Not so Random Thoughts

ABS CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and Musikero Education Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 23:09:00 +0000

“It’s not that people don’t like classical music. It’s that they don’t have the chance to understand and to experience it. Going to a concert can sometimes be very difficult. It can be a long journey. There’s the ticket prices. But when the music goes to the community – not the community coming to the concert – they say, ‘Wow! I didn't know that this music was so amazing!’" --Gustavo Dudamel

This March 9, Musikero and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra bring the music to you! Listen to the outstanding classical pieces performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra, and learn more about how classical music is made from Gerard Salonga himself.

Tickets are priced at P550. Doors are open at 7PM. The venue will be at the Dolphy Theater of ABS-CBN.

Know more about the classics. Sit back and let the music transport you.

*All the proceeds of this event is for the benefit of the kids of Tulay ng Kabataan and Manila Boys Town.

For tickets, please contact Celstine Sy at 09175847556.

Official Musikero FB Page:https://www.facebook.com/ateneomusikero

Official: Philharmonic Orchestra FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ABSPhilharmonic

The Guardian Severely Damaged the Tubbataha Reef

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 05:14:00 +0000

The Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was struck by the United States Navy minesweeper USS Guardian last January 17, 2013. The assessed damage was 1,000 square meters of coral, and presented above is an infographic on how big the actual damage is. Until now, the USS Guardian is still stuck, with no concrete recovery plan on how to get it out to prevent further damage.

The 224-foot US Navy minesweeper had no business being around the protected area on its way to Indonesia and was properly warned on its entry. The US Navy will surely be fined, as this event has caused an outrage through the country because the Tubbataha reef is considered as one of the top 8 diving sites around the world.

The US Navy issued the following statement:

"The U.S. Navy recognizes that Tubbataha Reef is a unique and treasured environment," Guardian Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. James Stockman said. "We are taking all precautions to ensure that the recovery plan will have minimal environmental damage."

Hopefully, no more damage will be incurred in getting the ship out.

Hiritan 2013 with Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:29:00 +0000

Yes, I am in favor of Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV to be a senator for the Philippines. I believe that he has the capacity to invoke positive change when put in a government position, and he has the ability to put make his goal of a better Philippines a tangible reality.

I hope everybody has the opportunity to watch this video before deciding who to vote for this coming elections, as Bam Aquino answers questions regarding the total gun ban law, political dynasty law, and the privatization of public enterprises. I like how he gave short answers that were straight to the point.

Overdose: The Next Financial Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 01:32:00 +0000

Are we heading into another Financial Crisis? Are the government policies on job creation and increased spending enough to pull us out of this recession or is it simple aggravating the problem similar to what happened after 9/11?

This video aims to answer all those questions. With special appearances from personalities who were mocked and laughed at when they predicted a crash at the height of the US real estate bubble. This documentary is interesting because provides a new perspective on the US economic recession and speculates that we might be headed into more horrible times.

Of course, this should be viewed with a critical eye. The important thing right now is for consumer sentiment to remain positive and global outlook be optimistic about the future. If we remain pessimistic about the things to come and lower spending, then the worst is yet to come.

Interested about understanding the similarities of the 1997 Asian Crisis with the 2009 World Financial Meltdown?

The 1997 and 2009 Financial Crises: Analyzing Economic Meltdowns

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 01:22:00 +0000

Economists today can learn a lot from both the 1997 Asian Financial crisis and the recent 2009 World Financial Crisis that began in the United States. One can say that they are somewhat similar – both crises started off with a bubble economy that resulted in an unanticipated market crash in the midst of unprecedented growth. These could have been avoided with proper regulatory oversight and financial supervision. Both also show the increasingly integrated global economy we have today, where crisis in one economy could very well trigger a bigger financial catastrophe, as contagion and herd effects can quickly spread the negative impact from country-to-country.

These incidents also had multiple differences, as the Asian Financial crisis resulted in a quick recovery while the US Financial Crisis led to a worldwide recession expected to continue over the succeeding years.

We begin our explanation with imbalances in Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply which can be seen in both of the crisis. During the Asian crisis, domestic demand failed due to the collapse of domestic income. Huge amounts of overseas credit went in to the Thai economy, pushing up asset prices at an unsustainable level. Prices increased despite the fact that there wasn’t enough demand to meet the rapid supply-side increases due to investments. This imbalance caused the real estate, stock market, and bank credit bubble to burst. At the first sign of trouble, foreign investors started pulling out their short-term debt denominated in foreign currencies, which led to the rapid devaluation of the Thai baht as the Thai central bank was unable to keep currency rates stable because it was running out of foreign currency reserves. This led to a massive decrease in purchasing power especially on imports and thus led to a further decline in domestic demand (Dowling & Valenzuela, 2009).

Aggregate Demand and Supply imbalances also occurred during the 2009 financial crisis, but in a different manner. Globalization led to an increase in the global labor force and better worldwide market integration. This led a lot of companies shifting production to cheaper economies such as China and other emerging economies to increase efficiency as China kept exchange rates stable to remain competitive. However, it caused wages in the US to become stagnant while productivity increased. This imbalance of supply and demand led to higher income disparity and a reliance on credit to purchase consumption goods. Eventually, this led to a debt spiral as the housing bubble burst in the US which further decreased demand as unemployment went up and more people lowered consumption to pay off their debts.

Interest rate differentials played a key part of the Asian crisis as Thailand repeatedly borrowed from low interest rates abroad and lent it to domestic borrowers at a higher price. This caused a widening current account deficit of more than 5% in some countries. However, due to the sudden reversal of capital flow, the baht devalued and this led to a chain of bankruptcies because of the inability to pay foreign debt. In the 2009 crisis, developed economies also had very high current account deficits due to surplus export oriented growth economies which led to an excess of financial capital in the developed world that were used to finance questionable mortgage backed securities. These securities fell when the housing bubble burst, which also led to a chain of bank runs and bankruptcies (Alpert, Hockett, & Roubini, 2011).

Both economies also had weaknesses in their financial sectors, as debt relative to GDP increased rapidly. Foreign banks were unable to operate in Thailand and other Asian economies in 1997. Also, there were a lot of poor investment decisions as there was a rise on NPLs. In the 1997 crisis, control of exchange rate helped trigger the crash of the Thai baht at the beginning of the crisis. During the 2009 crisis, focus on supply side policies and unsuccessful quantitative easing and monetary reflation efforts as they didn’t really delve into the root of the problem. But quick action on stimulus packages and bailouts prevented the US economy from entering into a downward spiral which avoided the worst of the crisis.

This definitely shows a failure of global market integration as the focus on production and efficiency was apparent at the expense of real wages of developed economies. This caused a major imbalance in global supply and demand in emerging and developed economies as this supply-side focus decreased demand, which caused higher income disparities that increased investment but decreased consumption. This leads to a case wherein GDP growth is pursued at the expense of development due as purchasing power decreased and reliance on credit increased. This is unsustainable, as increases in productivity should result in an increase of wages and the standard of living to be sustainable.

Are we currently headed into another economic meltdown?

Watch this video to find out - Overdose: The Next Financial Crisis

Bibliography

Alpert, D., Hockett, R., & Roubini, N. (2011). The Way Forward: Moving From the Post-Bubble, Post-Bust Economy to Renewed Growth and Competitiveness”. New American Foundation.

Dowling, M., & Valenzuela, R. (2009). Economic Developments in Asia.

Wong, K.-y. (2001). Housing Market Bubbles and Currency Crisis: The Case of Thailand. Japanese Economic Review. Retrieved from http://faculty.washington.edu/karyiu/papers/bubbles.pdf

Mang Inasal: A Response to Mcdonaldization

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:34:00 +0000

Mcdonaldization is the social phenomenon wherein a culture begins to possess the characteristics of a fast-food restaurant, with traits of efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. It also has a profound impact on the westernization of local cultures through standardization, as McDonald’s can be seen as a symbol of Western Modernity.

The focus of McDonaldization is the mass-production of products. This system results in sacrificing quality for quantity which leaves food with a bland and artificial taste. It's focus is on homogenization, which is why every friend chicken tastes very much like McDonald's fried chicken every time. There is no room for surprise. Given the growing presence of McDonald’s and McDonaldization in the Philippines, what can be effective response to this phenomenon?

Mang Inasal may be a fast food chain, but it does not appear to resemble one at all. Mang Inasal clearly has characteristics of Mcdonaldization with its quick service, multiple branches, and the consistency of taste; however the difference lies with the chain’s focus on being uniquely Filipino.

This can be seen through its service and the quality of food offered by Mang Inasal. It is not your typical fast food chain with readily made food because you still need to wait for the chicken to cook and for your order to be served. Food is served in banana leaves which give it a native feel, with the chicken still skewered with a stick, and with complementary soup. With Paborito meals, one can enjoy unlimited rice, which is important in every Filipino meal as it is typical for our culture to eat a lot of rice with our viand. The ambiance of the place also promotes kinamot (eating with your hands) which is very common when eating in Iloilo city inasal restaurants, where Mang Inasal came from.

The food itself tastes very good and is very Filipino, with a home-cooked feel very different from the bland, mass-produced taste McDonald’s offer. When you dig in to the chicken, it remains very tasty due to the mixture of local spices, patis, and sugar used in cooking which leaves the chicken with a sweet taste (just how Filipinos like their food). They also promote the use of sawsawan when eating meals, which is also very Filipino. This can be seen by providing calamansi, chili, patis, vinegar, and chicken oil on the table which allows one to enjoy sawsawan just as they like it.

Mang Inasal is an effective response to McDonaldization because it promotes the ingenuity of Filipino food, of what we have to offer, and despite possessing characteristics of efficiency and predictability with quick service and consistency it does so in a manner than respects the value of good-quality home-cooked meals. Producing a quality Filipino dish that Filipinos really enjoy.

The Philippines Moves Forward: Goldman Sachs' 'The Next Eleven'

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:22:00 +0000

Goldman Sachs has included Philippines in the Next Eleven countries that will sooner become the world's largest economies in 21st century.

The Philippines Moves Forward

For the first time in over a decade, the Philippine economy is on the upswing and the Filipino people are realizing their potential. The world watches as the Philippines moves forward.

A business feature produced by Asia Business Channel and broadcast on Channel News Asia in 2013. Featuring interviews with prominent Filipino figures such as President Benigno Aquino, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ramon del Rosario Jr., Rene Almendras and Ramon Jimenez. This program discusses recent developments in the Southeast Asian republic along with the successes and challenges it faces halfway into the Aquino administration.

Producer/Director/Writer: Francisco "Kit" Reyes (Shutter Republic)
Director of Photography: Stefan Herbruger (Shutter Republic)
Post-Production: Underground Logic
Narrator: Trevor Jones
Shot on location in The Philippines. An Asia Business Channel Production for Channel News Asia/Mediacorp. © 2012

Disclaimer: I do not own this video.

Urban legend about kidnapping in Power Plant Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:19:00 +0000

A Call for Responsible Use of Social Media

It has come to our attention that an old urban legend that began in the 90’s in the US about children being kidnapped and harassed inside malls have been circulating online. Recently, the Power Plant Mall became the new victim of this online hoax. Many have expressed concern over the alleged incident after the extent of “shares” made through e-mails and networking sites. Like the rest of the anxious public, we are alarmed by this malicious report, more so by the carelessness of sharing misleading and wrong information without any solid grounds.

We reiterate that the alleged kidnapping occurrence in shopping malls has been long-dubbed as a mere urban legend. It has been exposed on certain websites including snopes.com, an online site known for debunking unverified and unchecked claims.

We are all expected to be responsible users of social media and the internet by evaluating what we receive and consider to share or forward to family and friends. Yet so many have ended up being unwitting pawns of individuals who started to circulate this rumour locally but with clear malicious intent.

As today's technology exposes us to information freely, we need to be more discerning with the type of content we share and propagate. We must bear in mind that each of us are liable for our own actions, and a mere "click" from the keyboard could subsequently bear unnecessary social consequences.

Thank you!

See this link for reference: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/kidnap.asp.

Jorge El Travieso Arce vs Nonito Donaire Pelea Complete Video Replay

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:18:00 +0000

Here's the a video of the entire fight for everyone who missed the brilliant knockout of Jorge Arce by the Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire on December 15, 2012. Donaire, the current The Ring and WBO super bantamweight champion ended the match on the 3rd round after Arce started to become overly aggressive.

Hope you like it! Enjoy! .

Morgan Freeman's thoughts on the Sandy Hook Massacre at Connecticut

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 06:24:00 +0000

TURN OFF THE NEWS.......

Morgan Freeman's brilliant take on what happened yesterday :

"You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here's why.

It's because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine? Disturbed
people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he'll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.

CNN's article says that if the body count "holds up", this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer's face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer's identity? None that I've seen yet. Because they don't sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you've just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.

You can help by forgetting you ever read this man's name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news."

PS: This may probably be a hoax, but i'll get back to you once I find out if it's real or not.

Here's an article saying that this is probably a hoax: http://www.inquisitr.com/440462/morgan-freemans-newtown-statement-almost-definitely-a-hoax/

Musikero's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry Cover)

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:42:00 +0000

See these guys' amazing cover of Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Good. They are all members of Musikero, an organization that aims to educate underprivileged orphans on the fundamentals of music and the basics on how to play instruments.

These guys are students from the Ateneo de Manila University. I hope you like their cover!

Making Music, Changing Lives.

Victoria's Secrets Angels with 'Deck the Halls'

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:42:00 +0000

Merry Christmas!!

Victoria's Secret supermodels Candice Swanepoel, Miranda Kerr, Doutzen Kroes, Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldridge, Lindsay Ellingson and Erin Heatherton have fun decking the halls and putting their own spin on a Christmas classic in this adorable video for Holiday 2012.

Enjoy this treat from Victoria's Secret!

PS: Forgive their singing

Gelatissimo's Naughty or Nice Promo

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:14:00 +0000

Gelatissimo has something more to offer us this December! Buy one naughty, get one nice free!

This December, get your taste buds ready as Gelatissimo introduces an array of 16 limited edition flavours perfect for the Christmas season! A variety of 8 dark/milk chocolate and white chocolate flavours linked to a particular naught or nice emotion/feeling make up for an interesting selection.

Find out if you have been naughty or nice this Christmas and try to figure out which flavour suits you best! Are you "Head Over Heels" for someone? A White Chocolate Hazelnut is sure to hit the spot! If you're "Far Too Confused", just grab a Chocolate Macaron. Feeling a little "Heart Broken", then White Chocolate Honeycomb is the cure for you!

Simple print this voucher and present to any Gelatissimo store and buy one Naughty flavour and get one Nice flavour absolutely FREE!

Merry Christmas!

To get a free scoop, simply print this voucher and present it to any of their branches at Serendra/ Trinoma/ SM Megamall/ Greenbelt 5/ Ayala Center Cebu/ SM City & Northwing Cebu.

With 16 limited edition Christmas flavors, its time to indulge in a variety of Gelatissimo's mouth-watering dark/milk and white chocolate flavours! What are you waiting for?

What will be your guilty pleasure?

Musikero OPM Night

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:02:00 +0000

Time to bring out the maracas.

Musikero's annual Open Mic Night goes Coachella!

Spend an evening listening to chill music performances with your fellow Musikeros! Watch out for special performances from other Musikeros and don't miss the chance to get your own 5 - 10 minutes of fame on the Open Mic Night stage!

Performer sign ups:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEJQMGJnd21jV3M1d0dYNENsYW43OFE6MQ#gid=0

Ticket price is P70. Don't forget to bring your own banig or mat to feel the Coachella grass vibes!

See you there!!! RSVP at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHhXRklVUW1jWGh0eWRzZHpBaGlaOHc6MQ

Like Musikero's Page to know more about our advocacy! :D

https://www.facebook.com/ateneomusikero

Making Music, Changing Lives

Kevin Durant's Motion Film "Thunderstruck"

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:37:00 +0000

A movie that every Oklahoma City Thunder fan will certainly love to watch, the movie Thunderstruck featuring Kevin Durant as himself. This film brings back memories of Michael Jordan's Space Jam (1996).

A fun and energetic family basketball movie starring Kevin Durant AS HIMSELF, a basketball star who switches talent with a klutzy 16 year old fan. When Brian, a hopelessly uncoordinated young fan magically switches talents with his hero, Kevin Durant, he becomes the star of his high school team...while Kevin Durant suddenly can't make a shot to save his life. But with the playoffs approaching, Brian learns that being a true winner involves working hard at your own game, and he tries to make things right in time to prevent a catastrophic end to his hero's season. - Warner Brothers

It's certainly an interesting film by one of basketball's best players in the world today that will really light up your holiday season as it come out on Blue-Ray and DVD this coming December 4th. So why don't you grab a copy now?

How to watch Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez IV fight online: free live stream

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:22:00 +0000

On December 7, 2012, Juan Manuel Marquez will take on Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a non-title match but Pacquiao will be looking to bounce back from his controversial defeat from Timothy Bradley. Both fighters hold very impressive records and are top pound-for-pound fighters with Pacquiao (54-4-2) having an obvious edge against Marquez (54-6-1) by winning 2 of his match-ups against the Mexican fighter.

This will be a very exciting fight and you may catch it at HBO pay-per-view or you may opt to watch it in one of my recommended sites below.

I know that it is very difficult to look for working online live streams of boxing matches and nothing works. There are countless blogs spamming trash and giving worthless advice on how you can watch the fight online.

Well, this post will not be one of those blogs. I'm here to help, and I hope you consider what I'm about to share with you. YES, IT DOES WORK.

SOPCAST
It's easy, you just have to download the program here. After that, you can log in as anonymous and if you can just find a sopcast channel that streams the fight, then you are all set. This is what I usually use if I would like to record the fight, because it has an option if you want to record a video or not.

I will be posting Sopcast channels for the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez IV fight here on the day itself. I will tell you which ones work and which ones doesn't. The channels below have never failed to broadcast past grand boxing fights, so you can check them out as well.

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/24267

sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/65154

sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/6002

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/7524

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/69756

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/51813

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/29629

sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/85856

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/93289

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/35999

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/111719

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/106723

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/123694

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/120705

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/115800 - Working

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/138416

Note: After loading the SOPCAST channel, please wait for a few minutes for the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez IV video to load. Buffering times vary depending on the speed of your internet connection.

P2P4u.net
If you go to p2p4u.net, you'll find that this isn't just a site that features a live online stream of boxing, but it can also be used to watch basketball, soccer and other sports-related stream. I usually use this in order to stream NBA or FIFA games online. Just go to the page, click on boxing, and click on the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez IV link.

I'm sure there are many more ways to view the fights for free, but these are proven methods, and these will work almost all the time. So far, these sites have not failed the big fights just yet! Personally, I would recommend sopcast as it has been the one i have been using to watch fights.

I hope this helps! If you have any problems, don't hesitate to leave a comment and I'll address it ASAP.

Also, if you have better suggestions. Please feel free to post it on the comments section.

Some things you might want to check out as well:

Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez 3: full video download
Antonio Margarito vs Miguel Cotto 2: full video download

The Science Behind Mixed Martial Arts (Fight Science)

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Fight Science is a television program shown on the National Geographic Channel in which scientists and martial arts masters work together to analyze the world's fighting techniques, to compare the disciplines and to find out which one has the strongest hits, kicks and deadliest weapons. The show also tries to prove through science if certain legends in fighting are possible, such as whether a one-punch knockout is possible or if ninja are as nimble and deadly as stories tell. There is also a feature on human strength, wherein a man hits his head on bricks in order to shatter them.

If you missed it on television, then here is the complete 1 hour and 30 minute video on the science of Mixed Martial Arts.

Enjoy!

Petra Mahalimuyak's MAS YUMMY Dictionary by Nescafe

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 01:03:00 +0000

This video is simply hilarious! Coco Martin is one lucky guy! I love drinking Nescafe, especially the Nescafe 3in1 Brown 'N Creamy and Nescafe Gold 3in1.

Watch this video and enjoy a cup or two of Nescafe!

MAS YUMMY!

L'oreal Brandstorm 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:46:00 +0000

L'oreal is about to launch their biggest campus event: L'OREAL BRANDSTORM 2013, the first global marketing competition in the country!

This year's challenge will be introduced as students are exposed to firsthand testimonials of former BRANDSTORM participants currently working with the company.

You may register at http://www.brandstorm.loreal.com

Here's the game trailer

Work hard for an opportunity to compete in Paris!

For more information, visit the L'oreal Brandstorm 2013 website.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf®’s Giving Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 01:29:00 +0000

Presenting the The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf®’s Giving Journal for 2013.

Once again, the proceeds for this journal will go to eight scholars of the Real LIFE Foundation.

"Our Give In To Giving Campaign has directly translated to the sponsorship of eight university scholars through Real LIFE Foundation's "Adopt-a-Scholar" Program. With your help, we have been able to meaningfully affect change in the lives of these students"

What are the Mechanics?

Each card consists of 12 circles, with corresponding drink assignments:

- 1 Original Ice Blended

- 1 Tea latte

- 1 Espresso-based Beverage

- 1 Red Velvet Hot Cocoa or Red Velvet Ice Blended

- 8 Regular or Large Original Ice Blended, Coffee-based, or Tea-based Beverages, or Frozen Swirl.

*Any purchase of a box of CBTL Capsules is 2 stamps

The Promo Period runs from October 31 to January 6 2013. The Giving Journal may be claimed all throughout the promo period until 60 days after the promo has ended.

With only 12 stamps, you help send a scholar to school, get to have delicious drinks, and have a wonderful planner for year 2013!

For more information on how the planner is made, refer to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf®'s Behind the Scenes video below!

What are you waiting for? Grab a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf drink now!

Ateneo MEA’s Valentine Bazaar: Concessionaire Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:47:00 +0000

Calling all Concessionaires! Grab this chance to get one of the coveted spots in Mercato Centrale , in time for the Valentine’s rush!

Presenting Ateneo MEA’s Valentine Bazaar: the perfect venue for mouthwatering food and eye – catching treats and products. At the Mercato Centrale Air-conditioned Tent, The Fort, on February 8 – 9, from 7PM to 3AM.

OPEN TO FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONCESSIONAIRES!

EARLY BIRD RATES:
REGULAR
Two Nights– Php 5000
One Night – Php 2800
STUDENT
Two Nights - Php 4500
One Night – Php 2500

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Gemilyn Sta. Rosa – 09166172135
Camille Hungchiuming - 09178489889

Have you been to these places in Maginhawa Street?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 01:14:00 +0000

The Rogue Magazine Gallery this month took a walk down Maginhawa Street and picked out some good restaurants they found. Have you tried these places? What do you think?

Why we Love Tea?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:06:00 +0000

I like tea, and I try to drink tea every day. This is why I like it.

Taken from 9gag.com. Enjoy!

PS: I think the Genmaicha green tea from the Coffee Bean and Tea leaf is simply amazing. Hope you try it out!

LeBron James - "Recognize"

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:13:00 +0000

Lebron James is a champion. He will go down in history as one of the greatest basketball players that ever lived. This year, he won the regular season MVP award, the NBA championship, Finals MVP, and Olympic Gold Medalist. He was an NBA all-star, an All-NBA first team selection, an All-NBA Defensive first team selection, and some people believe he was robbed of the Defensive Player of the year award. He is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and he has not been given the credit that he deserves.

Lebron always puts his team first before any individual accolade. He believes that teams win championships, not individuals. Lebron James does not hesitate on making the right plays even in clutch situations, which is why he has been thoroughly criticized as not having the clutch gene. He was born to be a selfless player, and he proves in on the court.

This video is a tribute to Lebron James. His decision to join the Miami Heat made him into one of the most hated villains in the NBA, even though he didn't deserve it.

Credits to Johnny Boy Films for putting this video together.

Lebron James is a champion, and I believe he should be given the credit he deserves.

Enjoy!

Infused Cappuccino and Espresso Con Panna Available at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Quiogue) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Since I am an avid coffee drinker and regular CBTL customer, I feel the urge to share this wonderful treat.

Fresh hand-pulled espresso shots, layers of sweet sauce and a dollop of yummy whipped cream make up our all new Espresso Con Pannas and Infused Cappuccinos.

Stir & Sip - that's how to do it!

Now Available in Caramel, Chocolate Fudge and Vanilla Bean flavors.

Enjoy a great start to the week, everyone! :) See you at the stores!

I personally tried a Vanilla Bean Con Panna and it was delicious. Definitely something I would get again soon. The Daily Viennese Brew, White Chocolate Dream Latte, and Ultimate Vanilla Blended Beverage (of course, with coffee Jelly) round up the list of my favorite Coffee Bean drinks.

For more information visit their website at http://www.coffeebean.com.ph/.