One

Yup, my blog is exactly a year old today. Technically, I've been blogging for four years now, but my previous LiveJournal blog got hacked! Tracing back as to why I got involved into this whole blogging thing was because all the friends I met in Hale gigs have their own blogs, so I've decided to create one for myself to get up-to-date with what's going on with everybody. I haven't seen any of them for a long while now, and I don't really know what's going on in the circle since I am not with LiveJournal anymore, but I do hope I can get a night off and catch up with everybody.

I've kept a diary for the longest time, and having a blog is kind of an upgrade. I am really a fan of the whole concept, especially the part where your thoughts and opinions can be read by almost everybody. Of course, any public domain is under scrutiny especially if you wrote something that offended someone eventhough you don't mean them. I've only done that once, and only realized just this past few days while I was reviewing my blog that that post, together with that comment, was a sign that I will be going through a rough year this year. I never really knew who was the author of that feisty comment, but it's good to know that somebody was interested in what I have to say :) 

I am proud to say that my writing have improved (thanks to the documentation team's writing drills and seminars), and my blog traffic has also improved in the last couple of months. I have to admit that I haven't written anything big or anything cerebral though. I don't really think I have to, but doing it would be interesting.

Sneezy Day

I've been sneezing non-stop since this morning. I asked my dad about the best headache treatment that he can come up with because I can't literally function properly. He reminded me that drinking lots of water is the best way to do it, plus he gave me aspirin for the headache. I slept for 30 minutes and took a bath. Then I went straight to lunch. There's still a little sneezing, but at least it's not bothering me that much. 

Mom's A Pro

New keywords are up and realtor is on queue. I've been given this word before and I simply have no idea about it aside from that it is related to selling houses. My mother used to help my grandfather to sell some properties and lots nearby the house, but it was a loooong time ago. But I hear some people coming up to my mom and ask for help about selling their properties and that's pretty amazing. What can I say, my mom's a pro. ;) 

Gossip Girl: The New O.C?

I've only seen the first episode, and it definitely reminded me of The O.C., but with a lot more conflicts and intrigues. The series was based on a novel written by Cecily von Ziegesar. Kristen Bell of Veronica Mars fame lends her voice and be the official "gossip girl" of New York's Upper East Side. As the official website of the book described it: it's where a world where everyone is gorgeous, everything is fabulous, and jealousy and betrayal are everywhere you look. Fresh faces are the ones playing the characters of Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen: the girls in the midst of a silent unspoken rivalry.I'm a fan of teen dramas, and this one's definitely a must-see.

Lowest Bidder Wins

Yup, you heard that right! Bid4Prizes is a new, text-based game where the one who offered the lowest, most unique bid wins either the Cash prize or the showcase at stake!

Designer bags, Apple iPhones, and HDTVs are some of the giveaways this new game have for its player. Smart bidding is the key on this Sweepstake-like strategy where anyone can be a winner. Visit their website to see what items are available and send your bid by SMS entry.

For more information about this game and the Free gifts you an avail, log on to www.bid4prizes.com :)

Bear With Me

Because I'm definitely going to be posting a lot this afternoon. I have a lot of assignments with similar deadlines that I need to accomplish today. Some of them needs to have at least two original, non-sponsored posts before it so I'll be needing the help of various blog meme's and the like.

Merchant Wannabe

Calling all online-merchant-wannabe! Ashop commerce is offering a new, easy-to-use ecommerce software! Expand your consumer relationship skills by cooking-up a shopping cart website that will suit your target buyers through a shopping cart software. The company is believed to be one of the most intuitive shopping cart software in the world because of their up-to-date, and relevant advice one need to start or boost up an online shopping business.

Visit their website and know more about the 6 reasons why they are the best aid for merchants around. Find the right package to suit your business through their pricing page, and learn more about the software's features. Also, check out their 10-day free trial, guaranteed with no credit card or any other financial information required. Plus, they also have a free store design offer! This includes a sneak-peek of the different design templates that you can use to start your online store.

First Look At Half-Blood Prince Movie Set

I found these photos at JustJared

Looks like this is a scene when Harry and Dumbledore went to Professor Slughorn's house. What do you think? There was a short article written along with the pictures and stated that the next film is scheduled to premiere on the 21st of November next year. Ngayon pa lang, na-excite na ako!

Looking For An HDTV?

To some people, opinions matter whenever they want to purchase clothes, shoes, or maybe something big like a house or a car. An officemate have been asking around about what to keep in mind before he purchase a new TV: What brand's the best? Where's the best place to go? and When is the perfect timing? He considers these things before splurging. I am definitely sure that he's not the only one who's keen and very smart about his investments.

I'm not really sure what kind of TV will he end up buying, a panasonic 32 inch LCD maybe on his list, you'll never know. Online purchase is definitely the in-thing these days, but buying a new Television set needs a little more attention. Good thing there are websites, like krillion.com that provides assistance on available home appliances within the local market, their price and where to find them. All you have to do is to enter what product you are looking for on their search box and type your location and zip code in the "near" box beside it, and voila! the best brands available to the stores near you will be displayed. Now that's some help :)

Join Kabarkada, Ka-Blog!

I did a little blog hopping yesterday and noticed the RingSurf bloggers list at Joy's blog. I wanted to join the ring, but it's only for blogging moms. So I went straight to the website and created my own ring :) I named it Kabarkada, Ka-Blog. Feel free to join. You can find the link on my blog's sidebar.

For Multiply readers, you can check out my blog here.

Incomprehensible

The country is still in the midst of confusion about what really caused the explosion in Glorietta 2 last Friday. The event was definitely been a topic in group lunches and coffee breaks especially here in Makati in the past days. Looking back, I consider myself, and the officemates I was with on that fateful day, lucky because we were just near the area when it happened. We were just 5 minutes late on our usual routine of passing by Glorietta 2 on the way back to the office.

But not everyone is spared from that tragic event. Casualties reached to 11 deaths and more than 70 injured. Today, an email was circulated in our internal network with a touching letter from a husband whose wife died in the blast. His lost was very sudden and still incomprehensible, I was really torn when I read his letter.

I am reposting his letter to serve as inspiration to all of us, and a request to continue praying for his wife and all the other victims of the tragedy.

Good day everyone,

I wish I were writing under different circumstances.

I would like to inform you that my wife Leslie Cruz was part of the casualties in the Glorietta 2 Mall bombing in Makati City, Philippines. She was supposed to have a minor out patient surgery at Makati Medical Center at 230pm.

I had taken a leave from work to accompany her there. We dropped off our daughter, Amber, at my parents place in QC to babysit at around 10am. We then proceeded to Makati and was there at 1230pm. Since she
had been fasting in preparation for her procedure, she wanted to move around and listen to some music while I grabbed a bite to eat. We parked at the basement of Park Square 2, and headed for the Glorietta 2 entrance. We parted at the top of the escalator, she turned right towards Filbar's while I went left towards the restaurants. That was the last time I would see her.

Around 120pm, she had called me so that we can meet at the Glorietta 2 exit just in time to make her appointment. As I made my way there from Glorietta 1 through the connecting hallways, and was about to turn the corner, I heard 2 deep thumps and the shock-wave from the blast hit me. At that moment my heart dropped as I knew that the origin of the blast came from the same place where we were supposed to meet. I tried getting to where my wife was, but the dust was too much and it was as if I was staring at a white wall.

I still tried to convince myself that she was able to make it out, and that after ringing her mobile without a response only meant that she dropped it in the confusion. After 6 hours of searching from Makati Med. to Ospital ng Makati, the blast site, and back again to MMC - with the help of all the people I could get hold of, that I was able to get confirmation in what the state of my wife was.

My Dad and Uncle signaled me in from the ER of MMC. My Uncle (who's a doctor) asked me to describe Leslie's appearance to another group of doctors. I saw in the eyes of one that the description made sense. Instead of confirming it to me, they huddled together, then brought me to a small examination room. It was only through a digital camera that I was able to confirm (and deny) that she was indeed gone.

I have so many regrets. I should have met her sooner. I should have ran instead of a brisk walk. I should have not chose to park where I did. I should have braved the dust and went in the blast site. I should have ...

Today's the 4th day. It is still terribly difficult to breathe, let alone wake up realizing that your source of strength, your best friend doesn't lie beside you on your bed. That my deepest worry is when Amber starts asking for her Mama.

I am glad that Amber's too young to understand the loss and pain. In time I would like to tell her the details of how her mother died, but more importantly I would like to raise her as how her mother lived - a loving person, strong willed, decisive, caring, and nurturing. She has always cared for her family and friends, and sacrficed her career for being a full time mom and home maker.

As with all couples we had our ups and downs - none of which I regret not going through. The sweet is never as sweet without the sour. For almost 4 years of marriage, we've finally hit our balance in life only to be taken away in an instant. I have no regrets about our marriage. She has loved me and Amber beyond her capacity. I will always love her.

It is my first time to write to egroup as I've lurked and watched emails being sent to and fro. All I want now is that for each of the couples here is to cherish each moment that we spend with our loved ones. Pretty simple to say, very easy to take for granted.

Thank you all for the prayers. I would still like to ask you to please include Leslie in them until her 40th day so that the path to God's kingdom is well lit and she is no longer in the dark.

Sincerely,

Carlo Cruz

On The Road

Riding the bus sometimes scare me. I know we are covered and all with travel insurance, but being in a bus along EDSA is like being in a midst of a battlefield: You'll never know when you're going to be hit. Some bus drivers give me a heart attack, especially whenever I sit behind the driver's seat, because they don't mind if they almost hit a car or a jeepney or if they're not in the proper loading and unloading zones. As long as their busses are field with passengers, they will violate road rules here and there

Least Fave DC Album

Swiss Army Romance is my least favorite Dashboard Confessional album. I have nothing against acoustic, but this one's an exception. I hardly listen to it, but as a fan, it is my duty to have a copy of all the band's released LPs. Most of the tracks in the album are just stripped versions of the songs from The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most, but it was really nothing compared to the MTV Unplugged album.

Dumbledore Is Gay...What's New?

Olive shared yesterday over breakfast that JK Rowling said in an interview that Albus Dumbledore is gay. I'm really not surprised...

Potterheads might think of the revelation as crazy, but the Hogwarts Headmaster had been showing his "soft" side since book 1. There's always grandeur and innate respect on the way his character was build in the series, but his softness is always in the sidelines. Offering lemon drops, daisies and willows on his choice of password terms, his character slippers and designed pajamas: these are only few of those subtle evidences of his gayness.

Gellert Grindelwald, the Lord Voldemort of Dumbledore's younger years, was also revealed as his object of affection. Poor Albus; he must've been really torn when they dueled and killing the love of his life for the greater good.

Utmost respect for the author who created the character of Harry's mentor was expressed by at least 6,000 Muggles the minute the news came out. One fan even said that this was the bravest move Rowling ever did.

This news is definitely one hurrah for the gay community.

Laptop Points

Laptop window shopping is my new found habit. I've been asking around for points to remember when purchasing. Since I'll be using it for my job, I need to comply with the requirements. Friends also told me on what brands to avoid, like Dell or anything with Dell Memory because maintenance won't be available. Another tip was to make sure that the unit that I'll be buying will last at least two years because that's the common lifespan of laptops.

Any more tips?

Isang Bagsak

I just want to send my warmest birthday greetings to the following friends and relatives who celebrated, is celebrating and will be celebrating their birthdays this month:

Gene, my shoe-window-shopping companion who's celebrating her birthday today, October 22;
Olive, a belated birthday greetings to you (October 14);
Dee, the ever beautiful classmate from high school (October 17);
Ms. Malou Pantaleon, my college professor and one of my mentors (October 21);
and to my Tita Maan on the 27th ü

PLDT Wireless

Christmas is early in terms of the available post opportunities! I checked my inbox earlier and found an additional five assignments for this week alone. Wheeew! One of them is about a company that sells Lion King tickets.

Papa shared about PLDT wireless phone being available in our area. He said I have to prepare at least 3K for the installation. I just hope this one will push through.

Glorietta Bombing

This was minutes after the explosion. I was with my officemates and we just had lunch in Yoshinoya in Park Square 1. Rey heard a loud boom while we were heading towards our usual Glorietta route going to the FX terminal near Greenbelt. We saw a sudden commotion. Everyone was in panic and running away from the mall. I saw some police cars with victims full of dust and debris being rushed to the hospital. People were saying it was a bomb planted near an ATM booth, but as of press time, police reports said that the explosion came from a gas tank in one of the restaurants. 

3 were confirmed dead and many were injured and still trapped.  

Update: as of 3:34, it was confirmed that the cause of explosion was a bomb and not an LPG tank. 4 were confirmed dead.

Why I Cannot Ever Forget Atom's Birthday

I got an email from PPP about the rejection of one of my recently submitted post because I violated one of their posting rules. That's strike one for me :) 

I sent an SMS to Atom earlier this morning to wish him a Happy Birthday. This dude has come a loooong way since his 5 and Up days as he is now one of the budding news reporters around. I think I cannot ever forget his birthday because one of my life's firsts happened six years ago today: My first MRT ride.

MRTs then is like bunjee jumping for a probinsyana like me. I'm a pro when it comes to riding jeepneys and buses since I was 8, but I cannot muster the guts to try to ride it. My Junior Inquirer editor, Ate Nats, even asked me to ride it on my way to one of the Press Conferences I was assigned to and write an article about my first MRT experience, but refused because I'm too darn scared.

My dreaded day came when I attended the facilitators' workshop with UNICEF in RCBC Plaza back in 2001. They had a summer camp project with Probe Productions and was invited to be one of the camp leaders. I went to Probe office in QC first and met Kuya Tops. He told me that Atom will be commuting with us on our way to Makati riding the MRT. Of course, I cannot say no since nakisabay lang naman ako. Atom was the one who taught me how to use the card and explained the whole shebang.

So everytime I see the MRT, I always remember Atom. Sa madaling salita, mukhang MRT si Atom para sa akin, hehehe :D

Here It Goes Again

Been having back pains for the past three days and I have no idea why. The pain is excruciating, it feels like someone hit me with a malet. I've had lumbar strain earlier this year. The doctor advised that I should do some excercise. He recommended a 15-minute walk everyday would be enough, no exercise equipment required. I faithfully do that everyday, plus I drink milk every morning and before I go to bed. I'm guessing its because I stopped taking vitamins for a month now. I never imagined that the effect would be this painful. Actually, I had a couple more of my vitamins, but I gave it to my mom instead because I know that she needed it more. Oh well...

Maiba tayo, Zaide is on his way to Quiapo today to get an NBI clearance for his new job. I just hope he keeps his promise of finishing his course this schoolyear. We had a deal earlier this year that he's suppose to quit his job come October because the semester will be starting. He did quit his former job, but he applied for a new one. Time really flies. As much as I wanted to push him not to take this job and concentrate on his practice teaching course, I know that he's old enough to decide on his own. All I can do is just pray and hope that he'll manage his time and accomplish everything that he needs to accomplish. 

Zanessa

My mom and I find High School Musical power couple Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron adorable.
Their on-screen and off-screen chemistry is undeniable. May kilig factor talaga sila. Super cute!

SWAT Memories

I don't normally do this but Good Morning to you who's reading my blog right now! I feel good today. I'm now having my first cup of coffee here at the office from our tried and tested "espresso machines". I am actually thinking of what to share today since Friday because today is an extra-special blogging day for me. I registered my blog with 70,000 other bloggers around the world for Blog Action Day. The aim of the movement is to spread awareness about the Environment by simultaneously discussing the same topic on blog posts today. I'm not really good in writing about things as serious as this so bare with me. I've been in this world for 24 years and I am brave enough to admit that I never really had that much percentage of my life that I dedicate to help the environment like some of my friends I know who are members of various orgs.

I thought of sharing my experience being a member of SWAT back in high school though. Nope, it's not the one that combats terrorist and crime-offenders; SWAT stands for Student Welfare Action Team. And our job? Picking up trash around school. It was my very first club. The main goal of SWAT is to be role models of discipline and be the section's representative in the student council. The first and year-round project of the club was to have an assigned area for each curriculum level to maintain by cleaning it every morning before class and during the afternoon during free period. Plus we have to pick up every candy wrapper, piece of paper and any other forms of litter known to the school premisses all year! It was a hard task at first because I with the other members got questioning stares from our schoolmates for doing it. But all the hardwork paid off because the club received a commendation from the school board at the end of the year for setting a trend to the whole student body. 

Being a member of SWAT and faithfully doing the task for four years has made picking up trash and throwing it in the proper place as a habit. Whenever I see a candy wrapper anywhere; may it be here at the office, at the mall, or on the street--I automatically pick it up and put it in the nearest garbage can. 

I'm not a member of any huge organization or crusade and this sharing is very elementary, but I believe that In my own little way, I am able to do my part in helping the environment through this habit :) And this post is a call to anyone who's reading to start a simple habit that can help the environment. It feels great to know that you are being a part of the solution, and not among the ones causing the problem. 

Dashboard's New Album

I've been listening to The Shade Of Poison Trees for the past two days. Dashboard Confessional's album has its share of upbeat and melodic songs. The first track, Where There's Gold..., reminded me of Kanye West's hit song with Jamie Fox. My favorites so far were the songs The Shade Of Poison Trees and Clean Breaks. This is not really my review of the album because I know that I should listen to it more for me to have the whole feel of it. Maybe after a week of constant loop on my iPod would be the perfect time. 

Speaking of albums, I have to find audio racks for my growing number of CD collection. I have them arranged in a drawer, but there are a couple more in my closet. 

What Kind Of Blogger Are You?

Disclosure Policy

One of the sites I was writing for laid out some new rules for bloggers. I accomplished one of them by creating my blog's disclosure policy. I've been seeing similar policies in other blogs, but only realized the importance having it until today. 

Keywords are overflowing when I checked my assignments. I am not really familiar on what to write about real estate franchise but there are other keywords that are interesting to discuss.

I need to fix tags. Is there an easy way to do it other that editing each and every post I made?  

Killing Time

I'm still waiting for Zaide. It might take a while before he gets here since it's raining.

Kwento muna ulit ako.

I went to Shang-rila last Thursday and watched Stardust. I tried asking friends if they wanted to join me, but it seems everyone wants to go home after work. I left the office later than the usual time I leave because of Aedner's birthday salu-salo. We ate pansit malabon. 

The bus ride from Ayala Avenue to Ortigas was an hour-and-a-half long. While inside the bus, I heard someone complaining about her lost jewelry and continued ranting about her boyfriend. The video-on-board was playing some crappy Korean movie that I can't picture the scenes since the screen is set to Zoom2x.  Traffic was so bad. I reached Cineplex ten minutes before the screening. The movie was more than two-hours long. My seat was K-15. It was a little awkward because I was seated in the middle of two dating couples and the girl on my right keeps on "whispering" audible sweet-nothings to her date. 

Review to follow.

Another Emo Rocker

Happy Birthday, Aedner! :)

Payday Loans

Man, here I am again posting about how near Christmas is. It became a habit to remind myself how near it is since September. I don't have a list yet, but everytime I walk around a store or a tiange and find something interesting, my train of thought would be to whom it would fit among my friends and loved ones. Everyone will be poor and rich at the same time come December. That's an odd place to be in, but exciting all the same. I've known friends who already filed application for cash advance and other loans just to survive the kris-kringle madness. Good thing there are companies that offers different types of loans. You can also apply loans online where they offer different types of Payday loans. Loans vary depending on your lifestyle. Application won't be a fuzz because when approved, loans are directly sent via wire to your savings or checking accounts. Knowing these things are sort of a relief. I'd better start making a list now...

Piedra

We have to listen to the child we once were, the child who still exists inside us. That child understands magic moments. We can stifle its cries, but we cannot silence its voice.

- from By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept

I started reading the book two days ago. This is the second book by Coelho that I'll be diving into. I've only read a couple of pages since I'm still trying to re-read Deathly Hallows. Just wanted to share those beautiful words...

Where Art Thou, Summer?

Have you seen my summer? There were a lot of happenings around me during summer, but all I had was the scorching heat of the sun. I was actually looking forward for the company outing, but this year was a busy year for everyone. Bless those people in Australia for they can celebrate beach holidays every year because their Christmas falls on a summer. It would be insanely cold if I'll fly to Boracay and be at a beach this time of the year. Anyway, 2008 is just around the corner, next thing I know, summer is here again. All I have to do is wait.

Overrated List

Interesting tag from Bossing Sherwin :)

I'd like to get a tag sequence going: list down what to you are currently the top ten most overrated things (people, events, etc.) and tag 6 other bloggers.

My Top Ten Overrated Things

10. Starbucks coffee (never heard of a coffee shop fan club before)
9. Juday in commercials
8. revivals (ayan na naman sila!)
7. old pinoy movies made into telenovelas
6. reformatted radio stations 
5. Love
4. Kokey 
3. Emo and Melodrama 
2. Spa
1. Art and Poetry

I am tagging Celest, Wawa, Xavier, Anna, Sheldon and Ms. Ethel

One-Stop-Shop @ Tobi

It's mid-October. I'm sure some of you are preparing those long list for your holiday shopping. Long hours searching the malls and bazaars for that perfect gift can be tiring and fun at the same time because you'll be painting smiles on your love one's faces once they receive your gift. If online shopping is your thing, there are a lot of one-stop-shop websites where you can purchase almost anything to satisfy those gift-giving needs. One of them is Tobi.com.

This one-stop-shopping website offers stylish clothes and beauty products for both male and female. The website is easy to navigate because their available products are sorted according to brand, category and new arrivals. Read the Editorial section for the latest fashion news, beauty tips and sneak peeks on the site's newest line of products. Click on "Sale" to view products with discounts. You might want to check out some of the site's best finds for the season like vince sweaters, paige jeans and diesel jackets. What's great about Tobi is that they have an online stylist, Catherine, to help if you are having a hard time choosing what's the perfect match for that jeans or top. 

Visit Tobi.com now for a personal high value shopping experience!

Join Blog Action Day

What would happen if every blog published posts have the same issue, on the same day? Join Bloggers around the world for the Blog Action Day project. The aim of the movement is to sign up bloggers to discuss anything about One issue (the environment) in One day (October 15) to raise awareness. Register your blog to participate and learn more about the movement.

Gift Ideas For Dad

My Dad is the handy man of the house. He used to think he was McGayver when I was younger. Christmas is two months away and I'm thinking of a couple of things to buy as gifts for him. New tools would be great because some of his screw drivers are rusty. A workbench would also be great, or a stainless steel toolbox. Wow, this is going to be hard...

Ispatan Mo!

Find the man in the pile of coffee beans.

Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!!!

And, yes, the man is really there!!!

************

Ehem, ehem - It took me 20 seconds to find the man.

*forwarded message

Portable DVD Player

A Walk In The Clouds was the pick for our family's movie night last night. My brothers and I had an early craving for something to watch, so we played Michael Jackson's History DVD first while wating for Mama and Papa. My parents was just in time for the next movie. Zaide bought ice cream first. It took him 30 minutes to come back. We started watching the next film really late. I found myself really sleepy in the middle of the film, so I decided to call it a day and went to bed.

This morning's breakfast conversation was of course about the film. I was quiet the whole time because the things my parents and my brothers were discussing were about the things and parts that I didn't get to see. I said I'll find some time to watch it. I'll be consuming my afternoon, maybe 'til tonight writing articles. Tomorrow would be a busy day too since I will be cooking lunch and clean my room. If only I had my own portable DVD player, then I can watch the movie while commuting. I want the one I found at Digitalframez.com, the portable 10 inch DVD player that comes with a TV tuner. The design's really slick and handy, plus it's now on sale!

When Things Go My Way

Drained. I wanted to write more, but four hours infront of the computer and writing non-stop is just insane. Finished some pending post opportunities. I'm a bit slow. There's a couple left and I was expecting to finish all of it today, but I can't. My headache is my signal to stop. I've signed  to three other post opps sites, and assignments are overflowing. Good thing, I managed to attend to all of them before their due dates. 

I've been trying to fix PayPal issues since yesterday. I'm hoping to polish it this coming week so that everything will just proceed smoothly. It really is a relief when things go a little on your way sometimes. Of course, it has its own twist-and-turns, but at least it is on MY way now. 

Sheldon told me that they are playing in Sta. Lucia today, but decided not to go since I'm swamped. I haven't seen Hale, or Up Dharma Down, or any other bands in the past months. I kinda' lie-lowed going to bars and attending gigs this year. I'm looking forward to Admit One anniv though. It's usually November. I wonder if their having an anniversary show.  

One Point Zero

The hands of time created
A certain touch which led
To hurting smiles and hungry cries
All those ten years...

With gritted teeth, gnawing
Clenched fist, struggling
To quench uncertainties
All those ten years...

Held in my arms
A daughter whose broken
Convincing, trying
All those ten years...

I was broken too
All those ten years
But I did long for you
All those ten years...

*Decade by Maria Zobel M. Certeza

National Week For The Elderly

It was in the news this week that the first week of October is the National Week for the Elderly. The celebration was in full blast in Makati as not-so-young members of the community who are members of the different organizations were invited in the said event. The local government held a small program where it showcased the talents of our dear elders. From choral, solo or trio; grandpa and grandma entertained the audience with their well-prepared number ranging from dancing and singing. Participants, senior singles included, came with their families and colleagues and enjoyed the event.

I searched some online communities dedicated to elders. One of the stuffs I stumbled upon was a dating site for our old folks, datingforseniors.com dedicated to senior dating. It's a network dating site dedicated to where they can meet others who are looking for companions. Click on the link at the end of this post to find out more.

Hold Me Tight And Think Of Home

Finally! Stardust is here! I saw the poster along EDSA. October 10. Yey! After a month of waiting, I can see Tristran Thorn, Yvaine and the rest of the characters in Neil Gaiman's fairytale come to life. I read the book four months ago and I noticed that the novel is a bit different among Gaiman's previous releases. Most of his novels are a bit dark and sometimes scary (like Neverwhere). I've had nightmares after reading some of his novels. Stardust, on the other hand, is very light and funny. I can recommend the book to a twelve-year-old. Of course, there's still a touch of Gaiman's dark imagination on how he described the numerous antagonists in the story. But no nightmares for me after reading this book. I'm planning to read the book again before I watch the film. Unfortunately, I don't have my own copy :( Anyway, I still have big chunks of the scenes from the book in my memory. 

Here's the trailer of the film:

Wanted: Bloggerwave Bloggers

Blogging much? If you are a blog enthusiast and want to do more with your blog and write articles and features about websites, online merchandise, books, music, etc.--here's another online opportunity: Bloggerwave is now live and looking for bloggers! Signing up is absolutely free. Just click on the Bloggerwave icon at the end of this post to register :)

A-Shop

I never tried online shopping. My best friend Peng and I were talking about it over the weekend. In Japan, where Peng's sister is, almost everything is bought online. From groceries, appliances, to medicines; you can access everything with just a few clicks. Everything is delivered to your doorstep. You'll get everything you need minus the traffic and bulky shopping cart.

Another benefit of online stores and shopping services is that you can also sell products using the website's ecommerce software. I was reminded of a friend who wants to sell her self-made earrings, bracelets and necklaces. She's making these trinkets for a while, and this year, she decided to sell it to her friends. Now, she's targeting a bigger market. I asked her if she wants to try finding buyers online. There are few known online avenues for these kinds of business, but I'll definitely recommend to her to try ashopcommerce sofware to market her accessories online. The software aids its users to create their very own online store using their shopping cart software.

Backpacking In Europe

10 years...15 years: I dont really know. But backpacking in Europe is definitely at the top of my things-to-do in life. Europe is so rich in history that experiencing it first hand would be like riding a time machine. London, Edinburgh and Glasgow are three of the many places that I want to explore. I did a little research about these three places and here are some top tourists destinations:

The London Eye might be the first of the may things I will check out. This 443 ft. ferris wheel gives you the top view of the mainland. I fancied analyzing paintings and unusual art structures so my next stop would be the open museums like the Tate Modern and the British Museum. Rembrandt and Van Gogh's paintings are at the National Museum. St. Paul's Cathedral and the National Portrait Gallery will also be on my to-go-to list. London Hotels are in every block so retiring won't be a problem.



I'm hoping to bump into JK Rowling in Edinburgh. This is her hometown. I know a friend who also went backpacking in Europe and checked out the local cafe where the famous author once scribbled down Harry Potter's humble beginnings in a tissue paper. Named as the City of Literature by UNESCO, the city had the most number of booksellers in all of Britain. After boarding into one of Edinburgh Hotels, maybe I would check out Edinburgh Castle and walk on the historical streets of Scotland's capital.



Glasgow's music and culture is one of its attractions. It is considered as one of the stylish cities in Europe. I heard you can purchase some of the tastiest and most affordable cuisines around town. The Center for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street is a must-see because almost all of the live performances and shows are held in this very street. Cheap rates at Glasgow Hotels and the outgoing locals must be the plus-factor of the place that's why it's also considered as one of the newest tourists destinations in Europe.

There you go. Researching for these places is quite tiring. Good thing, I still have 10 years to prepare :)

Desktop Tag

Thank you for the tag, Ms. Joy :) 

Here's my desktop wallpaper. 



I got this photo from KC Concepcion's blog. This wallpaper is two weeks old. My mom and I watched her documentary special the night before I downloaded this picture. We were a refreshed fan after, so I searched for KC's blog first thing the next morning. This photo is KC's blog header. I think this was in Paris. The photo was taken by Mark Nicdao. 

Note: Copy Starts Here!

Desktop Free View Instruction:
A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. You can do a screen capture by:

    1. Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key).
    2. Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).    
    3. If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of Icons, things like that.
C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.
D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

iRonnie - I Set No Corner
Thess - Thesserie
Rebecca - Skippy Heart
Knoizki - A Dialogue With K
Beng - Kauderwelch
Marie @ Vanidosa Marie and Vanidosa at blogspot
Ems @ Just Let Go and Pieces of Me
Yen @ Me and Mine, Little Peanut and Our Pea in a Pod.
Alpha @ my blog
Amore @Gandacious
Liza @My so caleld life
Jane @ My Joys
Nora @Nora’s Notes
Joy @ My Happy Place
Bel@ Standing On The Edge

I'm tagging Olive, Sir Nicko, Armi, Don, and Gene.

MasterSeek

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Signing up is absolutely free. Register your company now! 

Pink Means Awareness

She spent most of her time in Saudi Arabia. I rarely see her when I was young, but I always remember her hearty smile that lights up every conversation. She went back here after eight years to live with her second husband in Laguna. We only see her during the annual family reunion and other family occassions like my grand parents' birthday or, as they call it, emergency reunions. Aunt Melissa has always something interesting to share about her job, her son, and her new life with her new family. It seems that everything was alright everytime we see her. 

One day, the whole family heard a very dreadful news: Aunt Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though she's not vocal about it, I saw how her spirit melted. It started with baldness because of the theraphy, then her health suffered because of the complication. She was bed-ridden when she joined us on her last two family reunions.

She died three years ago. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink ribbon is the symbol of this month's celebration. I dedicate this entry to my late Aunt Melissa and to other women who are still bravely battling with the disease.  

To know more about Breast Cancer, visit The Philippine Breast Cancer Network website.