Kid Tech Guru's contest

While bloghopping and EC dropping, I came across KidTechGuru's blog. He's Xavier, a 14 year old blogger from Singapore. As his blog name denotes, he's a techie boy who's sharing his knowledge, tech tips and web applications reviews. He's into blogging for more than 3 months and claimed to attract over 32,000 visitors.

And, he's holding his second contest with many cool prizes, as follows:

1st Prize (worth $180):

- Free 12 months 125X125 sidebar ad on The Online Quest

Sponsored by The Online Quest:


2nd Prize (worth $100):

- Free Domain Name

- Free 12 months Web Hosting on BlueHost

Sponsored by BlueHost:


3rd Prize (worth $45):

- Free 2 months 125X125 sidebar ad on KidTechGuru

- Free Review of your Blog to be posted in KidTechGuru

Sponsored by KidTechGuru:


4th Prize (worth $36.00):

- Free 1 month 480X60 banner ad on KidTechGuru

- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by KidTechGuru:


5th Prize (worth $27.00):

- 4500 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by WebbieStuffs, WeBlogLearner, I Love Philippines Too:


6th Prize (worth $12.00):

- 2000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by SocialWebTools:


Consolation Prizes (each worth US$6.00):


- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by SimplyWP and Wiehanne


- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by The Flying Beagle


- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by OrangeInks


- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by eBookTechie


- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by Chorva


- 1000 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by RandomDetox


- 1 month 125X125 sidebar ad in Bryan Karl

- 500 Entrecard credits

Sponsored by Bryan Karl

And, I'm joining this contest. If you want to join too, please click here. Hurry up!. The contest ends on November 3, 2008.

Potpot's photo shoot at the park

Potpot - our shitzu dog, was with us in our La Mesa Ecopark picnic last Thursday.

While strolling at the park, these two little girls approached and caressed him. He didn't want to stand up and walk anymore.

Then, this young lady photographer started taking his pictures.

More Potpot's pictures.

Related story: A Day at La Mesa Ecopark

Personalized Flash Drives

It’s about two months to Christmas Day. I was still wondering what perfect gifts to give to my staff until I found out about the Personalized Flash Drives.

When I saw them, I know they are indeed perfect gift ideas. I could choose from 14 colors according to their favorite colors and from 32 exciting themes. I can also have them laser engraved on both sides with their names for free. The drives are Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and available in 6 capacities from 512MB up to 16GB. As for my kids, I think the Personalized Flash Drives are also perfect gifts for them.

PhotoHunt 132 - Family

This is the picture of my family: me, my wife - Beng, daughter - Jaja, and son - Luigi.

This was taken last All Saints Day (November 1) on the graves of my parents-in-law. It has been the Philippine tradition for the FAMILIES and relatives to visit the graves of their departed relatives on this day.

And, it's 14 days to All Saints Day. We shall again visit the graves of my parents-in-law in Holy Cross Memorial Park, my brother-in-law in Holy Redeemer Church Columbarium, and my father in Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery).

photohunt

My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:

• 133 - October 25 - "scary"
• 134 - November 1 - "blue"
• 135 - November 8 - "together"
• 136 - November 15 - "ruin(ed)
• 137 - November 22 - "reflection.

Halloween party for bloggers

I'm posting here and passing around Aileen Apolo's announcement:

Clear Black Night (a Halloween Dance Party)

This is THE Halloween party for bloggers we've been waiting for.


What: Clear Black Night, a Halloween Dance Event
When: October 31, 2008, Friday, 7:00 p.m. (to super sawa!)
Where: Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermarket, Mall of Asia)
Attire: Come in Sexy Black (no need to for costumes!)
What to expect: Just be in party mode and get a chance to win instant prizes! Everything's going to be Fun! Fun! Fun!

Join us! Register here. To check if you've been registered go here.

It's just a week away, kindly spread the word! And see you!

PhotoHunt 131 - Lazy

Actually, I was very LAZY to join PhotoHunt today. I went home at around 3:00 AM from a gimmick; and, I was still sleepy. But, PhotoHunt is PhotoHunt.

We're on the beach and this is my sister, Elvie. After eating our lunch, we raced to the hammock and she got there first. She just LAZED there while texting to her lovey-dovey and listening to the car stereo.

photohunt

My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:

• 132 - October 18 - "family
• 133 - October 25 - "scary"
• 134 - November 1 - "blue"
• 135 - November 8 - "together"
• 136 - November 15 - "ruin(ed).

Social Security System

Social Security System (SSS) is an agency of the Philippine Government mandated to protect the country's workers and their dependents/beneficiaries. The system shall promote social justice and provide meaningful protection to members and their families against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden. (Section 2, RA 8282)

Currently, the system covers the following benefits:

• Sickness
• Maternity
• Retirement
• Disability
• Death &
• Funeral
• Medicare
• Employees' Compensation
  

It also extends loans to its members:

• Salary
• Calamity
• Emergency
• Housing

Before members can avail of the above benefits, they must present their SSS Identification Cards - "no ID card, no transaction". ID card can be obtained free of charge from any SSS branch with ID capture facilities. Replacement of ID card is subject to a certain fee.

SSS main office is located along East Avenue, Quezon City. To date, it has 30 branches in Metro Manila, 53 in Luzon, 22 in Visayas, 27 in Mindanao, and 14 in some parts of the world.

Members can now check online their contributions, loan balances, and other information at its website: www.sss.gov.ph.

For more details and FAQs, please visit www.gov.ph.

Pantene Miracle Party for Bloggers

Good news, bloggers! Pantene is throwing a party for you!

• Date: October 17, 2008, Friday
• Time: 7:00 p.m.
• Where: Taste Asia, Mall of Asia (beside SM Hypermarket)
• A glimpse of what to expect: photo wall, fabfoto, food (!!!), special cocktail drinks, music and a hanep dress-up of Taste Asia methinks, games where you can win instant prizes!
• How to join: Just register here
• (to check if you got in, go here)
• Oh and a special celebrity guest is set to grace the occasion!

Register now. And, you're allowed to bring a friend.


Source: An Apple a Day


Related post: It's a miracle

New frames at Zenni Optical

The positive news about Zenni Optical has already spread around. It was featured on Fox News TV and over the popular U. S. talk radio host of the nationally syndicated consumer advocate program, Clark Howard Show. The show, which deals mainly in consumer matters, even recommended ZenniOptical to its listeners. As a matter of fact, Clark and other staff, who ordered their pairs of eyeglasses, found the products affordable but fantastic and have not encountered any problem since they got them.

Zenni Optical prescription eyeglasses are cheap but their designs and quality are not cheap. You may wonder why it is selling their products cheaper. It is because Zenni Optical sells its own manufactured frames only direct to its customer. The savings on the middlemen and advertising costs redound to the benefit of the customers.

For a prescription glasses, you can find as cheap as $8 a pair. And, it has huge selection of frames, with single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic) lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens. Whatever your style or taste, you can find one or two that would fit you taste, style, personality and budget as well.

And, there is another good news from Zenni Optical. They have new arrivals of frames, which added to its huge selection of frames. Now, you can choose from a wider selection of affordable but quality frames and glasses.

For your eyeglasses and frames, I also recommend Zenni Optical.

Free meal

There's an ongoing Free Madness Meal promo from BPI Express Credit and Greenwich Pizza.  It started last August 1 and runs until the end of this month.  For a purchase using any credit card of BPI Express Credit of at least P1,000 in a single receipt, the cardholder is entitled to a free meal from Greenwich Pizza (any outlet nationwide).  The choices are chicken ala king, savory beef & mushroom, beefy baked macaroni, or hawaiian pizza bar.  The meal comes with a regular softdrink.

Last week, I availed again of the promo.  I presented my credit card and the charge receipt to the counter and ordered the chicken ala king.

The food's yummy though the topping's thin.  Since the promo is about to expire this month, I'd use my BPI card more often.  The redemption period is up to December 31, 2008.

I love tenpin bowling

I first played tenpin bowling when our company held a tenpin bowling tournament. As I had never played bowling before, I and some officemates went to a bowling alley and tried bowling. And, I was amazed at how I made some strikes on my first ever game. Since then, I became serious about bowling. I bought a book about the bowling basics, studied them and practiced more often. I also bought my own bowling ball and shoes. I joined a bowling club and tournaments. As a result, my average games soared to close to 200 in no time. Thus, whenever there were inter-companies bowling tournament, I was always a member of our company’s team. More often than not, I garnered individual awards, such as high game, high series, and high average. I had planned of going national or professional but did not pursue it for some reasons.

I have been a fan of a 6-time World Bowling Champion, Paeng Nepomuceno. I was very happy when he was our guest of honor in the awarding ceremony of our tournament several years ago. And, I actually shook his hand when he presented my awards. I wished this important moment of my bowling career and some of my best games were captured in video and uploaded them to SportsVids for everyone to watch. With the online sports videos, I could watch Paeng Nepomuceno and other great bowlers’ sports videos to get some pointers and techniques.

I love to watch this sports video of Paeng in 2002 Malaysian International Open, where he scored a perfect game.


At SportsVids, you can upload too your sports videos or the memorable sports clips of your kids or loved ones. The sports vids would be available online anytime you wish to watch them again.

PhotoHunt 130 - Sad

This is the bereaved family of a fallen soldier.

This was taken two days before the All Saints Day last year at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery). The family was there to upkeep his grave. I couldn't imagine how very SAD this young family felt when their loved one departed. Look at how SAD the older girl was. She could have missed his loving father so much that she hugged the cross at the next grave and thought of him.

I captured this moment as I felt very SAD too seeing how very young the kids when they lost their father.

I was there too upkeeping my father's grave.

Oh! It's 28 days to All Saints Day.

photohunt

My other PhotoHunt

Upcoming PhotoHunt themes:

• 131 - October 11 - "lazy"
• 132 - October 18 - "family
• 133 - October 25 - "scary"
• 134 - November 1 - "blue"
• 135 - November 8 - "together".

I love bingo

I love bingo; because it is easy and fun to play this game. When I was still a kid, I used to play bingo games with friends and neighbors on weekends. Sometimes, our school would hold bingo games to raise funds for the school and other noble causes. Most of the times, we spent almost the whole day playing series of bingo games. We also brought bingo set during our family or friends outings.

Nowadays, bingo games are more popular as evidenced by the games being played daily in almost shopping malls and the huge number of the patrons. However, kids are not allowed to play bingo in these places.

Playing bingo with your kids is a great experience and a good opportunity for bonding. I am sure they would cherish these moments and would reminisce them when they have their own kids too.

There is a hi-tech bingo game that is not only fun but educational as well. It is Screenlife’s Disney Bingo DVD game, which you can play anytime. It will teach you kids number, colors, and matching skills with their favorite Disney characters and movie clips. It is recommended for kids and adults too ages 4 and up and can be played by two or more players.


If you don’t own a Disney DVD Bingo yet, I encourage you to buy one. They are available at Amazon.com or Drugstore.com.

Health Calendar - October 2008

The month of October is:

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• National Children's Month

Other health activities:

• Elderly Filipino Week (1-7)
• National Mental Health Week (6-12)
• National Newborn Screening Week (6-12)
• World Mental Health Day (10)
• World Sight Day (10)
• Bone and Joint Awareness Week (13-19)
• Garantisadong Pambata Week (13-19) - Round 2
• Health Education Week (13-19)
• National Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (13-19)
• Disorder Awareness Week
• Food Safety Awareness Week (20-26)

Source: Department of Health