer actually makes you smarter!!! hehe.

i miss 121 quiz nights... it's been awhile...

-------------------------------------------------
121 Allegro Quiz Night - September 1, 2009
Test Your Intellect (and get drunk while at it)
Host: 121
Type: Party - Drinking Games
Network: Global
Start Time: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 9:00pm
End Time: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 12:00am
Location: 121 Allegro
Street: 2284 Allegro Center Pasong Tamo Ext 2nd floor above Starbucks
Phone: 8560529

Description: Come on down to 121 Allegro this coming Tuesday, September 1, 2009 @ 930PM to challenge yourselves again as 121 presents...(drumroll please)... our QUIZ NIGHT!

Bring a group of friends and compete against other groups for house prizes! It's really anybody's game!

Rounds may include anything from Harry Potter trivia to geography to general pop culture (hmmm...glam rock band trivia perhaps...), so you better make sure your group has people with all SORTS of interests!

See you there! 9 pm!

up

UP, a pixar animated movie, as expected, is something that can be both enjoyed by kids and adults. kids would love it for the outstanding 3d graphics, the vibrant colors, and animator’s attention to details. adults, on the other hand, would like it for the message it conveys and strong emotions it elicits. you will not be disappointed. cross my heart.

once in a while, we need to be reminded about what’s truly important in life.

looking forward to my next great adventure...

horror binge

last weekend, i went on a horror flick binge. out of the 5 movies i’ve watched, i would only recommend one. sadly, it’s a 29 year old film. we are in dire need of a new stanley kubrick.

the uninvited – 2 out of 5 stars
interesting movie but with a bandwagon ending. hmmm, i’ve read somewhere that it is actually a remake of an asian horror film – the tale of two sisters.

dog soldiers – 2 out of 5 stars
i had high expectations of this movie since it was directed by neil marshal of “the descent”. but i’m a bit disappointed. the lack of budget is very glaring and the scare factor is way below “the descent”.

the haunting of molley hartley – 2 out of 5 stars
a very unoriginal mediocre effort, full of clichés... haley bennett is an eye-candy though...

the gravedancers – 3 out of 5 stars
the movie had its moments… i jumped out of the seat a couple of times. but still, a forgettable experience.

the shining – 5 out of 5 stars
kubrick’s 1980 classic proves that well-made films stand the test of time. it is still scary as hell. first-rate cast, hitchcock style pacing and musical score, and inventive camera shots put this film as one of the all-time greats in the horror movie genre.

amber ultralounge

come and visit my friend's newly opened bar at the fort - amber ultralounge.

a great place to chill out and party!!!

-----------------------------------------------------
Amber UltraLounge

Basic Info
Name: Amber UltraLounge
Type: Entertainment & Arts - Nightlife
Description: I have a feeling....it's gonna be a good good night!!! Barriers between art and fashion, famous and infamous, upcoming and established have been deliberately torn down; creating a unique environment that is amicable and unpredictable. It's time to experience something extraordinary.

Contact Info
Email: amberultralounge@gmail.com
Office: give us a call! - 8876838
Location: Unit F, The Fort Entertainment Center, Fort Bonifacio Global City
Taguig, Philippines

rotarun 09

i already signed up for the rotarun 09 to be held on september 20 at mckinley hill. mckinley’s undulating landscape promises a challenging run... so i better prepare well if i want to beat my 33m 26sec 5K PB.

for race details, here’s the link.

http://takbo.ph/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=32&func=details&did=178

xbx

we were looking for a place to kill time (while waiting for our tummies to digest the humongous burgerella from bite club) before heading to ateneo to jog.

and behold... we found xbx interactive. it’s a gamer’s paradise!!! for an hour and half, we were rock stars wannabe. rockband is unquestionably one of the coolest games to be invented. it introduces real rock music to the new generation - black sabbath, judas priest, gnr, offspring, and many others. enough of the pretentious emo sounding goth clad bands that pop out like mushrooms nowadays!!!

on my next visit, i wanna give nba live 2009 a try. i only have the ps2 version at home. or maybe, transform to rock star wannabe again. hehe.

check out the xbx website for promos and rates - www.xbx.ph.

--------------------------------------------------------------

About XBX

We are excited to announce the opening of the 1st Xbox-only network gaming center in the Philippines in 2 weeks. We are located along Katipunan in front of Ateneo in Quezon City.

We have a total of 16 Xbox 60GB US version Consoles, each with their own Xbox Live Gold accounts to play online. We are connected to the internet via a 3Mbps connection for fast internet play. We are using 3Com networking equipment for fast local networking play.

There are 12 individual Xbox stations with 22" HD LCD TVs, 2 co-op stations with 42" HD LCD TVs each for (split screen gaming) and 2 Rockband2 VIP Rooms.

Each Rockband VIP room is equipped with an overhead LCD projector and a 60" screen, a home theater system, Ion Drum Rocker Premium Drums, Premium Fender Bass Guitars, RB smoke and light stage show kits, mics with built-in controllers, etc. Our Rockband consoles will feature over 100 songs, and new songs will be added weekly. We will be equipped to stage Rockband tournaments, battle of the bands and leagues.

We have over 100+ all original software titles, lots of extra controllers, 10 RB2 and guitar hero guitars for solo play...and more.

If that doesn't whet your appetite, we also serve the famous Handuraw Pizza, Pasta and pica from Cebu!

poker blues

i joined two poker tournaments last week at metroclub since i was on leave from wednesday to thursday. it was quite an experience for me - a first timer. my ace king got busted by a pair 7. and my two pairs were useless against a flash draw. hard lessons were learned. i'm an amateur and still have a lot to learn.

time to hit the books... and hopefully the next time i'll join... i get to be on the final table.

kenny's urbanite results

i'm quite happy with my net time considering it was a difficult course. i didn't expect that the mckinley hill part of the run to be that hard (and painful!). anyway, i had a lot fun that night. i improved my personal best by almost two minutes.

you may view the online results by going to this link.

http://www.runpix.info/mnb09/ge.php


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATE: Saturday, August 15, 2009
EVENT: Urbanite 5Km Run
DIVISION: M 20-29
BIB: 81
GUN TIME: 00:38:50
CHIP TIME: 00:33:26

Averaged speed 5.6 Mph /9.0 Kph

YOUR PLACE IN THE ENTIRE FIELD
654th place
1245 finishers behind
34% of finishers ahead.
(344th place NET time)

YOUR PLACE IN GENDER
471st place
495 finishers behind
49% of finishers ahead.
(287th place NET time)

YOUR PLACE IN DIVISION
189th place
212 finishers behind
47% of finishers ahead
(120th place NET time)

FOR THE RECORD
You were ahead of 80% of female finishers

WHO'S WHO
Of the 1899 who finished 49% were female
and 51% were male.

Timing Info
Your start delay: 5m 24s.
From Halfway to Finish:
You passed 334 runners
And 0 passed you

YOUR SPLIT TIMES
Average Mile: 10min 46sec
Average Km: 6min 41sec

coraline

as a neil gaiman fan, i had high expectations for the film adaptation. i’ve read the book just a couple of months ago, and was actually thrilled to find out that there’s a movie.

and after getting to watch it yesterday afternoon, i said to myself that this is an instant classic. good job in the storytelling and 3d animation. the details were outstanding. neil gaiman should be happy how the movie turned out.

the movie is not a carbon copy of the book. but I’d say it is still very truthful to the book for creating a charming yet creepy visual treat. i like the addition of wybie - a character not found in the book. the kid added a new flavor to the already well-crafted story.

read and watch coraline. you get the best of both worlds.

big day

yesterday was a big day for sports fans.

donaire convinglingly won his second world title at the expense of conception. donaire's smart boxing style outlasted conception's power and durability. i'm seeing our next pacquiao in donaire.

at 5pm, the entire country witnessed ateneo's trashing of la salle. ateneo is now 6 - 0 against la salle since last year. that's what i call domination. webb and bringas were fun to watch. walk the talk guys! (arrogance has to be earned!!!)

rainy day playlist

what a gloomy monday... good thing i'm working from home... enjoying a cup of coffee with my itunes on the background.

Purple Rain - Prince & The Revolution
Rain - Madonna
Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters
Life in Rain - Remy Zero
Rain City - Turin Brakes
Tears and Rain - James Blunt
November Rain - Guns & Roses
Kiss the Rain - Billy Myers
No Rain - Blind Melon
Raining on the Sky - Naked
Tomato in the Rain - Kaiser Chiefs
Rain King - Counting Crows

round two 2009

here's the round 2 game schedule. the first three games of ateneo are tough ones!!! ue, dlsu, and ust!!! hang on there guys!!!

August 13 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – Adamson vs La Salle
4 PM – Ateneo vs UE

August 15 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – UP vs NU
4 PM – FEU vs UST

August 16 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – UE vs Adamson
5 PM – La Salle vs Ateneo

August 20 – Filoil Flying V Arena
2 PM – NU vs FEU
4 PM – UST vs UP

August 22 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – Adamson vs NU
4 PM – FEU vs UE

August 23 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – UP vs La Salle
4 PM – Ateneo vs UST

August 27 – Filoil Flying V Arena
2 PM – UE vs UP
4 PM – Adamson vs FEU

August 29 – Filoil Flying V Arena
2 PM – UST vs NU
4 PM – La Salle vs UE

August 30 – Filoil Flying V Arena
2 PM – UP vs FEU
4 PM – Ateneo vs Adamson

September 3 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – NU vs Ateneo
4 PM – La Salle vs UST

September 5 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – UE vs NU
4 PM – FEU vs La Salle

September 6 – Filoil Flying V Arena
2 PM – Ateneo vs UP
4 PM – UST vs Adamson

September 10 – Filoil Flying V Arena
2 PM – La Salle vs NU
4 PM – UE vs UST

September 12 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – Adamson vs UP
4 PM – Ateneo vs FEU

September 13 – Araneta Coliseum
2 PM – Cheerdance Competition

house rx

normal's overrated... that's why i love house m.d. series.

and everyone knows that dr. house quips the most intelligent sardonic lines on tv. my favorites...


“i was never that great at math, but next to nothing is higher then nothing, right?”

“it’s a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. the only variable is about what.”

“patients sometimes get better. you have no idea why, but unless u give a reason they won’t pay you. anybody notice if there’s a full moon? let’s rule out the lunar god and go from there.“

“you can think I’m wrong but that’s no reason to quit thinking.”

“there is not a thin line between love and hate. There is – in fact – a great wall of china with armed sentries posted every 20 feet between love and hate.”

“i’m taking risks, sometimes patients die, but not taking risks causes more patients to die – so I guess my biggest problem is: I’ve been cursed with this ability to do the math.”

“right or wrong do exist. just because you don’t know what the rishgt answer is – maybe there’s even no way you could know what the right answer is – doesn’t make our answer right or even okay. it’s much simper than that. it’s just plain wrong.”

“If you talk to god, you’re religious. If god talks to you, you’re psychotic.”

“bros before hos, man.”

“dying people lie too. Wish they’d worked less, been nicer, opened orphanages for kittens. If you really want to d something, you do it. you don’t save it for a sound bite.”


and my ultimate favorite...

“arrogance has to be earned... tell me what you've done to earn yours?”

manila design week 09

manila design week was kicked off last night at boni high street. we happened to be in the area and decided to drop by. we were treated with interesting works by top manila graphic artists and blaring live music by taken by cars. finally, i got to see tbc perform live. sara rocks! i'm looking forward to their next gig.

August 8 - 15, 2009
GRAPHIC DESIGN MOVES

It’s all about fusion as Manila Design Week 2009 promotes collaboration of artists in a week-long lineup of events to be held in different creative hot spots throughout the Metro, with each day showcasing a different theme.

for more info, visit http://www.maniladesignweek.com/

go ateneo!!!

i won't be able to watch the admu vs dlsu game this afternoon coz i have to attend a family friend's wedding with my dad. anyway, good luck to the team.

when it's ateneo vs dlsu, throw stats out of the window. it doesn't matter which team is better or more experienced on paper. the game would be won by the team who plays with more heart.

one big fight!!!

cinemalaya 09 in review

i only got to watch two films last cinemalaya cinco festival (only one competing film!!! arghhh!!!). anyway, i’ve heard a lot of good reviews from first time "go-ers" and film buffs alike. so kudos to the organizers for a job well done. there's still hope for philippines cinema... we still have a long way to go but at least we’re headed in the right direction...

Sanglaan – creative camera shots and movement... and superb acting… the combination of both contributed to my two thumbs up rating of sanglaan. first-rate acting of ina feleo and tessie tomas were validated by the best actress and best supporting actress award respectively. i first noticed ina feleo’s acting brilliance when she portrayed the feisty lead character role in endo. i’ve read somewhere that she also had her directoral debut in one of the shorts in cinemalaya. and she’s also a classically trained dancer. whoa! now i wondering if she could also paint and maybe even sing. hehe. i'm in love with her. haha.

Dose – we ran out of tickets for the main competition screenings, so we decided to watch dose. the intent of the film was original but the execution was monotonous. there’s definitely a lot of improvements that could be made in the screenplay, cinematography, and editing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
i got the watch these two local films recently. yanggaw at robinsons indie sine last week, and kaleldo via torrent (i hate myself for downloading. yes, i'm a criminal!!!).

Yanggaw – definitely one of the best locally made films of 2008, and could be in my all-time best list. this film is a must-see – it’s essentially about familial love using the aswang folklore as its backdrop.

Kaleldo – my first brillante mendoza film. i can’t wait to check out serbis, tirador, masahista, and kinatay. this guy has talent.

farewell

i went to manila cathedral last night and i was overwhelmed. i didn't expect that much people because of the rain and traffic. people have to line up for three to four hours! it only goes to show that cory aquino has touched so many lives, and is well-loved by the filipino people. she will forever be remembered as an icon of democracy.

i may not have agreed with her views especially these past few years, but i have so much respect for her.

to our beloved ex-president, may you rest in peace. farewell and thank you. we owe you our freedom.

g.i. joe

after transformers, here comes gi joe... hell yeah!!!

with the onslaught of 80s cartoons coming into the big screen, i’m hoping that hollywood producers would consider the following...

centurions
silver hawks
visionaries
thundercats

i’m crossing my fingers...

neil gaiman's smoke and mirrors

for some reason, i like fragile things better than smoke and mirrors. i can’t really explain why... is it because i consider fragile things a more cohesive collection??? i don’t know... but anyway, smoke and mirrors is still a very enjoyable book. it’s something i would read over and over again.

my favorites... i had a blast reading them.

Looking for the girl
Changes
Murder mysteries
We can get them for you wholesale

next book on my list is anansi boys. yeah!

5 Minute Management Course

who says we need a MBA degree to succeed? just take the 5 minute management course below. haha.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Minute - Management Course

Lesson 1:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the
manager are walking to lunch when they find
an antique oil lamp.

They rub it and a Genie comes out.

The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'

'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want
to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without
a care in the world.'

Puff! She's gone.

'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my
personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina
Coladas and the love of my life.'

Puff! He's gone.

'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, 'I want those two back in the
office after lunch.'

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 2
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting,
doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him,
'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?'

The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.'

So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the
eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox
appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must
be sitting very, very high up.


Lesson 3
A turkey was chatting with a bull.

'I would love to be able to get to the top of
that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't
got the energy.'

'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my
droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed
with nutrients.'

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and
found it actually gave him enough strength
to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung,
he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was
proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who
shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it
won't keep you there..

Lesson 4
A little bird was flying south for the winter.
It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the
ground into a large field.

While he was lying there, a cow came by
and dropped some dung on him.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow
dung, he began to realize how warm he was.

The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lays there all warm and happy, and soon
began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and
came to investigate.

Following the sound, the cat discovered
the bird under the pile of cow dung, and
promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your
friend.

(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep
your mouth shut!


Congratulations! !! THIS ENDS YOUR 5 MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

better get back to work. corporate slave signing off.

afl semis 09

team tbd (weird name huh? long explanation hehe) needs to play catch up on the second leg of the afl 7-aside football tournament semis. we are behind by one goal.

i’m pretty sure that we can still make it to the finals with solid defense and a passing game. optimistically, my ankle should be fully recovered by saturday.

and since attendance has always been a problem, i’m praying that at least 7 would show up. we can’t win with one or two men down.

wish us luck!

e-cup

this is only the second badminton tournament that i signed up for this year. i don’t really consider myself a badminton player but I do like to play for fun. after four years of playing, i’m yet to win a trophy. haha. i’m hopeless. anyway, for e-cup, at least we reached the semis (we placed 3rd for our level). i’d say it’s a decent finish for someone with an injured ankle (from football last sat).

thanks again to my partner for the invitation, and for the exciting run to the semis! i’m looking forward to our next tournament.

fpt fever

i really want to join the fpt tournament this july 31. unfortunately, i don't have 11K. so... i tried my luck for a free seat by joining the fpt satellite freeroll qualifying tournament online at pokerstars.com last night. i thought that i might get lucky. my friend signed me up for the 8pm, 930pm, and 1140pm slots (thank you so much!). for the 8pm and 930pm schedule, i didn't even last for more than 30 minutes. i was really aggressive (also unlucky and maybe stupid). call me mr all-in. so on the 1140pm schedule, i decided to play tight. i changed my approach to only play premium cards. my strategy kinda worked. i lasted for quite awhile. but i was bullied by high-stacked players later in the game. i ended up ranked 264th out of 1480. not bad i guess. pwede na.

playing poker online is way different. luck plays a really big factor.

hopefully, luck is on my side tonight.

for more information on filipino poker tour, log on to fpt.com.ph

i'm in

i signed up for the kenny roger's urbanite run last friday.

so i better start training again after one week of running hiatus.

my time to beat is 35 mins and 17s.

http://www.kennys.com.ph/kour_how.php

see you on aug 15. sign up.

the perfect burger

every man's dream is to find the perfect burger. and here's the result of my life long quest.

1) Malcolms
De la Costa St., Makati City

after 11 months since my first bite, malcolms wagyu burger is still the best burger in town. wagyu wagyu wagyu!
http://laterplease.blogspot.com/2008/08/holy-cow.html


2) Burger Avenue
A-venue, Makati Avenue

i didn’t take the burger challenge coz the burger is too good to be chomped in just 5 minutes. i wanna savor every bite.

3) Sanggo! The Burger Master
Pearl drive, Rockwell mall, and Mile Long Complex

the secret of the sumptuous master cheese burger is the meat sauce!

4) Murrays and D’vine
Serendra, Fort Bonifacio

it's my first time to pair wine with burger. i hate myself of trying it just now.

5) Charley’s
Kapitolyo, Mandaluyong City

the black angus burger is definitely a must try. down the burger with a variety of craft beers to choose from (Rogue, Ballast Point, Flying Dog).


ps. i only included burger joints located in metro manila. hence, in&out is not in the list.

run for home results

finally... the results are out. i'm pretty impressed with all the information - the wonders of technology.

to those who ran last sunday, you may access the results by logging into

http://site.globe.com.ph/web/runforhome/Results?sid=1ske1pxc69fqf1247641637693

i was aiming for 40 minutes, and i've made it in 35 min and 15s. yahoo! can't wait for my next run.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATE: Sunday, July 19, 2009
EVENT: 5 Km Run For Home
DIVISION: M 20-29
BIB: 1200
GUN TIME: 00:38:37
CHIP TIME: 00:35:17

Averaged speed 5.3 Mph /8.5 Kph

YOUR PLACE IN THE ENTIRE FIELD
750th place
1183 finishers behind
39% of finishers ahead.
(617th place NET time)

YOUR PLACE IN GENDER
547th place
493 finishers behind
53% of finishers ahead.
(473rd place NET time)

YOUR PLACE IN DIVISION
209th place
192 finishers behind
52% of finishers ahead
(188th place NET time)

FOR THE RECORD
You were ahead of 77% of female finishers

WHO'S WHO
Of the 1933 who finished 46% were female
and 54% were male.

WINNING TIME
The winner was in division M 20-29 and achieved a
time of 00:15:59

Timing Info
Your start delay: 3m 20s.
From Halfway to Finish:
You passed 428 runners
And 6 passed you

YOUR SPLIT TIMES
Average Mile: 11min 21sec
Average Km: 7min 3sec

the comedy cartel

last monday night, i finally got to watch the comedy cartel at the spicy fingers gbelt after months and months of delaying. i had a blast. my favorites for the night were tim tayag, marlon olivan, and ryan puno. too bad mike unson didn't perform. i've seen him before, and he really cracks me up.

if you're tired of the usual gay or slapstick humor, it's time to check out the comedy cartel - the best stand-up comedy act in manila.

for their gig schedule and reservations, you may call +632 533-9316 or +63917-8860706. Or email info@eCircleEntertainment.com

wear your pride

a friend is selling high quality Ateneo shirts. please visit www.bluealmamater.multiply.com to check out the different designs.

currently, only 4 designs are available but expect more coming out in the next few weeks.

if you decide to order, you may also course it through me.

kenny's open urbanite run

you guys might be interested... i'm planning to sign up next week. i think i've been bitten by the running bug.

Kenny's Open Urbanite Run 5/10/15K
August 15, 2009
Fort Bonifacio

HOW TO JOIN:

1. Purchase the Urbanite Run Ticket for 600Php at a Kenny Roger's Roasters branch. Visit the race calendar for the list of branches. The Urbanite Run Tickets will entitle participants to Eat, Run and Donate:

 Eat: Bearers are entitled to an Urbanite meal from Kenny Rogers Roasters. Simply present the Urbanite Run Ticket at any of the Kenny Rogers Roasters branches stated above to claim the Urbanite meal. Redemption period is from July 15 to October 15, 2009.

 Run: The Urbanite Run Ticket will serve as the runner’s registration voucher, to be attached to their registration form. See below for registration details.

 Donate: Runners will have the chance to donate to Hands On Manila Foundation and 57:75 Movement. On the day of the run, bearers must drop the “Donate” portion of their Urbanite Run Tickets at the designated box on-site.

2. Register for the Run

 Registration will be from July 15 to August 11, 2009. Participants may register at any of the Kenny Rogers Roasters branches stated above. On the registration form, participants must select the distance of their choice. The Run portion of the Urbanite ticket must be attached to the filled-up registration form. Participants will then be given a unique claiming stub which they will present upon claiming of the Run Kits.

3. Claiming of Run Kits. Claiming of Run Kits will be from August 13 & 14, 2009, from 3:30 to 11:00pm. This will be facilitated by Finish Line and will happen in front of the Nike Park outlet at Bonifacio High Street in The Fort. (Beside Seattle's Best Coffee). Participants must present their claiming stub to claim their Run Kits. For other details, please contact Vince Mendoza at (632) 7031736.

Additional Updates

1. The Urbanite Meal can be availed of starting today until Oct 15, 2009. It can be had for P200 if you don't register and just want to buy the plate.

2. The Urbanite Meal is composed of a Quarter Roast Chicken, Fruit and Vegetable Salad, Spaghetti, corn muffin and a 12 oz Coke. This is to give in to Takbo.ph runners who voted for this plate in the survey conducted. That is how Kenny Roger's value your opinion.

3. Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez and Phil Younghusband, the endorsers of Kenny will all be there.

4. The Food and Drinks Area will be open starting at 6pm until the party ends.

5. The Bar will be sold, with limited cups for free ( as sampling ). Other possible products might be available for a liquid CLP.

Register early and be sure to stay and join us after the race with lively percussions stylings by Tribo Manila.

3rd International Silent Film Festival

discover silent films through bands that provide live scores....

http://www.spot.ph/2009/07/19/don%e2%80%99t-talk-just-kiss-6th-silent-filmfest-opens-july-30/

starting july 27 until aug 27 (every thursday) at 8pm at shang cineplex cinema 1.

scheduled to perform are top musical acts like Caliph8, Corporate Lo-fi, Kalayo, Nyko Maca and jazz artist Johnny Alegre of Affinity.

i'm not really into silent films but maybe i'll give them a second try.

Eiga Sai 2009 in review

i took a day-off from work and got myself immersed in the world of japanese film making. i exposed myself to three films that prove that there're still so much japanese stuff out there that i need to watch.

The Milkwoman – this film started off really well... but lost its steam towards the ending. it started off hinting that the film would offer something new to the audience but disappoints us in the end. too tired to elaborate why though. anyway, the film is still worth watching. it is still a lot better than 90% of films being released nowadays.

Tony Takitani – a faithful adaptation of the short story by haruki murakami. the film actually reminds me of stanley kubrick - the deliberate slow pace, the consistent camera panning from left to right, and the minimalist musical score... if i can describe this film through a color... i’d say it’s gray... depressing, hell yeah!!! but it ended on a good note though... hinting a tiny speck of hope for tony. this film is definitely the highlight of my eiga sai experience. this is the reason why we watch movies.

Mind Game – this anime features a collage of different animation techniques. at first it was kind of odd, but when you look at it as a whole... i can say that it is one kick-ass piece of art. without a doubt, mind game is one of the best anime films i’ve watched in recent years. watch it with an open mind, and hopefully the carpe diem message hits you hard and knock some sense out of you.

art attack at the fort

something to do this weekend.

http://www.spot.ph/2009/07/15/art-smorgasbord-at-the-fort-this-weekend/

over 500 art works will be on display.

entrance fee is 200 pesos.

spanish computers

A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that, in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

"House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa."
"Penc il," however, is masculine: "el lapiz."

So, a student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation. The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la Computadora"), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

(THIS GETS BETTER!)

The women's group, however, concluded that computers s hould be Masculine ("el computador"), because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.


hehehe. something to lighten up the day. it's been raining since yesterday morning. grrrrrrrrr. no football tomorrow i guess.

cinemalaya 09 sched

here’s the link to the Cinemalaya Cinco Schedule. it’s at the CCP from July 17 to 26. usually it's 100 bucks per screening.

http://www.cinemalaya.org/competition_schedulesAbelardo.htm

support indie film making by taking part in the festivities. see ya!

ready set go

three days to go... and it's run for home already. my first 5k run.

i'd like to think that i'm ready. i ran 5k in 40 minutes the other day, and 48 minutes last night. tonight, i'll play futsal for a change (as my cross training). and tomorrow morning, i'm just going to run 3K to avoid overtraining (i also have a semifinals footbal game sat afternoon). my legs and knees are already complaining. haha.

i still can't believe that a couch potato like me could be ready in just two weeks of preparation.

wish me luck this weekend.

the magic man

i attended a friend’s birthday party yesterday, and the highlight of the night was the magic show performed by jb dela cruz.(aka the magic man).
this guy is really good... i was really really really impressed. i didn’t expect much since i thought that i’ve already seen it all.

you may contact the magic man for corporate events/private party through these numbers

0920.9502848
0922.8177303

or you can email him at jbdelacruz@rocketmail.com

he also has a multiply site. check out this link www.magicmanjb.multiply.com

jb is also part of the comedy cartel. he will be performing on july 27 at 8pm – 10pm at spicy fingers.
so invite your friends for a night of laughter and magic. kaching! haha.

kebab!

up to now, i still don’t get it why most of us crave for kebab after a night of heavy drinking... we’re lucky though coz we have lots of choices... most are actually open 24 hours!!!

1) mr. kebab
west avenue

this is the best kebab place for me. cheap good shit.

2) imam zaman world class persian kebab
timog

runner up. enough said.

3) uncle moes
julio vargas

for people around ortigas who are too drunk to drive to west avenue or timog, this place is a good alternative.

4) behrouz
metrowalk

a bit pricey compared to the first three, but still worth a try.

5) ziggurat
makati avenue

continue your drinking session at ziggurat while smoking hookah. hehe.

blue eagles - 2009-2010

i was able to get the complete and final line-up of the 2009-2010 ateneo blue eagles from bleachersbrew.blogspot.com.

The 2009-10 Ateneo Blue Eagles
Rabeh Al-Hussaini
Bacon Austria
Nonoy Baclao
Ryan Buenafe
Vince Burke
Justin Chua
Chris De Chavez
Frank Golla
Tonino Gonzaga
Kirk Long
Emman Monfort
Jai Reyes
Eric Salamat
Nico Salva
Oping Sumalinog
Juami Tiongson

Coaching Staff:
Norman Black
Sandy Arespacochaga
Gene Afable
Jamike Jarin
Gabby Severino
Jon Jacinto
Dennis Aenlle

we still have a solid line-up especially the first five. the question basically is... who's gonna replace chris tiu's leadership on the court. also, i have doubts about the reliability of our bench. kirk long needs to shake off whatever is left from his sophomore slump. justin chua should also start showing why he was one of the most sought after rookies last season. but overall, i'm pretty confident that the team has what it takes for a back-to-back championship. it's something that hasn't happened yet since 1988-1999.

we believe. one big fight.

support the team this afternoon at 4pm as they play against the most probable title-contender(feu).

wine and dine

since i'm trying to cut down my beer intake, i'm into wine lately. good thing makati offers a lot of choices for wine drinkers. i've listed down below my favs. you might want to try them out.

1) Barcino
Unit 101 Forbeswood Height, Rizal Drive the Fort and
2nd Level, City Golf Plaza, Julia Vargas Ave.

pretty varied wine selection, impeccable ambiance, everything about this place sets you in a mood for drinking, eating, and good conversation.

2) Gaudi
Serendra

i’m a sucker for paella, steak, and wine. this place is just AWESOME.

3) Cav
Bonifacio High Street

kinda pricey but I like the “card-swiping wine dispenser”. fancy.

4) Galileo
80 Calbayog cor Malinao Sts., Mandaluyong City and
Unit 14 La Fuerza Plaza, No. 21 Chino Roces Avenue

reasonably priced, laid-back setting, and pretty well-stocked.

5) Alexas Deli
Ground Level, Classical Condominium, 112 H.V Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village

not much wine selection but the place is refreshing with the new-york deli feel to it. also they offer really great food.

my uaap rankings - season 72

three days to go... and uaap na.

my insights on the following.

team standings.
1) ateneo
2) feu
3) la salle
4) ue
5) ust
6) adamson
7) up
8) nu

mythical five
1) rabeh al-husseini
2) nonoy baclao
3) dylan ababou
4) any mark barocca
5) paul lee

rookie of the year - ryan goose garcia

defensive player of the year - nonoy baclao

mvp - rabeh al-hussaini

champion - ofcourse ateneo. haha.

run for home

Ayala Land and Globe invites everyone to 2009’s most unique run event -

Globe-Ayala Land City Run
July 19, 2009

- Be one of the first to run with the disposable electronic timing chips (First in the Philippines).

- Be one of the first to run through Bonifacio Global City and Makati’s Central Business District.

How to register:

Simply register at participating Globe Business Center or log on to http://www.globe.com.ph/runforhome

Registration extended until July 14, 2009!


i'm currently eyeing the 5K run. i have two weeks to prepare!!! goodluck to me.

Eiga Sai 2009

Eiga Sai 2009 is currently on-going at shangrila edsa cineplex. here's the complete schedule.

http://www.spot.ph/2009/06/19/japanese-film-festival-eiga-sai-2009/

my friends suggest that i watch memories of tomorrow and tony takitani...

i will find time... i will. hehe.

rebound magazine

to all uaap basketball fans out there... this magazine is for you. you will surely enjoy it. trust me.

Rebound magazine is available in all major bookstores - Fully Booked, Magnet, National Book Store, and selected Petron Treats for only 175 pesos.

grab a copy now. it's one way to get ready for this weekend's opening!

dick

note: this was written two weeks ago. i just forgot to publish it.

this morning while driving to the office, i was listening to my fav radio show good times with mo...

and senator dick gordon was their guest. oh man... this guy is a born leader. i was moved and thrilled... i would definitely want to live in a country led by someone of his character and dedication...

what this country needs is a doer... not a wimp... someone who’s not afraid to make difficult or unpopular decisions. when you look at korea, japan, and singapore, at one point in history, they’ve reached rock bottom... but look at them now...

we desperately need a great leader to get us out of this rut. and i think dick is the man for the job.

i should vote next year.

hmmm. can someone tell me how to register? i’ve never voted in my life.

Rock Ed Radio tonight!

Rock Ed Radio is now on Jam 88.3 FM
Every Wednesdays from 9pm to 12am

For the tonight's (July 1st) episode (State of the Nation), the guests are Sen. Chiz Escudero, Manolo Quezon III , and Ricky Carandang. So tune in!

wimbledon 09

it's the round of 16 and i want murray and ivanovic to move on to the next round.

murray, you're my only hope against federer. you have to win. please do nadal a favor.

ivanovic, i want to see your pretty face in the finals and not venus'.

=)

season 72 first round

thanks jason for the schedule!

here we go again. back to back sana!!! one big fight!!!

UAAP Season 72 Men's Basketball Tournament Schedule as of June 10, 2009

Saturday, July 11, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
1PM Opening Ceremonies
2PM UST vs AdU
4PM DLSU vs UE

Sunday, July 12, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
2PM UP vs NU
4PM ADMU vs FEU

Thursday, July 16, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
2PM UST vs NU
4PM UE vs ADMU

Saturday, July 18, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
2PM UP vs AdU
4PM FEU vs DLSU

Sunday, July 19, 2009
Philsports Arena
2PM UE vs NU
4PM ADMU vs UST

Thursday, July 23, 2009
Philsports Arena
2PM DLSU vs UP
4PM FEU vs AdU

Saturday, July 25, 2009
Philsports Arena
2PM NU vs FEU
4PM ADMU vs UP

Sunday, July 26, 2009
Philsports Arena
2PM AdU vs DLSU
4PM UST vs UE

Thursday, July 30, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
2PM DLSU vs NU
4PM AdU vs ADMU

Saturday, August 1, 2009
Philsports Arena
2PM ADMU vs NU
4PM FEU vs UP

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Philsports Arena
2PM UE vs AdU
4PM UST vs DLSU

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
2PM UP vs UE
4PM UST vs FEU

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
2PM UST vs UP
4PM AdU vs NU

Sunday, August 9, 2009
Araneta Coliseum
1PM DLSU vs ADMU
5PM UE vs FEU

sidetrip travel mag

Sidetrip Travel Magazine is a quarterly travel magazine, published by Pico Integrated Marketing Agency, that features new and exciting destinations in the Philippines.

Sidetrip captures the true spirit of travel and adventure. We are eager to discover new places, stories and culture. We bring you travel options that that most people never know and we cover lesser-known places of interest as well as history, food, culture and trivia to help make a well-informed and interesting trip.

Sidetrip is available in all major branches of National Bookstore for 45 pesos.

For other questions and comments, please email sidetripmag@gmail.com


WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? GET YOUR COPIES NOW!!!

i'm helping a friend promote this mag... so spread the word...

halikinu radio 09

The only radio show that's created by Ateneans, for Ateneans and Ateneo fans.

Starting July 2009, tune in every Thursday, 9 pm on the home of nu rock, NU107, and plug into the New Blue!

Mhel Garrido * Gabe Mercado * Macky Escalona * Rick Olivares * Martin David * Portia Silva *

(from my fav sports blog bleachersbrew.blogspot.com)

millionaire boo boos

everyone makes mistakes... some cost millions of dollars though...

here's something to make us feel better during this tough times.

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107199/biggest-millionaire-flops?mod=career-leadership

yum

a lot of guys go for legs… some are into breasts… quite a handful are ass-crazy…

but i’m a sucker for wings. i could easily down a dozen in one sitting.

what were you thinking? hehe.

it’s about time for me to post my top 5 chicken wings place in the metro.

1) Hooters
San Miguel by the Bay

i go to hooters for the chicken wings. but people don’t believe me. haha.
order the “nearly world famous chicken wings” naked… make it extra spicy…

2) Buffalo Wings n' Things
Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Pasig City, Metro Manila

my favorites are the garlic parmesan, honey bbq, and new york’s finest.

3) Flaming Wings
318 Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights Quezon City

i live in makati but I drive all the way down to katipunan when i have insatiable craving for buffalo wings. i usually get them original with blue cheese or wasabi mayo

4) Charlie's Grind & Grill
16 East Kapitolyo Drive, Bo. Kapitolyo Pasig

aside from the black angus burgers, the buffalo chicken wings are superb. and it’s just 5 minutes away from my office…

5) Don Henricos
SM Mall of Asia/Festival Mall

this is an old favorite… discovered it during my college days… buffalo wings with the white sauce!!!


chicken wings are always finger lickin’ good!

a lesson in poker

a two or a three sometimes is better than an ace.

lakers!!!

congrats to the lakers.

i've underestimate their talent. i predicted 6 games. i didn't expect 5 games would be enough to seal the deal. finally kobe proved to the world that he can do it without shaq.

i have a feeling that this championship is the start of a dynasty.

french filmfest in review

i only got to see two films. as usual, i blame it on work. three weeks left before go-live. anyway, for next year, i suggest that the french filmfest organizers should move the last full show to 9 or 10pm instead of 8pm to give corporate slaves like me better/more opportunities to watch.

Jean de la Fontaine – this is basically a biopic of jean de la fontaine - one of the most read french poet. good set, accurate era costumes, and decent character portrayal... but overall the film was forgettable. maybe it’s the script or pacing of the film. it lacked fluidity and rhythm.

Les Quatre Cent Coups – i had only 4 hours of sleep the night before but i managed to stay up watching this french classic. everything about the film is great. outstanding job by the lead character portrayed by the young actor Jean-Pierre Léaud. camera work was groundbreaking with the long takes and unconventional camera angles. the ending was also very memorable. the long shot of doniel running towards the sea, with the freeze frame ending that hints his indeterminate state, his uncertain future was pure genius. the film has so much depth and complexity that i would need to watch it again to further look into the characters and scenes.

10 new rules of scuba diving

a dm-in-the-making buddy sent me this very useful article. basically this lists down the 10 recent landmark diving rules for more enjoyable and safer dives.

http://www.scubadiving.com/training/advanced-skills/2006/10/10-new-rules-of-scuba-diving

let's dive!!!

ouch

there are times that i feel old.

especially today.

my upper body, especially my arms, still hurts from last friday's wakeboarding session at lago de oro.

my legs are still sore from saturday's football match.

and my joints are still throbbing from all the isaw and beer from the weekend marathon poker games.

i guess this is how it feels to be thrown inside a washing machine.

i feel like crap.

it now takes more time for my body to recover from these vigorous activities.

i’m starting to feel my age...


(i better learn how to play golf. hehe. soon, it will be the only sport i’m fit to play well).

500@150

support the ateneo sesquicentennial scholarship campaign by purchasing
sesquicentennial commemorative items. order now by calling 426-6081 to 82 or by emailling 150@ateneo.edu.

i'm getting myself a limited edition ateneo swatch watch this weekend.

check out http://www.ateneo.edu/giving for more details.

toycon 2009

this year’s TOYCON will take place on June 13 and 14, at the SM Megatrade Hall 2 and 3 from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. i'm thinking of going this sunday. hopefully i can find some stuff to add to my existing toy collection. perhaps gi joes, transformers, or football memorabilias??? we'll see...

visit http://toyconph.com/blog/ for more information.

rainy season prep

be sure to equip yourself for the crappiest time of the year. here it goes...

1) create a rainy day playlist
there are lots of songs out there that compliment that sound and smell of rain.

2) stock up ur place with lots of booze and chips.
since it's too much of a hassle to hit the pubs when floods are knee deep, make sure you’re fully stocked at home. six packs of witbier or any full-bodied beer are this season’s must haves.

3) shop for 3 to 5 books for the rainy months.
books never fail to kill boredom. it's the perfect time to catch up on your reading.

4) list down 10 films that you've been wanting to watch and download them via torrent.
i recommend downloading films from horror or indie film genre. this kind of films goes well with the sulky mood that rainy season brings

5) time to take the coffee machine out of the stockroom and purchase roasted expresso beans from starbucks.
coffee to keep you warm and awake. starbucks coz i say so.

6) research on the current best-selling video games and visit makati cinema square afterwards.
playing video games is something most guys usually don’t outgrow. time to bond with your siblings by killing each other off virtually.

7) learn poker.
It’s about time to use that poker face of yours. it’s one of the most enjoyable things you can do indoor with your friends.

8) clean your room.
you'll be spending a lot of time sleeping and staying inside. you wouldn’t want rats and cockroaches hanging out with you. so, clean up!!!


let it rain... let it rain... let it rain...

14th french filmfest festival

the 14th french film festival is currently ongoing. it started last june 5 and will run until june 14.

again, a critically acclaimed film (tout de suite) was taken out of the schedule because it has been rated x by the mtrcb. wtf!!! mtrcb should be abolished!!! waste of freakin' taxpayer's money. i'm afraid that brillante mendoza's kinatay could possibly never be shown in theatres.

for the complete schedule, here's the link.

http://www.spot.ph/2009/06/05/french-filmfest-opens-tonight/

see ya!

sea monsters 3d

this imax film is the most memorable for me. it gave me the worst headache in years. good thing i don't have a gun at home or else i could have blown my head into pieces last night.

i hope i didn't develop a phobia watching 3d films coz there are still fun despite the headache risk. hehe.

note: i'm surprised that this film is in imdb.com. check this out

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027743/usercomments

kobe vs superman

david stern must be so disappointed that the cavs failed to make it to the finals. it should have been a dream showdown. but it's okay. kobe vs superman is ain't so bad.

i'd say lakers will win in 6 games due to three reasons. they have home court advantage, championship experience, and most of all, kobe.


by the way, here's the result of my fantasy league season. all i can say is that it's been a bad year for me. i can't wait for november.

Zamboanga Rebels
League: Cersa 2000 '08-'09
8 of 16
75.41 points behind league leader

Zamboanga Rebels
League: Christmas Campers
4 of 6
32.5 8 points behind league lead

women of tennis

now that ivanovic and sharapova are out, i've lost interest in the french open. no more pretty faces to watch. darn.

my top 5 list of hottest women of tennis (by rank).

5) Maria Kirilenko - Kirilenko is another example of the blonde Russian tennis archetype that they churn out so well. She’s got five career titles and a high ranking of 18th (2008).

4) Helena Dokic - Five career titles, and a world ranking high of 4th make Dokic one of the greater female tennis players ever to come out of Australia.

3) Daniela Hantuchuva - Hantuchova has six career titles, and has been ranked as highly as fifth in the world. She’s also an accomplished doubles player, with a ranking high of fifth there as well.

2) Ana Ivanovic - Ivanovic is the 2008 French Open winner, and one of the top players in the world. She’s also the hottest current female player in tennis, as our number one is unfortunately retired.

1) Maria Sharapova - Sharapova is one of the top players in the world right now. She’s won three Grand Slam titles and has been ranked number one in the world at various times.

(data from http://sports.popcrunch.com)


i really thought that sharapova would make it to semis... oh well... the rolland garros trophy is indeed the toughest to win.

clean up dive - may 2009

the company sponsored clean up dive turned out to be a fun dive instead. we really didn't find any crown of thorns and there's also not much trash around... which is a good thing. people are starting to take good care of the sea.

my last dive was last february i think... so i'm glad that i got to free up my sched today. hmmm... since i don't maintain a dive log anymore, i'm thinking of using this blog as some sort of an online dive log.

the two sites that we checked out today are:

Arthur's Rock
this site starts out as a gradual slope at around 5 meters. then you eventually go further down to around 18-20 meters. eventually, you will get to see a small wall with some boulders and a small cave. they say that in this area, the current can sometimes be really unpredictable. we're lucky that it was really calm this morning despite of the weather. things to watch out for in this dive site are sweetlips, emperor fish, surgeons and of course lots of clown fish. this is a recommended site for beginners.

my highlights are spotting a turtle, blue-spotted stingray, and a gray spotted moray eel. it's my first time to see a turtle during a dive trip!!!

bottom time: 45 minutes
maximum depth: 70 feet

Twin Rocks
this dive site is known for the remains of a capsized barge which a lot of batfishes frequent.
the twin rocks are found in the shallow part of the site, about 8-10 meters. it's a small area surrounded by rock corals that are filled with small anthias and basslets.

schooling jacks or trevallies are said to frequent the site.

i got to see 3 pufferfishes and again, a gray spotted moral eel. i'm satisfied.

bottom time: 37 minutes
maximum depth: 70 feet



i'm tired... i don't feel like working tomorrow. we'll see.

manila ocean park

i really didn't expect that i would enjoy my visit to the manila ocean park. i was just forced to chaperone my two sisters who're visiting from the province.

overall, it was an entertaining experience. it's actually a lot bigger and better than the ocean park in singapore.

http://manilaoceanpark.com/

oh by the way, you should give the fish spa a try.

mayumi resort

to divers and beach bums out there, check out mayumi resort. good food and cozy accommodations. perfect place for weekend relaxation.

http://mayumiresorts.multiply.com/

true

"Had I done the right thing by not telling her? Maybe not. Who on earth wanted the right thing anyway? Yet what meaning could there be if nothing was right? If nothing was fair? Fairness is a concept that holds only in limited situations. Yet we want the concept to extend to everything, in and out of phase."

— Haruki Murakami (Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World)

barca!!!

fc barcelona's fluid attacking offense just proved too much for manchester united fc. barca's three pronged attack was a beauty to watch. during the last minutes, i was still hoping that henry would also score. but anyway, i'm happy with 2-0 c/o eto'o and messi. barca ended the european football season with a bang - the champion's league title.

what a year for fc barcelona.

three titles (copa, lliga, champions) for the rookie coach guardiola.

coolness.

t4

terminator 4 is the rebirth of the terminator franchise.

i don't care what some of the critics say. man vs machine is always fun to watch. plus, batman is in it. what else can you ask for? hehe.

oh by the way... before entering the cinema, make sure you bring along a 20 oz soda and a big bucket of popcorn. it's a perfect summer movie.

ronaldo vs messi

tomorrow at 2am or 3am (i have to recheck the schedule haha), a showdown between the 2008 footballer of the year vs the runner up will happen.

so... who is the world's best footballer?

everyone knows that i hate manchester united fc.

so i hope messi would teach ronaldo a lesson on humility.

go barca.

circus

inquirer columnist conrado de quiros was on the spot when he said that filipinos have this astonishing capacity for making a mountain out of a molehill and a molehill out of a mountain. for two weeks now, we've been bombarded with news/information about the hkkh scandal. and also very recently, politicians and other feminist groups were enraged by alec baldwin's snide jest during david letterman's show.

as if this nation doesn't have bigger problems to face.

i'd say that the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. way out of proportion.

dance dance dance

"So what can I do now?" she spoke up a minute later.
"Nothing," I said. "Just think about what comes before words. You owe that to the dead. As time goes on, you'll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn't, doesn't. Time solves most things. And what time can't solve, you have to solve yourself. Is that too much to ask?"
"A little," she said, trying to smile.
"Well, of course it is," I said, trying to smile too.
"I doubt that this makes sense to most people. But I think I'm right. People die all the time. Life is a lot more fragile than we think. So you should treat others in a way that leaves no regrets. Fairly, and if posible, sincerely. It's too easy not to make the effort, then weep and wring your hands after the person dies. Personally, I don't buy it."
Yuki leaned against the car door. "But that's real hard, isn't it?" she said.
"Real hard," I said. "But it's worth trying for."


Of course, by the same token, I couldn't really say I belonged to Tokyo and its coffee shops. But I had never felt this loneliness there. I could drink my coffee, read my book, pass the time of day without any special thought, all because I was part of the regular scenery. Here I had no ties to anyone. Fact is, I'd come to reclaim myself.
It seemed unreasonable, unfair, that a woman so young and beautiful should be so exhausted. Of course, it was neither unreasonable nor unfair. Exhaustion pays no mind to age or beauty. Like rain and earthquakes and hail and floods.
"I used to think that the years would go by in order, that you get older one year at a time ... But it's not like that. It happens overnight."
"Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting."


murakami is such a prolific storyteller. although most of his work are set in japan, he speaks to the global audience. i'm in awe of his talent.

since all of his novels are written in japanese... i wonder how much is lost in translation.

diver's night 2009

some pictures from the diver's night party last wed night at bar one o three, ortigas home depot complex.

http://picasaweb.google.com/instructorneil/DiverSNightMay202009#

the party was held for the benefit of Pola, Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Project.

bawaii

whenever we talk about tagaytay, we can’t help but mention sonia’s garden, antonios, josephines, and leslies. the food is great and all, but after awhile it gets tiring - we crave for something new, an alternative. so let me thereby present bawaii...

bawaii is a vietnamese resto owned and managed by a vietnamese immigrant who married a fiilipino and settled in tagaytay. in other words, it’s authentic.

they serve good food, the place has this relaxing vibe, and it’s still somewhat a secret (there’s novelty in knowing a secret). so hurry come and visit while it’s still quite unknown. word goes around very fast.

to help you find your way, visit this site http://kainpinoy.com/maps/bawai.php


and since ur in the area, why don’t you drop by balai isabel… it’s just a 30 minute drive from tagaytay to talisay... grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the lakeside view.

pahiyas festival

pahiyas is really something. it’s cloud nine for photographers, or for gluttons like me.

if you missed it this year, mark your calendars as early as now. the date is may 15.

i would recommend the pahiyas tour that we availed of. try to visit www.pahiyasfestival.com. for me, the 1700 day tour price tag was reasonable. at least we didn’t need to worry about the four hour drive, parking, getting lost around town, and where to eat.


Tour Timeline

4:00 am - 4:30 am Assembly time at the open parking area at the corner of Ayala
and Makati Avenue, in front of the Manila Peninsula Hotel
5:00 am Departure from Manila (travel time is about 3 hours)
8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast - A la Carte
9:00 am - 9:30 am Visit the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Shrine
9:30 pm - 12:30 pm Tour of the Pahiyas, shopping, free time
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Lunch – Buffet
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Festival Parade
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Last minute shopping
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm Assembly time at the Rizal Park for buffet dinner at Palaisdaan
3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Departure for Palaisdaan Restaurant
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Dinner - Buffet
6:30 pm Departure from Lucban to Manila. ETA 10:00 pm


i love the city, and everything it offers. but it's nice to get away from it all once in awhile.

poker time

the river is the killer...
the river is the killer...
the river is the killer...
the river is the killer...

i'm still up after two saturdays of poker. i wonder how long my lucky streak will last.

ultimate cebu

i love cebuanas... err... i mean cebu...
it's definitely my favorite city outside of manila.

to learn more about cebu, please check out my ex-roommate's blog.

http://ultimatecebu.blogspot.com

nice job dins. you've finally got urself out of the 9am to 6pm hellhole. i envy you. i wish to follow your footsteps. haha.

crappy summer

Rain, rain, go away
Come again another day
Little me wants to play.

please don't rain. i wanna play football this weekend. it's been awhile.

death and marriage

i had a quick chat conversation with a friend who just recently proposed. i asked him how was it, how did it feel…

he said that it was like his life flashed before him the moment he was about to ask the big question.

i assured him that i believe him… proposing is tantamount to a near-death experience coz marriage is death.

and since he’s getting hitched on december, i warned him that he has only six and a half months to live. so he has to make the most out of it. haha.

looking forward to the stag party… yeah!!! (marco, you should take care of this)


congratulations pare!!! (painom ka naman)

monday

i remembered this chat conversation i had with a good friend a long time ago. basically, this is her answer to my last monday night's ranting...

too early in the week for existential questions. the only way we could be able to follow our passion is if we are filthy rich. since we're not, we have to make do. to be able to do what you are passionate about, you have to make some sacrifices. this is just like that.

let's not get bummed too much about working late on a monday. think of it as delaying gratification. i have to do this to be able to get what i really want. it makes getting what we're really passionate about all the more sweet.

work doesn’t need to be my passion. it can just be my career.


have a nice week.

barca vs chelsea rants

chelsea got robbed!!!
they were deprived of 2 penalty opportunities. freakin referees!!! unfair!!!
chelsea, the better team, should be in the finals.

oh well... life's unfair. it really is.

neverwhere

Richard gestured vaguely, taking in everything. "Work. Home. The pub. Meeting girls. Living in the city. Life. Is that all there is?"

"I think that sums it up, yes," said Gary.

Richard signhed. "Well," he said, "for a start, I didn't go to Majorca. I mean, I really didn't g to Majorca."


i'd like to imagine that gaiman's neverwhere really do exist.
i'd like to take a walk in a world where being normal is not normal, where the extraordinary is just ordinary.