stressed in the city

Alcohol

2011-09-18T15:22:00.000+08:00

I am on graveyard shift today and the staffs and I had a bellyful of laughter because of our incident with "alcohol."

At past midnight, our telephone operator radioed our housekeeping staff if we have "alcohol." The latter answered they had none so I radioed back and said Front Office has a bottle of "alcohol" that we can provide to guests who were asking for it. It's already half-consumed though so I added that if the guests want, they can buy a new bottle tomorrow at our souvenir shop.

And so I asked the bellman to deliver the GREEN CROSS ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL a.k.a. "alcohol" to the guest's room. But the bellman came back laughing. As it turned out, the Japanese guests want ALCOHOLIC DRINKS and so he just directed them to our restaurant. But what amused us further was the fact that when the bellman was about to give them the "alcohol" that he brought with him, one of the guests said, "Can we drink?"

LOL.

I am Back

2011-09-18T09:24:00.007+08:00

After more than a year of not posting in this blog, I decided to blog back. Sorry for the very long hiatus. I got busy with work. I was promoted to Duty Manager in the hotel that I work for and the demands of my new position took its toll on me and so the past year was spent learning the ins and outs of hotel operations. My love affair with blogging and writing was thus relegated to the sidelines.

Also, the past year, I got busy sating the wanderlust in me. My job was kind of stressful and so whenever I had time, I traveled. I had been to Bohol, Camotes Island and Hong Kong. I had also gone home to Aklan and visited Manila. After these travels, my work would take much of my time and so I failed to update this blog on my adventures and misadventures.

As much as I want to continue this blog from where it ended, which is on my Singapore trip, I cannot since last June of this year, my laptop crashed down and everything on my hard disk got wiped out. Sniff. Sniff. About two years worth of travel pictures and blog drafts went down the drain. Some of my pictures were actually already posted in Facebook but my heart breaks for the total loss of my Sagada, Bohol, Bangkok and Villa Escudero trips photos, including the random shots I had with my loved ones and friends.

Oh well, I guess it was a reminder for me to always have a backup for all of my files, which I now have, by the way.

That said, from hereon, this blog starts anew.

Sentosa's Siloso Beach

2010-06-20T09:12:00.000+08:00

Siloso is Sentosa Singapore's stretch of white beach promoted us the country's "hippest" beach.

I do not agree with it being called the "hippest" beach though as it seemed to offer too few activities and it was too short of a beach for me.

Growing up in a tropical paradise that is the Philippines and having been to fantastic beaches like Boracay and Palawan's, I was not at all ecstatic to seeing Siloso. Normally, any beach would beckon to the sun and the sand lover in me but seeing Siloso did not make me want to swim in its waters.

Oh well. Methinks that in a spatially challenged country that is Singapore, it is still a blessing to see a beach.

Sentosa's Songs of the Sea

2010-06-18T14:39:00.002+08:00

The first attraction that we went to when we were in Sentosa Singapore was the Songs of the Sea. Unfortunately, this show is only available during the night. It features a live cast and dramatic pyrotechnic effects, water jets, lasers, computer imaging, music and flame bursts.

Still, I had a great time meeting Oscar. Isn't he cute?

Despite the show being shown only at night, an Oscar and Co. souvenir shop was open.

The merchandise being sold there was so expensive though that even when I fell in love with an Oscar shirt, I decided to just not buy it. Hurrah for the rational me stopping the compulsive me from buying anything I want. Ha ha! :P

Sentosa's Palawan Beach

2010-06-14T19:30:00.000+08:00

Just a little trivia here before I start my detailed blog about the activities I tried in Sentosa Singapore.

Do you know that Sentosa has a beach called Palawan?

I just find it interesting because here in the Philippines, we do have an island province called Palawan. It is actually a very famous tourist destination as it boasts of some of the country's best and pristine beaches like the ones found in its capital Puerto Princesa and in other islands like Coron and El Nido. The Philippines' Palawan is actually one of my favorite destinations. To view my blog posts about it, click HERE.

Finally, we're in Sentosa Singapore!

2010-06-14T18:23:00.004+08:00

Thirty minutes after leaving Suntec City, we finally arrived in our destination - Sentosa Singapore, which is one of the said country's premier tourist destinations.

Upon arrival, we were met with these flags.

We then toured the entire park on board its color-coded buses that I found interesting because of their chairs that are opposite each other.

Just a simple tip here. If you are going to take any bus in Sentosa, be very careful as each color-coded bus has a specific route. Riding the wrong bus will thus take you to the wrong destination.

These are the various walkways of Sentosa taken while we were roaming in the island either on the bus or on foot.

As we went around Sentosa, we were also able to pass by and see some of its attractions that include Songs of the Sea, Siloso Beach, a replica of the Merlion, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Imbiah Lookout, Images of Singapore, Merlion Walk, and Sentosa 4D Magix and Cine Blast.

Of course I did not content myself with just seeing these attractions as experiencing them was the reason we went there in the first place. So watch out for my future posts that will detail the fun I had in Sentosa Singapore!

I Want to Ride a Cable Car

2010-06-12T18:35:00.001+08:00

These pictures were taken when I was onboard the bus that would take us to Sentosa Singapore. While taking these pictures, I thought to myself that whatever happened, I would ride one when I get to Sentosa.

Watch out for my later post that would detail my cable car ride experience.

Singapore Under Construction

2010-06-11T14:19:00.007+08:00

These pictures were taken while I was onboard the bus that would take us to Sentosa.

Did you know that the entire Singapore is actually smaller than the greater Metro Manila area? One of my clients who is a Filipina and has been working in Singapore for years told me that Singapore is too small one can actually travel from both its endpoints (north and south) in just a day. Hmm. No wonder almost all buildings in these countries are the high-rise type just so they can maximize space.

Our ride to Sentosa

2010-06-11T13:46:00.009+08:00

Earlier, I blogged about getting fascinated with Hippotours buses. Turned out that the bus that would take us to Sentosa was equally fascinating.

It was not as fancy as the Hippotours buses that we saw as it did not have a roof deck but its being on multi-lingual system was pretty interesting.

Cool.

Singapore's Hippotours Buses

2010-06-11T06:13:00.016+08:00

When we got our free tickets to Sentosa Singapore from the event's organizers, we were told that the pick-up point would be at Suntec City. We were a little early though so we spent some time roaming inside the mall.

A quarter before the expected time of departure, which was at 2:00 PM, Jid and I waited outside Suntec City. These Hippotours buses parked a few meters from us caught my attention.

The design was eye-catching, don't you think? And I was thinking it would be fun to go around the streets of Singapore on their view deck provided that it's not too sunny.

We got free tickets to Sentosa Singapore!

2010-06-08T17:04:00.002+08:00

One of the best parts of our Singapore trip was getting free tickets to Sentosa Singapore compliments of the organizer of the event that we attended. Jid and I were particularly ecstatic since we set apart some personal money for the said tour and to get it for free was such a pleasant surprise. A rare treat indeed. Whoever said there is no such thing as free lunch these days was gravely mistaken. He he!

As the trip would not start until 2:00 PM, after our lunch in one of Suntec City's food court, we headed back to Carlton Singapore to freshen up and change into comfortable, tour-appropriate clothes as prior to that, we wore strictly business attire for the registration.

Below is a picture of my Sentosa kit, which includes a map, brochures, entrance tickets and a wristband.

Whee! I am so excited! Till my next blogs, which will focus on us getting to Sentosa and the fun and adventure we had there.

Deep Fried Dory Fillet with Rice

2010-06-04T09:26:00.000+08:00

After we were done with our registration at Suntec City, Jid and I decided to have lunch in one of its food court. I was not able to note the restaurant name though because the food attendant was rude. When she saw that I was about to take pictures, she motioned her right hand sideways while saying, "No pictures, no pictures!" Still, I got a picture of their menu. Ha!

My lunch consisted of rice and deep fried Dory fillet. I chose it as it was listed as "recommended" in their menu but I was disappointed when I sampled it. The fish was tough and was mostly breading and the sweet and sour sauce was more sour than sweet.

In any case, it's still enough to fill a grumbling stomach.

Suntec Singapore

2010-06-02T09:02:00.000+08:00

Our third day in Singapore was spent partly on client meetings and on registering at the Suntec Singapore for the convention that we were to attend.

Suntec whose official name is Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center was established in 1995 and has one of Asia's largest column-free space in the form of a multi-purpose convention hall. It has hosted some of the world's biggest events like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank Congress, The World Economic Forum's East Asia Economic Summit and the International Food Festival.

Suntec City is so big it has its own mall and a wide array of restaurants.

It is also home to some multinational corporations and prominent local companies.

And yes, the highest elevator that I have seen so far is at Suntec.

The most interesting thing about Suntec Singapore for me is its Fountain of Wealth. It is made of bronze, with a circular ring supported by four slanted columns. The circular ring top is visible at ground level.

This fountain was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1998 as the largest fountain in the world. It is said that the five tower blocks represent the fingers and thumb of a left hand emerging from the ground, with the fountain forming the palm of the hand. Flowing water was used since water symbolizes life and wealth in Chinese culture and its inward motion signifies water coming in and the retention of wealth for Suntec City.

At night, the fountain looks lovely as it has interesting lighting effects.

For more information Suntec City, check out its official website or click HERE for a Wikipedia entry about it.

Swensen's Singapore

2010-04-21T15:01:00.017+08:00

After our leisurely walk along Bugis area and on our way back to the hotel, we passed by Swensen's and it was here that we decided to have dinner.

Why Swensen's

We chose Swensen's because we were tempted by its mouthwatering desserts while looking at its big menu outside. That time, I was feeling a little stressed and as sweets are my uppers (read that as something that lifts me up) and ultimate food choice, the sweet tooth in me just begged to be satisfied.

While passing by, I was also charmed by its casual atmosphere. It's like eating good food in a good restaurant without having to deal with a stuffy ambiance.

What I Ate

I ordered their Chicken Baked Rice, which was said to be one of their all time favorites. The picture on the menu was just plain inviting. According to it, it is tender fried breaded chicken baked over savory rice with cheese in white sauce. Hmm. Seemed decadently delicious.

When my order came, I wasn't disappointed. The chicken was indeed tender, the cheese in white sauce rich and creamy and the entire combination was absolutely quite a treat.

My drinks

I forgot what my drink was called but it was some sort of shake that's minty. It was yummy! The mint complemented the sweetness just fine thus it's not too sweet to make one stop relishing it after a couple of sip.

The Nutty Mighty

Our ultimate treat and my best stress-buster that night was the Nutty Mighty. It had chocolate buttercup, macadamia and mocha almond fudge ice cream crowned with a generous measure of whole macadamia nuts, peanuts, almonds, hot fudge and caramel. The pictures on the menu alone looked fetching.

True to its picture on the menu and name, it was indeed a "mighty" dessert. It was served in a tall ice cream glass with layers of heavenly ice cream with a slew of nuts. Jid and I were just too happy to share it we forgot we were on a business trip for a while as we felt like pampered travelers while eating this gratifying dessert.

For more information about Swensen's Singapore, please visit their official website.

Singapore's National Library and Bugis Village

2010-04-20T07:39:00.018+08:00

After our sales call to various clients had ended, Jid and I went back to the Carlton Hotel, rested for a bit then decided to roam the streets of Singapore.

Earlier, I wrote about the proximity of Carlton Hotel to various tourist sites. It was thus a very leisurely walk since the hotel was just a stone's throw from say the National Library. Unfortunately, we were pressed for time so even when the book lover in me wanted to check it out, I couldn't. I thus just contented myself with taking a picture of its signage.

Our somewhat aimless wandering brought us to Bugis Junction. Its signage struck me as interesting so I snapped two photos of it.

Inside, we just browsed through each shop but the thing I remember most about Bugis Junction was Jid buying The Body Shop's Shimmer Cubes Palette. She thought it was on sale but when she paid for it, she found out that it wasn't due to the mix-up on the labels but she was too embarrassed to return it. Phooey! We just laughed it off afterwards but we were feeling chagrined since if we converted the price to peso, it would be the same.

Later, we passed by Bugis Street. This was one area that a local recommended for shopping. According to our map, it is the largest street-shopping location in Singapore and the place did have a huge signage proclaiming this.

The place was packed with locals and tourists alike. The atmosphere was like the Philippines' Divisoria, which sells anything from clothes, cheap jewelry, toys, watches, bags, shoes, etc. and everything seemed to be on sale. There were food stalls too in case you need a quick snack while out shopping.

Even at night time, the Bugis Junction was bustling.

The Bugis Village wasn't all about stalls selling stuff though as in the area were some mall buildings like this one.

We went inside Fu Lu Shou and compared to the stalls outside, it sold branded makeup, shoes and clothes. We were told that they were sold cheaper here though than if we bought the same item in a high-end shop in Singapore, say at the Suntec Mall.

All in all, it was a leisurely albeit a little tiring walk, with me heaving a sigh of relief at the end and it's not for the chance to rest but for the fact that the compulsive shopper in me did not buy anything despite being tempted straight to my face by innumerable sales. He he!

Singapore's Parkview Square

2010-04-19T08:54:00.007+08:00

After our lunch we had two more client meetings to attend. One of our client's office was located in Parkview Square and while there, I couldn't help but be amazed at how magnificent the building was. The said building housed some of Singapore's top companies and even a couple of embassies it was no wonder the security was so strict they did not allow taking any photo while inside the building. I thus just contented myself with taking as many photos as I could once outside.

The Golden Bird

The building has an open plaza and in its center is a statue of a golden bird which is supposed to bring wealth.

A treasure trove of famous people

Surrounding the open plaza are sculptures and statues of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill, the geniuses Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton, renowned painters Pablo Picasso and Rembrandt and music prodigies Mozart and Chopin.

The Parkview Square at night

This is my favorite shot of the Parkview Square. It was taken during our leisurely walk later that night when we were scouting for a dinner venue.

The Parkview Square in Singapore was designed by the American James Adams, together with DP Architects of Singapore and was built as the last major project of Mr. C.S. Hwang, a Taiwanese tycoon who wanted it ""imposing and monumental, yet stylish and elegant."

For more information about this building wonder, click HERE.

McDonald's Singapore

2010-03-20T08:02:00.004+08:00

Our second day in Singapore was spent on client meetings. It was such a grueling morning for us because the first two offices that we had been to were about thirty to forty-five minutes away from the hotel and believe me, when the travel time takes that long in Singapore, it’s already considered far. I was so hungry I felt so grateful for the bar of Snickers Jid and I shared in the cab during our ride back to the main city district.

As our first appointment in the afternoon was at 2PM and it was already 12NN and we didn’t know how far our next appointment’s office was, we were in such a hurry to eat. No restaurants were within sight though except for a McDonald’s so we decided to just eat there.

I ordered a McChicken sandwich, with large fries and get this, a large iced Milo. I was surprised since in the Philippines, McDonald’s meals usually come with soft drinks (Coca-Cola products), iced tea or orange juice. It was thus such a treat for me to get Milo for my drinks since it’s my favorite chocolate drink.

It was a fun and filling meal. Jid and I were amused though as we kidded ourselves on our choice of restaurant. Really now, traveling to Singapore and still eating in McDonald’s when it’s also available in the Philippines? Oh well, next time, we would surely be eating anywhere except in a fast food chain while we’re in this bustling city.

Black Pepper Udon & God-knows-what-else for Dinner

2010-02-26T16:46:00.011+08:00

It was already dark when we arrived at Carlton Hotel Singapore and Jid and I were already very tired and hungry. Zen, our Singaporean friend who fetched us from the airport, suggested that we eat first so that we could then rest.

Finding a place to eat was not a problem because there were a lot of restaurants near the hotel. We did not want to wait long though and so we settled to eating in this place where they served cheap and filling meals. Zen assured us that eating in such a place was safe so I relented. I forgot what the place was called though but if it were here in the Philippines, it would be called a turo-turo. The only glaring difference was that each store had a menu posted on one big board.

I am not really fond of eating Chinese food but I am also not a picky eater so I left the ordering to Zen. I did not know the names of what he ordered but they were all good. Well, except for the pork with broth because it tasted bland and the pork was almost all fat.

This one fascinated me. It’s egg with soy sauce and other seasoning for its broth. It was not as good as our homemade adobong itlog but it was by far the best among those we had.

Though I barely knew what I ate that night, I had fun basically because I view discovering a country’s gustatory delights as another fun part of traveling.

Carlton Hotel Singapore

2010-02-23T14:35:00.023+08:00

Carlton Hotel Singapore is just about thirty (30) minutes away from Changi International Airport. It’s a 4-star hotel that our company chose because of its proximity to Suntec, the place where the convention was being held.

Our room

Truth be told, I don’t know what our room category was as it was our company’s travel agent who made all the necessary arrangements. It’s a pretty room though, with two separate beds. My share of the bed, which was small but comfy, is pictured below.

What I liked best about our room was the bathroom with its spacious bathtub, which unfortunately I was not able to take pictures of.

Below are the views from our room.

Breakfast

Our room rates were inclusive of daily buffet breakfast. I am a heavy breakfast eater thus I relished choosing my favorites among the extensive selection of breads, fruits, cold cuts and hot dishes.

After the third day though, it became a little boring as the selection was the same every day. I was so familiar with it that I could practically locate where the bacon or bread was placed even with my eyes closed.

The Service

The service was okay but it lacked the warmth and innate graciousness of Filipinos. Oh, they were courteous enough but the staff would not go out of their way to assist their guests. It was also not prompt and attentive since when we ate during breakfast, even when there were only too few diners (we usually ate early as our convention’s at 8AM), we had to signal for a waiter to fill in our coffee cups.

What I liked about the hotel

The best thing about Carlton Hotel Singapore was its strategic location. It was near the financial and convention district, which was pretty convenient since we were there for client meetings and a travel convention. Culture and shopping havens like Raffles City, Orchard Road, Marina Square Shopping Centre and Esplanade were also just a stone’s throw away from Carlton Hotel Singapore.

Below is a view of Carlton from Suntec.

Most popular tourist attractions like the Chijmes, Merlion Park, the Singapore Flyer and the National Museum were also just walking distance from the hotel.

Another thing that I liked about Carlton Hotel Singapore was its lobby as I found it elegant in its simplicity.

Least liked

There was an ongoing construction when we were there thus we had to tolerate some noise. The signage about it was also an eyesore.

The carpet in our narrow hallway was also old and stained.

Over-all experience

The Carlton Hotel is a good hotel to stay when in Singapore basically because of its prime location. It needs an uplift though and the hotel realized this thus the ongoing renovation when we were there in 2008.

Carlton Hotel Singapore is located in 76 Bras Brasah Road, Singapore 189558. For more information, please visit their official website or contact them through (+65) 6338 8333 or mail@carltonhotel.sg.

Changi International Airport

2010-02-20T08:40:00.013+08:00

If I were amazed by my fun flight from Cebu to Singapore via Silk Air, I became more amazed when we arrived at the Changi International Airport. The place was very modern and clean and unlike the Philippines’ airports, was sprawling. There were quite a number of conveyor belts, with each area beautifully decorated with a huge pot of exotic purple orchids.

Changi International Airport also has numerous shops, money changers and telephone and visitor information booths. We were in such a rush though that I was not able to take some pictures as after exchanging our currencies, we just filled in the tourist’s information sheet, had our passports stamped then headed to where the driver who would drop us off our hotel was.

Despite the rush though, I couldn’t resist stopping at some beautiful gardens found inside the airport and snapping a couple of pictures. The last one’s simply stunning!

Cebu to Singapore

2009-11-28T05:43:00.002+08:00

This post is actually a year late since my trip to Singapore happened in 2008. I decided to still post though to capture my Singapore moments in pictures and writing.

I was sent to Singapore on business. As our main office is in Cebu, I had to take the Manila – Cebu flight, stay overnight in our hotel and in the morning, meet my colleague at Mactan International Airport so we can take our Silk Air flight to Singapore.

The waiting at the airport

The waiting at the lounge wasn’t that long as the plane was on time. I was also kept entertained as the lounge had free Wi-Fi so I spent most of my free time surfing the worldwide web.

The Airline

We were told by our travel agent that there are no direct flights from Cebu to Singapore via Singapore Airlines so we had to take Silk Air. Silk Air is actually a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. As its regional wing, Silk Air primarily caters to the Southeast Asia, South Asia and China markets.

The Silk Air Experience

I like the fact that the flight was on time since majority of my experience with local airlines (Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific) involve delays.

Another positive experience was the food. The chicken I had was delicious and I appreciated the fact that they served fruits for dessert.

The downside was that the airline was small and a little cramped and its in-flight entertainment’s pretty much boring. I thus resolved to reading its magazine and later, when the go-signal was given, turning on my laptop and playing Bookworm since Jid, my companion, opted to sleep.

As for the service, the flight attendants were all attentive and nice. It was by far my best trip aboard an airline.

Bloom’s Sheer Colour Cream

2009-11-23T07:19:00.009+08:00

I first discovered Bloom in 2007 while I was on my quest for an easy-to-apply, no-frills blush-on and I must say I scored a good find in Bloom’s Sheer Colour Cream as it is not just for the cheeks. It can also be applied on the eyes and lips.

What I like about it

Aside from it being a multi-purpose beauty essential, another reason why I bought it is the fact that it is so easy to apply. Since it is a cream, applying it does not require any brushes as one’s fingers will do. It also glides effortlessly on my cheeks.

I have also tried using it in conjunction with other cosmetics and I found it effective as a layer-on beauty product. I have this really red Maybelline lipstick that does not really complement my complexion so I only used it once. That is, until I found out that layering Bloom’s Sheer Colour Cream over it will tone down the red tint and make the final resulting color appear very polished. I have since used the colour cream either to tone down the shades of some of my dark-colored lipsticks or add more punch to the neutral ones.

And oh, Bloom’s Sheer Colour Cream also comes with a light scent that I like.

This year’s pick

The past two years, I have been using the Rosie shade, which is a sunset-sky pink. This year, I shifted to trying out Sun Kissed, which is a soft, dusty pink and like its predecessor, I absolutely love it. On days when all I want is just a hint of color on my cheeks and lips, I just apply Bloom’s Sheer Colour Cream in Sun Kissed and I am good to go.

Bloom in the Philippines

The last time I bought Bloom’s Sheer Colour Cream, which was a couple of months back, it cost Php695. It is available in Beauty Bar stores in the Philippines.

For more details about Bloom products, visit its official website at www.bloomcosmetics.com

The Rainbow

2009-11-07T09:18:00.007+08:00

It’s been so long since I saw a rainbow. The last time was maybe when I was still a high school student in my province and that’s like a decade ago. The past nine years, when I was still in Manila, I used to wonder why I had never seen any rainbow there. Maybe all the smog (smoke and fog) in Manila’s atmosphere obscured any sight of it.

Imagine my glee then when today, as I was doing my rounds in the hotel that I work for, I saw the rainbow - beautiful in its arch and colors. The scene was made even more beautiful by the fact that its backdrop was the famous saltwater lagoon of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa. Too bad I only had my camera phone at that time thus in the pictures that I took, the rainbow's not clearly defined.

I love rainbows. For me, it’s not just an aesthetic gift. It is also a reminder that like nature’s way of having the rainbow after the rain, we as well can look forward to something beautiful after we have triumphed over life’s trials.

My PNRC First Aid and Basic Life Support Training

2009-11-06T09:46:00.008+08:00

I hate the sight of blood. I cringe each time I see accidents on TV. I even refrain from watching the news during the New Year as I know it will feature people losing their limbs over pyrotechnic accidents. I was thus not particularly ecstatic when my company sent me to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Lapu-Lapu Cordova Chapter for my First Aid and Basic Life Support training.

I had no medical background thus I felt at a loss during our first day as the instructor discussed about what medial, inferior, proximal etc. meant. I felt even more at loss because among all my classmates, I was probably the most inexperienced (more than half of the class were caregivers, two of my colleagues were nurses, one works for our Recreations Department and was just there to renew his certificates and another worked in an ambulance for 10 years). To make up for it, I thus made it a point to read our handbook every day and to do online research.

The training was tough. Every day, we had a quiz and I was just glad my efforts paid off as I passed all the quizzes. I even got 100% on our second quiz. But what really drained me were the physical exercises. The carries, bandaging, splinting and basic life support (read: cardiopulmonary rescue or CPR) were grueling activities that not only entailed physical strength but mastery of the step-by-step process and / or the practice of ergonomics.

Bandaging / Splinting
My greatest challenge in this was folding the triangular bandage properly (the one where I had to make the point and the base meet) as everyone except me knew how to do it. After some time, I got the hang of it and I then got to learning various bandaging techniques. I learned that the bandage to be applied depends on where the injury is located and how severe it is.

As for the splinting part, our instructor just demonstrated the proper way of putting splints and pointers on what and what not to do in splinting.

Carries / Drags / Assists
These were activities that really exhausted me because it was tiring to carry someone, especially if s/he is heavy. Funny. At some point, a colleague of mine volunteered to be the victim but he was met with protests. Most of us said he was too heavy thus no one wanted to pair with him. Our instructor overheard us and chastised us, saying that in accidents, we couldn’t very well choose our victim. We jokingly responded that in real situation, we won’t be picky but since this was just an exercise, we could do with only those that we can easily carry. LOL.

Basic Life Support
The demonstration from our instruction fascinated me. I watched in awe as he performed chest compressions, CPR and rescue breathing on the dummy. I knew that afterwards, we were supposed to do it ourselves and honestly, I was fine with doing the first two but was very hesitant about the latter. I mean, come on, who wanted to perform “mouth-to-mouth” on a dummy that’s obviously been used hundreds of times?! I was so hesitant I thought of asking for an exemption but it was the thought that this could save a life that made me tough it out and just meet the challenge head-on. That and the fact that we’d use gauze over the mouth so it’s not really as if I would perform “mouth-to-mouth” to it.

Thankfully, I was able to learn how to do it properly as I passed the exercises on doing basic life support on an infant, a child and an adult. But boy, was it the most challenging among all our activities as the counting alone (1, 1002, 1003, 1001 breathe / 1, 1002, 1003, 1002 breathe…) could easily make one lose track of everything. And to think we had to count until 1024 for adults (and a count of 40 on children / infants!), huh!

The Simulation
Aside from the quizzes and actual exercises, our learning was put to the test when at the end of our course, a simulation was made. Our instructor chose 3 victims among the class who supposedly were victims of an explosion and asked the rest of us to help them out. It was tough as this time, we have to assess the situation and their injuries ourselves (unlike before when the instructor would just say the injury is on the leg or the burn is located on the chest etc). Good thing we passed this final test.

All in all, it was a really fun and fruitful experience I’d gladly take again when my certificates expire.

Relocating to Cebu

2009-10-21T17:12:00.006+08:00

Wow. The past couple of months have been such busy months for me it felt as if my days were a blur. Proof of this is the fact that I haven’t posted anything in this blog for two months now

Leaving Manila

Undoubtedly, Manila had been my home for nine years. I first set foot on it when I was still a wide-eyed girl of fifteen on her way to earning her college education in the big city. My college and working days were one of the best phases of my life as it is on these stages that I became independent. Eventually though, the traffic, the noise, the hordes of people in most places and the really fast-paced urban lifestyle got to me. I grew weary and craved for something mellow. The opportunity to leave Manila came when my company offered me a post in our Cebu office.

An Important Career Move

I was on my way to my second year in my current company when the offer came. Despite my wish for a slightly less fast-paced life, I still did a double-take when the offer came as it entailed leaving my friends and my lovely colleagues who are like a family to me. Manila may have been chaotic but it is made tolerable by friends who brightened my days with our shared experiences.

Also, leaving my comfort zones scared me a bit. I never really had problems adjusting to anything as I was often described as a chameleon but this move was different as it was a major one. Considerations varied from little ones like how to pack and move all my accumulated stuff to questioning myself if I were up to the challenges that came with the new position. The latter proved to be the catalyst for I have always been drawn to challenges.

And so I packed my stuff and accepted the challenge, armed with just my zest for adventure, willfulness and optimism.

My stay in Cebu so far

I arrived in Cebu on August 29, 2009. A grueling month-long training ensued. It was a little tiring but ultimately fulfilling for I got to learn a lot of things. I also gained new friends. The only thing that I am grappling hard with is speaking Cebuano (the place’s dialect) but aside from that, I am enjoying my stay here. It is a thriving city but it lacks Manila’s chaos. The cost of living is also cheaper and the people are friendlier as in Manila, I lived in an apartment for three years but I never really knew who my neighbors were. Here, the people’s smiles are warmer and given without hesitation or calculation.

Cebu’s a really great place and I sure am going to make the most of my move here.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra

2009-08-16T14:09:00.006+08:00

photo credit

The Plot
Paramount Pictures and Hasbro, whose previous collaboration was the worldwide blockbuster "Transformers," join forces with Spyglass Entertainment for another extraordinary action-adventure "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra." From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. JOE team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra." is directed by Stephen Sommers ("The Mummy," "The Mummy Returns").

Click HERE to view my source of the above plot. For a synopsis, click HERE. You may also visit the movie’s official website or click HERE for its Wikipedia entry.

My Verdict
Watching the movie made me remember that faraway time when I was “one of the boys.” When my childhood toys weren’t dolls but toy soldiers, toy guns and army camps complete with flags, tanks, fences and other battle armaments. It also made me remember the G.I. Joe Choose Your Own Adventure-like books I read as a teen.

G.I. Joe The Rise of the Cobra was one engrossing movie. I love the visual effects (still can’t get over the horror of watching France’s trademark Eiffel Tower collapse) and the fight scenes. But what I like best is the fact that the characters’ pasts were probed thus making the viewer understand their relationships more (like the Baroness’ hatred of Duke and the very palpable enmity between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow).

My friend and I had to wait for more than two hours to get reserved seats for this movie but I must say this movie is worth the wait. Now I can't wait for its sequel.

Beware of Spaghetti Factory

2009-08-14T16:50:00.007+08:00

Last Wednesday, after work, my friend and I went to Glorietta 5 and after about thirty minutes of going from one shop to another, we got hungry so I suggested that we eat out. We saw a really huge banner of Spaghetti Factory and since it’s something new to us, we decided to try it out.

The Ambiance
The place was charmingly furnished. It was quite homey actually though it had space restrictions. On its walls were reviews and articles about the place that came out in newspapers and magazines. From what reviews I read, it was a pretty good place for pasta. I sure hoped so since my tummy was already grumbling even before I was seated.

The Menu
The menu was pretty extensive but since we’re just looking for some snacks (I was supposed to be on a diet and on a soft diet at that since I just had a tooth extraction), we chose something from their merienda meals. Des and I each ordered Birdy and Spaghetti Carbonara. This had chicken drumstick with gravy, spaghetti in creamy sauce, Caesar salad, freshly baked bread and iced tea. I also ordered an additional siding of French Fries.

The above seemed too much but when our order came, I understood why it was only priced at Php99 (exclusive of 8% service charge). The serving was too small, is why! We also did a double take as the chicken was burnt and so was the bread. Whatever happened to the FRESHLY BAKED description in their menu, huh? Both looked reheated!

Never been one to waste my food, I dug in still. I had to laugh though when Des sniffed the bread.

Taste-wise, the carbonara was good and so was the salad (I couldn’t help but notice the burnt croutons in it though) but the chicken was the worst I ever had! Even our home-cooked chicken would have fared better. Not only was it burnt, it also tasted funny. I really couldn’t quite describe it but it was bitter and leaves a weird aftertaste. Des and I thought it must be because they used old oil. Also, our order of French fries tasted the same, as if it was cooked on the same oil as the chicken. Fried Chicken and French Fries are two of my favorite foods but when it’s cooked as badly as Spaghetti Factory’s, I’d rather pass. It was so horrible that I did not finish eating them.

The Service
I’m a gracious eater. Even if there’s something that I did not like in a restaurant, I would focus on what I consider to be good. I was thinking of this when the waiter ruined everything for us. It started when the bill came. They had erroneously billed us as they charged us Php99+ for the fries when in their menu, it was just Php29+. We thus called the waiter’s (I was later told by another staff that his name was Jomari) attention and when he came over, he apologized. As he was already there, I decided to give a feedback on how our meal went. The exchange went something like this:

Me: Is this how your chicken really tastes?
Jomari: Why?
Me: It tastes funny. Kind of bitter. As if the oil used was old. The French Fries tasted the same, as if it too were cooked in the same old oil.
Jomari: Ma’am, we use different oils in cooking the chicken and the fries. And you should have told us from the start.
Me: It’s ok. I just would like you to know. But both do taste funny. You may want to taste both.
Jomari: (Just looking at me. Silence. Then I saw him arch his browse and smirk and that’s when I flared up).
Me: You shouldn’t be doing that. When a customer gives you a feedback, you should take it the feedback into account.
Jomari: OK (then he left).

Like whaaaat? How rude! He shouldn’t be working in the service-oriented industry if he is like that.

I thought the worst of our meal was over but he further ruined it when we overheard this exchange he had with another Spaghetti Factory staff.

Unknown staff: What happened?
Jomari: Don’t mind them.

Arrrrgh! How could you be working in a restaurant when you wouldn’t acknowledge your patrons’ feedback? Geez.

Later, it was a different staff who came over with our corrected bill (I am sorry I wasn’t able to get his name but he was nice and I actually got Jomari’s name from him). I was wondering though how Jomari would suddenly forsook us. Maybe he did not want to hear another complaint or at the least, a feedback. Oh my. Good thing I was in a good mood then else I would have asked for the manager.

Final Words
Spaghetti Factory is located in Level 2, Glorietta 5, Ayala Center, Makati City. But if you can steer away from this place, please do. You’ll be saving yourself from unsavory food and insensitive service. Des and I were saying we would have been better off eating at Chef D’ Angelo. Now I know better though as never again will I set foot in it or in any of their branches.

No wonder Spaghetti Factory wasn’t packed with diners for how could they attract customers if their service is as lousy as Jomari’s?

The Proposal

2009-08-13T14:16:00.005+08:00

The Plot
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is the high-powered, no-nonsense editor-in-chief of Colden Books who coerced her assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her to avoid being deported to Canada. He grudgingly accepts her “proposal” provided that she promotes him into being an editor and publishes his manuscript. The couple then went to Sitka, Alaska in his hometown where she meets his quirky but endearing family and (gasp!) his ex-girlfriend. With an impromptu wedding in the works and a tenacious immigration official at their heels, both Margaret and Andrew must navigate their way out of one amusing situation after the other without exposing their plan.

And oh, what happens when in their having surprising revelations about the other, the single-minded and fiercely independent Margaret realizes that she has fallen in love with Andrew for real?

My Verdict
I have been an ardent Sandra Bullock fan since I saw the movie Speed thus I make it a point to always watch her movies. And like her other flicks, this one is a gem. I admit though that during the first ten minutes of the movie, I was kind of unnerved, as I wasn’t used to seeing her play an unlovable role. I mean, Sandra usually has endearing roles (think of Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality and Lucy in While You Were Sleeping) thus to see her being called a “witch” took some getting used to. But I guess that’s one of her gifts – making each role her own, that while watching, I began to empathize with those who were put off by Margaret’s icy demeanor.

Quotable Quotes
The movie was very entertaining because of the funny banter from the cast. Below are some of them.

While on the plane bound to Sitka, Alaska and they were trying to get as much information about each other as possible, Andrew said he already knew a lot of things about Margaret, even the fact that she has a tattoo thus it is she who has to catch up on learning things about him. Goaded, she asked,

Margaret Tate: What am I allergic to?
Andrew Paxton: Pine nuts. And the full spectrum of human emotion.
----------
Grandma Annie: (when Andrew pointed Margaret out to her) Does she prefer Margaret or “Satan’s Mistress?”
----------
Margaret Tate: Why didn’t you tell me you’re some kind of Alaskan Kennedy?
Andrew Paxton: We were in the middle of talking about you… for the last three years.
----------
Grandma Annie: (taking a knitted blanket from the cabinet) If you get chilly tonight, use this. It has special powers.
Margaret Tate: Oh. What kind of special powers?
Grandma Annie: I call it the baby maker.
Margaret Tate: Ok. (Turning to Andrew) Better be super careful with this.
----------
Andrew Paxton:
(after traipsing from Alaska to New York to go after Margaret) Margaret, will you marry me? Because I’d like to date you.
----------

And my personal favorite is the part where Grandma Annie and Grace Paxton, Andrew’s mom had them narrate how their proposal went. It was just hilarious!

Andrew Paxton: You know what? Actually, Margaret loves telling this story, so I'm just gonna let her go ahead and do that. We should just sit and rapture.
Margaret Tate: Wow, okay... wow, where to begin... the story... Well, um, wow... Okay, well, um, Andrew and I... Andrew and I were about to celebrate our first anniversary together and I knew that he'd been itching to ask me to marry him and he was scared, like a little tiny bird. So, I started leaving him little hints here and there because I knew he wouldn't have the guts to ask...
Andrew Paxton: That's not exactly how it happened.
Margaret Tate: No?
Andrew Paxton: No, no, I mean I picked up on all of her little hints... this woman is about as subtle as a gun. Yeah, no what I was worried about was that she might find this little box...
Margaret Tate: Oh, the decoupage box that he made, where he'd taken the time to cut out twenty little pictures of himself, just pasted all over the box. So beautiful! I opened that beautiful little decoupage and out fluttered these tiny little hand cut heart confetti and once they cleared, I looked down and I saw the most beautiful, big...
Andrew Paxton: ...fat nothing! No ring.
Grandma Annie: No ring?
Grace Paxton: What?
Andrew Paxton: No, but inside that box, underneath all that crap, a handwritten note with the address to a hotel, date and time. Real Humphrey Bogart type stuff. Masculine. Naturally, Margaret, she thought...
Margaret Tate: I thought he was seeing someone else... so it was a terrible time for me, but I went to that hotel anyway, I went there and I pounded on the door. But the door was already unlocked. As I swung open that door, there he was...
Andrew Paxton: Standing.
Margaret Tate: Kneeling.
Andrew Paxton: Like a man.
Margaret Tate: On a bed of rosebuds, in a tuxedo. Your son. Your son... and he was choking back soft, soft sobs. And when he held back the tears and finally caught his breath, he said to me...
Andrew Paxton: 'Margaret, will you marry me?' and she said 'yep', the end!

Wow. If I were among the audience during this amusing exchange, I might not have been able to stifle a giggle!

Please note that I did not take down all these lines, as I was so engrossed with the movie. To view the source of the above quotes, please click HERE.

My favorite scenes
Aside from their narration of how their supposed proposal went, these are some of my favorite scenes of the movie.

When Andrew asked the haughty Margaret to propose to him on the streets of New York - on her knees. And nicely!

When Kevin, the Paxton family dog, got swooped by an eagle and Margaret saved him only to later have her mobile phone taken by the same eagle. She then waved the dog, enticing the eagle with it in hopes of getting her phone back. Grandma Annie and Mrs. Paxton saw her and thought she was playing with the dog and thought it was cute.

When Margaret and Andrew collided into each other buck-naked! And while Margaret was trying to find something to cover herself with, she ended up with the “baby maker,” which she hurriedly tossed away.

When Andrew and Margaret shared some things about their past and they found out that they like the same band and Andrew even sang the song.

When Andrew saw Margaret in one of her unguarded moments at the woods, dancing to Get Low with his Grandma Annie.

When Margaret was reminded of what it was like to have a family and she was so touched to have Grandma Annie and Mrs. Paxton fawn over her while they were having her fitting for her wedding dress. Grandma Annie also gave her a necklace that has been in the family for generations.

When Margaret tearfully admitted the real reason behind their engagement during their “wedding” at the barn. A “chase scene” ensued as Andrew did his best to go after her. He later showed up in the office where he confessed his love for Margaret and asked her to marry him because “he wants to date her.” The two then get engaged for real.

Fashionable Margaret
Another reason why I enjoyed the movie was the fact that Margaret was dressed to the nines. Being a power-driven executive, she does look the part – from her well tailored power suits to her chic bags and killer shoes. They just exude timeless elegance and sophistication.

Over-all movie experience
It’s been a long time since I watched a movie that I really like and I am glad I did not miss watching this on the big screen. It’s too entertaining a movie to miss.

Making my Feet "Happy"

2009-08-10T17:21:00.009+08:00

Wow! I have been so busy with the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt during the past months that most of my blogs from May to July were about it. But now that the said campaign is already finished, I will now start blogging about those that I used to blog about prior to my involvement to the Purple Hunt.

And so today I decided to blog about my beloved Happy Feet sandals. I rarely use sandals that are of the "bakya" type but the moment I saw these lovely pair of sandals with its equally lovely hand-painted designs, I knew I just had to buy it.

A beauty

Aesthetics-wise, each pair of Happy Feet Sandals is a work of art since it is hand-painted thus making each pair unique in itself. It also uses fun designs to express the wearer’s mood or character. I chose the one with a Japanese geisha design because at the time when I bought it, I wanted something that evokes confidence, a unique pair that is a testament to a woman’s charms. LOL.

Proudly Filipino made
But aesthetics alone will not be able to convince me to buy a pair and so I delved deeper into the product and found out that Happy Feet sandals are conceptualized by Filipinos, making it a product that showcases excellent Filipino craftsmanship. They have been around since 1975.

Happy Feet Sandals are also made from natural wood, which has a wax finish that through time and with the natural oils from the wearer’s skin, will give the wood a light sheen.

Cares for the Feet
But the selling pitch of Happy Feet sandals for me is the fact that it does care for the feet. From toe grip to arch support and heel cup, this wooden footwear caresses the vital pressure points of the wearer’s soles, giving her feet a continuous massage. Aside from supporting the arch, ball and heel to take pressure off these vital parts, Happy Feet sandals also alternately stretches and relaxes sole and calf muscles while walking to cool down muscles.

I have been using Happy Feet Sandals for a couple of months now and I can say that it does bring comfort to my feet.

For more information about Happy Feet Sandals, please visit their website at www.happyfeetsandals.com or contact them through (632) 726-5393.

President Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino, Beloved Mother of the Philippines

2009-08-03T16:44:00.023+08:00

I first learned about her demise when I woke up at past 4:00 AM last Saturday, August 01, 2009. Unable to go back to sleep, I went online and browsed through Yahoo! News and read about it there. I was stunned but at the same time, wary. Too wary that I did not post a link of the news page in any of my social networking sites, specifically in Facebook because the week before it, there were erroneous reports about her “death.” But I buzzed about the news so it will reflect in my Yahoo! Profiles and I can easily get back to it for reference.

At about 7:00 AM, I headed downstairs to buy breakfast and came back to the condo where I saw my housemate watching the news. My wariness about the news of Tita Cory’s death dissipated into thin air and in its place came sadness.

I was only three years old when the 1986 EDSA Revolution happened but later on, I got fascinated by the stories I learned about it. One professor in college narrated that that was the time when one is proudest to be a Filipino. Another professor said that the world was so awed by what they witnessed that when Filipinos would travel abroad, they were accorded with such esteemed regard that extended to Filipinos having a special “express” lane whenever they would arrive in or depart from some countries.

I have always been proud about my being a Filipino but it makes me prouder to have such honorable countrymen as President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino. Thank God for the gift of her to us.

Below is the message I left in her official website. You may also leave your message there and have the website as your reference for it has announcements as well as live streaming.

To Tita Cory,

You will be sorely missed. Know that you are very much loved and we thank the Lord for the gift of your life. May you in your resting place have peace and may you also continue to intercede for the Filipino people and for peace in the world.

Some people live even after their death and you are such a person to us. Your legacy lives on and even in your death and beyond it, you are still and will always be a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration to countless Filipinos and to the world as well.

With prayers.

I also posted a message that is on the same thought in Yahoo! Answers. To view the question, click HERE.

The past days, I only got updates about Tita Cory’s wake through the news on TV, online or on newspapers but today I had the privilege of personally seeing the nation mourn the loss of its mother. Cory’s remains passed by Ayala Avenue, Makati to where the statue of Ninoy is and what I witnessed was enough to give me goosebumps. It was quite moving.

The crowd was overwhelming! People from all walks of life were there – students, young professionals, the religious, the rich and the poor, the old and the young alike. These people braved the scorching heat of the sun so they could pay tribute to the lady responsible for bringing back democracy in the country.

As for my participation today, I did updates online through my Facebook account. I also threw some confetti, which we have prepared since 9:00 in the morning, right after we found out that she would be passing by our area. I also snapped some pictures from our office building.

For the complete set of pictures, click HERE. Some pictures are not that clear though as either the camera was zoomed in or I took the picture through our glass windows.

This picture of a lone yellow balloon was taken moments after the President passed by. And like this yellow balloon, may she fly freely to where Ninoy is waiting for her.

Rest in peace, our beloved Tita Cory.

The Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt Winners

2009-07-29T09:21:00.013+08:00

the prizes, sans the Honda Jazz car

It’s fun. It’s purple. That’s how things have gone for the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt. And to cap the event, a grand finale was held on July 25, 2009 where Yahoo! painted Manila purple and purple hunters had fun joining the many activities that Yahoo! prepared for them.

And to end my blog posts about the Purple Hunt, I am posting the list of winners from Phases 2 – 4.

Phase 2 – The Hunt for the Canon Digital Ixus Camera
Congratulations to the following:

1. Franze Ramirez
2. Tristan Jerick Reyes
3. Antonio Victor Velasco
4. Francesca Cruz
5. Marileen Moral
6. Joan Lyn Matawaran

I am so glad to know that one of the winners (Tristan) is from Yahoo! Profiles, which I manage as a Purple Crew member.

Tristan onstage, with Myx VJ Drei and Jonas de los Reyes of Yahoo!

And oh, I so love his unique and very craftily made jeans! Isn’t he creative?

I was so charmed by his pair of jeans that in the morning, I asked him if I could get pictures of it. He obliged, which was so nice of him. Love the Yahoo! logo, huh.

Again, my heartiest congratulations, Tristan!

Phase 3 – The Hunt for the Blackberry Smartphone
Congratulations to the following:

1. Jennilyn Tanciangco
2. Sylvia Oronce
3. Germie Florendo
4. Alwedjh Obenario
5. Coralyn De Castro
6. Eleonor Priscilla Garcia

Phase 4 – The Finale Footrace

the Footrace winners from left Erliza Karen Cabisidan, Calvin Galgana and Jemuel del Valle

Congratulations to the following:

Calvin Galgana - 1st Prize: the Honda Jazz Car.

Calvin onstage with the lovely Miss Bianca Gonzalez & VJ Drei

Erliza Karen Cabisidan - 2nd Prize: state of the art entertainment system including an Apple Ipod Touch, a Bose SoundDock, an Apple Macbook Air and a Sony Playstation 3.

Jemuel del Valle - 3rd Prize: the Canon 500D Digital SLR

The Finale Footrace winners doing the Yahoo! yodel

Congratulations too to the remaining 37 footrace hunters who each got a Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid Kit.

For more information about the Purple Hunt Finale, check out the blog of Miss Janette Toral, a fellow Yahoo! Power User and Purple Crew member.

And oh, the fun does not end when the finale was held as now, the Yahoo! Philippines microsite is a fun place of Purple Trivia, games and cool downloads. Be sure to check it out!

Thanks Yahoo! for bringing the purple fun to the Philippines. Cheers!

An FAQ on the Purple Hunt Finale

2009-07-22T09:46:00.011+08:00

One of the most anticipated and grandest of Philippine events this year is definitely the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt finale, which is set to paint Manila purple this Saturday, July 25, 2009.

And to shed light to some Purple Hunters' concerns, below is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). Some questions are actually paraphrased from the microsite (click on FAQ then Purple Hunt Finale) but since there are still various scenarios per Purple Hunter, I have thus decided to delve deeper into each topic.

Where is the location of the finale?

This is actually a question that we, as Purple Crew members, cannot give the exact answer to. We may provide you with clues though and since I am primarily in-charge of Yahoo! Profiles and Yahoo! Answers, I will thus provide the link to the latter. Click HERE to view your clues, as given in Yahoo! Answers.

Or go to the microsite and take your guess as the microsite pieces by now have gradually been peeling off.

How can I enter the Purple Hunt Finale footrace?

1. Guess the location of the finale.

2. Print and present the confirmation email, together with any government issued ID for verification of your age.

3. Wear purple.

4. Crack the secret code.

Are there any conditions that apply for me to be eligible to join the footrace?

Yes. You must be at least 18 years old to take part. Please note that any form of parental consent will still not allow minors to join the said activity.

The second condition is that you do need to be physically present during the finale so you can join the actual footrace.

What IDs are considered as government-issued ones?

Passport. SSS ID. Driver's License. Postal ID. GSIS ID. Voter's ID. BIR TIN ID. Philhealth ID.

What if I do not have any government-issued IDs?

Government-issued IDs are the main type of ID that Yahoo! is accepting to verify the identity of the winner. In special cases where the person has no government-issued ID, s/he may be required to provide Yahoo! with other official government-issued documents like an NSO-certified birth certificate or NBI clearance. However, please note that the latter is not the rule but an exception so it will always be best to provide what was required and bear in mind that an entrant’s failure to validate his/her identity will result to the forfeiture of his / her participation to the finale.

Am I allowed to provide photocopies of my ID or any other required document/s?
Please note that Yahoo! will not accept photocopies of any IDs or documents.

Will Yahoo! allow us to provide IDs or documents that have lapsed validity?

No. Any ID or document that you have to present has to be valid and up-to-date.

Will Yahoo! allow Purple Hunters to bring non-Purple Hunter friends or family members? Any requirements for such?

Yes, bringing in of friends and family members is allowed. People who wish to go to the venue and join in the purple fun are not required to present any document at all. They also do not need to wear purple as only footrace participants are required to follow the said guidelines. Your companions also do not need to be at least 18 years of age. Parents or guardians though should be responsible for their children and ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times.

What is the "Crack the Secret Code" about?

It has something to do with the experience you got from hunting for the locations of the items from Phases 2 - 3. Details of this and other rules for the contest will be provided to the entrants on the day of the finale itself so recurring questions about this asking for more details will go unanswered. ***wink***

About the Footrace, what if I made it to the Footrace and I have friends who are also footrace participants. Can we help each other out?
You can't help each other out, especially in the challenges. It's up to you, really, if you want to tell others the locations of the clues if you have solved them already (but that will work against you), but essentially, you're on your own during the final hunt.

Any hints on how the footrace will go?

The footrace is much like the Amazing Race with a uniquely purple twist. It will have pit stops where a Purple Hunter will have to finish certain task/s before moving on to the next stop. The first one who reaches the end point will be announced the ultimate winner who will be bringing home the much coveted Honda Jazz car. The moment the said person reaches the final stop, the race will be halted and the second and third persons nearest to the final stop will be declared the second and third placers respectively.

What if I am not from Manila and I won the car?
In case you are non-Manila based and you won the car, then you have to cover for the shipping costs.

The first placer of the footrace wins the car. What will the second and third placers get?

The second placer wins a state of the art entertainment system including an Apple Ipod Touch, a Bose SoundDock, an Apple Macbook Air and a Sony Playstation 3 while the third placer brings home a Canon Digital SLR.

What about the rest of the Purple Hunter Footrace participants?

They each will get a Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid Kit for a consolation prize.

Click HERE to view the prizes.

What if I just joined the Purple Hunt during the latter phases? Am I still allowed to join the footrace?

Yes. Even if you did not make it to Phase 1 (the Purple Ticket), Phase 2 (the hunt for the Canon camera) or Phase 3 (the hunt for the Purple Crew and the Blackberry Smartphone), you may still join in the purple fun so long as you have correctly guessed the location of the finale and were able to send in an entry. Just don't forget the other requirements, okay?

What if I already won in either Phase 2 (the Canon digital camera) or 3 (the Blackberry Smartphone) and I was one of the top three (3) placers in the footrace? Will I have to give up my previous prize for the bigger prize?

If you won an item in either Phase 2 or 3 (camera or smartphone) and you won any item from Phase 4, then you still get to keep your prize from either Phase 2 or 3 and the prize from Phase 4 as well. It is only in Phase 2 and 3 that you cannot win both items.

Now I am very excited. What time do I need to be in the venue on Saturday?

The registration is from 9:00 –10:30 AM so please come on time as those who come in late will not be given the chance to register and will thus lose their chance of being in the footrace.

Let's say I have successfully registered on that day. What's the next step?

From 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, those who have successfully registered will go through a skill-based test to shortlist the 40 people for the footrace.

Those who have been shortlisted will have a briefing at 1:00 PM.

The 40 participants will then engage on an actual footrace from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.

Again, other details of the footrace will be revealed on the day itself so if you could please content yourself with just this information for now. ***wink***

What if there are more than 40 people who were able to "Crack the Code?"

If this is the case, then the 40 slots will be raffled off among those who have successfully "cracked the code."

While the footrace is ongoing, what awaits others who do not wish to join the footrace or were unfortunately unable to be among those lucky 40 who got shortlisted?

From 12:00 NN to 6:00 PM, there will be plenty of activities at the venue such Purplescape Exhibition, Purplize Your World, Purple College, Project Purple Showcase, Purple Lounge and Interactive Games.

So let's say I won anything from this really cool and fun Purple Hunt. When is the awarding?

The awarding is on the finale day itself, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM so be sure to be there and be at your best!

I heard about a purple concert. When will that start? And who are performing?

The concert is from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. As to who are the artists, wouldn't it be more fun if such an information is kept as a surprise?

A lot of activities and surprises and purple fun are laid out at the finale so be sure to be there.

See you!

The Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt Phase 4

2009-07-13T13:01:00.005+08:00

What: The Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt Phase 4

When: July 14, 2009

Specifications: The microsite will start falling apart to reveal the secret location of the Purple Hunt grand finale event. Users have to guess the location and input their answer on the microsite from July 14 – 24, 2009. Once they have successfully guessed the location, they will receive a confirmation email. Only Purple Hunters who received the confirmation email will have the chance to participate in the footrace.

The Prizes at Stake:

1st Prize: the Honda Jazz Car
2nd Prize: state of the art entertainment systemc including an Apple Ipod Touch, a Bose SoundDock, an Apple Macbook Air and a Sony Playstation 3.
3rd Prize: the Canon Digital SLR

Consolation prizes: Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid Kits

For the complete list with photos, please click HERE.

The Footrace

Mechanics:
1. Purple Hunters must bring their respective confirmation emails and be at the location at 9:00 AM, wearing purple outfits. Please note that participants have to be at least 18 years of age to qualify.
2. Registration is from 9:00 –10:30 AM.
3. From 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, those who have successfully registered will go through a skill-based test to shortlist the 40 people for the footrace.
4. Those who have been shortlisted will have a briefing at 1:00 PM.
5. The 40 participants will then engage on an actual footrace from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.

Meanwhile, from 12:00 NN to 6:00 PM, there will be plenty of activities at the venue such as the following:

· Purplescape Exhibition
· Purplize Your World
· Purple College
· Project Purple Showcase
· Purple Lounge
· Interactive Games

The event will start to wind down from 6:00 – 9:00 PM where there will be a prize presentation for the winners of Phases 2, 3 and 4, a finale programme and a Purple concert with local talents performing.

For questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your Purple Crew from various Yahoo! products like Answers, Flickr, Groups and Profiles or leave me a post or two.

Good luck and Happy Purple Hunting!

Watching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with the Y! Purple Crew

2009-06-25T11:30:00.022+08:00

After our dinner at Trattoria Gourmet, we, the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt Purple Crew members headed to the Shangri-la Plaza Cineplex to watch the blocked screening of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Yahoo! Philippines is one of the sponsors of this event thus we got tickets.

When Tamara gave us our tickets, I stared at it in wonder. It was in all black and there's a pop-up. Cool!

And yeah, I think the Yahoo! Client label added prestige to our tickets. LOL.

Since Kuya Jimmy had to dash off for another engagement, only the four of us made it to the movie. And while we were waiting to be admitted inside the theater, the four of us were sharing jokes and laughs. At one point, I was actually clutching my tummy in laughter while saying my jaws were already aching from laughing so hard. LOL.

Then we were inside the movie house and after a raffle was done by AXN (we did not win anything, dang!) and the sneak preview of upcoming movies was shown, Transformers: Revenge Revenge of the Fallen was finally unveiled to the eagerly waiting crowd.

The Plot:

Two years have passed since young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeaouf) saved the universe from a decisive battle between warring races of robotic aliens. Despite his extreme heroics, Sam is still an average teenager with everyday anxieties about heading to college, leaving behind his girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox), and separating from his parents (Kevin Dunn and Julie White) for the first time. Of course there is the additional burden of trying to explain his departure to his newest friend and guardian robot, Bumblebee. For Sam the goal is to lead a normal university lifestyle, but to do that, he must ignore his destiny.

For more readings about the Transformers, click HERE for the movie's official website. You may also click HERE for the Wikipedia entry of the said movie.

My Verdict:
I have never been an ardent fan of the Transformers. I mean, as a child, I never really watched the show rigidly or collected any of its merchandise. I was more of a bookworm, is why. Truth be told, I came to remember the autobots' names only after I watched the first Transformers movie, which I liked, by the way.

Revenge of the Fallen is fast-paced. It is kind of noisy for me though. Or maybe it's just all those machines clashing. And boy, was it a long movie. It has amazing visual effects though as well as some funny banter among the characters so it's bearable.

As a whole, I like the movie. And I enjoyed watching it more as I was with really wacky people who punctuated our moments of viewing silence with funny comments or playful jokes.

To Yahoo! Philippines, thanks for the invite. And to my fellow Purple Crew members, thank you for your enjoyable company. I really had a great time. And oh, special thanks to Kuya Jobar for exchanging our tickets for snacks and drinks and for buying popcorn. Maybe next time your treat will extend to free meals and drinks, eh? He he he! :P

Dinner at Trattoria Gourmet with the Yahoo! Purple Crew

2009-06-25T09:52:00.007+08:00

Last night, I had dinner with the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Crew at the Trattoria Gourmet.

The dinner's set at 6:00 PM so I left the office at 4:30 and took the MRT from the Ayala Station to the Shaw Boulevard Station. Wow. It was such an experience since after I transferred to my Makati condo, it's been months since I last took the MRT. The people were all jammed inside the train I actually had difficulty getting off at my designated stop. On top of that, one passenger sneezed that while I was huddled up in one corner, my mind automatically drifted to the ongoing Influenza AH1N1 scare. Ha!

I arrived early so I roamed around the nearby shops first. And oh, I am happy to report that this time, I did not give in to the impulsive shopper in me even when I found a really lovely pair of flats from Grendha. LOL.

When I came back to Trattoria Gourmet, Tamara and Dzurina from Yahoo! Singapore were already there so I chatted with them while munching on some appetizers.

When everybody arrived, we had our respective orders. I had the Penne with Three Cheeses and it was heavenly. Oh well, I love cheeses so anything cheesy be it pasta, chips and snacks will surely please my palate.

For my drinks, I had their really delicious ripe mango. It was good. Not too sweet and quite pulpy. Yummy. I so relished having it I actually forgot to take its picture. Ha ha!

All in all, the night was fun. There's really nothing like good food and good company. Thanks, guys. :)

Trattoria Gourmet is found in Shop Number 519, Level 5, Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong. You may contact them through (+632) 637-2784.

Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt Phase 2 - Purple Cameras Up For Grabs!

2009-06-17T09:22:00.008+08:00

Phase 2 of the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt started yesterday and many Purple Hunters said that they have already guessed the answer to our clues. For those who are still groping in the dark, below are more clues for you.

Camera #1 - Clues - Yahoo! Purple Hunt Phase 2
Question: Where can I find the camera?
1. The location has a color in the name of the mall (not purple!)
2. The camera is in a mall owned by the Zobel de Ayala family.
3. There are new photos in Flickr that might give you more clues. Please click HERE for the link to the said pictures.
4. It is in an internet café that is one of the biggest Internet chains in the Philippines.

When you think you know where camera #1 is hidden, go to our microsite found at http://ph.yahoo.com/ and input your answer.

As we have been getting a lot of questions about how the microsite works and where the answer has to be placed, below is a step-by-step process, complete with screenshots.

Step 1. In the microsite, click on Hunt for Clues (found at the left side corner, under Shortcuts). This will direct you to the page below.

Step 2. Click on the squares (specifically, the puzzle pieces). Don’t fret when this message prompts up: Not so fast, Purple Hunter. This prize will be unlocked on _____, as shown below.

This is a treasure hunt so clues will not be given in one go. Some clues will be unlocked on certain dates and you have the option to click on Remind Me for a notification to be sent to you.

Step 3. Once you have clicked on the correct square, the clues will appear, as pictured below.

Clues will be given on a daily basis and getting the correct answer gets easier as the phase progresses. Clues also become easier to decipher. Yesterday, only three photos (pictured earlier) were given as clues. When I checked today, there are three additional photos (detailed below) to further help out our Purple Hunters.

You can guess as many times as possible. If you get the wrong answer, you will not be able to register and a prompt comes up for you to try again. The prompt says, "Sorry, your hunt has been unsuccessful this time (a)round. But keep that purple spirit alive and try again."

Remember too that the full address of the location is needed. Purple Hunters can give their answers to the clues in different variations, like 4th Level or Level 4 so long as it's the full address in the right order that we do it, which is building floor, building, street, barangay, city. It's not case sensitive so no worries about that. The format of the answer to the first clue is below:

Level, Mall Name, City

And when you are ready to give your answer, just input it in the space provided and click on Submit Answer Now (both fields are encircled in yellow).

If your guess is right, a prompt that says "Congratulations, Purple Hunter! You've found the exact location." will appear.

Once you click on "Claim your prize now!" a registration form will prompt up after your account has been verified.

The form will require you to to input your full email address, your first and last names and your mobile number. You also have the option to receive Yahoo! emails about the Purple Hunt. It is mandatory though that you click on agreeing to the Terms and Conditions and signifying your understanding of the nature of the contest.

Below is a screenshot of the Terms and Conditions for this phase. For details, please click HERE.

After clicking on the I Confirm button of the registration form, a "registration complete" message will then prompt up and inform you that a confirmation email has been sent to your email address.

The confirmation email looks like this.

For questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your Purple Crew. Just click on the specific Yahoo! product listed below and it will direct you to the Purple Crew's account in that product.

Flickr
Yahoo! Answers
Yahoo! Groups
Yahoo! Profile

Happy hunting, everyone!

Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt TV Ad

2009-06-10T15:48:00.004+08:00

I saw the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt TV ad twice last night while my friends and I were watching TV and thought it's pretty cool.

To watch the video, click HERE.

Happy hunting!

==========
Edited post as the original post's video link got deleted and now since I am having problems in embedding the video, I decided to just post the updated link.

Yahoo! Purple Hunt Market! Market! Mall Tour

2009-06-06T10:31:00.017+08:00

Yesterday, my friend and I (together with her husband and her adorable daughter) went to Market! Market! so she can redeem her prize for the purple ticket that she found. I was there because as a Purple Crew member, I was to meet Stephanie of Yahoo! so we (and other Power Users) could later have dinner.

We arrived there at about 05:45 PM and I was pleased to see people crowding around the booth, especially in the area where the Honda car was. My friend claimed her prize (a Yahoo! purple wire organizer) and we then parted ways so she and her family can roam around the mall.

Later, when I met Stephanie and was with Kuya Jimmy, I asked her permission if I could take pictures and she agreed.

In the mall tour, there's the Purple Graffiti Wall where people had fun doodling, writing their thoughts or professing their love (yeah, I actually read the posts there, LOL).

Then there's the really cool Purplize Yourself photo booth. Here, there are purple props that one can use for his pictorial.

Introducing, the "Purple" Hornet. He he he!

There's the Find Purple Game Wall too where the participant will be asked to look for something (i.e. three purple hunt logos, the Honda Jazz car etc). There's a time limit though. Stephanie engaged us in this game by making us look for the three logos and the car. Successful finders in this game can then win prizes.

This booth here is where Purple Hunters can redeem their prizes.

And to cap this blog, below are pictures of what may be the most coveted prize of all - the Honda Jazz car! It was newly doodled as when I arrived there, the ink was still blatantly wet.

So for all of you who have already found the purple ticket, head now to Market! Market! to claim your prize and to enjoy all these really fun activities. The Market! Market! Purple Hunt mall tour will run from June 05 to 07, 2009.

For the complete mall tour schedule, click HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Ticket

2009-06-05T14:48:00.003+08:00

So you already found the purple ticket(s). Congratulations. Now what? Fret not as the reason why Purple Crew members like me is here is for us to guide you through your totally fun Purple Hunt.

Below are frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers. You may also click HERE for a fellow Purple Crew member's blogpost for the same topic.

How do I claim my Purple Gift? To redeem your Purple gift, just print the “Successful Purple Ticket Registration” email that you received. This will also entitle you to purchase a Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid kit for a special price of only Php1,695.

Purple gifts are available only until supplies last.

What may this Purple gift be? The Purple gift may be wire organizers, post-its, highlighters, tote bags, USB fans, Rubik Cube key chains or Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

How can I avail of the Krispy Kreme Purple doughnut? Easy. After you have printed out the “Successful Purple Ticket Registration” registration email, print out the Yahoo! Philippines front page as well and be one of the first 500 customers daily to have this really yummy treat.

Participating Krispy Kreme outlets are found in Bonifacio High Street, Global City, Taguig City; TriNoma Cinema Level, TriNoma, Quezon City; and Glorietta, Main Entrance, Makati City.

Purple doughnuts can be claimed in the above outlets only until 03:00 PM.

When and where is the Purple Hunt Tour? The Purple Hunt Tour is from June 05 – 18, 2009. It will be held in Ayala Malls. The specific dates and mall tour venue is in the “Successful Purple Registration.” You may also click HERE for my blog about the mall tour itself. Aside from detailing the venue and dates, the blog also lists the Yahoo! gifts that Purple Hunters can have and the activities that are in store to all Purple Hunters.

What are the Purple Hunt Tour hours? From Sunday to Thursday, it is from 11:00 AM to 09:00 PM and from Friday to Saturday, it is from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Can I hunt for multiple tickets? Yes. One ticket entitles you to 1 Purple goody, per person, per day, while stocks last during the mall tours. There are 14 mall tour days and you stand to win something every day if you head to Ayala Malls for all 14 days.

Are there any other Purple goodies to be won? There are other cool Purple goodies to be won, like cameras, smartphones, a surround sound system, a gaming console, iPod speakers and the grand prize of a Honda Jazz. Click HERE for details.

How will I know if I won any prize? Winners will be notified via mail or mobile and will receive instructions on how to redeem their prizes.

How can I be updated about the Purple Hunt? Yahoo! will update you through the Yahoo! Mail account that you used when you registered for the hunt.

This blog will also be updated each time there is something new about the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt so stay tuned!

I Found Two More Purple Tickets!

2009-06-04T09:59:00.017+08:00

Last night, I blogged about finding my Purple Ticket. Today, I decided to come up with a blog that will focus on the hunt itself as I have been getting questions about how to find the Purple Ticket, how does it look like, where can one be found and so on.

Finding the Purple Ticket

Purple Hunters can find the ticket either through the micro-site or by scouring through the webpages of Yahoo! products like Answers, Flickr, Messenger and Mail.

1. Through the micro-site. This can be found when one goes to the Yahoo! Philippines front page and clicks on the Yahoo! Purple Hunt banner.

2. Through Yahoo! products. Purple tickets are all over Yahoo! products. But please make sure that you are logged on to Yahoo! Philippines.

As navigating through the Yahoo! products webpages is really up to the user, I will thus focus this blog on "purple hunting" through the micro-site.

First step, click on the purple squares.

For my second Purple Hunt, after about four clicks, I was asked to go to Yahoo! News. The complete direction says, "Psst! Want a tip on where the Purple Tickets can be found? There's one hidden on Yahoo! News. Hurry and grab one for your free Purple gift! Valid from 5th to 18th June 2009."

After clicking on Claim Now, I was directed to the Yahoo! News webpage. My hunt for the Purple Ticket is on. After scanning the page, I immediately spotted the Purple Ticket located on the the upper right side corner of the page.

After clicking on it, a registration page like the one I posted in my previous post about my first Purple Ticket appeared.

Buoyed by my second Purple Ticket, I decided to hunt again so I can gain more information about how the hunt really works.

The third time, after randomly clicking on the squares, I was informed that there's one hidden in Yahoo! Answers. The direction was the same as the one I got when I was directed to the Yahoo! News webpage (except for the named Yahoo! product of course). It says, "Psst! Want a tip on where the Purple Tickets can be found? There's one hidden on Yahoo! Answers. Hurry and grab one for your free Purple gift! Valid from 5th to 18th June 2009."

When the Yahoo! Answers webpage appeared, I scanned the entire page and did not immediately spot the ticket. When I scrolled down, I saw the ticket on the lower left side corner of the page. Cool.

After clicking on the ticket, the same registration page also appeared.

As I am part of the Purple Crew who will give out clues and help Purple Hunters, I thus cannot join the Purple Hunt itself.

Why then did I do the hunt? Well, it is because I want to familiarize myself with the ins and outs of the hunt that I may then share whatever I have learned with other Purple Hunters.

By the way, to Anna, a friend who said her eyes are already bleeding and her fingers are starting to fall off from all this hunting, I wish you the best. Hope you'll find more purple tickets today.

Find out about Anna's Yahoo! Answers question about the Purple Hunt ticket HERE.

For questions, feedback or concerns, please feel free to drop me a line or two.

Happy Hunting!

Yahoo! Philippines Mall Tours

2009-06-03T20:08:00.010+08:00

Yahoo! Philippines will have mall tours in Ayala Malls starting June 05, 2009. For the complete schedule, please see below

Purple Hunt Tour Dates:
Market!Market!, Central Plaza - 5th June to 7th June (Friday - Sunday)
Greenbelt 3, Lobby - 8th June to 10th June (Monday - Wednesday)
Glorietta 3 , Lower Level Lobby - 11th June to 15th June (Thursday - Monday)
TriNoma, Level 4 - 16th June to 18th June (Tuesday - Thursday)

Purple Hunt Tour hours are Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 AM to 09:00 PM and on Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The mall tours are going to be packed full of games and activities such as “Purplize Yourself” photo booth, Find Purple Game Wall, Purple Graffiti Wall, Surf & Lounge laptop stations, Yahoo! Mobile stations and the doodled Honda car will also be on display except at Glorietta 3.

Yahoo! gifts are also available but only until supplies last. These gifts include:

Wire Organizers
Post-its
Highlighters
Tote Bags
USB Fans
Rubik Cube Key Chains
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Nestle Ube Ice Cream

Hope to see you there!

The Purple Ticket

2009-06-03T19:37:00.008+08:00

So I will have a concrete idea on how the Purple Hunt works, I logged in to Yahoo! Philippines front page to hunt for the purple ticket. I spent about thirty minutes navigating through the micro-site and finally, I found it!

I was then prompted to register.

And an email was then sent to me about my successful Purple Ticket registration. Cool!

The ticket details how one can redeem his purple gift. It also has the validity and details on Yahoo's Purple Hunt Tours in Ayala malls.

Watch this site for more purple updates and do not forget to stay tuned to the Yahoo! Philippines front page.

Krispy Kreme "Purplized" Doughnuts

2009-06-03T19:02:00.007+08:00

We left the Yahoo! Purple Hunt unveiling at around 9:00 PM. We bid goodbye to Lynn who ushered us out of the venue. Outside, Purple Crew members were given a box of “purplized” Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Awesome!

At home, I immediately opened the box and was delighted to find the purple doughnuts. They looked tempting and yummy!

I offered them to Kat, a housemate and friend. She found it delicious. A photographer, it was Kat who took these pictures. Thanks, girl.

The next day, I brought the remaining doughnuts to the office and my colleagues were all amazed at the “purplized” doughnuts. My boss also liked it, especially because she popped her share into the microwave and afterwards, dug into the soft, chocolate-y, purple-topped doughnuts. As for me, I love everything – from the color and the taste. Absolutely a treat to have!

So for all of you who want this yummy treat, log on to Yahoo! Philippines’ front page and start hunting! It’s so easy and more fun when it’s purple!

The Unveiling of the Yahoo! Philippines Purple Hunt Campaign

2009-05-28T23:52:00.005+08:00

Yesterday, I blogged about how purple is coming our way. Today, my blog is about the event itself that I attended with fellow Purple Crew members. These are the very people whom I have been hanging out with since the campaign was borne. People who are really so fun to be with that I always look forward to bonding with them.

The event was slated at 6:30 PM. I left the office at 6:05 and arrived at the Ayala Museum at around 6:15. I registered myself then promptly located Ate Janette and Anne, who are both Purple Crew members (Anne and I are for Yahoo Answers while Ate Janette is for Yahoo Groups), in one of the cocktail tables. We were later joined by Kuya Jimmy who is the Purple Crew member that represents Flickr, also a Yahoo product. We spent the waiting time giggling while Ate Janette, the perennially online person, "twittered" about the event.

We were ushered inside the air-conditioned event venue (as earlier, we were just waiting outside) at around 06:40. Thank heavens as it was so humid outside.

the event was well-attended

Inside, there was a really cool board (shaped like a Y) that had information about the about-to-be-unveiled Purple Hunt Campaign. There's the Yahoo Answers Board (I forgot to take a photo of it, dang!), a Flickr Board, the Yahoo Philippines Board, our Profile Board and the Board that details the prizes at stake. Below are pictures of some of the boards I mentioned.

As people were going around the boards, I busied myself with looking at my surroundings (what can I say, I am observant by nature!). I was fascinated with the purple cocktail table centerpieces. Lovely!

The night's host was perky Patty Laurel who delivered her information-laden spiels about the Purple Hunt.

As it was a cocktail, drinks were of course present. I had fun with the Purple Sling, which I was told by Jeanne (of Yahoo), was specifically made for the said event. I think I had three shots of that yummy purple concoction.

Heavy canapes were then served. The dessert was yummy! Too bad I wasn't able to take photos of my food as I was starving I dug into my plate the moment I got back to our cocktail table. LOL.

I consider the unveiling of WeWillDoodle's work of art one of the most amazing occurrences of the night. From scratch, these talented artists managed to create something that conveys what the Filipino way of life is about. How cool is that.

The event ended at around 9:00 PM. We bid goodbye to Lynn who introduced us to Bennette, her boss (both are from Singapore and are looking after this whole Purple Crew campaign). Bennette took some pics of us. Afterwards, we hopped around the different boards and had our pictures taken by Kuya Jimmy.

And yup, for the first time, I am going to post a picture of myself in it (it's not a solo picture though). LOL. Below is a pic of me, Ate Janette and Anne. I call ourselves the "Las Niñas de Bungisngis" as when we are together, we always crack jokes, giggle and poke fun at each other. He he!

Maybe when I got permission from these lovely girls (and from Kuya Jimmy), I'll post more pics of us.

Stay tuned for more purple updates!

Purple is Coming Your Way!

2009-05-27T09:28:00.017+08:00

Last night, Yahoo! Philippines officially unveiled the Purple Hunt at the Ayala Museum. It is a campaign that aims to empower Pinoy passions by encouraging the Filipino's creativity, innovativeness and drive to excel in whatever field they take interest in.

Purple is the New Black

Why the color purple? Because it is the color that best reflects one's individualism, the color that showcases one's spirited self. It is the catalyst that motivates a person to bask in her creativity and to take the road less traveled. It is also Yahoo's corporate color.

The Purple Hunt

It is Yahoo's version of a treasure hunt with a purple twist. Interesting insights about the web and the Philippines will be uncovered through the Yahoo! Purple Hunt micro-site. Participants will be asked to solve online clues and find items located around Metro Manila.

Log on to the Yahoo! Philippines' front page (http://www.yahoo.ph/) and click on the Purple Hunt to join. The fun begins on June 02, 2009 and culminates on July 25, 2009.

The Prizes at Stake

Up for grabs are Purple Krispy Kreme doughnuts and other Yahoo! prizes like Canon digital cameras, Blackberry mobile phones specially designed by Pinoy artists, Apple iTouch, Apple Macbook Air, Bose iPod Dock and Sony Play Station 3.

For the grand prize, one lucky purple hunter will drive away with a one-of-a-kind Honda Jazz car sporting purple artwork created by WeWillDoodle.

Personally, I am salivating over the "purplized" Apple Macbook Air and the Blackberry Storm. Wouldn't you want them for yourselves?

For purple updates, please check the official Yahoo! Philippines front page and stay tuned to this blog.

Happy Hunting!

Botanical Garden

2009-05-26T16:20:00.005+08:00

After our tour of Wright Park, my friend was stumped on where else to go. The night before, I declined her offer to climb up the hundred stairs of the Grotto of Lourdes as my feet were aching and I was just so tired. As she was enumerating more places to go to like the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the religious sisters' place where I could buy the best jams etc, I shook my head on each option as they held little appeal to me. When she mentioned the Botanical Garden, my eyes lit up and I eagerly said yes.

I love gardens and flowers, as mentioned before in my previous post about wanting a garden. There's something eye-catching in their vibrant colors, something that manages to elicit serenity every time I gaze at them.

In the entrance of the Botanical Garden were locals in their finery. Tourists who wanted to have their picture taken with them had to pay them though and I refused to do it as in a way, I felt as if I were exploiting them. I mean, why would I allow myself to be part of it when I knew that they were only donning their costume and dancing their native dance in exchange for money? That's commercializing their heritage!

Thus I just took a photo of this, which was in their entrance. I had to wait for like 15 minutes though as their were just a lot of tourists!

Inside, I was greeted with this walkway. Isn't it lovely?

There weren't a lot of flowers though and my friend says I should visit it during the summer, when almost all flowers are abloom.

There's a replica of their native house too and statues.

On one end of the garden is a field of Bandera Española in a color so rare as I only see these in yellow or red. This one is pinkish in color. What a bevy of beauties!

Too bad that when I visited the place, the flowers weren't all in bloom. Maybe I'll drop by there during the summer season so I can see them in all their magnificence. Hopefully this happens next year.

Animal Cruelty

2009-05-20T08:59:00.006+08:00

While I was sitting in the steps of a shed in Wright Park, I saw children enjoying themselves while horseback-riding. Parents and horse handlers cheered them on. I was happy for these kids but felt sad for the horses. Not only did they appear thin and poorly fed. Some had their forelocks painted pink!

Maybe the handlers wanted these horses to look like Starlite and Sunriser, the horses in the kiddie show, Rainbow Brite, so they can be more appealing to children but I must say it made the horses look ridiculous!

I love animals. When I was a child, my mom would watch me like a hawk each time I came home from playing because I almost always had an animal with me. It may be a friend's dog or cat that I'd love to play with or some stray that I brought home to feed.

I remember that when I was 10, I saw some kittens crying in one of the bushes at school. On the street was their dead mom that got hit by a tricyle. Worried that they would not be able to fend for themselves, I brought them home, hid them in our backyard, made a makeshift "house" for them and secretly brought them food thrice a day (think of the movie Beethoven, except that these were kittens, not a dog). And since the kittens were too young, I remember trying to bottle-feed them with my baby brother's milk bottle but since they could not suck yet, I had to find a way to feed them. In the end, I had to dip my pinkie finger in milk then painstakingly put it in the kittens' mouths. When mom found out, they were already 2 months old and were eating solid food. LOL.

I love animals. Thus it angers me to see what they did to those hapless horses!

Wright Park

2009-05-20T07:17:00.000+08:00

The Wright Park in Baguio is located just across The Mansion, which features a long rectangular man-made pool of water as pictured above. It is also known as a "Pool of Pines" and named after architect Luke Edward Wright who was appointed Vice-Governor of the Philippines in 1901 and later, in 1904, became its Governor General.

When I was there, there were a lot of tourists and locals who were selling souvenirs and Baguio products like strawberries.

There's this shed too where I spent some time resting as I got tired of walking.

The Mansion

2009-05-19T15:35:00.003+08:00

After our sightseeing at Mine’s View Park, we proceeded to The Mansion. The Mansion is the official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines whenever s/he is in Baguio. It was built in 1908 and named after the New England summer cottage of Governor General William Cameron Forbes during whose administration the original Mansion House was built.

The place was imposing on the outside that I could only imagine how grandiose it must be inside. Visitors here are not allowed to go beyond the gardens and there are guards who will make sure that this restriction is met.

These wrought-iron gates are quite famous and I must admit that they are rather impressive. It is said to be a replica of one of the main gates of London's Buckingham Palace.

Since I went there during the Christmas season, there were Christmas decors like this Santa hanging by a tree as well as life-sized statues that made up the nativity scene.

The garden was also very well-maintained. And I just love this picture I took. The flowers are just lovely!

Mine's View Park

2009-05-14T13:42:00.000+08:00

Now this is the place that I often see in movies and pictures that I so looked forward to seeing it. Then I discovered that it's too tourist-y and a tad overrated.

There’s this pretty “lobby” (I don’t know what to call it as it’s in the entrance of the place so I will just call it the “lobby” as hotel entrances are called) where one could even put on a traditional costume and have his pictures taken. I donned the headgear and held the wooden staff and got my picture taken but as I always say, I won’t be posting any personal pictures here. He he! After the picture-taking, the guest would then have to give a “donation.”

This life-size wood carving also caught my attention. Nice.

The park was teeming with tourists that taking pictures was kind of annoying as before I had a certain spot to myself, I had to wait eons.

In the view deck, there’s the view of the mountains. And rows and rows of colorful houses, some with rusty rooftops that destroyed what could have been a breathtaking view of a vast expanse of greenery. Too bad. My friend said the place used to be really very pretty but when people came flocking to Baguio in droves, the place became crowded and densely populated.

My favorite shot is of this pine tree. I just love how the dark green of its leaves beautifully complemented the blue skies.

Cafe by the Ruins

2009-05-13T09:09:00.001+08:00

After having some hot chocolate at Arko ni Apo, we had dinner at Cafe by the Ruins. The place was quite popular among locals and tourists, so my Baguio-based friend told me. I surmised as much as when we arrived and it was still early for dinner then, the place was almost full.

The ambiance was pretty. Artworks decorated the walls and the tables, chairs and placemats were all locally made but I was so concerned with my grumbling stomach that I did not take the opportunity to take many pictures of the place.

Their breads were one of the best I ever had. And it was most unique too as I never had camote bread in my entire life! I mean, I know camote can be made into camote cue and chips and is an ingredient in ginataan, which happens to be one of my Favorite Filipino snacks, but I did not know that it can be made into bread.

I was starving that night I ordered a sandwich and pasta. They were really good. Below are their pictures though the latter was taken rather too brightly as my camera then was new and I was yet to master it (I literally just point and shoot at my subject without any care at all to its functions).

The Ruins is located in 23 Chuntug Street, Baguio City. You may contact them through telephone numbers (074) 442-4010 and (074) 446-4010. Their fax number is (074) 442-5272.

Arko ni Apo

2009-05-05T07:18:00.001+08:00

Arko ni Apo is located just across Tam-Awan Village. It had a coffee shop and an art gallery and is the home of renowned artist Ben Hur Villanueva.

We had snacks and hot chocolate in their coffee shop. Their hot chocolate was one of the best I ever had. It was rich and not too sweet to the taste.

Inside the coffee shop were house decors and artworks that were just lovely. Some were for sale, the others weren’t. I fell in love with a coffee, creamer and sugar bamboo set but the lady of the house said it wasn’t for sale. Later on, after some prodding, she gave in and sold it to me for Php1,000. Family members said I was lucky as most guests had asked to buy it from their mom but she never budged. They added that a Filipino actress even tried to buy it from her in vain. Whoa. Too bad the blogger in me was yet to be born then thus I wasn’t able to take a picture of the set before I gave it to a very close friend for a Christmas present.

Like most galleries, taking of pictures is not allowed. One can take shots of whatever is in the coffee shop though. Below are two shots I took.

What makes the place very special to me was the reception I got from the family members. The couple was very friendly and accommodating. We met their son too named Baguio (the family was not originally from Baguio and Baguio was the first child to be born there, thus the name) and he was just adorable.

Hopefully, I can visit them again when I go back to Baguio.

Tam-Awan Village

2009-05-02T08:40:00.005+08:00

After enjoying a sumptuous lunch, my Manila-based friend said he would go back to Manila for an important family event. I opted to stay so I could see more of Baguio.

We parted ways at the bus terminal, where he dropped us off. It was the 23rd of December and the place was teeming with people buying tickets for Manila. The lines were endless! I actually thought I wouldn’t be able to buy a ticket and would be stuck in Baguio for the holidays as there was a post about all buses being fully booked on the 24th. Good thing they offered more seats later. Whew!

Afterwards, my Baguio-based friend and I went to Tam-Awan Village. Tam-Awan means a vantage point and is a haven for Baguio artists and their work of art. It was a very pretty place and I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of it.

At the entrance, there’s this carabao. Cool.

And a signage that enabled guests to know where to go and what to see.

It had galleries too where various works of art were displayed. Taking of pictures was strictly prohibited but I did manage to take two photos, with permission of course.

There were huts too where guests could actually check-in. Interesting.

In doing the eco-walk, one would find some art pieces like the pictures below.

I love this bamboo bridge. And contrary to my initial thought of it being fragile, it was actually sturdy as even two people could cross it at the same time.

Tam-Awan Village is located in 366-C Pinsao Proper, 2600 Baguio City. You may contact them through (074) 446-2949 / (074) 442-5551. For more details, please visit their official website at http://www.tamawanvillage.com/index.php.

Cemetery of Negativism

2009-04-23T07:52:00.001+08:00

The Cemetery of Negativism is located in Camp John Hay in Baguio and is unlike any other cemetery I've been to for one will not find human remains here, just "frailties" that inhibit a person's growth.

I just find it very interesting to see a “cemetery” like this. But it made me ponder too on what my negativism is. And after much thought, I decided to blog about it HERE.

Truly, each one of us has that infliction, that limiting factor that hampers our growth not just as an individual but as valuable members of our society.

More than a year after I posted my Negativism blog, I think I have made some progress. Still, I wage an ongoing war with some, especially with the parts of me that have something to do with my having tons of pride and stubbornness. What can I say, they make part of who I am. I am a work in progress too thus struggles like this are just part of my journey for a better me.

A leisurely walk at Camp John Hay

2009-04-21T11:59:00.014+08:00

We woke up early. Or rather, I woke up early as my friends may have had too much to drink the night before or were just tired that I did not feel them stir until nearly 8:00 AM. I just thus stayed in bed, reading the book I brought with me.

When everyone’s already awake, we decided to go for a walk around Camp John Hay. I love the garden of my friend’s neighbor!

And I love these tree shots too.

This one is a shot of a sculpture of an imitation of Our Lady of Liberty. By then, I was so tired of walking that I did not climb up to get a closer shot and instead opted to just use my camera’s zoom.

We had been to the Cemetery of Negativism too, which I will blog about later.

And among the many beautiful resthouses we saw, this one stood out. It was just very pretty!

A random shot taken during this walk is posted below. It's from the restaurant where we later had our lunch in.

It was a relaxing walk, albeit kind of tiring. Or maybe it’s just the old me talking. Ha ha ha!

Drinking the night out in Baguio

2009-04-21T08:52:00.000+08:00

We rested a bit then had dinner. Dinner was a delivery from Dencio’s, which consisted of Crispy Pata and Sinigang na Bangus. Yummy!

Afterwards, we decided to have a drink at the gazebo. I really do not drink beer as I hate its smell so I let them drink while I took my time just sipping my own beer. That night, I only had a bottle. Pathetic, huh.

photo taken from San Miguel's official website

Underneath the starless sky, we exchanged laughs and stories. It was chilly and it felt good to feel the wind’s cold touch on my cheeks. It was my first time ever to be out at night wearing layers and layers of clothing, complete with socks on my feet. It was that cold!

As souvenirs of that night, I took these pictures. Of course I had some silly shots of myself but I’d rather not post them here. Te he!

Wishing for a garden

2009-04-21T07:11:00.002+08:00

After having lunch in PNKY Café, we went to Camp John Hay where our friend had a resthouse. It was a very charming resthouse, tastefully decorated and well-maintained. I also loved the flowers in the garden.

These ones are my favorite shots.

I even used these photos for my blogs in Melancholic Memoirs titled shun the sun and sun-kissed.

I love flowers and ornamental plants. At home in the province, I would help my mom look after the garden. And I especially love orchids. I used to collect cacti species too.

Too bad that in Manila, I do not have the luxury of space for a garden. ***Sigh***

PNKY Cafe

2009-04-14T07:53:00.001+08:00

I've always wanted to go to Baguio City, the Philippines' summer capital, which is also known as the City of Pines. Growing up in the province and only seeing Baguio on television screens and Philippine movies and reading about it in the papers, I have thus, for the longest time, yearned to see this place.

The opportunity came when in December 2007, I was invited to go to Baguio by two of my friends, one of whom was really from Baguio. My other friend was based in Manila and had a car so we did not commute and instead had a relaxing drive in going there. I enjoyed the scenery, especially when we were nearing Baguio. But I wasn't into blogging yet then so I did not take much photos.

We arrived in Baguio at past 2:00 PM, just in time for lunch. My friend decided on where to eat as he'd been to Baguio many times. A seasoned traveler, he always knew the places to go to in most places in the country.

He chose PNKY Cafe, saying that it was one of the best restaurants in all of Baguio for him. Ambiance-wise, the place was quaint and pretty. And their food was great. As I said though, I wasn't into blogging then so I wasn't able to take pictures of my meal or jot down notes of what I ate. Too bad. I do remember ordering some kind of fish fillet though that had Nemo in its menu name (I just did some online research and found out the exact name of what I ate. It's Nemo's Friend and it's pan fried fish fillet with lemon butter sauce. For my online source, click HERE.

I also got fascinated with the water they served. The glass jar was pretty and it had what I believe to be oregano leaves in them. Cool.

Afterwards, my friend and I had some coffee, al fresco, while waiting for our Baguio-based friend to meet us. Their coffee was also good. But of course I, again, was not able to take any pictures.

PNKY is located in 13 Leonard Road, Baguio City, Philippines. You may contact them through (+6374) 446-7094 or (+6374) 444-6418. You can also send them an email through pnky@pldtdsl.net For more information, please click on their official website.

"Attach it!"

2009-04-13T10:19:00.002+08:00

I had this amusing phone call to perk me up today. It was my first phone call, actually, and it occurred just in time to awaken my senses that had dulled a bit from four relaxed days of just doing nothing during my Holy Week break.

Caller: Ma'am, I just would like to ask if you give contracted rates to travel agencies?

Me: Yes, we do, Sir. Where is your office located?

Caller: In Cubao, Quezon City.

Me: I see. Please send a formal letter of request together with your business permit. For speedier processing, please send a Department of Tourism (DOT) or International Air Transport Association (IATA) accreditation.

Caller: Who will I attach it to, Ma'am?

Me: You mean "address it to?" Please address it to Ms. _____.

Caller: No, I mean attach.

Me: (saying nothing for fear that the call will drag on if I contradict him). Please fax it over to _____. Thank you.

After the call, I grinned. I did try to suppress a giggle and when my boss saw my heaving shoulders, she asked me why I was laughing. I told her and both of us burst out giggling.

Really, you're gonna attach the required documents to my colleague? LOL.

Stuck with You

2009-04-07T07:46:00.006+08:00

The Hero: Lawyer Ross Bennett who's intelligent and sinfully handsome. He regards Paige Hart as a worthy adversary as she's just as smart, not to mention pretty.

The Heroine: Attractive lawyer Paige Hart who is very family oriented. She had her heart broken when she was in college and had a very bad experience with a divorce attorney thus she regards Ross Bennett as a snake, albeit a very charming yet still lethal one.

The Plot: Paige Hart and Ross Bennett couldn’t stand each other. Lawyers on opposite sides of a divorce case, there was nothing but bad blood between them... until a courthouse bombing threw them together. Exposed to the same rare and little-understood Tibetan Concupiscence Virus, the two archenemies were quarantined for seven days in one hospital room. As if that weren’t bad enough, the virus’s main side effect was to wreak havoc on human hormones. Paige and Ross found themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. Succumbing to their wildest desires, they swore it must be a temporary bug-induced attraction, but even after they parted ways, they couldn’t seem to forget each other. Which begged the question: Had the lustful litigators contracted the disease after all? Or had they been acting under the influence of another fever altogether – the love bug?

My Verdict: This is the first novel by Trish Jensen that I read and I find it very engaging. It's the usual battle of the sexes book but a lot funnier as their verbal exchanges are wittily written and there's palpable chemistry between the two main characters.

Also, aside from the lovable hero and heroine, there are endearing characters like Nick Hart, Paige's brother who has issues to settle with the lovely Rachel, Nick and Paige's doctor. There's the entire amusing Hart clan too whose members include a geeky cousin, a kleptomaniac aunt, a military dad and a very chatty sister who has a very reserved twin.

All in all, this book is one enjoyable read. I enjoyed the author's writing style so much that now I'm looking for more Trish Jensen (who I found out to be a recipient of Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award) novels.

Ipanema GB Seeds' Trendier Look

2009-04-01T15:23:00.004+08:00

I just love anything that's Ipanema and this summer, Ipanema's Gisele Bundchen (GB) Seeds line got even trendier with its fashionable and sleeker colors.

The “New Thong Fem” is perfect for sophisticated ladies who would like the perfect flip-flops for their summer dresses. It's an updated take on the classic thong-style sandal as it has double straps.

the new Thong Fem in blue grey

the new Thong Fem in brown

the new Thong Fem in lilac silver

The "Plataforma Fem” is perfect for girls who want an extra boost to their height. Its wedged heel will make one not only taller but a little svelter. And despite its chunkiness, it's lightweight (I should know as I own a pair).

the new Plataforma Fem in pink

The “Sand Fem” is feminine sophistication defined. In a sandal, that is. And with its very sexy straps and precisely shaped loops, it's perfect for showing off one's legs.

the new Sand Fem in purple lilac

the new Sand Fem in red gold

The “Thong Fem” combines classic flip-flop design in funky colors of vivid pink and purple that absolutely declare one's bold femininity.

the new Thong Fem in pink

the new Thong Fem in purple

The “Thong Strap Ad” is a fresh variation on your standard flip-flop as it has a unique horizontal strap beneath the classic thong strap.

the new Thong Strap Ad in purple

So whether your definition of a perfect summer is a leisurely walk down the beach, clubbing and chilling out in an island paradise bar, getting active in some sports activity like beach volleyball or getting all comfy and laid-back in your favorite summer destination, Ipanema sure has the flip-flops that will perfectly complement the summer-lovin' gal in you.

The Body Shop Peach Body Butter & Shower Gel

2009-03-31T07:51:00.002+08:00

The Product: Limited Edition The Body Shop Peach Body Butter & Peach Shower Gel

Why I bought it: Mainly because I love it's peach-y fragrance. That and the thought that it would make a thoughtful gift for my mom (there's no occasion and I just felt like giving her something).

The Pros: The scent is authentic peach. Also, I have been a fan of its body butter line since college and thus can attest to how it really cares for one's skin.

The cons: I'm the type of person who usually buys an entire product line (point in case, my Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Body Mist, Lotion & Shower Gel) thus I find it kind of disappointing that The Body Shop's Peach line doesn't come with a Body Spray (this has always been my issue with The Body Shop as even my favorite Mango Body Butter doesn't come with a fragrance line thus I was forced to partner it with Bath and Body Works Mango Mandarin Spray as its scent comes the closest). Also, it's a limited edition so when you run out of it and would like to buy new supplies, it might not be available in the market.

My Golla Mobile Bag

2009-03-30T09:09:00.003+08:00

Last month, I blogged about my new Sony Ericsson W595 mobile phone. As the phone did not come with a casing, I had to look for one for it.

I am admittedly very picky when it comes to buying stuff, especially when it is for something that I consider to be an investment or a necessity. Thus, it took me while to find the perfect casing for my phone.

I chanced upon this adorable Golla Mobile bag in Glorietta and the moment I saw it, I deemed it perfect not just in size but in design as well. It's black so it wouldn't get dirty easily. And despite the serious black color, its flower design gave it a touch of femininity and elegance.

The pink inside lining was also an indicator that it's a femme bag.

Also, aside from the main phone casing, it had two more pockets which was quite handy as in one pocket, I could put the earphones of my mobile phone and on the second pocket, I could put coins or receipts.

By the way, Golla is not just about mobile bags. They also have laptop bags and sleeves that come in funky designs and colors. I'm actually thinking of buying one for Shimmer, my beloved laptop.

For more information about Golla products, you may visit their official website at http://www.golla.fi/.

Pasalubong from Palawan

2009-03-28T11:52:00.000+08:00

For those of you who are wondering what to give to friends as pasalubong (keepsakes) from Palawan, you need not worry as virtually all tourist destinations have souvenir shops where you can buy indigenous products like boxes or containers made of rattan, bamboo rain makers, hats, capiz shell products and bags. There are the perennial key chains too, fridge magnets and of course, shirts.

Pearl products are also quite popular and they sell them cheap.

They also sell other jewelry pieces like earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from shells and other semi-precious stones.

For those of you who are into food products as pasalubong, cashew nuts will do but I suggest you buy them at the airport as it's cheaper to buy there. You may also want to buy food products from Baker's Hill. Their hopia and crinkles are very popular among locals and tourists. For details on Baker's Hill and pictures of its products, click HERE.

As for myself, I bought a pair of pearl earrings, crocodile fridge magnets that a friend specifically asked for, a rain maker, cashew nuts as well as various food products from Baker's Hill, paper weights and pens. The irony here though is that I did not buy anything for myself as what I bought were all given to loved ones and friends.

Oh well, I guess the pictures I took as well as the memories I have of the place will suffice as keepsakes of one of my best trips ever!

The lonely tree

2009-03-28T08:43:00.001+08:00

The following pictures were taken in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It formed part of the view that I had when we were waiting for our food to be served at the balcony of Badjao Seafront Restaurant.

Badjao Seafront Restaurant - Palawan

2009-03-27T07:30:00.001+08:00

After we had our morning walk in Puerto Princesa's Baywalk, we went back to Puerto Pension for breakfast. We then spent the entire day just resting in the room while watching TV and packing our stuff. Later, we had a massage which was the perfect treat after our 3-day tour of the island.

We checked out at 12:00 noon and left our luggage with the front desk. Then we flagged a tricycle that will take us to Badjao Seafront. This restaurant is very popular among locals. In fact, this was recommended to us by half a dozen people. Save the best for last, huh? As that was our last day in the island.

The place indeed had the ambiance. It was built on stilts and to get to the main restaurant, one had to cross a bridge with colorful swags in its posts.

Inside, the place was also tastefully done. It also overlooked a swamp.

I ordered their kare-kare which was really very delicious. The sauce was rich, the meat tender and the vegetables cooked just right. At Php225 (plus 10% service charge), it was worth it as aside from it being delicious, it was also good for sharing.

For my drinks, I had their buko (young coconut) juice. Its juice wasn't as sweet though as the buko juice I had in Sabang Beach.

My friends ordered these. They let me taste them and they were also good.

Among the many restaurants that we had been to in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, this was so far the best. It had all - good food that's reasonably priced, great ambiance and quality service.

On our way out, we even saw this photograph that touted Badjao Seafront as the only place in Puerto Princesa visited by His Royal Highness, Prince Albert, the Prince of York.

And oh, before I forget, a tip to those who are interested in going here. There are two (2) Badjao restaurants in Puerto Princesa (the other one is located just within the city proper) so ask to be dropped off in the one that's fronting the sea (as the restaurant name suggests but it wasn't really a sea, just a mangrove swamp). Also, it's better if you ask the tricycle driver to wait for you as the place is off the beaten track).

Badjao Seafront is located at Abueg Road, Puerto Princesa City. You may contact them through (048) 433-9912.

The Princess of the Sea

2009-03-17T13:05:00.010+08:00

These pictures are of a monument in Puerto Princesa, Palawan's baywalk titled "Ang Prinsesa ng Baybay" or The Princess of the Sea. A symbol of the life and culture of Palaweños, this was artfully sculpted by artist Ronel Roces and unveiled in 2007.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan's Baywalk

2009-03-17T11:05:00.004+08:00

Our fourth and last day in Palawan was pretty laid-back as we did not schedule any tours on this day. We woke up early though as the night before, we planned to go jogging in Puerto Princesa's baywalk.

The place was just a 10-minute walk from Puerto Pension. Here, one had a good view of the sea and of docked boats and ships.

We walked from point of origin to end and it was tiring but worth it as aside from giving ourselves some form of exercise, the view was nice.

My favorite was the view of Ang Prinsesa ng Baybay (The Princess of the Sea), which I will blog about later.

I also decided to play around with my camera. Normally, I just use its auto mode but this time, I tried color accent and color swap. Cool.

Baragatan Festival - Palawan

2009-03-16T10:38:00.000+08:00

We were lucky that when we were in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last year, they had their Baragatan Festival. The festival is an annual week-long event celebrating the founding anniversary of the civil government of Palawan.

Baragatan is the Cuyuno (a dialect) word for "beggar" and means a convergence of people coming together from various municipalities bringing their songs, dances and music and presenting these aspects of their life through cultural presentations, trade shows, exhibitions, float parade and street dancing (definition paraphrased from Palawan's official website). Baragatan also has an official website. Click HERE for details.

In the afternoon of our arrival, we were told there was a float parade but we already had our tours of Iwahig, Crocodile Farm, Butterfly Garden, Mitra Ranch, Baker's Hill and Puerto Princesa scheduled in our itinerary that we decided to just skip the float parade.

On our third night, after having dinner at Kinabuchs Grill & Bar, we decided to go to the plaza where the trade show was being held. In there were booths of various municipalities of Palawan that showcased their products.

There were food stalls too as well as booths selling Palawan souvenirs and products like bags and of course, the perennial shirts. I did not buy any shirt though as I did not like the quality. But I did buy a pair of slippers as my sandals' strap got cut. Must be from all the walking. LOL.

A tip to those who plan to join this festivity: It can get too crowded especially at nights when there's an artista (local movie star) or banda (local band). This was the reason why for the past two nights of our stay, we evaded the plaza like the plague as the line in the entrance was too long.

Fat Tuesday

2009-03-14T11:52:00.004+08:00

The Plot
Burke Basile is a cop with nothing left to lose. Responsible for his partner’s death, his marriage and his career over, he focuses on his nemesis, Pinkie Duvall, a flamboyant attorney who helps killers evade justice. Burke’s shocking revenge centers around kidnapping Remy, the lawyer’s trophy wife. But Burke hasn’t planned on the electric attraction he’ll feel for this desperate woman, who rose from the slums of New Orleans to marry a man she can never love. Nor could he have ever predicted the fierce duel that will explode amid the Mardi Gras madness, as the clock ticks toward midnight on Fat Tuesday – when all masks are stripped away, and Burke must confront his own ugly secret.

My verdict
I first read a Sandra Brown novel when I was in college and from the moment I started reading “Exclusive,” I became her instant fan. This isn’t one of my favorite books by the said author though as I hate the heroine. Remy is too submissive to her husband. I understand she’s doing this to protect her sister but come on, can anyone be that spineless? Also, I find her boring. Someone who has beauty but lacks substance to make the reader identify or empathize with her.

It’s still a good read though as the narrative is fast-paced, albeit predictable (the attraction between hero and heroine and their ending up together).

But if there’s something to adore in this book, it would be Gregory, the gay “drama queen” who really made me laugh with his whines and quips, especially in the scene where he helped Burke kidnap Remy. He’s just so funny!

View from my condo

2009-03-13T11:10:00.009+08:00

These pictures were taken from the living room window of our condo.

I just love how the sky became riotous shades of different colors. It's calming.

Summer Fashion Frolics at Plantation Bay Resort & Spa

2009-03-12T08:30:00.008+08:00

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, one of the country's premier and most exclusive resorts recently named "One of the Top Resorts in Asia" by Conde Nast Traveler, the most prestigious travel magazine in the world, invites you to a night of fashion, sumptuous cocktails and great entertainment to be provided by its graceful Hawaiian Luau and Brazilian dancers.

Fashion for the night will be defined by Salvador Malto and Lotte Delima Edwards. Salvador Malto is one of Cebu's top designers who specializes in swimwear while Lotte Delima Edwards is a Cebuano designer now based in Singapore who specializes in resort wear. Ms. Edwards' creations will soon be sold in upscale department stores in Singapore.

For inquiries and reservations, please contact Ms. Joanna Cuenco through (+63918) 950 5289 or call (032) 340 5900 local 1026 or 1027.

An Invite to Ipanema's Walk the Green Mile

2009-03-12T07:14:00.003+08:00

I received the above invite last week from Ms. Cecille Guevarra of M2.0 Communications. It's for Ipanema's Walk the Green Mile campaign. I actually already knew about it as it was discussed during Ipanema's A Blogger's Night and even that night's loot bag contained a printout about it (see below).

Walk the Green Mile is a walkathon project of Haribon Foundation, an environment conservation organization, and ELRO Commercial and Industrial Corporation, the exclusive distributor of Ipanema flipflops in the country. The said project aims to conserve the biodiversity of Philippine rainforests.

What: Ipanema Walk the Green Mile
When: March 21, 2009, Saturday

Time: Registration starts at 3PM and the Walkathon starts at 5:00 PM
Where: The Fort (near Le Souffle in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City)
What's in store for you: The first 500 participants will receive a limited Edition Ipanema GB Seeds baller ID while the first 100 get a free Walk the Green Mile shirt. The first 50 participants get a free Ipanema GB Seeds of their choice.
Best deal to have: Those who will purchase flipflops at the venue get 10% discount and a chance to win a pair of Ipanema Gisele Bundchen (GB) seeds flipflops signed by the lovely Miss Gisele (the world's highest paid model) herself. And for all participants, it is of course the fulfilling feeling of contributing to the conservation of our rainforests.

So don your favorite pair of Ipanema flipflops and be empowered as you take the strides to a greener and lusher Philippine forest.

Thank you, Miss Cecille, for the invite. Too bad I'll miss this walkathon as I'll be in Bangkok then for business. I'm sure 'twill be a blast though as your last event was totally awesome!

Kinabuchs Grill & Bar - Palawan

2009-03-11T10:10:00.000+08:00

Dinner on our third night was at Kinabuchs Grill & Bar. It was crowded as it was considered the hang-out of Palaweños and was a popular place for tourists, basing from what I read on the net while planning for this trip.

We decided to dine al fresco. Because I was feeling starved as I ate no rice during our lunch in Snake Island, I was so glad to see a lot of choices in their menu.

Their Shanghai rice was good for 3 persons so my friends and I decided to just share it among ourselves. It was delicious I could eat it without any viand at all.

We also had Nilagang Baka for our soup which was served so hot I burned my tongue on my first spoonful of it. Ouch. It was worth it though as it had the right saltiness to it. The meat was also tender and the vegetables blanched just right it was still crunchy.

Their Sizzling Chicken though wasn't to my taste. It was just too spicy I had to eat it with a lot of rice and counter the spiciness with a quick gulp of water or my watermelon shake.

But boy, do I savored each bite of their very delicious Crispy Pata. The skin was crunchy and the meat tender. Yum!

As mentioned earlier, my choice of drink was my favorite shake of all: Watermelon Shake. It was good but not as good as my favorite Plantation Bay Fiji Restaurant's Watermelon Shake.

Wow. That was such a heavy meal! It was by far the most expensive of the meals we've had since we arrived in the island. Nevertheless, it was all worth it.

Kinabuchs Grill and Bar is open starting 4:00 PM and located at 348 Rizal Avenue, Bancao Bancao, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. You may contact their office through (048) 434-5195 and their Bar through (048) 434-5194. Email them at kinabuchs@hotmail.com