From This Pinay's Point of View

Pinkberry now in the Philippines

2011-12-23T15:49:00.001+08:00

It's one of the more popular frozen yogurt stores in the US. And it's now in the Philippines.

Pinkberry is the newest frozen yogurt store to open in Philippine shores. It offers premium frozen yogurt made with non-fat yogurt and non-fat milk, creating a concoction that's delicious and refreshing.

Unlike other froyo stores, Pinkberry offers not one but 6 yogurt flavors: Original (sweet and tart), Pomegranate (bold and tangy), Green Tea (sweet and earthy), Mango (fruity and light), Watermelon (crisp and refreshing), and Chocolate (rich and indulgent). These can be eaten as is, on cups or on waffle cones, or customized with various toppings: fresh fruits, crunchy nuts, organic gummy bears, Belgian chocolate shavings, and more.

Aside from the usual froyo, Pinkberry also offers parfaits and smoothies. It's a different yet cool way to eat (or drink) your frozen yogurt.

Drop by Greenbelt 5 (along the restaurant row beside Mr. Jones) and grab a Pinkberry frozen yogurt today. And when you've become a fan, drop by their Facebook page or website to get the latest Pinkberry updates.

Starbucks Philippines' Christmas Treats

2011-10-28T08:51:00.000+08:00

Starbucks Philippines recently gave a sneak peak on the new and exciting items to watch out for this Yuletide Season. And this will truly leave you salivating in front of your screens.

First, it brings back the favorite Christmas beverages, Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha. At the same time, it introduces the latest addition to its handcrafted drinks: Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha.

The red cups are back: Starbucks Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha

Next, it launches its limited-edition food items -- some new, some doing a comeback. Savory fare includes Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Roll, Chicken Alfredo Turnover, Texas Chicken BBQ Wrap, Glazed Ham with Apricot Spread on Multigrain Bread, and Turkey and Chicken with Apple Stuffing on Whole Wheat Walnut Bread.

Glazed Ham with Apricot Sauce

Texas Chicken BBQ Wrap

Turkey and Chicken with Apple Stuffing

The sweet ones are the Pecan Butterscotch Twirl, Hazelnut Stollen Bread, Smores, Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers, and Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.

Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers

Pecan Butterscotch Twirl

Among the returning favorites are the Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf, White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie, Peppermint Brownie, Gingerbread Cookie, and Molten Chocolate Cake.

Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf

Gingerbread Cookie

Starbucks also releases is Christmas Blend, in bean and VIA ready brew variations.

Starbucks Christmas Blend (whole beans)

And the best part of all: the launch of the Starbucks Coffee 2012 Planner.

The Starbucks 2012 Planners

With the theme, "Starbucks Shared Planet," the planners are made with materials reflect the company's commitment in doing business in ways that are good to each other and the planet. This year's collection comes in 5 variants: Bamboo, Cherry, Oak, Poplar, and Spruce. Each comes with a small burlap bag that can be used for things other than storing your planner.

To redeem them, all you need to do is collect stickers by buying 9 Christmas beverages and 8 core beverages (except bottled). Another option is to purchase 23 core drinks. You can start collecting on November 3, 2012 until January 28, 2012.

All these abovementioned items are available in your favorite Starbucks stores come November 3. Excited? Head to a branch near you and grab these superb treats!

Cashsense - Efficient Remittance Services for Pinoys Everywhere

2011-10-13T15:55:00.001+08:00

Cashsense launched remittance services in 2007 with the ultimate aim of providing true and convenient online facilities. Even today OFWs can only complete an immediate remittance transaction online if they use a credit card – which in Cashsense’s opinion is expensive and non-sustainable over any period of time.

By integrating with banking technology partners, Cashsense has been able to provide Filipinos abroad the capability to pay-in funds to a network of more than 20,000 bank branches (usually the pre-eminent domestic banks in that country) in 18 countries. Additional countries are being added on a monthly basis. Best of all, customers can simply make a domestic transfer to Cashsense’s partner bank, online, in whichever country they are in without leaving the comfort of their home or office.

Pay-out is normally made, in minutes, via the Cashsense VISA ATM card which may be used in any of the 10,000 ATM’s nationwide. Transfers to bank accounts, door to door and pick-up facilities are also readily available. The great news is, because all transactions are technologically efficient and systemically effected in real time, money-in-minutes is available 24/7, 365 days a year – after account set-up which usually takes only 24-48 hours.

Remittance customers might reasonably expect to pay a premium for a fast and consistent service. This is not the case, however, as technological efficiencies enable Cashsense to provide a single, flat fee (take note Western Union!) and excellent exchange rates.

Cashsense has dedicated itself to helping OFWs manage their family’s finances whilst they are overseas. As well as being able to deliver cash to loved ones in minutes, the breadwinner is also able to pay utility bills and SSS contributions online and for free and also buy the kids the stuff they need from hundreds and hundreds of Philippine merchants displaying items at the Cashsense Online Shopping Mall.

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What's interesting to note is that Cashsense also has an affiliate program that allows bloggers and website owners to generate income for your participation. Learn more about its Associate Reward program on Cashsense's website.

Join the Garfield Runner's Cup 2011

2011-10-07T15:16:00.001+08:00

Are you looking for a great activity that you could do with the family and your friends? Then join the Garfield Runner's Cup 2011 happening on November 12, 2011 at Manila Ocean Park!

Organized by Garfield Apparel, this event is bound to be different from all the other fun runs and marathons that have been held in the country. Joining in the fun are Garfield and other cartoon characters, as well as celebrity endorsers like Mutya Orquia (of "Mutya" fame) and Louise Abuel (from "100 Days to Heaven"). Adults and kids can participate in the different race categories, ranging from 500m to 5K. After the fun run, there will be a show called "The Garfield Zone" where participants are treated to fun, games, activities, and a concert.

Not only is this event beneficial to one's health -- the Garfield Runner's Cup 2011 also benefits Filipino children, as proceeds from this fun run go to a children charity organization.

Registration is open until November 10, 2011 at selected Chris Sports branches: SM North Edsa Annex, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Festival Supermall, and ROX Bonifacio High Street. You can also register online at the Garfield Apparel website.

For more information and to join in the fun, visit http://garfieldapparel.com or go to their Facebook fan page. You can also e-mail them at garfieldrun@yahoo.com or call 0917-5746323 / 0923-9347332.

Buy at Beauty Bar online!

2011-09-20T08:46:00.000+08:00

Craving for the best beauty products but don't have time to go to the mall? Don't fret because you can order makeup, fragrances, and other skin and body products at Beauty Bar's online store!

Just log on to http://shop.beautybar.com.ph and you'll find all the premier brands in foundation, eye shadow, blush, lipstick, and more. With just a click of a mouse, you can purchase in no time. Not only that, the online store offers free shipping for customers buying Php2,500 and above. A free gift is given for a minimum purchase of Php1,000.

So what are you waiting for? Visit the Beauty Bar online store today and buy your favorite makeup with ease.

Join tvN's Kpop Star Hunt and be the next Kpop sensation

2011-09-16T14:00:00.000+08:00

Super Junior. Wonder Girls. TVXQ. Girls Generation. 2NE1. Kim Hyun-joong. The next on this list could be... YOU!

Yes, you can have a chance to fly to Seoul, Korea and be trained to become the next Korean singing idol. Join tvN's KPop Star Hunt and live your dream of being idolized by the world!

Only 2 from all the contestants from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines will be chosen as the next big thing in the KPop industry. For my kababayans who want to grab this opportunity, Fox International Channel gives you a chance to secure a spot in the Philippines' Top 10 Finalists. All you have to do is LIKE tvN's KPop Star Hunt Facebook page and link your video singing any song of your choice to it. Campaign for your friends and their friends to LIKE your video, because the video with the most LIKE's gets to win a special prize from Fox and tvN plus a chance to be one of the 10 Pinoy finalists.

Hurry though, because posting of video entries is only until September 25, 2011.

This is your moment to shine! Visit the tvN KPop Star Hunt Facebook page for more details.

Shamcey Supsup is 3rd Runner-up in the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant

2011-09-13T11:10:00.000+08:00

Beauty and brains: Shamcey Supsup in her long gown

Well, she may not have bagged the much-coveted crown, but Shamcey Supsup, the Philippines' representative to this year's Miss Universe held in Brazil, manages to finish 3rd runner-up, a notch higher than what Venus Raj achieved in the same pageant last year.

I think the Philippines is once again inching closer to winning Miss Universe. And I'm pretty sure a lot of Filipinas are inspired by this feat that they'll be lining up for Binibining Pilipinas. :)

Of course, a big congratulations to Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, for being this year's Miss Universe.

Leila Lopes strutting her stuff in her stunning long gown

Okay, now back to work, everyone! :))

Starbucks' latest drink + new breakfast offerings

2011-09-13T09:42:00.000+08:00

I know you're all excited for the Miss Universe 2011. Just to keep you cool, here's Starbucks Philippines' new offering: the Creme Brulee Frappuccino.

Starbucks Creme Brulee Frappuccino

A sweet concoction of coffee, milk, and caramel -- a truly enjoyable drink that persons with a sweet tooth will love.

It also has a hot and iced version, the Creme Brulee Macchiato.

The hot and iced (background) versions of the Creme Brulee Macchiato

And what better pair with these new drinks than the latest breakfast items of Starbucks:

The new breakfast sandwiches and pies

Choose from: French Toast; Spam Classic, Egg and Cheese on Cornmeal Bread; Vigan Longganisa, Egg and Mozzarella on Whole Wheat Pandesal; Turkey and Chicken Ham, Egg White and Emmenthal on Whole Wheat Cornmeal Bread; Spinach, Artichoke, Mushroom and Mozzarella on Rye Bread; Roasted Chicken Egg Cup Toast; and Banana Chocolate Hazelnut Tart.

Plus, Starbucks also releases a limited edition cake, the Chocolate Rum Cheesecake.

All of these yummy food and beverage items are available beginning September 13. So head on to a Starbucks store near you and avail of these delectable treats!

Samsung Galaxy SII: Take control with just your voice

2011-08-24T17:12:00.001+08:00

Nowadays, cellphones are such essential parts of our lives that we take it anywhere with us. And even when doing something else, when our mobiles beep or ring, we take it upon ourselves to multitask and answer our phones while working, cooking, and even driving.

But we all know that's dangerous, right? Good thing the Samsung Galaxy SII lets you text or answer the phone hands-free.

The Samsung Galaxy SII handset

With its Say N Go Voice Solution, all you need to do is just double tap the home key and take charge by uttering just a few words. And you can even compose messages and notes and send them to the intended recipients by just saying, "SEND!" Easier than "Abracadabra," right?

To explain the feature further, click here to watch a video from Samsung's Facebook Page. To know more about the amazing things the Samsung Galaxy SII can do, visit Samsung's product page here.

Indeed, Samsung Galaxy SII gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Look Ma, no hands!"

Php250 instead of Php500 worth of meals at Little Asia via PilipinasBestBuys.com

2011-08-19T16:28:00.000+08:00

Voucher-buying is so in nowadays that people scramble to get the best deals on food, beauty, gadgets, and leisure items. PilipinasBestBuys.com is one of those sites that give you amazing discounts and treats for the things that you desire.

And today, it gives you Php250 instead of Php500 for food and drinks at Little Asia!

All you have to do is buy the voucher at PilipinasBestBuys.com and you get to enjoy 50% off on Php500 worth of food and drinks. Have a feast of Chinese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Malay, and Filipino food at slashed-off rates.

Check this out to know more about the deal and to avail of the voucher. Little Asia branches are at Greenhills, Tomas Morato, and Venice Piazza at The Fort.

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank: A witty indie film about indie filmmaking

2011-08-11T17:08:00.001+08:00

Rare are those times that I get to watch a fun and witty Pinoy film like Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. It may be short, running at around an hour and a half in total, but it's got loads of awesome moments.

The movie is basically a critique on indie filmmaking and its romanticizing of poverty in the Philippines. It opens with a scene where indie film director Rainier (Kean Cipriano) and producer Bingbong (JM de Guzman) brainstorm and review scenes for their indie film "Walang Wala" while production assistant Jocelyn (Cai Cortez) imagines each sequence as they are narrated by the two. With the hopes of bagging awards for the indie movie they will make, Rainier and Bingbong tap in Eugene Domingo to portray their film's central character, a mother from the slums who will sell her child to pedophilia.

The next scenes are pretty much insinuations of how indie filmmaking is behind the camera: the dream (or illusion) and promise of recognition in and outside the country, the negotiations between production and actor, and the real yet cruel side of poverty that these films don't really show its audience. The film presents it in the form of satire, the truth disguised as a chewable tablet. I consider it somewhat of an eye-opener to those who think that filmmaking is a glamorous job -- while it does reap you awards, the process of creating it from start to finish is where the adventure lies. And this film shows it, "as is where is" -style.

Eugene Domingo simply shines in this movie. It's impossible for me to think of another actress who can do what she did here (well, Cherry Pie Picache does come close to a second. Mercedes Cabral probably would, too, though I have to see her first in Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me). Kean and JM were fun to watch as the young director and producer, respectively, deluded by their ambition to be at par with -- and even surpass -- other indie filmmakers who have won accolades here and abroad.

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank, for me, raises the bar in storytelling. Writer Chris Martinez and Director Marlon Rivera really did moviegoers a huge favor by releasing this movie full of wit and charm. They, as well as Ms. Domingo and everyone behind it, truly deserve their awards. Watch the film and you'll see why.

Afterthoughts on Captain America: The First Avenger

2011-08-01T15:10:00.000+08:00

The last movie before the big Avengers film, Captain America: The First Avenger had a lot of fans of the Marvel franchise in excitement, me included.

Unfortunately, it didn't hold a candle to Iron Man. I guess that was my peg.

Most of the scenes were from the 1940s, when a scrawny, forever-beat-up guy named Steve Rogers aimed to be enlisted in the US Army to fight during the Second World War. Because of his frame and a series of physical maladies (including asthma), he never got to join the force. It wasn't until a doctor, who saw his kind heart through his physical appearance, made a way for him to be a hero -- a superhero, that is.

After being given a superserum, his body changes, stamina and fighting skills and all, and he eventually becomes the poster boy of America's bravest during World War II. A battle against one of Hitler's right-hand men, the Red Skull, eventually leaves Captain America frozen for almost 7 decades in the Arctic. He is taken in by SHIELD agents led by Nick Fury, who is planning to assemble a group of superheroes to defend the modern world.

From a viewer who has little knowledge in the Marvel Universe other than Captain America is their biggest character, I found the movie okay but not as good as, say, Iron Man. There were cheesy moments in the film that could have been done better, in my opinion. Save for the fact that he was always being bullied, there wasn't enough for me to anchor myself to Steve's character. I dunno, probably because it's the treatment, because it was the 40s that the storytelling seemed to pace quite slowly for me.

But well, the easter egg after the credits got me glued to my seat.

Chris Evans looked quite the part. It was amazing how the CG made him into Steve Rogers pre-superserum injection. Kinda like Benjamin Button, if you'd recall. His acting was quite okay. I couldn't say the same for Hugo Weaving, though. I thought that he was more British than German (which he is in real life). When I close my eyes listening to the Red Skull, I hear Elrond. Even Agent Smith. Where's the German accent?

I think the person who stole the show here was Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Philips. He had quite a presence in the film, as well as some of the best and funniest lines.

Despite the storytelling setbacks, Captain America is still a film to watch, as it serves as a prelude to The Avengers. Hopefully, his character is given more substance here, especially that's he's supposed to be head-to-head with Tony Stark. Now that's an encounter I'd like to see.

Starbucks' new lunch sandwiches + 2 new Frappuccino beverages

2011-07-26T16:38:00.001+08:00

Starbucks Philippines is whipping up something new for its 2011 menu, and this will surely have their patrons salivating.

Beginning August 9, it will launch 7 new Hot Lunch Sandwiches and 2 Frappuccino blended beverages in all Starbucks stores. Made with high-quality ingredients, the latest in its menu promises to be oh-so delicious, you'll be having a hard time picking which one is your favorite among them.

Among the 7 sandwiches, 4 of them will be available in all Starbucks stores around the country. They are:

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

The Beef Brisket

Roasted Vegetables on Flat Bread (left)

Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom on Flat Bread

Two of them will be available in all Starbucks branches except in Baguio, Naga, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, CDO and Davao:

The Clubhouse

Tuna Waldorf on Raisin Walnut Bread

And this yummy lunch sandwich can be bought only in Baguio, Naga, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, CDO and Davao:

Tuna Melt on Rye Bread

And while the sandwich line says "lunch," they're actually available the whole day.

Not only is Starbucks offering new foodstuff, they're also launching 2 new blended beverages on August 9:

Don't they sound delicious?

But that's not all: they're also releasing a special limited edition dessert called the Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie Cheesecake. Take a look:

The decadent Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie Cheesecake

And speaking of limited, Starbucks Philippines is also offering a special promo on August 15 and 16, 2011. Get Php50.00 off on any of their lunch sandwiches when you purchase one plus a Starbucks handcrafted beverage (hot or cold, and not the bottled ones). This can be availed on all Starbucks branches on the said dates only.

Hungry now? I am, too. Can't wait until August 9 when Starbucks makes them all available. By then, I'll surely be rushing into the nearest branch.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2: It does all end here

2011-07-16T18:23:00.000+08:00

"It all ends here." How apt is this statement to describe the second part of the final Harry Potter movie.

The film starts where part 1 of the Deathly Hallows left off: Voldemort opening the tomb of Albus Dumbledore and finally getting hold of the Elder Wand.

In the next scenes, we see Harry, Ron, and Hermione destroying the rest of the Horcruxes, and the big fight of good vs. evil with Hogwarts as the battleground. Within almost 2.5 hours, a mix of awe, excitement, sadness, and happiness is felt inside the cinema. And as the final shot of the movie's big 3 disappears as the credits roll, I found myself smiling with contentment.

The movie gave the book justice, as it tied all loose ends just as JK Rowling did in the book. While some back stories were omitted, I was happy that Snape's story was detailed here (this is one of my favorite chapters in the whole series). For those who haven't read the book, let me give you a hint: a really big twist.

I felt, though, that the "19 years after" should have been lengthened, but maybe the director thought that it wasn't really essential to have all that dialogue. But I'm so glad of how they did the battle in Hogwarts. That was so cool.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson shine as they did in the past movies (would've wanted a longer Ron-Hermione kiss, hehe!). Ralph Fiennes is really fine (!) as the main antagonist Voldemort. Maggie Smith gave audiences a glimpse of McGonagall's "cool" side. And Alan Rickman is simply wonderful, giving justice to the multi-layered character of Severus Snape.

But if there was one person who stole the show, it would be Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom.Who knew that he'd grow up to be so handsome? :)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is really worth watching, whether in 2D or 3D (doesn't really make much of a difference). The superb storytelling is enough to keep you engaged.

"It all ends." Yes, it does. The movie gives audiences a sort of closure, a memory that would elicit a smile on your face when you recall it afterwards.

Google+: The next big social networking site?

2011-07-15T10:37:00.002+08:00

Friendster, MySpace, Facebook, and then comes Google+. Is it the next social networking site to be in?

Late June of this year, Google made a soft run/ soft launch of Google+ wherein only selected users were invited to try out the site. From the looks of it, it's the leading search engine's answer to Facebook.

I fortunately got invited by a friend of mine who was invited to be part of the Google+ testing. Looking at it at face value, you'll see it's like Facebook during its infancy and growth stage.

My Google+ dashboard. Some names and photos were blurred for security purposes.

Very streamlined, without much going on. You'll see a timeline of posts from your Circle (more on that later), suggested friends, chat and Hangout options (more on that, too), and some others.

So what does Google+ have? As you explore your Home page (dashboard), you'll also find these:

Circles - basically your friends, acquaintances, family, colleagues, etc. This section allows you to group your friends in certain categories (you can actually put one friend in more than one Circle). It's Google+'s helpful tool for sharing what you post here. Since your friends are grouped in different Circles, you have total control of sharing and privacy. When you post a status in your dash, you can choose to make it public (visible to everyone even outside your Circle) or choose the Circles whom you want to share your post.

Hangouts - where you can not only chat with friends, but also share videos and other media with them, even while on webcam. Haven't tried it, though.

Sparks - a list of what interests you. On the Sparks page, just enter your interest and Google will list down a search of feeds related to it. And once you added an interest in Sparks, you'll automatically get related feeds.

What's interesting to know also about Google+ is that it seems to consolidate all other info related to your Google account: mail, photos, documents, calendar, Buzz, and soon enough blogs (on Blogger, most probably). I think Google is working on bringing all Google products together here and they'll all be accessible from just one's Google+ account.

So will Google+ be bigger than Facebook? As of now, Facebook seems to be ahead of the social networking game. But who knows? Google works fast and probably in a flash, or once it has games and entertainment apps on the site, Google+ might give Mark Zuckerberg a run for his money.

Blogger and Picasa to be renamed, not completely axed

2011-07-06T17:05:00.000+08:00

The news from Huffington Post made me worry at first, because of its headline, but after reading the news and the Mashable article, I heaved a sigh of relief.

Just to be clear, Google is not removing or terminating Blogger and Picasa. Rather it's going to rename them into Google Blogs and Google Photos, respectively, to be in line with all the other Google products once Google+ will be open to the public.

Methinks that this effort means that Google plans that Blogger and Picasa (or what is soon to be the former Google Blogs and Google Photos) will be integrated into Google+, something similar to the pre-2011 Friendster wherein users can access blogs and photos from their page.

I just don't know if, by the time they get rebranded, blogs using the "blogspot.com" will retain their URLs or will be redirected to another.

Let's see where this will go. Mashable says that the rebranding may happen on or before July 31, when Google+ is officially launched, so we'll have to wait for a bit for any new announcement.

Extra Excitement in your McDonald's Meal with the New Coca-Cola Can Glass Series!

2011-07-04T16:27:00.001+08:00

Last time, it was those sexy colored Coca-Cola glasses that you collected. Now McDonald's is giving its loyal patrons a chance to once again grab hold of these beautiful glasses -- and this time they come in a whole new different look!

Presenting: the limited edition Coca-Cola can glasses from McDonald's!

Beginning July 2, you'll be able to get hold of these glasses by just adding Php25 to your McDonald's Extra Value Meal. Collect all 6 -- Charcoal, Blue, Green, Pink, Violet, and Lime -- when you order via dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, or McDelivery. But hurry, because they're only available while supplies last!

Dunno about you, but I'm surely gonna drop by McDonald's later and collect them all! :)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon goes badass

2011-07-01T14:58:00.002+08:00

For action buffs, this is a good thing.

But if you're looking for some depth of human emotion in the latest Transformer installment, be reminded that this is a Michael Bay film. You know, explosions everywhere, hard-core action -- those kinds of works. And yeah, circular panning shots and stand-up-and-look-to-the-horizon slo-mo shots.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon opens up another chapter of the battle between the noble Autobots and the menacing Decepticons here on Earth. In the third installment, we find the US government in a more deeper connection with these alien machines and Sam Witwicky struggling from hero to unemployed. Basically it's revealed that the NASA mission in the 1960s was to covertly investigate a moon crash landing, which happened to be a ship from Cybertron. The Autobots, wanting to get to the ship before Megatron and his cohorts do, fly to the moon and find Sentinel Prime, Optimus' teacher, in the Ark. After Sentinel is revived by Optimus' leadership matrix here on Earth, he searches for his inventions, the pillars that can open a portal that will affect the time-space continuum. Having only 5 out of hundreds, Sentinel tells the Autobots that he needs to get to the pillars before it falls into the wrong hands.

On the other hand, Sam does his own investigation. Upon learning that those involved in the covert moon crash project have been disappearing or getting killed, he, with the help of former CIA agent Simmons, discover that Sentinel Prime has been used as a bait so that the Decepticons can invade Earth.

The deception does not stop there, as we learn a bigger traitor (or staunch loyalist?) through the course of the movie. Who it is I will not say, but this I can tell you: learning who this "traitor" will lead you to the next -- and the most action-packed -- half of the movie.

Like I said a while ago, expect loads of blasts, fires, and action sequences (and of course CGI) in this movie. Also see how Optimus Prime, er, transforms into a hardened soldier by the end of the film, and how Megatron is left in the sidelines and then gets some "ego boost" from a human -- a female human at that.

One thing to watch out, too, is the some kinda joke in the first part of the film wherein 2 of the smaller Transformers were watching a scene from Star Trek.

So was it worth the watch? If you liked the first 2 Transformers movies, then this will probably one not to miss, too. If you're the type who salivates while these robots shift to vehicle mode with that eee-oo-eee-oo sound, go ahead and enter the cinemas. Just don't expect some family drama (since the Witwicky parents only had a short amount of screen time) or comedy (has even less that the last one).

Is it worthy to check out on 3D? If you're all for the popcorn and drinks, and if you're a hard-core Transformers fan, I say the Php 300 may be well worth it since the whole movie is in 3D format. But I don't think it makes much difference if you watch it in 2D.

Albeit its abrupt ending that didn't give me a sense of closure (except for Simmons and CIA agent Mearing's attraction to each other), Transformers: Dark of the Moon is one movie worth watching. Suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the show. And always keep in mind that this is a Michael Bay film. The heck what the critics say.

Support Team Azkals!

2011-06-09T16:43:00.000+08:00

Show your love and support for the Team Azkals! Join this activity tomorrow, June 10, at the TriNoMa Activity Center.

X-Men: First Class -- When Professor X and Magneto were simply... friends

2011-06-08T15:16:00.000+08:00

After missing 2 very-much-anticipated movies, I got to watch X-Men: First Class (yeah, after how many days since its first day of showing).

I'm not a fan of the comics nor the animation, so all the knowledge I have of each character is thanks to my husband.

Anyways... here in the movie, we are shown the beginnings of a friendship among mutants. The movie shows us the younger versions of Professor X (an intelligent and witty yet flirty Charles), Magneto (the boy-with-a-childhood-trauma Erik), Mystique (the "adopted" orphan insecure with her looks), Beast (the pre-blue-and-furry science genius), and some other characters.

Basically it all starts with Erik, during his teenage years in a concentration camp, whose powers were discovered by a certain Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). So as not to spoil anything, I'll cut the story between them short by saying that Shaw caused Erik terrible emotional damage, and that's why the latter is traveling around the world to seek revenge on Shaw.

Erik grows up, still with vengeance on his mind, but after a close encounter with Shaw, he meets Charles, who's with some CIA agents investigating on an imminent nuclear war. The guys form a friendship upon learning they have something in common: that they are not ordinary humans. With this discovery, the two went on to search for people like them.

Meanwhile, Shaw has other plans -- which actually involves humans killing each other. Upon learning of his plans, a CIA agent enlists the mutants' help to avert World War III. They succeed in this mission, but unfortunately for them, the humans turn against them -- those scary superhumans. And so you know what happens: Charles and Erik go their separate ways with their separate teams.

To be honest, I kinda liked how the plot was presented. There was a good background in each of the characters, especially Charles, Erik, and Raven (Mystique). The fun part was when they were recruiting members for their team -- to give you a hint, there are cameos here you should not miss.

I just found it odd, though, for Charles to have that suave personality. You'd think he'd be more reserved like his older version, but well, he was pretty different here.

I liked Erik's story and how the events of his past led him to be what he is. Though I'm not so sure how he was convinced easily by Shaw to believe that mutants are of a superior race and that humans should bow to them.

All in all, X-Men: First Class was a pretty fun ride. Not really sure if it ties up with the previous X-Men movies, but if this was a reboot of the franchise, I'll be looking out for the next installment.

However you want it: Starbucks Personalized Frappuccino

2011-05-04T09:20:00.004+08:00

Starbucks Philippines recently launched the "However You Want It Frappuccino Blended Beverage" wherein you can customize your Starbucks frap by adding or removing components. Now, coffee afficionados can create a blended beverage that suits their taste and reflects their personality.

Customizing your Starbucks Frappuccino can be done by:
- choosing your milk: regular, non-fat, soy;
- choosing your coffee's strength: regular or decaf;
- adding the special Frappuccino Roast or getting an extra espresso shot;
- adding extra syrup or drizzle;
- doing away with the "calorie-adding" stuff: no whip, sugar-free syrup, etc.

To help spread the word, Starbucks held a blogger event where they launched their new concoctions, the Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino Blended Beverage and Soy Green Tea Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage.

Starbucks Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino

Starbucks Soy Green Tea Cream Frappuccino

They also encouraged the attendees to customize their favorite Starbucks fraps -- and actually make them!

(Disclaimer: crappy quality photos from my phone. My camera was "indisposed" that night, hehe!)

Love from Starbucks' marketing dept. assists Jon of Blogger Manila in writing his personalized frap on the Starbucks shirt.

My own beverage: Single Tall White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino Blended Beverage

Carmi of Starbucks teaches guests the steps in making the frap.

Yuri of Lost Tsinelas whips up his customized Starbucks frap.

My personalized White Chocolate Mocha (no extra espresso shot, though). Too much whipped cream, eh?

After creating our own personalized frappuccinos, Starbucks served us their new food items that are great complements to their coffee:

Left: Mango Peach Cream Pie. On the plate: Coffee Brownie (made with Starbucks VIA), Five Cheese Turnover, Chicken Galantina and Fontina Cheese on Pandesal, Chicken Buffalo Bleu, Tiramisu Cheesecake (made with Starbucks VIA).

At this point, maybe you're thinking, "I wanna make my own unique frap, but I'm not quite sure how to start." Good thing there's frappuccino.com.ph to give you a guide on creating your own frappuccino concoction.

So what are you waiting for? Visit a Starbucks branch near you and order your own customized frappuccino.

Thor: Mythology, action, and eye-candy

2011-05-02T09:20:00.000+08:00

I'm not much into Norse mythology, but what I know is that some of the days of the week are named after them, with Thursday being the day of the Norse god of thunder.

But that isn't really touched in this Marvel-produced film.

And because I'm also not into Thor as the comic character, I watched this movie without any knowledge of his background, except that his father was Odin, the All-Father and that his brother is Loki, the god of mischief.

The film starts off with a bit of a background of Odin and his sons, Thor and Loki, and how Asgard (the realm of the Norse gods) was in a truce with the Frost Giants. But then, something breaches that truce and Thor, the heir apparent of Odin, went to wage a battle with the Frost Giants, which eventually becomes the reason why he gets banished to Midgard aka Earth.

So here in Earth he loses his godly strength (yet still retains his pride and pumped-up physique) and meets a scientist named Jane. And because he loses his power to even wield Mjolnir, the magical hammer, he begins to cool down a bit and takes the time to mull on his mistakes.

Meanwhile, back in Asgard, as Odin unexpectedly hibernates, Loki begins to claim power and twists everything. Upon learning what his brother has done, Thor sets on to free Asgard from the wicked clutches of his brother.

As part of the precursors to the big Avengers movie, Thor seems to be my least favorite of them all for now, if I compare it to Iron Man 1 and 2, and the Hulk movie. Maybe because Thor has that proud personality or because unlike Bruce Banner and Tony Stark (and even Steve Rogers aka Captain America), Thor isn't a human/ superhuman.

It might also be because the character development seemed to be in too fast a pace. Suddenly Thor is humbled when he can't wield the Mjolnir -- after 2 days of crashing into Earth?

And it's also probably because I felt Natalie Portman was just the distracting eye-candy in this movie. After her stellar portrayal in Black Swan, she's here in the movie acting like a teenager who gets those "kilig" moments when she's in front of her crush. I felt she was under-utilized here, I dunno.

But while there may be some misses in this movie, I kinda enjoyed it because it is part of the pre-Avengers continuity. At least I get some background as to how SHIELD gets to form this super-group and who some of the members are. And Agent Coulson has been getting more screen time since he appeared in Iron Man.

Of course, there's also the so-called Easter egg at the end of the movie. And Chris Hemsworth's muscles.

For much of it's eye-candy and action, I guess the film holds up -- which becomes some of the reasons why this movie is a must-see. Also if you're into the Avengers Initiative excitement. Just don't expect it to be as cool as Iron Man, though.

Church tripping in Bohol

2011-04-18T11:20:00.000+08:00

It's been weeks since my family and I took a week-long stay in Bohol. It's my parents' home province and my daughter and I got the chance to see the wonders that it beheld.

Visiting relatives aside, our stay in Bohol was marked by a road trip around Tagbilaran, the capital city, and its neighboring towns. Of course, going to Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island was included in our itinerary, but one other thing I enjoyed during my stay in Bohol were visiting its centuries-old churches.

Our Lady of the Assumption - Dauis, Bohol

The first church we went to was the Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Dauis, Panglao, Bohol. It's a really huge church (well, I think all the main churches in Bohol are colossal) with painted ceilings (another main fixture in Bohol churches).

The altar of the church in Dauis

The painting at the altar area

If you notice, the altar has a staircase that allows devotees and other people to come close to the images. That's also what all the churches in Bohol have.

What made Our Lady of the Assumption interesting is that it had a well inside the church, near the altar.

The well inside the church

The well is like 20 feet deep, and there's water in it. The water is said to have some healing properties, and since there are also a lot of people who want to get water from the well, the church staff have taken it among themselves to put the water from the well into some bottles and give them to the people, in exchange for a monetary donation (regardless of how much you want to give).

Next stop for us was the oldest church in Bohol: The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, or more known as the Baclayon Church.

The famous Baclayon Church

It was constructed during the 1700s and is one of the most visited spots in Bohol. It also has a baroque-style architecture, stained glass windows, and painted ceilings.

The lights were turned off, as there was no Mass heard that day.

Stained glass windows (apologies for the crappy photo quality)

Images on the left side of the altar

The painting by the altar

Baclayon Church also has a museum beside it that features all artifacts and items that it has used since the church was erected. Unfortunately, due to their delicate condition, cameras were not allowed inside.

We also visited St. Joseph Cathedral in the capital city.

St. Joseph Cathedral from the side (didn't get to take a facade shot)

The altar of St. Joseph Cathedral in Tagbilaran

Weird, I kinda got shy taking photos of the inside. There were too many people and the elders were looking at me weird. Or that was just me.

Our last stop was the Church of San Pedro Apostol in Loboc.

Church of San Pedro Apostol, Loboc

Unlike St. Joseph Cathedral, the church in Loboc was empty. Too empty, in fact -- there was no guard or a member of a church staff even in the office area. Might I add, it was a creepy experience for me: an empty church, a dilapidated museum at the back, an iron wrought gate that was left open, and a dark back door entrance were all it took to send shivers down my spine.

But when we got inside, I found the church to be pretty awesome.

The altar of the Loboc church (sorry for another crappy and dark shot)

The pipe organ

A section of the church's fully painted ceiling

The painting by the altar

There were still some old churches that we have failed to go to, as it was already far from the city. The next time I'll be there, I'll try to drop by these other churches.

Hmm, I think I had my Visita Iglesia quite early, don't you think? But hey, if you're visiting Bohol, visiting these old churches proves to be a great experience. As I have learned, there's more to Bohol than just the Chocolate Hills.

Sucker Punch: Prepare to disbelieve

2011-04-05T11:33:00.000+08:00

Zack Snyder, director of 300 and Watchmen, comes up with an original story wherein he can put in a mix of action, anime, and sexy girls. The result: Sucker Punch.

Plot layering seems to be the trend in movies nowadays, after the success of the mind-boggling film that was Inception. In this particular movie, the story begins with Baby Doll, a young orphaned girl who was sent by her stepfather to a girl's hospital for the mentally insane. Here, she meets 4 other women: Sweet Pea, Rocket, Amber, and Blondie. Baby Doll is to be lobotomized, but the scene is suddenly cut, revealing the same group of people, only in a brothel. Suddenly the mental patients become dancers, and Baby Doll is the newest girl to be included (imprisoned?) in their roster.

Wanting to get out of the place that held her, Baby Doll finds the answer when she gets entranced while dancing. Here, she meets a wise man who told her to find 5 things to attain freedom. Baby Doll then comes up with a plot to set her and the 4 other girls free.

And if you think the plot layering stops here, wait till the girls perform their "mission" one by one. As Baby Doll performs each of her dances, you're sucked again in another story, this time filled with guns, bombs, robots, and Nazi zombies.

And then you're reeled once again to the brothel afterwards. Or was it to the asylum?

Suddenly you're thinking, what is the movie's reality and the fantasy? Obviously the action sequences were the fantasy, wherein each blasts and slashes describe each of their missions. But when you come back to the brothel scene, were they back in the real world? Or still trapped in a dream?

Plot-wise, Sucker Punch held up in the mind-game aspect, as the viewers are provided a reality, then get sucked up by a fantasy, and then pulled up to the reality once again. The actors deliver as well, as each of them exuded a whole lot of sexiness and toughness. One thing I liked about the film is its soundtrack, perfectly giving life to every move and sequence in its battle scenes. Techno and rock provided the perfect ambience as the girls carried on each step towards freedom.

If you plan to watch this movie, I'd suggest to suspend disbelief. As its catchphrase goes, "You will be unprepared." So come prepared. Leave all logic behind when you go inside the cinema and just enjoy the ride.

Churp Churp pays you to spread the word

2011-03-22T16:22:00.001+08:00

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