Range bag

When I was still a kid until I became a teen, I dreamt of being in the military or in the police force. We are a family of military and police officers. My father was in the Army; and, some uncles and cousins are in the Army too, the Navy and the Police

When I was about to enter college, I was already mulling of taking a military course. However, my best friend convinced me to take another course - a merchant marine course. And, being in the Navy or a merchant ship was one of my dreams too. So, I took it.

But, my military or police dream remains a dream until now. I still envy those who are wearing the military or police uniforms and carrying firearms. I just satisfy myself watching police, crime and war movies and think that I am of the military or police officers in the stories.

Sometimes, I and my friends go to the firing range and practice shooting. I have fired different sorts of firearms – long and short. What I like most are the powerful 45 caliber and the Armalite. I believe I am still a fair shooter; and, I still need more and frequent practice shootings.

One fine Saturday, my shooting friends invited me again to the firing range. At the firing range, I noticed a shooter, a Police Superintendent, carrying a range bag. I saw that it could carry several guns, ammunitions, and other shooting paraphernalia and tools. I requested his permission for me to check the range bag, which he granted. He was also kind enough to brief me about the functions of the range bag. And, I was very impressed.

Since I am only carrying one gun only, I do not need it yet. But, for my friends and those who are carrying multiple guns to the range, it is a very useful and functional.

When I got home from the firing range, I searched the internet and found the 5.11 Range Bag at the LAPoliceGear.com. If you need a range bag, check it out.

Andres Bonifacio day

Today, November 30, is the 145th birthday of Gat. Andres Bonifacio. The year was in 1863 in Tondo, Manila. He's the eldest of six children of Catalina de Castro and Santiago Bonifacio.

He's regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution. He died at the age of 33 on May 10, 1897.

Learn more about Andres Bonifacio:

• Bonifacio Day
• Heroes of the Philippine Revolution

PhotoHunt 138 - Metal

Anchor's away

This is an old rusty anchor located at the entrance of Grande Island Resort in Subic Bay, Philippines. We were at this island resort for three days and two nights and celebrated the birthday of a relative. Unfortunately, it was raining on our first two days. But, we were still lucky the weather was clear on our final day.

Please check my other PhotoHunt.


Join us at
photohunt

Personalized holiday gift ideas

Christmas season is the gift giving season.

I asked one of my staff to prepare the list of our clients to be given with Christmas gifts. I pondered the list of recipients and the list of the traditional holiday gifts – hams, cheese balls, fruits, diaries, etc. For a change, I thought of giving our clients personalized holiday gifts instead of the traditional holiday gifts.

I requested my staff to search in the internet for personalized holiday gifts ideas. She found Pexagon.com. I checked the site. It is offering 20% discounts for its products – personalized thumb drives, pens, business card flash drives, wooden USB flash drives.

The personalized thumb drives are available in 14 colors, up to 16 GB capacity and with free custom laser engraving. You can choose from 32 exciting themes, such as "#1 Teacher" or "Happy Holidays". You can have two lines of personalized text engraved on the reverse side.

The personalized pens are available in three unique styles, in multiple colors. A line of personalized laser engraved text is free.

The business card flash drives look like business cards. They have a small USB cable with 2GB capacity hidden at the back side. Three lines of personalized text can be engraved at the front side for free.

The environment-friendly wooden USB flash drives have wooden design with attached cap. They are available in two colors. Custom laser engraving is free on one side or both sides.

Check it now! The 20% discount offer is good until the end of the year only.

I'm hungry

I was blogging one Sunday afternoon when I felt hungry. I rummaged our refrigerator for something to eat. I found slices of bread, salted egg, kani (synthetic crab), tomato, and a bottle of mayonnaise and made sandwich out of them.
It's so yummy not because I was hungry but because it's really yummy. I wouldn't trade it for any fastfood hamburger. I named it "Tom's Kani Salted Egg Sandwich".

Try it!

PayingPost.com

Have you heard about PayingPost.com? Maybe, you haven’t. I just found out about it a few days back from other blogs. This is a new blog advertising network, where bloggers can get paid to write blogposts. I think this is great!

Aside from earning money for writing a blogpost, you can earn more through its affiliate program. Just spread the word to your friends; and, you’ll be paid once an advertiser signs up and creates an opportunity.

Well, what are you waiting for? Sign up now and start earning!

Dinner for two

On our way home last Tuesday afternoon, we passed by Trinoma to dine. Most of the time, we eat either in our favorite Japanese or Chinese restaurant. This time, I intimated to my wife to try the other restaurants. She did consider them, all right; but, we ended up eating Japanese food again:

Protect your data and files

Our computer data and files are open, accessible and vulnerable to other internet users. We do not want to lose our data, works, researches, and other files. Thus, there is the need to keep out and protect our confidential, sensitive, or important files, emails and even the entire hard disk from prying eyes, plagiarizers, intruders, hackers and even from casual passersby.

Worry no more! All you need is encryption software that would protect and ensure your data and files. There are so many encryption solutions in the market; but, I would recommend the leader in file encryption software only – the PGP encryption software. Whether you need the encryption software for personal use or for your business, PGP offers a variety of encryption solutions that is perfect for your needs. It has hard drive encryption for Macs and PCs, email encryption, IM encryption, and many more.

Aside from protection for your business processes, mobile data, email communications, you will get more benefits from using the PGP solutions, such as, cost-effective, centralized policy and key management, enhanced business agility; improved compliance achievement, and increased business productivity.

But, do not take my words for it. You can try PGP solutions first for a free 30-day trial and check what it can do for you and your business. Get it here: http://www.pgp.com/downloads/desktoptrial/desktoptrial2.html.

16th Buy Pinoy Exporters Fair

Christmas is just around the corner. If you are looking for top quality Christmas decorations and gifts, go to Megatrade Hall 2, 5th Level Mega B, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on November 27 to 30, 2008.

It's the "16th Buy Pinoy Exporters Fair" organized by the Buy Pinoy Movement Foundation, Inc. The fair aims to promote Filipino export products.
You would also find in the fair garments & fashion accessories, food & organic products, houseware & furniture, which are world class Philippine products.

It the Best Export Fair this side of town.


Related story:

Export fair seeks to generate more jobs for Filipinos

The union of TR and Alf

TR is the eldest son of a friend and former boss, Robbie. Alf is TR's girlfriend for six years. And, they invited us to attend and witness their wedding at 2:30 PM yesterday, November 22.

The sacrament of matrimony was held at 2:30 PM at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Makati City. The reception followed at the Grand Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Manila. Wow! It's a grand celebration.

November 22 is our wedding anniversary. Before receiving the invitation two weeks earlier, however, we had plans of celebrating our anniversary out of town. And, since the invitation was R.S.V.P., we just decided to inform them that we could not attend.

Our congratulations and best wishes to you, Attys. TR and Alf. Congrats too to Robbie and Ming for the new addition to your family. We're very sorry for not attending this momentous event.

Manila Auto Salon 2008

The Manila Auto Salon 2008 is now showing (from November 20 to 23) at the SMX Convention Center. It's at the left side of SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City. The entrance fees are:

• Adult - P60.00
• Senior Citizen - P40.00
• Child - P30.00

I was there on the first day. I've posted a dozen pictures in my Autos of Tom blog; and, I'm posting another dozen pictures here:

More and more pictures at:

• Autos of Tom
• Think Of Me!
• My Other Thoughts

Web Hosting Geeks

I have been blogging for more than a year now. But, I am still using the free blog platforms. Most of my blogging friends have already shifted to their own domains and have their blogs hosted. I am planning to follow suit but not for now yet. Anyway, I am not in a hurry. I am still busy with other things – personal and official.

One blogging friend is constantly prodding me to get my own domain and have my blog hosted. “Yes, I would”, I told him, “sooner or later”. “When that time finally comes, go to Webhostinggeeks.com”, he advised. “Okay”, was my reply.

What is with Webhostinggeeks.com anyway? Better visit it and find out why. Webhostinggeeks.com independently reviews the best web hosting providers. In its website, it lists the top 10 web hosts, the best web hosts for the year, the features, the ratings, the awards, the plans, and the reviews. It also gives tips on web hosting instructions and guides, finding and choosing the best website hosting services, and how to make money. I think this site is great and useful.

When the time to have my own domain and my blog hosted comes, I know where to go – Webhostinggeeks.com. Isn’t great to know that someone online would help me find and choose the right web host for me!

If you are looking for a web host, I recommend that you go the Webhostinggeeks.com first.

December 1, 2008 is a holiday

Just reminding you that December 1, 2008 is a non-working holiday as per Proclamation no. 1463.

Andres Bonifacio day, which is celebrated every November 30, fell on a Sunday this year. Republic Act no. 9292 provides that holidays, except those which ar religious in nature are moved to the nearest Monday unless modified by law, order or proclamation. And, the nearest Monday is December 1, 2008.

If you want to take advantage of this long weekend, plan it now.

Ladies, flatten your bellies

I really appreciate ladies with flat bellies. And, I love to stare at them, of course, if they and my wife are not looking. That is why, I love watching beauty pageants and fashion shows.

I have lady friends and acquaintances, young and old alike, who are proudly sporting bulging bellies. I have tried convincing them to flatten their bellies. Most of them attempted to by dieting and exercising. Only a very few was successful; and, I congratulated them. The rest, however, are very lazy or do not have the tenacity to exercise and get rid their bellies of fats. I even telling them a joke to encourage them to lose pounds, “It is either you lose pounds or lose your husband / boyfriend.”

Now, there is good news for them! They can lose fifteen pounds in 32 days without even exercising. Isn’t it interesting? The big question is “How?”

Prevention magazine is currently selecting group of women, who are willing to try the Flat Belly Diet. This diet is all about food and attitude and no exercise is required. Does it sound too good to be true? Well, if you have a bulging belly, I encourage you try it to see if it is true. The best thing is it is free! So, you have nothing to lose except your fats. Further, with flat bellies, you would look more beautiful and healthier!


If you are eligible, you get:

• A free copy of the Flat Belly Diet book
• A free 1-year membership to the Flat Belly Diet website
• Exclusive membership to our Success Story Club
• The chance to blog about Flat Belly Diet on our website
• First look at exclusive Flat Belly Diet videos.

Grande Island Resort - a dream becomes a reality

Everytime we go to Subic Freeport Zone, we dream of going to Grande Island Resort. We heard it's a good and nice getaway place but very expensive. Now, the dream became a reality.

A relative from San Diego invited us to join him and his wife - our niece for a belated three-day celebration of his 70th birthday at the island. His guests were not relatives and friends from the Philippines but from United States and Sweden. His other guests from other parts of the globe, for one reason or another, were not able to come.

Last Monday morning, the guests rendezvoused at the ferry terminal adjacent to the SBMA Administration Building Subic for the 30-minute boat ride to the island.

All the 29 guests were housed on chalets with their back verandas facing the bay and the mainland.

Unfortunately, it's raining on our first two days. We had not run out of luck, though, as the weather on our last day was very good. Despite the rainy weather, we really had fun, enjoyed our stay, the food, the drinks, and meeting new friends - foreign and local. The food were great - buffet breakfasts, and lauriat style lunches and dinners. The planned barbecue party on our second night was spoiled by the rains. The drinks were aplenty - red wine, whisky, vodka, tequila, rum, liquer and beer.

We thanked Matt (the celebrator) and his wife - Raquel for this once in a lifetime opportunity. And, nice meeting you - Herbie, Kristel, Rita, Bob, George, Solvig, Bob, Sonia, Vicky and Jun.

Please read my other posts and view the pictures:

• Grande Island, here we come
• Rain, rain, go away
• Eat, drink and be merry . . .
• No more rains

And, here are some photos of the resort:

Cheap eyeglasses

As one ages, he or she would need a pair of prescription eyeglasses sooner or later. It is better if it is the latter. Prices of eyeglasses depend on the quality, styles, and brand. Naturally, eyeglasses with quality, styles, and known brands are expensive than the others.

But, why buy expensive eyeglasses when you can buy the same quality and stylish eyeglasses at a much cheaper price? Instead of just buying an expensive quality pair, you could buy cheap prescription eyeglasses but with the same quality and style. And, with the savings, you could buy another pair for your wife, your parents, or other family members, who are prescribed with eyeglasses.

And, if you want cheap eyeglasses, Zenni Optical offers quality but cheap stylish prescription eyeglasses online for as low as $8. It has a huge selection of frames, with single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic) lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens. Why could Zenni Optical afford to sell cheap eyeglasses? The reason is it only sells its own manufactured frames directly to customer. It does not pay for any advertising cost and commissions to middlemen.

Zenni Optical was featured in Chicago.com as the cheapest prescription eyeglasses available on the market – offline or online. The article titled “Price ranges for glasses prove real eye-opener” provided tips on how and where to buy eyeglasses.

Miss Philippines is Miss Earth 2008

Congratulations to Karla Paula Henry of the Philippines for winning the Miss Earth 2008. We are very proud of you. She bested 84 beauties from around the world.

Here's the final question in Miss Earth 2008 and the answer of Miss Philippines:

Question: "What would you tell US president-elect Barack Obama about the state of the global environment if ever you were to meet him?"

Answer: “Environmental knowledge is something that all of us must share, but most importantly we must teach the youth that this is something that we should instill in them so that in the near future they will be the ones to take care of our mother Earth." - Karla Henry, represented Philippines

Miss Tanzania, Miriam Odemba is Miss Earth Air (1st runner-up); Miss Mexico, Abigail Elizalde is Miss Earth Water (2nd runner-up), and Miss Brazil Tatiane Alves is Miss Earth Fire (3rd runner-up).

The pageant was held last November 9 at the Clark Expo Ampitheater in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines.

You may check the final results, the awardees, and more about the pageant at the Miss Earth 2008 website or at the Wikipedia.

My ad at The Online Quest

As the first prize winner of KidTechGuru's second contest, my prize is worth $180 - Free 12 months 125X125 sidebar ad on The Online Quest.

I received an email that my ad has been installed, which will end on November 6, 2009. I checked it; and, here's the screenshot of The Online Quest with my ad on it.


With this ad, I'm expecting additional visitors through The Online Quest.

Thanks again Kid Tech Guru and The Online Quest.

I'm the first prize winner

I opened my GMail and learned that the winners of KidTechGuru's second contest are out. I clicked the link and read the winners.

Guess what! Yes, I'm lucky enough to win the first prize. And, my prize is worth $180 - Free 12 months 125X125 sidebar ad on The Online Quest.

Congratulations to me and to the other lucky winners.

Thanks Xavier and to your sponsors as well.

Clear Black Night - the Halloween Dance Party

It’s very CLEAR! The Black Night Halloween Dance Party at Taste Asia last Friday night was the best ever bloggers’ party I’ve attended. It’s not a costume party but a sexy black dress party. It’s the same venue but the setting was different from the previous bloggers parties held there. The place was all black (or almost). Only a few donned costumes and non-black. Masks (choice of black, white, red, or blue) were provided at the registration table. And, lo and behold, those who’re wearing black looked very sexy. I was wearing a black t-shirt. And, with the black mask, I thought I was Robin Hood sans Tonto and Silver.

I saw blogger friends and familiar faces – masked and unmasked. Check at how they looked at "An Apple a Day". There were many new faces too. I realized that the party wasn’t exclusively for bloggers and their friends only. There were celebrities and models too. Some Miss Earth 2008 beauty contestants graced the occasion and made the party livelier. I was lucky to meet, shake hands and have photo ops with some of these doll-like beauties. But, they were luckier to meet me.

It’s a clear and dark night of dancing, eating, drinking, chatting and having fun. It’s a real party indeed. The place, in and out, was jam packed. The dancing inside the main hall was non-stop. The DJ’s and their music were great.

Some of the beauties:

The Photogenic Miss Philippines - Karla Paula Henry


Miss Greece - Grigoria Antoniou and Miss England - Caroline Duffy

More beauties

And more

And another

Miss Cai Abass (Pink Urinal)

DJ Miss Anne Barcelona

An alien - the Predator

Whoa! I intended to stay up to 10:00 PM only. I needed to get some sleep; as we’re going to the cemeteries the whole day of November 1. But, I left after midnight.

Many thanks to Clear/Unilever, Taste Asia, and SM Hypermart for sponsoring this event.

Please click here for more blogposts and photos.