SoReal SoTrue

The Cebu Tsunami Scare: A Case of the Boy Who Cried Wolf

2012-02-08T17:02:00.002+08:00

It was the afternoon of February 6^th. Roughly an hour after my boyfriend dropped me off to work, he called asking me to check online if there’s any news that a tsunami was triggered by this morning’s earthquake. Apparently people on the street were already in great panic because a great tsunami was coming. I checked online and there was no warning or alert issued about an approaching killer wave.

It took over an hour for the hysteria to die down. I still get agitated thinking of the stampede that happened at SM. My heart goes out to all those who got hurt on the street trying to find a safer place and those whose stuff got looted away by shameless individuals; all because they were busy running away from the nonexistent tsunami.

Like I posted on Facebook, “If there’s anything I learned from the tsunami scare, it’s that knowledge is power.”

This reminds me of the boy who cried wolf. Only in this case, we don’t know who cried tsunami and we probably never will.

On the 6th of February.

2012-02-08T16:13:00.000+08:00

While applying mascara at around 11AM last Monday, the 6^th of February, I felt my room shake. I initially thought it was the doing of a huge truck passing by the area. But it was impossible because my place isn’t near any road where a truck big enough to cause ground tremors can pass by.

When I realized what was going on, my insides started to cringe. I’ve never felt an earthquake of that magnitude before. It was so strong that I didn’t only feel the ground moving, I heard it too. It was the sound of big boulders being rubbed against each other.

I wasn’t all that scared because I felt secure where I was. I was in my room, on my bed. It’s a single-story structure inside a residential compound within the heart of Cebu, so there’s no real danger. I stayed calm despite the panicked shriek of the neighbor’s house help. If I were anywhere inside a big building though when it happened, I don’t think I’d be that composed.

Chill to the Beats

2008-12-11T17:36:00.000+08:00

Are you the type of person who is into ghetto music? Well if the answer to that is yes, then listening to hip hop beats would be a delight to you. Discovered a site called Jee Juh where in musical beats are up for grabs. Produced by talented artists, the beats vary from East Coast to Chill and Exotic. If you want to learn more before making a purchase you can visit the hip hop forum and hang out with other hip hoppers like you. If you're into rap music then rap text battle would be for you. Another forum dedicated for users to rant, rave and chill out.

Catching Up!!!

2008-11-09T01:40:00.003+08:00

Finally, after 8 nagging phone calls to their customer service hotline and 3 actual visits to their office, Smartbro got us our internet connection back. I was so nonplussed at why it took so long to tansfer the connection to our new place. Geezus, it has been 1 month and all the while I felt so incomplete and sick of being cut off from blogging. I was even angry at times, almost blaming dada for it.

Well anyway, I say let bygones be bygones! There is so much I have to write about and I can't begin to imagine where to start. So much happened without me taking tabs of it. Now I have to rely on my rusty memory for the telling.

Sssshhh

2008-11-01T03:23:00.001+08:00

We had our annual examinations earlier and part of the test is visual acuity. Am sure I failed on this one as I have astigmatism and my sight has never been at its sharpness. So a friend I met online suggested I get Great Eyeglasses For Less, they're of good quality according to her and the Variable Dimension Frames From Zenni made them so fashionable that Zenni Optical was on FOX news! Can you imagine that? She asked me and I was like so long as they have pink on stock. Why not? Hehehe can'r wait to see more of Zenni on Fox.

Advice on Debt and Such

2008-10-30T00:02:00.001+08:00

Can you imagine yourself in a debt free life? Well if you think that is hard then just imagine a life where you can cough up all your payables in one low monthly payment? That means you can save on your time and gas for all the driving you need to do but those are not the only benefits.
So what exactly is debt consolidation? This is a good start to having a debt free life and avoiding bankruptcy on its tracks. Dept consolidators will work on your behalf to negotiate a reasonable amount you pay to your debtors every month. This will be for your payday loans, personal loans, car loans and every other type of loan.
It’s depressing and frustrating to find yourself in a situation where you owe your creditors so much and you know that what you pay them every month is only enough to cover for the interest. You are trying and working hard to wriggle yourself free but you just can not seem to get out of this financial quicksand. There is hope though, if you are not even sure where to start then talk to an expert about your situation and both of you should be able to come up with something or you should at least get your confidence back after the session.
If you need more information and if you think you need the assistance of debt companies then get a free debt consolidation advice right away. There are several organizations that can assist you and give you free advice to get you back on the right track where you no longer have to live in fear of the letters you get in you mail. You can even get this type of service online as well by just searching for it in google.

Whats Your Credit Score??

2008-10-30T00:00:00.001+08:00

People these days hardly pay with cash; there is plastic for everything. Personally although I prefer cash; it’s just not safe to go around shopping with all that green stuff inside your purse. What if you get mugged? Then its goodbye whatever amount of money you have with you, I should know. If your card gets stolen, you can simply notify your credit card company about it and it will be practically useless. Well imagine how ridiculous you will look checking into a fancy hotel paying cash. With Plastic, it is simple, convenient and hassle free.
Credit cards give consumers the purchasing power but it is also a major reason why people are in debt and with bad credit. People tend to forget that when they use their cards, they still have to actually pay that amount with interest. Too bad because your credit report is always a prerequisite when you try to get a loan, no matter what kind of loan that is.
Not sure what your credit score is? You are not alone in that area but d that should not be a problem because getting a free credit report is as easy as going online, clicking and typing. Once you know your score then you can start doing the works to improve it. To improve credit is not really difficult so long as your know your current standing, it is a requirement.
Did I say improving you credit is easy? Yes I did and that’s true. The difficult part is maintaining that already good credit. One trick is always setting a limit to how much you will spend for shopping in one billing cycle. Once you determined the amount, stick to it. It may seem painful in the beginning but later on you will be so used to it its like clockwork.

Own Domain

2008-10-24T08:23:00.002+08:00

Looking for a good web hosting company nowadays is a bit tough seeing that there's a lot of them emerging in the market. Being a novice I really don't have much knowledge as to what I need and where to get it from, well basically all I want is to get a domain name of my own that's it. Simple right? So apart from looking for kimonos on the net I tried reading various web hosting articles to try to understand what am getting myself into, so I've read a lot which confuses me all the more. *sigh* Why can't everything be so simply laid out? Lol ... if I set up another blogger account and purchase the domain name from go daddy would that be any easier? Oh well ... the more I googled for web hosting reviews to read the more info I get and each review site seems to have its own list of top 10 best hosting something.Kinda confusing really but all in good time, am not in a hurry anyways to setup my own domain.

Debt and All

2008-10-22T18:17:00.002+08:00

I've known of quite a number of people who are struggling between debts. It sometimes puzzle how they manage to juggle from one loan to the other, take for instance I know of a friend who's payroll goes directly to his credit card bills plus the loans on the side. Sometimes I wonder how he gets by but I think its goes to down to how you manage to make do with whats left after all the deductions. Run across a site during the course of my wandering in the web of a debt consolidation loans site ... its a first for me to hear such a term and was a bit intrigued by what it means. Based on what I've read its intended for credit cards, medical bills and collection accounts. This is targeted to users or consumers who are having difficulty meeting monthly payment requirements or are unable to reduce their balances should apply. Should he apply for this type of program? Maybe its worth mentioning ... but wouldn't it hurt his ego?

I find it awkward discussing other people's finances but he's a close friend of mine and though I cannot help him pay off his debts but at least in a way I'd be able to help him find ways on eliminating them one by one. Now am wondering if plans like this or services like this exist in the country, there's even a government debt elimination program that of which am not acquainted with the details but just the same its targeted to those who need help with their finances. Or maybe I can ask him to attend debt management plan before he starts getting another loan. Whew!!! Seems like he's style is to get another loan to pay his existing loan, which I find strange ... don't understand it really.

What's The Area Code?

2008-10-22T07:10:00.000+08:00

There's this company in the US that has an online store selling various cosmetics and ladies accessories. You know me, I love to shop online so I toyed around the site for a bit looking at this and that when I ran across a pair of elegant red boots just right about my size so I checked on the company's contact detail so I could give them a ring and ask bout the details of the item I wanna buy, shipping cost and all that. was disappointed when the phone number listed doesn't include the area code. Duh!!! It did list their physical address though which was my basis in googling, good thing there's a search area codes site that helped me out in my dilemma.

Still No Internet

2008-10-22T00:05:00.002+08:00

I was wondering what is taking SmartBro too effin long to work on transferring our internet connection to the new place we are now living. So dada and I went to check the status of our connection in their office only to be surprised at what the record showed. The technicians have been trying to call us but apparently the number was out of coverage area. Strange because we are so within the coverage area where we live right now. Any sensible person would ask what number they have just so to verify and so I did. I was so embarrased when I realized that I gave them my old number when we signed the papers last week hihihi stupid, stupid!

So right now, I'm blogging from work! Orly is down hahaha

For Your Cats Only

2008-10-20T16:18:00.000+08:00

Cat flaps may not be popular in the Philippines but in countries like the UK and the US, many cat owners find it to be a convenience for them and their pet cats. Cat flap is a hinged flap set into a door, wall or window which allows cats to enter and exit your home on their own without any human assistance to open and close the door after them. So they can come and go without bothering their owners. However, simple flaps like the weighted ones are not as secure as a microchip cat flap. Thanks to the advancement of technology, microchip cat flaps like Pet Porte microchip cat flaps have features like a light sensor which detects daylight and will automatically lock the door at night which will ensure that your cat will not leave the house at night. Petporte microchip cat flap has a microchip sensor as well which will scan for the cat or the microchip that you have programmed into the unit which will unlock the door for your cat’s entry or exit. So if a cat or any kind of animal tries to get into the house and does not have this chip then it won’t be able to get into the house. This security feature can be of real use especially if you live near the woods for it will not just secure the house from stray cats it will also secure the house from animals like raccoons. In the city, it can also protect the house from burglars for it is not like those weighted flaps which can be lifted by just about anybody or anything like the wind. I could just imagine the noise that it will make if you leave near the beach. This is also a good protection for your cats and their especially if they are being followed by other cats.

Playing Online

2008-10-20T05:39:00.000+08:00

The fact that I've been spending quite a lot of time online doing my shopping for these fashionable kimonos is getting to my nerves ... or am I hallucinating? Lol ... anyways am finding the what I consider spam emails I received daily quite a bit useful. Lately my bulk folder has been flooded with adverts from various online casinos from all parts of the world. What amazes me is the fact that almost all of these casinos are based in the US but still accepts international users. There are rooms for Texas casino players or rooms per state but they're not strictly for players from those states. Intriguing is how a couple of veteran players earn from it ... so its like earning while playing. Isn't that amazing? Am interested in learning how to play the roulette and maybe poker. Oh well one game at a time.

Moving Out

2008-10-05T08:29:00.002+08:00

Today we move to another place. Dada is still asleep and is not in a hurry in any way. I understand, I mean we have everything boxed but I am in no hurry to leave as well. The landlady is a really warm person and is already a friend that is why this is kind of difficult for us (sigh). The most difficult part for me was telling Te Nene that we are moving out but it turned out better than I expected because she is such an angel.

So why move out?

Because it is not working out for us here. I mean the place is great and all but it turned us into lazy hogs. All we do is sleep and eat and the only exercise we ever get is climbing the stairs up the rooftop. We have gained so much weight the moment we got here huhuhu we hardly get anything done because we keep putting it off. Like how many times have we planned on going out to do this and that but ended up sleeping the entire day instead? I'm such a lazy hog I don't even go out to shop anymore, I have sucked into the online shopping fever. I have nothing against online shopping, I love it but it certainly robbed the fun out of shopping, the part where you have to actually fit into the clothes and shoes before you actually pay.

I'm not even going to get started with Dada hihi

I will write to let you all know about the new place we are moving into. For now, I'll let the keyboard rest.

Give Back

2008-10-05T08:25:00.004+08:00

I don’t know about the rest of the population but I’m a firm believer of giving to the less fortunate. That is why I admire those wealthy people who give out to those who have less in life. I don’t even care what their intentions are in joining foundations such the one headed by Jim Piccolo, what is important is that these people are making a difference in the lives of those they have helped.

Big celebrity names and businessmen all forget their differences in order to help out kids in Africa and such. The Piccolo Foundation headed by Jim Piccolo believes in giving back and paying forward if you are blessed. I would like to quote this message from him, “I encourage each person to dream not just about the things they want and the person they want to become, but about the things each of them can do to positively impact others.”

Successful Nouveau Rich investors have joined Jim Piccolo in making an impact in the community. So what if you are not as rich as these personalities, remember that money is not the only thing you can donate. You can volunteer and give your time to others if money should be an issue. I remember that warm and fulfilled feeling I got when the children we have helped during out annual outreach looked me in the eyes and said, “Thank you” not a feeling one feels everyday.

Team Potluck

2008-10-05T08:01:00.002+08:00

I have finally gone out with my team again. It's been awhile and I didn't realize I miss everyone. Yeah we do have fun in training and the people I directly interact with are fun people but I miss people in Ops. I miss my TL and my teammates. I wanted to say no to the team potluck last Friday, in fact I think I did back out at the last minute but Wena convinced me to go haha so I did and I'm glad. I just hated leaving them so early because I still had a class. I have posted a snippet of the affair.

Don't Be A Victim

2008-10-05T07:57:00.001+08:00

You have read my other post about Nouveau Rich University as well as several other articles about it from other authors. It is all hyped up that you probably think there has to be a Nouveau Rich Scam out there. Just like with every genuine invention out there having a counterfeit version somewhere, so is Nouveau Rich. As a matter of fact, Nouveau Rich Scam is highly documented to steer Nouveau Rich investors away from it.

When you hear a good business proposal, don’t just get sucked in right away. Do your homework; ask around if you have to. Learn as much as you can first before letting out a huge investment that way every amount you seed out gets planted in fertile grounds. A good investment is only as good as the enterprise you invested into.

With the sum of money involve, one can only imagine how agonizing it must be to a Nouveau Rich Scam victim and I’m sure nobody wants to be that unlucky. Surely anyone can write about anything based on their personal experience and such so always look for facts in what you read. Fraud is everywhere so do not allow yourself to get ripped off.

10 Reasons to be Thankful About Today

2008-10-04T20:21:00.004+08:00

It's been awhile since I received a tag so this one is very welcome.
Thank you Dez for sharing this with me!

I do have days when things just go from bad to worse but I try to remind myself of why I should be thankful. Writing it like this is a good idea to not forget. Reading it out loud so I can hear it is even better!

RULES:
1. Add your blog to the list. If you’re keeping multiple blogs, it’ll be fine if you add them all up and just post your answers in one of those blogs.
2. IMPORTANT: kindly get back to me [architect] so i will be able to visit your sites, read your answers and include you in the Masterlist
3. Please do copy from Start to End.
4. You may tag as many online friends as you please.

Copy this Participants List: sweet..pretty..naughty | Memory Filled | Sweety tots | My Life in this Wonderful World | My Online World | So Real | Your blog here.

1) I'm happy that during bad days, a day only lasts 24 hours and I can start fresh the morning after.
2) I'm happy I have a job I love that actually pays.
3) I'm happy I have the most understanding bf in whole world that gives me more than I deserve.
4) I'm happy I got my online purchases today.
5) I'm happy my family is complete.
6) I'm happy that my hair is now long enough to be tied into a ponytail.
7) I'm happy we are finally moving to a place that is just 1 ride to almost anywhere in Cebu.
8) I'm happy I'm gaining weight because that means I'm occupying more space than others hahaha
9) I'm happy my bf performs really well in his job.
10) Most of all, I'm just happy to be here and be alive.

Tagging the happy people I know, Wena, Michy, Bena, Eds and Tchel.

Strictly Business

2008-10-04T20:08:00.001+08:00

What does it take to be young and successful today? Back then I think a person has to exert twice as much effort as one would now, but then again that is just my theory and I could be wrong. The reason I said that is because today, we have a stronger and more efficient support system in the form of Nouveau Riche University. It should be easier for us then, right?

Any business magazine I read gives the message that today is the best time to get into business. But for someone who does not have a degree in business, it can be so daunting that even entertaining such thoughts, is already considered an uncalculated risk. How can someone not get lost with all the things that need focusing on? Well, Nouveau Riche University helps potential business partners see the bigger picture without forgetting how to read the fine print as well.

Nouveau Riche University is the best place for an entrepreneur to be at in order to prepare for his ordeal. It pays to be ready and when there is money and time investment involve, one should never be caught off guard. Have the tools, system and discipline you need to be part of a strong community of successful entrepreneurs.

Did it, Finally!

2008-10-03T15:39:00.002+08:00

So after I found out about my PR dropping to zero yesterday, I got so restless that I ended up buying a year's subscription at 3ix and I also paid for my own domain. I have everything ready to go except for one thing, HOW DO I MIGRATE MY BLOGGER CONTENT??? I'm sure there is someone out there who is an expert on this stuff and I badly need help. If you think you can help me, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you. Thank you so much!

My PR Dropped!!!

2008-10-02T10:39:00.002+08:00

Sigh! I didn't notice until this morning that my blog's PR dropped to an offensive ZERO. Well what can I say, from PR4 when I just started out to PR2 and now this. Oh well, I have nobody else to blame but me. The past few months I have been so hooked with ebay and online shopping that I hardly have time to hop around blogs, write posts and I haven't even been paying attention to tasks. It was all buy this, bid for that, etc...
I guess it didn't really matter till now huhu anyway with my PR down to zero, this is a good time to finally purchaase my own domain. I have been planning to for awhile but I've heard of how it's going to drag your PR down so I have been putting it off. Now however, I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't get my own domain. I just have to put my thinking cap on so I can come up with a short and catchy name.

A Violet Elephant's Debut

2008-09-28T11:44:00.005+08:00

Wik2x's solo pictures
with his bestfriends

with the grumpy bear Mumble
with the pink pig Gloria

I got this cute little baby elephant yesterday as a birthday present from Wena and Mik thus the name Wik2x. I decided to formally introduce Wik2x to the rest of the world today. Sort of a coming-to-age celebration but it's just going to be with me and dada. It's about time Mumble and Gloria play with another friend, how cute!

NAME: Wik2x
AGE: (baby forever)
GENDER: male
BIRTH PLACE: Kawasan
PARENTS: Rowena Yee and Kim Carlo Tan
FAVE FOOD: Meatballs and Pizza
FAVE DRINK: Milk
EXPRESSION: duh!
BESTFRIENDS: Mumble and Gloria
SAYINGS: "real men wear violet"

Be an Accountant in California

2008-09-28T11:32:00.002+08:00

Working outside the country to earn dollars and have so much more extra to help our family while also making our dreams come true is something most of us are coveting for, well that’s what I’m coveting for at least. Not everyone gets lucky and live the life they want for themselves and their family. Some stay and live the life they’ve always lived. Yet there are those who stayed and still lived the life they wanted. At any rate, one has to make decision.

As for me, I suck at making decisions because I hate the pressure. When I’m faced with something that leaves me totally confused, I resort to something else. I interview 10 random friends and base my decision from them; that way if anything goes wrong then I can always go back to them. It’s a twisted way to think but hey, that is not how I do it all the time though.

With the different jobs available to those who willingly apply for it and those who deserve it, all we need to do really is make that move. That is what my accountant uncle did, he made the move to leave and work at a greener pasture. According to him though, the pasture may be greener there but it is just as hard to plow. He was able to find his career in one the Accounting Jobs in California. So if you are a qualified accountant just like him then you can find accounting jobs in California and earn as much or even more. As what my uncle always say, “California is where an accountant should be”.

Well I’m not an accountant and I don’t think I will ever be one but I do have several friends who are and this is good news for them.

From Kawasan And Back (updated with pix)

2008-09-28T05:58:00.004+08:00

Some of my friends and I went to Kawasan Falls to celebrate my 25th Birthday yesterday. To those who have been to that place, you would know that there is a major hiking spree involve. It's my 2nd time there, the 1st time was with Wena when we went there right after shift and I ended up with no undies on my way home hahaha

There were 7 of us yesterday, Dada, Wena, Eds, Michy, Mik, Kim and yourstruly. Everyone got wet and wild except for Mik and his sister Kim, I think they just went there to take unadulterated pictures of themselves hihihi

Eds was the official photographer of the group and I'll just grab pictures from his site the moment he posts it. Wena and Mik gave me a purple elephant as a present, so cute! It has a really long name so changed it to Wik2x hihihi in honor of the parents (Wena & Mike). You might be wondering what dada gave me; he gave me a lovely Timex watch because I don't have a watch for the reason that I use my phone to check the time.

We packed up our things and started hiking back to the road at 4pm yesterday. Got back to Cebu at 8pm and we were all so tired because the ride home was a killer! The moment I got home I went to bed right away to just relax and then shower later but when I woke up it was already 6am hahaha

I Want a Violin!

2008-09-26T08:07:00.003+08:00

There is something enchanting and haunting about the sound a violin produces. Listening to it is like being in a trance and a pleasant one. Must be interesting to play it with eyes closed and just get devoured in the music. (sigh) I want a violin and I want to be able to learn how to make beautiful music with it. I want it tomorrow for my birthday but dada already got me my birthday present huhuhu guess i'll have to buy myself a present then. Too bad I already know what I'm buying so there is absolutely no way to surprise myself tomorrow..so sad!