The Critic's Choice

Hate and Love Relationship with PageRank

2012-02-14T20:08:00.000-08:00

I gotta admit making a post these days is as difficult as washing those dishes on the next morning after a party. One of the reasons is having to look at the PageRank bar devoid of any green lines, which means I have to endure with Zero. Now don't get me wrong if I may have sounded putting too much emphasis on PageRanks. When my blog was at its peak back in 2009, I managed to rank 3, until the penalization comes in, sending me back to zero.

After making amends with Google and coming up with a new theme and posting interesting posts (to say the least) for weeks, I woke up this morning to see a green line in my PageRank battery, and it's 2! I refreshed the browser, and it keeps on coming back.

Upon the news, I checked my adsense, but it's still under review. I gotta say I need to be patient as generating money through adsense wasn't the main reason I blog (me joining adsense was the influence of my blogmates saying why not earn while posting your interests?).

So, for those bloggers penalized by Google but wanted to start anew again, here are 4 things you should be doing to get those green lines appearing in your PR meter again.

1. Post well-written original content. After learning about Google Panda's nasty temper, I was careful not to copy from my sources and rewrite data in a completely Critic's Choice way. Also, keywords used need not be repeated over countless times.

2. Put a disclaimer in your blog. Announce you don't own the media used in your posts, may it be videos or photos. Putting one will save you from copyrights claims and other messes.

3. Use Social media's power. Post your posts into your FaceBook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts and get exposure in an instant.

4. You don't need to post everyday, as surely you'll run out of gas eventually. You'd rather write long posts on a 3 times weekly basis, than a short 100-word post everyday. Remember Google likes well-though quality posts than mindless shorties for update's sake.

Following these easy tips will lift your blog from the wasteland and put you in ranking places only quality could make possible.

Yeah, nobody said it would be this hard.

Let Rejection Lead the Way

2012-02-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

No Venture, No Gain.

Not just physically, the time-tested adage also applies to everything we do where we put our soul onto it. In my case, I finally let go of the fears of rejection and send the work to its respective judges: the literary agents. After polishing the novel for the millionth time and wrote the dreaded query (causing me tears and nose bleeds), I submitted the work to 12 agencies, and so far I got 2 replies, all of which aren't really good news.

From The Greenhouse Literary Agency

Many thanks for your submission – I do appreciate you thinking of me and the Greenhouse. The Philippines falls under a US publishing contract, so you have come to me rather than Julia.

I’m sorry to say that in this instance I am going to pass on your work. The children’s and YA market are very competitive, as you may well know, and I have to feel a very high degree of confidence in a story to take it on. I just don’t have quite enough conviction that this is one for me at the moment, though please bear in mind that another agent may feel differently – it’s such a subjective business.

I’m also sorry that I can’t offer editorial comment or advice on your story. We receive an overwhelming and ever-growing number of submissions and are narrowly clinging on to giving all even one response.

If you haven’t already done so, please see our website and my blog – links below – which will tell you more about what we seek, our guidelines, and writing craft in general.

Wishing you all the very best and thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to consider your work.

From The Nelson Literary Agency

Dear Author:

Thank you so much for sending the Nelson Literary Agency your query. We'd like to apologize for the impersonal nature of this standard rejection letter. On average, we receive about 100 email query letters a day and despite that, we do read each and every query letter carefully. Unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one "yes" to find the right match.

Good luck with all your publishing endeavors.

Reading these lovely letters would have send me sobbing, hating, and feeling unappreciated. Weird, but I am feeling fire inside my heart, a thirst, and a need to push even harder. I've never felt SO alive until today.

I am worried of these rejections, but didn't my favorite authors experienced the same? JK Rowling, in particular, was rejected by 12 agencies (including big companies like Penguin and HarperCollins), but she kept pushing on. Stephen King's spectacular Carrie also met the same fate in the harsh hands of literary agencies, one in particular saying, "We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell."

These authors may have had difficult beginnings, but they believed in their story so much it moved them forward. I am feeling the same, and I hunger to push myself even further.

6 Things To Do Before Dying

2012-02-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

Life is precious because it ends. This is something all the movies tackling Gods/mortal theme understands. Humans's source of limitless motivation is to continue living, for it's the only way we can make our dreams and promises come true.

Having been in a desk job for more than 4 years now, I came to a point where I just don't wanna exist, I wanna live! If the Fates turn their fingers favorable to me, I am asking to do these 6 Deeds Before I Die.

6. Swim with the Manta Rays, Dugongs, and Whale Sharks

Why?

I've always been fascinated with these marine creatures, especially the Manta Rays. Graceful and calm, swimming with them would, I know for a fact, give meaning to my life. Most people would opt for physical and social satisfactions like riches and fame, but for me, it's simple as this. While Dugongs assure a pet-master-bonding-together moment, a Whale Shark encounter would be a God-letting-a-human-see-his-creation-in-action spree.

How?

Of the three marine creatures mentioned, the tricky one would be the Manta Rays; I would have to go abroad (America) to experience swimming with them. Dugongs are distributed in the Philippine Islands, while the Whale Shark's haven is in Donsol.

5. Take a Tour to Chernobyl

Why?

Excuse me, but I think I liked the idea of humans not touching and destroying everything their eyes set upon on. After the catastrophic mess that was the Chernobyl Disaster, the site, which is in Pripyat, had been deserted like those crazy Resident Evil cities. Now, after several decades, the site has been opened to the public; here's the first entry in their FAQ:

Is it safe to visit Chernobyl?

YES! It is safe, if you don't do any crazy stuff there and follow your guide's instructions. It's been 20 years since the Chernobyl accident, and the radiation level is very low now. In fact, it is the same as in Kiev. Your route is absolutely safe, but make sure you keep to it. Also, do not contact with objects that easily adsorb radiation. Otherwise, you may be exposed to radiation that may damage your health.

How?

I will need a plane to Ukraine and book a tour in this site (and several Euro notes!)

4. Kayak with Orcas

Why?

I have huge respect for marine mammals. I have huge respect for Orcas. I have huge fascination with Kayaks. And I AM A HUGE FREE WILLY FAN. Need I say more?

How?

I've been searching for tours for a while now, and the one that tops my list would be the location in British Columbia in Canada. Hell, and for that, I need to sit to a 15+ hour of plane travel (and not to mention some VISA requirement).

3. See the Novel in Print

Why?

I've never dreamed of doing anything than to sit my ass in the desk, pour in those screaming ideas to the pages, and send them out to the world for people to tear and enjoy. After nine years of doing it secretly, I am ready to face anything in the journey towards that soul calling's realization. Heck, I did not want this. I did not want to be writing while the rest of my friends dine and laugh. I did not want to become someone open for criticism and scrutiny. But the "I Did Not Want" didn't work as the writer persona is a very cunning and powerful element. And I'm stuck with it forever.

How?

Sit and face the prospect of writing the dreadful synopsis. After that, fish for literary agents, and so on. F***!

2. Finish a Triathlon

Why?

Cycling, swimming, and running - three of my favorite single-player sports in one? Amazing! I have massive respect for athletes, for the dedication and discipline these men posses is unbelievable. I kinda been thinking of joining someday. When would be the question.

How?

As simple as finding a trainer in each sports and enlist to a triathlon match. I really wanted it to sound simple.

1. To be a Human Bird

Why?

Back in elementary, me and a friend argued over which power is cooler: flying or magic. She argued she could fly and do lots of stuff if she got magic. I argued tirelessly that magic isn't categorized under power (back then, I thought powers were just flying, strength, speed, being able to transform, or read minds, BUT not magic). The argument may have changed, but not my dream to fly. And seeing these guys do it made my heart skip a thousand hopes. See what I mean below:

How?

I may have to train paragliding first, then sky diving next, and ultimately learn to swallow fear (heck, I can't even ride a roller coaster for that matter).

Reading the list I realized 4 of the 6 deeds have 51% chance of me meeting my end. But that's exactly the point why millions of people today prefer to die to aging than trying and finding out their hidden strengths. I'm afraid to die. We all do. But I'm afraid to die 'wishing' I should've done these.

For Your Entertainment

2012-01-26T19:06:00.000-08:00

As they say, if you can't be rich through business, do it via entertainment. You wouldn't believe how much people would pay just to be entertained (Manny Pacquiao, iPad, Jersey Shore, FIFA, etc). This week's entertainment talks of my three most outstanding platforms, Music, Anime, and Books.

Ingrid Michaelson - Human Again

Whenever I get sick of pop, rock, or dance tunes, I listen to Michaelson to refresh the decaying soul. When I first heard her 'Breakable" song, I knew I had to search for the artist and download her albums. I'm glad I did, and today, I get to listen full to her latest release Human Again. Looking at iTunes Chart, I'm glad to see her #1 as the most downloaded album for four days now. Imagine Sara Bareilles, Jewel, Regina Spektor and Alanis Morrisette blended and served as one; you'll get the distinct sound that is Michaelson.

I thought Michaelson's best was with 2009's Everybody, until I listened to Human Again. I am glad she's not that popular yet as I get to enjoy her as a closet band. Closet bands are those musicians you want to share with your girlfriend, but not with your guy friends.

Hunter X Hunter

I know this may sound outdated, but did you know the whole anime thing was revamped(graphics, animation, etc) this 2011? Of the four main characters, I liked Killua Zoldyck because of the assassin thing (lol, even his name reeks of killing). He is fast, cold, and cunning - my dream traits.

From Wikipedia:

Killua Zoldyck is the deuteragonist of the series. Born as the middle child to a family of renowned assassins, the Zoldyck family, Killua mastered the trade at a young age and was designated to be the heir to the family business. But he rebels against his family and runs away from home. Befriending Gon Freecss during the Hunter Exam, the pair decide to go on a quest to find Gon's father. Killua battles with his identity as a twelve-year-old and his identity as an assassin, often relapsing back to his former ways due to his upbringing. Manipulated and tortured by his father and elder brothers, Killua has been raised to tolerate pain and simultaneously enjoy the act of killing. However, Killua's love for his friends often causes him to disregard his own personal health in order to help them in any way possible.

Hunter X Hunter's nearest comparison would be Ghost Hunter, and even though I liked the latter, I liked the first one 10x more. It's with these animes I'm able to relive childhood days, full of dreams and hopes of me having these powers.

The 12th Planet - Zecharia Sitchin

Remember those Man's missing link debates we've used to endure back in high school whenever the Mr/Ms-Know-It-All gathers the herd to show-off their latest read book's content? I do, and this is what I immediately felt seeing The 12th Planet's synopsis.

From Amazon:

Zecharia Sitchen's The 12th Planet is the starting point on a quest that spans six books and 20 years worth of ancient aliens, genetic manipulation, and scrutiny of linguistic minutiae. If we trust Sitchen's translation abilities, we must be prepared for the imminent return of an alien race who created us some 300,0x00 years ago. The 12th Planet is perhaps the best written of Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series; full of example after example of ancient Sumerian passages, astronomical observations, archaeological finds, and technological coincidences supporting his theories. The price we pay for all this evidence is a bit of a dry read at times, but the ideas Sitchin proposes are more than scintillating enough to make up for the overtly scholastic tone of his text. --Brian Patterson

While the data in the book will surely impress its readers, the book was designed to change how the way we look at the world and the history of mankind. And so far, I get the "Oh please" and "This is ridanculous" responses as I flipped through the pages. Not that I'm close-minded, it's just so mindbogglingly filling the gaps in history that I fear I would be converted after I finish the book.

As a member of the never-easily-pleased buying public, I try to choose the best entertainments possible (and of course, 'my best' might be worst to other people; so, it is subjective).

Does Not Playing Sports Make You a Total Loser?

2012-01-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Sports is something all guys should be good at for two main reasons: 1. If you want to attract women, playing sports is the arena to show your potential as a mate; it is natural in the animal world, 2. If you want lots of friends, sports would give them to you effortlessly (this is why the school jock wins Mr Popularity by default).

Unfortunately, people seemed to have forgotten not everyone is competitive or courageous enough to be anyone's entertainment. And in case you're wondering, yes; chess and other mind sports don't pose as attractive as their action-packed cousins. People watch sports because it's physical. We want to see actions and someone getting hurt.

There are several reasons pertaining to active people not going the usual picks, such as basket ball, foot ball, and volley ball. First, they lack the social ingenuity to make it to the team. Most of them are so awkward and over thinkers the other members can't connect with them. Second, they're just so insecure of the crowd it hampers their sportsmanship to zero (even when they really want to play). And third, they simply don't want team sports as they're so self-sufficient they're designed for single-player sports.

As for me, I used to play basketball back in elementary. I did enjoy it, but it didn't last. Of the three reasons mentioned above, I was inflicted with crowd insecurity. I just don't like the feeling of being watched. I felt vulnerable, like those grazing water buffalo in Africa being watched by predators, looking for weaknesses. It is weird, but it is happening. It happened to me.

On the other hand, baseball is something I was SO hooked in to I didn't mind who was watching (lol). I was always the pitcher and I like the feeling I excel in speed. I was so deep with it the only reason I stopped playing was when I graduated in elementary, losing our access to the school's baseball diamond. It is my favorite sports of all time.

When I decided to get back in shape, opportunities to relinquish the good old sporty days (without the crowd) are suddenly endless now that I'm earning. Not only you pay for the equipments, but you also pay for the space (privacy). The latter is impossible back in the days as basketball courts were in the barangay halls and plaza, which are crowd pleasers.

For those who share the same sentiments, here are the 3 Great Alternatives to the Common Crowded Sports

1. Bowling

When I first threw that tenpin, I thought it reminded me of the feeling of genuinely enjoying a sport. I connected the dot and found baseball to be the bridge. Unlike other team sports, bowling gives its members a time to shine individually. Bowling is a great sport that requires precision and focus. You can be silly most of the time, trying new moves and tactics. Great to play with a small group of friends or even alone.

2. Ping Pong

I dismissed this one as a waste of energy as it felt very difficult to play; this was after seeing two Chinese men ping-pong their way in a speed that would make the Cheetahs nod in approval. But after trying it for the first time, I really enjoyed it so much I overextend my stay in the office just to play it with less people watching (the office had this ping-pong area). Aside from the exhilaration, playing ping-pong really raises the heart beat rate, burning huge amount of calories along the way.

3. Ultimate Frisbee

Back then, I didn't know it was called Ultimate Frisbee. What I know was we (my siblings) were so fascinated with ninjas (and their flying discs) that we want the milk to be consumed so that we could take its cover and play with it. Fast forward today, and I could still feel the tingling urge to throw and catch discs like an over polite pet. Good thing about this is the crowd won't be that close when you're playing in ovals (and in the backyard).

There's still hope to those people who hates the crowd but loves sports. While being able to pay for gear or space plays an important role in fulfilling the game, it is the genuine interest in sports that would melt all the obstacles along the way.

4 Hard but VERY Effective Ways to Destroying Your Competition

2012-01-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

The world is tough. Competition is everywhere. For girls, you hear the usual banter about beauty, boyfriends, and sibling rivalries. For guys, they're usually girls, sports, and who's the Alpha. Petty stuff for some, but it's safe to say most people had been in the situation where competing is necessary in order to advance in life.

From the early stages of the first child getting threatened by the arrival of the second brother, to friends competing for another friend's attention, the road is hard for those who exert extra effort to rival those naturally gifted with attributes that makes life for them a piece of cake.

4 Hard but VERY Effective Ways to Destroying the Competition

Change yourself, for the better

While staying true to yourself proved to be a hot selling theme in teen movies, reality does not synch with their feel-good motives. In today's overtly competitive world, one needs to be updated and on the continuous move to reach desired targets. Don't believe 100% of those people who have these nasty attitudes and say they won't change because they're being REAL, when in fact, they're just being plain lazy.

For starters, if swearing is common as breathing oxygen to you, then start minimizing it. Instead of that foul nasty four letter word, just try to say the first letter when the urge comes (Yes, even with your toenails hurt and there's a sweet roaring need to swear, you mustn’t!). For FaceBook enthusiasts, cut down 15 minutes of the time you spend on FaceBook daily. By next week, make it 30 minutes. The results are surprising!

Observe, Deliberate, and Emulate

When we meet interesting new personalities for the first time, we tend to get curious. It is in our nature to be intrigued, and what's the best way to harness this curiosity to our benefit? For one thing, we can observe what makes this person endearing. May it be from the simplest things, like the way they walk, speak, or present themselves to big stuff like how they command a crowd. For another, deliberate these qualities, trim down what could work for you and what could not, and emulate.

This is not trying to be someone you're not. This is working your way to a better you. The good thing about it is you get the good stuff from these subject persons by leaving out their not-so-good traits.

Hate and Lose Weight

The reason of the many sob stories we read or hear today is due to low self-esteem. A person's self-esteem reflects how he/she perceives one's self to the public's liking, and the public does not like fat people. Being fat is the prevailing culprit why many are sad, bitter, or just plain obese. Losing weight is not easy. I, myself, had been in that situation where I really felt ugly because I ate too much and wouldn't fit in my pants (not to mention that boobs).

The positive thing about the realization is you hate yourself for indulging too much; not only it makes you undesirable to look at, you're going to face health issues, sooner or later.

Exercise:

Look at yourself in the mirror and stare at those flabby arms and bulging stomach for 15 minutes. Hate them, every curve and flab. It's OK to get emotional and to get loose because it would help you move forward (just try to minimize the screaming, for your neighbor's sake). Despise the fats to the point it triggers your brain to signal all your system to start annihilating them.

If you're not pumped after this, then you're not hating enough.

Reward and Never Look Back

When you got that job despite the odds, that girl despite the competition, that figure despite the many temptations, and that recognition despite of the obstacles, give yourself a pat in the back (I don't know how you do it, just do it). It is yours and you deserved it. But it's not the end, it is only the beginning (wait - did I just quote the closing sentence most commencement speakers use during graduation?). This is those times when cockiness is excused. But don't get way too cocky, as the result of those hard work needs maintaining. Smile. Smile proudly.

While nature designed competition as a way to reward those who fights for it, mankind isn't just like other animals. We have feelings, intelligence, and unfortunately privileged to unlimited whining.

Why Class Prophecies Should Be Discontinued

2012-01-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

If you're anyone like me, then you're still fusing over how the class prophecy predicted your future very wrong.

I could still remember how the 'future' was molded on how much we existed in the writer's memory. While most of the girls were awarded registered nurse futures, boys were, predictably, predicted with a seaman caption.

Geez. Even in high school, conformity was a disease, an invisible malady which only the sick could see.

Most of the friends of the class prophecy's writer had been awarded classy titles, such as Ambassadors, Chemists, Actors, Business Tycoons, and those careers that would make anyone want to jump fast forward to that future.

So, after almost a decade, with 7 demised and countless nurses nursing their own babies now, I couldn't help but to admire God. There's this quote, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans." No one could be sure of the future. You gotta try dyin' or let the opportunity pass.

I gotta say I was quite envious of my classmates back then, for they really know what they want to become and what to achieve in life. I was a nobody, so it never really occurred to me pleasing the Fates to handle the upcoming years smoothly; No pressure whatsoever.

However, I know for a fact continuing to college could make or break a dream. And now, as far as BS Tourism is concerned, being in the SEO world today is something of a far-fetched scheme looking back. LOL! It's almost comical. Never would I have imagined myself forcing the writer to erase that hideous prediction and change it to SEO Specialist.

Bottom line: It's OK if you're not decided yet of what you want to become someday. What's not Ok would be you confirming with the rest, even if you know something special is stirring inside you.

With Norah Jones Striking Tunes

2012-01-13T00:06:00.000-08:00

Music is one of my personal escapes when the world feels so heavy. Unlike most of my contemporaries, I go to jazz (rather than acoustic) to relax. Norah Jones, of course, tops my list.

After the Grammy winning and 10-million selling Come Away With Me, I have followed Jones's career and downloaded all her albums. All of her songs are amazing. However, here are the 5 that tops my fave Norah Jones tunes:

5. Chasing Pirates

Lifted from her 4th album The Fall, pirates' first impression was a departure from the synonymous first single I have come to expect from a Norah Jones album. I gotta admit, I didn't like The Fall at first, but after a few spins, I have come to like it, particularly this single. Great as a background while your prepping for a light dinner. Great with coffee times, too.

4. Carnival Town

Upon the initial listen, the song instantly became a top favorite off the album Feels Like Home. Most of the songs on this album were country-tinged, but thankfully, carnival town whispered like its cousins on come away with me. I thought I had appreciated the song to whither, until ALIAS played it on the closing scene, where Sydney smiled to her father.

The song is sad, yes, but it's a beautiful song nevertheless. Perfect for those rainy afternoon where you lay in your bed, listening to the rain caressing the rooftop.

3. Come Away With Me

Eargasm. That's what this song's about. It's been 9 years since this was released, and yet, today I still listen to it. The song puts me to sleep like the sea breeze on a siesta afternoon. When I go home, I always put this on my iPod to savour the wheatfields and the greenery along the way. Favorite line is "And I want to walk with you, On a cloudy day. In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high." #Succumbs to slumber

2. Until The End

While most fans would pick Thinking About You (the first single) as their fave off Jones' Not Too Late album, this song was a personal treasure. It's guitar driven and sounded like those songs you hear every Sunday that send its listeners to a drowse utopia. "You've got a famous last name, but you're not to blame, baby I see you for who you are" sings Jones, and I'm immediately transported to the meadows.

Fortunately, the house sits next to the rice fields, for I was able to enjoy this song to its maximum: I put it on as I walk uphill.

This song + cool wind + greenery + full stomach = magic

1. Don't Know Why

This is Jones's most popular song, reaching the top 40 (very rare for a jazz song) everywhere. Well-received by fans and critics alike, the song introduced what treasure the album Come Away with Me truly was. Don't know why has no boundaries in terms of moments when to play the song. May it be the first song in the morning, during lunch break, and even when you go home fatigued from travel. It's just magic. I loved this song from the moment I heard it. The composition was simple yet delicate. Melody is catchy yet classy. And Jones sings with sultriness cool.

With 4 albums getting constant plays in my iTunes, I gotta say coming up with the 5 Best Norah Jones Songs is kinda difficult.

Of the Reasons Why Cheating is Good

2012-01-08T19:32:00.000-08:00

Sad to disappoint those lovers who try to make cheating acceptable by convincing themselves it's not cheating that they're doing, it's just trying other menus available, this post talks on dieter's cheat day. For others, cheat day comes off as a jargon, to fitness buffs, it's defined as a designated day where a person purposefully strays from their normal eating habits or meal plan. Cheat days are beneficial because they work as a reward for a strict adherence to a meal plan and they shock the body out of routine, preventing a plateau.

I posted at the beginning of 2012 that I will be undergoing a strict 20-day fitness and a diet routine. The first week of my 300 push-ups a day program was a success; I could feel my chest tightening, I could see my abs when inhaling hard (lol, but they're more defined, just waiting for the fats to go away), and my biceps are hardening very fast.

Of course, it was easier said than done. There were times I wanted to stop as I was very sore. When these difficult moments attack in the middle of the routine, I always remember these words:

"Keep pushing, goddamnit! Just keep pushing!"

It was all mind set.

Also, it was great my diet was consistent, and I couldn't be happier with my self-control these days. This week, I would totally eliminate pork from my menu, and would settle on eggs and lettuce sandwich for lunch. Adhering to all of these rules make me appreciate a Cheat Day of its very essence. Aside from preventing a plateau, it's a reward for all the discipline, hard work and focus.

Sundays are my cheat days, synching it to the family tradition that Sunday lunch should be special. I ate rice of a Kargador quantity, consumed pork echoing that of a fiesta, and sipped on my fave frappes like my life depended on how much satisfaction I could get from it. Best of all, cheat days alleviate craving as you get sick with so much eating that you want to start with your routine the next day.

If all goes well, I think I'll adapt this as a permanent lifestyle change.

Start yours today, and realize hidden strengths :-)

12 Destinations in 12 Months

2012-01-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

Last year, I promised to list travel as my 2nd priority in 2012. Now, I am off to a great start in Boracay this January. While February meant Davao for me (some business conference, but hey, it's traveling!), Cebu will see me again in March due to a Hanson concert me and my sister will attend. That's 3 destinations locked in, and I'm not sure of where to complete the 9 remaining travels.

I was lashing around the net, trying to get my muse to work when a foolish thought occurred to me: I typed my complete name on Google search. There's this link of an article I wrote a year ago, and it surely gave me an idea where to spend a visit in April.

Come To Donsol, Stay For The Butanding

While there are literally hundreds of holiday destinations in the country to choose from, beaches and theme parks are so predictable these days that they rob the excitement for those who seek a change from the usual, overused and overexposed itineraries. Deeming you have reached the point where being surprised is a thing of the past, then be surprised that there is still a place where you can relive the spark of anticipation: Donsol.

With the recent discovery of hundreds of whale sharks (locally known as Butanding) feasting in the plankton-rich waters of Donsol, the municipality has transformed from being an unknown town into a word-of-mouth staple among tourists exploring the country. The presence of the world’s biggest fish has impacted Donsol’s economy dramatically, for tourist arrival meant livelihood for the people and income for travel operators. Measuring from 15 feet up to 40 feet in length, the Butanding is the biggest fish in the world. The giant fish’s body is mostly grey, with a white patch on the belly area. Characterized by three prominent ridges running along each side of its body, the whale shark also has a checkerboard pattern of yellow spots and stripes.

The Butanding feeds on plankton and krill by straining these food particles from water. It is harmless, gentle and can be very accommodating, allowing people to swim and interact with it. The Butanding’s official season starts from February and up until the end of May. It is when the sea is clear and calm (just the way the Butandings like it).

Getting to Donsol

If you’re coming from Manila, you can ride an airplane from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Legazpi City International Airport. The town of Donsol in Sorsogon is approximately 1 hour drive from Legazpi City. Worry not of the road conditions as the highways all the way to Donsol are well-paved and very accessible. There are several taxis available, which make daily routes from Legazpi to Donsol, Sorsogon.

What to Bring

Although food is available at various areas in Donsol, you can bring your own food, should you plan for a picnic. On the other hand, if you want to experience Donsol’s local cuisines, you need to check with the Donsol Tourism Office for accredited eating establishments.

Snorkeling equipments, like masks, snorkels, fins and water vests, are must-brings when going to Donsol. If you don’t have any of these gears, check with the Donsol Tourism Office as they provide equipments for rentals. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuits, towels, camera, SPF lotions, sunglasses, spare clothes, slippers and plastic bags to keep valuables.

The Whale Shark Encounter

When you arrive at the site, local tourism officials and professional divers will brief you with the guidelines on proper whale shark watching, which is designed to maintain safety and to defend the gentle giants from exploitation. After that, you’re good to go.

What You Need to Do:

* Hire a boat
* Hire a spotter
* Find a whale shark
* Slip in the water alongside the creature
* Enjoy!

With such a phenomenon only happening in Donsol, we are truly lucky to have these gentle giants congregating, cavorting and capering in their most numbers in Sorsogon. This event is unheard of and cannot be found in other parts of the world. In fact, Donsol is now dubbed as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Take a visit today and experience one of nature’s most amazing spectacles only in Donsol.

Reading this definitely brought me a vision: Me swimming with the gentle shark and trying not to shake with fear.

Ousting Depression Via Unanimous Decision

2012-01-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

Whoa! It's 2012, and welcome to the Critic's Choice's first 2012 post.

With the holidays over (and after a series of shameless eating bonanzas), most people have listed "Go on a Diet" as top priority on their new year's resolution list. It was great to imagine the results that soon will be reaped, pumping motivation to the brain and signaling the body to be prepared.

And then, the demons come and drag us to hell, courtesy of sugary treats, junks, pork loins, cheeseburgers, and rice bowls. DAMN.

I've been there and I've done that. And I FAILED a couple of times. As diet is the toughest hindrance for me (I've never had any problems waking up 4 in the morning and do 200 push-ups and other exercises), the longest menu plan I've ever maintained had been a paltry 2 weeks.

Tried Meal Plans:

A. Oatmeal (breakfast and a substitute for rice on dinner)
B. Tuna Spread and Wheat Bread (breakfast and dinner)
C. Cornflakes and Skim Milk (breakfast and dinner)
D. Wheat Bread and Strawberry Jam (lunch) *this, ladies and gentlemen, gained me 5 kilos in just 4 days

I think the key reason why these meal plans failed is I get SICK of them eventually. It's got no variety and they taste bad after a while (shivers).

I've been slacking off with my diet the whole December. And after a couple of past mistakes and misconceptions, I've prepared smarter this time in both of my exercise and diet. The pressure is definitely on as 2012 meant more travels for me (thanks to CebuPac's piso fare!). As push ups had been a personal fave for years (fast results!), I've searched YouTube for new ideas, and this video definitely caught my attention.

All I need is do 300 push-ups daily for 20 days! (100 in the morning, 100 in noon, and 100 in the evening). Sounds terrifying? Nope. I started with 5 back then, and it's hellish already. But I didn't give up, and I tried again. Then my body got used to it, and I could now push 10. The next week I was doing 25, and after 8 months, I could do 200 (with rest in between). So, even if it's hard at first, just do it.

The diet should coincide with the fitness program, and so, I planned the perfect meal guide for that:

Breakfast: 1 cup of rice, eggs, meat, and veggies
Lunch: lettuce, cooked ham, low-fat cheese, and wheat bread
Snack: peanuts and lots of H2O
Dinner: lettuce, tuna, chicken soup, and skim milk

I bought a calendar to supervise my progress. It also helps for motivation as 20 days couldn't be that long. Just endure 20 damn days. Even in my Day 1, I could already feel something is going away. Hopeful this 2012, I am. :-)

Be Who You Are and Attract New Friends

2011-12-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

As FaceBook and other social sites eat huge chunks of percentage in our time tables nowadays, people have come to meet and stumble on different personalities. Some of the results of these are discovering new places and people. The latter is the most wonderful; befriending new people are so much easier now, thanks to the technology.

But then, having introduced to these new friends and seeing how wonderful their world is for the first time, there's a tendency of mimicry: we kind of wanted to be accepted because we have similarities.

For instance, in Facebook, seeing a new friend likes Photography, we add Photography to our interests (even though we don't own an SLR or don't have ideas about Apertures and ISO). Or perhaps, that new friend had mountaineering acts emblazoned in all of his photo albums. We look for mountaineering quotes and post it in our walls, hoping it gets liked. Some of it might work, some might go to waste.

This is not a criminal act. We just wanted to be liked. Nothing wrong with that. However, those new friends would really appreciate if you don't do it blatantly. Remember, we are befriending these people because they've got something we want. Meaning, we knew instinctively they are on another level. But here's a fact: it's OK for these new friends if you don't change for them. These new friends has had an original circle of friends sharing that common interest, and so, you don't want to appear as an extra.

Confused? Let's look at this way:

A new FB friend is a pilot, and predictably, his friends would be in that circle, and you are a budding Marketing college student. That new FB friend had been reading and seeing posts and updates about aviation all week (and getting sick on purpose). What would you think he would feel if you're posting in that same lane, too?(e.g. NAIA to fire new pilots ASAP). Of course, you won't get noticed. And there goes your post unliked, unnoticed, unimportant.

On the other hand, if you're posting about your simple college student life (say, your algebra teacher still acted like only those who are good in Math would prosper in life), your post might not be noticed the first time. However, if you continue being yourself(and try to add humor), your posts, quotes, and wall pics will be noticed, eventually.

Why?

Simple. You are giving that new friend an escape, a breather, a glimpse of experiences he might have experienced, too. Nothing felt so good being liked for who you are or for what you do.

I, myself, had been guilty of this act long ago, but I learned the important lesson of being yourself and had experienced fulfillment of being liked because of who you are, and not of who you're trying to be.

My mother used to say this to me: “there's a market for everyone.” And after all these years, I kind of understand what she meant with that.

Let's end 2011 with self-contentment. Happy New Year from The Critic's Choice!

Stolen Memories and Tiresome Youthful Reminders

2011-12-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

Effective as an old sewing machine trying to weave silk, one of the things that puts me into trouble these days is my memory. My brain seemed not to like names, dates, and numbers; they don't stay in my head for too long. I misspelled names, forgot birth dates(causing many humiliating incidents), and failed budgeting with groceries as I tried to do head calculating.

Back then, I had a sharp mind, memorizing country capitals, currencies, French, and Saturn's moons in 4 repeats inside my head. But now, I just can't do it anymore. I've been worried because at this point in my young adult life, where career lies with accuracy, I can't afford to screw up. I did a research, and here are the tips I found out to enhance remembering:

7 ANTI-MEMORY LOSS EXERCISES

1. Pulling it all together

By organizing and adding meaning to the material prior to learning it, you can facilitate both storage and retrieval. In other words, you can learn it better and recall it easier. This can mean organizing material on paper, such as when you make an outline or idea web, or simply organizing material in your memory, such as learning it in a particular order or making intentional associations between ideas.

2. The Funnel Approach

This means learning general concepts before moving on to specific details. When you study in this manner, you focus on getting a general framework, or overview, before filling in the details. When you understand the general concepts first, the details make more sense. Rather than disconnected bits of information to memorize, such as history dates, the material fits together within the overall framework.

3. Organizing Thru Meaning and Association

When learning, a person continually makes associations. When things are associated in memory, thinking of one helps bring the other to mind. Have you ever actually retraced your path when you have forgotten where you put an object such as your keys? This is association. The memory of putting the keys down was associated with your memory of things in the environment.

4. Vivid Associations

When learning something new and unfamiliar, try pairing it with something you know very well, such as images, puns, music, whatever. The association does not have to make logical sense. Some people remember names this way. For example, they may remember the name "Robert Green" by picturing Robert playing golf (on the green), wearing green clothes, or covered in green paint.

5. Active Learning

Active learning facilitates your memory by helping you attend to and process information. All of the memory techniques we have discussed require active learning. Even if you attend every lecture and read every assignment, there is no guarantee that you will learn and remember the information.

6. Visual Memory

Some people remember information best when it is encoded visually; if that is the case for you, then code information in this manner. But even if you do not consider yourself specifically "a visual learner," you may find that including visual memory can still help. After all, it is one more way of encoding and storing information--and one more way of retrieving it for a test.

7. Talk it Out

Repeating information aloud can help you encode the information (auditory encoding) and identify how well you have learned it. Some students have told us that they know the test information and are surprised when they "freeze" and cannot give adequate responses. For some students, this "freezing" may be a result of test anxiety. For others, however, it may be a result of overestimating how well they know the material. If you recite the information aloud from memory (answering questions, defining words, or using flash cards), it is often quite clear how well you know it.

My theory was my brain got so overloaded that it cannot accommodate mundane stuff anymore. On the other hand, my heart seemed to take some of my brain's memory storing duties with strong emotional impact. When I feel intense emotions at any particular moment, names, dates, and numbers stay in my head forever (Yes, including why my association with that person or event screamed revenge or intense longing).

Now. Where were we?

Clinging at the End of the World

2011-12-21T18:26:00.000-08:00

The end of the world is almost upon us (according to the obscured Mayan civilization anyway). The year 2011 saw the global recession losing its momentum in Asia, Lindsay Lohan succumbing to Playboy, and PGMA fishing for public sympathy, posing with head braces and getting mobbed in NAIA. For the Critic's Choice, however, 2011 has been a year of great changes, rising credit debts, and less swearing.

In 2012, there is hope and joy from these anticipations:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Not after The Return of the King that this feeling had stirred inside me: anticipation. The trilogy has and will always be in my Best Movies of All Time list. I am really happy Peter Jackson stays as the director of The Hobbit.

The trailer itself is already garnering screams of anticipation from fans all over the Middle-Earth. Some of my favorite characters are present, like Gandalf the Grey, Frodo, and Galadriel.

The Voice Season 2

Probably, the last American Idol season I've watched was when the two Davids fought in the finale. Cook won, but Archuletta garnered the most fan base. Fast forward today, and I got so sick of talent shows I stay away from free TV as possible. One day, I saw this ad, and the swinging galactic chairs caught my attention. Blake Shelton (honey bee), Christina Aguilera (genie in a bottle), Adam Levigne (this love), and Ceelo Green (crazy) in one show? That's like gathering of the biggest stars?!

I watched, and it was over. The format is none like any other, and what I liked about it is it doesn't have any bad auditions. The contestants outplay each other by the voice quality. No glitz and sob stories.

MacBook Air 11 inch

You know that feeling you want to switch product, not because it is outdated, but because your taste had changed? Well, that's exactly what happened to me and my Windows PC. No pun, but next to the Mac, PC can't hold a candle in terms of overall performance and design. Let's put it this way: Using a PC feels like you're using a computer. No big deal. But when you're using a Mac, it feels like you're owning a piece of jewelry, and it's a computer!

Not just for show-off, Mac computers are very sturdy. I have been planning for a while, weighing if the switch would worth it. It's kinda costly, but as what Amazon and every forums had been saying: It is worth it.

Aside from personal plans, like weight loss and more time for outdoor quests, the Critic's Choice also aims to promote global warming, wildlife preservation, and self-improvement thru its blog in its new domain. So, 2012, roll on!

12 Most Common Guy Stereotypes

2011-12-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

Everyone is born unique. We get that. But society, unfortunately, had categorized us into these stereotypes it is quite hard to mold our own identity. Girls often trash on how society has been trying to put them in a box, thinking the boys don't feel the stress, responsibility, and expectations once the labeling is done.

And so, The Critic's Choice presents the 12 Most Common Guy Stereotypes that society had interestingly created...

1. The Macho
Guys in this type are often feared by other guys because they exude "offensive molecules" that is instinctively recognized by other males. But for the ladies, it attracts them like bee to a honey. The protection, the power, and the masculinity are nothing short of a woman's dream come true.

Drawback: Macho Men have trouble expressing themselves because they fear simple gestures as weakness to their status.

2. The Sport Jocks

They are energetic and always on the lookout for their match not because they wanna beat the other but to enjoy sports with equal abilities and talent. Girls like sporty men because they feel lucky and a step ahead of the other females thinking how this woman made the jock find time for her with all the crazy schedules.

Drawback: Sometimes this man cares more about sports than having dinner date every Friday.

3. The Clown
Now this one is popular among the girls because humor is infectious. Many women agreed they would rather hang out with a not-so-good-looking but humorous guy than a pretty-boy who's so boring you need to add preservatives in your mouth for every date.

Drawback: Clowns are not what they seem to be. Being funny is natural because they have experienced the other side of fun and that is loneliness, which in time, they have conquered and used to their advantage.

4. The Silent Ones

As they say "Silent water runs deep," and it’s true with these chaps. They don't show off but you'll be surprised they are way more talented than those other noisy guys by a mile. If you want to befriend a silent type, you must tumble their defenses first and be surprised they also are as talkative as you once you hit that "button."

Drawback: Girls often complained with their girlfriends that when they date with these guys because "she always do the talking."

5. The Dork
They annoy women so much they are avoided often. They make stupid jokes for attention but they don't realize that these lads just don't know how to express themselves, and being obnoxious is the only way.

Drawback: (obviously) Dorks have tougher times finding real friends and girlfriends because they are simply too childish and annoying (Grow Up!).

6. The Listener
He doesn't brag about his life story, but whenever people come, they always have something valuable from this guy's mouth; A realistic advise, weighed-in opinion, and something the girlfriends cannot give, and that's a frank statement, whether you like it or not.

Drawback: Women instinctively knows they can share secret with this guy because he's known in giving great advices and stuff but in reality, these guys are not that expert.

7. The Promiscuous
You can read a man by the way he's clothed. They let people see their underwear, wear tight sleeveless shirts, showing muscles and tight stomachs in the hopes of seeing potential hook-ups. Some would claim they are just comfortable with their bodies and there's nothing wrong in showing off, but you market yourself with 95% skin, so expect that Label.

Drawback: Promiscuous guys are shallow because they only seek physical satisfaction, and zero in romanticism.

8. The Emo
Often lauded for wearing mascara’s or skinny jeans to show they are hurting. Most people don’t understand them, but these are Emos all about; not caring what other people think as long as they express themselves. Most Emos are geniuses, talented, and easy to hang out with.

Drawback: Girls don't like guys who wear make ups or clothed in weird garments.

9. The Geeks
For some startling reason, people don't like geeks because they know too much and has the tendency to counter even the simplest statements. It's natural with them to spread correct data through counter-opinions. They thought they've helped correct an incorrect prose, but ending up avoided by people because of it. Mature Girls like geeks because it symbolize Maturity and being serious in life

Drawback: Nobody wants to hang out with a geek because they know and share too much. And the average girl does not care about star wars or aliens.

10. The Narcissistic

They always look good and always look in the mirror. Guys under this stereotype don't care about attracting female specie; they just wanna see a good-looking, well-groomed man every time they face that mirror. Gears up not for others but to satisfy themselves first. Women have trouble hooking with narcissistic because these men don't need companionship and is happy with his life.

Drawback: Other thing is if indeed they've hooked one, their boyfriend's are often vainer than them. How annoying is that?

11. The Pretty Boy

To simply put; they are the good looking lucky guys that all men hates and all girls love. They have beautiful eyes that girls like to fantasize looking into theirs, the smile that made them swoon like mad, or simply the face they stole pictures from whenever there's an opportunity. Infected girls will likely to come from the teenager bracket because they still live in fairy-tale era.

Drawback: Too much pretty ain't good. They could attract attention, positive(girls) and negative(other boys). Sad, but mostly their purpose is for the girls to show off.

12. The Cool Ones

Cool is a very subjective term. There are cool silent guys, cool loud guys, cool guys who listen to jazz, rock, metal, or pop. High school defines cool as popular, while college defines them popular also, but in the maturing years of a man. Cool guys have learned from their mistakes, are responsible, treats people with kindness, and very goal-oriented. They are generous and their aura exudes positiveness that attracts both men and women.

Drawback: Cool guys always want to learn new things, evolve themselves, and change always for the betterment that some girls may feel inferior with these achievements...

***

Tripping along the scenic Vista and getting out of Zune

2011-12-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

Apple products are simply gorgeous. From the slick MacBook Air to the phenomenal iPods and the gotta-have-it stimulating sights of iPad and iPhones, it is no surprise people at Microsoft had been feeling the need to watch the Legends of the Fall and to start thinking outside the box on how to, somewhat, benefit from the innovative ideas at Apple's drawing board.

The Critic's Choice ain't techie at all. But from a consumer's point of view, I'd say I'll choose a Mac over a PC just by how it looked (OS Lion was sweet!). Basically, Microsoft's releases this decade had met lukewarm response from critics and consumers alike. It was as though the once proud empire had been reduced to a has-been and playing second rate to the present day innovator, Apple Inc.

After 7 years in the making and promising every promise it could muster for a superior operating system, the launch of Windows Vista saw the biggest flop for Microsoft last decade.

Critics panned it and businesses loathe it. Not only it eats a lot of space and does not work well with other software (I can't install Adobe Reader on it; unbelievable), Vista doesn't run on older computers, resulting to most PC users switching back to XP.

Of course, after the fiasco, Microsoft quickly introduced Windows 7, and all wounds had been patched up.

Not letting Apple fill all the pies in the music player market, Microsoft introduced Zune as its iPod killer. And the rest was disaster.

The reason why Zune didn't live up to its designed goal is the product is simply bad. B-A-D. Everybody knows it is to be matched with the iPod, but if you're aiming to go against a pop culture icon, then you better go hard, which didn't happen here. Zune is heavier, more expensive, and looked really ugly (buy Zune to see the iPod coated in peanut butter brown).

Also, its Zune Marketplace is complicated as setting-up a wireless router for the first time.

What were these people thinking?

***

Non-Working Relationships and Why You Cant Complain About it

2011-12-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

It is Disney that is to blame for all the heart breaks of mankind in the 21st century. As a child, we are dosed with this belief that every love story ends with a horse carriage blending in with the sunset as the newlyweds are about to celebrate matrimony. Screw that.

There are countless reasons why a relationship does not last long or does not go the way we imagined it the first we meet someone who makes our heart beat faster than usual, who makes us smile like silly, and makes us do things we could not believe we could.

Opposites DO really attract

Birds of the same feather flock together.

Yes. It is, but only with friendships and some adventure clubs. Gorgeous girl meets gorgeous boy, and the public thought they’re a perfect match, until gorgeous girl feels outshined by gorgeous guy during public dates. Suddenly, the relationship has become an arena of who’s gonna outshine the other on the next date. Both of the parties may pretend they are proud of their beautiful partners for a while, but it won’t hold as insecurity attacks the subconscious. And the relationship crumbles.

Megan Fox, Katy Perry, and Heidi Klum: What do these three beautiful women have in common? Well, check who they have had the longest relationships. Interviews saw them gushing over hot guys, but look who they ended up with. Brian Austin Green, Russell Brand, and Seal are definitely not ugly, but they are the complete opposite of who these girls are expected to end up with.

Pain Booster: Opposites Attract - Juris

Echoes of the Past

You see those girls in the bar? For the casual onlooker, they will see hot, wild, and ready for it women. For the experienced, they would see lonely, betrayed, and empty damsels in distress trying to get thru the pain of the most recent breakup. And then, they hooked up with you.

If you’re lucky, she will see you superior than her ‘past,’ and she will openly give you a chance to make her fall in love again. If you’re unlucky as the Friday the 13th, then you’ll be the filler of the gallon, used for temporary relief. Worst, you’ll be the ultimate Poster Boy (show-off replacement). Sad. Really SAD.

Pain Booster: The Past - Jed Madella

Heaven and Earth

While the heart does not see the way society does, when the chase is over and the relationship starts, the eye of the inferior in the relationship will eventually synch with how society look upon a one-sided union; poor guy dating a rich girl, an intellectual and powerful man seeing a maid, an older girl babysitting her younger boyfriend, and the casualties go on and on.

The relationship starts to look like a telenovela when the boy constantly vents his ‘poorness’ by getting insecure when he could only afford carinderia food or having to commute in public jeeps or eat in Jolibee. The funny part is, the girl doesn’t give a damn as long as they’re together, but insecurity had won, and so begins the letter writing to MMK 20 and giving Maam Charo a laugh.

A poor guy and a rich girl scenario is not approved by the society yet (where’s the romance if the supposedly Knight in shining armor can’t even rent a damned horse?). Luckily for those poor girls with a rich dude drama, it creates the ultimate dream come true for most females in the society; a powerful force lifting them not just from romantic rotting, but financial rusting as well. Even if the guy’s family and friends oppose the addition of this poor (but very hot) girl to his circle, the relationship would prosper as long as the girl restrains herself from overindulging with Krispy Kremes and Starbucks Frappes, gaining lots of pounds and losing ‘IT’.

The relationship eventually crumbles as the guy’s family cuts the financial support, forcing him to choose his inheritance over a future in the farm, tending to poultry and a wife nagging for those delicious doughnuts.

Pain Booster: Chasing Pavements - Adelle

It’s wonderful to fall in love, yet it strikes like a knife when it doesn’t work or fall to pieces. However, it teaches us how to be human, how to be stronger, and how we’ll always survive after the storm. As they say, it’s ok to fall in love and get hurt than to not feeling love at all (I have this suspicion that whoever quoted this was a self-destructive bitch). I kinda agree, but still, it hurts like heaven.

AOV Wishlists 2011

2011-12-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

On December 17, Eversun Software Philippine Corporation will host its Karaoke Party Christmas.

Not just to celebrate the mandatory event, AOV will also celebrate its 6th year anniversary of prosperity, being the first of its kind in Iloilo, and providing the Iloilo community with a quality and sustaining career.

And as though Xmas and New Year aren't enough gift giving affairs, here are the agents and their wishes (at least Php300) this Yule Tide season.

NOTE: For those undecided or have not window-shopped for their gift picks yet, you are advised to submit your wish gifts until December 14, in order for all of us to be all set for the upcoming Christmas party dressed like [insert random adjectives] in our Karaoke-themed night.

1. Badeo, Karl John

2. Banzuelo, Mariddie

Bags, with any of these designs:

A. Design 1

B. Design 2

3. Berana, Annie Rose

A. doll shoes or any footwear na size 10 :D

B. a blouse

C. bag

D. cash na lang

4. Billones, Angelica

Folded Umbrella (Blue or Black)

5. Buayan, Raymond John

Logitec na mouse

6. Cabagsican, Anna Marie

A. netbook cooling pad

B. (additional depends on you)

7. Canja, Allyn May

A. Twizzlers Candy

B. World Peace

C. Boyfriend

Kun indi available teh T-shirt na lang sa Artwork ah, large akon size(eew), A4tech nga earphones pwede man. Merry Christmas!!

8. Carato, Donnabel

Portable laptop table/desk

9. Castaño, John Ross

Any book is all I want for Christmas. Preferably Fang by James Patterson (Mass Market Paperback). Kung wala Mass market di lang any book lang Mass Market Paperback.

10. Castromayor, Vincent Patrick

A. Difficult: Hoodie (preferrably but not required with One Piece Anime Design/Logo)

B. Medium: Bonnet/Shirt (with One Piece Anime Design/Logo) or Strawhat Pirates Flag

C. Easy: Ikaw bahala. ;)

Restrictions: (No caps, action figures, breakables, etc)

D. For Easy: something useful

11. Coo, Rei Anthony

Bisan ano lang ah, basta indi lang medyas, sibin, towel kag panyo.

12. Corral, May Gwen

A. Etude House Baby Doll Puff

Available at Etude House, Upper Ground Floor, SM City Iloilo (see map)

13. de la Fuente, Vicente Jr.

FIRA-2 NOTEBOOK COOLING PAD (KL-0081Z) available at CD-R King. Laptop spec:13" (I may add the extra amount).

Favor: pls leave the stuff on my station (#15) before Dec. 17.Thank you, merry X'Mas!

14. de Leon, Rita

A. Sets of clothes or things para sa newborn baby. :)

15. Delos Reyes, Mariecon

A. Folded Umbrella (Blue or Black)

B. Micro SD atleast 4GB (nd lng from CRD King)

16. Dinero, Marc Jones

A. a shirt???

B. a shade???

C. or many kahit anu lang ah basta sa puso halin okie na

17. Estember, Gwyneth

A. Micro SD for Samsung Champ Phone

B. Portable Laptop Table

18. Fernandez, Flezer

Feel free to decide the one/s that would meet your budget. They are all special to your SP this holidays :)

A. A vintage-style square (or round) sun glasses
B. New pillows, and laundry hanger with clips (kimpit)
C. Colored pair of socks or hankies (much better if darker shades)
D. Art of War or any Beginner Guitar Chords 101 books.
E. Decent pair of shorts for sports, exercise, and outdoor activities
F. Baked goods and or chocolates to add to our holiday sugar rush
G. Cash or gift cards will also do.

19. Fernandez, Mcdenver

I want a pillow to use here sa office or a pouch bag where i can fit my staff like toothbrush, toothpaste, cologne,medicines, and more, i need it a little bigger to fit in my stuff and smaller to fit inside my hand bag... LOL, thanks

20. Flores, Reymund

Customized sword-like knives, or sword with sleek handles like this.

Handles with carvings will do.

21. Galanza, Liza Joy

22. Ganzon, Sharleen Joy

A. Etude House Baby Doll Puff

Available at Etude House, Upper Ground Floor, SM City Iloilo (see map)

23. Garferio, Juana Suzy Amor

Giant Pillow o kun Giant stuff toy....hehe...kung gusto sang nakagabot sa akon external na lang..

24. Guarin, Rodrick

Ultimate Frisbee; any of these below 500 (I'll give you the remaining 200 sa Xmas Party). Available at Toby's SM City

25. Gumban, Marie Cor

A. Bag (Big, good for office use maka igo akon balunan etc.)

B. Bed/table lamp or jacket nga my hood medium size

C. Bedroom slippers size 5 or 6.

26. Igpuara, Christine Joy

USB (2GB/4GB)

27. Imperial, John Paul

Computer speakers

28. Joaquin, Elera Marie

Any Domo-Kun stuff or bisan ano lang

29. Jovenes, Psyche

A. Headset/earphone/headphone with MIC (indi lng cdr-king pls.)

B. Etude House "MILK SCREW No.03" and PETIT DARLING NAILS MATTE #10

C. Etude house MOISTFULL MIST

D. Mini or Flexible Keyborad

30. Laquihon, Rutchell

Optical mouse, black/grey color combo, slim type. Like this. (Available at Octagon).

31. Loriega, Felix Leo

Wala pako balo ano akon gusto. Kung ano lng da ah. Salamat.

32. Lucero, Cristy

Hotdog Pillow

33. Lupo, Johanna Thea

34. Luzuriaga, Jimmy John

Dry Fit shirt (with sleeves) for running "Medium Size" or an A4TECH Keyboard (dugangan ko lng ang kulang)

35. Malones, Cristina

A. DC-SC-17

14.1” EVA Hard Laptop Sleeves ( black if available)

B. SMP064

CD-R King Laptop Bag (blue if available)

36. Malunda, Kacelyn

A. Neck Pillow

B. Sling Bag

C. Artwork Shirt (Medium)

37. Mariquina, Nenie Rhea

A. Maternity dress

B. Shoulder bag

C. 1 pillow worth 200+ @SM homestore and pillow case nlng ang kulang

D. Laptop Tray

38. Ocbeña, Mia Florence

Netbook case - 10.1 size (with abstract design if possible) =)

39. Paciente, Dyoanna

Cash and a bar of chocolate (cadbury/hersey/tobleron)

40. Palmares, Niña Alexandra

Para damo options kag para surprise japon. Pwede isa, pwede combo. Pwede man tanan. LOLs

A. Book: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery

B. Band Shirt: (Either lang di sa ila): Foo Fighters/ Sex Pistols/ Paramore/ Weezer/ Death Cab for Cutie/ The Smashing Pumpkins/ Radiohead

C. Stuffed Toy: Animal or Kemit the Frog of the Muppets

D. Flip Flops: Size 9 - 9 1/2 (either red, blue, gray - no girly colors/designs please)

**I will love you forever if you include candies. :">**

41. Rubinos, Joeven

Anything useful

42. Salarda, Merben John

Anything (Surprise me) basta ind lng medyas, panyo, or towel

43. Sales, Liezel

First Priority: Portable Laptop Table from CD-R King

Second Priority: 2-Layer Plastic Drawer; as much as possible in neutral color

Third Priority: Bathroom (steel) tray capable of holding bath soap, shampoos, etc.

Fourth Priority: Dance Pad

Least Priority: Jazz/workout pants, not necessarily expensive but look good enough. Maybe 2 or 3 pairs for 300 is totally fine

If the price exceeds, I'll be willing to add for the excess. If lesser, it's up to you what you want to add ;)

44. Samontanes, Catherine

2 pcs Hypoallergenic Pillows

45. Sampiano, Haydee

Tall clay green mug and or size 7 green bedroom slippers

46. Samson, Jomer

A. Combo Wireless Keyboard + Mouse

B. Solar Charger

47. Santia, Joeber

Fundador

48. Santurdio, Lea

A. Earphones (indi lang CD-R King)

B. Bedroom Slippers, Size 6, Brown or Blue

49. Semilla, Frances Louise

Pillow

50. Soliguen, Faith Penelope

A. Etude house Eye Primer

or

B. Etude house lip tint (pink)

51. Solinap, John Leo

Book - A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five by George R. R. Martin. :)

52. Tan, Leo Adhemar

Dark colored T-shirt. XL

53. Veñegas, Elijah

T-shirt or Perfume from Penshoppe or Human (semi -fit w/ less prints, color; any shades of purple, small)

54. Villaruz, Desilou Fritzie

A set of BASS guitar string, 2 alkaline 9v batteries (Energizer)

55. Ypola, Mary Ann

Angel Wishes 1000 pcs puzzle @ Robinson Department Store (Toy Section)

***

Why Karolina Kurkova Slays Your Faves

2011-12-08T01:33:00.000-08:00

I don't even know how to begin this blog post as I was still feeling the euphoria of watching the Victoria's Secret fashion show 2011(better late than never; I'm busy, OK?). The models were simply breathtaking and just perfect. 2011's fashion show saw Joan Smalls as my winner. Most would go for Barbie doll type Caucasian, but I haven't shouted that loud when I saw her for the first time. This black Barbie is definitely on my list.

Some of the comments on YouTube were not too friendly, particularly a guy who pointed out this year's show can't hold a candle to last year's. I checked, and upon seeing Karolina Kurkova, with that heart-melting smile, brought me tremors.

(Psycho kid's voice): She is so pretty...

A Short Bio:

Born in the town of Decin, Czech Republic on February 28th, 1984, Karolina Kurkova had taken the modelling world by storm, landing on the cover of countless magazines. During childhood years, her height made her awkward and gangly, but that didn't last long. A friend recognized her beauty (thanks to her) and sent photos of Karolina Kurkova to an agency in Prague. Karolina Kurkova immediately landed a runway stint, a commercial and print ad. And the rest is history...

And why she slays:

More evidence that God is indeed a Man!

Hanna and Why You Shouldn't Meet Her

2011-12-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

Impatient with Immortals still not hitting the theatres in my city (and thoroughly shocked at how simply bad Breaking Dawn was), I was on the lookout for possible movie treats while waiting for the said Tarsem Singh directed film. My brother, who is a big fan of assassin-meets-espionage movies, suggested this film HANNA (Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett).

I was a bit skeptical at first seeing the movie cover, which shows a girl with a bow and arrow (looking dated as those women in Dancing with Wolves movie). Of course, my impression of the word 'spy' had been all about technology (this is your fault, James Bond). Not letting my initial disappointment faze me, I read the movie synopsis, and BAM!

A 16-year-old who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.

After 111 minutes (yes, even the film length reeks of a secret code mission), I was simply reminded me of the old days when I dreamt of being an assassin someday (mixing the moves of Neo, the suave of James Bond, Jack Sparrow's humor and completed by The Transporter's swag). Here's why:

The Bad:

* I kind of wanted Hanna and her friend to patch things up in the end, which didn't happen.

* I simply want MORE!

The Good:

* Great story and excellent actors!

* The movie has a Heart; I could feel Hanna's struggle, dreams, and longing all throughout the film, which is saying something, as I rarely care what's gonna happen to my main characters

* Action scenes were carefully dissected into several believable parts to not overwhelm the audience (* cough, ~~The Matrix Reloaded~~)

Grade:

A-

As heartless and cold Hanna is, you wouldn't help siding with her in her battles in finding the truth.

Naermyth and Bad Publishing

2011-12-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

Saturday, and it was Mall Day (laundry, for some). I was looking for something worth P250, so I could swipe my credit card on it before cutting the pleasure-and-stress bringer object into two. I was trashing on how absurdly jam-packed National Bookstore was when my eyes fell on the Philippines Literature section and got intrigued by this Book title: NaerMyth (Neyr-mith).

Ok, so I picked it up, expecting the usual rant-collection books that populated Filipino literature these days (some of them good, some of them, meh). I read the synopsis, and it was over: I'm SOLD.

The world ended. It was not because of a comet, prophecy, natural disaster or whatever garbage foretold on the internet, but because every myth ever written turned out to be an account of historical fact. These monsters we’ve read about as children waged a war that lead to the human race’s downfall. And the unlucky who survived are hunted down or, worse, tortured.

In these dark times, people could only turn to the Shepherd for help. I am one such Shepherd and I thought my only task was to protect the few humans who still thrived on this desolate world. But when I rescued Dorian from dwende captivity, I discovered that not only is he the most dangerous thing to have around, but he could be our one hope for redemption. I now find myself protecting a born killer, but in doing so, I’m turning my back on everything human.

My first reaction to my friend was, "Why didn't the author send this abroad? This is SO international."

And he answered, "Its setting is in the Philippines, duh."

Of course, he misunderstood me. What I meant with 'international' is the story's got some serious hook going on. I myself, which is a self-confessed hard-to-please-and-you-gotta-grab-me-right-away reader felt some excitement about reading it. So, I read the book that night, and here's the verdict:

The Bad:

* I despise 1st-person narrative as I thought it limits the world building; the world is seen through the eyes of Athena (a.k.a Aegis), who is a bitter woman.

* The author is too descriptive; she doesn't leave anything to the imagination, explaining up to the tiniest detail.

* I found it weird the characters are speaking in English. I mean the novel is written in English, but if the author had eliminated the Tagalog names, like the ridiculous aliases, especially Mamon (the Filipino mythical creatures are exempted), the novel could avoid sending its readers down the cringe pipeline.

* The publication is a dud (THIS IS NOT THE AUTHOR'S FAULT. REALLY)

This is why Filipino literature can't attract more readers because the book, in its simplest packaging, looked like some school textbook: ugly printing, horrid paper used, and the book cover simply looked like some cheap internet cafe tarpaulin. I mean, can't they make it appetizing, pleasing, and trigger some i'll-collect-these-because-they-looked-pretty emotion?

Visprint Inc should step up its game and not just use catleya bond paper in its book printing. I know they'll say it's expensive and the book might not generate sales. But one thing they have not realized is when the book is presented beautifully (like those Harry Potter books with their jackets, toned printing, and awesome illustrations; so precioussss...), sales will come, sooner or later.

The Good:

* The story is simply extraordinary: a thousand page worth of Filipino history and myth packed with humor, romance, and survival in one thin book? It's so exciting I wished it had a sequel. And just by the synopsis, I'm sold.

* The incorporation of Filipino myths is done eloquently that I found myself smiling whenever a Manananggal attacks, the way Dwendes are portrayed, and how the Kapre chase scene was narrated: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Also, It's so relieving Maria Makiling was so cool she changed her nick to Macky. LOL

* Reading it, I could see the characters. This means, it is fleshed out.

Grade:

B-

With a little tweak and polishing, Naermyth could break internationally. I'm sure of it.

Mr and Mrs Perfect on the Judging Panel

2011-11-30T05:53:00.000-08:00

Judgmental is not stating an opinion or even labeling something as "good" or "bad". Being judgmental is when based on one quality of someone or something you conclude about his whole nature, about all his other qualities. You judge his wholeness based on one aspect.

When I was young and negative (lol), I used to judge people by the way they talk, interact, and look. Looking back, I realized why I had been like that: because I am worse than them. Plain and simple.

I was judgmental 'cause I am masking the fact I am an easy target to begin with. I was insecure of my own self that I vent these all out subconsciously to other people I secretly hate because they remind me of how 'miserable' I was.

The act of being judgmental is like drinking Coke on a hot day: the feeling won't last long. Like all with negative stuff, being judgmental takes a piece of our soul. It will devour us, slowly and surely, until all of what's left of us is insecurity, bitterness, and a sense of emptiness.

Giving an opinion and giving a judgment are two different things: while the latter goes straight to why this person is bad and must be persecuted, giving an opinion is simply sharing how you analyzed the situation based on your perception. It's like an essay to a news feature. Like a singer to its composer, the eldest son to the middle child, etc.

I respect everyone's judgments, but I can't help to feel pity to those who judge their fellow like they were perfect, flawless, and not-earth bound. It's like they remind me of how monstrous I was back then.

If you feel uncomfortable having to have conversations with this type of person without offending them (judgmental people are insecure and are easy to offend), then these should help:

4 Smart Ways of Dealing with Judgmental People

1. Don't feed their fire. Just smile and hear them out (and excuse yourself if you have the chance).

2. While it is tempting to reason over with them, don't. Judgment is a biased game, and so, no amount of enlightenment could change something that's coming from within these types of people.

3. Understand why they have come up with such judgments. Also, try to determine why this person is so 'IN' with this person, event, product, etc. Everyone has a motive.

4. If all else fails, change the topic.

Here's a really reflective quote from Stephen Covey's bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Look at the weaknesses of others with compassion, not accusation. It's not what they're not doing or should be doing that's the issue. The issue is your own chosen response to the situation and what you should be doing. If you start to think the problem is "out there," stop yourself.

There is a fine line between playing blind and not being judgmental. For me, if the person does not, in any way, harm me, I usually let it pass (the stress is not worth it and it was not my dose of happy stimulant anymore). We all have our right of expression, but I’d choose to be laid-back.

Judging has two negative attributes: when we judge, it's not just the subject's loss, we also showed what kind of person we are inside to the world.

Not cool. :-)

Rihanna Over the Years

2011-11-28T18:45:00.000-08:00

With just 6 years in the business, Rihanna has sold 20 million albums and 60 million singles. She's the youngest female artist to have scored 11 number 1 singles (including features) in Billboard Hot 100. Surprisingly, Rihanna has had to get her #1 album, and her latest release Talk that Talk failed to garner her that record (based from sales predictions in which Nickelback will have the top spot).

Personally, I neither like or dislike Rihanna, she's harmless; she's great in Radio, her tunes are ear-friendly, and her lyrics are catchy (ela-ela-ela...).To commemorate Ms Fenty's reigning success over the years, here's a highlight of her albums:

Music of the Sun (2005)

Release Date: 26 August
Billboard 200 Peak: #10
#1 Singles: None

The album is a clever mix of reggae, ballads, and urban beats, as evident in the If it's lovin' that you want song. Rihanna over the radio is a fresh encounter as her voice has a raspy sound to it, which is perfect for her Badian-meets-mainstream branding.

A Girl like Me (2006)

Release Date: 19 April
Billboard 200 Peak: #5
#1 Singles: 1 (SOS)

When SOS was released, it was over. Rihanna has succeeded over the dreaded sophomore slump. Other hits include the still-being-played-at-radio Unfaithful and the reggae masterpiece of Break it Off (with Sean Paul). Personally, I liked this album a lot more than her most recent releases.

Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)

Release Date: 30 May
Billboard 200 Peak: #2
#1 Singles: 3 (Umbrella, Take a Bow, Disturbia)

When Jay-Z and Rihanna answer each other in the epic summer ballad/RnB/disco/Rap/Pop song Umbrella, the world has now recognized Rihanna as an international superstar. The album was so successful it had to had a re-release (which spawn its 2 number 1 singles, Disturbia and Take a Bow).

Rated R (2009)

Release Date: 20 November
Billboard 200 Peak: #4
#1 Singles: 1 (Rude Boy)

This album was released on the aftermath of Chris-Brown-Rihanna-assault with the lead single Russian Roulette. Like me, everyone thought she's gonna debut at #1 because of the media frenzy over her case (and her bruised pictured leaked). The album was dark, and for the first time, I find it to be the only artsy Rihanna album to date. It had a theme, a soul, and a message.

Loud (2010)

Release Date: 12 Nover
Billboard 200 Peak: #3
#1 Singles: 3 (What's My Name, Only Girl (In the World), S&M Remix)

After a disappointing stint with dark themes on Rated R, Rihanna returned with red hair and a loud album, literally. This album was manufactured to be played at clubs. Top notch singles are What's my Name and Complicated.

Talk that Talk (2011)

Release Date: 18 November
Billboard 200 Peak: TBR
#1 Singles: 1 (We Found Love)

Just downloaded this album a week ago, and my impression back then was it was a disappointment with only 2 catchy hits (You Da one and We Found Love). But now, after a few spins, I appreciated it more with new favorites (Talk that Talk and Roc Me Out)

Until Rihanna could land that #1 album, her detractors will always have that spot to bring her down.

First 'Made in Brazil' iPhone Comes to Light

2011-11-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

I dunno why, but I've been interested with world economy lately; reading about the recession, spending hours in businessweek.com, comparing India's and the Philippines' BPO standing, and monitoring how China is owning everyone's lives after wrestling those Japanese to becoming the world's number 2 economy.

Speaking of which, I was browsing Macintude, (I have been touring around Mac sites lately as a preparation to switching to it next year, hopefully), when this articl e came across me and brought instantaneous surprise:

First “Made in Brazil” iPhones apparently being released into the wild

The first iPhones to be assembled in Brazil are apparently being released into the wild, carry a distinct “industria brasileira” instead of the regular “Assembled in China”.

MacMagazine, a Brazilian site, shared images of a white, 8GB iPhone 4 model that carries both the aforementioned message in Portuguese, as well as a model number that carries “BR” at the end of it, indicating that’s it’s likely to have been produced in a Brazilian factory, instead of a Chinese one.

iPhones to date have carried a message similar to “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.”, which appears on our iPhone 4S model purchased in the UK.

Source: MacMagazine / Image Credit: MacMagazine

Who would've imagined China vs Brazil could happen in trade? Basically, the article brought me visions of the good old days, where two of my favorite Street Fighters were fighting for their countries: Chun Li and Blanca.

***

Comparisons with the Son of Neptune

2011-11-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

After I finished reading the Harry Potter series, I felt at a loss by the thought no other books could excite me book wise again. I tried reading Potter-esque novels, like Septimus Heap (meh), Batimaeus Trilogy (decent), and Artemis Fowl (ok), they were good but not great in immersing me over to their stories.

And then came Percy Jackson, and it was all over. My reading was pumped again, and I finished the 5 books in a month (though it lacked the re-reading charm I have come to experience with Potter, its humor and story nevertheless makes up for it). I am really glad the author, Rick Riordan, made a spin-off series called The Heroes of Olympus.

I read The Lost Hero fearing it wouldn't live up to my expectations, and to my relief, it did! Last month, I bought its second installment The Son of Neptune, and I couldn't wait to read the third book next Spring (The Mark of Athena).

Quick Review:

The Son of Neptune sees Percy Jackson arriving in Camp Jupiter (Camp Half-Blood's Roman version) with his usual dose of trouble. He's got two comrades, a son of Mars and a daughter of Pluto, in which they must kill a giant to stop Gaea from fulfilling her Motherly duties of building her army of moronic giants and ridding the world of self-centered Gods and stinky heroes.

I thought I'd lost interest with Percy after being introduced to the first book's hero, Jason Grace, a son of Jupiter (the punk could fly and summon lightning), but nope. Percy still has it; conversing with horses, controlling sewage water, being waterproof, and owning that Riptide coolness.

Notable Characters:

1. Arion - The fastest horse in the world
2. Death - Interesting find
3. Mars - I respected him more in his Roman form

Book Grade:

B-

Just a thought: While the Britons write with effortless vividness, Americans dive away into action.

Handling Intimidation

2011-11-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

None is exempted in the fields of intimidation, but everyone can turn it into something positive. In my case, height is my problem. I mean whenever I see those basketball studs sporting in the mall, and we're in the same lane, I got embarrassed.

But that was like 5 years ago (Hormones are finally working and I'm just an inch short to my desired height). I realized back then why I was not endowed with such gene, because I couldn't handle the expectations to tall guys; you have to be sporty and the likes, which I'm minimal at best.

And then, I realized the three secret ingredients to overcoming such negativity.

1. Acceptance

It's not easy as 1-2-3. It doesn't mean that you have given up, it's just you accepted certain things are not meant to be. Only with acceptance can there be peace with yourself. Accept that you won't be as good-looking as the other guy; accept that your talent is different from his. Accept that popularity is not everything. Accept that you accept yourself for what is it and what it's not.

2. Self-Improvement

It doesn't mean you accepted your current state, it's the end. What if there are undiscovered things you might actually be good at? What if you can challenge yourself to improve? What if you can actually surpass those people you hate (and secretly admire) by a mile? What if you start listing your strengths and weaknesses today, and found out the latter was actually minimal?

By the way, what ifs are bull. Wishing and Doing are two separate things. If you're overweight, challenge yourself to lose pounds. Practice shooting the balls until you can do a four-point shot. Remember what Rock Lee in Naruto said? The drop-out will beat the genius through hard work, and I believe in that.

If you can't handle discussion with the class A and B types, start reading the papers, watch the news, and be updated with the current events. This does not mean you are trying to be someone else, you're just discovering your hidden strength in the course of doing new things. In the later run, you will realize all those admiration and wishing to level other people are shallow. They don't mean anything now. Your new opponent is You.

3. Don't compare yourself to other

After you have accepted yourself and improved through change, comparison to others will be difficult, and it will come naturally. Your hardships are different from them, so instinctively you know you're not in the same boat. But comparing yourself to others can be positive, just as long as you see them as motivation, not clones. You can only be yourself.

To cap it all, slaying intimidation is a long and sometimes tiring journey, but the reward will be permanent and will reap you inner fulfillment.

The Writing Monsters Inside Us

2011-11-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

Any aspiring author would tell you how exciting and hard it is to sit and face the prospect of writing. Sharing to the world your heart and soul, your fears and, subconsciously, your secrets is a daunting journey. Yet, the passion inside you, like a roaring ball of fire, dwarfs these negative emotions and you’re off to writing that story.

Mine started back in the summer of 2002, after I finished reading this book about a wizard and thought it's missing these elements I have come to expect from witchcraft novels. Before I knew it, I had grabbed a catleya notebook and started scribbling the first three chapters in one night, not knowing what the story would be or who the characters would be on it. My hands just started moving on its own. It's weird because I have this feeling the moon, somehow, triggered my writing to work.

I was not the good writer, nor the good reader (Encyclopedias are the only books that could keep my attention). I despise reading these texts without pictures, and so, I never dreamt, in eons, I could actually write a book.

9 years later, after countless editions, swearing, and reading blogs of authors and agents, I finished the first of the seven installments. Yes. Seven. CRAZY.

At the back of my mind, I rebelled at the thought I couldn't enjoy like my peers because I realized I just signed a lifelong contract with my story. And to make sure it is for me, I'd put the project aside for months and started enrolling in classes I thought could outpassion my writing. First, I enrolled in a wushu class. It was fun for a while, but it didn't fuel me with the vigor and excitement when I was writing the first drafts of the book. Next, I bought a DSLR camera and enrolled in a Photography class. Same thing happened: the first few weeks were OK, but then my liking sort of expired. And I knew I didn't belong. I kind of envy my classmates seeing the drive in their eyes, which something only writing could do to me.

And I was back with my novel. I printed it out (after being proofread and copyedited by a friend) and bind it and shared it to a few trusted friends. So far, I've got good feedbacks, and my confidence had started to build up. It's not that my story sucks, it's because I was trying to pull myself down thinking maybe it's not exciting enough or not marketable. And these positive comments made me believe it could happen.

I know this monster inside me would only rest when it sees my work on the bookshelves. That's what it's all about: not the money or the fame, I just want it published.

Before & After

2010-05-24T01:18:00.000-07:00

After a two week hiatus from the gym (sickness stuff, which I hate), I was finally able to start again.

It's really amazing how the mind can dictate your body to avoid the adobo and stuff as long as you have the drive and determination (which is easier said than done).

To ignite the fire back, I have visited some fitness forum sites to look at pictures in their before and after (after depression, if I may add) phase.

And here are some of the folks that pumped my own program back to a jumping start:

Thanks for the Inspiration :-)

See Through the Mask

2010-05-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wonder about people or products that doesn't deserve the hype, and yet they succeed in sales or appeal? Well, there lies a powerful force behind, and that is a great marketing masking;

Britney Spears

Although her voice isn't something your Opera teacher would take as an example in soprano class, she still sells tons of records. Her face isn't the fairest of them all either, yet you see her all over magazine stands. Despite the lack of goods backing these successes, why is Britney Spears popular? Well, her label clearly has the best team in the world when it comes to marketing.

Robert Pattinson

Because of the hordes of twihards branding male bloggers "jealous" when talking about their precious Ed in a not-so-breathtaking adjectives or with swoon-like sentences, I should state that I don't hate the guy nor I'm jealous (well, the tree-climbing was pretty wicked, so yeah, just a bit).

Nobody cared about him during the fourth Harry Potter movie (Cedric Diggory), but when Twilight came, the scene has changed; screams, stalking, and daydreams. Most people see him as Edward; the loving, obsessed, vampire, and so the masking continues...

McDonalds

People from countries with Mcdonalds knows that their product does not live up to the cool marketing campaign they release. Need not to elaborate.

But, there are brands with marketing that compensates with what they offer, like the IPod commercials (totally cool and wicked), same with IPad (God, I wish I have that one). This also comes true with Starbucks.

Before you could say "So what's your point exactly?" I would like to share this; don't be easily fooled by flashy marketing masking. If you're setting a high-standard for your self, then you should be able to sort the masked from the real story :-)

Latest Envy

2010-05-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

The first time I heard Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway song, I knew I had found my theme song; I always felt that I don't belong.

Having said that, I am not anti-social.

In fact, I can be the life of the group and I can say that my friends wanted me around whenever we socialize.

But it was temporary, and I'm back again hearing the little voices saying I should have been somewhere else, doing what I love to do, surrounded by people having the same wavelength.

I am not trying to be almighty and that, but this is how I feel. I have been labeled as a snob, weird, and old by most people I'm not close, and I can't blame them. I will only talk if it's necessary or if I feel the person is 'normal.' (lol)

Sometimes I'm the sea, the next minute I'm the woods...it's frustrating.

And speaking of the sea-self, I envy these lads for having access to doing what their soul craves...

I am a Kayak dude, and I wanna experience kayaking in British Columbia with the Killer Whales following my wake. Pity I can't afford this crystal kayak (about $1M, yes it is)

I want a freaking Dragon!!!

2010-04-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

I.WAS.LITERALLY.FLYING.WITH.JOY.AFTER.WATCHING.HOW.TO.TRAIN.YOUR.DRAGON.

I never felt this good watching a movie for a while, and How to train your Dragon knocked me out of my socks. It's so cute, and its cool I had tears in my eyes with joy.

Don't get me wrong, I was fascinated with dragons as much as the next kid; it was the hero of my daydreams and escapes back then.

Thank you Dreamworks for the childhood memories; HANDS DOWN

Eye to the Telescope

2010-03-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Since I have given up the battle to stay normal in front of the PC via wearing eyeglasses, I have realized that it's for the better because I no more experience migraines and tired eyes at the end of the day. However, my friends have suggested me wearing contacts, which I absolutely loathe because of two reasons: 1.) I can't bear the pain (and the thought of the delicate eyes being coated with lenses...shivers), and 2.) I don't want to look like a foreigner or look like a wanna-be-hybrid-specie.

No offense to those people with colored eye contacts, but for me if you have straight nose (no pun intended) or fair skin, then it's OK to wear one. But if you're not endowed with such physical features, then colored contact lenses would be tragic. Nature have molded physical attributes to complement each other, and blue or green eyes to a dark skinned person will look like auditioning for the sequel of E.T. or Avatar(James Cameron are you listening?).

I'm not bitter or something (I'm pretty happy with my brown ones), but I just feel my 'patriotic' side being kicked every time I see my fellow natives wearing one and looking very 'awkward.' We should be proud of our own eye color (hey, there are several song titles and lyrics speaking about brown eyes from all over the planet). Trying to look like our blue, green and gray-eyed foreign folks is just PLAIN.WRONG.

I know that it's such a 'high' for many to be mistaken for a foreigner, but taking it overboard is...well, tragic. For instance, these Korean folks (wasn't sure, maybe Taiwanese) have made it worse for many noypis trying to look Korean, because Koreans wanted to look like westerners.

But of course, I do like looking at eyes with colours, and I simply appreciate the uniqueness of each race.

Blue Eyed-Babes: Christina Aguilera & Adriana Lima

Why Them?

Although blue eyes is quite a common sight in Hollywood, looking into the eyes of these two sends my dormant heart to a mysterious high.

Grey-Eyed Gems: Ellen De Generes & Tom Cruise

Why Them?

If I could have one eye color to be mine, it would be Grey (the coldest Grey if I can find one). I always knew there's something about Ellen when I first saw her on TV. Her commanding yet funny take on everything has me wondering why looking into her eyes feels like looking into the mirror; literally her eyes looked like a mirror. Cruise's on the other hand has this 'cold' stare that sends me a signal that he'd be cool as long as its cool, and if it's not, I'M DEAD. Still, I think I like that aura surrounding his eyes.

Green-Eyed Monsters: Jude Law & Angelina Jolie

Why Them?

I rarely care about non-action actors in Hollywood (my definition of action is martial art movies, not war-types-gun-bashing-bloodfest). I can't remember where I took an emphasis on Law's eyes (hhhmm, it must have been a magazine), but the moment I saw his eyes I knew the green-eye-thing is not that overtly exposed yet (to name a few Harry Potter). Law's green is a rare green, and it's commanding. Angelina, angelina, angelina...the person all women wanted to emulate and all the men wanted to have (I mean, she's got the whole package, plus a caring mom personality, plus a chateau in France). Apart from her famous lips, her eyes are simply a site to behold (that bastard Pitt is one lucky Brad)

Rarest of them All: Elizabeth Taylor's Violet Soul

One Word: (Breathtaking)

She's out of my league

2010-03-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

OK, since the rain, miraculously, appeared after two months of steamy sunny days, I think the topic today is just a weird reaction to the weather. Have you ever got that feeling about someone that you like, but they're just out of your league? Well, I've been feeling that lately because of all the woman that I could like, I liked this "chic" that is literally out of my league. Don't get me wrong, because I don't have any plans of pursuing any romantic route yet(?) because of some other things I've been into lately (you know, work, work, work, and running). And so, an office mate of mine shared this youtube clip of an upcoming movie "She's Out of my League," and I knew this is something I could relate to (though 'I' think i'm more decent-looking than the guy, lolz).

In the comedy “She’s Out of My League,” Kirk (Jay Baruchel, “Knocked Up,” “Tropic Thunder”), an average Joe, can’t believe his luck. Though he’s stuck in a seemingly dead-end job as an airport security agent, against all odds, Molly (Alice Eve), a successful and outrageously gorgeous babe, falls for him. Kirk is stunned. So are his friends, his family and even his ex-girlfriend.

Now he has to figure out how to make the relationship work, even though he’d be the first to admit she’s totally out of his league.

Check out the cool trailer:

Fold & Hung Me

2010-03-08T17:47:00.001-08:00

Summer is definitely in the air (talk about 39 degrees!), and apart from water shortage news in the capital region and a silent thankful thought (I was lucky to be situated in a place where water is abundant and seem never ending), summer wear is what malls are showcasing nowadays.

Most of them bore the hell outta me (bench, Penshoppe, Guess, etc; these are the brands you usually see on boutiques), but when I get past Folded & Hung, my jaw literally dropped seeing Angel Locsin's sheer sexiness and Sam Milby's highly-motivating physique emblazoned in the posters. They almost looked like international models posing for some magazines (if you're going to launch a campaign, hire the creative crew behind these stunning shots). Though my eyes are hard to please most of the time, I give credit when it's due, and here are the 'ayos!' shots:

And so, for the girls and the guys with fitness pursuits in the so-so motivation scale, I think this is a wake-up call for all of us, lolz!

Diesel Please!

2010-03-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

I have been addicted to clothes ever since, and so I spend my usual delaying-tactic skimming through different brand websites (lolz, as though I could afford them all). Aside from the clothes, I was observing how the collection was presented, and of course the campaign. Of all the sites I'd visit, Diesel's campaign ignited my senses. BE STUPID was their tag line, and I was impressed by the images and videos accompanied.

I never really liked the current look most guys my age are so into nowadays e.g. polo shirts, body shirts(YUCK), stripes, etc. My get-up philosophy had always been "Simple, Comfortable, and Classy." I like simple get-ups with no accessories. Comfort is my number 1 consideration, because I get conscious when the clothe's not comfy, and of course class, classy in a way that I don't ruin the clothes when I wear them (trust me, i feel sorry for branded clothes worn by clueless folks, destroying the sheer brilliance of the apparel). So enough ranting for me, here are the things that ignited my motivation to get rich (lolz):

I don't go for bright colors or eye-candy designs. Call me elderly-taste, but it's me.

Summer Schemes

2010-02-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

Whoa...It's been a month since I've last posted, and I feel kind of guilty. So anyways, I've been really worried by a lot of spammers posting their sites in my comments box (I deleted my post BS in Entertainment because I can't spend my whole day deleting 154 comments, 90% of which were written in Chinese characters). So anyways, summer is here, and I've been thinking host of activities I will immerse myself for the next two months. Since I can't afford a luxurious vacation in Boracay, I have decided to take my weird 'outdoorsy' persona to the next level.

Muay Thai

I did Wushu last summer, and there I realize I don't have affinity with boxing. We did kicks, boxing, grappling (which I absolutely hate, good lord! the sweat and the bad breath, ugh!), stamina and speed training, and loads of stuff before the techniques and combinations itself. And then April suggested a mangga series discussing different martial arts style (History's Strongest Disciple), and Muay Thai captured my interest.

Unlike karate, taekwando, or judo, wushu is not very showy. It is simple, straightforward and complete. So when April starts, hope I can finally settle with Muay Thai and train under a credible master (and not some shitty student apprentice with a lot of issues).

Speed Training

I was forced to stop speed training last year because of the unpredictable rain (my last jog was back in October 2009). Since El Nino has guaranteed more sunny days, I have resumed the training, and after two weeks of sprinting (with several leg sores and dizziness), I can feel my speed has improved.

I like running after office because the atmosphere in Sports Complex was relaxing and you have people with the same goal (although as far as I'm concerned, they don't do sprinting, just the boring marathon-like running).

Colour Coding

I can draw quite decent pictures, but when it comes to colors, I SIMPLY SUCK and destroy pictures. So if schedule allow me, I want to take painting classes just to know basic coloring, because my art pieces were just black and white. They're classy but they're lifeless, especially that cute Triceratops and Stegosaurus dinosaurs I like to draw.

I don't draw these days because of office, but I still feel obliged to polish my coloring skills. Hope it's still on.

House Make-Over

My siblings and I simply agree that white paints during summer is not so cool to the eyes. So, we have been on the lookout for the perfect green to cover the white walls in our living room. We chose green because it is eye-cooling.

In addition, I want to start constructing the huge fish pond I've been planning for two years. Also, the gate looked rusty and bored, so that will feel my wrath for the summer days...

I love my job

2010-01-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

January was a blast; The first week I was suffering from the post-holiday syndrome, and was bored to work that the thought of getting up 6 in the morning to gear up for office is a painful thought.

The second week was even worse; there's a voice whispering (hell, it sounded like Gollum) in my ears that I need to resign because my job sucks with a capital 'S.' I just recently applied for a new job description, and I suspect it to be the reason why I felt 'burned-out.'

I was trashing status messages on Face Book about love and emotions and being taken for granted. That was bull because it wasn't me; it was the stressed-out, attention-seeking, and drained prat in me. Somehow, the venting had eased my "I gotta leave!" tendencies. I applied for a two day vacation leave hoping the 'spark' would lighten when I go back to office. The thing is, it did quite work.

I'm now in my third week, and I feel I was refreshed over the weekend (thanks to my whole day self-talk session at the nipa hut facing the country). I talked to mom about why I'm feeling sick-sh*t to my job, and she told me it's normal; I'm young and I just needed a break.

Dinagyang is drawing near, and I'm excited to join the festival. I don't usually join this kind of occasion but for the sake of 'having a fun time,' I knew I needed this break.

So, for all the people on the verge of resigning their god-awful job, my advice is to compare yourself to other people with physical-demanding jobs receiving minimum wage. You're lucky you've got work when half of the world wallows in the financial crisis. Take a leave, and go somewhere you could bond with nature and be alone for a while :-)

I am a Villain

2009-12-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

I have decided to watch The Lion King (after, say, a decade). Unexpectedly, I still found the movie entertaining and engaging. What's changed is my favorite character. It was Simba back then, but now it's Scar. I love his personality, sarcasm, and intelligence. I think I'm on the villain's camp in my adult years, for they are clever, smart, and sarcastic.

Here are my top 4 villains of all time.

4. Severus Snape in Harry Potter

Forget the movie because it simply don't do justice for Snape's real personality. I like his presence in the Potter World because he's the first to put Potter in his place and didn't treat him like a celebrity or someone famous. He's so cool that I used some of his juiciest sarcastic line most of the time.

Fave Quote: "Mr. Potter. Our. New. Celebrity."

3. Jafar in Aladdin

Aladdin is one of my all time fave too, though not as entertaining as Lion King or Shrek but nevertheless enhanced my liking for sarcastic villains. I dunno why, but I think villains are just realistic they don't sugarcoat things just to appease the hero.

Fave Quote: "I am free! Free to exact vengeance upon he who has imprisoned me!"

2. Hades in Hercules

My brothers and sister hated him, but me, weirdly, was kind of attached to Hades. I just like his humor, sarcasm, and again, presenting the truth to the heroes straight. This guy is cool more than Hercules and Zeus put together.

Fave Quote: "He's gotta have a weakness, because everybody's got a weakness. I mean, for what? Pandora, it was the box thing. For the Trojans, hey. They bet on the wrong horse, okay?"

1. Scar in The Lion King

I spent countless days thinking why I like Scar's addition to the Lion King. And then I realized that I have natural attachment to villains. You can't fake things like this, and so, I thought there's no point in pretending I'm on the hero's camp when in reality; I Am a Villain. Scar is simply cool.

Fave Quote: "Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share. But when it comes to brute strength… I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool."

If you know other characters like in my list, please do share and I will research them ASAP. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All (Screw the forecast for 2010!).

Nina Jose is Tanduay's Calendar Girl 2010

2009-12-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

I remember Nina Jose in PBB Teen Edition as the sosy from Makati. Turned out she wasn't really rich, making all the fat and mediocre girls smile with vindictive pleasure. Why? Nina is simply the sexy chick that most boys wanted, and hell yeah I'm one of them (just for the meantime, of course).

She's Tanduay's Calendar girl for 2010, and here are some of the amazing shots:

I love you Summer on a new moon until 2012

2009-12-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

It's December, and I will be celebrating my 2nd year in blogging this 17th. How time flies...anyway, I've been into movies these past months, and I've been saving them for this one blog post...

I love you Beth Cooper

I saw the trailer, and I thought it was funny. But after the screening, I was disappointed. It was as though the director was bullied on his high school days, and the movie was inspired from it.

Less fun, more talk, and I want my money back.

Movie Rating: 65/100

2012

Plot-wise, cinematography was cool, graphic was astounding for the eyes, and humor was perfect. I love the script, especially the Russian President (im not sure), with his "Good, that is good" line.

The airplane scene with the collapsing building and bridges was breathtaking. I will surely buy the DVD version of it when it comes out.

Movie Rating: 97/100

500 Days of Summer

This wasn't my kind of movie, and I was determined not to like it because I can't stand the "i-need-someone-to-complete-my-life" thing.

But the script, the presentation, the actors, and the plot were wonderful, and I finally let go of my standards. Also, I was happy because, unlike the pathetic guy, I will not depend my happiness on other people. It's a choice.

Movie Rating: 90/100

Twilight: New Moon

This is surprisingly decent compared to Twilight. Less Edward-centric and Bella-whining, and more vampire chase, which was cool. Also, the werewolf thing was nicely done I was entertained with the battle lust. This is much better than the book, and I thank the director for changing some things up.

The only thing that disturbed me was when Bella saw the innocent human being fed to the council of vampires, and she still liked to be one of them. How blind was that? On the other hand, I was laughing by the crowd's reactions every time perfect Edward comes on the screen, and this time, Jacob posing his new physique and hard abs (honestly, It was unnerving).

Alice Cullen has been the apple of my eye ever since I saw her in the first Twilight movie. I simply love her feminine class; she's cute, witty, and hell yeah, she also drives wicked cars...

Movie Rating: 95/100

Why nice guys suck

2009-11-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

I was browsing the net on a typical boring day at work when I stumbled on this craigslist post WHY NICE GUYS SUCK. I was curious because as far as I know, I'm a nice guy. After reading the post, I'm glad I wasn't as nice as the guy bashed by his girlfriend. Here's the article:

So I'm dating a nice guy now and it SUCKS. No other way to explain it, it just SUCKS. He's no challenge. He agrees with everything I say. He's got it all though - a decent job, a nice house, no kids, no psycho ex-wives, and he's tall and cute. Anyone ever seen that Friends episode when Alec Baldwin played Phoebe's boyfriend?? YEAH, my boyfriend is THAT nice.

He's just too fucking nice. Nice is boring. I've never heard him raise his voice. He's never aggressive. He has no edge. He won't even drive over the speed limit and that fucking annoys the shit out of me, yet I sit in the passenger seat and keep my mouth shut... watching everyone whiz by us.

And don't get me started on the sex. Oh, excuse me... making love. After he cums (note I didn't mention anything about ME cumming), he rolls over and says "Oh, that was nice" with a little sigh. I KID YOU NOT, he says it EVERY TIME and then he sighs like he has just woken from a refreshing nap. I finally got so tired of missionary and him looking lovingly into my eyes and smiling as he came, that I threw him down on the couch one night and mounted him. At first he was terrified - yes, TERRIFIED. He thought something had possessed me. And it HAD -- it was sheer MADNESS. I fucked the shit out of him that night. And then he sighed and said "Oh, that was nice".

Now that we had the cowgirl position conquered (always with that sigh afterwards), it was time to move on to doggie. His ex-girlfriend never did doggie (hmmm... maybe there's a "nice" ex-girlfriend to blame for his timid niceness?? That bitch...). Anyway, I digress. I tell him I want him to fuck me from behind. Yes, I used the word "fuck" and I didn't care what he thought about it. He gets behind me and enters me, and damned if he didn't say "OH, THIS IS NICE" !!! Are there any 35 y/o men out there that haven't smacked a woman's ass when doing her doggie?? YES, and he's my boyfriend!

Tonight during sex, I think I'm gonna tell him to stick his finger in my ass when I'm riding him. THAT should be interesting.

So for the nice guys out there, my advice is this: It's great that you're nice (to an extent), but have some backbone. Don't be a spine donor all your life. When your girl is out of line, say something. Don't let her walk all over you. Occasionally, be a "bad" boy (being bad doesn't translate to abusive or criminal). Say "No" to her sometimes. Raise your voice and be heard. Say something dirty/sexy to her occasionally. Drink a few too many beers and piss out in public. Smack her ass. Don't ever use the word NICE to describe things, especially sex (okay, that may be a personal pet peeve). Have an interest in at LEAST one sport (or pretend to). Drive 5-10 miles over the speed limit once in awhile. Run an old lady off the road just for kicks (yeah, I'm kidding about this one... just ride her bumper for a few miles). Be aggressive during sex. Take off those damn white socks and Jesus sandals. Grow a goatee for a few weeks. Shave your balls. Stray from your routine and shake things up.

BE A MAN FOR GOD'S SAKE... and the women will fall at your feet.

Last Leg of the Race

2009-11-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

Whoa...This blog is nearing its 2nd birthday this December, and yet it's been stagnant for a while. Since I changed my job title, I haven't got time to post something interesting (I'd rather not post than to post a garbage article just for filler's sake). As I am excited for this Fall's release of new albums, I think I ought to share the list of artists releasing their most-awaited albums of 2009.

Album release is set on Tuesday in the United States, and most artists follow this trend. This is going to be exciting as anticipated releases from big names like John Mayer, Norah Jones, Usher, Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, Shakira, Rihanna, Kris Allen, etc will battle it out in the Billboard 200 Charts...

November 10

Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces
Bon Jovi - The Circle
Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
Flyleaf - Memento Mori
Wyclef Jean From - The Hut To The Projects To The Mansion [EP]
Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane

Who's to Bow at #1? Bon Jovi haven't released a Cd for a while, and I think the Fans miss him for that, so I bet he'll debut at number 1.

November 17

50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct
Kris Allen - Kris Allen
Justin Bieber - My World
Boyz II Men - Love [Covers album]
Fall Out Boy - Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits
Janet Jackson - Number Ones [Greatest hits]
Norah Jones - The Fall
Leona Lewis - Echo
John Mayer - Battle Studies
Snow Patrol - Up To Now

Who's to Bow at #1? I'm actually anxious on this one. The battle would be between Norah Jones and 50 Cent, as each album is highly anticipated (50's having pushed several dates). After the monstrous Come Away With Me, Norah Jones always debut's at Number 1. Though Lewis and Mayer have had their #1 1st-week sales figures on previous albums, competition is much stiffer this time.

November 24

Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream
Sean "Diddy" Combs - Last Train To Paris
Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment
Lil Wayne - Rebirth
Rihanna - Rated R
Shakira - She Wolf
Britney Spears - Britney Spears: The Singles Collection
Timbaland - Shock Value 2

Who's to Bow at #1? Ouch, this is tough too, I am really rooting for Rihanna's Rated R (well, the publicity and the sympathy works its magic). But she better release a hit single soon as Russian Roulette don’t offer much of a spank like previous lead singles Umbrella, SOS, and Pon De Replay. On the other hand, Shakira and Sean Comb's releases could snatch the top spot like a dark horse.

December 1

Allison Iraheta - Just Like You
R. Kelly - Untitled
Juvenile - Cocky And Confident
Alicia Keys - The Element Of Freedom

Who's to Bow at #1? Obviously, it's Alicia Keys, and if she debuts at number 1, it would be her fifth consecutive.

December 8

Chris Brown - Graffiti
Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors
Snopp Dogg - Malice N Wonderland
Robin Thicke - Sex Therapy
Usher - Raymond VS Raymond

Who's to Bow at #1? The race is between Usher and Snopp Dogg. Chris Brown is on the verge of boycott due to the Rihanna incident unless he could deliver a hit single before the album release.

The Ninja and the Fox

2009-10-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that November is finally coming. Aside from the Halloween parties and visits on cemeteries, Sensible movies are about to be shown. What's really weird is that I am the movie-guy, and not watching movies for two months is chronic. There has been no flicks in the past two months that have sparked my interest. November is a good time for films, and I hope I won't be disappointed (heck, the movie tickets are quite pricey).

Jennifer's Body

Megan Fox is one of those rare females that could suck me in. She's just not hot, but look at those eyes; it's like peering through a fox's eyes. I can get along with the mediocre acting (heck, this is a feel-bad-good movie, and so an Oscar is not really in store) as long as the story had a sense. I usually read reviews first, but Megan Fox's casting is enough to cast the stars up to five. Please do not disappoint me.

Ninja Assassin

Ages ago, I have featured this movie in my blog because I am simply a ninja by heart. I love action films, and seeing the trailer for the first time spanked my instinct that this is going to be a hot sh*t. I have my expectations high for this (and so the Koreans, this is Rain's first international release). I don't care about the casting or the story, just give me slick action stunts, and we're good.

I was born to Run

2009-09-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

It's the last day of September! Whoa, time was fast nowadays, and soon it's Christmas again. Speaking of fast, I was running around for the past two months, and would have achieved the desired speed increase if it wasn't for the typhoons postponing my training (are you listening Ondoy?).

So why am I running? Well, I wasn't planning on joining some marathon or competitions; I just realized I was born to run. This started when after a stressful day at the office I decided to check the Sports Complex for the wide open space benefits. I decided immediately that I could make this my after-work habit and hell yeah, it was fun; lots of people jogging, comfortable rubberized track field, and of course, the stress was over the moment the sweat drips out of my face.

Since I'm also running as a weight-loss regimen, I've read notes on basic proper executions and stuff. Most trainers claim that if you want to bulk more muscle, instead of long jogging, do sprints.

If you want further enlightenment, compare the physique of a marathon runner to sprint athletes. Marathon runners looked fit but with less or no muscle definition and they looked unhealthy. Now look at some sprinter during the Olympics, more bulk and definition, right?

And so I have chosen sprint than long runs, and I gotta tell you that it is effective. Compared to running that I maintain a stable heart rate, in sprinting I actually push myself to the limit that my system was roaring with energy demand. That is I think the secret to effective weight loss, and not to mention it's more enjoyable than doing long jogging. Aside from weight loss and stress-killing spree, I now aim the speed and agility of a tennis pro for future parkour endeavors (No more typhoons, please).

Tips for better running

1. Put on proper running shoes because they absorb shock.
2. Proper attire is a must. Wear light cotton shirts and jerseys.
3. Drink lots of fluid 20 minutes before running.
4. Use your mouth and nose in breathing, running requires a lot of oxygen.
5. Put on your favorite running songs in your IPod
6. Enjoy

Style is an Armament

2009-09-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

One of the many reasons why I want to be fit; I like clothes, especially the kick-ass types. I'm not really that japorms type, or the brand conscious. My style philosophy is; Brand is nothing, If it looks good to you then it's Hot.

I was watching this The Duke episode where they talk about choosing your style, and this bald guy (can't remember his name, sorry) said: Everyone can be fashionable, but not stylish. I can totally relate to him because he's right. So anyway, I was once fat (or chubby for that matter), and even though I have OK clothes, it's still doesn't look good in front of the mirror. I realized I've got this man-boobs(well, not really, just wanna call them that for motivation, haha) that is popping out the tshirt. It was gross, and I knew I have to be in shape and sacrifice adobo and stuff to enjoy the apparels. Fast forward today, and I can say I am halfway reaching my dream physique which can handle kick-ass jerseys and parkourish pants.

I think the key to be stylish are:

1. Synchronize with your personality. I mean you can't be emo-slim-jeans when in fact you're boyband-ish. It will look ridiculous.

2. Comfort. One of my primary dress-up standards. If it's not comfortable, I will never wear it again.

3. Dress to impress YOU first. It is important you like what you see first before facing the world.

4. Simplicity is the Key. There are days we like hiphop, then country, then trendy get-uppers, but it is Ok to be simple sometimes. It keeps you refreshed.

5. Label does not guarantee Style.

SO anyway. Like any hard-working dude in the world today, I have my favorite stuff, and if the money came rolling in, I will get hold of these babies...

Banana Republic:

Crocs:

Fila:

Blogger's Block

2009-09-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

I must admit; Blogger's Block has bestowed its wrath on me. I never usually ran out of ideas but the posting scenario is always a hard task, and I dunno why. So anyway, I've searched the net for other "blocked" bloggers, and their experiences. These images are for the fellas feeling me right now. Hope we survive this(blogger's block is natural so don't worry)

1. from Marketing Melodie

Recently I’ve been getting writer’s block (or blogger’s block in this case) when writing blogs.

I realized I’ve been putting a lot thought into my blogs because I want them to be fine-tuned without any errors to sound professional...

2. from Darren Rowse

“How do I keep posts flowing on my blog?”

This is a question that most bloggers face at one point or another - particularly bloggers who have been blogging for 6-12 months...

3. from Dean Meistr

Blogger’s block is something everyone faces from time to time. Even the most proficient and prolific bloggers complain they run dry of topics and inspiration on occasion. But they keep at it, and they notice that the blocks come and go, but constancy makes for consistency of keeping their blogs alive...

The Lightning Thief Strikes

2009-08-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

G.I Joe was one of the disappointing movies I have the misfortune of watching (I wouldn't discuss any further because if you have seen it, you wouldn't disagree). So anyway, the trailers were really good, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians; The Lightning Thief stirred something I thought I would never feel again; anticipation. I have been a fan of the Gods and Greek Mythology since highschool .

The Books:

I thought I would never be excited after meeting Harry Potter. Like Potter fans, I have been searching for a new book that would bring humor, twists, and cliffhangers. Bartimaeus Trilogy, Twilight, Eragon, Spiderwick, and Chronicles of Narnia have all disappointed me, and then I met Rick Riordan. He was the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, and I gotta tell you, the spark inside me has awakened after getting through the first three chapters of The Lightning Strike (the first book of five). I simply love the humor, narrative, and the adventure. Though I wouldn't say it topped the Potter franchise, I was nevertheless delighted of reading the series. Pure entertainment.

The Movie:

It will be shown in February 2010, and I am sure it will be awesome because reading the book would make you instinctively visualize the movie version.

The book was written to be a movie. It's packed with adventure, monsters, and gods, all goodies. On the other hand, I hate all the Potter films, for they ruined the masterpiece.

My New Idols:

During the Hercules movie back in the 90's, I have aspired to be Zeus's son (if given a chance), because mainly of power, popularity, and the wicked site in Mt. Olympus. After reading the Olympians Series, I first want to be like Percy Jackson (son of Poseidon) because of the water tricks, the horse thing, and the trident stuff. But then, I realized Hades was even a wicked figure. Sure, he was the bad guy, but upon meeting Nico(Hades's son) and his powers, I have chosen Hades's as my Daddy.

My New Symbols of Power.

Zeus had the Bolt of Lightning, Poseidon has the Trident, and Hades's has the Helm, which is wicked stuff because it can make the wearer invisible, pass through walls, and other stuff for domination, secrecy, and power.

Love VS Love

2009-08-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled on a Wikipedia page, and Love Styles caught my interest.

A. Eros
– a passionate physical and emotional love based on aesthetic enjoyment; stereotype of romantic love.

It is a highly sensual style of love. Erotic lovers choose their lovers by intuition or "chemistry." They are more likely to say they fell in love at first sight than those of other love styles.

Erotic lovers view marriage as an extended honeymoon, and sex as the ultimate aesthetic experience. They tend to address their lovers with pet names, such as "sweetheart" or "honey". An erotic lover can be perceived as a hopeless romantic. Those of other love styles may see erotic lovers as unrealistic, or trapped in a fantasy.

The advantage of erotic love is the sentimentality of it. It is very relaxing to the person doing it. The disadvantage is the inevitableness of the decay in attraction, and the danger of living in a fantasy world. In its extreme, eros can resemble naivete.

B. Ludus
– a love that is played as a game or sport; conquest.

Ludic lovers are players. More interested in quantity than quality of relationships, ludic lovers want to have as much fun as possible. Ludic lovers choose their partners by playing the field, and quickly recover from break-ups.

Ludic lovers tend to view marriage as a trap, and are the most likely of the love styles to commit infidelity. They might view children as a sign of fertility of the parent or of the masculinity of the father. They regard sex as a conquest or a sport, and they engage in relationships because they see them as a challenge.

The disadvantage of this love style is the likelihood of infidelity. In its extreme form, ludic love becomes promiscuity.

C. Storge
– an affectionate love that slowly develops from friendship, based on similarity.

Storgic lovers are friends first. Storgic love develops gradually out of friendship, and the friendship can endure beyond the breakup of the relationship. Storgic lovers choose their mates based on homogamy, and sometimes cannot pinpoint the moment that friendship turned to love. Storgic lovers want their significant others to also be their best friends.

Storgic lovers place much importance on commitment, and find their motivation to avoid committing infidelity is to preserve the trust between the partners. Children and marriage are seen as legitimate forms of their bond. Sex is of lesser importance than in some of the other love styles.

The advantage of storgic love is the level of intimacy between the partners. The disadvantage is the lack of passion.

D. Pragma

– love that is driven by the head, not the heart; undemonstrative.

Pragmatic lovers are practical. Pragmatic lovers think rationally and realistically about their expectations in a partner, and select them via comparison shopping or shopping-list love.

Pragmatic lovers want to find value in their partners, and ultimately want to work with their partner to reach a common goal. Pragmatic lovers will avoid infidelity to avoid adverse consequences, and carefully weigh the costs and rewards of a relationship. Pragmatic lovers view sex as a reward or a means of procreation, and view marriage and children as potential liabilities and assets.

The advantage of pragmatic love is practicality and realism. The disadvantage is un-demonstrativeness and lack of emotion. In its extreme form, pragma can become prostitution.

E. Mania
– highly volatile love; obsession; fueled by low self-esteem.

Manic lovers often have low self-esteem, and place much importance on their relationship. Manic lovers speak of their partners in possessives and superlatives, and feel they "need" their partners. Love is a means of rescue, or a reinforcement of value.

Manic lovers often discover their partners by haphazard means. Manic lovers will avoid committing infidelity if they fear discovery. They view marriage as ownership, and children as either competition or a substitute for their lover. Sex is a reassurance of love.

Manic lovers are often anxious or insecure, and can be extremely jealous. Manic lovers respond well to therapy, and often grow out of this style. The advantage of manic love is intensity.

The disadvantages include jealousy, obsessiveness, and insatiability. In its extreme, mania becomes addiction or codependency.

F. Agape

– selfless altruistic love; spiritual; motherly love. Agapic love is self-sacrificing, all-encompassing love.

Agapic lovers are often spiritual or religious people. Agapic lovers view their partners as blessings, and wish to take care of them.

Agapic lovers will remain faithful to their partners to avoid causing them pain, and will often wait patiently for their partners after a break-up.

Marriage and children are sacred trusts, and sex is a gift between two people. Agapic love believes itself to be unconditional, though lovers taking an agapic stance to relationships risk suffering from inattention to their own needs.

The advantage of agapic love is its generosity. A disadvantage is that it can induce feelings of guilt or incompetence in a partner. In its deviant form, agape becomes martyrdom.

Amazing Naruto Cosplay

2009-08-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

One of the most rewarding moments for mangga artist, aside from their creations animated, is when people emulate their comic characters. Through Cosplays, anime' fans gather together to enjoy each interpretation, and as a tribute, I have collected pictures of people across the globe into one jam-packed cosplay blog post, well actually, I have to split it into two parts because its too many. Part I is for the primary characters in the beginnings of Naruto.

Uzumaki Naruto:

Haruno Sakura:

Uchiha Sasuke:

Nara Shikamaru:

Yamanaka Ino

Akimiki Choji:

Inuzuka Kiba:

Aburame Shino:

Hyuga Hinata:

Rock Lee:

Tenten:

Hyuga Neji:

Gaara:

Temari:

Kankuro:

Ninja Academy Teachers:

Kakashi:

Kurenai:

Asuma:

Legendary Sannin:

Orochimaru:

Tsunade:

Jiraiya:

My Shinobi Version: Shino Aburame

Why Shino?

First liked him in the Chuunim exam, where this fascinating bug technique suck the life outta Zabuza. He was silent and never shows-off, but cross him and you will never see the light of day again (thanks to Kikai Bugs)...

Vin Diesel VS Jason Statham

2009-08-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

I like action movies. I will swallow almost anything as long as I see stunts and kick-ass gore-- that was in the 90's. Today, I won't settle for anything less, and that comes with who's doing the film. My childhood action idols were Jet Li, Bruce Lee, and Jackie Chan, in the modern days, female kickers like Ziyi Zhang, Su Qui, and Michelle Yeoh are also in my list, and then came the westerners, and my ultimate winner; Keanu Reeves in the Matrix (hands down).

Most of the stunts lately have become so unrealistic that today I look for real-fight actions in real-life situations, and so I was torn between Jason Statham and Vin Diesel. I'm sure action fans feel the rivalry on this two.

Target: Action fans (and wanabees)

Origin:
Jason Michael Statham was discovered by Guy Ritchie(Madonna's former hubby) in the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels back in 1998. Major leading roles include The Transporter, Crank, The Bank Job, War, and my recent favorite Death Race.

Mark Sinclair Vincent aka Vin Diesel stars in successful Hollywood films like The Fast and the Furious, xXx, and The Chronicles of Riddick. Aside from acting, he was also a writer, producer, and director.

Movie Highlight:
It was in The Transporter when I first heard about Jason Statham, and I really liked that film (the black suit and the driver thing was too cool to miss), and his martial arts are those used in military training instead of kung fu(which kind of wears me down after sometime). I thought he would become a one-hit wonder, but then came Crank and Bank Job, and I have become one of his inspired copy-cat lads who wants to follow his footsteps. I thought I have seen all of his great movies until Death Race was shown in theatres. This guy could do no wrong.

On the other hand, Diesel has starred in OK movies, but most of them were considered by action fans to be flicks, or not something to be serious about (Ok, you kicked the enemy's ass, so what? we want great action roles!). Knowing he's a writer, producer, and director, I was expecting really engaging action roles, but base on the movies he's starred lately (like the utterly nonsense xXx and the totally ridiculous Riddick), I think Diesel would choose his upcoming roles more wisely if he's serious not to be labeled "another poor man's" action star. It's like he's all angst and pose, but no substance.

Personality:
Statham's got a energy to be spending on martial arts, acting, football, modeling (for French Connection UK, or the famous fcuk), and diving (He was a member of Britain's National Diving Squad for twelve years.), so don't blame him for falling in the macho alpha male braquet because he deserves to be. You know Jason is "serious" when you see him in films, and respect for this guy is well earned for all the hardwork(and entertainment) he's brought into the screen.

When I first see Diesel with his brawny aura, I thought he was intimidating, then 30 minutes after watching xXx, the intimidation changes to indignation. The movie was plain bad and the plot has been rehearsed many times for secret agent roles: The Agent was fired during a case but Agent heads out to solve it, and then Agent wins and he was recognized by the organization at last (see Agent Cody Banks or White Chicks or Pink Panther). Whoa! Diesel, you're a scriptwriter and you didn't see it was a stupid film?

Kick Profiles:
Jason Statham is no wanabee. He's an expert in fighting, and in his movie roles, he does not want stunt men doing some dangerous moves (talk about professionalism). On the other hand, I have searched for Diesel's fighting background on the internet for thirty minutes, and all I found was him having interests in the online MMORPG World of Warcraft(suwishh), and so it is clear who kick's better between the two.

Driving Portfolio:

Who Wins?
Obviously, it's not all about the hype because Diesel might get all the attention in the US, Statham was eyeing something beyond flick, and that is recognition through great movie roles and fantastic action credibility. That's what i think will bring longevity in the film industry. More roles like Bank Job and The Transporter, soon he'll say bye-bye to competition.

It's Cory, not Gloria (but she's next)

2009-08-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

OK, I know I did promise the versus list this august, but I have stumbled this blog article so interestingly shocking, I have to share it. In the wake of President Cory Aquino's burial, coverage and news have flooded all entertainment platform(yes, even in friendster), and then there are the snags: (click image to enlarge)

Filipinos still have the knack for unintentional humor. Even Media giants like ABS-CBN wasn't spared from what we call "human error", and I can imagine the scriptwriter's reaction seeing his rushed-work flaunting to over 50 million households...tsk tsk

Caption says: MILITARY HONORS PARA KAY GINANG ARROYO, INIHAHANDA NA

Zac Efron VS Rob Pattinson

2009-08-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hi folks! As part of the overall re-haul of The Critic's Choice blogsite, August will feature VERSUS list. The theme will tackle rivalries in Music, TV, Movies, People, Books, Icons, Gadgets, Politics, Sports, and yes, even Animals. In short, everything that is Entertainment. I have switched to an all-white layout because my black design feels so heavy in the long run. As a teaser, here's my debut versus post.

Zac Efron VS Robert Pattinson

Target: Teen girls (and some annoyed adults)

I watched the 2009 Teen's Choice Awards, and subconsciously, I felt some enmity between two of the most-sought after teen heartthrobs today. Girls couldn't figure who they love most; the eye-candy singing senior or the lavish, heroin-maniac vampire?

Breakthroughs:

Zachary David Alexander "Zac" Efron(what a short name), first kicked human boys off the girl-fandom radar when he first appeared in High School Musical. The movie and the soundtrack hits #1 on respective charts propelling the careers of Efron, Hudgens, and the newly launched rocker-chic Tisdale.

Long before twilight was adapted to film, fangirls have different fantasy of Edward Cullen's persona, and when Robert Thomas Pattinson was selected to do the part, it was raucous (and the vampire triumphs the wizard). Rob may feel he's a common person, but not for the twihards(that's what the ridiculous girl-mob calls themselves), who're watching his every move, shocking traffic officers when they cause mayhem in New York highways, and of course, stalking the poor chap 24/7.

Who wins? This is a subjective claim because both camps will kill for their idol, and so, I have to split this in three ways.

Personality:

Efron has always been cheerful, lots of friends, and a life to every party he's been into. He loves the gym, bars, and his gorgeous girlfriend, the half-filipina Vanessa Hudgens, and by the way the media portrays his personal life, it seems that Efron is your typical young adult guy who loves to have fun. On the other hand, Pattinson's a bored guy. He even invited one of his stalkers inside his house, had some lunch, and after Pattinson told her about his boring life, the girl never came back. Some close friend of him even told the press he's not your romantic guy as seen on Twilight. He simply wanna be alone.

Awards:

I cannot elaborate further. You decide who had the Cheesiest:

Efron: MTV Movie Awards Best Male Performance
Pattinson: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss

Looks:
Again, this is subjective, but their GQ photo shoots are nice to compare.

To cap it all: Teen idols come and go, so enjoy while it last...

Cartoon Clues

2009-07-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Been sick of the "things are not what they seem to be" line lately that the once mystical phrase now piles to the mundane list of expression? Well, same here but after finding some cool stuff off the listverse.com site, where they cater Lists (I love lists), I will consider just this once: We've been played at, Kids; Cartoons are not what they seem to be.

Cartoon's Four Most Popular Hidden Images

1. "Hard" Castle

Rumor was that a disgruntled artist who was going to lose his job drew the phallic object in the castle of The Little Mermaid in annoyance over his impending redundancy.

The artist himself says that he was not about to be fired, but was forced to hurry drawing the design so that he could meet his deadline and did not realize at the time the exact shape of what he had drawn.

2. Little Mermaid’s Minister

Someone noticed the shape protruding from the minister’s pelvic region during the scene in which Ursula (disguised as ‘Vanessa’) attempts to marry Eric using Ariel’s voice.

However later shots in the film show that the minister had bandy legs that blended in with his tunic and the ‘erection’ was actually his knees.

3. Remembering Jessica

Jessica and Bob Hoskins in a taxi that runs into a lamp-post. As she is thrown from the car, Jessica lands, causing her red dress to hitch up revealing her unclothed nether regions

(“How could they do this our children!” one mom screams after seeing the scene”,"It's OK mom, we didn't see her panty" replied her 5 year old son)

4. Simba in the Winds

I knew this one way back in Grade 6, in the scene just before Simba tiredly flops down on the edge of a cliff, a cloud of dust rises which allegedly for a few frames spell the word S-E-X. The debate is that the special effects team put it in intending it to read S-F-X to leave their little mark on the film.

Personally, I think the S-F-X is just a lame excuse to cover their real intention; playing tricks to their innocent little viewers. What egomaniacs...

Rain of Ninja Assassin

2009-07-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Many thought ninja boys are weird, stupid, and plainly out of this world, but what they don't know is that ninja stereotypes are disciplined, motivated, and hardworking jerks for the sole purpose of becoming the Ultimate One. OK, enough with the crap. I was surfing the net today and stumbled upon some movie poster and immediately the title caught my attention: Ninja Assassin

OMFG, no kidding?! Faster than a bullet I went to read the article and here what it says:

Rain will portray Raizo, a kidnapped child who is raised to be a professional killer but ends up seeking revenge against the clan that made him who he is. Ninja Assassin follows Raizo (Rain), one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.

If you're a ninja-movie enthusiast, you may find the plot familiar with other action flicks but what make this movie a delightful shift is that the actor is Asian that makes the whole ninja-thing believable. Think of the worst action-movies with Hollywood main cast lately: Legend of Chun-Li(Hideously BAD), Dragon Ball(What the hell), or Forbidden Kingdom(Worst film ever). My only bone is the title: Ninja Assassin, kind of lame but I'm still watching it. The trailer had its embed disabled so here's the link to YouTube: Trust me, you will be transported.

Man Boobs

2009-07-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of update to this blog. God knows how busy I am with my life right now that I couldn't even spare a peek of things. Speaking of peek, i recently stumbled to munfitnessblog.com blog and caught a glimpse of something weird for a headline:Prolong Your Life for Another 5 Yeas By Staring at Big Boobs for 10 Minutes a Day.

“This is not a joke. It came from the New England Journal of Medicine.

Great news for girl watchers: Ogling over women’s breasts is good for a man’s health and can add years to his life, medical experts have discovered. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well-endowed female is roughly equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out” declared gerontologist Dr. Karen Weatherby.

Dr. Weatherby and fellow researchers at three hospitals in Frankfurt, Germany, reached the startling conclusion after comparing the health of 200 male outpatients – half of whom were instructed to look at busty females daily, the other half told to refrain from doing so. The study revealed that after five years, the chest-watchers had lower blood pressure, slower resting pulse rates and fewer instances of coronary artery disease.

“Sexual excitement gets the heart pumping and improves blood circulation,” explains Dr. Weatherby. “There’s no question: Gazing at breasts makes men healthier.” “Our study indicates that engaging in this activity a few minutes daily cuts the risk of stroke and heart attack in half. We believe that by doing so consistently, the average man can extend his life four to five years.”

WHOA!

After reading the above message, please do not rush out and look for well-endowed girls and start to stare at their boobs. When something too good to be true, yes, it probably is.

The blog author said: "The first thing I did was to go to New England Journal of Medicine as mentioned in the e-mail. Unfortunately, I was unable to find anything about the article. Then, I did a search on the medical journal articles in the Medline database and saw zero items on this topics authored by the so called Dr Karen Weatherby."

Now Stop Staring. Go to the Gym if you want your life prolonged.

10 Reasons Why Men Hate Vampires

2009-07-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

I was surfing the net for some nutritional stuff when I came across this askmen.com page where there's this topic about "10 Reasons Why Women Love Vampires" and immediately thought about the twilight hysteria and why it endures (New Moon biting this November).

I was subconsciously researching these reasons and after reading AskMen's answers, well, I didn't know I was that keen observer. And for the record not all Men wanted to be Vampires just because of the girls or the popularity; most mortal boys think its just plain disturbing to be feeding blood...

10 Reasons Why Women Love Vampires

10. Vampires are Loners

Vampires work alone. They don’t have many friends, and if they do, they are usually out doing their own thing. Women love vampires because they have all the time in the world. Literally.

9. No Commitment during the Day

Women love vampires because vampires can’t take up the entirety of a woman’s day. Hell, they can’t even stay that late into the night. Sleepovers only last until the sun is coming up and vampires are nowhere to be found until the sun goes down.

8. Vampires are Stylish

Ever seen a poorly dressed vampire? Never. Vampires are always impeccably dressed with perfect hair and a nice complexion. Their fashionable (and usually dark) duds show off just the right amount of chest. A nice pair of skin-tight pants and an occasional ascot or medallion completes the look. They usually look better dressed than the living and thankfully, most have dropped the cape.

7. Vampires Love Necks

Woman love sex. Honestly. But what they love even more is all the fooling around that should be involved before sex. As we all know, men just like to get down to business -- but not vampires. They don’t even really care about sex. They want to mess around. Particularly around the neck area -- the “sweet spot” as it’s known around the coffins.

They know how to start off tender and soft and then get a little rough. Rough enough to draw blood. Kinky.

6. Moody Vampires

Women beg to differ, but they honestly do like the occasional hint of drama in a relationship. It keeps things fresh and exciting. This is perfect for the vampire, whose mood is constantly changing. You’d be pissed too if people wanted you dead and all you’ve had to eat for a couple centuries is some blood and the occasional taste of plasma. It’s not the greatest life to lead. Good thing they’ve got all the female attention to keep things bearable.

5. Persuasive Creatures

Vampires have a calming demeanor. They are suave, smooth and soft-spoken, and the women eat it up. They convince the smart and savvy women that their odd behavior is on the up-and-up. They even convince them it’s cool to suck blood.

4. Vampires Search "Forever" for Her

Woman love to think they were destined to be with one man for the rest of their lives (blame the Fairy Tales, Fairy Godmother in particular). They love the romantic angle of a soul mate -- two people destined to meet, fall in love and be together forever. Now imagine that man is just as eager to find her and has been searching for untold centuries. It knocks a woman off her feet like a silver bullet through the heart. When a vampire sinks his teeth (figuratively) into a woman, he makes her feel like the only woman in the world.

3. Vampires are Romantic

Give those dead, bloodsucking bastards credit: they know how to romance the pants off a woman. The setting is always dark and mysterious and the atmosphere is just right for doing something dirty. The full moon seems to follow them wherever they go. One of the reasons women love vampires is that they know how to pull all the tricks to make the setting perfect.

Also working to their advantage is that they don’t do much talking to ruin the moment (They’ve also had years of practice).

2. Vampires are Powerful

Vampires exude two types of power. The first is the raw, physical power. The vampire is always in phenomenal shape; it must be the low carbs/high blood diet and tons of sleep. The second type of power is mental. He's usually a manipulative bastard who can match brains as much as brawn. This amazing one-two combo is a major reason women love vampires. Moreover, it’s almost impossible to kill a vampire. You think he’s dead? Nope. Still not dead (Where the Hell is Buffy?!).

1. Vampires are the Ultimate Bad

Women love bad boys. Now mix in the fact that a vampire is searching for eternal love and needs a woman to survive; you’ve got yourself the ultimate bad boy. He answers to no one, lives by his own rules, wears nice clothes, and is hated by millions of living people. He is the man her mother warned her about except with more guy-liner and lip gloss than either of them could have ever predicted. He isn’t just bad, he’s dead. Beat that!

Ms. Christine Reyes

2009-07-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

Unlike most of my contemporaries, I don't take high concern for the flesh entertainment (e.g. buying Men's magazines just to know how incompetent they are in bed, or penis enlargement pills, stuff like premature ejaculation, and other BULLSHIT most men are up to nowadays).

What about Global Warming, The Financial Crisis, North Korean Satellite launch, AH1N1, and other pre-apocalypse arrangements to kill us all?. Haha, that's why they don't relate to me because I've got different (and often weird) concerns and grandpa-like world views. Well I guess that's just me.

Anyway, only one cover girl had caught my attention and actually made me come to a halt staring at the magazine stand, transfixed with admiration to Christine Reyes.

She is so damn S.E.X.Y. I dunno I don't see this with other covergirls but I think her "innocent" aura impacted the BIG difference. Sure, most covergirls have big boobs, sexy figure, and almost naked arses but what sets Christine Reyes apart from all these skanks is, I'M NOT REALLY SURE. I guess its the male's preference and damn it, I think for the first time I have become like my contemporaries as the 2009 result for the sexiest woman in PH unveiled the sexy Ms. Christine Reyes as this years SEXIEST SH*T. Cheers! (Gotta see her in person)

I found some video with our winner chick in a "dramatic and artistic" scene with some lucky bastard:

Parkour please...

2009-06-29T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have been fascinated with free running back in my childhood years and now that i'm in the peak of my youth, I just want to take that fascination to the next level, and that's Parkour. I have blogged about this extraordinary sport back in 2007 and I am constantly looking for any sign that at last the freakin' sport is here in my city. Unfortunately it seems that I am waiting in vain for it is still nonexistent.

The reason I've been fascinated is that it is purely fun and my dream of spiderman-like acrobats would come true. One of my plans next summer is to go to Manila to finally jump where my heart belongs. Hopefully everything's not too late.

Anyways these guys at pkph.multiply.com started the run here in PH.

Billboard Reviews Charice

2009-06-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

One of the most significant sign whether an artist had breakthrough the most-competitive music industry in the world- The US, is that your song had been reviewed by top critics and published in a credible site. Most artists would dearly wanna see their song review published in the Billboard reviews corner but for Charice, she can definitely say she's made it:

Her song "Note to God" had its review to good remarks and most of the comments there compare her to Mariah, Celine, and Christina. What an achievement. You can read the review here:

Food for the Laugh

2009-06-23T00:21:00.000-07:00

Busy Busy Busy week for me to the point this blog looks like a dead city. What can I do? I was buried with work so anyway, just a quick one. This are my new favorite TV shows:

1. Last Comic Standing

I won't bore you with the winner's profile and their greatest comic stunts but I will say that what they do is the most difficult entertainment there is- but a very rewarding one. If you can make people laugh in a sophisticated no-nonsense way then you should be proud of yourself. Laughter nowadays require sarcasm, some real-life experiences people may relate to, or some popular issues we make fun.

2. Top Chef

Having "professional chefs" complement your served dish is an achievement. I like food and I like to cook as well that's why this show entertains me a lot and I can get some innovative tips to improve my recipes (unfortunately, the ingredients are so foreign I was lost in translation).

Shuffles and I

2009-06-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

Since wushu days are now over and I need a new activity to keep my energy running, I had decided a couple of activities I thought might pump the sh*t outta my boring after office hours:

1. Gym
2. Running
3. Continue wushu class
4. Enroll to Muay Thai
5. Change to Night Shift

But before I pick one, realized I needed something to keep my focus in and so it comes with a size of a match. No kidding, I'm talking about IPod shuffle's sheer brilliance.

I have trouble registering to apple store first because I didn't fill out the *state box simply because the Philippines is not categorized into states but regions. Frustration's running high before I realized non-US consumers have their allotted country sites and therefore make the purchase there (stupid me). I went into the apple Philippines store, used the credit card and after four days of anticipation (and getting to know ITunes), I am savoring the richness of the sound quality and the weightlessness of the little gadget. What I like the most is that there's a clip perfect for running or working out, no need for that messy armbands.

Mine was 1 GB 2nd generation silver and the best about ordering it online was you can get it engraved with your fave motto, name, proverbs, or even your cats name (mine was "shurikenlord"). Seeing the engraving made a big impact on my sense of individuality and so further my love for the IPod. Here's the site:

This baby costs only $49 (Php 2, 590)