Sunday, August 31, 2008

Padilla & Diampoc Nuptial

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. . .

The groom, Rogel, and his bride, Aileen, have vowed to each other:
“I take you to be my spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.”




Saturday, August 30, 2008

PhotoHunt 125 - Beautiful

PhotoHunters
Last month, my handsome nephew tied the knot with her BEAUTIFUL girlfriend. A month after, we are back in their place in Quezon, Isabela, 400 kilometers (10 hours by land) from ours, to attend the wedding of his younger brother.
And, we have the opportunity to browse their BEAUTIFUL wedding album and watch the BEAUTIFUL video. We recalled how this BEAUTIFUL and momentous event transpired.


The BEAUTIFUL bride and her equally BEAUTIFUL maids of honor.


My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:
  • 126 - September 6 - "string(s)
  • 127 - September 13 - "wild"
  • 128 - September 20 - "road"
  • 129 - September 27 - "view"
  • 130 - October 4 - "sad".

Monday, August 25, 2008

Flirt the Hollywood style

There are so many ways to flirt. A flirtatious look is one. Telling a pick-up line is another. Some of Hollywood’s memorable lines may do the trick as well. Yes, you can flirt by using Hollywood’s memorable lines or the Hollywood style. The two of my favorite lines are: “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”, from Casablanca; and, “Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.”, from Gone with the Wind.

But, if you want to get tips on flirting and be more effective in your flirting, why not play the flirting game - the Extreme Style by VO5's Ultimate Flirting Championship. Grab a widget now and post it in your social page or blog. You can try your favorite Hollywood’s memorable lines in the game; see if they work and if you can achieve a Victory Hair.


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com

Sponsored by Extreme Style by VO5

Are we going to learn from Beijing Olympics?

The Beijing Olympics is finally over. It ended yesterday as colorfully as it opened 16 days ago. China, United States, and Russian hauled the most number of medals with over 20 gold medals each, 51 – 36 – 23, respectively.

The Philippines? Well . . . Together with 122 countries, we got nary a medal.

Before our 15 athletes left for Beijing Olympics, I wished but didn’t expect them to come home with the bacon.

Why? First, compared to the international standards, our athletes are not getting the best equipment and training and the right moral and financial supports - the proper salaries, perks and incentives. As a matter of fact, even their uniforms are sub-standards. Our two swimmers got their swimsuits ripped so easily; and they didn’t have spares. I also doubt if they are getting the right and proper nutrition necessary for athletes.

Second, our contingent was very small – 15 athletes only. There were more than 300 events with more than 900 gold, silver and bronze medals at stake. Hence, the chances of picking medals were slim. I am not saying that we should field athlete in every event. I know our country couldn’t afford that. With the international calibers of athletes of most countries, our athletes need tons of tons of luck to pick a gold medal. We almost got one in 1996 courtesy of Mansueto (Onyok) Velasco (for boxing) but he was not lucky enough. He was cheated by the judges – so, I heard. The other silver medal we had was through boxing too courtesy of Anthony Villanueva in 1964.

Since 1924 (or out of 19 participations in the Olympics), we only picked a total of 9 medals (2 bronze for athletics, 2 silver and 3 bronze for boxing, and 2 bronze for swimming).

Here are the years when we got our medals:

    1928 – 1 bronze
    1932 – 3 bronze
    1936 – 1 bronze
    1964 – 1 silver
    1988 – 1 bronze
    1992 – 1 bronze
    1996 – 1 silver
    Total – 9

We may have the best athletes, as far as the Philippine or Asian standards are concerned, but they are not good enough against the world. But, some officials thought our athletes would and could win by bribing them in the form of monetary incentives by the millions.

I don’t consider our athletes as losers but Olympians who gave their best and tried to give honors to our country. Congratulations to Hidilyn Diaz, Henry Tanamor, Daniel Coakley, Christel Simms, Henry Dagmil, Maristella Torres, Tshomlee Go, Mary Antoinette Rivero, Mark Javier, Miguel Molina, James Wlsh, Ryan Arabejo, Rexel Ryan Fabriga, Sheila Mae Perez, and Eric Ang and thank you for representing our beloved country. MABUHAY KAYO!

Again, it’s all water under the bridge. But, we must learn from this experience. We have not learned from the past Olympics; and I hope we would now. The government should start the revamp and overhaul of the sports programs and systems then start preparing for the next Olympics and other sporting events.

Excuse me?

Flirting! Have you done this? Or, are you planning to? Well, if you plan to, you need some pick-up lines to keep you from achieving Victory Hair. Wondering what a Victory Hair is? Well, it could be achieved when a good looking guy said a pick-up line hopefully to meet a good looking girl. As a result, some enchanted or magical things may happen. In the process, they spoiled and ruined their sexy styled hair. What a mess!

Here are some worst pick-up lines that I’ve ever heard:
“You might not be the best looking girl here, but beauty is only a light switch away.”
"I may not be the best looking guy here, but I'm the only one talking to you.”
To help you plan and execute your flirting, try playing the Extreme Style by VO5's Ultimate Flirting Championship game first.


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com

This game will test your own flirting abilities and hone your flirting skills. I have played it and encourage you to play it too. Grab the widget now and post it in your blog. Playing the game is easy and fun. You would either be assigned as a judge or a contestant. As a judge, you would do the honor of asking five questions to the contestants. As a contestant, you need to answer the question thrown by the judge in a fun and sexy way.

Sponsored by Extreme Style by VO5

National Heroes Day

Today, August 25, is the last Monday of August. And, we are celebrating the National Heroes Day (Araw ng mga Pambansang Bayani) as per Proclamation no. 1463 dated February 18, 2008. This is the second long weekend for August. Also, today is conducive for sleeping being a rainy day; and you may not want to go out.

Do you know who our National Heroes are? Perhaps, you still remember some of them, such Dr. Jose P. Rizal (because of Rizal Park), Andres Bonifacio (because of Bonifacio Monument and Fort Bonifacio), Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (because of Camp Aguinaldo), Epifanio delos Santos (because of EDSA), and others who have monuments and landmarks that remind us of them. How about Fernando Ma. Guerrero, Trinidad Tecson, and Gen. Francisco Makabulos? Do these names ring a bell? Or, do you still remember what had they done?

To commemorate this special occasion at home, we should refresh our memories who our National Heroes are and what had they done to be in such stature. You can review your Philippine History Books - if you still have one, search the internet, or click the following:
Have you enjoyed your refresher course? Okay, the class is dismissed.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

The Look

If looks could kill, I would not look at anybody. Thanks heaven, it could not. And, I am free to look at anybody. I look flirtatiously at a lady, especially if I am interested with her, to spark or attract her attention.

I am posting my picture with my flirtatious look and be a judge if it could catch others or your attention. There were times my flirtatious looks were not effective; so, I resorted to some other forms of non-verbal flirting, such as trying to clear my throat (ehem!) and doing some acts that might caught attention. Some of these acts were effective.

And, speaking of flirting, there is a Extreme Style by VO5's Ultimate Flirting Championship game.


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com


I have played and enjoyed the game. I am encouraging you, my readers, to try and play it. You can grab the widget and put it on your own social page or blog. The game will test your flirting abilities and give you the Victory Hair. By joining the game, you will be put in a waiting room to wait for other two players. You will be assigned as the judge or a contestant. If the former, you will be given five questions to ask the contestants. If the latter, you have to answer the judge’s question in a fun and sexy way. And, by the way, the game provides a number of flirting tips.

Sponsored by Extreme Style by VO5

Saturday, August 23, 2008

PhotoHunt 124 - Wrinkled

PhotoHunters

WRINKLED beach sand caused by the WRINKLING waves. This photo was taken from Covelandia du Labrador Family Beach Resort in Labrador, Pangasinan, Philippines. It is about four hours away by land from Manila.



My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:
  • 125 - August 30 - "beautiful"
  • 126 - September 6 - "string(s)
  • 127 - September 13 - "wild"
  • 128 - September 20 - "road"
  • 120 - September 27 - "view".

Friday, August 22, 2008

Silver Linings goes to Cebu City

Silver Linings is the homecoming for breast cancer survivors in the country and an educational forum on breast cancer. It's the only one of its kind in the country.

Please click the poster for a larger view.

This one day event will be held on September 6, 2008 from 8 am to 5:30 pm in Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City. The topics to be discussed include: Everything You Should Know About Breast Cancer, Dealing with the Side Effects of Treatments, Done with Cancer Treatments, What Next?, How the Other Half Copes, How Families Deal with Cancer, Grief, Fertility During and After Cancer Treatments, Eating Right During and After Cancer, Look Good Feel Good, Journey of Hope, and many more. All day, there will be free consultation with medical doctors and cancer survivors and free Bone Screening & Fasting Blood Sugar.

Three years ago, the last Silver Linings in Metro Manila was a resounding success. It was held in EDSA Shang-rila Hotel on September 25, 2005.

For pre-registration and inquiries, contact: 6332.2439370 (Cebu) 632.6873942 (Manila) or write to silverlinings2008@gmail.com. You may also visit ICanServe and Silver Linings 2008 for more information and details. Registration fee is P100.00.



Related articles:

Silver Linings @ Beyond My Quiet Zone
About Silver Linings @ Istayl



Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Horsing around

Zara Philipps is not just an ordinary equestrienne but an extraordinaire. She is the reigning Eventing World Champion. And, she is the first Royal in direct line to the throne to appear in an advertisement. Not just an ordinary advertisement but as the new face of Land Rover. Watch her in this video leading her horse out of the trailer when a footballing jack approached them and tried to impress them. The horse may be thinking he was just Horsing Around did something funny. Watch what happened . . .




Land_rover_eventing

Land Rover - Proud Supporters of British Eventing.

Sponsored by Land Rover

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The wedding invitation

We already received our invitation to the wedding of our nephew, Jing, and niece-to-be, Babette, who personally delivered it.

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The couple - Jing and Babette (a.k.a. Rogel and Aileen)

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The invitation

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The vows

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The blessings

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Principal Sponsors

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Secondary Sponsors

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The Little Angels

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The Word of God Readers and the Offerors


Saturday, August 16, 2008

PhotoHunt 123 - Colorful

PhotoHunters

COLORFUL is this week's theme!



These are the gardens with COLORFUL flowers located inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City, Philippines.

Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philppines, is also known as the City of Flowers. Every year the city celebrates a month-long flower festival called "Panagbenga", which means season of blooming.


My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:
  • 124 - August 23 - "wrinkled"
  • 125 - August 30 - "beautiful"
  • 126 - September 6 - "string(s)
  • 127 - September 13 - "wild"
  • 128 - September 20 - "road".

Thursday, August 14, 2008

PAL, PAL Express additional flights

Starting tomorrow, August 15, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will service the Manila to Dumaguete route with two flights, morning and afternoon, and add a daily mid-flight (its third) to Zamboanga City.

On this same day, PAL Express will commence its services on the following routes with its turbo-propeller jets from Manila to Tuguegarao City (Cagayan), San Fernando City (La Union), Cauyan City (Isabela) and Ormoc City (Leyte).

The Ormoc route is good news for me! Our plant is located in Isabel, Leyte, which is just 45 minutes away. Before, in going to and fro Isabel, I either traveled via Tacloban, which is an hour and 45 minutes longer or via Cebu City, which is 2 hours and 30 minutes longer. The Manila - Ormoc flights, however, are not daily but four times a week only (every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). Tacloban flights are thrice daily except Monday, which has two flights only.

Monday, August 11, 2008

PAL flights to and from Iligan soonest

Good news to travelers from Iligan City and nearby Mindanao areas, especially west of the city! Starting September 27, 2008 (tentative), Philippine Airlines (PAL) will operate the Manila-Iligan and Cebu-Iligan routes under low-cost brand PAL Express via the Baloi Airport.

The Manila-Iligan route would fly up to four times a week, while the Cebu-Iligan route three times. Currently, going to and coming from Iligan, travelers must pass by Cagayan de Oro. Land trip between these two places is about two hours and a half.

We have a branch in Pagadian City; and, once in a blue moon, I go there via Cagayan de Oro City. With the Iligan flights, it would cut my land travel by about two hours and a half. Cagayan de Oro City to Pagadian City is about 6 hours by land.


Source: GMANews

Sunday, August 10, 2008

10th Tuna Festival / 40th General Santos City Day

On September 5, 40 years ago, the Municipality of General Santos became the General Santos City. The city is in the province of South Cotabato and located in the southern part of the Philippines. It is known as the Tuna Capital of the country and the Boom Town City of the South.

Ten years ago, the city started commemorating its charterhood with tuna festival. This year, the 10th Tuna Festival in commemoration of the 40th General Santos City Day will be held from August 29 to September 7 with various events and activities.

Tuna Fest 2008 poster

This year’s festival theme is:
"A decade of fish-tivities and oppor-Tuna-ties".

Among the major events are : FISHFEST SA FISHPORT (a hit among foreigners), Search for Ms. Gensan, Bodyfest Modeling Competition, Fishdance - Mindanao Showdown, the 1st GAGAMBA Fighting Competition, LGU Employees Showcase, the Tunafest Badminton Competition, the Tuna Float Parade, the KARAGATAN AWARDS, the Sashimi Night, the BANCARERA and the National Tuna Congress.

For more details and schedule of activities, please visit Bariles Republic.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

$8 Rx Eyeglasses including the case

If you have been prescribed to wear eyeglasses, do not wear just any pair of eyeglasses. Wear the one that would not make you see or read better only; but the one that could make you stylish as well. You can find wide choices of Incredible Stylish New Frames From Zenni Optical at cheaper prices. And, the cheapest are the Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses including the case.

3639 Stainless Steel Half Rim Frame

And, you might be wondering why Zenni sells cheaper prescription glasses. It is because they sell only their own manufactured frames direct to the customer, with no costs to middlemen and advertising.

Cheap and stylish are the reasons why Zenni Optical was on FOX news! Check it out!

PhotoHunt 122 - Dark

PhotoHunters

This hotel on a DARK night (not the movie),
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looks like this on a bright day.
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This hotel is located in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.



My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:
  • 123 - August 16 - "colorful"
  • 124 - August 23 - "wrinkled"
  • 125 - August 30 - "beautiful"
  • 126 - September 6 - "string(s)
  • 127 - September 13 - "wild".

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Art Storage

Few of our possessions are precious and valuable (or invaluable). These possessions are irreplaceable; hence, we should handle them with extra care to protect them from any harm or misfortune.

Sometimes, it is unavoidable to move, ship, store or display these items. And, when we do, we must entrust our possessions to the experts in handling, moving, and storing such items. We should not take chances and gamble with just any company who avers expertise in this field.

In such situation, what comes to mind is the Mind’s Eye. It offers the best and finest services when it comes to Art Storage, transportation, and display. Its services are array and customized according to your art, your needs, and your pocket. It is the expert and the most experienced and knowledgeable in the art of handing your irreplaceable possessions – from portraits to sculptures, chandeliers to antiques, and what have you. Your delicate possessions are well taken care of, safe and protected at all times - from crating to transporting and storing to showcasing. Each type of fine arts is handled differently and in accordance to your requirements and specifications. Mind’s Eye has developed not just the expertise but the science and art on fine art storage, transportation and display.

Its fully satisfied clients are museums, curators, investors, and collectors of all kinds - personal and corporate. Mind’s Eye treats you, not as just client, but like partner serving your interests and keeping you informed along the way.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

New York IT Services

The age of technology is a fast paced age. There is no room for delays or procrastination. In a matter of clicks you can compute complicated formulas; you do not need to make a single step to get the information you needed or to place your orders for food, groceries, and anything under the sun. Everybody and everything are moving so fast.

Are you ready for this age? Let’s face it. Technology is a must to succeed in businesses (whether small, medium or big) and even in personal endeavors. Without technology, you and your business would be left behind to obscurity.

Good for the big companies; as they can afford to buy, maintain, and update their equipment and to hire and pay amply qualified IT personnel. How about the small and midsize businesses? Could they afford to buy the costly equipment, maintenance, and pay huge salaries?

With iCorps Technologies, small and midsize businesses can now compete technologically without having an IT expertise or an in-house IT department. iCorps is new york IT services that helps your business to be more profitable, productive, and competitive. It will provide the comprehensive IT outsourcing solutions and network support services for your business to keep up with the latest technology.

Who needs an IT department if you can outsource the technology from iCorps Technologies – the leader in IT outsourcing.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Boundary arches

I have traveled a good part of the Philippines. In the island of Luzon, I’ve gone as far as Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte, and Legaspi City, Albay. More often than not, I travel by land. While crossing provincial or town boundaries, I was able to capture some boundary or welcome arches. Here are some of them: