Tell me something...

Staff.com

2012-03-01T23:04:00.000+08:00

In my pursuit to make my work-at-home dream a stable reality, I have joined several (i.e. A LOT) online job search sites that offer mostly home-based jobs. There's oDesk, Freelancer.com, Elance.com, TeamLauncher and Remote Staff just to name a few. Yes, these are the sites I remembered registering in. There are still loads that I forgot about because I unsubscribed from their newsletters.

Click photo to register with Staff.com

Anyway, to add yet another online job search site, I've just registered with Staff.com. Staff.com is practically the same as those websites I've mentioned already except Staff.com offers mostly full-time jobs which definitely got my attention. I work with TeamLauncher for 8 hours in the morning and I know that I can still handle another 8-hour job after that. Plus, my contract with TeamLauncher will end soon so I need to go look for another full-time, work-from-home job again so the timing of which I knew about Staff.com couldn't have been better.

I'm sorry if I keep shoving these stuff to your faces but working from home is really relaxing compared to a corporate job. The income is the same, the benefits are the same... The only difference is I work on my bed and you work on an office table.

The first of March.

2012-03-01T20:35:00.001+08:00

The first day of March is almost over. I will be ending it with a Skype interview with a potential (full-time) client.

God, the best ka talaga. *fist bump*

#49. Whenever I drink coffee - ordinary, 3in1, coffee shop - I don't finish the entire thing.

2012-02-29T15:41:00.001+08:00

PisoBid

2012-02-29T15:38:00.003+08:00

I've recently registered with PisoBid and I just failed my first auction a few minutes ago. I was going for that 100 bids auction because it was closing, just so I'd get the feel of the auction. To make the long story short, I didn't have enough bids - I only have the 5 bids that were free upon registration - to win it. To be perfectly honest, though, it was exciting even if I lost. PisoBid is like playing the crane machine. I mean, the excitement you get while playing the crane machine is the same as the excitement you get while bidding on PisoBid.

PisoBid is a piso auction site that offers up to 99% discount off of products. You can get an iPod for 1 peso. Really. I saw testimonials. It's crazy, right? You can try it, too! Just click on http://pisobid.com/?r=babyandmuffi and register. Upon registration, you will be given 5 free bids which you can use for closing auctions. Once these free bids run out, you can always buy bids.

You know what will be really great?

2012-02-28T22:22:00.001+08:00

I have been working my ass for two years in oDesk and I have always been wondering if they offered medical plans to their freelancers. Good news: They do. Bad news: They're only offered to US citizens.

I really hope they offer this to other suppliers, too. I guess it's safe to say that majority of the contractors in oDesk are mostly based in another country, right?

There's no harm in trying...

2012-02-26T19:52:00.000+08:00

How does getting rewarded through sharing sounds like to you? Join #phchurpchurp today and bring more friends to the community!

Damn you, Ronald McDonald!

2012-02-26T13:19:00.000+08:00

I was on one of my depression streaks these past few nights. How I Met Your Mother and a bag of chips would usually put my foul mood on the backseat but last night, the depression was so stubborn, a bag of chips wasn't enough to make me feel better. So instead of sleeping it off (which might be the perfect remedy for such a thing, anyway), I ordered a McChicken sandwich, LARGE fries and orange juice from the McDelivery website at friggin' 12 in the morning. It was that bad. I got so guilty after finishing everything (in 10 minutes) that I got up early enough to join my parents run at Boni High Street thus my first EVER run since 2009.

Of course, I brought Brianna with me. It's added exercise for me (and my huge arms) and it's another day out of the house for her.

After running, though, we went to McDonald's 32nd cor. 5th for breakfast and I ended up finishing one full order of the Big Breakfast and a 2-piece pancake meal plus one whole hash brown.

Damn you, Ronald McDonald. Mark my words: I will eventually get tired of the food you serve but until that day comes...DAMN YOU.

#48. I can finish a whole bottle of wine all by myself. In less than an hour.

2012-02-22T23:11:00.001+08:00

Welcome to my life.

2012-02-16T16:43:00.001+08:00

Ah, the life of a freelance writer can be really fun and frustrating at the same time. There are a lot of truth in this picture. Especially the What I Really Do part. Hee.

WHAT MY FRIENDS THINK I DO: Actually, that's literally how I look when ending my articles so it's kinda consistent. Yes, I get writer's block in the end. I know how to start my articles but I always go "Huh?" in the end.

WHAT MY MOM THINKS I DO: Well, at first, she thought I wouldn't build a career out of this freelancing stuff and I didn't contradict her on what she thinks of my work. It gets really tiring to prove whatever it is that I "need" to prove. Anyway, now, she thinks that I will be able to pull this off...and I definitely will. I am even planning to take up an online marketing course offered by DLSU in order for me to offer even more services to clients.

WHAT SOCIETY THINKS I DO: I don't think freelance writers look like that but I accept it. I mean, the guy's hot so I assume that society thinks freelance writers are hot. *wink wink*

WHAT PUBLISHERS THINK I DO: Okay, I don't know what that is about because the monkey looks mad but I don't think my clients think that I'm a monkey. Too literal? Sorry.

WHAT I THINK I DO: Yes, and I want to believe that I am that great, too... NOT! Well, I don't think that I am great but I think I am literate enough to get my works published.

WHAT I REALLY DO: I don't play solitaire, though. I usually tweet and browse online stores and apply to more jobs and watch It's Showtime. Hee. But I get the job for the day done before the 4pm deadline. *snap snap snap*

Anyway, I knew I could succeed in this work from home gig. I just need to be even more hardworking to get more projects...and yeah, that IMMAP thing with DLSU. I definitely am aiming for that this year. Hopefully.

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012

2012-02-12T22:27:00.002+08:00

It was my first time ever to attend the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark, Pampanga this year and I am glad to have Brianna as my hot air balloon date. It was a great chance to bond with the cousins while experiencing hot air balloon-ing at its finest. I really had a great time watching it.

It was held at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga and it started February 9.

We just got to Clark Saturday (February 11) afternoon and we stayed at Fontana, instead of Hotel Vida. The decision to stay in Fontana was more of a change of scenery more than anything. Don't get me wrong, though. Hotel Vida has one of the greatest services when it comes to hotel servicing (...) and their bacon is good but we always, always stay there whenever we're in Clark. The change of scenery was a good call.

Anyway, we went to the Freeport Zone around 4pm to see what they will be doing for the night part which kinda disappointed us because we expected flying lanterns and all those cheesy stuff they can do at night but all they did was light up some balloons and that's about it. Good thing we didn't use our complimentary tickets for that night.

Went back to Fontana disappointed but that didn't last long, all thanks to Yellow Cab (Commercial: I love Charlie Chan. KTNXBYE.). Had an early surprise birthday bash for Anton's birthday this Valentine's so the atmosphere was really festive. After dinner, everyone freshened up and Ate, Kuys, Reg and I proceeded to our mandatory drinking session. We turned in at around 2am and we had to wake up super early to catch the flight of the hot air balloons this morning.

We got to the Freeport Zone just in time for the first hot air balloon. They looked so pretty in the sky. My favorites were the pink cake (BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BREE!) and the ice cream.

We then decided to use them tickets which was kind of a good call. Kinda because there were a lot of people inside and there were no freebies but we got to buy Bree this:

I soooooo love it that the only reason why I wanted to go inside was for me to get one of those and hopefully a bag of freebies, which they didn't have. Well, we also bought Brianna a balloon but she let go of it. If you were at the fiesta a while ago and you saw a green frog flying, that's Brianna, participating in the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

It was an experience we're definitely looking forward to have again. Actually, I hope we'd get to go back to the next Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Feb next year. We'll be armed and ready by that time, complete with picnic mats, digital cameras and picnic baskets with yummy cupcakes, I swear to you.

Photo credits: Regina Balagat

Should I?

2012-02-10T20:21:00.000+08:00

I have a very big dilemma (Oh!) and it includes money...

Should I get a portable digital camera?

Yes, I am having second thoughts about buying a camera. I don't think I'm gonna use it as much as I'm using Happy now but I think I need it. I think. I'm not quite sure now but when we're in some sort of event, I feel that I need it. I've been so used to taking photos in college that I have so much of my memories captured by the camera. Now, I still have memories caught by the camera but I feel like someone from the outside looking in. I know it sounds profound but it's really not. I just want my point of view captured, you know? No? Okay, forget it.

#47. I always experience writer's block. I know how to start my write-ups but I don't know how to end them.

2012-02-07T18:11:00.001+08:00

I have a new baby.

2012-02-04T23:05:00.000+08:00

To celebrate my and Bry's 2nd year anniversary, I got myself a laptop.

Meet Happy. (I'm sorry for the quality of the photo, I just used my phone but I swear, Happy's really sexy.)

I decided to get Happy because she's a need now that I am trying to be serious with this freelance writer thing and I know that it will be a good investment. I'll be getting my money-back in a month's time, anyway, so it's not much of a hassle when it comes to my budget.

Originally, I just wanted to get a netbook because it's so small, I could literally lug it around everywhere I go but Happy is a really handy laptop compared to those other bulky laptops Octagon was selling so I thought it's a win-win situation. I get a laptop instead of a netbook and I could lug it around with me all the time.

Here are some of the first photos we've taken using Happy:

I haven't edited any picture and the lighting was really crappy. I shall try again tomorrow at the party...if the place is well-lit.

So, basically, I bought a gift for myself for our anniversary and for Brianna's birthday. I'm a happy (mommy) bee. :) Crossing out items from the wishlist from 2011.

I'm sorry if I sound really proud about something so small but Happy is, by far, the most expensive thing I've bought with my own money. This is an achievement for someone so cheap like me.

I have a confession to make.

2012-02-03T08:45:00.000+08:00

Confession: I CANNOT, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, COOK.

Yes, I cannot cook. At all. I know how to cook rice using a rice cooker. I know how to make instant pancit canton, too, but that's about it. So yesterday for early dinner, - I don't eat after 6pm - I decided to make myself a meal. Actually, it's not really cooking because it's just Hamsilog (Ham, egg and fried rice) but heck, I'm still too proud of my achievement! It's a start, right?

Sorry na, I really don't know how to cook. The yaya even laughed at me when I was happily eating my meal. Malamang, I'm the only one who's gonna appreciate the food I cooked, right? Love your own! Haha!

That's what it's all about!

2012-01-27T20:36:00.000+08:00

Trish and I watched the press run of Rivalry: Ateneo - La Salle The Musical last night at the Meralco Theater. Upon entering the Lopez building lobby, you could already pinpoint which ones were La Sallians and which ones were Ateneans. La Sallians just had to come in green. Not La Salle shirts or anything literal. They - which includes me - were just in green. Ateneans...well, they had this "air" to them and I think we all know what I'm talking about and no, I'm not trying to pick a fight. Let's put it this way: Atom Araullo's father (who happens to be an Atenean) said in the press con that they walk like they have apples stuck in their underarms.

Anyway, upon entering the theater, I already noticed how the set looked like and immediately thought "Sound of Music's was..." and then stopped. Tried my best to take my mind off the production of The Sound of Music - which was extravagantly done, by the way - to appreciate the minimalist approach to theater design by this musical. Got over it a few minutes before the show started. Thank you, PSI.

The show was great! I am not just saying that because I am a La Sallian. I am saying that because you'd get to see and experience how intense it is to be a part of these two communities come UAAP season, or in this play's case, the NCAA (FYI to those who don't know, La Salle and Ateneo were originally part of the NCAA).

Photo taken from Athena Tibi's Facebook page.

The cast is superb! I especially like the Tommy character (naturally) because he is the La Sallian and I love his personality in the play. Plus, I love the fact that his hands are always tucked to the pockets of his jacket like that. I have this prejudice that all La Salle varsity players do this. Hee. I don't know who exactly is the one portraying Tommy but what I do know is he's an Atenean. To be honest, he made a convincing La Sallian.

The Knoller in the red cardigan, Reena, is the lead female role and she is my high school bud, Athena. We sat next to each other during the entrance exam and since then, even if she didn't pursue studying in St. Paul, we still don't forget to add one another in all social networking platforms. She did great considering this is her first lead theater role. One of the press people even commended her performance.

Obviously, I won't spill all the details here but I'll say this: I was kinda hoping that they'd end up together but they don't.

Anyway, the second half of the play was where they spilled the beans on how the rivalry started. Was about to tell Trish "Ah, ganun pala yun..." when I saw that she was asleep. Yes, she chose to sleep that very moment when one of the characters was explaining how the feud started. Galing ng timing mo, iha.

You'd feel the school pride after the play. You can feel it from the La Sallians, the Ateneans and the Iskolars.

If you want to know "what it's all about" and why UP is suddenly mentioned here, you'd have to watch Rivalry. Here are the ticket details (available at Ticket World) once again:

Orchestra Center P1,699.50

Orchestra Side P1,339.00

Loge-A P1,030.00

Loge-B P978.50

Balcony-A P824.00

Balcony-B P618.00

Rivalry will run shows starting today until March 11, 2012 at the Meralco Theater with 8pm shows from Wednesday til Saturday and 3pm shows during the weekends.

This is one helluva show. Don't miss it.

Now, who wants to give me tickets to the PBA Ateneo-La Salle dream game on February 5?

RIVALRY Details

2012-01-26T15:05:00.000+08:00

For those who want to know the details for RIVALRY: Ateneo - La Salle The Musical, read on.

The 4th Wall Theatre Company
presents
an original ED GATCHALIAN production
RIVALRY
Ateneo -La Salle "THE MUSICAL"
Book by Jaime del Mundo
Music by Ed Gatchalian
Lyrics by Joel Trinidad
Directed by Jaime del Mundo

Ticket prices are:

Orchestra Center
P1,699.50
Orchestra Side
P1,339.00
Loge-A
P1,030.00
Loge-B
P978.50
Balcony-A
P824.00
Balcony-B
P618.00

Opening night is on January 27, 2012 at the Meralco Theatre and will run through March 11, 2012, with 8:00 pm shows every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 3:00 pm shows on Saturdays and Sundays.

(Details grabbed from the ticketworld.com.ph website)

Favorite Kean Cipriano photo.

2012-01-26T09:41:00.002+08:00

What kind of Dragon are you? - Globe Business

2012-01-26T06:34:00.000+08:00

I've seen Bianca Gonzalez tweet about the What Kind of Dragon Are You? link a few times before but didn't take the test until yesterday, when I accidentally clicked it on the Yahoo homepage while logging in to my account. I thought of answering it thinking "What the hell, it's free anyway". This came up after:

I think they got everything right except for the "slow to anger". I am short-tempered but I am trying to not be one because I know how annoying that can be.

Anyway, I saw the chance to win a Nokia phone just now. I hope I win!

#46. I like guys with clean nails.

2012-01-25T13:36:00.000+08:00

Ooh-wee!

2012-01-24T07:13:00.001+08:00

Trish and I are officially watching Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical. I got these tickets from a buddy from high school (Hello, Athena Tibi! Thanks!) who's part of the cast. I don't know how to feel going into a "Press Night" viewing. I am a writer though I don't really consider myself as "Press" but here we are! Anyway, I should be worrying more about what to wear for this occasion. Is there a dress code for Meralco Theater?

If you're interested to watch Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical at the Meralco Theater, here are the ticket details for their shows:

Orchestra Center – P1,650 Orchestra Side – P1,300 Loge A – P1,000 Loge B – P950 Balcony A – P800 Balcony B – P600

You can get your Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical tickets from Ticket World or from dropping a message in the comment box. Weeeeee! Kamown, let's watch and know the root of all evil that spawned the feud between La Salle and Ateneo.

Grateful for clients who appreciate my work. ♥

2012-01-22T17:11:00.001+08:00

I met Alain Delon on 9gag. (He's the dude)

2012-01-21T22:43:00.000+08:00

To those of you who don't know, this man right here inspired my dad to name me "Aleigna". Apparently, grand dad loved this French actor so much. This man also Law of Attraction-ed Bry to our family, me thinks...

See what I did there? ☺

Lalaki bako?

2012-01-20T21:04:00.002+08:00

I suddenly had the urge to splurge all my (really, really, REALLY) hard-earned money and buy shirts that I probably won't wear more than twice and then I realized while browsing through catalogues that I want men's shirts instead of women's. I mean, I don't like the fit of baby tees so I always end up looking at the men's section and find what I like there. Most of the times, too, I like the designs for men's shirt than for women's.

I also went to a high school classmate's website in Multiply to check out what she's selling now and when I saw wedges and all those girly high-heeled shoes, I closed the window.

Am I a man trapped in a woman's body? Why don't I appreciate girly clothes/shoes?

Don't get too carried away, Ale. If it's any consolation, you started wearing bracelets and bangles this year. And you love (rugged) bags. And you're growing fond of dresses. And the fact that you love (window) shopping online a lot means you're a girl.

Yes, I am convincing myself that I am indeed a girl.

Weird Tumblr spammers

2012-01-20T07:08:00.000+08:00

I posted something on my Tumblr a few days ago but only got to see these yesterday.

I don't know if someone really takes these stuff seriously... All they got from me was a laugh.

Trike (back) ride + iPhone camera = Awesome photo

2012-01-18T19:39:00.001+08:00

I took a tricycle going to the bank this afternoon and I got to sit on the back ride again. A first in 2 long years that I just had to take a picture. Took one of my (hideous) feet and this happened.

It looks so awesome. I didn't edit anything except for the watermark. I didn't expect for it to come out that way. It's well-lit pa! Galing talaga...