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A Very Timely Health Investment: Be a Member of Walgreens and Get Discounts on Prescriptions All-Year Round

2012-01-21T06:01:00.001+08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

In times of certain economic uncertainties, the last thing we need is a weak health. Although we can prevent catching various forms of illness and disease via clean and healthy living, there are still times that we might eventually catch a few colds, coughs, and flu, so what is left to do? The answer is getting a very timely membership at Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens.

Health is wealth. You can not perform basic everyday responsibilities like work, school and even socializing with friends and family if you are sick; nor can you enjoy or reward your self with a failing health. Thus, it is only natural to anticipate such possible health scenario. A very timely health investment is necessary for us to address such health and financial uncertainties. Medicine and treatment doesn't come cheap, but Walgreens offers a solution to that if you join their Prescription Savings Club. Walgreens offer a $5 a year prescription savings club account for individuals, or a $10 a year family membership which covers everyone in your immediate family including a spouse, dependents (22 and younger), and even pets.

The benefits for an annual Walgreens Prescription Savings Club membership includes:

Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications.
Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers, and diabetic supplies.
Bonuses on purchases of Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.

You can also get news and updates from Walgreens on various social networking websites. Check out Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook.

For Philippine Television Networks Consideration: Create An All-Original Filipino Tokusatsu Series Seriously for the Younger Television Audience

2012-01-17T20:13:00.001+08:00

An All-Original Filipino-Made and Produced Tokusatsu Series Taken Seriously for Younger Philippine Television Audience
By Christopher Aquino, January 17, 2012.

We are who we are thanks to the things we experienced in our lives. There are also some factors that influence and shapes us, one of which is the mass media. Mass media plays a very critical and important role in shaping the minds of the youth, the world's future leader. So as much as possible we need to protect them as our future may very well depend on them right? But what does the mass media, mainly he television provide our children? A regular weeknight primetime soap operas which regularly tackles convoluted plots with adult themes like infidelity, LGBT (Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender) suggestions and innuendos, betrayal, revenge, sex, and murder, which all are unsuited for the young minds of the children. In a way parents are also to blame for not adhering to the television show warnings and guidelines (Parental Guidance) provided by the MTRCB "effectively" placed before each show. I am no moralist or anyone so fixated with such extreme ideals that I actually suggest taking the fun out of the usual simple things. I am not against the removal of such shows for it is a source of entertainment for adults, but they have to also give something for the children to chew on. While to adults, adult themes are just part of the norm, to children they are a bizarre and sometimes very overwhelming. Thus, the curiosity comes in, and when you have issues like betrayal, sex, revenge, and sexual innuendos then that is a deadly mix with a child's natural curiosity. As a matter of fact I liked my politically incorrect violent kids television shows (cartoons) back in the days, and that is probably one factor that made me who I am today, a geek, which is the new "cool" and "sexy" of the 21st century.

I still can remember the times that I come home from school to watch my favorite cartoon shows in the afternoon, wake up early to catch that early morning kid's show, or impatiently wait until it's 5 o'clock in the afternoon to watch my favorite tokusatsu series every weekends. Speaking of tokusatsus, let's focus more on that, shall we? According to Wikipedia "Tokusatsu" is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects. Tokusatsu literally translates as "special filming" in Japanese. Back in the days, the three or four television companies IBC (Ch13), ABS CBN (Ch2), RPN (Ch9), and GMA (Ch7) features such forms of "kid-friendly" entertainment. Yup, it was a different era (the roaring 90's) that time, tv networks actually listens to the pulse of the mass by importing foreign shows abroad which go way back from the 80's. From American series to Japanese tokusatsus and animes, everyone had the option to what channel to go to to get their specific fix. I remember waiting for Ultraman and MagmaMan in ABS CBN (I wish my memory served me right), waiting for Maskman, MachineMan, Shaider, and Masked Rider Black on IBC 13, and Dragon Balls on RPN 9. They were every parents dream programming, to turn to one station which both entertain them and their children alike. I can remember father, taking the initiative to actually tune in to an episode of Masked Rider Black back in those days. It was a hot topic amongst boys when in school. "Did you see Robert Akizuki beat the crap out of that monster?!" is one of the sample lines one can hear from a group of classmates in our elementary school back then. But now, what?

Kamen Rider Black a testimony that Tokusatsu has a place in Philippine television scene

Although I had to give acknowledgement to the two major Philippine television network for coming out with television adaptation of some of Philippine comics most reverred superheroes, and creating the fantaserye (fantasy television series) Philippine programming category, they are not enough to entertain every generations of audiences. Let's say one generation had the opportunity to enjoy a super hero series like Pandakekoks, Kristala, Pintados, or Captain Barbel, but what about the generations that comes after that? Although I can also suggest for television networks to make all their classic super hero shoes available in home video format, but nothing beats the live primetime television version right? This is where Japan excels in providing entertainment for every generation of child audiences. They have the tokusatsu television tradition. This is where I am hoping the Philippine television networks could consider... to create an on-going all-original Filipino-made tokusatsu or super hero series.

TV Networks can pull this off. They already did create such special effect filled super hero television series like Panday, Captain Barbell, Darna, LastikMan, Flash Bomba, and Super Inggo to name a few. One of the most notable but negatively received series that a TV Network has ever come closed to making a Filipino tokusatsu is GMA Network's Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan, the Philippine TV Network's version or rather a loosely based sequel of the popular 1984-1985 classic Japanese Metal Hero "Space Sheriff Shaider". Shaider was a beloved classic to those who grew up watching the popular metal hero series, so when Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan, a 2007 series looks way inferior than the 1984 predecessor Space Sheriff Shaider that it draws inspiration from, it was only natural for the majority of the Shaider and generally tokusatsu fans spoiled with the top notched quality Japan has brought them to hate and complain about the unofficial Filipino sequel, Zaido. On the other hand, the newer generation of Filipino kids (Philippine televiewing mass) didn't mind it which is an obvious clear sign of the potential of a possible successful tokusatsu series. If only the TV Network listened to that community.

The problem with Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan is that it followed the traditional time slot of every Filipino soap opera. The Philippine television viewing public was presented with a 20-minutes-a-day primetime series every weeknights rather than following the trusted Japanese timeslot formula of one 30-40 minute episode a week format. Being only once a week could give more time for the production team to polish the visual and special effects used in every major monster fights, but since Zaido is a weeknights series then it is expected for the show to have a poorly applied special effects that even a nine twelve year old would notice as a fake. If only the TV Network has taken the tokusatsu tv series more seriously, and focused more on a niche market the kids. If they only dropped all the unnecessary soap opera-ish drama cliches uncalled for a superhero series, focusing more on convincing special effects, engaging plot, awesome fight sequences and creative monster and superhero designs, then the network might had something special in their hands back then. Unfortunately, Zaido just miserably fail.

Learning from the failure that is Zaido, I believe that there is money (for tV Networks) and entertainment (for the Philippine TV audience) to have in the super hero or tokusatsu genre that is taken seriously. It is time for the (now three) leading Philippine television networks (ABS CBN, GMA, and TV5) to invest and engage on a much more younger television audience by not only importing foreign shows, but by making an all-Filipino tokusatsu or super hero series in a one-hour time format presented on a once a week basis (preferably weekends). If the TV Networks followed the Japanese kind of tokusatsu TV Series formula, then they can create a new niche, a loyal following, and amoney making merchandise. Appealing to kids, Japanese tokusastu series like the Kamen Rider and the Super Sentai created this unique audience where they can successfully market the various merchandise like plush toys, collectible cards, action figures, and video games related to the series that kids loved to watch. So imagine, if a Philippine TV Network does create something as popular and phenomenal like an annual series similar to what a Kamen Rider or Super Sentai series is like, then they don't only have a competitive show with good ratings which brings moe advertising for them, but it can also bring them new money making machinery. Tokusatsu shows are presented on a once a week showing basis for it gives the series more lifespan which is good for any of its merchandise. Just imagine how many toy merchandise can a company make under such titles, and repeat that same success year after year if they established this unique market. As long as the TV Network takes the genre seriously, then their audience will take them seriously. In a way, they are also training these young audience to become loyal followers which will itself sustain the new TV genre for as long as the company can keep doing it.

Hopefully the Philippine TV Networks can consider making an all-Filipino tokusatsu series seriously even if it is aimed at a younger audience.

My Diyes Sentimos on Amaya's Epic Finale: "Amaya" Television Series Ending Review

2012-01-13T21:39:00.000+08:00

Friday, January the 13th of 2011 marks the day that GMA Network's fictional epic television series Amaya shall finally end. Probably by this time, GMA's epic-serye is already over and this is why I am making this television ending review for the popular primetime soap. So what do I think of Amaya's Ending? Who's asking, well no one, but this is still my two cents or should I say my diyes sentimos (ten cents) on Amaya's epic finale.

Amayaaaaa Jesuuuuus! What the hell am I saying? Well, Amaya finally was able to walk on water (you know like Jesus) after praying to Laon (ancient god) for blessings. Thus having the power to call forth a sleeping legendary monstrosity, the Bakunawa, a Philippine mythological sea serpent. To whatever reason as to why Laon (the god of the Amaya lore) bestowed this divine-like power only seen on diwatas (fairy) to Amaya beats the hell out of me. Well, if the gods provided her powers right from the start, then we won't have this show to talk about. Oh well it is the ending, so it is only fitting for the series to feature over the top sequences. And what better way to end the series most hated villain, Dian Lamitan (Gina Alajar), than with a death by being devoured alive by a sea serpent. I only had this question in mind while the scene where Amaya was walking on water and the Bakunawa on her side... What the hell were the gods thinking to finally favor Amaya on that finale with Lamitan? To whatever that reason is, we will never know as it was never explained. It is just as it is and that is somehow insulting to a thinking audience and as for someone who observed the fictional story's lore. Well, the CGI Bakunawa looks "decent" for a Philippine produced television series and it is of GMA Network's standard; if you call it their standard.

So it is a happy ending for the series loving couple (Bagani and Amaya), right? Well, well not yet as the two are forced to take responsibilities as leaders to the people whom they ruled on. The show then fast forwards to a time when Banuk (Now Rocco Nacino) and Alunsina (Kris Bernal) are all grown up. The feisty Alunsina dared to answer a question asked by Banuk for the his brother, the Raja (tribe's leader). If I were the leader or even as the brother of the leader, then I would scold this meddlesome babaylan not to butt in on conversation of other people. I laughed thinking about this particular situation, thinking of an in your face joke ala Vice Ganda or Bubble Gang's Mr. Assimmo. May I also commend Rocco Nacino for speaking so good deep Tagalog words. You made me realize that there is still hope for the average joe to make it big in Philippine showbizness, Hahahaha. The Narrator (Kris Bernal) continually describes what happened next. The Philippine ancient slave system was somehow improved thanks to the joint effort of all the tribe's leaders headed by of course Bagani and Amaya. That slaves have now the opportunity to buy themselves out of slavery and become ordinary citizens, which ultimately is a happy ending for all of them. This then made the rest of the country strong and made the people one. A short clip of Magellan (Dingdong Dantes) on 1521 docking in Mactan, then fighting Lapu-Lapu was shown. For you know... historical accuracy which made me laughed thinking about it.

Bagani (Sid Lucero) seeing that his tribe is already self-sustaining, finally decides to leave his tribe to pursue a life with the woman he loves. Well, duh! Finally! He arrived at Amaya's tribe to be with her, but was shocked to see a boy called Amaya his mother. Bagani was disheartened to learned that Amaya has somehow moved on during the time that they were apart and potentially had a child with another man. But to everyone's surprise (well not really), that the kid was their (Bagani and Amaya's) child. To whatever kind of stupid reason as to why Amaya didn't tell Bagani was never explained by the Narrator (Alunsina - Kris Bernal). I guess that scene would look more dramatic with that twist, well I think it is funny. Then it fast forward again and the narrator is now an old woman. Alunsina is now an old woman and the Chief Babaylan who is educating her priestess in training about the valiant Amaya and Bagani. Then the volcano whom she said is the dwelling place of the gods suddenly errupted. she then tells that the times are changing and she saw a vision of conquerors seizing the land, but there will still be warriors like Amaya whom will rise up and fight these tyrants. Finally we have a montage of scenes of the best of Amaya and then the film just ends with a Gluthathione like endorsement shot of Amaya. Oh boy, was Marian's skin so white in that flashback. Then the series just ends without even showing off the series credits. The least that the network could do is give the team some acknowledgement or pat in the back for making a primetime soap that made decent rating for the show. Oh well, they ARE running out of time, and Munting Heredera is up next so what the hell, let's just end the series like that.

What I hated in past GMA Kapuso Network teleserye (television series) endings was the feeling that they felt rushed. They did this on series that made poor ratings, what's the use of keeping something that is not selling right? I think GMA or any tv network owes the people who managed to watch and see the such poorly rated and received television series a decent ending. Given that a series sucked in ratings, but what about those who supported it? They need a resolution or a decent conclusion to a series they learned to like, even love. So, was Amaya guilty of the same Kapuso teleserye rushed ending scenario? Luckily, Not... completely. Amaya did good on the ratings anyway so I think they owe it to everyone to give the series enough justice. Although it had some cheesy and stupid parts, I think it is a fitting end for a fictional historical television epic. Amaya was a decent primetime television series that managed to somehow educate the everyday household or the Philippine mass couch potatoes a little about our ancient history and a few deep Tagalog, Cebuano, and Bisayan words, but don't expect to see any realism or a depiction of the life back in ancient Philippines. How can you even believe that women are treated as an equal to man and even became a leader on a politically incorrect ancient Philippines dominated by men. Not only that but they women all looks so pretty and white, I would be more convinced if Amay was more ancient Hispanics rather than Filipino if you base the series based on the skin and features of the characters who portrayed ancient Filipinos. I would be more convinced if they made Rochelle Pangilinan as Amaya out of skintone realism, but the network of course knows better.

Amaya was fun while it lasted. We had a few laughs on some parts of the ending and there were questions unanswered but nothing that ruined the entire series. Amaya was an entertaining show that provided a very fictionalized ancient Philippines.

It's More Fun In The Philippines DOT Slogan Online Pinoy Community Discussion Extravaganza

2012-01-09T19:04:00.000+08:00

It's More Fun in The Philippines is the latest (second) tourism campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT) under the Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III's regime. Pilipinas Kay Ganda was the DOT's first slogan which was coldly received by majority of Filipinos both online and off because of its obvious resemblance to another country's tourism slogan. This time it is "It Is More Fun in The Philippines" turn to go under such scrutiny.

Wherever you go in the Philippines, it's the Filipinos that will make your holdiay unforgettable. Just ask anyone who's bee here. In fact, Lonely Planet guidebook calls us 'among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere'.

Find out for yourself why it’s more fun in the Philippines.
And make the most out of your next vacation.

The Republic of Philippines' Official Department of Tourism Slogan for 2012 It's More Fun In the Philippines http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/

Knowing online Filipinos uncontrollable urge to just speak out when online (Hurray for Democracy!!!), the 2012 tourism slogan that just went online, immediately went viral. For almost a complete day or two, Filipino netizens join in the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" DOT discussion. some gave their unrelenting positive support for the new slogan, while others seem to find fault at its simplicity and wordiness, while others hated it for having a resemblance to Switzerland's classic 1951 tourism campaign.

Switzerland's 1951 tourism campaign resembling Philippines 2012 tourism campaign

Being the "democrazies" that most Filipinos are they started with this heated discussion over Facebook, Twitters, and even at their blogs. You can say that this post is riding that wave, but I beg to differ. As the It's more fun in the Philippines website said and let me quote on them on that In fact, Lonely Planet guidebook calls us 'among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere'. I am one of those easygoing Pinoys. The new 2012 DOT slogan didn't evoked any feelings of hate towards anything else. I am already done being a pessimist and a "negatron", so I generally game my thoughts on the new slogan.

#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines is a decent slogan to help the country's tourism. Way better than #PilipinasKayGanda. Remember that one? :D
Jan 6

Wow na Wow Philippines sa #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines . Hahaha Democrazy at its finest! Everyone is free to express their views and opinion.
Jan 6

But wait there is more! Call within the next five minutes and we'll include this $50 blender absolutely free coz #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines
Jan 6

#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines because Filipinos can get so worked up with a mere slogan. Yes! For my opinion is far better than yours. LoL
Jan 7

Honestly take a break guys. You don't have to start a word war over trivial stuff or something that doesn't directly impact your lives.
Jan 7

Still seeing people fighting and getting pissed over each other's view on #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines slogan. Can u guys take it a easy?
Jan 9

As seen on my TWITTER ACCOUNT (Follow me there ;-) ).

We don't have to force our belief or views of something to someone who doesn't share the same views us we do. Sure there are people who will view it differently than yours and in a way that is healthy. That is what makes the Philippines more fun, democracy and the freedom of speech (freedom to express). Sure there will be views that could annoy you and go against your every perspective, but try to relax and let it pass. At the end of the day what truly matters is that the Department of Tourism made a new slogan that was received well by the community, and was not negatively received in general.

Again, two different opinion can coexist on a democratic country and the online Filipino cyberspace. The same as how Like Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics, etc can coexist in this country. Sure there will be conflict but if we just let each other at their business then there wouldn't be any problem.

Knowing Half of the Battle with Sports Betting Online

2012-01-06T00:29:00.001+08:00

Life is a big gamble, you win some and you lose some. We stand from where we last fell and learn from it, and face another challenge ahead. This is probably why gambling is so easy and natural for us, but like real life you can increase your odds of winning by knowing half of the battle. "How can you know it?" one might ask, and the answer lies on a reliable and trusted online sports betting source.

Sports betting has become the new means to gamble nowadays. Almost every sports program are publicly available and accessible, and thus the rise of the new "game". But like any other forms of gambling you must be cautious, knowledgeable and smart on how you play your game. According to a popular saying "it is anyone's ballgame" and true enough it is. The first tip is to play in a legal manner and avoid fraudulent sportsbooks out there just to fool you off your hard earned money. The next step is knowing the possible outcome of a game. You just don't place your wager on a NBA sports betting game right off the bat, one must first learn how the teams play. If one don't have all the time to do their research, then their best bet is to listen to a reliable source or an authority when it comes to predicting the possible outcome of a spots game. Then and only then, you can place all your bets and cross your fingers. Thus increasing your chances of winning.

A 2012 Birthday: Reflections from a Twenty Six Year Old Bloger

2012-01-02T11:46:00.000+08:00

To start off let me greet everyone a Happy 2012 New Year. This is my first blog post for the 2012 and also my birthday post, so here it goes.

A latest photo of me as of December 24, 2011

Yours truly was born on the 2nd day of January of 1986, so this year I am already 26 and what can I reflect so far? Well I spent Christmas and New Year penniless, no thanks to my easy go-lucky attitude. That plus the fact that I lost my online home-based freelance writing work of three years last November 2011, and since then I've successfully become a total freeloader in our (parents) house. That isn't something to be proud of, and after this unnecessary rest I have already planned the things to do in order o get out of this current financial mess. I am going to try out a few online things and if that doesn't work out then I am off to becoming a corporate slave, just like everyone else (no offense meant).

So what has change within the past twenty six years of my existence? Well I am more outgoing and positive. I am no longer searching for something that isn't there, and in some way that gave me a peace of mind. A belief system that makes perfect sense, unlike what I used to believed in. My sense of humor has become more mature, leading to the adult humor category which has got me into trouble once or twice the past year. This is probably good for the jolly old me, but bad for the people who can't take an adult joke or two. I am more concern about my family specifically my parents than ever before, maybe it is because of maturity but nevertheless I am still thankful for it. I have become a little more insensitive and mature, I used to be affected with what people think of me and if people don't remember me. but now screw them for not remembering me (Hahaha just kidding to my friends). I might just outgrew that selfish side of me. Everybody has their own lives and it is time to prioritize and focus on my own. They will still be around. I am more flirtatious now because if I don't then I won't get laid Hahahaha, what I mean to say was if i don't act to mingle with the opposite sex then I won't experience to be loved and be loved romantically just like every normal person out there, but I am not rushing it. Just being a big flirt hahaha. I don't know if that sounded nice. I am more creative in some way, but frustrated in a sense that I can't seem to materialize those ideas because of the lack of resources and generally the lack of discipline; I need to work on those two things this year.

I plan on having a minimum of a hundred thousand in my bank account. What big plans coming from someone who doesn't have a single penny and owe some people money. Hopefully if things go well, this might not seem impossible. I am already 26, and I have told myself that by 27 I plan on looking for someone to spend my life with in legal matrimony, but I can't do that without moolah! So here is to 2012. For a more proactive year for me and transition from an old sorry state to a new better me. Cheers to 2012 and hope the Mayans are wrong.

Patawad, Papatawarin, Wala, Sa Pasko Na: A Filipino's Guide to Turning Down Christmas Caroling

2011-12-19T20:26:00.000+08:00

Ah! It is that merry month again once a year where you hear the innocent and jolly voices of children and adults singing songs of praises, letting you know that it is Christmas, and naturally you just want to shout "PATATAWARIN!", "PATAWAD!", "WALA!", "SA PASKO NA!", or if you are a lot more sinister let them exhaust themselves singing without giving any attention to them... DEADMA lang ba? Hahaha. It is a funny thought right, but what is funnier is when you apply it every Christmas season.

A decent example of what this post is all about. A photo from "My Silent Sanctuary's Blog" post on PATAWAD.

I've tried serenading a few of our neighbors once with a Christmas carol, I think I was eight that time. It was a different era that time, the 90's. During those times public transportation fare, cost of living (utilities, rent, and daily expenses) weren't that high, and people were generally all loving and warm-hearted everyday Catholics. Fast forward that to today and turn all what I've said around, and now rejecting those neighborhood kids (and adults, LoL) who just want a buck from you is so much easier. To everyday hardworking Filipino middle-class families, every coin counts. Once the Christmas season hits in full throttle mainly starting from December 16 (Simbang-Gabi series) to the December 25 (Christmas Day), some home owners fear such innocent Christmas Carols.

But we here at the Aquino residence have already grown tired of it all, especially that we now own a Sari-sari store. We are literally a fire that attracts a moth of carolers. We are your modern day practical middle class Filipino family. We only earn a small amount of income from the sari-sari store and it is foolish to just give that away for a duration of 10 days. Instead of wasting hundreds of pesos for the everyday Filipino Christmas carolers (kids and adults alike). We just say those popular Christmas "Bah! Humbug!" lines like PAPATAWARIN, PATAWAD, WALA, o SA PASKO NA. We don't live in a high class subdivision or village, so while others find it adorable and entertaining to be serenaded a few times a week by children in the duration of that Christmas week, we here at the barangay level are irritated with the same "sa aming bahay ng aming bati" Christmas carol for every freaking day. What is also irritating is that these kids are devious in a way that they separate into one, two, three groups, and even as single one man caroler to just to get more buck from us. There also have been times when we have seen the same faces of kids for over four times just for that single night alone but for different groups. Others even hid themselves in the darkness of the night or the shrubs nearby while their "accomplice" do most of the singing to not get detected. This just spoils the whole Christmas caroling thing. So here is some of is my personal guide on how to reject and say those Christmas Carol Rejection lines without the guilt.

Use hand gestures like waving, or showing them that you have nothing (turning or twisting an open hand back and forth), or shooing them if you want to remain anonymous, but who are you kidding? right?
Try the direct approach which always works best. Say PATAWAD!, PAPATAWARIN!, WALA!
Make a written placard and post it in your gate, door or window or somewhere where the Carolers would clearly see this. Just jhope that these kids learn how to read or you'll just doing the first two examples.
Try turning off most of your house lights to give the illusion that nobody is home or is already sleeping. We have evaded both children and adult Christmas carolers using this method in the past. It usually works except for those carolers who care less if you are already sleeping just to get money from you.
If you have a relative far away or a vacation house, it is the best time to get out of the neighborhood until Christmas just to evade such carolers. If you plan to travel it is also the best time to do it starting on the 16th of December onward.
Place your aggressive dogs in front of the gate to scare of kids. Enraged dogs barking muffles the scared Filipino children caroling.
You can also just ignore and deny that hey are there. You sure will be criticize for being a snob and an inconsiderate douche, but that would teach them that all their efforts are worthless. This one method we have tried only once or twice with kids especially those who don't listen to first rejection.
This one we haven't tried yet and I don't think we'll ever will, but I want to do personally. That is to just talk to the carolers and say that I am not a Catholic or Christian, and I do not believe in Christmas. That would give the impression to the Carolers or remind them yearly that the person in the house doesn't care about a religious sect's tradition.

But being in a Catholic family, all of these seemingly Scrooge ways of evading and turning down Christmas carols are set aside for only one day. The 24th day of December "Christmas Eve", we finally allow Christmas carolers to do what they like. A time when we are finally act like normal grateful Filipino Catholics (even if I am no longer one). The three kings only gave their presents at the birth of Christ, and we are far from being luxurious kings. Even a fictitious jolly old man like Santa, but even Santa only gives presents on Christmas Day alone. We are a practical middle class Filipino family and patawad is a practical counter action to that very impractical tradition of Christmas Caroling.

Okay ng matawag na barat, kesa kami naman maghirap..

Eat Bulaga's All for Juan, Juan for All Sugod Bahay Gang December 17, 2011 Willie Revillame Laugh Out Loud Moment: EB Dabarkads Turned One Slip Up Into a Genuinely Funny Moment

2011-12-18T10:49:00.000+08:00

An Episode of Eat Bulaga's All for Juan Juan for All aired last December 17, 2011 made a lot of Filipino televiewers laugh their hearts out when a chosen Sugod Bahay Gang winner made a slip up in pronouncing Wally's name to Willie (Revillame) which became a very entertaining moment for the next ten minutes or so.

Eat Bulaga has always been the undisputed noontime show here in the Philippines, but that does not mean that there won't be a any competition for it. This is when the competing network (ABS CBN Kapamilya) made a series of noontime shows (defunct today) to compete with it. The closest of these shows that would actually proved to be a somewhat decent competition was Wowowee which eventually was cancelled because of a misunderstanding of the Kapamilya Network and Willie Revillame. Willie Revillame now found a new home in TV 5 Kapatid Network with first Willing Willie which also got cancelled because of a child abuse case/incident, but later reformatted to Wiltime Bigtime. Somehow the wounds of the past were "somehow" healed between the hosts of Eat Bulaga and Noontime shows featuring Revillame. The most controversial is probably humorous but mostly below the belt hits between Joey de Leon and Willie Revillame. Now being under the TV 5 Kapatid Network, the celebrities from Eat Bulaga and Willie Revillame shows share the same audience every day but not in a competitive way. As I make this post, Wiltime Bigtime is scheduled from Mondays to Saturdays at around 6pm, The Jose and Wally Show featuring Vic Sotto comes after Wiltime Bigtime every Satuday night, and Wow Mali is every Sunday Night. It was also became a news when Willie and Joey eventually became "friends" but to whether this is the real deal or something superficial is left to one's imagination.

No one network has a monopoly over the Filipino viewing audience and this is healthy, if not normal. Dealing with the everyday Filipino mass is what noontime shows do and they usually anticipate slip ups from contestants. There have been incidents where contestants from Wowowee thanked Eat Bulaga or the Kapuso Network rather than their show or network, and vice versa. So when slip ups like this happen, it is up to the hosts of the shows to turn the table around, most of the time it is a very awkward, but the EB Dabarkads made it to something hilarious last Saturday, December 17. Having shows on TV5 may also helped with the easing of the very awkward moment. Jose Manalo imitated Willie Revillame down to his very irritating negative attitude, his arrogance. On a similar note, because of this slip up, the Sugod-Bahay Gang winner only received a smaller price because of this slip up. Yes, the sum given to the winner was probably reduced because of this as noticed in Jose's statement when you watch the video as he stated that the money supposed to be awarded should be forty thousand pesos - "Forty thousand dapat yan eh". I have also noticed this on past Juan for All All for Juan Sugod Bahay Gang Episodes. The amount they gave usually plays around the thirty thousand to as high as fifty thousand peso range, depending on the likability and financial status of the winner of the day. I don't think this is a nice move from Eat Bulaga's part, this make them appear a little bitter of the said slip up. But hey they are the one's giving the prices, so the winner shouldn't really complain much on it. They also managed to mentioned Willie Revillame and his segments in the past which transcends the Network Wars, I guess they will probably get a memo for doing this thing, or not. The Youtube video is receiving mostly positive hits, so that has to account to something, right?

Watch Jose Manalo imitated Willie Revillame in Sugod-Bahay Gang Juan for All All for Juan Dec 17, 2011 Episode here:

By now you might have noticed that I am not a fan of Willie Revillame. The annoying thing is that people in our house watch the said show which sometimes also forces me to watch it. Being an everyday Filipino televiewer, I am (in a shallow way) thankful for those Wiltime Bigtime dancers performing in skimpy and sexy outfit. It makes watching the said sow a little less of a task than a natural thing. This made me excited to see Wiltime Bigtime episode on that day which was not normal. I like intrigues and exchanges of Joey and Willie in the past, sothis is probably the main reason why I am looking forward for it. Well in some way, Willie managed to react to this in a very unconvincing and pretentious way. Sorry fans of Willie Revillame, in my opinion, I just don't find him that sincere of a person.

Watch Willie Revillame in Wiltime Bigtime react to Jose Manalo immitation and Eat Bulaga Poking fun of him in All for Juan, Juan for All December 17, 2011 Sugod Bahay Gang Episode

This is probably one of the best Eat Bulaga episode for me this year. Thanks to those industrious Pinoy Youtube Users who managed to capture and upload this genuinely funny moment from Eat Bulaga. What about you guys? What can you say about the Eat Bulaga December 17 2011 All for Juan Juan for All Sugod-Bahay Gang Episode? on Willtime Bigtime's Reaction to it? Share your thoughts on the comments section below:

The Allegory of Bubble Gang's CheChe Bureche Skit

2011-12-15T14:25:00.000+08:00

Besides being the longest running comedy show in the Philippines, Bubble Gang in my opinion is one of the smartest shows out there. It does not only make you laugh for a good hour once a week (Friday nights) but subconsciously educates you on the reality of life. Bubble Gang features smart comedy every now and then.

Bubble Gang's Cheche Bureche skit stars Ogie Alcasid as the rich daughter named Cheche, Michael V. as the half-sister of Cheche who grew up in the slums, and Antonio Aquitania as their loving and unaware father. Each episode features the struggle of Cheche under her oppressive and plain old bully of a half-sister Bureche. Bureche seems to be the model child, kind and loving half-sister to CheChe when their father is around but as soon as he turns his back on them, the little devil starts picking up on the jolly and kind-hearted Cheche. Justice eventually prevails however as each bullying costs Bureche to suffer in the end.

Almost every Filipinos grew up watching generic Philippine cinema stereotypes like the rich are oppressive and evil, while the poor are always the victim and hero of every story. The Bubble Gang's skit pokes fun at this stereotype and turns it around. The funny thing is that it really is a reflection of reality. Watching the news, where "professional" squatters are so stubborn when being forced out on a piece of land which was never theirs is one proof of this reality. Another example is of who is it that victimized hard working middle class and well-off people, isn't it usually the "poor" criminals? I always see such reports ending with the criminal justifying his acts by saying "Wala na kaming makain" (We no longer have food to eat.) or "Kailangang kailangan lang talaga ng pera" (We are in desperate need of money). This is the reality of life, which is sad in the sense, but it is (what I think) probably the inspiration behind such Filipino television gag show skits. I am not generalizing all Filipinos who live under impoverish conditions are all like that, but no thanks to a selected dimwitted and opportunistic few, they have turned the usual goody good image of the poor Filipino mass into something society would hate. I personally know a couple of people who live under such poor conditions. The only difference is that they dream and made that dream come true by working hard in life. I am so proud of them now as they are all well off now, with good steady career and a well-off type of living.

Bubble Gang's Cheche Bureche Skit "Painting" episode.

Bubble Gang's Cheche Bureche skit somehow tickles most Filipinos funny bones by presenting the reality is a satirical kind of way. That everyone can be a bully and that it doesn't always have to be people who are in the upper or rich social class to be the ones responsible over the misfortune of their financially less-fortunate counterparts. That like you and me, everyone is capable of committing good and evil.

Bureche doing her signature ARGH! fail shout of despair.

Looking for Tagalog Love Quotes? Metro Manila Barkada Got You Covered!

2011-12-09T16:21:00.001+08:00

Love can bring out the "cheesiness" in most people when in love. Filipinos in particular can be very romantic towards their special someone. Whether they are on the courting stage or already in a relationship, there will always come a time when love birds need to go on separate ways. So the question is what is left for them to express their love towards each other? The answer is by a healthy exchange of sometimes silly but always romantic Tagalog love quotes.

Some good Tagalog Quotes that is bursting with cheesy but romantic goodness.

"Nagseselos ako sa mga taong nagiging malapit sayo. Lalo na at wala ako. Hindi naman sa selfish ako o possessive. Takot lang akong maging masaya ka sa iba at makalimutan mo kung paano kita napasaya."

"If you feel so sad, lean on my shoulder. If you want to cry, eto panyo. Pero pag di mo na kaya, yakap na lang kita. Para feel mo, hindi ka nag-iisa. Nandito lang me lagi just 4u!"

"Kahit ilang beses pa akong masaktan dahil sayo, di kita iiwan, di ako susuko. Dahil kung may 100 dahilan para iwan ka, hahanap pa rin ako ng isang dahilan para ipaglaban ka."

You wouldn't believe the volume of romantic and love quotations available for one to use. One can send them to people on a regular basis, but if you want your recipient to drown with your uncanny silliness and love towards them, try creating your own love quotes. As much as possible avoid sending old and re-used love quotes to your special someone. Try spinning an old one and give it with your own twist, your unique take. You can get various inspiration from various tagalog quotes online. Depending on your partner's tolerance or your guts, you can either be too cheesy or just be the dashing romantic type. Everything depends on the execution. Although sending them love quotes and keeping a steady communication amidst the distance matters, what a couple should always keep in mind, is to keep the love alive. Nurture it and let it take its natural course. Be loyal and accept each other no matter what. For mere words are nothing without action and true love.

Remembering the MetroPop 2000 Entry "Imbisibol" Performed by Michael V.

2011-12-05T16:54:00.001+08:00

Besides the "Millennium Bug", 2000 was also the year of the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival or simply MetroPop 2000 where Michael V. performed "Imbisibol". Right off the bat I would like to apologize if I fail to recognize who is the creative genius behind the song "Imbisibol". I hope somebody would enlighten me with the composer's name later. I am a big fan of Filipino comic genius Micheal V. so even if I am not into music and the MetroPop songwriting and later star search competitions, I was eventually attracted to went seeing it back in 2000.

I was but a fledgling back then, and Michael V together with Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon were the few local artists where I got my inspiration from when it come to humor. Micahel V (from the defunked ABC 5's Tropang Trumpo) was already in Bubble Gang back then, and was notorious (popular) on spoofing various local and international songs with his MTB (Musik Tagalog Bersyon) and MEV (Music English Version), so when Micahel V was announced to sing and perform one of the entries from the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival 2000, I was generally ecstatic to see how will GMA's comedic genius do. So did he delivered? The answer is a resounding yes. Too bad that there wasn't a single Youtube clipwhere Michael V performed "Imbisibol" on stage, nor any pictures taken from the competition. But luckily there is still a recording uploaded on Youtube of "Imbisibol"...

Check Out the MetroPop 2000 entry "Imbisibol" by Michael V.

"Imbisibol" is a song tells about a one way love or a crush where the man singing the song is completely invisible (thus "Imbisibol") to the eyes of the one he loves. Although he is not the kind of man that every girl would fall in love with, he is the type that can offer true love to a lucky woman who would only return and notice his love. Eventually there is no resolution in this song for the singer. "Imbisibol" is a song for those people who have crushes or secretly loves someone but ails to make that someone notice them... a song for the hopeless romantic.

Imbisibol borrows some popular tunes or themes from pop culture icons like the Batman and 90's X-Men the animated series which probably made me all geeky on this music performance. Imbisibol didn't make it to the top 3.

The top three winners for MetroPop 2000 were:

Forever And A Day, composer: Angelo Villegas, interpreter: Rachel Alejandro (Grand Winner)
Paano Na?, composer: Arnold Reyes, interpreter: Bituin Escalante (Second Prize)
Ganyan Ako, composer: Vehnee Saturno, interpreter: Jeremiah (Third Prize)

But even so, Imbisibol up to this day is one of the better songs that Michael V has performed. Even the hunt for it in various karaoke/videoke machines proves to be pretty challenging. I hope MetroPop can once again see the light of day to discover new artists and recognize brilliant composers.

Commemorating Andres Bonifacio: For His Sword is Mightier than the Pen

2011-11-30T09:11:00.001+08:00

Today we are celebrating a (Phillipine) national holiday, Andres Bonifacio Day. We Filipinos all grew up learning, reading and even watching stories of our national heroes and Gat Andres Bonifacio is one of the favorites, for he fought alongside hundreds of suppressed Filipinos and lived in the same era as the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. Although people may argue that Bonifacio deserved more the title and recognition of the Philippine's National Hero rather than Dr. Jose Rizal, what we all can agree upon is that Supremo's work was an integral part in conveying the message over to those oppressive minds of the once was Spanish colonists. Although the pen seems to be mightier than the sword in a more literate combative way and the pursuit of freedom for the Philippines that Rizal and his colleagues has started - In the end when mere words were not enough to get the message across to the seemingly more "civilized" colonizers,it was up to the sword to continue where the pen last took off. That the flames of nationalism and patriotism can overcome the masses fears, and for once freedom is really worth fighting for. Although the revolution that the Katipuneros fought for were not complete success, the valiant act of fighting for our country when everyone seems to have similar spirit but lacked the courage to do act is out is what made Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros the heroes that we Filipinos recognize up to this day.

Let us not lose track of what truly matters today, November 30, 2011 - a day once a year when we commemorate and pay respect to the heroism of The Father of Philippine Revolution, Gat Andres Bonifacio. Today we do belief that when the pen's might has lose its power, the sword (tabak at itak) is the only reliable way to get the message across. The Supremo, Andres Bonifacio is considered to be the face of the the everyday struggling suppressed Filipino masses. That amidst the poverty, when one dreams of something, no matter the odds, one can climb up to power and overcome those adversary even if it means disregarding his life to fight for the lives of the many. That is Andres Bonifacio.

A Youtube user-created tribute and biography to Andres Bonifacio:

A Look Back at My Freelance Writing Career Online of Three Years

2011-11-08T04:47:00.000+08:00

For almost three years I have provided my expertise in writing articles and maintaining the company's forums. My freelance writing career is the reason why I haven't been active in blogging this past few years, and I have no regrets in doing so. Here is a look back in that three years as a writer for their online company.

I've tried out one freelance work after I finished my Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science (teaching English to Korean Kids) when my friend offered a freelance writing career for me. He was already earning money through it so I immediately accepted it. I found myself already making money in my first week. Don't expect this to be like a testimonial for some suspicious money making scheme online though. There won't be any links going to my company's website because I already lost that job, so why bother? duh! hahaha. Going back to the topic, all I need to do was maintain a forum ("creating and engaging forum discussions") and do some short summaries/reviews of existing articles. It was my early introduction to SEO which I later find out to help with my blogs. Each job done yields a dollar or two but put them all together and all for one week and we already have our salary. It was what most would dream of, a job where you can do right in the comforts of your own home on your own phase/time. Well, it doesn't come with its cons though, since we are being outsourced to write we don't have any employee's benefits like salary bonuses, and security and health benefits. It didn't stopped us from enjoying the good life. Thanks to this opportunity I was able to provide for my family, buy some personal stuff like original xbox 360 titles which usually cost at around $40-$50, and attend local blogging events which you might have seen in this blog in the past. It was all great, the best working opportunity that introduced itself to me.

It was a dream job for a happy go lucky person like me, but as they say all good things must come to an end. We (three friends who worked as writers for the company) have been talking about this impending employment uncertainty for quite some time now. We knew that one day, we might no longer be needed and guess what it did came! Talk about law of attraction. Unfortunately it came four weeks ago as we three (me, a friend who introduced us to the work, and another friend who already has his own family) were shocked when we received the news that our services were no longer needed. Let me jus say hat in that three years I only got to save nothing haha, which taught me a good lesson to never be too confident of what you have right now and that there is a need to save for the future. Now it starts once again, but now more wiser.

Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong de Andres: The Two Faces of Philippine Horror Cinema

2011-10-31T16:32:00.000+08:00

It is that time of the year once again when it is alright play dress ups and scares ourselves with various stories of horror. This will be the first time I will be doing this Halloween Special which might be a main feature here at CMABLOGS. I am a big fan of horror films, local and foreign ones alike. While there have been various fictional horror film icons which I grew fond of watching as a child (Freddy Kreuger, Chucky, Jason, Leatherface, Pinhead, and Mikhael Myers to name a few), I can't deny it that there are a few local ones which gave scared me as a child. Every Filipino already know such icons like aswang(s), mananaggal(s), tikbalang, kapre, various lamang lupa, and ghosts, but now it is time to look back and recognize two Philippine actors behind such usual icons. Let's talk about Philippine horror cinema's Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong de Andres.

More photos can be found at Lilia Cuntapay's Facebook Fan Page. Lilia Cuntapay is the legendary queen of Philippine horror.

Lilia Cuntapay is a Filipina actress who usually plays various iconic horror characters in various Philippine horror films. She got her break in various Shake, Rattle & Roll films, specifically in 1991's Shake, Rattle, & Roll 3's "Yaya" segment. She usually play as either a witch or an "aswang". She also made appearances in various television shows' Halloween special or episodes as either a witch, aswang, black/white lady, or a ghost. In a politically incorrect Philippines (show business specifically) where pretty faces are the usual protagonists and the not so pretty ones either becomes comedian/comedienne or lands a role to play various horror characters, the best thing that they discovered is Lilia Cuntapay. I can still remember how she appeared on various Halloween specials of my favorite television shows ( like Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween Specials) and various horror films, she scared me to death specially when these horror specials do some really cool jump scares at that time. I was but a fledgling back then and thinks appears scary if they appeared as one. She isn't any particularly ugly and might have been a pretty woman in her younger years, but the wrinkles in her skin, her toothless mouth and long (white) hair brought by her old age is probably a major factor in being stereotyped in various horror roles.

Lilia Cuntapay has never been the main actor in a film and has always been an "extra" in various films and television shows besides the horror genre. Either as a passerby or just an old scary woman. But this November 2011, there will be a special indie film which solely feature the exploits, experiences and filmography of Lilia Cuntapay. Check out Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay here:

Official trailer of SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY, a Cinema One Originals entry. Showing on November 9 to 15, 2011 at the Shang Cineplex. An interesting (if not hilarious) documentary chronicling the woman behind various horror roles in Philippine cinema.

Nonong de Andres is a Filipino actor who usually plays kamatayan (harbinger of death), or bangkay (corpse). His old age, frail, and extremely skinny "buto't balat" physique is what usually lands him in roles like a substance abuser (drug addict), alcoholic, old bum, homeless guy, zombie, kamatayan (spirit of death), and aswang. Like Lilia Cuntapay, he has always been an extra to various films ranging from action, horror, family and even sexy ones.

Check out a special feature (low quality Youtube uploaded video) on the real lives of Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong de Andres on GMA 7's Tunay na Buhay here:

It is not all fame and glamor in a life of a horror actor, nor it doesn't reverse the process of aging. See what is it like to be in the shoes of Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong "Bangkay" de Andres on the video above.

Behind the seemingly scary characters they play, hides the pain and joys of an everyday person. They might be actors behind some of the most scary Filipino movies, but they are still human beings. Their contribution to the Philippine horror cinema and show business as a whole are worthy of recognition and respect.

Legitimate and Safe Sports Betting Online

2011-10-28T15:14:00.000+08:00

Life is a matter of choices, a gamble. You either win or lose, but we must learn to stand up and move on. Chances are that the probability of losing would be much higher if you are not playing it fair. In the world of professional and casual gambling, this equates to illegal gambling or sportsbooks. So what will a potential player do to avoid being scammed and cheated? The answer is going all legit with government recognized sports betting.

Feeling risky; how about lucky? It can be dangerous, but that is how gambling works. Push your luck only to an extent, a certain limit. You can try various sportsbooks in states where it is legitimate (ex. Nevada), but if you can't do it face-to-face, then you can always try sports betting online. Before you go out there betting on any sports betting websites, you first must know the dangers of it, or any websites offering online gambling. Like in real life, cases of fraud occur even (or even more prolific) online. This is why it is important to first research and investigate where you are placing and gambling your resources on. There is only one trusted sports betting source online and that is Sports Betting Spot which gives you up-to-date matches, game analysis, potential winning outcomes and many more. Better safe than sorry right?

Looking for the Best Webhosting Services?

2011-10-07T11:00:00.001+08:00

Whether you are a business owner, a company, or a highly opinionated person, having one's own website is essential nowadays. You have something to share with the world, earn or make a living out of your website or just generally create a name for yourself online? Well, you need people to take you seriously. Be professional. Have your own web hosting services and domain name.

For bloggers and webmasters out there who wants to climb up to the next level in terms of providing online content, availing a good web hosting provider is the first step. With so many hosting providers out there, you can get lost and might be even tricked into availing an expensive one or something that has poor customer services. Thus it is important to have a place to refer to. If you are looking for the hottest web hosting news and web hosting provider reviews, then webhostingfan got you covered!

So what are you waiting for? Be informed! Get in the loop and become a professional online content provider with the best web hosting services on the world wide web.

Looking for Great Deals on Tickets? ACheapSeat Got You Covered!

2011-09-19T03:35:00.001+08:00

Amidst tough economic times, one can never stop fans from being passionate about what they love. It is rather one of the many the driving mechanism that keeps them from falling apart. It somehow lets them temporary escape that impending doom brought by mortgages, credit card debts, etc. What if I tell you that you can still enjoy that passion of yours under even on a limited budget?You might be a music lover? Be in the latest concert performances from your favorite artists. A fan of J.Lo... why not get Jennifer Lopez Tickets and latest concert performance near you? If music is not your thing, then it might be sports. Nothing beats seeing a live match or championship with our very own eyes. Get various sports event like the Hockey, Basketball and Football events by getting tickets from actual gaming centers near you. You can get Nassau Coliseum tickets, Harlem Globetrotters Tickets, Honda Center tickets, Staples Center Tickets and many more from ACheapSeat!If you love music, sports, and anything in between, ACheapSeat.com got you covered!

Balancing Act Between Gaming and Blogging

2011-08-18T22:08:00.000+08:00

So may things to do in so little time. I too am one of those people chanting those statement over and over again. Well, I know I am at fault here for not having the proper discipline to even manage my own time, but I can help it. Now that I am making a decent earning from my home-based writing career, I can only do one of two things work more or balance things of by playing. I decide the latter.

Not to say that blogging is not entertaining at all... it is, but if you have visited my other blogs like CMAQUEST, Pinoy Movie Blogger, and Kuwentong Bayan at Alamat you'll notice that I take blogging seriously. Serious in a way that I invest a decent amount of my time just to make a competitive post. I can't even balance work, romantic relationships and blogging in the past, but luckily I gradually learned to resolve that issue. But after I got my Xbox 360 last year, things started to go out of hand once again. Gaming tends to eat a lot of hours away making other tasks impossible to fulfill with out proper time management. Sadly I don't have such discipline in me. This is why a reader can easily notice that my last blog post was on the last week of July. I got hooked in playing various Xbox 360 games like Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Dead Space, Dragon Age II, Mass Effect 3 and various Xbox Live Arcade titles. In a way, I find it gaming an escape to the lonesome nature of my home-based career. This is probably why I have invested more time on it than blogging, but then again, can't really quit blogging... not just yet. Do you have that idea in your head that you just want to share and ope to the rest of the world? That is what I have always been struggling. I have so many wonderful and creative blogging ideas that tends to be overtaken by work or gaming, but it always resurfaces. So here is attempt number "I don't know what anymore" to rid me of that creative urge. To at least keep at least 2-3 blog updates on every the blogs I own, and probably create two or three new ones in the process. I still have so many things I want to express and share online, but I am restricted with my own weakness.

Hopefully I can finally find balance amidst the chaos of my own doing.
Cheers is to another good start.

I am You're Family Guy... Closer Than Before

2011-07-20T23:39:00.002+08:00

I just would like to archive this feeling of extreme bliss with my family today. It is not anything special but rather just your average life of a working class family. I just feel so blessed that I am living the life together with my family. I can associate the blessing i have right now with my home-bound writing work which I owe a lot to my good friend Alvin and our boss Glenn.

I have been in a couple of misunderstandings this past few months and it is all hanks to my immaturity and genuinely stubbornness. This made me rethink my priorities and re-anlayze where I drew my inspiration and happiness. That it shouldn't depend on others but within myself. That before friends, there is first my family. Now more than ever, I feel much more closer to my family. I have seen a couple of tragedies recently, heartaches and got involved in a recent accident which could very well ended my life. I think this all constituted to the slow growth within me. I am not that black sheep kind of a son, and have always been closed to my family, but I just noticed and am happy that I am more closer to them than ever.

It is sometimes to be in my mind sometimes at it is generally dubious, assuming, messy, smart (yeas, i am that stubborn to admit I am smart), eccentric (in my own way), imaginative, and just crazy. I have think of thins that one can only have in his nightmares which i did and it also scared me. The fact that everything will eventually come to an end, gives chills down my spine. Now I really know what it is when people say that you should appreciate and show love to your family while they are still there, or while you are still there. I almost met my demise on a traffic accident, grieve in the death of our loving aunt, and have heard and seen various people tales of tragedy. I don't have anyone special to cherish right now, nor do I have a child to dedicated my whole life's work to. But for now, I will be as loving of a son as one could ever get. Your close to perfection family guy.

The First and Last Philippine Premiere Screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: A Decade of Magic Comes to a Conclusion

2011-07-13T09:49:00.001+08:00

The Philippines is one of the first few countries to first see the epic finale for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 before it officially comes out on July 14, 2011. Yours truly got the privilege to be invited to such screening by the wonderful folks at Warner Bros. Philippines, and all I can say is I was both excited, thankful and blessed to be able to watched the epic finale of the film series I grew up with in glorious IMAX Theater 3-D!

After a decade of following the story through a span of seven films, the story of "the boy who lived" has finally ended tying all lose ends in this second part for the Deathly Hallows. It is both the first and last of Harry Potter in the Philippines as the President of Warner Bros. Philippines said before the Philippine premiere screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in the IMAX Theater SM Mall of Asia. First in the sense that it is the first Harry Potter film to be completely in 3-D (or converted into one) and first that the Philippines is one of the selected countries to first see the film after UK; and last in a simple sense that this is the conclusion to the Harry Potter film franchise.

What also add up to the already spectacular film experience brought by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the crowd and my fellow bloggers. It is always fun to talk to people with similar interest and passion. We talked about what would be the next Harry Potter film. Will it be a sequel, prequel or a highly improbable remake? That and many film, blogging and geeky stuff. But once the film started rolling it seems like we all barely knew each other as it is a rule of thumb to just sit back and enjoy the film.

If you have followed all seven Harry Potter film which started back at 2001. Man 2001! I was already at my teenage years back then and this sure is one of those film that will go along the ranks of Lord of the Rings, Last Castle, and Toy Story, my favorite films of all time. Definitely check out Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in theaters nationwide by July 15, 2011.

The Last of Dirty Harry - I Mean Harry Potter

2011-07-12T13:23:00.006+08:00

Just a few hours from now, yours truly will be able to watch the epic conclusion of the similarly epic story of "the boy who lived, Harry Potter. I am not really a book person so I have no idea how it would all wrap up, and I want it to be that way. Don't wan to be spoiled as well so I have stopped myself from listening or reading any spoilers.

It has been what? Ten years? Man, ten years. We literally see this boy grow from that innocent child to the now bad ass and dirty-looking Harry Potter. Just look at all those scars, wounds that he got since his first scar on his forehead. I would like to keep this short as I am getting prepared for it. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will officially be out in theaters nationwide by July 15, 2011. For anyone who grew up watching this film series, it is a no-brainer...they will watch this epic finale. Myself included. Will get back on reviewing films after this film.

A View of the June 16, 2011 Lunar Eclipse in the Philippines

2011-06-16T03:05:00.001+08:00

First quick blog here about the lunar eclipse visible in the Philippines this June 16, 2011.I decided to do a quick blog at around 2:55 am (tyime started) as me and my brother await for this celestial phenomena.

As I went out to check it at 2:58 am I saw that the Earth's shadow has already covered two third's of the moon's total surface. The sky is clear and the weather is perfectly fine tonight or today. It is really a nice sight to see. There isn't anything too special about how it looked like and you can just google away what a lunar eclipse looks like. At times like this I wish I had a decent camera (point -and-shoot or DSLR) to capture such phenomena but hey! I still have my computer, internet and imagination to capture it so not really that bad.

A few friends and fellow bloggers are also documenting the lunar eclipse this June of 2011. Hope when we look at the full lunar eclipse later, we don't turn into giant great apes! Oh wait... that is a full moon and only Saiyans turn when it happens.

Q-B @ CMA-B: Quick Blogging at CMABLOGS

2011-06-07T22:23:00.001+08:00

It's been a while since I last updated my blog and honestly I kinda miss it. I usually spend more time than I supposed to with my blogs which doesn't always guarantee perfection but still delivers when it comes to infotainment and visual presentation. This is why I haven't had any long post lately. This is why I came to a conclusion to just blog anything that comes to mind in the middle of work, leisure (watching Youtube videos etc.). This doesn't mean that such posts will be an inferior compare to others. As my fourth year high school professor used to say, "make it short but meaty". This is why I am incorporating quick blogging
here on CMABLOGS. From Rants to the latest happening around me, you'll get what this crazy organ inside my head has to offer.

I am back and blogging with short but meaty (sometimes) controversial post about the people, politics, showbiz, entertainment, video games, and life in general. I am Q-B here at CMA-B!

Quick Blogging as quick as The Flash. Expect visual representations of the day's topic at Quick Blogging. No more long and time consuming posts, just shameless and hard facts delivered!

A Look Back on the The King's Speech (Film Review)

2011-06-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

Not everyone has the luxury to watch every film that comes out in theaters these days. I for one am one of those individuals. That plus the fact that I pick only watch movies under the genre that I like. That doesn't mean that I don't watch drama, family or feel good movies, I just feel like they are better off to be seen at home. That is why for everything else I go with various DVD film releases.

One specific film that gained my interest is the The King's Speech which has won various wards and critically acclaimed by critiques and movie audience alike. This is why I couldn't help but try it out. Here is my review on The King's Speech.

The King's Speech tells about the story of King George VI and his unlikely ascension to the throne. On a time of war, a king's voice is the only thing that people can count on to give them renewed hope and courage and this is the challenge that the new King face. Prince Albert, Duke of York (played by Colin Firth) who eventually became King George VI has speech problem, specifically stammering. He has sought the best speech doctors he and his wife knew but all failed to treat his speech problem, that is until he met a very unorthodox speech therapist in the character of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). It tells how to people of completely different social classes became friends and helped each other during a time of great crisis. A pretty straightforward historical drama but very powerful performance. If you have missed it on theters then get it on home video.

RepairPal a Social Network for Car Owners

2011-05-17T13:09:00.003+08:00

Cars are probably one of the best thing that man ever invented. It doesn't just get you to point A to point B, but somehow it became a hobby, a social symbol, and even a source of income to some. A good testimony of cars popularity is the road traffic itself. Some of the world's most most busiest cities have a variety of vehicles that goes in and out of it.

Just like any other material possession or investment, owning a car requires proper maintenance. Only a few owners out there know their cars. They are the ones who can do all the necessary maintenance work themselves and thus cutting unnecessary expense from various auto repair shops. If you are one of those people who have little knowledge of proper car care then RepairPal is just for you.

Repairpal is a social networking websites for car owners. Get insights from fellow car owners about the their experiences in car care. Want to know more about your car or the latest car news, or even recall? RepairPal has that! Get expert opinion form technical experts about repair estimates and cost. RepairPal also helps members about what auto shops near their location can best fit their car repair needs.

I can pretty much say that RepairPal is the Facebook for car owners.