Jumping into the wild world head first but with a safety helmet

I'M STILL ALIVE...

2011-01-21T17:15:00.003+08:00

...and I moved to tardydresser.tumblr.com. :)

Resolutions 2010

2010-01-01T16:41:00.002+08:00

I aim to start the year right by making a list of my resolutions. This time, I will keep all of them!

1. Less Shopping, MORE SAVING!

This resolution I really really intend to keep. 2009 left my wallet emptier than a black hole! Once money went in it, it vanishes instantaneously! Besides, I feel like I've bought everything that I need to last me for a year particularly on the clothes department. I'm even in dire need of more closet space.

2. Party hard, study harder!

So I'm a nerd, what of it? Nerd and proud!

3. Go on a diet diet diet!

I really need to lose all these extra fats I've accumulated during the past months! My face is starting to look like a jumbo-size siopao or our round plates. My clothes aren't fitting right as well so this year, I need to lessen the food intake. I can hardly do any exercise anyway...

4. Improve guitar skills!

Many a time have I set my heart into learning the lead riff in Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N Roses and many a time have I failed in accomplishing it! Blame it on my laziness and utter lack of patience. Lack of time is also included. But this year, I will finally do it!

5. BLOG once a week!

I know I've promised this one to myself already when I began this new blog but it's just hard to keep blogging when you set your mind in law stuff. I'll try my best to keep this one though despite the *ahem* obstacles.

6. Be more organized!

Self-explanatory.

7. Organize, clean, and declutter room!

I plan on doing this before school resumes...at least half of my room or a portion of it.

There we have it! My list of new year's resolutions for 2010 ready to be fulfilled and not broken (I'm confident on this!)

Bloggers' Contests!

2009-12-07T00:29:00.006+08:00

I know I have been remiss in posting in my blog these past weeks (or months even) but there's a justifiable reason for it. I've just been so damn busy! Now that I'm juggling studies with 3 orgs (Palladium, Teehankee, and Ponencia), I'm using most of my time for these aspects...and of course rest and relaxation time. So I hardly have the time to post anything. But even time constraints cannot stop me from posting an entry as cool and as spirit-lifting as this-BLOGGERS' CONTESTS! I just discovered now, while nonchalantly surfing the net, that there are so many bloggers out there offering the most drool-worthy prizes. And the entries are simple, just post the contest in your blog. Yep, the chance of winning make-ups and other girly thingamajigs is something that could take me from horribly busy life and to rave and post about these contests now! So here they are: (drumroll please!!!)

Voyageur

Shop N' Chomp

Confessions of a Soapaholic

JBreezy

Princess Livia

Mommy Fabulous

Yey for generous bloggers! :)

Ondoy

2009-09-28T18:26:00.008+08:00

The worst that I suffered during the onslaught of Ondoy was strained eyes for trying to read with only crinkles of candlelight as my aid. We had no electricity for the whole day, and thankfully, that was it. But for thousands of others, the devastation the storm brought was more severe.

During the day, my family and I were worried about our relatives living in Fairview, Quezon City. While the rain was pouring in torrents, they were calling us telling us that the water was already rushing inside the house reaching the first to third steps of the stairs. It was only my two aunts and my 3 year old pamangkin who were present there. No man to help them bring the appliances that could be saved upstairs. Somehow they managed to save a few things, like the television and the computer, but the rigorous lifting left my aunt suffering from asthma. They kept calling us telling us that the water was already above chest level and they, as well as the people in our house, worry that it might reach until the second floor. There was a time when we couldn't contact them anymore.

Thankfully, their neighbors were able to extract them from the house. My aunts destroyed the window screen and the other neighbors helped to place them into safety. They went to a neighbor's house which has a third floor. They were finally safe. And our worries finally settled for a moment. My mother constantly prayed. And although I was straining my eyes trying to study, I still thought of them. This is a downside of being a law student. I cannot help but study. I must.

When my parents went to my aunt's place the next day, they were shocked by what they saw - cars piled on top of another, houses were left disparaged and browning in mud, a welter of debris and what remained of their former homes covered the strip of lot, and the people, my relatives included, were scurrying and scouring over these remains. My aunt's house' whole first floor was a big pile of mess and mud. I wasn't there. I went to Powerplant to sip Seattle's Best coffee and study only to find out that classes were cancelled out the next day.

I regretted it. I regretted not going to my relative's place and not being able to lend a hand in picking up the broken glasses, scrubbing the muddied floors and walls, digging...digging for something that could still remain useful to them. I wasn't expecting that the damage was that great, though nevertheless, I should have been there. It is around this time that I question my priorities. Could I honestly say that my absence there was justified?

In any case, my internal regrets should not overpower me now. There are bigger problems at bay. The best I could do is help my relatives, help those people whose houses were ravaged by the storm in any possible way I can.

I thank God that my family is safe. I thank God that my relatives are all safe despite the fact that their house is almost a rubble. But I still have worries about other people, friends and classmates whom until now I can't contact. I cried when I saw the news and saw the state of some cities submerged in murky water. Only the patches of roofs can be seen. Some of my friends live there. I pray that they be safe...God let them be safe.

Let us all pray for each and everyone's safety and let us all extend our help.

Frolic in pink!

2009-09-16T18:06:00.004+08:00

Have not been posting because I've been busy with this ----->>> tanyalikesclothes.blogspot.com

Check it out! :)

"Photoshopping"

2009-07-18T00:06:00.003+08:00

When I should have been reading, I was doing this - enhancing my image editing skills through Photoshop. I must say I am quite vain, but anyhow, I like how the images turned out. I'm just dying to try out other styles like Andy Warhol-type of pictures and more. But I've already wasted so much time dawdling on this so now I'm going to pursue a higher purpose...that is to sleep. (I'll study on Sunday!) :)

she's the style diva to beat.

2009-07-12T23:50:00.011+08:00

I now have a style icon, a source of fashion inspiration and just someone whom I would adore with pure idolatry. And the best part is...she's still unknown, well in so far as to the rest of the whole world to be exact because she's making a name for herself in Lookbook.nu. That is the site where I found her. Enough talk, pictures can best explain what I mean. By the way, her name is Zina D.

Her style is the perfect mix of sophistication, edginess, and comfort. She looks awesome in the pictures too. They look like they can be used for a campaign right there!

|Images from Lookbook.nu|

A time to splurge

2009-07-11T16:33:00.004+08:00

There's a time to scrimp and there's a time to splurge. For this week, it's the time to splurge on branded clothes ON SALE!

What's the damage for this week? Two dresses, one top and earphones.

Zara Top, P495 (from P995)

Zara dress, P1,350 (from P2,450 - See, how I can resist with such a big price cut!?)

Sony Neckstrap In-ear Earphones, P1,200 (A bit pricey for a set ear speakers but this one's worth it. It's got a neckstrap design so wear it like a necklace, doesn't tangle, sounds great and it's in pink!)

Details dress, P350 (from P1,000+ - picture to be uploaded. It's in the laundry!)

I'm a certified shopaholic and I am very much aware of it. I can relate with Rebecca Bloomwood in the widely-loved Shopaholic books sans the credit card dilemma since I pay outright cash and if I needed to use a credit card my mom would answer for it, and then I pay her in installments. Because of this, I'm almost always broke. I always justify my purchases with "I'm going to use it in school anyway!" and "It's on sale so I might as well buy it!" excuses. At the end of the day and especially after I start walking around lugging my paperbags, one each per arm or more, a big smile would always curl up on my face and then I'm joviant for the rest of the week until I open my wallet to pay for photocopying services and meals and see a fly coming out from it. Yes, I do wear good clothes. But then, I have to scrimp for a week and say no to every dine-outs and movie nights. Unless my friends lend me some moolah of course which they always do. By the way, thanks to my friends who understand my pernicious shopaholicness! :) I pay them immediately anyway but borrowing money never makes me feel at ease.

So much for the talk. This post won't be about how I curbed my seemingly "innocuous" shopping habits anyway. This post is about justifying myself once again and my need for clothes. Forget everything else. I have a new reason now, study in a good school so wear good clothes. It's on sale anyway. And I'm being practical by buying these on sale. With lower prices for branded clothes, what's to stop me from diving in insolvency. It would only last for a month anyway. I'm hopeless.

Edit: I've posted ugly and unprofessional pictures for the clothes. Definitely changing that when I have the time.

Looking at the glass (that tipped-over) half-full

2009-07-11T01:12:00.003+08:00

I did not pass. What should I do then? Should I sulk and cry in a corner and wallow in the rejection? Nope. I've definitely got more better things to do with my time, like looking at the bright side of things for instance. Now let me count the advantages of not getting in...

1. More time to study. Definitely, I will have more time to concentrate on being a law student, that is, studying the hell's worth out of me. I also decided that if I can't have sterling extra-curricular activities then I should at least have sterling grades. Or so I will try.

2. More time to hang out. Studying too much will surely take a toll on my body and my social life so it's best to have a considerable amount of free time to just be lax and guzzle a couple of RHs.

3. More time for my beibe. At the moment, I am ignoring him 80% of the time and it's not intended. I may be able to squeeze him some more in my busy, busy life as a law student and that's definitely an advantage!

4. Let's admit it, joining a publication would really entail most of one's time so the upside of not getting in is really that — to have more time! More time to play the guitar, more time to write songs (finally!), more time to watch movies, more time to play games...the list goes on and on.

5. Lastly, I am not getting teased to death by Meri and Dan. My friend Cris got in and I'm so proud! (Yey Cris! Congrats!). Unfortunately, she's getting the teasing of her life because of it. :)

Meri: Akala mo porke ALJ ka na, pwede ka na magsuot ng all black.
Dan: So you think just because ALJ ka na, you're better than us na.
Meri: Porke ALJ ka na di ka na pwede sumabay kumain kasama namin.
*and the list goes on...hahahahaha! :)*

Tatterdemalion means ragged person.

2009-07-04T01:05:00.004+08:00

I thought I knew how to write. I thought I knew my grammar. I thought my considerable knowledge on hi-falutin words is enough to get me through in this life. Well, I was wrong. It took one editing exam to make me realize that my prodding interest in knowing "nosebleed" words is just an inkstain in a bare sheet of pad that needs more filling. Tatterdemalion? Prescient? Arriviste? I couldn't detect an instance in my life where I came about those words. Unfortunately for me, the editing exam was for the Ateneo Law Journal and I wanted to get in.

When I applied and got accepted for the Varsitarian on my fourth year in college, I thought that was some sort of proof (if not conclusive proof) that I could write. And in that full year that I was in the publication, I learned many things about writing and expanded my vocabulary. But how come when I looked at the exam sheets I felt like I knew nothing at all? It might be erroneous to compare the Varsitarian with the Journal because the writing style is definitely different from each other such that the former caters to, well, the general masses so to speak, while the latter caters to the more professional group. Nevertheless, a publication is a publication and I might have had a little bit of edge because of that right? Wrong.

Don't get me wrong. I admire the Varsitarian and the way it has honed me in my writing skills. But the writing skills I formed there are for newspaper and magazine type of works, a farcry from what's needed in the Journal. Maybe there's still an inkling of hope that I may pass but I'm not banking too much on that.

Sigh...

the death of a legend

2009-06-27T02:04:00.004+08:00

I may not be the screaming, fainting fan-girl when it comes to Michael Jackson but I do recognize a legend when I see one. And Michael Jackson is precisely that, a legend. Staged concerts which moved people from extreme hype to sentimental tears, sang songs from the likes of Thriller to You Are Not Alone, riveted body movements like no other and practically revolutionized the entertainment world, that is only some of among his many accomplishments. I know so because I read about him a lot before and I used to watch youtube videos of him performing. Seeing him on the flat screen made my spirits so alive already that I wonder what's the ultimate effect seeing him live. But that is no longer possible because sadly, he is gone. He was taken away in a heartbeat, or not even, because his heart stopped when he suffered cardiac arrest.

I know he had his eccentricities which led people to shun him and refer to him as "wacko jacko". To them who judged him, all I can say is that people of extreme talent are always misunderstood. He thrives in a realm which is beyond that which we can surpass, so whatever wrong and outlandish things he had done, I believe it is due to his greatness. One like him is always appreciated more when they're gone just like the other misunderstood artists.

Rest in peace Michael Jackson. Your beautiful songs will never be forgotten.

|Image from ecorazzi|

A movie worth seeing

2009-06-22T00:00:00.004+08:00

This is the trailer for the lovable gem-of-a-book The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger. I just saw this trailer and I have to admit, it made me teary eyed. I loved reading the book despite the contorted storyline due to the fact that the story is about a time-traveling person so the story was told in parts and in certain dates. After reading the book, I too was left in tears. The book was so beautiful. A very creative and inspired story written beautifully. I can't wait to see this movie. Eric Bana is perfect for the part of Henry. It's as if he jumped from the pages of the book to my imagination and to the big screen. I am positive that this movie will make the audience bawling and hugging their certain someone. And of course, one of them is me, crying minute tears and clutching tight unto my man's arms, thankful that he is firmly footed on the ground. Not going anywhere but here, with me.

To Papa!

2009-06-21T19:06:00.004+08:00

To my father who whistles like a hummingbird
who whispers as silent as a thunder
who cooks like a top chef
who is a much voracious reader as I am
who quotes Murphy's Law and some other legal cases when giving me advice (parental advice)
who gives me most of my problems in life but I love him very much anyway (:P)

I love you.

Happy Father's Day!

Arouch.

2009-06-15T00:35:00.003+08:00

Kaya ko ang sakit ng kagat ng langgam
Kaya ko ang sakit ng kalmot ng pusa (pwera rabies)
Kaya ko ang sakit ng dinidrill na ngipin
pati na rin ang mga kalikot ng dentista kapag nirorootcanal

Kaya ko ang kirot ng injectiong matulis
pati na rin ang sa pagkuha ng dugo
At lalong lalo na kaya ko ang hapdi ng pagkaheart-broken
kasama na ang mga iyak at hawak sa dibdib epek

Pero ang hindi ko kaya...

ay ang sakit na dulot ng...

asin sa singaw.

A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT

2009-06-10T21:10:00.002+08:00

Last year, I interviewed internationally-reknowned coffee artist Sunshine Plata for the Varsitarian's Breaktime Magazine 2008 summer issue. Sadly, the magazine did not push through and my article got filed into the cabinet of forgotten articles which will only see the light of day when there is no other article that may be published. This statement even sounds hopeful enough because I don't think Varsitarian writers will let a month pass by without any timely piece to write. So, in other words, my article was left to rot in the database of the Varsi computer system. Hopefully, my friend Raydon, who was the features editor, and the person in charge of the Breaktime magazine for 2009 told me he could include my article on this year's issue. How greatly elated I was for that news because I promised Ms. Plata's family that I will personally deliver the magazine to them. Only to note, Ms. Plata's family and herself are a bunch of very inviting and pleasant people. Having made such promise, imagine my disappointment when my friend told me that the article was scrapped from the magazine! He said Sir Lito, the publications adviser of the Varsitarian, had it removed! I don't think my article is that despicable. I must admit I am hurt and definitely disappointed by it. I believe the timeliness of the article was the reason why he prevented my article from reaching print. Ms. Plata was quite well-known during the time I interviewed her and when I wrote the article. She even appeared in Unang Hirit and her paintings appeared in Martha! Yes, the Martha Stewart show. Rant as much as I want though, there's nothing more I can do about it now.

For all its worth, here's my article of Ms. Sunshine Plata — the girl who used coffee on her canvass.

Coffee Painter Sunshine Plata: The girl who drank and drew with coffee

THOMASIAN alumna Sunshine Plata never wanted to be a doctor. All she wanted was to paint.
Exasperated with dissecting a frog for her homework, she decided to skip her tedious homework and painted on her canvas. Discovering that she ran out of oil paint, she immediately rummaged through the kitchen cabinet for a potential, alternative medium she once saw in Ripley’s Believe it or Not—coffee.
Little did she know that this light bulb moment would launch her career as an internationally-renowned coffee painter, whose very own aromatic art pieces are now displayed in Times Square, New York and owned by reputable names in society.

Bottled-up
Plata’s art was not only that of serendipity. In her case, it was her obscured destiny.
Although painting is Plata’s passion, she took up Psychology in the University.
“It was my grandfather’s dying wish for me to become a doctor so I took up a pre-med course that I knew I could handle and that was Psychology,” Plata recalled.
Coming from a family of Thomasians, Plata chose to study in UST. Having studied in exclusive schools all her life, her entrance in UST gave her a culture shock.
“There are so many boys,” Plata recalls. “I also had to learn to be independent and to handle myself well.”
In a new surrounding, Plata made a lot of new friends.
“It was nice to meet friends coming from different walks of life. I believe getting to mingle with different kinds of personalities made my totality as a whole person,” Plata said.
Although she was getting used to studying Psychology, Plata quite often stared forlornly at the CAFA students who were doing what she wanted to do.
By her second year in college, she finally put her foot down and asked her parents if she could shift to Fine Arts.
With much luck, Plata’s parents agreed and she took the examination test for shifting.
But the odds were against Plata‘s favor. Out of the 50 shifters, only three were selected. Haplessly, she was not one of them.
“I started to question myself and my ability to paint. I had no choice but to continue Psychology,” she said.
Plata graduated in 2002. One year after, she applied as a preschool teacher at Paref Woodrose School (Woodrose). Although her job was cerebral in nature, she always took to account her artistic side. Aside from being a teacher, Plata was also the official paint designer in Woodrose, designing and decorating the stages and backdrops during school programs.
Running out of ideas to use for the school’s 2007 recognition day backdrop, Plata revived the medium she discovered back in college. Using a cornucopia of Nescafe packs, Plata painted a massive sepia-toned backdrop of kids lolling and playing around.
“Many parents liked the painting a lot! When they approached me, I would tell them that it is made of coffee and they would smell it. Truly, they were amazed,” Plata said.

Sprawling success
With her bottled-up passion struggling to burst, Plata finally lifted the seal and gave in to her long-time passion. She quit her pre-school job and started to concentrate on her coffee craft full time.
Yearning to have a solo exhibit, Plata thought of ways to shoulder the expenses, until she finally decided to request for sponsorship from coffee magnate Nescafe.
“I had to beg Nescafe for sponsorship and thankfully they obliged,” she said.
In exchange for the sponsorship, Plata gave the company a painting that would be suitable for Nescafe’s new line of strong coffee, First Pick.
By January 3, 2008, Plata finished the coffee painting of a farmer harvesting coffee—all worth a whopping P 80,000.
“They were happy with the outcome of my painting so Nestle was the first who recognized me as a coffee painter,” Plata said.
With Nescafe’s sponsorship in the pocket, Plata held her first solo exhibit at the Instituto de Cervantes last January. A true Thomasian, Plata’s first coffee art is actually that of the UST Main Building.
“I’m very proud of the UST Main Building. The statues there are still beautiful even though its centuries old.”
With a very unique medium for painting, art critics everywhere cannot help but admire Plata’s coffee art. A number of prominent people in the Philippines have even purchased her coffee paintings, such as Francisco Duque, Secretary of Health; and Butch Nazareno, Burger King President; and Rene Carpio, renowned Filipino director.
Plata’s paintings are not just popular in the Philippines. It also gained worldwide recognition.
Believe it or not, the show that became her inspiration for using coffee as painting medium—Ripley’s Believe it or Not, purchased two of her paintings—“Fairy of Sorrows” and “Reina dela Luna.”
“Ripley’s vice-president told me they would put them in Korea and Mexico,” Plata said.
But, Plata’s paintings did not reach Korea or Mexico. The paintings went somewhere far more prestigious—they were featured in domestic diva Martha Stewart’s daytime stint the Martha.
Plata’s paintings were showcased in the Martha show’s episode titled “Art that Fools the Eye,” where odd paintings amassed by Ripley’s were shown. Saved best for last, Plata’s painting “Fairy of Sorrow” amazed audiences at studio and at home, especially when Martha told the audience that it was made from coffee.
In the peak of her success, Plata admitted she had second thoughts about her sensational career and even planned to get back to teaching. What changed the genius mind was a school-conducted seminar. Plata immediately had a change of heart.
“The seminar conductor said that when something keeps knocking at your door and you keep putting it off, it would keep coming back until you answer it. It made me realize that I do not want to leave painting,” Plata said. “I will only leave painting when I can no longer paint.”
After eight years of dabbling coffee on the canvas, Plata continues to concoct more ways to maximize the potential of her unique medium. With much knowledge from research and trial-and-error, she has blotched dark hues and light stains parallel to an aged paper on watercolor paper through careful examination and precise measuring of the amount of coffee she uses to paint. Plata’s artworks are designed to last longer than 75 years.

Despite her long and steep climb to success, Plata only has a word of gratitude to say to her ordeals.
“I took it as a challenge because if you want something bad you have to work for it,” Plata said.
With all the attention Plata is basking on, she admits of feeling overwhelmed by it.
“I guess luck and God’s will made all this happen,” she said. “I did not paint to make myself well-known. I just used my talent to glorify God because I think this is the best way I can do to give it back to him.” Tanya Justine R. Baldovino #

A Sassy Swinging Summer

2009-06-07T19:04:00.013+08:00

And now there's only one week of summer vacation left. Only one more week of bumming around, playing around, drinking around, and devoid of any responsibility or schedules. I must say I am prepped and ready to start the school year already. Though, I do say this with a little bit of sarcasm. I mean, who is ready enough for the start of school right? Despite the ticking clock of the impending school year, I find myself smiling when I look back at the summer I just waded in.

The biggest highlight of my summer is my beibe's return from Hawaii! Yes, it's the city of flowers, beaches, and women in bikinis. And he was there for almost a year! Although we went through rocky times when he was away, we're still together and very much happy! ^_^ He gave me a Canon Ixux 80 IS as pasalubong. Thanks beibe! This is why my blog has decent pictures now and not anymore grainy as taken by my camera phone before.

As I am typing this now, my skin is hell of a lot tanned (tanned is how I prefer to call it) and I am slightly bulging in some areas. This is all thanks to my almost two-month stay in Ilocos. I lived in my relatives' house which is just in front of the sea and the locals said that the sea breeze makes skin darker even if you don't swim. Not that I didn't do any swimming. Another reason aside from the sea-breeze thing is swimming without sun block and swimming with sun block but not waiting an hour before stepping out into the sun. I guess I broke some holy rules of "sunblocking" and skin protection but I just can't help it. The tug of the ocean breeze, the smell of the sea wafting along with it, who can possibly resist that? I went to around five beach resorts this summer and I still can't say I've had enough of the ocean!

Fort Ilocandia Swimming Pool Area

Pangil Shoreline

Kadilian Beach Resort - Pool Area

Aside from the breathtaking beaches, I also went to Chavit's zoo aptly named as Baluarte ni Singson along with my beibe's family. The entrance was free at the place and it was surprising because the zoo was very spacious and it had numerous animals from supposedly feisty felines (they were cute sleeping tigers) to curly-haired camels. They also had a butterfly sanctuary that could match the one at Camp John Hay in Baguio. The best part about this zoo is that the animals were roaming freely. Most of them, that is, and of course, not the predators. You can even feed the deers and the horses traipsing around the place. Thomas even wanted to pat an ostrich's head but he chickened out when he got near it. The ostrich was much taller than him and was very daunting. It looked like it would kick anyone who would dare to bother it. Haha!

He/she seemed aloof to bite at first...

This camel reminds me of someone...:)

Big cats, small cats, doesn't make a difference when they're asleep. Aaaw cutie...

I bet this one is dreaming of hugging his/her teddy. :)

We also went church-hopping (Bisita Iglesia) during holy week. The service supposedly requires visiting fourteen churches and a prayer will be recited on one station for each church. Since the vicinity did not have that many churches, we only visited four and prayed on three stations per church. The service turned out to be quite a cultural experience. The old churches looked really nice and although it wasn't the first time I saw them, it was the only time I got to appreciate their ancient beauty.

Paoay Church

San Nicolas Church

Laoag Church

Batac Church

I think I have maxed out my summer this year. It's a good thing too because I won't have a full summer anymore next year because of the internship. Nevertheless, this summer rocked so it'll be alright. Yep, I do have a good reason in having a large grin on my face especially after recalling this sights-filled summer.

Ilocos is <3.

Haydenism

2009-05-28T23:09:00.004+08:00

Hayden Kho has taken over the whole Philippines, from the lowliest shanty of the poor people to the lofty Senate. His sex videos changed the scene and brought more attention than the dreaded world-wide swine flu problem. I am not aware of the full facts of the matter. All I know is that he has approximately 40 videos of women he had sexual intercourse with including Katrina Halili, Maricar Reyes and the brazillian model. Whether or not he videotaped them with the knowledge or consent of the women, I do not know.

From the facts that I do know at hand, I gather that Hayen Kho need not be ostracized too much for his misdeed (given that the videos were with consent of the women). The videos were taken for his private use, something he didn't intend to be broadcasted to the whole world. And again, from what I know, the videos were released by a friend who had a grudge against him. Given that this is true, I believe he shouldn't take the full blow of the matter wherein the masses have branded him as the most evil person that ever existed. He was just unlucky that the videos he kept were released. Granted that the act is perverted, I believe he did not intend to have it released for public viewing. The videos were private, for personal consumption, or for his and her partner's pleasure at the time when they were together or something. I doubt the fact that he is the only one who has such a collection.

I also extremely vexed by the fact that the Senate is feasting over this. It's as if a small fish is thrown into a flock wild ravenous vultures and Hayden Kho is that unfortunate fish. It almost begs one to think that maybe this whole charade is getting this much hype because elections are going to be held next year and candidates need to make a strong impression among the public. Has this been the first case of a sex video being leaked? Isn't there many scandals viewable in the net or capable of being purchased at the stalls of quiapo? There was even a time when there were rumors that motels had hidden cameras in their rooms to make video scandals such as this being tackled upon by the Senate. My question, and one which piques my curiousity, is why only now? Why wait until a Hayden Kho arrives which has a sex scandal with a certain Katrina Halili before they scuttle on passing a law addresing this? And how timely it is that the Senate's hustle and bustle preceded the elections? Doesn't it make your eyebrows arch?

I do acknowledge the fact that what Hayden Kho did was wrong. But the punishment, the vilification against him is much too severe. Even his parents are being attacked. I am not going to try and sound religious but what the heck...let the person who has not sinned throw the first stone upon the sinner right? Or something that went like that.

I hope that every person who already threw the stones step back and rethink the situation. This may just be another case of something minute magnified by the frivolity of showbizness and the game of politicking.

Baby-G as Baby-gone?

2009-04-27T14:54:00.008+08:00

Remember these babies? These are remnants of my sugar and spice and everything nice childhood — one of the most popular fads of my generation, at least — the Baby-Gs. These are the watches that look like Sailormoon's bracelet and makes you want to go "Tatalunin kita sa ngalan ng buwan!" or like the Power Ranger's gauntlets which makes you want to say "It's Morphin Time!". I do not get the hype this watch used to have. I never had a liking towards it. Back in my elementary days, almost all of the kids were brandishing these chunky, colored watches and it was considered the "cool" thing. They only look like plastic toys with lots of shiny thingamajigs on it that makes you look out-of-this-wordly. Come to think of it, maybe that is why it appealed to kids much before.

But I'm referring to the old designs, the one featured above. With the new designs Baby-G offers, it wouldn't be so bad to be caught with it strapped on my wrist. I'm talking particularly about the Baby-G MS. Not only does the Baby-G MS look more professional, it does so with a tad of zest to boot. It's got a bevy of good features that matches the complicated-looking style of the watch. Check it out below!

Sharp & stylish. The new G-Ms collection of watches is the perfect balance of metal and resin composite design for an elegant yet sporty look. Six studs embedded in the bezel and highly polished mirror-like surfaces stand out in sharp contrast in this totally modern design.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

* Hourly Time Signal
* Auto-Calendar Pre-programmed Until the Year 2099
* Daily Alarm 5 Independent
* Module 5001
* Approx. Battery Life 2 Years
* Battery SR726W x 2
* Countdown Timer
* Backlight LED Light with Afterglow
* Water Resistant Up To 100 Meters
* Accuracy +/-30 Seconds Per Month
* Alarm 3 Alarm Patterns
* World Time 29 Times Zones (48 Cities)
* Button Operation Tone
* Stopwatch 1/100 Second
* Water Resistant Up To 100 Meters
* Backlight LED Light with Afterglow
* Alarm 3 Alarm Patterns
* Countdown Timer
* Stopwatch 1/100 Second
* Auto-Calendar Pre-programmed Until the Year 2099
* Daily Alarm 5 Independent
* Module 5001
* Approx. Battery Life 2 Years
* Battery SR726W x 2
* Accuracy +/-30 Seconds Per Month
* World Time 29 Times Zones (48 Cities)
* Shock Resistant

Anna Tsukiya also looks nice wearing it. :)

|Images and description from Baby-G|

I did not believe I can fly...but I did!

2009-04-27T11:57:00.004+08:00

Long distances from my feet to the ground really scare the heck out of me. I do not thrive the feeling of cheating death by dropping from a hundred meters to the ground in a roller coaster, or taking a 90-feet elevator ride up the cross in Mount Samat, Bataan. Any kind of activity which involves me being in a high plane, I usually say no outright. I said usually because sometimes, I purposely hit my head on an imaginary wall and raise my hand on some thrill-seeking, heights-involving stunt. And I did bang my head hard yesterday when I said yes into trying out ziplining at the Picnic Grove in Tagaytay. I didn't know what came into me. Maybe it's because my 65 year old (I think) grandmother tried it and afterwards she started flapping her arms and kept calling us "chickens"! My cousin and I were watching the other people seemingly flying from the first point to another AND loving it. Maybe that sparked a hidden thrill-seeker from beneath me...way beneath me. So I tried it, and prodded my cousin to try it with me, which she gave in finally after much prodding from my relatives. As soon as she said yes my legs quivered with fear and I wanted to back out. But my very quick aunt went to get the tickets already and my relatives gave me the look that we had no choice. To add more fright, she got us the back-and-forth ticket instead of only one cheat-with-death ride!

My cousin, who tried it before hand, escorted us to the starting point and then we got strapped in supposedly safe, orange harnesses hooked in what looks like a carabiner. I thought of the carabiner attached to my camera pouch and remember how easily it can be pushed open. I asked the assistant whether the ride was safe, and of course he assured us that it is. To make it easier for us, we decided to zipline sitting down. When we were completely strapped and ready to go, I really really chickened out and asked to be let go. So did my cousin by the way. But those wily assistants hoisted and reeled us back then pushed us! They pushed us while I was screaming and yelling to be unstrapped.

Surprisingly, I was glad that they did that because the ride was fantastic. It was exhilirating and during the flight I was not scared at all TRUTHFULLY! I even looked down and saw treetops a hundred feet or more below and I was not scared not even a bit! I was screaming out of excitement though and celebrating the feeling of an accomplishment.

When we got to the end, I felt so good my cousin and I hurriedly rushed to the second starting point. We got stupidly braver and dared ourselves to ride it lying down, face towards the ground! Once again, when we were completely strapped in, we pleaded that we be positioned sitting down instead. The thought of looking straight down directly viewing the spots where I might fall into was not very encouraging since I am afraid of heights. But just as the first one, we were pushed (you got to really hand it to these guys!) and then we were off flying (technically)!

I screamed so hard but it was a scream of excitement and exhiliration. It was better than sitting down and looking straight down didn't matter much because the feeling of seemingly flying gave me an adrenaline rush! I didn't think of the fact that the carabiner might snap any second and my excitement would immediately turn into screaming for my life. I wasn't really thinking that time and was just enjoying the ride, the extreme feeling of it.

We reached the end point by hitting the hanging tires, which I think, is a nudge to reality and says "No, you can't fly!". As I got off the harness, I said "It was fun...SUPER FUN!". And then my relatives quipped, "We told you so!". They told me so alright. I am glad that they released this sort of daredevil in me, even if it be a tiny daredevil, at least I know I had it in me!

I just wish my cousin did not take a picture of me when we got pushed because it is definitely not a pretty sight. And no, I am not posting it here! Haha!

New Blog, New Life?

2009-04-27T11:37:00.002+08:00

Not really. I am still the same girl that I used to be — childish, dramatic, romantic and whatnot. But, this IS a new blog and I reinvented it for a reason. I wanted to have a blog that is simple, frills-free and filled more with my writing (real honest-to-goodness writing) and not boyfriend-ranting, fan-girl text-screaming (Eeeeeeeeehhh! I heart _______! *then uploads a pic*), picture album posting that's reserved for flickr-type sites and all my other slapstick shenanigans. I figured that these kinds of posts do not define ENTIRELY who I am, but still I saw most of them in my old blog. It's humorous and annoying at the same time, ergo, my new blog.