It’s Time for a Break!

I posted a new video in my Multiply site.

Modelling Bloopers - “Things you need to watch out for… especialy if you got plans to be a model…”

So now you know. Hahaha!

***

On other matters…

Spiderman 3 will be shown starting tomorrow and after that, big movies will be on a roll. I think I’ve posted enough about how excited I am regarding this summer’s upcoming movie so I’ll just shut up now. What I really wanted to post here is this:

I can’t wait for BORA!! Wohoo! Hahaha!! Yep, it’s time for a break. After six consecutive months of non-stop work on our global sustainability project – data collection, fact-checking and report building – it’s time for us to take a break. In particular, I already got plans to go to Boracay, and as a group, we’re gonna be heading up to Baguio, Philippines’ summer capital!

Baguio, City of Pines

Discovering Candelaria, Zambales

We left the apartment at 11:30 in the evening hoping to be in Zambales by 3 or 4 in the morning. We were excited, what can we say? With a prayer to guide us, especially JM – our driver, we were off to the north! Taking shortcuts through Manila instead of traversing the long EDSA, we got to NLEX at around midnight. We made a bet about our arrival time: Mami Fifi – 3:30 , me – 4:15 , JM – 4:30, Arn – 4:45, Maui – 5:00, Lemon – 5:15 & Roche – 5:30. Who won? Well, nobody. You see, the trip was as fun and eventful as our stay at Potipot.

 

Our first stopover was at Total Gas station – fuel, food, drinks, CR, etc… After that, it was non-stop to Subic. Lemon had printed the map/directions that the resort owner sent to him. We were diligently following it and as  a result we got lost for the first time. After San Fernando, we just continued down the highway instead of turning right at that soldiers’ memorial in order to get to Subic. All of us were arguing about the route to the place. Silly us! The result? We found ourselves in some place called Orani. That’s in Bataan, and boy, the highway was all dark, with the trees seemingly closing in on us. God, it was like a scene from a horror movie! We had to make a U-turn, call the caretaker of the resort for directions, and ask some drivers at some LPG refuelling place the way to Subic before we got on track again. There goes 30 minutes of travel time! Haha!

 

After an ‘uneventful’ drive to Subic, we decided for another stopover, this time @ Petron/Treats (I bought a pair of sunglasses since I didn’t have one). Inside Subic, we got lost… Again! Can you imagine driving through deserted streets with no one to ask for directions? We finally saw someone and asked where we could find the Zambales exit. Funny thing is, the man wasn’t Filipino, from the middle east or at least Arab countries so we couldn’t really understand him. I believe he really knew the way but couldn’t clearly explain in English. Oh, well. We found a local anyways and asked again. Haha! Now that’s what I call road trip! We were feeling what participants of the Amazing Race must be feeling everytime they had to find a place on their own. Well, anyways, we found the exit and breathed a sigh of relief. Double sigh actually. The guard at the exit asked for the gatepass. What gatepass? Oh, that piece of paper that the guard at the entrance gave us. Good Lemon didn’t throw away that piece of paper. We thought it was just for information and some policies/rules inside Subic. After that obstacle, we were on the highway to Iba.

We passed by bars, restaurants, beach resorts in Subic Town proper. We even passed by a huge cemetery by the hillside. Traffic there must be so damn heavy on November 1 and 2. Haha. We didn’t stop for anything until we got to our third stopover. Somwhere in Iba, we asked some locals where Candelaria was. Was it far? How do we get there? We were so surpised that it was another 40 km or so. Huwaaattt? That’s far! But since we were already there, there was nothing else to do but continue on with our journey. When we got to Masinloc, we asked the gas lady at the small Total gas station on our third stopover. But you know what? Before we got there we had to pass by about 10 or so towns and a LOT of barangays along the Zambales highway. Creepy moment # 2 – we passed by 3 buildings along the route that exactly looked alike. The first two within minutes of each other, the third one after 30 or so minutes. It was really got me thinking, that maybe we were just traveling in circles. Scary thought! We found out on our way home that those 3 buildings were actually schools.

So, how many time did we almost get lost? Only two times actually, but if you count the fact that we had to ask directions from locals about Candelaria, then that’d definitely be three times! Haha! We got to the resort at around six in the morning. Funny thing is, on our way back to Manila, we managed to get to Subic in just two hours! Hehehe. Well, it was an adventure, alright.

Continued at: Discovering Potipot

Felling Mellow

 

Summer Rainbows
Saundra Diamante

It’s that beautiful summer sky..
Like blue raspberries
I dare to try…
Freshly squeezed home made orange tropicana…
To wash down my yellow banana…
Ruby red cherries
How sweet the summer berries..
Dark green rhines
Of sweet red watermelon..
The perfect scenario of heaven…
The perfect summer rainbow…
There are sweet little secrets
In our green crowded garden…
They do grow…
So the next time
You look into that beautiful summer sky
With your fruitful eyes…
Take a bite of that summer rainbow
In your garden
Just below..

 

Sweet Summer’s Dance
Hazelmarie Elliott

A dance upon the woodland green,
moon spinning with delight.
Wind aglow with moonbeam’s ray
spreads far into eboned night.

Twirling ~ is sweet summer’s dance
beneath the yearning moon.
Smiling down upon the face
of memory’s rendered tune.

Stepping quickly ~ two- step now,
a waltzing hillside breeze
across the greening meadow ~
dancing softly through the trees.

Smiling moon ~ now breathes its sigh
upon sweet summer’s dance.
Alive and luring ~ summer sweet ~
attracting moon’s long glance.

‘Round and ’round with rhythmic beat,
afire ~ with earthly charm,
summer blossoms with each step
beneath the moonbeams warm.

~~**~~**~~

Alas ~
Dark sky,
On horizon it falls.
Moon cries, as night ends much too soon.
Summer’s dance now sends its sweet kiss.
~ Hypnotizing the man in the moon. ~

Source: www.poemhunter.com

Heroes

The show tells the story of several people who “thought they were like everyone else… until they woke with incredible abilities” such as telepathy, time travel and flight. These people soon realize they have a role in preventing a catastrophe and saving mankind.

The series follows the writing style of American comics by doing short, multi-episode story arcs that build upon a larger, more encompassing arc. Even with small story arcs that move the story forward, Kring said “we have talked about where the show goes up to five seasons”.  More at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_(TV_series)

I’ve just started watching the first three episodes and now on my fourth. It’s interesting that while it definitely reminds me of X-men, it’s still unique all to its own. The characters are very down to earth, and you could actually relate to some of them. There are about twelve main characters – about half with superhuman powers – whose lives are or will become intertwined in a series of plots and past histories:

The plot of Heroes is designed to be similar to the stories of comic books. Like comic books, Heroes has large overall arcs and small arcs within the main arc. No matter what characters exist and what events makeup a season, all seasons of Heroes will involve ordinary people who discover their abilities and their reactions to their self-discovery.

Each episode reveals new answers and questions and progresses the story and/or the characters. There is an overall arc of the first season that revolves around stopping an explosion of immense proportions that happens in the future. That arc is initially carried by two characters, Hiro Nakamura and Isaac Mendez, where the former saw the act in the future and the latter painted it from his visions.

The first four episodes of the first season primarily revolved around characters discovering their powers, dealing with the issues of normal life and coping with the consequences of their discovery. 

Some of the powers are familiar to maintstream comic book fans: flight, super healing factor (like Wolverine of the X-men), manipulation of the space-time continuum, thought-reading (Professor X, Jean Grey), and the ability to control electrical signals, machines  and electronic devices – a power that I saw from Sky High. One of the characters – Peter Petrelli – is actually able to ”absorb the powers of others he has been near and can recall any ability he has used in the past by focusing on his feelings for those from whom the abilities originate,” very similar to Rogue’s mutant ability. Personally, I like his version better since I don’t have to physically touch other people to copy their powers and I could actually recall past powers I’ve abosrbed. Hehe.

The series premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006, created by Tim Kring, who also created two other television series (Crossing Jordan and Strange World). The first season temporarily ended on February 24, 2007 but not before Kevin Reilly, NBC’s president, announced on January 17 that the show would have a 2nd season which would start on an unannounced date. Season 1 will resume again on April 23, 2007 with episode 19. It is now being broadcast in over 50 countries around the world.

Here’s an interesting tidbit you might not be aware of:

On October 2, 2006, Emerson Electric Company, an appliance market competitor of NBC’s owner General Electric, filed suit in federal court against NBC. The suit was in regards to a scene that appeared in “Genesis,” the pilot episode, which depicts Claire Bennet reaching into an active garbage disposal unit—labeled “In-Sink-Erator”—to retrieve a ring, and severely injuring her hand in the process. Emerson claims the scene “casts the disposer in an unsavory light, irreparably tarnishing the product” by suggesting serious injuries will result “in the event consumers were to accidentally insert their hand into one.”

Emerson had asked for a ruling barring future broadcasts of the pilot, which was previously available on NBC’s Web site and has already aired on NBC Universal-owned cable networks USA Network and The Sci Fi Channel. It also sought to block NBC from using any Emerson trademarks in the future.

On February 23, 2007, the case against NBC was dropped. NBC Universal and Emerson Electric reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit outside of court.

The episode in question was briefly unavailable in the iTunes Store, but an edited version was shortly made available for download.

Enjoy the show!

Destination: Zambales – Help Needed

You might think that with the time I shoulda been home by now or else enjoying a dinner or a few drinks with my friends. Well, the truth is, I’m still here in the office. I just about finished work about thirty minutes ago and I’m just trying to relax - listening to some music, surfing the net for any bit of info – before I go home and rest. I also happen to be looking for information for our group’s summer outing which happens to be this weekend already. You see? This is exactly what happens when people don’t take care of business and just let things be. I thought last week that our little excursion wouldn’t be pushing through anymore since no one responded to my e-mail… BUUUT…. only yesterday I found that people still wanted to go out of town at least once this summer. Sheesh!

So here I am, still stuck in the office, trying to gather as much information on our destination: Potipot Island, Zambales. I’ve heard of it before. But I had no idead, it’d be so hard to find a place to stay there let alone contact information on places to stay there. I’m all for just going there and once there, that’s the time we find a resort or place to stay the night. Thing is, I don’t think my friends would be comfortable with that. Why should this time be any different? We’ve done it countless times before in Puerto Galera. For the past 3 years, for God’s sakes! Maybe we’re just not familiar with the area?

I’ve already signed up to Virtual Tourist already since it may come in handy in the long run. *sigh*

Anybody have helpful information about Potipot Island and the nearby town of Candelaria? What I need is a list of resorts/places to stay overnight, not too pricey, just right, and contact information of those places. Once there, it won’t be a problem at all to go to the island. I’m sure my friends will be able to get by just smoothly. Would appreciate any help. Thanks!

Happy Friday the 13th

Yes! It’s that time again of the year! The one where I enjoy a day without any worries, no worries at all - just like any other day. Hehe.

Actually, it’s Friday the 13th, and for most people, they consider it to be very unlucky day. But for me? It’s the same as the yesterday or any other day. In fact, I’ve come to believe the opposite about Friday the 13th. I think I’m lucky on days like this. Wanna know why? Head on over to my feature page dedicated solely for this day: Friday the 13th.

Anyways, I thought I’d be able to relax a bit today but unfortunately, the work never stops so I’ll just have to be patient and finish my work as soon as possible so I can finally relax this week. =)

***

Beware the black cat out there! Hahaha!!! Anyways, here’s a short history about this feline:

Originally in Britain and Europe, a black cat crossing one’s path was considered good luck; however they were also seen by the church as associated with witches. It was the church, who considered them unholy and pagan, who altered their reputation. The black cat was still usually seen as good luck, however in the USA and parts of Europe which were affected by the witch hunts the association with witches caused them to be considered as bad luck. In places which weren’t affected particularly by witch hunts, they retained their status as good luck, and are still considered as such in Japan, Britain and Egypt.^{[citation needed]} However in Romanian culture, especially in the historical region of Moldavia, one of the strongest superstitions still feared by many people says that black cats crossing ones path represent bad luck, despite the fact that this region was never affected by witch hunts or anti-paganism.f

Poor kitty… I happen to like the color black, especially if it’s interperse with silver. I also happen to like cats, too. They’re cute and cuddly (nevermind their claws, hehe). So I don’t mind black cats at all. Too bad black doesn’t suit all dogs. I like dogs, too… WAIT! What in the world am I talking about? It seems that I’m just rambling on here. Sheesh! Must be getting dementia.

*gasp!*

It’s the bad luck! Hahaha! Just kidding!

Again, HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_cat

Petiks, Petiks, Petiks…!!!

So, I’m right here in the office doing nothing right now. I’m not slacking, mind you. It’s just that with a team of young, eager and hardworking peepz, all the work just suddenly dried up! Just for today, of course. Tomorrow, I’d say it’s gonna be back-breaking, bone-crushing work, work, work once more. *sigh* Couldn’t our bosses over at the other side of the world just have given us the work today so that tomorrow, as a Friday, I’d be able to relax and prepare, I hope, for a fun night out! Hehe.

Oh, well…

Can’t really complain now, can I?

Done w/ work at two in the afternoon, been playing online games since then. Took a break and went to get some “oxygen” at our food court open area with my officemate, Mac. Talked about summer plans and all that shit, phones, gadgets, etc… Oh, yeah… The lazy life… right here at the office. Hehehe. I never expected I’d be on petiks mode today.

So, what do you do when you’re bored with all the online games you can find? Chat with friends, what else? Or else access Friendster and/or Multiply and find updates about your friends! Hahaha! Which, by the way, I’ll be doing next after this blog. Hehe.

And then maybe I’ll look up some videos and songs at YouTube or somewhere…

Petiks, Petiks, Petiks…!!!

=)

Top 3 in the Billboard today

Currently # 1 in today. Love this song.

Followed by him again, featured in Gwen Stefani’s Sweet Escape:

And finally…

Source:

Billboard Music Charts

Back to Work

I survived the long, boring weekend. Yes, how pathetic you might say. But hey! At least I didn’t spend on anything. =p  I just stayed at home and do what I sometimes do when I’m in a lazy mode – movie marathon! Hahaha! Anyways… Even though it’s still a holiday – part of the 5-day weekend – I’m back to reality and back to work. If I stayed at home today, I’d have gone out of my mind! So, it’s back to the office for me and be productive after being the lazy couch potato that I was for the past few days. =)

So, what’s in store for me today and for the rest of the week. Well, more fact-checking and more report building that’s what. So what else is new. But aside from that, there might be something new coming soon – not necessarily this week or next week, but soon. It’s getting pretty boring profiling and fact-checking companies w/ no proper sustainability reports or even EHS reports. Talk about no care for the environment! I want some action for once! Hehe.

This will be all for now. I’ll get back later when I’m feeling more creative. Then I’ll post something MORE than worthwhile for everyone.

Ciao!

Long Weekend

Well, it’s gonna be a long weekend. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I’ve got work to do tomorrow. That’s right - Maundy Thursday – and I’ve got work. I really don’t mind. Instead of getting bored to death, doing nothing at the apartment, I’d rather be productive. Besides, I could use the OT pay. Hehehe. It is summer afterall and I need some dough to finance my excursions this sunny season. =) The sad thing ’bout this week’s holiday is that it’s gonna be pretty boring on Friday and Saturday. How I’d love to go to the beach. Yeah, I wanna go to the beach on Easter Sunday! Hmm… Galera anyone?

On second thought… No! I’m not going back to Galera on Holy Week. That’s like suicide! Hehe.

It should be okay by Saturday. Malls should be open by then. And I can maybe watch a movie or just go window shopping. I’ll just have to survive Friday, that’s all. I won’t have any worries on Monday ‘coz I’ll be working again. Yes! I’m a workaholic. So, sue me. Hehe. Nah, seriously. I just hate staying at the apartment with nothing to do. I don’t have any new books. And there are no new VCDs/DVDs at home. So booooring!

*sigh*

*yawn*

Just thinking about doing nothing on the long weekend makes me sleepy and bored already! Gotta amuse myself! Maybe I’ll go play some online games. Not that I’m not already playing right now. Haha! Gawd! I’m so bored right now. I’m not worried bout report building. I build reports real fast! And no wonder! I’ve been doing this since day one! If I count the number to reports I’ve processed, I may have reached more than 200 already! Wow! That’s like more than a fifth of the entire report already published for our clients! Talk ’bout quantity, huh? But those are quality work. I pay attention to details, just so you know. So, no worry. I’ll just play along until I get tired of this new game and then I’ll be on a roll for report building. Haha!

At least, I’ve already started to download the files I need. Hmmm… I wonder how long it takes to download all 15 files today? Maybe, I’ll time myself so that I’d be able to better gauge it for tomorrow.

I better do get to work now…