rehabilitation

We have a neighbor who was said to be a drug addict. He was just about around my age too. There were a lot of rumors about him and his addiction. One time he suddenly just disappeared. It was said that he was put in a drug rehabilitation center due to his worsening addiction. I think it did him good since after a few months he was back again and looking really healthy. He even started volunteering in the Church. I'm happy for him that he was able to fix his life and was able to get over his addiction. I wish him well.

hawaii!

If I can have my way I would like to spend Christmas somewhere else this year. I would like to experience how other people spend their Christmas in other parts of the world. It would probably be nice to go to Hawaii. Do they have special luaus for Christmas? A vacation in a Hawaii bed and breakfast would really be nice and would be a new experience. I can just imagine the leis and luau dancers and the sumptuous food. Oh well. I hope I can visit Hawaii someday!

vacation

My dad will be arriving soon from Dubai! I'm so excited primarily because I will be seeing him again after almost a year. It's just great that he schedules his vacation every year during the Christmas holidays. I'm extra excited this year because of the new laptop and underwater camera! Well, I think my dad will be extra busy during his vacation since he's starting to build a computer shop in our hometown in Batangas. I just hope things go well and the business becomes successful so that he wouldn't have to work abroad anymore.

more shopping!

more shopping!

Dokyu fest (part1)

I recently posted about the I-witness Dokyu Fest at the UP Film Institute. I actually attended it yesterday and I'm glad I did. I have vowed to myself to try to make it a point to open up myself to self-enriching activities. The documentaries were done magnificently. They were very much eye-opening.

The first one was about fraternities and the recent tragedy that fell on Cris Mendez. It was enraging to know that the Sigma Rho fraternity hasn't even given any statement about it. As they say, the silence even more affirmed their guiltiness. The documentary showed some interviews of one of those who was convicted for the death of Alex Icasiano who also died from hazing. He was from Sigma Rho's rival frat, Alpha Phi Beta. What sets them apart is that they admitted their guilt and faced the consequences of their actions. It was moving to see the interview of Alex's mother who have forgiven those who have caused his son's death. I just really hope that those guilty people who caused Cris' death would come out and face the consequences of their stupid actions.

(to be continued)

logo design

It’s great how a simple Logo Design can make you remember a company. Logos are really important in a business since it’s one way to surely identify your company. Just seeing a check mark and you instantly know it’s Nike. Even Mc Donald’s M shaped French fries is an easy recall, right? That’s what you want for your brand. Well, it’s not that hard to do it so you don’t have to worry too much. I can Design a Logo Myself, you can too! Just visit logoyes.com to check out their Do It Yourself Logo Design. They will surely be a big help in creating one of the greatest tools in building your brand. You can try it out for free and discover how easy it is. There are guides which can help you decide on the color, size, and design of your logo to make sure it spells success for your business. There are lots of samples in their sites which would surely inspire you! Of course before you make your own logo, you must first determine what kind of image do you want to project for your business and who are your target markets? Of course, this would affect how your logo would look like.

Vertical Horizon CONCERT!!!

I hope I can watch!!!!!

Start:	Dec 7, '07 7:00p
Location:	Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, QC

Seat Location & Price
Patron VIP (Reserved Seating) - 3675
Patron (Reserved Seating) - 2940
Lower Box (Reserved Seating) - 2100
Upper Box A (Reserved Seating) - 1575
Upper Box B (Free Seating) - 1050
Gen. Admission (Free Seating) - 525

home medical supplies

Do you have loved ones who are sick and are just cared for at home? Are you in need of home medical supplies? You probably need something to monitor their blood pressure or probably their blood sugar. In case you do, you might want to look at AllegroMedical.com where you can check out the different home medical supplies that just might be a little useful for you. I know taking care of sick loved ones can be pretty tiring and emotionally draining. Atleast having these products would somehow make your life easier. Check them out! They are offering limited discounts to people who sign out!

almost over

The year is almost over and I still have a lot on my list of things to do. I guess I would be extending my allotted for enjoyment before I really seriously save up for a wedding. I really want to enjoy my life before I go into the next chapter of my life. Don’t get me wrong, I do really want to get married soon and have children, but I just don’t want it to happen that by that time I’m in that phase that I would look back and wished of doing things that I really wanted to do.

finances

I admit not to be good in handling my finances. I guess there’s that voice inside me which always wants to pamper myself. Probably that’s why I would often ride the cab lately instead of riding other public transportations and probably why it didn’t matter too much to me if I spend on food. Oh well. I know others would have issues on how I spend my money, but then again, this is my money and I have every right to spend it the way I want to.

iWitness Dokyufest

UP Pagdumala invites you to watch
iWitness Dokyufest

five of the best iWitness documentaries will be shown including:

Lukayo: Hindi ito bastos! by Howie Severino

Seeking out Ramon Obusan, the new national artist for dance, Howie Severino and his team discovered that he has also been among the most ardent chroniclers of Philippine taboos, including headhunting and the ritualistic desecration of the dead.

Among hundreds of tapes in his eclectic house is vivid documentation of various rituals involving phalluses, giant artificial penises that symbolize everything from fertility to Judas.

After showing Howie's team footage of a bizarre, rapturous wedding ritual featuring lolas wielding phalluses, Obusan took them to its source, deep in what has traditionally been NPA country in the Sierra Madre highlands.

There they met typical rural grandmothers tending to fields and patients as barangay health volunteers. But on the day of a local wedding, they are transformed into uninhibited wenches, dressed like clowns and teasing newlyweds with wooden male organs taken out of their hiding places.

The newly assigned parish priest does not approve, and wants to stop it.

Howie Severino's documentary will make us wonder not only about the fate of this age-old custom, but about our definition of what is taboo, the purpose of such traditions, and how the past intersects with our present.

Dr. Nurse by Sandra Aguinaldo

Come 2020, the United States will need 1 million new nurses, opening the floodgates for many more aspiring Filipinos.

But the American Dream is limited not only to Pinoy nurses. Because of the massive demand for nurses in the U.S. , even doctors in the Philippines are choosing to take up nursing. The current starting rate for nurses is $24-26 per hour, ensuring a whopping P200,000 a month salary for would-be nurses to the US .

I-Witness host Sandra Aguinaldo documents the lives of two doctors-turned- nurses, called “M.D.R.N.’s” in New York .

Dr. Elmer Jacinto, a topnotcher of the 2004 medical board exams, now works as a full-time nursing staff for two New York hospitals: St. Vincent’s Hospital and Cabrini Medical Center, both located in Manhattan . He works hard to take home the equivalent of two paychecks for his family. But with the impending closing of these hospitals, his job security is at risk.

Yaffa Ramos, also a Filipino doctor, gave up her medical practice to work in a nursing home in Long Island, New York . Her main reason for leaving: from her previous salary of P10, 000 a month as a doctor, she now earns more than P150, 000 as a nurse!

But are these doctors turned nurses really satisfied with the choice they made?

Sa Mata ni Ekang by Kara David

This I-Witness documentary presents the shocking family situation of a three year old girl named Ekang. Her father earns a living as a holdupper, her mother as a sex worker. When her parents are out at night, Ekang is cared for by her grandmother - who is a pimp - and her jobless uncle. At this tender age, Ekang can already toss around swear words like the older members of the family.

Strangers visit Ekang’s home at all hours of the day and night. Though the toddler does not realize it yet, these visitors rent part of the house as a shabu den … where they can freely indulge in their vice.

Kara David gets to know Ekang, her father, mother, grandma and the rest of the family in this I-Witness documentary.

P36: The 36-Peso Challenge by Jay Taruc

36 pesos is the amount a Filipino should have everyday in order to go beyond the poverty line.

The number is the result of a nationwide study by the World Bank and the National Statistical Coordination Board on what is needed to survive in the Philippines . P13,113 per person annually or P36 a day divides the haves from the have nots.

But is 36 pesos really enough for a Pinoy not to be officially called poor? Is it enough for a healthy and dignified lifestyle?

In an experimental documentary, Jay Taruc finds out just how far 36 pesos can actually go. He issues the P36 challenge to Filipinos from different economic backgrounds – a teacher, a jeepney driver, a middle class employee, a student and a congressman. Their ingenuity, their priorities, and their discoveries are followed by Jay and his cameras.

Jay tries the experiment himself and realizes the theoretical aspects of poverty can be painful when tried out in real life

Brod is thicker than water by Howie Severino

A true tale of two frats, two victims, two mothers …

During the four Sundays of September, along festive Taft Avenue , thousands have taken the bar exams to become lawyers and future leaders of the country.

Hazing victim Cris Mendez had dreamt of going to law school and someday passing the bar. Instead, he was buried on the first day of the bar exams.

In the intense month of taking the bar and soul-searching over Cris's death, I-Witness’ Howie Severino explores UP Law, the nation’s leading law school -- now known for fraternities that produce both leaders and killers.

Unable to find the suspected fraternity, Sigma Rho, Howie spends time instead with the frat’s archrival, Alpha Phi Beta. Some of the APB brods were convicted for the 1998 hazing death of Alex Icasiano and spent up to two years in prison. One brod talks movingly about the stigma of being an ex-convict in law school.

Was there justice? Could this be a road map for Sigma Rho? Howie asks the mother of Icasiano, the APB neophyte who died. She describes the hard path to the conviction and ultimately forgiveness, and her relationship with the frat today -- which counts two Supreme Court justices and rising stalwart, Senator Chiz Escudero, in addition to her son among its proud roster of brods.

In a moving scene of the documentary, Mrs. Icasiano meets Cris Mendez’ mother for the first time to offer her condolences. Howie for his part finally comes face to face with Sigma Rho brods and is surprised by the kind of men he meets.

It gives him hope that Sigma Rho will eventually choose to do the right thing.

This will be on November 28, Wednesday,2pm at the UP Film Institute. Tickets at P45 only.

For inquiries text Klein: 0927-2894291 or Yeye: 09192262557

pool remodeling

Ever thought about owning a swimming pool of your own? There’s this pool company in Arizona whose name has been synonymous with quality. Being a player in the industry for over 29 years, this family-owned business will take care of your hard-earned investment for a pool that you can rightfully own and enjoy. A cool feature of their work which removes the hassles of a dirty pool with foreign material is called the MDX, a state-of-the-art equipment that removes debris from your swimming area. If you’re just around Mesa, consider this company with great customer service. Think about it, and all the summers for the coming years. You just might want to get az pool remodeling.

no more page rank

I’m sorry, but I’m really hating Google right now for taking away all our page ranks. It wasn’t that easy to have a wide readership and have people visit your blog. I know page rank is so important to people who get paid to blog. It may sound over reacting, but they did destroy a lot of people’s plans because of what they did. A lot of people who get paid to blog use this money to make ends meet or are used for something like for medications of sick loved ones. I just really hate the thought that they are playing God!

love endures

Me and my sweetie have been in too many petty quarrels. Our relationship has been challenged too many times. We have decided a little too many times to go separate ways but somehow we always manage to conk our heads and have that realization that we just can’t live our lives without each other. Despite all the imperfections, life is so much happier with the other around. I just really hope we do work things out.

gastric band

Are people becoming more vain? Or are we just becoming more health conscious? With all the health spas and different kinds of body treatments becoming available, I guess more people are becoming enticed to give them a try. I guess with everybody’s busy lives, our health should be given the extra attention that it deserves and need. Statistics have shown the big increase in obese people all over the world. And I guess with this statistic a lot of options are being offered in order to address this problem. For extreme measures, you can try out liposuction or gastric band. There’s really a lot to choose from. But I think of all this options, gastric band is more long term.

more scrappy stufff

I can’t believe how much scrapbook materials I have accumulated in just a span of 2 weeks. Yep, I have been on a shopping spree lately. Blame it on the scrapbook sale by some suppliers. Last week was at a 20% off! Of course I had to take advantage of that, right? And with all the demos done on how to use certain tools, my shopping list just got longer since I wanted to try out those really nice stuff too! Oh well. Looks like I’ll be scrapping more these days to justify all my scrapbooking spending!

chocoholic

My throat hurts a lot lately. This is probably due to all the chocolates that I’ve been eating lately. I guess I’m just too hard headed. I know eating too many sweets is bad for me. If only I would have enough discipline to control my eating habits and opt to eat more nutritious alternatives, then maybe I would be able to lose those unwanted flabs and be able to maintain a normal blood sugar.

Dumaguete

I am going to Dumaguete in January with my mom! I just got free accommodations at the Days Hotel in Bais. I am so excited! I just need to finish all my weddings then I would planning for the itinerary of our trip already. I want to go dolphin watching! I also want to go to Apo Island! And probably sail to Siquijor even just for a day. What’s more exciting is that I would have my underwater camera by then so expect a lot of pictures!

beauty schools

One of the suppliers needed to source out for one’s wedding is the hair and make-up artist. Of course every bride would want to look her best on this very special day and that would be highly affected by how her hair and make-up stylist would do her. Of course you do not want to look like a clown so you really should leave this to the experts. I have interacted with a lot of these artist and their stories really amuse me. Some are just self taught, others have previously worked at salons and beauty parlors while some have even gone to beauty schools from other countries. I really admire these artists for their passion in their own chosen craft.

photography class

Too bad I have a busy schedule lately. I have been wanting to enroll at a photography class but I just couldn’t fit it in my schedule. I do not want to enroll and miss one of the sessions. Oh well. I hope early next year I can push through with it already. I haven’t been able to do some photo trippings lately. Hopefully I can go to one soon. I promise to post the pictures!

geeks

I am excited for my sweetie! He just got a new laptop from his mom who just arrived from Canada. It’s just pretty cool that it is the same model as what my dad has bought (although I would be getting mine by Dec 1 when he gets back for a vacation from Dubai). I can just imagine me and my sweetie hanging out at coffee shop with our identical laptops! Hehehe! We’re such geeks!

baby shops

I am trying to list down how many god children I have already. Apparently I got a long list already! I wonder what I would give them for Christmas. Of course I got a limited budget so giving cash is out of the question. I would have to think of budget gifts which do not look cheap and which they would actually appreciate receiving for Christmas. I should probably start looking around toy stores and baby shops as early as now so I would have enough time to find the perfect gift for them. I want something that they can actually use and enjoy. I already have some gifts in mind, I just hope they fit my budget. Wish me luck!

Nicholas Sparks

I just saw in the newspaper that Nicholas Sparks has a new book! I hope I can get my hands on that pretty soon. I still have a lot of Paulo Coelho books to finish, though. I really enjoy reading books! I’m just glad I have more time now to indulge in reading these books. Do you have any suggestion of other nice books that are must-reads? I would appreciate it if you can share your list!

One More Chance

I have just recently watched One More Chance! And I really enjoyed it! Of course some tears fell while watching it. The highly improved acting skills of Bea and John Lloyd were definitely apparent from this film. They really have such great chemistry together. I also like Maja’s acting. It was so convincing. It’s actually one of her scenes where I got a bit teary eyed. Well, if you haven’t seen this film I suggest that you watch it pretty soon!

getting cold

Have you noticed that it's starting to get cold already? I love this kind of weather. Although it makes a little extra hard to get up at night. It somehow makes you crave to cuddle up with someone under the blanket or drink some nice hot cocoa. I wonder when I will get to experience snow! Having a nice white christmas would be pretty nice.

Busy

My schedule has been pretty hectic lately. I'm not complaining since deep down inside I love being busy. What's just great this time is that I love what I'm busy with and not just some work which I dread doing. I'm really excited for my three weddings this coming December. I hope everything works out as planned. And I just really hope that it doesn't rain!

credit card balance transfer

Do you have a lot of unpaid dues on your credit card statement? Having a hard time paying them off? Is the interest rate of your credit card company killing you? Does your debt keep on growing and growing because of the interest? Well, you might want to consider getting a Credit Card Balance Transfer. This would be a little easier for you to pay off your credit card debts. The longer it doesn’t get paid, the bigger your debt becomes due to interest charges that you have to pay. At least when you have a credit card balance transfer you’ll have a little breather.

The best price for a car

I've always admired a Honda for its well-engineered engine and interiors. These days, I've been saving up extra bucks to get a new one. It would be awesome if I could locate the best deal in the market for a particular car. There are a lot of Honda dealers out there who offer great prices. But would not it be nice if you could see what all the dealers have to offer for a particular model? Would not it be cool if the dealers would compete against each other for your business and therefore offering you the best deal possible?

It's great and it's all made possible by CarsBlvd with these great Honda Car Quotes. This link works by comparing Honda Car Prices for Honda Cars in a fraction of the time spent in manual price canvassing. It's all online and what's great about it is that it's all for free. Not a single nickel will go out of your pocket for their services. Naturally, when these dealers are getting out of their way in offering you their best price possible, you will never get to pay the full price for a brand new car. That in itself is making me salivate for a brand new SUV or CR-V or Civic.

All about loans

We've all been there a few times in the past. There are just those moments when the money you have is just not enough to get you through. My friends who have migrated to other countries especially understand this. I hear stories about them being in situations wherein a need for cash is just the order of the moment. Here's where a good loan certainly makes sense.

For me, a good loan which has been carefully thought of is a sign of financial maturity. It is also wise to consult professionals about which loaning company is best for you. Fortunately, there is a way if you're in the UK!

Brits have an easy time getting emergency cash with Payday Loans from Roberts Bridge. This financial matching service will look for a loaning company which is very much tailored to fit your needs. Try the site and you will also find a link for USA residents. With speedy online applications approved within 24 hours, you are virtually guaranteed peace of mind. You may also try loans in Cash Advance and Salary Advance forms. This company can find you a loan as much as 750 pounds. Now that in itself is very impressive in terms of service.

password keeper

Do you just use one password in all your emails and log-in? Well, that is not really advisable. But of course I understand how hard it is to track all the passwords that you use if you have different ones. I hope I’ll have a password keeper so that it would be much easier. It’s hard coming up with different passwords and it’s hard remembering all of them. I usually mix them all up. Sometimes my accounts have been locked due to the numerous trial and error passwords that I have put in since I couldn’t remember which one is for what. Well, hopefully I wouldn’t have this kind of dilemma again.

starstruck

Do you get starstruck when you see actors and actresses in person? Are you the type to go up to them to get their Autograph or don’t really mind their presence? How many Autographs have you collected already? I know some of these can really be valuable. This goes for singers and sports icons as well. A Signed Photo can be a collectors’ item and could cost a fortune. I have a friend who has this small scrapbook which she carries everywhere she goes so that she’s always ready to get autographs whenever she sees these famous people. It’s a little amusing seeing her collection of autographs. She keeps separate scrapbooks for her favorite stars where she puts their signed photos and other memorabilia of all their encounters. Well, I’m really not the type to get autographs. I just love staring at them and observe how they are in real person. If I really like the star I’d probably get a photo with him/ her. I’ve got another friend who posts all his pictures with different actors, actresses, and singers in his friendster. He has quite a collection already. Well, it’s good that these stars do permit photo ops. But I know some who get snobbish. Well, those are not worthy to give attention to.

HDMI cables

I noticed that a lot were talking about HDMI cables especially after a release of PS3. It really does make a difference and looks much better if you upgrade your cables. You just really need to know where to find a great deal. Some have been selling HDMI cables for a fortune but if you know where to look you’d certainly save a lot of money. Try checking out firefold.com.

weddings

I love planning for weddings! I think it is one of my callings! I have super fun discussing with brides and planning for their dream wedding. Of course every bride wants their wedding to be unique and memorable. Every detail is looked into. From the menu, the flowers, the songs to be played, the personalized wedding favors, the gown, etc. There are really lots to think about. This is one momentous occasion so every bride wants it to be as perfect as they have dreamed it to be. Sometimes it really gets overwhelming, but when the day comes you would know it was all worth it.

christmas decorations

Christmas is just around the corner. Our family would be putting up our Christmas tree and snowman decorations pretty soon and get that holiday spirit going. I love decorating the house. I hope we get new decorations this year. It really makes a difference having the house decorated. It somehow automatically gives you that certain happy feeling. More than anything, I really enjoy it when the whole family is helping each other put on the decorations. It’s such a nice family tradition.

Tagaytay visit

I went to Tagaytay again last Thursday to do some wedding errands. I met up with the parents of one of my brides so that I can give them the invitations. It was really cool hanging out with them. We also visited the houses that they will be staying at before and after the wedding. They also accompanied me to the church so that I could have the misalette checked. I had fun and I accomplished a lot of tasks that day. I just really love the ambiance of Tagaytay. It was the first time, though, that I saw it very foggy. You can't even see Taal!

radiator

Are you in need for a new Ford Radiator? Well, I suggest you check out Radiator.com. It is said to be the leading online source for radiators and cooling components. You’re sure to get quality products. Also, they come with the lowest possible price. They also give guaranteed lifetime warranty. Isn’t that great? Their expertise and great customer service would certainly live you a satisfied customer. So in case you would be needing a new radiator, you know where to look for it. Go directly to radiator.com and avoid getting a middleman. That is the usual cause why the price usually shoots up.

Starbucks planner

I am excited with Starbuck's new planner. I love the leather cover and the fact that it is refillable so you can use it for the succeeding years. Hopefully I get to acquire all the stickers needed. I just find the praline mocha and toffee nut a little sweet for my taste. Oh well. I actually have 9 stickers left to collect. Hopefully by next week I will be able to get my new Starbucks planner already!

scrappy stuff

I am so excited with all my new scrapbook stuff. Hopefully with all my new tools, patterned papers, embellishments, and all those nice scrapbook stuff, I will be more inspired to making new layouts. Right now, I am at middle of a project. I am making this mini book for my sweetie's mom who would be arriving next monday. Hopefully I get to finish it and that it would turn out as nice as I would want it to be.

mexico vacations

Are you planning to go on a vacation this coming Christmas holidays? Where do you plan to go to? Well, if I can have my way, I would really travel. I would love to explore not just our country but others as well. There is so much to see out there. I’ve been browsing the internet which places are nice to visit. Well, besides making an Asian tour and a European tour, Mexico Vacations seem enticing as well. I didn’t know there were a lot of nice places to go there. I’ll definitely put them in my list of places to travel to.

Scrapbooking EB

I really had lots of fun at the scrapbooking EB last saturday. I was able buy some scrapbook materials I've been wanting to buy. It was hard to resist those goodies that I obviously exceeded my budget again. I learned a lot from the demos. I even won a prize for the minibook challenge. It was nice hanging around with those ladies. They really are very passionate with the craft. Their layouts were very inspiring. I hope I would be able to make layouts like those!

spending problem

I admit to have a spending problem. I have recently just paid off my credit card dues, which has actually reached its limit already. But now I'm on my to a card swiping frenzy again. I have just bought 5 Paulo Coelho books, more new shirts, a lip and cheek tint from body shop, and more scrapbooking stuff!! I guess I always find a way to justify my spending. I buy things I feel I deserve. Oh well. I just hope I get to discipline myself more so I would not end up in too much debt.

wedding planning

I’m into wedding coordination. I actually have 3 weddings this coming December. Wedding Planning is really very fun. This moment happens only once in a lifetime. (well, unless you plan to get married again on your golden anniversary or if you want to get married with somebody else). I know how brides enjoy planning their dream wedding. I guess all women look forward to this special day. Oh well. I wonder when it is going to be my turn. I hope it would be pretty soon since I want to have a baby already. In God’s perfect time I know everything will fall into place.

car rental

Do you love to travel? Which countries have you been to already? Have you been to Israel? Well, just in case you will travel in that part of the world and would need to get a Car Rental in Israel, look for Shlomo. You’ll certainly get quality service. It's one of the oldest and leading vehicle company. They already have around 20 branches all over the country.

care home

I know that Filipinos are very family oriented. It is normal to live with our parents and even extended families. I remember growing up with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents in just one house. It can be fun and a little bit of a riot at times. There was a time when my grandparents were sick and that was really a hard time for our family. We could’ve gotten extra help for the medical care and attention that they needed but we couldn’t afford it. Having home care would have been great.

I know in other countries it’s more popular to bring the older ones into a care home. It’s not really that bad when I think about it since they would be given more attention and they will be more taken cared of. But this doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning your loved ones. Nobody is stopping you to visit them there every once in awhile. They would certainly appreciate your presence.

nazareth

Do you know the nazareth history? A lot of devouts actually want to go and visit nazareth jerusalem. It's considered a holy place since it is where Jesus Christ was born. Well, if I have the chance I would also want to visit the place. I know my mom would definitely want to go there and visit when she retires. She is also planning to visit the Vatican City.

right job for you

How long after graduation from college where you ale to find a job? For some it was early and even got one before graduation. While for others, it took them quite some time before they found one. Some had help from an executive placement company for them to find the right company for them. I know it is not an easy task finding the right one. I know some friends who kept on changing companies since they just would not find the right fit. It really is hard to stay in a company where you are not happy. It’s just a great thing that there are companies who help people fin the company where you’ll be more suited to work in.

christmas decorations

Christmas is just around the corner. Our family would be putting up our Christmas tree and snowman decorations pretty soon and get that holiday spirit going. I love decorating the house. I hope we get new decorations this year. It really makes a difference having the house decorated. It somehow automatically gives you that certain happy feeling. More than anything, I really enjoy it when the whole family is helping each other put on the decorations. It’s such a nice family tradition.

checking account

I’ve been mostly doing the payments to suppliers for the full coordination wedding that I am arranging. The couple is in Australia that’s why. They just send the money which I withdraw using an ATM. Sometimes it’s a little scary carrying big amount of money since you can never tell when some thief can be lurking around and you just might be the next victim. Having a checking account can really come in handy to avoid this. It’s so much safer issuing checks instead.

card games

Do you love playing cards? What card games do you play? I love playing all sorts of card games, ranging from hearts, poker, spades, solitary, trumps, speed, and a lot more. I enjoy playing with the computer, or for real, or with other players from different countries online. I think to be able to be a constant winner in card games require a little bit of smartness. I would not just call it luck since playing those games also requires some thinking process. Like some would say that there’s a science to winning these games. There are a lot of materials available as reference on tips on how to win card games just like poker. I did read some of these when I was playing online poker. It did help me improve my games. I needed all the tips I can get so I would have more chances of winning. It’s really different when you play for money. I don’t want to lose so much money on online casino. I make sure that I give myself a limit to the maximum amount of money that I can lose. Playing can really be fun and addicting so it’s important that you learn to discipline yourself as well.

selling footages

Are you one of those budding film makers or cinematographers? I know how expensive it can get to produce a short film. Well, you can actually cut down a bit your expenses by getting royalty free stock footage so that you wouldn’t have to shoot every part of the film. These are available for sale via the internet. Some advertising agencies make use of these footages. This is how some cinematographers make money, buy selling some of their footages royalty free. This is really less hassle for them and for the buyer. From the sales of their clips contributors receive 50% of the net revenue and they are paid monthly.

custom essays

Lately I’ve been having writers’ block so sometimes I don’t get to finish all the writings that I should be making. I think everybody experiences this situation every once in awhile. That must be tough when you were in college and you’re tasked to make essays and research papers. Well, you can actually buy an essay. You can get custom essays and custom research papers. You’ll surely get quality writing which are plagiarism free.

loans

Have you tried applying for loans? I know sometimes it's a tedious task due to all the requirements that you have to submit. Have you heard of Faxless Payday Loans? I know it's a little too good to be true, but there is such a thing. Applying for loans have now become more easy. It's really great that you have somewhere to run to whenever you can't seem to stretch your budget until the next payday. That usually happens when there is an unexpected expense in the household, like somebody getting sick or stuff related to that. I hope I don't get into that kind of emergency. But just in case, it's a little bit calming to know that we can apply for loans to help us get through those tough times. I hope I'll have enough budget for the coming christmas season. My christmas list just keeps getting longer and longer. Oh well. I really need to be more smarter when it comes to shopping. I admit sometimes I have a hard time controlling myself

mailing lists

Do you have a business of your own? Either online or not, you might want to take advantage of Mailing Lists so that you can better reach your target market. Having access to these enables you to send them emails about your product and/ or services offered. Having these mailing lists ensures that your information gets to the people who are most likely going to patronize what you have to offer. You don't have to waste money on advertising to people who are highly improbably to be interested. Being able to capture your target market is one of the challenges in becoming successful in your business since if you fail in this, your sales would suffer. A lot businesses have been taking advantage of these mailing lists and vows that their sales indeed increased.

more boracay pictures

smorty

Have you heard of blog advertising? It’s becoming more popular nowadays wherein advertisers advertise on blogs through bloggers who get paid to blog. It really is simple and. Both advertiser and blogger benefit from this since the advertisers get the exposure that they need and the blogger earns money from blogging. I have been doing this for a couple of months already. I’m really glad I discovered this since it actually draws in more money than what I was getting from my corporate job. I’m really enjoying it since it just takes me a few minutes to write about a specific site and it’s instant money already. It’s just around 150 words. I usually exceed that quota especially if I like the site. I’ve learned a lot from this as well since I get to discover great finds! Why don’t you try it to? I’m sure you’ll be happy with the extra money it would be bringing in.

another scrap event

There's another scrapbooking sale! I'm so excited! I know I haven't made some scrapbook layouts for quite some time already. I guess I always have an excuse due to my busy schedule. Also, I want to buy more stuff so that I have all I need when I do my scrapping. I just bought some journaling and swirl clear stamps and finally my own cuterpede. There's still a lot that I still want to buy. I hope I find great deals at the scrapping event.

gold coins

Are you that kind of person who diversifies his investments? Where do you invest you money? Do you just let it sleep in a bank or invest in mutual funds? Have you considered converting your money into gold coin? I think with the exchange rates and fluctuating stocks, it's more stable in investing in gold coins. What do you think? We should really be smart when dealing with these kinds of things and invest where we will get high returns. I think the key to this is to think long term. They say that buying and selling of rare coins and precious metals are really very profitable. Have you tried this? I hope you can share more information if you have.

my birthday

As much as possible I really try make a small get together party with my friends and family whenever it's my birthday. This year is no different. With all our busy lives, birthdays are great excuses to see each other again and catch up with each other's lives.

Since I love cooking, it's also a great time to show off my cooking prowess (hahaha!). I really love cooking for my loved ones. Just hearing compliments and knowing that I've satisfied their tummies is a great feat already.

There was lots of food! I couldn't really make up my mind what my menu would be so I ended up making almost everything I felt like making. I made pasta with white sauce, garlic bread, fried sandwich, macaroni salad, potato salad, lumpiang shanghai, siomai, and bbq. I requested my mom to make lengua which I really love! She added in some buttered shrimp, tokwa't baboy and a fish dish which I don't know what to call. Everybody's diet was surely ruined! I also had some brownies from Goldilocks, Pistachio ice cream bought by one of my friends, chocolate rolls from Red Ribbon bought by my brother, and an uber delicious ube cake bought by another friend. There was also some wine (my favorite: novelino luscious peach) and of course, beer!

Read more about my birthday from my other blog.

Photoholic Itinerary

ITINERARY
Nov 29, Thursday
10:00 PM Meeting & Distribution of Tickets at Jollibee, Dapitan corner Forbes (beside UST)
11:00 PM ETD Manila to Vigan

Nov 30, Friday
06:00 AM ETA Vigan
Vigan:

• St. Augustine Parish Church of Bantay &
• Bell Tower
• Breakfast at Villa Angela Heritage House
• Crisologo Street Walking Tour
• St. Paul's Cathedral & St. Paul's Bell Tower &
• Plaza Salcedo
• Paburnayan Pottery Making
• Buffet Lunch at Villa Angela Heritage House

Laoag:

• Sinking Bell Tower
• Sand Dunes
• Fort Ilocandia
• Batac & Paoay:
• Marcos Museum in Batac
• Paoay Church
• Malacañang of the North

Pagudpud:

• check-in at Polaris Beach House, Saud Beach
• Buffet Dinner at Polaris Beach House
• Socials & Games

Dec 1, Saturday
06:30 AM Assembly at the lobby of Polaris

• Breakfast on the road
• Cape Bojeador's Lighthouse
• Bangui Windmill
• Picnic Lunch at Kabigan Falls
• Patapat viaduct
• Agua Grande
• Bantay-abot
• Maira-ira Blue Lagoon
• Buffet Dinner at Polaris Beach House
• Socials & Games

Dec 2, Sunday

• Relax, take more photos,
• beach bumming @ Saud Beach,
• swimming, resort hopping
• Breakfast at Polaris Beach House
• Buffet Lunch at Polaris Beach House
• Buffet Dinner at Polaris Beach House

07:00 PM ETD Pagudpud to Manila

Dec 3, Monday
05:00 AM ETA Manila

ROOM DESCRIPTION
• 6-pax sharing: 3 queen size bed
• 4-pax sharing: 2 queen size bed
• 3-pax sharing: 1 queen size, 1 single bed
• 2-pax sharing: 1 queen size (depends on room availability)
*** solo travelers will share room with others

BOOKING/RESERVATION GUIDELINES
• Deadline of booking is Nov 16, 2007
• Book & Buy Policy. Only limited slots available. First come, first serve basis.
• To reserve, please fill-out registration form and send to travel.factor@gmail.com
Subject: PHOTOHOLIC REGISTRATION. Then you will receive thru email account details where to deposit payment (BPI, BDO, Metrobank).
• Full payment must be settled within 2 days. Unsettled slots after 2 days will be given to other interested participants.
• Non-refundable but transferable to other person. Travel Factor must be notified asap or at least 2 days before the trip. In this case, the "proxy" must fill-out and submit registration form.
• Participants must be at least 16 years old to join
FOR INQUIRIES/COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

email your concerns to travel.factor@gmail.com with your name and contact number
Subject: PHOTOHOLIC INQUIRIES

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

http://thetravelfactor.multiply.com/journal/item/13/

hdtv

Thinking of getting a pioneer HDTV? Have you noticed how much the prices of flat screens have dropped? I can still remember how high they were when the fad has just started. It’s amazing how much price drop off they have had. If you have not bought yourself your own flat screen, this is a good time to do so! You would really see the difference when you watch using a flat screen TV. It brings entertainment into a higher leve. Have you done your research already of which brand and model would suit your need? Krillion.com would help you find the retailer of the one that you want!

Photoholic

PHOTOHOLIC '07:
ILOCOS HERITAGE TOUR
Nov 30 - Dec 2, 2007

Travel Factor's 3 Days 2 Nights Photography Tour of Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud. Open to all photography enthusiasts of all levels. Posers, Barkada, and Solo Travelers are invited too.

PACKAGE PRICE
Regular Rate: P4,800 per pax
Discounted Rates: P4,500 per pax for group of 6 (reservation/payment must be done by group)
P4,500 for all paid slots on/before Nov 9

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
• 3 Days and 2 Nights air-con room accommodation at Polaris Beach House (beach front resort at Saud beach)
• Full board meals (3 Breakfast, 3 Buffet Lunch, 3 Buffet Dinner)
• Roundtrip Deluxe Bus with CR; Manila to Vigan and Pagudpud to Manila
• Guided tours using mini-tour-bus from Vigan to Laoag to Pagudpud
• Souvenir for each participant
*** please read itinerary for list of sites

care homes

All souls day have just passed. Times like these I remember my grandparents. My grandmother would have celebrated her birthday last October 31. I do miss her a lot since I grew up having her in the house. Sometimes I still dream of her. It’s just sad that I don’t have any living grandparents anymore from both sides of my parents.

I know in the states the elderly are sometimes put into care homes since most are busy people and there would be no one available to take care of them. There are actually a lot of care options already. Some would just hire caregivers to take care of the oldies at the comfort of their home. Well, I wouldn’t mind taking care of my grandparents. They lived in our house on and off and I enjoyed having them around. Even when my grandfather was half paralyzed already he still had humor which I really miss now. Oh well. I hope they’re still around. But I know they’re all in heaven already watching over all of us.

emergency money

I've been reading about pay day loans lately. I think this is really a great blessing for those who can't seem to stretch their budget until the next day pay day. I know how hard it is when emergency expenses are incurred especially when someone gets sick in the family. That can really be costly and easily throw you off your monthly budget. With the help of payday loans, you’re somehow able to pull a life line and be able to survive until your next pay check arrives. Check out paydayloanquotes.com. You can have a free quote with no obligations and strings attached. All credit levels are welcome. What’s even great is that it’s a No Fax Payday Loans. You don’t have to worry about those ugly paper works that are usually asked as requirements. So the next time you get into a financial emergency situation and would need around $200-$1500 you know where to look for money.

My 27th birthday

I divided my party into 2...one for lunch and the other for dinner. For lunch I had mostly high school friends over. It was really great seeing them again. It was just like old times. Next year would be our 10th year from graduating from our beloved alma mater (Philippine Science High School). I'm happy for my friends since they're all successful in their chosen fields. One is already a manager in Unilever. Another one just bought a new car.


Despite all these years, it seems like it's still the same us when we're all together. That's what's great about us. We can not see each other for the longest time but when we do see each other again, it would always be a riot! Great food, wine, poker and great friends are really a great combination and spells awesome fun!

A high school friend who's now in Australia (Faye) whose wedding I'm coordinating, sent me some flowers through Andrea. It was really sweet of her. My sweetie's sisters also gave me a cute little bear and a super cute and sweet card. Things like these really makes me feel well loved!

Come dinner time, my college friends were my guests. It was really great seeing them and hearing how they've been. There were more booze and a little gambling. All in all, it was a great day to celebrate my 27th birthday.

Read more about my birthday from my other blog!

web hosting

web hosting

boracay tales part 2

You can view this post here

more series

I'm really getting hooked to grey's anatomy! I've been downloading the latest episodes and enjoying the new season so far. I wonder what's gonna happen to the characters and how things will unravel. I've also been downloading the new episodes of Smallville, but somehow I don't find it as exciting as before anymore. I hope I could get a DVD of prison break though. I've only watched the first few episodes lately and it was really great. I hope I could watch the past episodes so I can catch up with the latest ones.

tactical outdoor

tactical outdoor

busy

I'm so sorry for being a little neglectful of updating this blog and has been filled with paid posts already. I've been a little busy these past few days. I've actually got a lot to write about. I just hope I get the time soon to organize the pictures and right more decent articles. Anyway, I've posted some boracay pictures already but there's a lot more coming up.

school again?

Sometimes I'm thinking of going back to school and studying again. I surprisingly miss studying. I guess it's the constant search for more knowledge thing. Well, I know some peers who have gone back to school, either to pursue MBA or probably law school. Sometimes the thought excites me but sometimes I ask myself if I still want to put myself into that position of formally studying again. Well, there's really a lot of options available, like taking some short courses or probably applying to an online university like capella university. It offers graduate online degree programs. There are really numerous programs you can choose from: business, information technology, education, human services, public health, public safety, and psychology. Oh well. let's just see. I'll have to ponder on this more.

comfort first

I'm not much of a trendy person. I'm not good with fashion. I'm not experimental enough when it comes to designs and colors. I don't really put on much accessories. It's just usually a pearl earrings and probably a pearl necklace during more formal gatherings. I'm more into the classic look. Well, my style might be a little boring, but that's what I'm comfortable wearing. And I think that's what matters most, right?

rehab

Do you have friends and/ or relatives who are into drugs? I know this is one issue which is a little sensitive and hard to deal with. Sometimes we're even in denial that the problem exists. But I think if we really love them, we'll try as much as possible to send them to drug treatment centers where professionals can treat them and rehabilitate them. I know this process can be very emotionally draining but one must be strong enough to face it or it might be too late already.

moving

In just a few days my sweetie’s mom (whom I have never met) is finally going home from Canada. I’m actually a little scared. I don’t know why. Anyway, I’m just really happy that my sweetie’s family would be together again after how many years. I know it’s not easy for his mom to just give up their Canada immigration dream. Well, his mom has already started sending cargos of her stuff. She should’ve just gotten service from Long Distance Moving Companies so it wouldn’t hassle her too much. She has sent around 8 big boxes of all her things already and I think there’s more to come since she has packed all her stuff from her old apartment including the TV and other appliances. The really big stuff like some pieces of furniture, she just sold to friends there. Anyway, I hope things work out great when she arrives here.

eye problems?

Are you having eye problems? My sight is actually starting to look a little blurry and after a check-up, I was suggested to put on eyeglasses or contact lens so it would be corrected. At least my eye condition is not yet critical. That’s a relief. I know some people who need surgical procedures just so they can see clearly. I’ve even watched a show in TV where they performed lasik surgery. It was pretty amazing since it only took a couple of minutes and the lady who was initially legally blind instantly had her vision improved right after the surgery.

I have read about a certain doctor, Tom Tooma, who has actually done over 60,000 surgical procedures. With his extensive experiences in laser technology he was already able to train hundreds of doctors and has helped manufacturers get FDA approval . He was one of the first doctors who was able to use the Intralase laser. Surely if you’ve got eye problems, Thomas Tooma is one doctor you might want to see. You’ll be in good hands since you’re sure of his abilities in laser eye surgery. So don’t fret in case you have eye problems. There are technologies already invented which can help you out. And of course, we have very able doctors who can carry out the procedures safely.

boracay tales part 1

You can view this post here