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!