gala tayo!

Missing Blogger

2008-10-01T23:48:00.001+08:00

Weeks. Yes, I have not posted anything new for weeks. Really bad, huh? I have been so busy with work that I haven't written anything for so long. I haven't visited any other blogs. I miss all my blogger friends. I miss posting. I miss blogging!

Join & Earn Money

2008-09-17T17:27:00.003+08:00

My Dream Laptop

2008-09-14T22:12:00.002+08:00

For the past days, I have been as busy as he--. I didn't have time to blog, to surf and to go visit around other blogs. For the whole mont od September, I will be loading up with tons of work. All because I plan (and I am determined) to buy a laptop by December. Who knows, it might even be earlier.

I will work myself like a slave every single day. I am determined to raise enough funds to buy my dream laptop. of course, I have to think of everyday expenses too: fare, food, bills, waaaaah. I need to work, work and work. Hopefully, I can earn, earn and earn so I can save up for this baby. LOL!

Sonya's Garden

2008-09-12T10:53:00.004+08:00

For the last three days, I spent many hours stuck in the car with my husband because of the Manila flood and traffic. During those hours, we had nothing better to do than talk. We talked about so many things and we have realized that we haven't done that for a long time.

One of the things we talked about was his birthday plan. He asked me what I wanted to do and I told him I want to travel to a nearby city or province. And stay in a place that I have never been to. I told him about a place I have read on one website. I said I wanted to go to Sonya's Garden.

Sonya's Garden is a bed and breakfast place in Tagaytay. Just a few hours from Manila. It offers bed space and dining services catering to the visitors of Tagaytay. It started as a private place for Sonya's guests but eventually opened to the public some years ago. The place offers cottages, a magnificent garden, a restaurant, a spa and the general feeling of being in a magical land (my own description). My husband wasn't much for my idea, he wanted a more exciting trip. As for me, I can imagine myself waking up to the sound of birds and the smell of flowers. I would love to just spend a few hours in one of the garden benches, reading a book.

The place is for those who want to take a break from the noise and clutter of the city. A weekend would be the perfect time to spend in Sonya's Garden. You may visit their website here.

Sea Isle City Rentals

2008-09-06T19:02:00.004+08:00

One great thing about having a blog that covers travel is that you get to write a review about great places. In evaluating places for vacations, real estate, hotels, or any place suitable for home-building or travel treats, it would definitely be useful to have someone take care of the details for you. People travel mostly for leisure or business purposes, yet is any of these classifications, it is important that the venue be the best to provide your specific needs and wants. In real estate hunting, it is doubly more important to have the guidance of a trustworthy person or company to help you in getting prime property.

I have come across Freda Real Estate Agency and I can say that this company is the right group to handle real estate and vacation rentals especially in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Freda Real Estate has been in that line of business since 1955 so they are the right people to talk to when looking for Sea Isle City rentals or real estate. Whether you want to buy, sell or acquire city rentals at Sea Isle, Freda Real Estate Inc. can be your best bet. I also navigated their site and found it very user-friendly --- I can actually do the search online and get sufficient information about Sea Isle property.

Test Drive and Bulaluhan sa Espana

2008-09-06T18:21:00.005+08:00

Finally, our car is working. After almost two months in the auto mechanic, they have finally told us that we can now use the car. Late last night, J and I went driving around Metro Manila to test drive our old but much-loved car. It has been very fun because J missed driving and I missed being his backseat driver. For dinner, we went to one of our favorite food establishments... Bulaluhan sa Espana.

Bulaluhan sa Espana is a restaurant-along-the-street of Espana and they offer steaming hot bulalo. We love eating there when we feel like eating lots of rice and sipping hot bulalo soup. The price range is also quite cheap, P150-200 would be suffiecient for 2 persons who eat much! They usually offer bulalo (2 kinds), inihaw na liempo, inihaw na tilapia or hito, kare-kare and other Filipino dishes. Bulaluhan sa Espana is frequented by people from all walks of life (from the tambays of Sampaloc to the Expedition-driving rich of the city). If you are the type of person who loves hot delicious yet cheap Filipino food and not mind eating on an open-space restaurant, then Bulaluhan sa Espana is worth a try.

Mississippi Redfish Courtboullion with Seafood Dirty Rice

2008-09-06T17:54:00.005+08:00

One of my favorite activities in this world is eating. I have always been a person who enjoyed meals truly. I cook and I experiment on cooking, looking forward to creating sumptuous dishes. I also love eating out if the budget permits. I am the kind of person who is easy to bring anywhere as long as eating delicious food is involved. I especially love seafood. My favorite food trips is to Dampa, one of the seafood market-restaurants here in the country.

I recently read about a seafood cook off and reading about it (plus seeing the photos!) made my mouth water. Suddenly I couldn’t wait for dinnertime. In the cook off, there were five finalists and the recipes were Colorado Striped Bass Panzanella (Chef Paul Anders) , Pan Roasted Glazed Rockfish with Peas and Carrots (Chef Tafari Campbell), Mississippi Redfish Courtboullion with Seafood Dirty Rice (Chef John Currence), Texas Gulf Shrimp (Chef Mark Holley), and Louisiana Shrimp and Andouille Cassoulet (Chef Brian Landry).

Among the five recipes included in the cook off , I chose and voted for Mississippi Redfish Courtboullion with Seafood Dirty Rice by Chef John Currence of Mississippi. I read the recipe and I realized that cooking it by myself is actually possible. Also, I am determined to try it in the kitchen by next weekend. What I liked best about Chef John Currence’s recipe was the seafood rice. As a daily rice eater, I never thought about making my rice more exciting by mixing bacon, chicken liver, shrimp, onions, beer with fish stock into it. I would definitely try this recipe, make a special Saturday lunch for my family. I would probably cook the rice in a pot, though, and not using an oven since I do not have one.

If you are aiming to have the best seafood recipes, I would also suggest getting home-grown or domestic seafood. Not only do you get them in the local price (great for haggling for better prices too) but you get them in their freshest state. For unique seafood recipe ideas, visit www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookOff.com , make a vote, and you might also get inspired to cook a tasty dish or win a trip to New Orleans prize package! Happy cooking and happy eating everyone!

Baguio's Flowers

2008-09-06T17:06:00.003+08:00

All of a sudden, I have this urge to go to Baguio. Having just survived a "hell week", I wanted to go someplace where I can relax without the heat and pressures of life in the Metro. Sad to say, I couldn't do it these days. Hopefully, I can manage to squeeze in even a 3-day trip trip to Baguio this coming October.

One thing I always loved about Baguio is the market where I can buy the freshest and most beautiful flowers at the cheapest price. I remember buying one dozen of fresh red roses for only ten pesos (about 2 years ago). Whenever I go to Baguio, I always bring home flowers. Some people say that its a crazy habit because I can easily buy them here ar Dangwa or any flower shop, but for me a trip to Baguio without flowers isn't complete.

Shown here is the rose I received from J last month.

Answer And Make Money!

2008-09-06T16:38:00.004+08:00

Hell Week

2008-09-02T23:58:00.002+08:00

This week is such a hell week for me that I didn't have the time to make a decent post. I've had no time to visit my friends' blogs (sorry!) and even leave comments on their posts. When i started blogging, reading posts from other blogs and commenting have become part of my routine. This week, I was too d--n busy that I wasn't able to.

To all my readers, friends and visitors, please bear with me. Pls. wish me luck that I get through this week. It is still the middle of the week, and yet I am already at the peak of stress!

I will be back blogging on Saturday!

Seminar on Photojourn & Alternative Media

2008-08-29T08:52:00.003+08:00

Location Map

Invited Speakers

Benjie Oliveros

Executive Editor

Bulatlat.com

Sigfred Balatan

Executive Director

Kalatas

Danny Arao

Professor

Department of Journalism

College of Mass Communication

University of the Philippines

www.dannyarao.com

Brought to you by

Free Inquiry Group

>a discussion club that promotes free search for knowledge as well as innovative

expression of ideas

Kor-Phil Information Technology Training Center

> a partnership for ICT advancement

673 Quirino Hi-Way, QCPU Compound, Novaliches, QC.

http://www.korphil.ph/

Strategic Programs for the Advancement of Research

and Knowledge (SPARK) Inc.

> a software and hardware solutions provider

Wordtext Systems Inc. (WSI)

> distributor of Adobe, Corel and Kodak brands

PUP Lounge

> students and alumni of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila

www.puplounge.ning.com

Shopping for Halloween Costumes

2008-08-28T16:54:00.004+08:00

My cousin from California called me up the other day just to tell me that she has just bought a really cute Halloween costume for her 3 year old baby girl. She was screaming with delight as she relayed to me her excitement in trick or treating this coming Halloween. She has been working in the States as a nurse, and it was only early this year that her husband and baby girl managed to live with her. And since this will be their first Halloween together, she is determined to really get the best costume for Marie. She said that she wanted this as one of the best Halloweens since her family is complete.

In the Philippines, Halloween is not celebrated much. There are times when we do have costume parties but one has to be proactive in searching for Halloween costume parties in order to join one. In the recent years, though, Halloween parties have become more common so kids Halloween costumes have become quite a big hit!

Sarah, my cousin, told me that she found this really great Halloween costume site. At first, she planned to go to the mall to buy her darling baby a really unique costume. But as she was surfing online, she ran across Costume Cauldron that offers kids Halloween costumes at very affordable prices. It was very convenient for her because she didn't need to go out and drive to the mall. And so she bought the Cinderella costume for Marie for only $26.95! Very happy, she even bought a blonde wig for herself. Now, she’s really looking forward to the celebration.

I went to see the site she told me about and I was also very amused. It made me feel a bit bad that I do not have to attend my own trick or treating so I can wear one of those nice costumes. But there is no law about choosing what you like, right? My choices:

1. The Elephant Costume - I like this one so I can live up to my name: the wandering elephant.

2. Hippie Girl - I simply love it. Cool! Makes me think of that beautiful woman in Austin Powers movie. Also, I have always wanted to live in the 60s or 70s. Peace!

i create ideas

2008-08-28T12:35:00.004+08:00

I cannot stop myself from blogging about this: Dea's new site. I promised myself that I would not check my blog early today since I have a lot of work deadlines to meet. But when I saw a message on my Cbox, I cannot help but check out my real-life best friend's new site. Yey! So happy for her! We started this blogging together (she introduced it to me, of course) so I am proud of her moving on to the next stage... that is, having her own domain and web host. Since her site is new, there is still little content, but knowing her... in the coming days, it would be full of interesting stuff. So do not forget to check it out!

Congrats girl!

Brillante Award

2008-08-26T18:24:00.003+08:00

Thanks to Frustrated Writer for passing this on to me. I am really getting a high time receiving these awards. Salamat!

The recipients of the Brillante Weblog are welcomed to put the Logo on their personal Blogs and have the honor of passing this award to seven other bloggers.

Here are the rules for passing on the award:

1. Put the logo on your Blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least seven other Blogs
4. Add links to those Blogs on your Blog
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their Blog.

And I am passing this on to the following:

1. Yen of Heavenly Delight -- for being a friend
2. Film Asia -- for a great informative site
3. Fred of Lights and Shade -- for loving the masses
4. Sandygean of Miss Korea -- for bringing the Filipino values & culture to Korea
5. Sagada Philippines -- for blogging about a wonderful place like Sagada
6. Anig of My World of Wonders -- for having an interesting blog
7. Jenn of Shutter Happenings -- for creating awesome pictures

Happy blogging to all of you, my blogger friends!

Family time

2008-08-26T02:18:00.003+08:00

one of the things that really make me happy is when I spend time with my niece Elle and my nephew Bits. I just seem to get enough of them! Whatever the ocassion, wherever it is, I always seem to smile and laugh more when I am with them.

the photo above shows one weekend when we went to Powerbooks Serendra. the adults were having coffee at Starbucks (inside Powerbooks) while the kids went around the book store to choose books that they want. We saw the kids listening to some CDs and we actually saw them dancing to the tune! Really made me smile.

today, the almost 30 aunt played DS with Elle. I didn't understand how to play it well but I really had a great time while Elle (Peach)was screaming with happiness as she beat my favorite character yoshi.

Bad Pick-Up Lines or Victory Hair?

2008-08-26T02:11:00.002+08:00

“Share a stick of cigarette with me.” That was (and still is) the worst pick up line I have ever heard. The bad news is it came from my husband. So what happened? I turned him down. So how did he become my husband? Well, it took him years of education in the field of love. Made him pay for that very bad pick up line LOL!
Now, things have changed between us. No more lines that turns me off. Just lots of Victory Hair'>Victory Hair! For me, Victory Hair'>Victory hair is how I intentionally style my hair (fabulously, of course) after he has done something really nice for me. Examples? When he gave me a rose, when he offers to do the dishes, when he offers a massage. After all those sweet gestures, I make sure I use a shampoo that brings out the best in my long hair, like Extreme Style by VO5. By the way, you can check out their really cool game the Ultimate Flirting Championship'>Ultimate Flirting Championship if you want to bring back those days when flirting makes us feel good!

Meeting the Deadline

2008-08-26T01:52:00.003+08:00

Having a long weekend, I thought that I would have enough time to do all the tasks I lined up for the weekend. It includes studying, finishing some web content articles (my part time work), cleaning the house, downloading songs and defragmenting my PC. I was totally wrong. Here I am, it is 1:54am and I am far from being done. I have finally finished up all the "serious work" but failed to do house cleaning. Does it have to wait for another weekend? I hope not. I have a few more minutes to myself before I finally zzzzzzzz and so doing some fun blogging.

I Want All of You. Forever. Everyday.

2008-08-26T00:52:00.011+08:00

It has been quite some time when I last saw a really great love movie. Yeah, I admit. I am a sucker for romance. I am the type of person who cries my heart out when two lovers end up in each others arms. I do remember some great love lines from my favorite movies like “ I want all of you. Forever. Every day.” (the Notebook) and “I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it. (City of Angels). Loving those lines on the big screen, I do not think they would work out in real life. Not that I am being cynical about love, but a man saying those lines to a woman is like finding a needle in a haystack.
On the topic of love, men and flirting, I went to check out this really cool game: Ultimate Flirting Championship. It was really fun, I wish the love game in life would be that fun and simple. Speaking of flirting, I need to buy a new bottle of Extreme Style by VO5'… I might just try out a new love line on my husband.

Michael Phelps

2008-08-24T14:25:00.004+08:00

8 gold medals?! in one Olympics?! Yes indeed! You are PHENOMENAL, Phelps! You're one great athlete deserving to be a big part of history.

Also, congratulations to all the Filipino athletes who competed in the beijing Olympics. With or without the medals, you made us proud!

Just for the Heck of It!

2008-08-24T13:34:00.004+08:00

I'd give this cake to my bestest and beautifulest friend in the world... Dea!

i love this cake because of the colors & of course, because of the elephant!

I love the simplicity & elegance of this cake. Hope it's yummy.

Today, as I was doing my regular blog hopping, I came across EntrepGirl's blog entry and I saw her post about cakes. I loved it! I love the cake designs and so I visited Pink Cake Box. I was so delighted to see the really BEAUTIFUL cakes. I bet they are also delicious!

So... just for the heck of it... I am choosing my favorite cakes... No reason. No occasion.

Cakes from Pink Cake Box.

You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

2008-08-24T13:18:00.004+08:00

I want to share some of the words from song Your Raise Me Up (by Josh Groban). I love this song because it keeps me strong and makes me humble to know that I am not alone. I love the way Josh Groban sings this particular song.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Listen to the song & watch his video here.

Make Money by Joining this Conversation

2008-08-23T21:49:00.000+08:00

"Speed" Test

2008-08-21T18:26:00.004+08:00

I was at home the whole day doing some freelance writing work and I got so frustrated because I kept losing my internet connection. I went to speedtest. net and got this: 572 kbps download and 374 kbps upload. Hmmm still soooo slow especially when you have so much to do!

Missing My Puppies

2008-08-16T23:53:00.003+08:00

I found some old pics of my puppies (taken almost a year now). Originally, there were 6 Golden Retriever puppies, 4 were sold and two remained in our house. My dog's name is Zaki, his sister (my nephew's dog) is Kikay.

Here are some of their puppy pics. I miss the times when they were so cute and chubby! Now, they are huge! but still oh-so-lovable.

Techno Christmas 2008

2008-08-16T13:37:00.008+08:00

One of the things I want for Christmas is a higher Technocrati Rank and a PR! With your help and this lucky tag, Santa will get me my wishes!

*Start Copy Here*

You do not have to be tagged to play along. This game is simple and so here are the rules.

1. Copy from "START COPY HERE" to "STOP COPY HERE".

2. Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post the "Techno Christmas 2008" at each site you add.

3. You have a choice to tag or not to tag, however, the more tags you create the longer the list will grow.

4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving a comment HERE, so I can add you to the master list.

5. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often as you can. This will allow the new comers to achieve equal benefit as the late comers do.

6. Watch your Authority Rise

7. You may want to grab the Techno Christmas Badge

Please follow the rules. Blogs in the list will be subject to removal if their lists are not updated. I will check all of the blogs once a week.

1. Aeirin Collections 2. Biz-N-Honey 3. Life In Pictures 4. Pinay Mommy Online 5. Blessings and Beyond 6. Mommy Earns Money 7. OnlineBiz and Resources 8. Lourdes' Mia 9. Digital Life Scraps 10. Pexlinks Triple Love 11. Pinay Mommies Community 12. Deranged Insanity 13. Traipsey Turvey 14. PierrEzarh 15. Dancing in Midlife Tune 16. Life is What we Make it 17. Picture Clusters 18. My Wanderings 19. Maiylah’s Snippets 20. Moments of Colours 21. MBA On Line 22. Mom of 2 Dancers 23. Wonderful Things In Life 24. The Fountain Of Happiness 25. A message From My Heart 26. My Life's Adventure 27. Photographic Memories 28. Love Is... 29. The Joy Of Life Forever 29.In My Dreams 30. I love nice 31. My Resting Place 32.You In My Heart 33. Life's All About 34 Design By Pieces 35. Gala Tayo! 36. Buhay Pinoy~Making Money 37. Hesitant Wife's Blog 38. PTC100 39. My Little Home 41. All Because Two People Fell in LOVE 42. Come, Let's Talk 43. Three P's in a Pod 44. 3P's In a Pod 45. Ivory Task 46. I Play Mom 47. Site Hopper 48. Health Zap 49. My Life's Journey in Italy 50. Sharing my Thoughts 51. Brown Pinay 52.Webby Contest 53. Life’s Sweets and Spices 54. Little Zoie’s Steps 55. La Bubbly Chica 56. A Stellar Life 57. Best Pinay Mom 58. Happy Healthy Families 59. My Blogging Experience 60. TIKLATON 61. Straight from the Heart 62. Welcome To My World 63. Pheandy's Blog 64. Musiqcentral 65. Day to Day Miracles 66. Lalaine's World 67. DEBORAH KATY´S BLOG 68. Psycha 69. Survivor Mom 70. when Mom talks...no more problem 71. Iris likes... 72. your blog next.....

* STOP COPY HERE *

Tagging all my friends especially those from my Blogroll! Happy tagging, everyone!

Unexpected Vacation

2008-08-14T22:38:00.004+08:00

Nope, I am not talking about a relaxing vacation... no beaches... no traveling... nothing exciting.

On the contrary, it was much unexpected as it was unasked for. I took an vacation from blogging not because I wanted to stop or to take a break but simply because my computer suffered a chronic attack. It crashed. After many months of expectancy, it finally came. My PC stopped working. And so every thing went down the drain. My teaching work, my blogging, my clicking, my posting (to other blogs), my chatting! It also means I lost a lot of money. No work, no pay. Bummer.

Not only am I broke, but I felt as if I lost an appendage. For many years now, (un-techie as I am) I had really been dependent on my PC and my internet connection. Believe it or not, I often forget my "luxuries" just to make sure my PC and internet connection are up and going.

Things end. The same way relationships end. The same way luck fades. My computer dies.

Bring Home the Gold!

2008-08-09T16:03:00.003+08:00

Our country's pride. Here are the 15 Filipinos who are competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics:

1. Mark Javier (Archery)
2. Henry Dagmil (Athletics)
3. Maristella Torres (Athletics)
4. Henry Tanamor (Boxing)
5. Miguel Molina (Swimming)
6. James Wlsh (Swimming)
7. Ryan Arabejo (Swimming)
8. Daniel Coakley (Swimming)
9. Christel Simms (Swimming)
10. Rexel Ryan Fabriga (Diving)
11. Sheila Mae Perez (Diving)
12. Tshomlee Go (Taekwondo)
13. Mary Antoinette Rivero (Taekwondo)
14. Eric Ang (Shooting)
15. Hidilyn Diaz (Weightlifting)

They will be competing against other countries for their specific sports category. All of them had undergone serious training and I believe that they deserve our support. Shown above are the Beijing Olympics medals. Beauties, right? Hope we can bring home some of them. Pinoy Olympians, we are proud of you!

Beijing Olympics Opening

2008-08-09T15:50:00.003+08:00

8-8-8 or August 8, 2008. Considered a lucky day. Yesterday marked another day in history, not only for Filipinos but for the whole world as well. The opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was quite a huge display of colors and pride. The Bird's Nest (China's National Stadium) was packed and people in many counties awaited the extravagant ceremony.

Calling All Pinoy Bloggers!

2008-08-07T11:43:00.004+08:00

I signed up for PinoyBloggers.org today.

Pinoy Bloggers is an online community that aims to link Filipino bloggers worldwide and PROVIDE PROMOTION to all FILIPINO-OWNED blogs. Pinoy Bloggers can help us through these:

1. By posting a snippet of our latest post, we get more traffic.
2. We get a backlinks to our articles page everytime we publish.
3. We earn via revenue sharing program applicable to all members.

In other words, joining PinoyBloggers.org has lots of advantages: blog promotion, making new friends, meeting new bloggers, creating more links & backlinks, revenue sharing, access to cool contests, learning from more experienced blogger-friends, etc.

Of course, this is for free! Simply register here and enter "galatayo" as your invitation code!

Sagada

2008-08-06T15:30:00.002+08:00

This is one place that I would definitely go to. Considered as one of the best places in the Philippines but I haven't been there. My friends and I are planning to take the long-awaited Sagada trip before the year ends. Hope it pushes through.

One thing that attracts people to Sagada is nature at its raw yet pristine state. Many talk of the rocky mountains, mysterious caves and dangerous cliffs. The culture and history it boasts of is another thing.

Located in the Mountain Province, going to Sagada from Manila is one long trip. One should really be prepared. Many travellers stop over at Baguio City first (can be the first part of the vacation) then proceed to Sagada.

Hilton Head Real Estate

2008-08-06T15:02:00.003+08:00

Many of us consider real estate as one of the best investments we could make. I totally agree with this. Real estate value grows over the years and having our own house and lot is one big accomplishment for us. Aside from owning the beautiful dream house that we want, most of us also crave for vacations where we can simply relax and feel like queens in our own kingdoms. And what better solution is there than to have real estate property on one of the best vacation spots?

I have come about this site in real estate and vacation rentals, it seems that I have found one great source of information on homes for sale and perfect vacation rentals. For Hilton Head real estate, Island Getaway offers professional assistance in house and lot hunting since there are available Hilton Head homes for sale. An expert in the area of real estate for 23 years, Island Getaway provides reliability and credibility in directing you to local realtors whom you can trust. Investing in real estate is considered wise and I would not have second thoughts in acquiring their services in searching for homes for sale at Hilton Head.

Aside from property hunting and ownership, Island Getaway also offers great rentals for vacations. They have fully-furnished villas, rooms and private homes for rent where all your needs will be attended to. Whether it is about business or personal, house hunting or vacation rentals at Hilton Head, Island Getaway will surely be ready to assist.

My Hubby Loves Johnny Depp

2008-08-04T00:30:00.003+08:00

Yes, he does. He's always telling me how good-looking Johnny Depp is. That is one thing we agree on. If I am not a Johhny Depp fan myself, I would think my hubby's gay LOL!

Johnny Depp won the Best Villain for MTV Awards because of his role as Sweeney Todd. The film was a very sad and tragic movie, but I just love it. Okay, I admit it, I love Johnny Depp, too.

A $100 Giveaway?! Join!

2008-08-02T17:19:00.006+08:00

Thanks to iCreate+iDeas, I am about to join a contest. This excites me!

Majorkontrapelo is having another contest, he's giving away $100 for his 3rd yr anniversary. If you want to know more about the contest and other money-making best practices, visit his make money online blog, you'll learn a lot since he is a very well experienced seo practicioner and blogger. I heard from my friend Dea that he's been making $$$ from the internet.

Now, in his 3rd year anniversary in blogging, he's giving away $ to lucky bloggers who join his contest. So I am joining! The rules are:

1. Subscribe to his RSS feed.
2. Post a write up about his contest. The post must contain the anchor text "make money online" that links to his site.
3. Leave a comment in his site.

That's it!

Market! Market! Open Playground

2008-08-02T13:11:00.005+08:00

the outdoor play areas

If you are looking for a place where you can just let your kids run around and play, I would suggest Market! Market!'s open playground. They do have clean and safe outdoor playground full of kiddie bridges, slides, swings, etc. The flooring's rubberized so it's slip-free and the whole area is fenced and guarded so kid's won't wander away from the grounds. The best thing about it, the use of this place is FREE!

If your kids want to have more fun (this is the best!), they can also play in the inflatable playground (we used to call it "jumping pop" during my time) for a minimal fee.

the inflatable playground

There are food stands around and the mall is just a few steps away so no need to worry if you want a change of environment.

*Market! Market! is located in Taguig, The Fort, or just a few minutes away from Makati or Manila.

Stop Violence!

2008-08-02T12:02:00.000+08:00

In places where there is war, upheaval, insurgence, human rights violation, bloodshed, calamities…

Who Spread...
1)Tibet - PHILIPPINES
2)JOYOZ - AUSTRALIA
3)Sheng - LATVIA
4) Lindsay - PHILIPPINES
5) Wandering Elephant - PHILIPPINES

I hope you can grab this and post it too, to spread it around. This can be one way of circulating the campaign to stop the inhumane violence all over the world. Be it politically or domestic abuse; violence should not be a part of one's daily life, especially with children. For I believe that a happy childhood can bring so much difference to a person's life as he/she grows up.

I Got Paid by Neobux!

2008-07-30T20:02:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone! I got paid by Neobux! Finally, a PTC site that pays!

Please read my blogpost on BuhayPinoy for details.

For those interested to sign up, click here. Do not forget to put tonichris as your referrer, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Josh Groban Weekend

2008-07-25T22:10:00.004+08:00

Finally! Weekend! Ah!

I feel so happy. Weekend is finally here. I am looking forward to listen to Josh Groban once more. I need to detoxify. I need to relax! I need to do more lovin' by bloggin'! I haven't been so active in my blogs for the past week since I was a bit busy with work & studies. Finally!

I have time to do the things I love:
1. Listen to Josh Groban & Jewel.
2. Hit the gym. (yey!)
3. Catch up on my studies.
4. Make lesson plans for my teaching work.
5. Be active in the planning of my mon's wedding (true.)
6. Play with my big baby dog.
7. Spend time with Bits & Elle (I must do this.)
8. Read and write and read and write (for work & for pleasure)
9. Sleep. (or sleep less if I plan to finish CSI)
10. Have a pedicure.

Happy Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Make Money from Dneero

2008-07-25T21:22:00.001+08:00

Para Sa SONA 2008

2008-07-25T20:16:00.002+08:00

PLS CLICK THE LINK!

I got this link from JP Diwang Palaboy and all I did was L-A-U-G-H!!!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QhGGZFzvX7Q/SH3oUNcHTdI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/LGM3tqBzUcU/s1600-h/PGMA-Ramdam-flat.jpg

Walang pikon pls! Napipikon na ako sa kahirapan!

Ganda ng CR!

2008-07-25T00:06:00.004+08:00

I went to UP Manila today. There was one thing I have always wanted to do for the past months... Call me cheap but... I really wanted to take a photo of the College of Arts & Science's washroom... hehehe.

The reason I want to do this is because I want to convince myself and to show others (who have seen the 1990s version) that UPM CAS restrooms are now...

voila!

I remember one UPM student who told me a few years back "Ate, ang ganda na ng CR ng CAS, parang SM!" and my reaction was of complete disbelief. I cannot imagine it. I was used to the CAS days when there was no running water in the restrooms, we had to make use of the "walang-kamatayang tabo" at Orocan containers, broken tiles, dripping pipes and cracked walls, unhinged cubicle doors, and of course, the history of UP and everyday gossip written on the cubicle walls.

For those who are shocked that I write one long post about a restroom, pasensya na... talagang hindi kami sanay sa UP na may magandang pasilidad LOL. Recently, UP had a Tuition Fee Increase of 300%, much to the dismay of thousands of parents and students. There have been numerous cases wherein a UP student had to drop out because of the high tuition (effective AY 2008, freshmen tuition is P1,000 per unit. The old tuition was only P250/unit).

I am happy that the UP CAS restrooms are now this beautiful (maganda na ito para sa amin!). Ok lang sa amin na may maihiang maganda kahit hindi na kumain sa sobrang tipid. I just hope that the quality of education would remain as high. Pero paano na ang madaming Pinoy na hindi talaga maka-afford nitong ganito kamahal na tuition? Don't they have the same right to education as we do? And is 300% increase really justifiable?! Hay josko, buti nalang malapit ang Ermita. Good luck sa atin...

The "Arte y Pico" blog Award... Ahm Touched!

2008-07-24T19:42:00.003+08:00

A few days ago, as I was doing my usual bloghopping and reading (I love reading other people's blogs and posts, makes my day!), I was surprised (no, shocked! is a better word) that one of the friendly bloggers out there (jenn of jennwashere) passed on to me an award! The Arte Y Pico Blog Award. You may read her entry here. Well, Ahm really touched! Thanks Jenn! (By the way, she's one of the bloggers who were really helpful to me.) I love visiting her blog and looking at her new posts and pics and her smiling face.

This is my first time to receive such an award since I am so much a newbie here in the blogosphere. Many bloggers can say... "oh, there's wandering elephant again, asking a question..." since I have blogged and hopped and asked and tried my best to know and learn things about blogging and the "net stuff". Thank you to all those who have been patient =)

And so the award has rested on my blessed blog... thank you to all who have been helpful and to jenn, of course!

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

And so, I am passing on this award to the following blogs/bloggers:
1.Dea's iCreate+iDEAS
2.Paula's Happy Thoughts Happy Tot
3. Mommy Ruby's PinayMommyOnline
4. Steph's F!
5. HW's Hesitant Wife's Blog

Maybe some of them received this award already... but I am still passing it on to them... why? I simply love their blogs!

Having Fun

2008-07-22T20:05:00.002+08:00

Last May, my family & I went swimming in one of Laguna's hot spring resorts. When we arrived at the private pool, we discovered that the attendants were still in the process of cleaning the pool. After a few minutes, they started to fill up the swimming pool with water.

The 3 kids were so excited that they couldn't wait longer! In their swim suits complete with swimming caps and goggles, they went into the pool and started to have fun! =)

Way Down

2008-07-21T22:48:00.003+08:00

My brother's hopes for first love is very high.
Oil prices have gone up and will continue to go up.
The sun rose this morning.
The fists of the street demonstrator have been raised in protest over difficult times.
My dog's height & weight are continually increasing with every meal.
I know someone whose voice is always in high note.
Jeepney fare increased to P8.50.
My cousin went upstairs to her room.
Some will go up to the mountains for armed struggle.
GMA is still high up in Malacanang.
The lizards are having a meeting high in my ceiling.

It seems that many things are up, going up, about to go up, and will go up...

Why is it that I feel so d--n low?!

Lovin' Life

2008-07-17T18:03:00.003+08:00

Lately, I have been so tied up with work & studies that I felt too tired and stressed to go on with the routine of daily life... Then, I thought...

Hey! I am still twenty-something... still have a long way to go!

I also came up with this photo taken about 5 months ago. I remember having so much fun with friends. And I realized that I am happy and that life is indeed a happy adventure... It may be one roller coaster ride, but it sure is worth it! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

DISCLOSURE POLICY

2008-07-17T17:11:00.001+08:00

This policy is valid from 01 June 2008

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact wanderingelephant@gmail.com.

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Tiangge!

2008-07-17T17:02:00.003+08:00

We went to Starcity last weekend to celebrate my nephew's birthday. Aside from the usual rides, I went ga-ga over the tiangge stalls! A lot of knick-knacks are sold and most of them are very cheap. So if you are planning to go to Starcity, make sure that you have extra money to do some shopping!

A Day in the Park

2008-07-14T21:26:00.001+08:00

Another thing I have been catching up to do is to spend a lazy afternoon in the park with my big dog. I would love to just let him run in the park while I lie down under a tree reading a good book. My dog has always been well-behaved on such occasions. He knows that those occasions may be rare but I make sure that he gets enough exercise and lotsa love! Look at his photo loving lazy afternoons at the park.

Ace Water Spa

2008-07-13T16:45:00.002+08:00

I have always loved the water. No, not just for drinking but for swimming =)

When F told me about Ace Water Spa, my immediate answer was “Nope, too expensive. Not in the budget.” I answered so fast so I could stop her from telling me about the place. You see, I am trying to apply a “savings mode” for the next month.

Two other friends have tried it and the curiosity (and envy!) was too much for me to handle. I decided to check it out myself. Waaaaah (sob. gulp. sigh. Sob) I love it! I told myself that I’d really go there soon! Non-members can also avail of the water spa services. Here’s the pricelist:

Regular Rates are good for four (4) hours service for all facilities.

Effective June 16, 2008:
Adults - P550 - Regular Rate
Kids - P250 (4ft below) - Regular Rates

There is a charge of P100 per hour in excess of 4 hours spa service.
*Free soup after spa service. (nice!)

Weekday Promo starting June 16, 2008 up to February 28, 2009

Weekday mornings- Buy 2 and Get 1 free (entry 6am to 12 noon)

Weekday afternoons- Buy 3 and get 1 free (entry 1215pm to 830pm)

This promo is valid on weekdays - Monday thru Friday except holidays.

You can have all adults 2+1 or 3+1 or all kids. It couldn't be mixed adults and kids.

True Cool Car

2008-07-13T01:36:00.003+08:00

In one of my unexpected and unplanned trips to Central Luzon, we came to this place to try out karting. I was actually just the official photographer since at that time I didn’t take a ride on the go-karts. On the garage, we saw this really cool vintage car. Of course, I took photos of it! Feast your eyes on this awesome vintage find!

The Paintball Adventure

2008-07-10T00:46:00.002+08:00

Tired of the monotony of the usual trips? Tired of going to the mall, seeing movies, shopping, eating out? Well, you might be ready for another fun adventure.

Try Paintball Shooting!

Yes, we do have paintball shooting areas here in the Philippines. You have to pay for the rent of the equipment, the paint “bullets”, the protective vest and mask. After that, you’re all set to have war!

In Enchanted Kingdom (Sta. Rosa, Laguna), they have an area just for Paintball shooting and you can rent the equipment. In Metro Manila, we also have the AFP site. Last I’ve heard, you have to have your own equipment if you use the AFP site (which is a lot bigger & with more obstacles).

I’ve tried paintball shooting with some of my friends and wow, it was a lot of fun! In the end, I didn’t shoot anyone. I was so caught up hiding behind the big blocks (heheheh). Whether you get shot or you get to shoot your opponents, it is really one exciting game. Let’s gear for the battle!

Beautifying Myself with Eyeglasses

2008-07-10T00:10:00.009+08:00

I have always planned to get eyeglasses. As a consistent reader, writer, worker and student, all at the same time, my vision hasn't been as perfect as before. My problem has been the fear to look geeky or to wear the stereotyped "grandma glasses". But when I found out about zenniOptical.com , I realized that I can have the glasses I need with very stylish frames to fit the latest fashion, all at very low prices!

The reason why their prices are very affordable: they sell their frames with lens of your choice directly to consumers like us! Now, who can say that wearing glasses isn't fashionable and affordable?

~This is a sponsored post~
~See Disclosure Policy at the bottom of the Homepage~

The Flip Flop Test

2008-07-09T13:48:00.003+08:00

What Your Flip Flops Say About You

You are a very sweet and sensitive person.
You connect with other people easily.
You're the type of person who feels bad about killing bugs.
You hate to see anyone - or anything - in pain.
Your ideal warm weather place: Thailand

The Flip Flop Test

I visited Blogthings and I came up with this test. Here's the result.
My reactions:
Yeah, pink is nice but I chose it because of the flowers.
Sweet and sensitive? I try to be...
Feels bad about killing bugs? If the bug is harmless, fine. But I do enjoy killing mosquitoes.
Pain? Yes, I hate pain. I do not want anyone (person or animal) to be in pain. But why am I in pain?

Ring-Ring!

2008-07-09T13:40:00.004+08:00

I totally adore technology. I am not a techie person but I do appreciate taking advantage of technology. In making overseas calls, I always use my VOIP phone. It is almost like having a regular telephone with the benefit of calling abroad at a much cheaper price. Sometimes, I think of calling someone as traveling... you get to know new things and chismax or reduce the feeling of missing someone.

Bought my VOIP phone about 3 years ago and it has been very useful for me and my family. We have been using it to call friends, family and students in US, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand. I do have my mobile phone and land line but having a VOIP phone really makes things easy for me.

F Salon Massage Experience

2008-07-08T18:24:00.006+08:00

It is a bit embarrassing to admit that I felt great happiness after my first ever massage experience.

Two Sundays ago, my friend J asked me to go to F Salon & Spa with him. Not wanting to appear silly and not wanting to make it too obvious that I have never had a “real” massage, I nonchalantly said yes.

F Salon is actually more of a “community salon” since it is located in many communities within Metro Manila. It is not so posh a salon. I usually go there to have my bi-monthly pedicure (P50 plus tip) and sometimes to have my hair trimmed. But for a massage? Nope, never tried it. I didn’t even know they offer that service!

Once we arrived there, we were led to the 2^nd floor where the spa and massage services were. Not knowing what to do, I asked the masseuse what to do first. She told me to leave my things in the massage room, take a shower and I have the option to use the sauna or not. Of course, I did use the sauna! I get to use sauna & steam bath services everyday from my gym but I wanted to use and try everything (LOL!)

The women and men’s sauna rooms are separated only by a thin wall. And so my friend J and I talked while we were steaming and sweating. After the sauna, I showered and finally… the 1 hour massage. I love the place, I love the massage! My body felt good (a bit sore, but generally very good). And it only cost me P300!

Great Plane Fare Deals

2008-07-08T17:06:00.000+08:00

Many of us dream to travel often—not for business but for pleasure. My ultimate dream is to go to try out something new at least every month --- whether it is a new place, food, product, as long as it is a new experience for me.

Of course, nothing beats traveling to the places I want without having to put holes on my pockets. It doesn’t have to be totally cheap but something more affordable, so our dream trips and vacations have a higher possibility of coming true!

Today, I browsed through Cebu Pacific’s site and I found great plane fare deals! To those who are interested, check their website. Here are some of the listings:

All-In Deals:
P988 – Manila to Legaspi (Bicol)/San Jose (Mindoro)
P1,118 – Manila to Laoag/Tuguegarao
P1,988 – Manila to Boracay/ Dumaguete/Puerto Princesa
P2,488 – Manila to Cagayan de Oro/Davao/Dipolog/Zzamboanga

I have my eyes on Davao. I’ve always wanted to go to Pearl Farm Resort.

Magic Lamp of Luck

2008-07-08T12:38:00.005+08:00

* Start Copy Here*

1. Add your site(s) to the list once you have received the Magic Lamp of Luck.

2. Pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to as many people as you like. After all, everyone needs some good luck!

3. Leave a comment HERE once you’ve passed on the Magic Lamp of Luck. Once the Genie King and Genie Princess have visited your site to make sure your links are complete and proper, you will then be added to the Master List.

4. To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, please UPDATE your list regularly!

1-Mariuca 2-First Time Dad 3-Mariuca's Perfume Gallery 4-Emila's Illustrated Blog 5-The Other Side of Emila 6-My Sweet Escape 7-Bay Head Blog 8-Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 9-LadyJava's Lounge 10-Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 11-The Real Deal 12-Pinay Mommy Online 13-Perpustakaan 14-LadyJava Life's Pages 15-Make Money Online 16-Cat Tales 17-LadyJava's Food Paradise 18-Being Woman 19-Spicybug 20-Biz-N-Honey 21-Aeirin's Collections 22-Sasha Say s 23-Project Heavy Traffic 24-Picture Clusters 25-My Wanderings 26-Maiylah's Snippets 27-Moments of Colours 28-Life Quest 29-BigMoneyList 30-The Best Parts 31-Morphed 32-Buhay Pinoy 33-Galatayo 34-Blogging Tips 35-Apples Of The Eyes 36-My Own Utopia 37-Sasha's Corner 38-Under One Roof 39-Say Cheese 40-A Great Pleasure 41-A Life in Bloom 42-Because Life is a Blessing 43-Digiscraptology 44-Xixi 45-Ode to Adrienne 46-CrankyDave 47-Simple Life 48-Dew Drops 49-The Journey 50-Mastering Your PC 51-Day Break 52-A Little Girl Talk 53-Mom Knows Everything 54-Day to Day 55-1 of a Kind Wis 56-It's a woman's world! 57-Breather 58-Photo Hook 59-Letterbox 60-Asian Mutt International 61-Dream Doe Philosophy 62-MommyAlehs Up-Close And Personal 63-Livin' the Life! 64-Restnrileks 65-English Corner 66-English Grammar 67-Bodybuilding & Fitness 68-Everything you need 69-One Stop Games 70-Blockbluster Movie Trailers 71-Bodybuilding & Human Growth Hormone 72-World of Tennis 73-Men's Health & Tips 74-Internet Marketing Strategy & Tips 75-Latest Technology 76-Tentang Binaraga 77-Berita Seputar Selebriti 78-Panduan Kesehatan 79-Insurance For You 80-Crissy's Zone 81-Crissy's Library 82-Crissy's Haven 83-sHeNzEe's wOrLd 84-Voice Of The Spirit 85-Best Cuisine Recipes 86-Stand My Ground 87-SeeNRead 88-This Is A Miracle 89-I AM KCAT 90-Traipsey Turvey 91-GBeX & DOm 92-Spun By A Seanachie 93-ISL Family 94-D' Cooking Mudra 95-'Story' the Great 96-UmmiRosma 97-Munirah Abd 98-Atie 99-Hit-or-Miss 100-Twisted Sister 101-Laketrees Artist 102-Blessed Sanctuary 103-Comedy Plus 104-Blogging By Sandee 105-Living Life to the Fullest 106-Speech-Less 107-Happy Life 108-My Discoveries 109-Strangely Out Of Place 110-Rooms of My Heart 111-The Paper Vision 112-Luxurious Retreats 113-Reef 114-Weekend Snapshot 115-Blessie's Finds 116-Confessions of An Army Wife 117-My Pooch Life 118-Five Martini Lunch 119-TIPS FROM THE TRAILER 120-PoeARTica 121-STAY AT HOME MOM 122-Rantings of a Woman 123-Sjtl's Weblog 124-Turn-u-Off 125-My World in My Own Word 126-Shawie 127-A New Saga 128-Janeth Vicy's Life Journey 129-Simple Reveries 130-Berry Blog 131-Touts4u 132-My So Called Life 133-La Vida es Hermosa 134-Speedcat Hollydale Page 135-mangosteenskin 136-Choc Mint Girl 137-Of Colors And Styles 138-Pinaymama's Diary 139-My Life's Rollercoaster Ride 140-My Life...My Journey! 141-Bonoriau 142-Jenny and Belle 143-Read My Mind 144-A Sweet Taste Of Life 145-Shopping Blog 146-Precious Moments 147-Feydakin 148-Hot Shit Form Here 149-A Mother's Simple Thoughts 150-Daily Ramblings Rendezvous 151-Miss Moneypenny's Comical Posts Undercover 152-My Precious Niche 153-Fun|Fierce|Fabulous 154-Colorful World of Shiela 155-Me,myself+2 156-Ozzy's Mom 157-Let's talk about MJ 158-Great people make us feel we can become great 159-A Family Man 160-Just the way it is... 161-In Depth 162-Attitude, the ULTIMATE POWER 163-Are You Grateful? 164-Complain Complain Complain 165-My Little Black Pot 166-Notes By Marvic 167-Aku Pelukis 168-Jiwasintetik 169-Foster Me Up 170-Life: Thoughts & Inspirations 171-The Callalily Space 172-Mommyhood and Me 173-Bits and Pieces 174-La Place de Cherie 175-Through The Rain 176-Blogfixes 177-New England Lighthouse Treasures 178-Chez Francine 179-Tsinay 180-Hailey's Domain 181-Hailey's Beats and Bits 182-My So-Called Life 183-PinayWAHM 184-Rusin Roundup 185-Sweet Temptation 186-Lynn's Chic Spot 187-Kai Kriye 188-LiLo n StiTcH 189-Lights and Shade 190-Easycrafts 191-Ideasmoney 192-My creations 193-Sukanya-hobbiesandcrafts 194-My Kraft 195-Adam: @geNda | iNsPiRaSi 196-The Working Mom 197-My Touch Of Heaven 198-Her Name is N.O.Y. 199-YOU Next!

*End Copy Here*

FunRanch Attack!

2008-07-07T13:38:00.003+08:00

Whenever I go out with my 8-year old niece and my 7-year old nephew, I feel as if we are always about to attack! The energy emitted by the two kids is quite strong! Whenever I go out with them, I always make sure that I am fully charged, ready to run, ready to be pulled from one place to another and ready to be the fun “tita” I always try to be.

Once, we went to FunRanch (Tiendesitas). FunRanch is an indoor-outdoor amusement park that is located in the middle of Valle Verde Pasig City. Landmarks: SM Hypermart, Valleverde 2 and 5. The entrance to the park is free but you need to buy tickets for each ride (of course!) which costs P50 (more than $1) each. A bit expensive but you are assured of the safety of the rides and place.

There are food stands and gift shops available. Also, many restaurants like the Big Red Barn. Parking spaces are available in and out of the park for a very minimal fee.

There are many rides sure to be loved by children. Even child-at-heart adults (like me!) can enjoy the rides too.

LOST!

2008-07-07T13:26:00.002+08:00

This photo was taken in one of my trips last summer --- lost but still driving. My friends and I went on an out-of-town trip and we got lost looking for the place. We just found the ad resort from the internet, we made reservations by phone, packed food and other stuff and got ourselves into a van and set off for the place.

No one has been to the exact city before but we were all excited to go to the trip and face another adventure. The map printout we got from the resort brochure didn’t help at all. The signs along the way were also so confusing. After 4 hours drive, finally we found the place! Our moods weren’t affected once we saw the swimming pool. Quite an adventure for us!

Ever Tried Karting?

2008-07-05T15:20:00.006+08:00

Have you ever tried karting? Ever felt your heart race and your muscles jolt while speeding along a kart race track? Want to know how you can try it?

For starters, let me give the definition first... According to Wikipedia, Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher and more expensive ranks of motorsports. (Wikipedia)

In the Philippines, this sports is not yet very common since there are not many places where this sports/activity is offered. There are karting tracks available in Enchanted Kingdom, if you ever go there. It's a must to try out. The karts can be rented (P250 per 15min ride if I remember correctly). Sounds expensive? Actually not. The 15-min ride can be quite long if you try it out. If ever you get to Clark-Subic, there is also a kart racetrack open for rent.

Driving a go-kart can be challenging at first. You have to learn how to control the speed and acceleration. Of course, they would require you to wear helmets, for safety purposes.

Try it and you might just love it! One great experience!

Hungry

2008-07-01T22:58:00.004+08:00

I feel dizzy. My head aches.

I realized just now that I have been doing some work on my computer for 6 hours straight! I haven't gone up from my chair except to go to the bathroom or to make myself cups of coffee. Ugh! I feel hungry.

Right now, I am thinking of juicy burgers, a tuna cheese melt sandwich, rocky road ice cream, iced tea, ice cold orange juice, mocha cake, pancit canton, sinigang na baboy, leche flan, halo-halo, kimbap, California maki... Oh I want them all!

This only means one thing... I need to take a break.

I Want to go To White Rock!

2008-06-30T17:23:00.008+08:00

Surfing through the net led me to iCREATE+iDEAS blog. An interesting blog that gives us a lot of insights on a variety of topics but also focuses on money-making ideas and opportunities.
The blog's posts were very useful since they not only focused on the writer's significant experiences but also gives practical tips and advise on blogging, photography, food, online contests, and such.

In the post White Rock Resort, I can say that the post was well-written, starting off with a personal tone of having jitters (as a consequence of being away from her family) then moved on to the travel destination. She aptly described the facilities in the resort and I found the post very informative for readers like me. The writing style used was also very convincing. It actually made me miss the beach so much and want to try out White Rock for my next summer beach escape. =)

~This is a sponsored post~
~See Disclosure Policy at the bottom of the Homepage~

Self-Pampering

2008-06-30T15:42:00.005+08:00

I usually work Mondays through Fridays and still do some finishing off on weekends. Often, most of the free time left on weekends are reserved for family matters. I usually use my Sundays to visit my grandmother or my dad, or to go out with my husband.

Yesterday, though, was different. I suddenly found myself having more spare time than I can handle. My internet was down for a few hours so I couldn't blog or check work-related emails, my house was clean (but not in pristine state), I don't have anyone to visit since I met with them recently.

And so I focused on myself. Gave myself a very long relaxing bath. And not my usual bath, I used the special soaps and oils I have reserved since last Christmas =) Someone gave me a set of bath soaps with different "flavors" and aromas: chocolate, lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and strawberry. I was always saving them for a special occasion. Well, the special day had come!

Felt so good and smelled so nice after the bath. Wish all weekends were special.

I Signed up for PPP!

2008-06-30T15:15:00.006+08:00

I started blogging a few months ago to fulfill my passion for writing and to be able to record my thoughts, places I have been to and want to visit, or to comment on people, products or services that I have encountered. Writing on my blog became a release for me and a sort of therapy to lighten my workweeks. Who would have thought that I would also get to earn money through blogging!

One of my blogger friends told me about Pay Per Post and how we are given opportunities to write and even get paid for it. For the first weeks, I put it off because of my busy schedule. Finally, I decided to try it out so I registered. From the moment I started reading and browsing PPP’s website , I read the terms, the opportunities available to bloggers like me, and the tips about blogging itself, I can say that I will never regret it!

Pay Per Post (PPP) is a sponsored review network between advertisers and bloggers. It is a cool kind of blog marketing where bloggers can take on writing opportunities about certain products or services and the advertisers pay them for the writeup. There is also a network for all bloggers and you get to see the interesting blogs people from all over the world have. Hearing many stories about successful PPP bloggers, I cannot wait to try out… So here I am writing my first ever PPP post =)

I definitely love writing… and I have a very strong feeling that I will also love to write for PPP. Plus, if I earn enough money from this, I definitely will buy my dream laptop. Happy writing everyone!

IN FOCUS: A Photojournalism Seminar

2008-06-29T15:57:00.006+08:00

To all those who are interested to attend or to know more about Digital Photography and Alternative Media in the Philippines, please feel free to post any queries about this activity. This photojournalism seminar will push through this coming August. Open to photography enthusiasts , hobbyists, or simply curious minds. We are also open to more sponsors =)

Thoughts on Fun Runs

2008-06-29T15:01:00.005+08:00

I have only participated in two Fun Runs my whole life. The first one was a requirement during my college days… either I finish the 5-kilometer run or I fail P.E. Of course, I finished it. I had all my Bleux friends with me, which made it a lot more fun. Running along Roxas Blvd. has never been more fun!

For my 2^nd Fun Run, I was invited by my friend J without him saying that it was a 10K run. It was an inauguration activity for the new SCTEX. Oh my, was I scared! The actual run was tiring yet fun since it has been more than a decade since the last time I did it. My new friends made it fun too, and I felt really good although I finished only about 4 kilometers. Blame it on my weight and my weak lungs =) After the run, my body hurt for more than 2 days. But my soul was ecstatic because of the exercise and the experience.

I am sure to do it again. Maybe this time, I’ll be able to finish the set. I have to tell myself to

List of Fun Runs/Races—July & August 2008

2008-06-29T14:56:00.002+08:00

For those who are interested in having fun while keeping your body in shape, here’s the list of Fun Runs this July and August.

JULY

6: Tik-Takbo, UP Diliman Acad. Oval, 2k/ 6k/ 18k. Call Syd (0916.7558203/ 915.2563) or Janell (0927.7234127/ 749.7493) For the benefit of the long term educational assistance program.
6: Milo Iloilo Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k
13: Milo Roxas Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k
13: The 1st One La Salle Running Festival, Bonifacio High Street, 3K/5K/16k. Includes a 3k Pet Lover’s Division. Fee: P200 until July 1. Fee: P250 from July 1 to 11. Registration starts May 1 and ends strictly on July 11 5pm. Call Anna or Mary Anne (366.9367/ 364.6201 / 0917.3928343 / 0918.4674206 / 0923.8985710) or email maryanne@vasia.com / maryanne.ringor@yahoo.com. Visit organizer’s website.
26: The North Face 100, 10k/ 21k/ 42k/ 100k. Details to follow.

AUGUST

3: Milo Manila Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k/ 42k
3: Milo Cebu, Davao, Tarlac Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k
10: On Your Weight, Get Set, Go! (FEATI University’s Blue & Gold Fun Run), CCP Complex, 3K/5K/10K. Reg fee P200. This is an awareness campaign for overweight and obesity in the country. Call Ms. Santos (733.8321 local 427). For pre-registration please send your name, age, and contact details to feati_funrun@yahoo.com.
10: Milo Legazpi Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k
17: Milo Naga Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k
17: 3rd Run for Sight, Cebu Doctors University Campus, Mandaue City, Cebu, 3k/ 5k/ 10k, 6am. Click here for more info.
24: Milo San Pablo Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k
31: Milo Tacloban Eliminations 3k/ 5k/ 21k

The Burger King Queen

2008-06-28T23:09:00.005+08:00

I woke up early this morning and the first thing that came to my mind was "I want to eat a Whopper today."

I do not know what brought it to my mind. Maybe a dream. Maybe the feeling of hunger. All I knew was that I needed to satisfy this craving.

So before I did anything as listed in my Saturday plan, I went to the nearest Burger King branch which was about a 30-minute drive from my house. I bought a Whopper, a serving of onion rings, and a big cup of apple juice.

I love burgers from Burger King. I do not really know why but for me, they are a far cry from burgers from Mc Donald's, Jollibee, or Wendy's.

Having satisfied my tastebuds, I went around making my Saturday useful.

Bits and Kisses

2008-06-28T22:46:00.005+08:00

My house is just located next door to my sister's house. Her door is only a few steps away from mine so it is very normal for us to "visit" each other many times a day. At times, I would just holler out loud in case I need something from her house; whether it's food, juice, tea, a CD, cigarettes, or if I just need her in any way. And most often she also does the same.

Every night, my 7 year old nephew, Bits, would go to my house. He would usually sees me seated in front of my computer while I am working and he would ask me questions. He would ask me if I had eaten, what I had eaten, what I am doing, what I did... He loves to ask questions. Another thing I love about him is his habit of telling me almost each thing that he does. He'll tell me if he is about to take a bath, if he is about to sleep, if he is about to eat lunch or dinner, or if he had a good day at school. He is such a sweet boy.

My favorite thing is his daily kisses. Before he goes to sleep, he would pass by my house and he would announce to me that he is about to sleep. After that, he kisses me on the cheek. He never fails! He does it every single day.

I feel like one of the luckiest persons alive because of Bits and his kisses.

Loving Nature

2008-06-27T01:06:00.006+08:00

A few minutes away from my hometown, we can find the UP Diliman campus. It is not uncommon to find students and non-students frequent the place not only for academic purposes but also to appreciate the surroundings. Many go there to jog early in the morning or at dusk. I usually go there if I need a quick escape from urban confusion (although Quezon City is still very much part of the metro).

One weekend, I went there with my dog Zaki and his sister Kikay. I was hesitant at first to let them lose since I wasn't sure how they would behave. I found a spot a bit secluded from other people so they would have enough space to run and sniff around.

Boy, were they so happy! It was actually their first time to go to such a place. I usually take them to the nearby city park where they are happy to walk along pavement roads with a few pots of plants. So when I set them free from their leashes (as I relaxed and sat down on the grass), I can see that they were not only happy but curious as well.

The two puppies ran around most of the time but they were alert to me whenever I call them. Most of the time, though, I have observed that they explored the place together. After more than an hour of exploring, sniffing and running, both of them got tired. I know they miss the place too, so I might bring them there very soon.

h

Fitness First Day

2008-06-26T18:21:00.005+08:00

After 5 days of almost no physical activity, I finally hit the gym today. I was so happy to have the time today, so I really maximized my stay. Here's what I did:

1. treadmill - 45 mins - brisk walking and running; while watching the movie V for Vendetta
2. abdominal crunches - 200 total
3. stretching - 10 minutes total
4. very light weight lifting (for toning) - 20 minutes total
5. brewed coffee (yum!) while texting with friends
6. steam bath - 15 minutes total
7. bath - 20 minutes total

I feel good! Sure to be back on Saturday!

San Juan Fiesta

2008-06-24T19:02:00.005+08:00

Today is my hometown's fiesta... meaning we are celebrating under the name of our patron saint St. John the Baptist.

Aside from the usual preparations... lots of food =) community activities like mini-concerts, contests, sports games, dance contests, film showing and street games, the highlight of the day is the "basaan" which usually happens from 8am to 12nn. According to the Bible, it was St. John the Baptist who baptized Jesus. And so, we commemorate this act with our own version of "baptism". Yes, people throw water at you. They usually do so using water dippers, water guns/pistols, water inside plastic bags... and they throw water at the locals and passersby. The water is usually clean, of course, but there are some people who would try to spoil the fun by using dirty water. Clean or dirty water... people either have fun or really get pissed off on this day.

Based on experience, many commuters avoid San Juan during this day. Nobody wants to get wet while trying to go to the office or school, right? For San Juan residents, we are of course, ready for this. We usually expect to get wet (between 8am-12nn) so be bring a dry set of clothes wrapped in waterproof bags.

I wans't able to get some photos of the actual "basaan" event. Didn't want my cam to get wet. But here's a photo I got from the web, just to give you an idea on how we look like during our city fiesta.

Fishballs and Siomai at UP Dil

2008-06-19T21:11:00.004+08:00

Today, I went to UP Diliman to do some research in the Main Library. I was (and am) a student of UP Manila so most of my university days were spent in Manila area (Taft-Faura).

I was excited to go to UP Diliman because it would be a big change of environment for me. Don't get me wrong, I love my Manila campus because of all the memories and friends. However, the big difference is the physical environment... In UP Manila, we do not have a lot of greenery and no huge open spaces. Also, traffic is really heavy along the Taft-Faura-P.Gil block so you can imagine the pollution. Most of the colleges were simply buildings but we do have a few pots of plants around hehe. So today, when I went to the QC campus, I finally got a whiff of fresh air.

Also, one of the best things in Diliman is the very affordable food you can find in almost every street. Fishballs, kwek-kwek, siomai, C2, gulaman, kikiam, balot, penoy,... you name it, they have it! In UP Manila, we have the "sosy food" so you do not get full much if you are on a "student budget". So today, I felt so foolishly happy that I bought 1 order of siomai, 1 order of instant pancit canton (yup, this one's an addition we didn't have in the 90's), half a footlong, and 1 big bottle of C2. Yum!

Stormy Day Swimming @ Casa Leonida

2008-06-16T17:46:00.003+08:00

Our family can never be stopped in swimming even if it means having to swim on a stormy day. Last May 17th, my family & I went o Casa Leonida Pansol, Laguna to celebrate my kuya's 10th wedding anniversary with his sweet Ana.

Yey, the whole family was ecstatic. Swimming had always been a way of life for us. Of course, chow times during these events are also special. Even the weather station's announcement of a typhoon didn't stop us. It was storming in Manila, Batangas and other places, but we were partying! Swimming with water, swimming even with little water (!!), eating, eating again, karaoke for the ladies and billiards for the boys. For more pics, check this out.

Avoiding Makati-Mandaluyong Traffic

2008-06-16T16:53:00.004+08:00

Everyday, I find myself thinking of ways to avoid heavy traffic within the metro. Most of my work is done in my home-office. But I have another daily commitment to attend to and I find myself traveling from San Juan to Mandaluyong to Makati (and vice versa) everyday.

I do love going to places, I find myself fascinated by the everyday going-ons around me, even if all I see are people doing their normal chores and the same old Metro Manila. However, my schedule is totally packed for the day. Every minute counts. So I always plan my travel itinerary even just going to the nearby cities.

For those who want to avoid the heavy traffic along Mandaluyong area going to Makati (the traffic on Makati-Mandaluyong bridge can be totally frozen during rush hours), I would encourage you to try the 2 minute-"banca ride" that takes you to Makati (and Makati to Mandaluyong). The ride takes only about 2 minutes and will cost you only 3 pesos per crossing. The station is in Hulo (you should get down once the jeepney passes under the Makati-Mandaluyong bridge) and on the side of Makati, you get off at Rockwell station, a few minutes walk or a very short jeepney ride to Powerplant or Ayala.

This way, traffic can be avoided and who knows, you might enjoy the old-fashioned (or outmoded?) banca ride. A note: the waters can be murky during rainy season but, what the heck, if it can save you minutes worth of your precious time! As long as the banca doesn't overturn, right?

=)

Back to the Past

2008-06-13T15:08:00.004+08:00

For the past few weeks, I have not gone anywhere interesting to blog about. I have been tied up with tons of work and in going back to my past.

I say "going back to the past" because after about almost a decade, I am going back to school. Yes, I did the unthinkable. That is, to go back to old UP Manila CAS after 8 long years.

For the past week, I have gone through the usual jungle of enrollment in one of the UP systems. Yes, we do now have a slightly computerized system of enlisting but you still need to reserve at least one week just to get enough units. after you get enough units, you still go through other ordeals.

And today, here I am at a nearby internet cafe, renting a PC for an hour because my professor hasn't showed up yet. I couldn't stay within the buildings, felt I would suffocate... Makes me oh-so-nostalgic just thinking about all the bittersweet memories of my old college.

I will write more posts about this going-back-to-the-past adventure of mine soon. And post some pics too (hey, all the classrooms are now airconditioned!). I cannot stay long for a longer post... I am using a public PC and I cannot pay for more than 20 pesos. Wow, I am once again, a student.

TRAVEL PACKING TIPS

2008-05-31T15:45:00.002+08:00

When you are about to travel, one of the most important things to consider is your luggage. You do not want to bring too much that you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your trip because of bags that are too heavy and too many. Nor would you want to pack too little that you limit your activities and end up feeling like in a “survival show”. Here are some packing tips that will help every traveler get most out of trip, whether for business or leisure!

1. Before you pack, make a packing list. Yes, you need to get organized for this. Once you have the list, stick to it! This prevents last-minute repackings and may also serve as a checklist for the end of the trip.
2. Plan your wardrobe and consider day and night activities. Bring clothes that can be mixed and matched. Bring accessories that may give a huge difference to same outfits.
3. Check out the weather and culture of the place/country to visit. You wouldn’t want to wear an off-shoulder blouse when visiting a temple. Nor would you want to wear stuffy hot clothes when going to the beach.
4. Do not pack one set of clothes for each occasion. You’ll end up bringing your whole wardrobe. Mix and match and accessorize.
5. Contact your travel agent or the hotel (or the place where you’ll stay) to ask if they offer amenities like hair dryer, shampoo, shaver, etc. That way, you know what to leave behind and that means less bulk. If you want your personalized stuff, bring them as travel kits---the amount to bring is only the amount to be used.
6. Do not bring too much jewelry. Rule of the thumb: do not bring jewelry that you wouldn’t want lost. If you need to bring some, keep it to a minimum.
7. Do not bring things that you can buy at the venue/place. Remember, you want less bulk. Films, batteries, etc can be purchased globally. It will also be a good way for you to get around your area of travel.
8. Always bring your personal emergency kit. It may contain a few meds, a phone card, a considerable amount of cash for emergencies, and a local emergency phonebook.
9. Pack expertly. Know how to fold and maximize your luggage’s shape and pockets. Pack tightly.
10. Put your essentials in your carry-on bag. This may include your medicines, passport (& other travel documents), cash & cards, cellphone, and jewelry.
11. Label your luggage in and out.
12. Enjoy your trip!
=)

Friendship Around the World

2008-05-24T10:34:00.006+08:00

::Start Copy Here::

Rule:

1. Copy from ::Start Copy Here:: through ::End Copy Here::.

2. Add your blog to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs. Just make sure to post this to each of the blog you added in the list.

3. Tag other online friends you know.You don’t need to be tag in order to join. If you want to join just post this one in your blog.

4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list.That way, everyone is happy and can meet new friends too!

5. Come back once in a while to get the master list! Let’s see how this makes our Technorati and PR goes up!

6. DO NOT REMOVE THIS: scrap page made by Yen. Using alphas and tapes from Kate H., flowers from Ida,paper by Catrine.

1. Me and Mine 2.Creative In Me 3.Little Peanut 4. Pea in a Pod 5. Sugar Magnolias 6.Because Life Is Fun 7. Piece o’Kaje 8. Mon a Bric 9. Celebrate Life 10.My Journey11. Deeply In Love 12. Pink and Brown Diaries 13. Happyheart 14. Wilstop 15. FunFierceFab 16. Nita’s Random Thoughts 17. Nita’s Corner 18. Thomas Web Links 19. Thomas Travel Tales 20. Make Money Online 21. Great Finds and Deals 22. PRC Board Exam Results 24. My Wandering Thoughts 25. Nita’s Ramblings 26. Just Me.. Eds 27. Etc Atbp 28. When Silence Speaks 29. Juliana’s Lair 30. Juliana’s World 31. Juliana’s Library 32. Blessed Chic 33. Can of Thoughts 34. Hailey’s Domain 35. Hailey’s Beats and Bits 36. ISL family 37. Arbitrary Thoughts 38. D’ Cooking Mudra 39. My Big Picture 40. Dancing in Midlife Tune 41. Blessings In Life 42. My Colorful World 43. Dare to Blog 44. Life Realities 45. WebGeek Journal DotNet 46. WebGeek Journal 47. Let’s Travel Philippines 49. MY DAILY THOUGHTS AND MOODS 50. A Sweet Taste Of Life 51. My Life in this Wonderful World! 52. Denz Techtronics 53. Denz Recreational 54. Surviving Deplyoment 55. Ester’s Raptured Dreams 56. Nipa Hut 57.Picture Clusters 58. My Wanderings 59.Maiylah’s Snippets 60. EuLehKulit 61. Life Quest 61.Being a wife. Being a Mom. 62. MoMie SPace 63.Woman Xplore 64. PinayWAHM 65. Agring’s Simply Digital 66. Agring’s Home & Garden 67. Agring’s Homecooking & Baking 68. Agring’s Electronics & Entertainments 69. Scrap Addict Sundays 70. Mommy Talks 71. Aggie Scraps 72.Teacher’s Corner 73. My Drift 74. lancernews 75. My so called Life 76. See Me for what You Will… 77. kathycot.com 78. buhaymisis.com 79. All about Mye life 80. Everything has a Reason 81. Life’s Impression 82. Some Thoughts I have 83. Life’s Lessons 84. Just Let Go 85. Pieces Of Me 86. Winding Creek Circle 87. BOTH SIDES NOW 88. Happy Life 89. Blessed Sanctuary 90.Confessions of an Army Life 91. moms….. check nyo 92. Mommy’s Little Corner 93. Wanna Be SuperModel 94. Gandacious 95. Jo-Jo’s Place 96.My Quiet Zone 97. Proud PINAY 98. Simply Jen 99. Jenny Said So 100. A Slice of Life 101. My Blog 102. TIP OF AN ICEBERG 103. Coffee Cup Princess 104. Deranged Insanity 105. Just Another Day 106. Stev & Emz Journey 107.Runaway THoughts of Emz 108. Heart of Rachel 109. Nora’s Notes 110. In the Life Of Mne 111. In my Kitchen 112. Nyumix’s Blog 113. Everything’s Here 114.Out of Nowhere 115. My Simple World 116. Seek Health. Feel Great 117. Smile Puppies 118. Almanacqueen 119. The Life of an Outback Pinay 120. Dancing With Butterflies 121. My Treasures 122. Everything Green 123. 124. Memoirs of a Filipina 125. The Pit Gadgetry! 126. My Daily Life Experience 127. Married and Happy About It 128. My Discoveries 129. iCreate+iDeas 130. My Healthy Living Journal 131. Busy Moms Cook 132. Christian Weekends 133. Reflexes 134. Caramel Corn 135. Sunny Side Up Foodie 136. A Mothers Horizon 137. Bits and Pieces 138. Whats Up! 139. Simply Me 140. Life and Me 141. A Handful of Surprises 142. Anything and Everything in Between 143. from here and beyond 144. The Nameless Blog 145. Exploring Asia 146. Malaya 147. Swan Portraits 148. BUSYNESSWORLD 149. Sprawt 150. Thinking Consciously? 151. BLOGSILOG 152. Cherry’s Comfort Zone 153. DigiScrapz: Captured Memories 154. Buzzy Me 155. Thinking Out Loud 156. Wishing and Hoping 157. Jobs for Davao 158. Jobs for Cebu 159. Filipino Jobs Abroad 160. PRC Board Exam Results 161. Nakedminds 162. Personal 163. Interesting 164. squeeshies 165. Shenzee’s World 166. Geekyology 167. Swanportraits 168. Rumination Under the Clouds 169. In My Home by Ria aka Msculit 170. It’s my Party (and I’ll cry if I want to…) by Ria aka Msculit 171. Malaya 172. Cheese: Jherson84 173. Beans: Jherson 174. EP Treasures 175. Republic of A 176. Nora’s Family Treasures 177. Points of View (Discussion Blog) 178. Gala Tayo! 179. Lucky Peso 180. Buhay Pinoy 181. Pinay Mommy’s Love Blog 182. MOMEMO 183. OnlineBiz and Resources 184. Lourdes’ Mia 185. Pinay Mommy’s DigiScrap and Musings in Life 186. Pinay Mommy Online 187. ‘nna 188. My Sweet Escape 189. The Next Chapter 190. Painted Life 191. Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 192. The Real Deal 193. My Beautiful Life 194. Berry Blog 195. A Tsinay Blog 196. A Celebration of Life 197. My love.mylife.my everything. 198. Gamay and Dako Adventures 199. Ester’s Daily Thoughts 200. Choc Mint Girl 201. I AM KCAT 202. RanZ-Goodies 203. RanZ-Famous 204. A Time to Weep and a Time to Laugh 205. Surviving the Circus of Life 206. The Nook207. Allen’Wifey 208. Fern’s Backyard 209. Amor’s Blog - My Place in Cyberspace 210. The Other Side of Me 211. Stylishbabe111407 212. The Inner Shopper 213. TheGeneralInfoBlog 214. my angels world 215. Pinoy Raket Online 216. My Life 217. BloggingInMyPyjamas 218. Baby Shern 219. Mariel 220. So Real 221. Okay, I am Arms and this is my blog 222.Lucid Creativity 223. Read my Mind 224.A Simple Life 225. My debt blog 226.1stopmom’s blog 227.Mommy Gamer 228. My First One Million Pesos 229. Mindless Thought 230. MommyandMe Boutique 231. My Life’s Labyrinth 232. 100% Kelly 233. Of Colors And Styles 234. KadusMama 235. The Maven 08 235. Rainbows 236. My freehand 237. Sentiments of a Effed-Up Man 238. Princess Vien 239. My freehand 240. Confessions of an Enchanting Princess 241. Marites-Pinay Heart Wanderings and Musings 242. Me, the Islands and the World243. Leaf In Deforest 244. MAX 245. Lhedy 246. Making sense..(somehow) 247. Our Life Together 248. The Chic Shopaholic 249. In Depth 250. That Blog 4 Me 251. A Nice Thought 252. Live it Up! 253. Chronicles and Tales Unlimited (RED) 254. Momhood Moments 256. It’s a woman’s world! 257. Forgotten 258. Esophoria 259. Pixel Dust 260. GladyGirl 261. Uncomplicated 262. Gentle And Compassionate 263. Kwentong Kengkay 264. Mind Juice In Full Throttle 265. Jo’s Precious Thoughts 266. Hobbies and Such 267.Jenny’s Wandering Thoughts 268. 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Filipino in Canada 316. Aeirin’s Collections 317. Dear Me by Ivan Girl 318. BlogScope 319. Guardians 320. Complex Life (Jhelea) 321. A touch of Scrap 322. MeiYah 323. Free Adobe Training, Learn, Tricks, Tips, Beginners, How To, Adobe-Masters.com 324. Lights and Shade 325. Around the World 326. Bloghop 327. YOUR BLOG!

::End Copy Here::

Please NOTE that you are not allowed to change the “HERE” in number 4 to your own blog url. I am making this so that everyone can enjoy the benefit of higher technorati rank and who knows more PR! And being the author of this one, I’d appreciate if you respect that. ;)

I am so tagging everyone in my linkies. And YOU who are currently reading this post!

Perlas ng Silangan!

2008-05-16T21:53:00.005+08:00

If I could only have a house near the beach... sigh...

Here are more pics of Anawangin Cove & Capones Island, Zambales.

See earlier posts for other details =)

banca station--Pundaquit Zambales

2008-05-16T21:42:00.006+08:00

Here are some pics of the Pundaquit ferry station. This is the ferry/banca station used by those who want to reach Capones & Anwangin islands.

A TRIP TO THE VET

2008-05-15T14:53:00.006+08:00

s

Yesterday, I brought my Golden Retriever puppy (yes, he's only a few months old) Zaki to the vet. He had a schedule to receive some shots.

I had a difficult time convincing him to get into the car. He hates car rides, although he's fond of going to different places. He has this one problem with traveling, though... he vomits. And he drools a lot. Somehow, I feel a lot of sympathy to my baby Zaki since I do not really know how it feels to be carsick. And so, yesterday, he puked. Two times!

Once we got off the car and walked to the animal clinic, he became his usual self again: happy, uncaring, friendly and adventurous. He was very well-behaved during the actual examination and the vaccination. The vet and the assistants were impressed and found him to be so cute and friendly. I felt like a proud momma!

To those who are interested in bringing your pets (dogs, cats, etc) to the vet, I would strongly suggest you go to where we went. It's an NGO so the prices are much cheaper than the private clinics plus the vets/aides are so warm towards the pets since they give some kind of personal touch to each one. Here are some details/prices:

Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA)
Address: 2044 C>M> Recto Ave, Manila
Tel.No. 7339427

Pricelist of some services/vaccines:
DA2PL/CPV: Php275
Eurican LR: Php385
Anti-Rabies: Php120
*consultation is just 50 pesos.

=)

COCOBEACH SUMMER

2008-05-13T23:58:00.007+08:00

One of my best vacations was in Cocobeach, Puerto Galera. I was not the kind of person who would so easily spend money on some famous-but-oh-so-expensive resorts around. I was more of a practical person who makes sure that every penny spent was well worth it. Well, Cocobeach met my expectations. It was worth every penny.

Checking their website recently, I found out that the current price for the "banana deluxe house" costs $100 or around 4200 pesos per person for a 3 days-2 nights stay. It might look a bit expensive at first but the good thing about it was that it already includes a (gosh! really delicious!) buffet breakfastPLUS transportation from Manila to the resort itself. From Manila, a private bus would take you to a Batangas ferry station were a ferry boat would then take you for a 2o-30 minute ride to the island/resort.

There are cheaper room rates (dormitory style) and cheaper accommodations (more people in 1 room/house, the cheaper). Another plus point for Cocobeach is that the resort takes pride in its nature theme. Also, you can have a massage or a pedicure, have your laundry washed, have nanny services, or even go snorkeling, island hopping or diving.

If you are looking for a hassle-free vacation with a tropical theme and not so keen on the price, then I would strongly suggest this place.

Just writing about it, makes me want to go back soon. I can feel the sand on my toes and smell the relaxing sea breeze while drinking a refreshing margarita. Sigh.

OPEN HOUSE Little Baguio Terraces

2008-05-10T22:39:00.018+08:00

This morning, I was off to another adventure. This one, though, was just a few steps from my house. My friend, Isaac Dy, invited me to attend the Open House of Little Baguio Terraces, a condominium being built in San Juan. They were in the early stages of pre-selling the units of Tower 1. This new condo venture is also a project of Empire East, the developers of Cambridge Village, Manhattan Garden City, Pioneer Woodlands, Gilmore Heights, etc.

Excited to go, not only because of the free food and drinks but also curious to see the model units, I easily agreed to participate in the event. I also served as an unofficial photographer for my friend/agent Isaac.

Having used up all my food & drink stubs (Ineng's BBQ, Chill, Purefoods), I started off to see the 30 sqm model unit. Needless to say, I fell in love with it! I never imagined that quite a small space can actually have two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area, a cute but luxurious bathroom. For me, the winning factor was the fact that the units will be turned over to buyers complete with the bedroom partitions, vinyl & tile floorings, kitchen sink & countertops and bathroom fixtures. To top it all, they have an amazingly affordable payment scheme. My favorite is the 5-year zero interest pay option.

LBT offers 30 sqm (2-bedroom) unit, 40 sqm unit (3-bedroom)and combined units (2 x 30sqm). They have payment options as low as P11,480/month. So for those planning to buy or invest in a condo unit, I think that this one's a great buy!

As for me, I wasn't able to reserve my dream condo unit today (I will be quite happy with the 30 sqm), but I promise myself to do so in the near, near future. No jinxing pls!

=)

Anawangin Cove -- How to get there-

2008-05-10T21:35:00.007+08:00

For those interested in going to this ala-Boracay paradise, let me tell you first that you have to be aware that since Anawangin Cove (and Capones Island) is uncommercialized, do not expect the usual amenities that resorts offer. This place is more an outdoor type of getaway. Be ready for more adventurous and exciting settings. Here's what you'll need:

1. tent -- they do not offer rooms or cottages in Anawangin cove. Originally, mountaineers frequent this place and they experience the Anawangin paradise without the five-star accommodations.

2. cookset, flashlight/lamp, packed/canned food -- yup, no stoves, no restaurants, no electricity, no phone signal. you don't need them anyway. With the "Blue Lagoon" type of surroundings, you won't need any of those.

3. camera! don't forget this since you'll love taking shots of the place.

How to get there:

1. From Manila, take the Victory Liner Bus going to Iba, Zambales. Fare is approximately 200-200 pesos. Tell the conductor that you'll get off at San Antonio Bayan.

2. From San Antonio Bayan, take a tricycle going to Pundaquit (about 2 towns away, I guess). Tricycle fare is 20 pesos per head (3-4pax/trike). Ask the driver to take you to the banca or boat station going to Anawangin or Capones. This trike drive to Pundaquit takes about 15 minutes. Take note, however, to buy all your needs (ice, drinking water, medicines, food, drinks, etc. at San Antonio town) for there are no stores available once you leave for the islands.

3. From Pundaquit Boat/Banca station, many small boats are for hire. Price per banca costs 1,000 pesos. Four to five persons can be accommodated in 1 boat. For those who fear riding small boats, fear not! because the ride is quite safe and you'll be provided safety vests. The banca ride takes around 20-30 minutes.

4. From the Pundaquit boat station, you can either ask "manong" to go straight to Anawangin Island/Cove or have a side trip to Capones Island. There are 3 beautiful islands near each other and all of them have white sand beaches. Our group sidetripped to Capones Island first (for an additional fee) for picture taking sessions and snorkeling.

5. Capones Island is free, no need to pay. Once you set foot on Anawangin and stay overnight, you need to pay the caretakers 150 pesos for maintenance of the place. The special fees for mountaineers is 100 pesos. You won't feel bad giving the "maintenance fee", though, because the locals really ensure the cleanliness of the place. No beer bottles or cigarette butts lying around like in the commercial resorts.

For those who would want to have the Anawagin adventure, I am sure you will never regret it. The place is really awesome. My photos don't give justice to the beauty of the place. As they say in Anawangin...

"Once you try Anawangin, you'll always be back."
and
"What's done/said in Anawangin, stays in Anawangin!"

=)

Beach Paradise in Zambales

2008-05-07T12:51:00.003+08:00

To start off the summer, my friends and I went camping on the beautiful beaches of Anawangin Island, Zambales. As a side trip, we also hopped to Capones Island.

To be honest, I've never heard of those places before we went there so my expectations weren't so high. Thinking of white sand beaches, the first thought that comes to mind is Boracay. But once we set foot on Capones and Anawangin, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn't believe my eyes.

Pristine whites sand beaches plus immaculate evergreen/pine trees combined with the uncommercialized peaceful beauty of the place. Here are some photos of the beautiful islands of Anawangin and Capones.

For my next post, I will include details on how to get there, the preparations needed, and the possible itineraries for those interested in getting to this paradise.