The Editor's Lounge

Happy Birthday Britney Spears

2010-12-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

December 2: We are not ready for Britney Spears to be thirty, so it's with great joy that we wish the pop goddess a very happy 29th birthday today.

Brit is now well over 100 million records sold worldwide for Jive, which includes 32 million in the U.S. alone.

It's always a problem selecting just one Britney photo to use every December 2nd, so we hope you enjoy this offering from the Sony Music photo library: it dates from around the time of her second lp, 2000's "Oops I Did It Again."

Adam Lambert to release an acoustic album

2010-11-18T23:41:00.000-08:00

Superstar Adam Lambert announces plans to release Acoustic Live!, a five (5) song EP, which will be available at all digital service providers as well as at Adam's website on December 6.

In addition there will be a limited number of physical copies made available for sale exclusive from www.AdamOfficial.com.

Fans who pre-order the EP on www.AdamOfficial.com will get the acoustic version of "Whataya Want From Me" immediately as an instant gratitude as well as a limited edition lithograph poster of the cover art.

Acoustic Live! includes versions of five of Adam's most popular tracks from For Your Entertainment, including "Whataya Want From Me" and "Music Again" which were recorded while Adam was in Germany and "Aftermath" and "Soaked" from Lambert's Glam Nation tour. It also includes an acoustic version of "Mad World", which Adam first performed memorably on American Idol.

Glee's "Teenage Dream" tops the charts

2010-11-18T23:28:00.000-08:00

The music from Fox’s smash hit Glee has reached another amazing milestone this week with their rendition of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” debuting at #1 in digital track sales.

This is the first time a Glee track has landed at #1, the cast’s version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” reached #2 on digital track sales charts in May 2009.

With an impressive 214,000 tracks sold, “Teenage Dream” has the highest debut week sales of any Glee track to date.

The Glee cast surpasses James Brown this week for the #2 most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Last month Billboard magazine reported that Glee had replaced The Beatles for the #3 most entries on their Hot 100 chart, with James Brown at #2 with 91 entries.

This week 3 new Glee songs appear on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, taking their grand total of entries to 93.

According to Billboard, only Elvis Presley has more entries than Glee with a total of 108 entries on their Hot 100 chart.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows now on Philippine cinemas

2010-11-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter series got a multitude of fans in the Philippines; and it is not surprising anymore to see the metro movie houses jam-packed with HP fanatics.

Brace yourself because today, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie will start to dominate the movie houses.

Last night when I was at the SM Mall of Asia, I saw one of their staff changing the names on their movie bulletin board. Though I expected it, I am still surprised to see that SM MOA allotted more than six (6) cinemas for the first day of showing of HP7.

Why I blog this? Because I am an avid fan of Harry Potter series. It is my dream to have a collection of its series from the Sorcerer's Stone to Deathly Hallows. (I guess I have to save thousands of bucks for it...hahaha!)

I am planning to watch it but not today. May be a week or two from now.

Justin Bieber's first unplugged album

2010-11-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of Ryan Seacrest since I saw him on American Idol. For one thing, I admire his hosting prowess. No wonder he received citations for such.

I just want to share this: Ryan Seacrest will be doing an interview tomorrow with teen icon Justin Bieber. From Seacrest's tweet, I think Bieber got himself a new album! So those who are into "Bieber Fever", watch out for Seacrest's interview.

According to Ryan Seacrest's website, Bieber's got his first unplugged album - the "My Worlds Acoustic". I am pretty sure a lot of Bieber fans are looking forward to this new album.

Steven Silva and Diva Montelaba dating in Trinoma

2010-11-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

Steven Silva of Starstruck

Celebrities are too normal.

That's how I describe showbiz folks we usually meet by accident.

Last Thursday, we went to Trinoma to watch the suspense flick Paranormal Activity 2. Our first stop, McDonalds for a dinner. I really love their cheeseburger!

After a luscious dinner, we bought our movie tickets. I was a little bit excited because it is my first time to watch a Paranormal movie. I haven't watched the first one.

Then, after we had our tickets, we went to Taters to buy their Superpop. I prefered the Texas Barbecue flavor for the popcorn.

While waiting on the counter, I noticed a familiar face. Raffy Tima ang Mariz Umali was next on the line. One thing that surprised me is, when they hold hands together! I never knew there's something between them! So cheesy! LOL! They are indeed "newsmakers".

Not just that. After Raffy and Mariz, another couple is queued on the Taters counter. I recognized the guy. I saw him on a billboard and he's one of the bachelors in Cosmo Bachelor Bash 2010. He was Steven Silva. I am not sure if the girl he's with was Diva Montelaba, a fellow Starstruck batchmate.

Everything went so normal. No tantrums from the crowd. It seems Raffy, Mariz, Steven, and Diva were "nobody"; ordinary people craving for a movie popcorn!

By the way, Steven Silva and Diva Montelaba are into a relationship? I saw them hold their hands like Raffy and Mariz.

Nevermind. At the end of the night, I just remembered one thing - I don't want to watch the first Paranormal flick anymore! LOL!

VJ Chino of MYX on Celebrity 360

2010-11-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

MYX VJs for Myx Mo 2010! VJ Chino on extreme right side.

(Photo:candymag.com)

I am sure that a lot of girls got crazy with Champ, the vocalist of the allegedly disbanded group Hale. Yesterday I met VJ Chino of MYX.

Chino Lui Pio is the younger brother of Champ. I met him yesterday and learned that he will be on 96.3 Easy Rock's Celebrity 360.

One day, like his elder brother, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of girls got their head over heels because of this MYX VJ.

VJ Chino is one of the newest video jocks of MYX, though he had been into it for a couple of years. He narrated yesterday about his VJ experience and how he got into it. He gave hints that they have to tune in to 96.3 Easy Rock this coming Saturday morning for the full interview with DJ Samantha and Justin Taylor.

By the way, VJ Chino is inviting everyone to be part of the MYX Mo! Concert this coming November 18, 2010. Mo than 50 great bands will rock your night till dawn!

Megamind and Manila Bulletin on 3D

2010-11-05T04:29:00.000-07:00

Experts say that soon, 3D will be the most sought-after experience on entertainment and technology. Actually most of the films nowadays are available in 3D versions.

Photo: thegadgetshow.com

Television sets are also evolving. Sony has its own 3D TV. The popular Gucci just released its 3D shades! Even publications are venturing into this 3D experience.

This morning we received a complimentary copy of Many Bulletin in 3D!

MB is not the first publication in the Philippines to use 3D in print. The men's magazine FHM, just this year, already incorporated 3D on their issues to enhance readership experience. But for a broadsheet, MB was the first in the Philippines.

Publications are also going with the technology's flow. I tried the 3D edition of Manila Bulletin today. Their 3D glass is sponsored by the movie Mega Mind. By the way, I want to watch that movie. HAHA! Lol!

For me, somehow, it is pretty cool. Let us just see if other publications would also do the same.

Cook your own fried noodles

2010-11-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Egg noodle/DKImages

I can't think of anything to do last All Saint's Day. Since I can't think of anything to get busy with, I resorted to one of my hobbies - cooking!

A night before the All Soul's Day, my family and I went to a grocery store. I took the chance to buy a pack of Safoco egg noodles. It is my first time to buy the product; I just want to experiment on it.

One of my indulgence is fried noodles. I really crave for it especially during break time or during afternoon snacks. I remember when I was an intern for Hinge Inquirer Publications, my friends and I got crazy over this fried noodles stall in Makati Cinema Square.We can't call it a day without having a serving of the fried noodles.

Aside from the Safoco egg noodles, I also bought a pack of fish ball, squid ball, and kikiam for the toppings. Usually, fried noodle stalls offer fried or steamed siomai as the toppings. Some are also mixing bean sprouts with the noodles.

Back at home, when I already have all the ingredients with me, what I did was cook my own fried noodles sans the usual steamed or fried siomai. Cooking your own fried noodles is very, very mediocre. I think anyone can fry their own. Here are the ingredients and steps of what I did last vacation:

Ingredients:

1 pack Safoco egg noodles
1 pack fish balls, fried
1 pack squid balls (or chicken balls), fried
Teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons cooking oil
Toasted garlic bits
Crushed red pepper

Cook your fried noodles:

1.Cook the Safoco egg noodles in hot water for 3 minutes. Make sure not to overcook the noodles. Stir from time to time to avoid the noodles from sticking.

2.Drain the water once the noodle's cooked. Leave the egg noodles for about an hour or until the noodles are dry.

3. Preheat a pan. Add the oil. Fry in the dried egg noodles. Mix consistently to avoid sticking in the pan.

4.Stir in the fish balls and squid balls. Turn off the heat once the noodles are fried.

5. Place in a bowl the fried noodles. Add your desired amount of Teriyaki sauce. You can also add a small amount of oyster sauce. Top your fried noodles with toasted garlic bits. Add crushed pepper on top if you want it hot.

*You can have your own alternatives for fish balls or squid balls according to your preference. You can try crab rolls or breaded chicken or pork balls for variations.

Chow!

The race is on for Starbucks' 2011 Planner

2010-11-03T05:32:00.000-07:00

Brace yourself as Starbucks officially started today the race to have your own Limited Edition Starbucks Philippines 2011 Planner!

The Starbucks 2011 Planner is available in three variants: Maroon Velvet Fabric, Cool Clean Stainless, and Stained Dark Wood Panels.

If you are one of those who can't walk along the metro without a Venti, then this is your chance to exchange your bucks, not just for a frappé, but also for a Starbucks planner.

I must say that Starbucks' 2011 planner is really cool! Starbucks lovers are surely taking their own race to start collecting stickers.

To have the coolest Starbucks planner ever, you just have to collect seventeen (17) stickers starting today, November 3, 2010. Nine (9) stickers should come from the Christmas beverages and eight (8) should come from core handcrafted beverages.

Also if you're really going gaga over it, you can have the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Box of 12, which will earn you two (2) stickers!

This is the 8th Starbucks planner tradition in the Philippines. So make your Christmas hot with this freshly-brewed Limited Edition Starbucks 2011 Planner!

Photo credits: The Philippines and Beyond

Facebook exec can't change his status!

2010-11-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Mark Zuckerberg is ingenious I should say. Last Saturday, I watched the movie The Social Network. I know there's a lot of synopsis you can search over the net regarding this movie. I am not going yo blog a synopsis. I would just like to comment and highlight some scenes I find amusing.

The movie will bring you to a dimension most of us doesn't know; events that transpired behind the light blue colored social networking site of Facebook. Let us not take things too serious. I would like to comment not the serious way. Though these comments would also make sense but most of these are out of wit. So here it goes:

The actor who played Mark Zuckerberg speaks too fast. I wonder if Mark's speaks the same in reality. I think speaks the same. In the first place, the director would have noticed it.
I like this exchange of lines: GIRL: Why are you single on Facebook? | EDUARDO: I can't change my status of Facebook! | GIRL: You are the CFO of Facebook and you're telling me you don't know how to change your status on Facebook?!!! (Claps!!!)
Justin Timberlake, who played Sean Parker, looks very sexy in his character.
Mark Zuckerberg in the film looks like a college nerdy guy.May be he really is. He created Facebook!
The voice of the two guys, who were brothers, is so deep and cold. I wonder if they joined a choir...they are fitted for a bass.
I think Facemash.com is a cool website especially when you want to compare your ex with your present relationship.

Free photo booth from National Geographic

2010-11-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

I forgot to blog about the free photo booth I accidentally walked in when I was in Trinoma last October.

Passers by, including my friend and I, got really curious about the photo session going on the National Geographic's booth near the ticket counter of Trinoma Cinema.

We found out that it is a free photo booth (perhaps for the awareness or promotion of NG). But it isn't just a photo booth for portraits, because you can choose your own National Geographic magazine cover to set as your background.

Cool thing indeed. My friend and I chose the ancient Rome amphitheater as our background. I think there's also the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a fiber optic background too. I forgot the other cool backgrounds but I think there are six to choose from.

A lot if people started to queue. It is really a pretty fun way to promote knowledge and awareness to Filipinos.

Everything deserves a WHY. LIVE CURIOUS!

Vanness Wu, Choi Si Won on gospel songs

2010-10-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Popseoul

The Editor's Lounge is also fond of the featuring artists especially those who give reverence on the "soul".

The phenomenal F4 member Vanness Wu, together with other K-Pop artists will be in the 3rdWaveMusic's "I Will Be There" album.

Choi Si-Won is a Super Junior member, and the song “Looking for the Day” is the special song Choi Si-won is sharing with his favorite ELFs!

Read the detailed explanation of 3rdWaveMusic’s newest release “I Will Be There” below:

1. Everything to Me – featuring Vanness Wu

This is a song about realizing what the most important thing in life is. VanNess helps us understand that his religion means more to him than anything else in the world. His soft vocals accompanied with the light rock music are almost like a sweet lullaby.

2. Awesome God

A true worship song! It has an upbeat melody that anyone can dance to.“Awesome God” does not need an explanation. The title describes it all. This track is one of the true stand out songs on the album.

3. Altar of Praise- featuring American CCM artists Lenny LeBlanc and Michael O’Brien

3rdWave slows things down with this ballad like single. “Altar of Praise” is asking the Holy Trinity (Christians’ belief system of the existence of God) if their offerings are worthy. They sing this track with earnest and deep emotion.

4. I Will Be There

“I Will Be There” talks about the assurance of one’s religion helping them in overcoming loneliness and mending a broken heart. It describes everlasting love for the listener.

5. You Created Me

6. Sweetest Name-featuring Super Junior’s Choi Si-won

Choi S-won acknowledges his God as worthy of receiving all praise. He is joined by other very talented 3rdWave singers in praising the “Sweetest Name”.

7. I Stand

This song represents standing for what you truly believe in. The lead vocalists talk about offering their gifts (talents) and everything to their God.

8. Looking for the Day

Choi Si-won’s special song for ELFs.

This track explains one’s purpose in life. It is a song of anticipation for the day to praise.

9. Jesus is Coming Back

3rdWave’s artists form a choir to perform the upbeat rock song about Christ’s second coming. They express their joy to join him in heaven one day.

10. Closet Song

What do you desire? This song talks about one’s desire to develop a close relationship with their Savior and Lord. This is the true sweet ballad of the entire album. The smooth vocals and calming music can ease anyone’s tense nerves.

11. I Stand – (Alternate Version)

*with details from PopSeoul

World class science museum in Taguig City

2010-10-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

I went to Trinoma last Sunday, October 24 to watch the movie "Eat, Pray, Love".

While waiting, I noticed that there's an exhibit a few steps from the ticket selling counters.

The exhibit is about "The Mind Museum at Taguig City", which will be opened in December 2011 according to the information officer.

The Mind Museum is the FIRST WORLD-CLASS SCIENCE MUSEUM to be built in the Philippines. It is currently on a fundraising tour to raise P 1 billion of funding.

I also got a bookmark from their desk that says "The Philippines' First World Class Science Museum. Opens 2011."

Below it is the projected design of the museum. It is simply amazing. From my perspective, indeed it would be a world-class attraction placed in fast-rising suburb of Taguig City.

And one thing that amazed me, aside from the modern acrchitecture of the museum itself, are the number of donors and sponsors: Globe Telecommunications, Hapee, HSBC, IMI, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Lamoiyan Corp., Malampaya, Manila Water, National Bookstore, Nutri Asia, PNOC, SC Johnson, Pilipinas Shell, SONY, Sony Ericsson, St. Luke's Medical Center, Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Timezone, Uratex, ABS-CBN, Ajinomoto, Akari, Ayala Foundation, Ayala Land, BPI. Cemex, Chevron, Del Monte Philippines, just to name a few.

A 19-year-old chickboy is a candidate for barangay captain

2010-10-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

The barangay and SK elections are over. Yesterday we exercised our rights to suffrage.

I am one of the millions of Filipinos who went out of their home, go to the polling precinct, vote for the candidates, and get a drop of the indelible ink.

Here are the 10 things I personally noticed and experienced during the barangay elections:

Less crowded rooms and schools compared to national elections; mainly because the election is localized.

Same as the previous manual polls; names are lost, polling precincts went from here to there, the usual scowl from the voters who can’t vote.

There is still no systematic way of locating your precinct.

Can’t we have an election wherein we don’t have to consult computers from PPCRV or Comelec just to locate the right room number or building, where we should vote?

I consulted a PPCRV table and the person in charge gave me the wrong room number mainly because he searched for the wrong name!

If you would gather all the candidates in our barangay, from barangay captains to kagawads to Sangguniang Kabataan, they can already create their own barangay! (LOL!)

One of the candidates for the barangay captain post in our locale is a 19-year-old, chickboy, college undergrad guy! (I should know because he’s my schoolmate when I was still in high school and...hmm???!)

Based on our 1987 Constitution, anyone who is of legal age (18 years old), could run as a barangay captain. This explains the previous – that’s why he’s qualified.

A bottled water was given to a watcher. It says Meniral Water.

Another bottled water was given to another watcher. It says Thank you! Barangay Captain toot-toot!Better not to mention the name. HAHA!

How about you? Do you noticed something worth sharing?

Great ‘Pumpkin’ ideas for Halloween

2010-10-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Halloween is getting near.

I am one of those who doesn’t spend time in cemeteries during All Saint’s Day because of my religious belief.

So I thought of giving you some ideas on how to get yourself busy yet improving your skills and creativity – of course include the fun and excitement!

Here are the three (3) Halloween ideas you can do courtesy of CountryLiving:

Mini Pumpkin Cakes

To make the luscious desserts featured throughout, use our simple Classic Chocolate Cake recipe. You can also try substituting your favorite cake recipe, or if you're short on time, a boxed mix — one box yields 12 Mini Pumpkin Cakes, 24 Filled Chocolate Cakes, or two 8-inch-round layers.

To get the look of these single-serving pumpkin treats, trim the bottoms of cakes baked in mini Bundt pans to create a flat surface. Join two cakes so that the fluted tops are at either end, then drizzle with Chocolate or Vanilla Glaze and sprinkle with coarse colored sugar or nonpareils before the glaze sets. Top with a marzipan stem. Read the marzipan instructions at Marzipan Pumpkin Stems.

Pumpkin City

A passel of pumpkins provides the backdrop for a quaint village scene.

Step 1: Carve a hole in the bottom of each pumpkin, scoop out the pulp, and return the cut pieces.

Step 2: Print out house templates. Resize on a copier, scaling the images to fit your pumpkins.

Step 3: Cut out stencils as directed on the templates and affix to pumpkins with masking tape. Trace on the designs with a felt-tip pen.

Step 4: Remove stencils, then carefully carve along the drawn lines of the houses' windows with an X-Acto knife. Fill in the designs using a fine-tip brush and black flat acrylic paint; let dry. Affix a battery-operated votive candle in the base of each pumpkin with adhesive putty.

Curried Pumpkin and Peas

Cook a pot of basmati rice as this pumpkin-and-pea curry simmers and you'll have dinner on the table in 45 minutes flat.

• 2 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 2 1/2 teaspoon(s) curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper
• 2 pound(s) pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 medium red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 360 mls low-sodium chicken broth
• 180 mls golden raisins
• 180 mls frozen baby peas
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Heat butter in a large pan over medium-high heat, add onion, and cook until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in curry powder, salt, and pepper. Add pumpkin and potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour in broth and raisins, cover, and reduce heat to medium. After 15 minutes, add peas. Replace cover and continue to cook until pumpkin and potatoes are tender, 5 to 10 minutes more. Garnish with cilantro.

Happy Halloween!

‘Team Jacob’ conquers Wash-A-Palooza

2010-10-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

The “palooza” gimmick generated numbers of publicity stunts including thousands of sweethearts and couples kissing in public, to a laptop-palooza promo from a popular computer brand.

Last Saturday, Electrolux added another “palooza”-called publicity to stage their new and efficient washing machines. The popular appliance maker staged an Amazing Race-like event in Eastwood City, Quezon City called “Wash-A-Palooza”.

Electrolux’s Wash-A-Palooza showcases their world-class, efficient, and cost-saving washing machines by initiating a fun and exciting team game similar with a popular TV game that needs both mental and physical capabilities.

Wash-A-Palooza is played by 20 teams, each with four (4) members. Some team names will really get your attention (it really shows how creative Filipinos are…LOL!). One team named their group “Team-Ba” (pail); another team called themselves “Team Jacob” – trying to attract strength from the name itself; one group called themselves “Love Team”.

Other teams were Team Inquirer, Team French Fries, and Team Easy Rock. I forgot the names of other teams; retention is better when the names are creative!

The Amazing Race-like challenge took around four hours of running around Eastwood City. Take note of the word “around”! Literally it would test your fitness because you have to go all around Eastwood City; enter different stores, wander inside the Eastwood Mall, and roam the grounds.

It would drain your stored energy out of you. But you know what, even though only three will get a place, everyone’s ecstatic over the loot bags, appliances, and a good dinner from Fazolis!

Each participant, win or lose, will get his “choose-your-own” appliance (choices are flat iron, rice cooker, coffe maker, and toaster) upon finishing the game. Aside from that, participants got their loot bags containing Summit Media magazines, and a few goodies from Jack ‘N Jill, Nature’s Spring, and Xplode.

Plus, all participants had this really satisfying dinner from Fazolis. I got amused with the style of this Eastwood resto. Thanks to unlimited garlic sticks!

In the end, the teams who emerged as winners were Team French Fries (3rd Place), Team Inquirer (2nd Place), and Team Jacob (1st Place). Aside from the goodies, they also bag Sodexho gift certificates, medals, and the bragging rights (oh it’s given…HAHA!).

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By the way, it is my first time in Eastwood City and I fell in love with the place. I am only familiar with The Fort in Taguig City since I reside near Fort Bonifacio.
Eastwood, like The Fort, is also a world-class hub. Here are some of the photos I got during the Wash-A-Palooza event:

The Hole: Are you ready to face your fear?

2010-10-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

What if one day you found a hole, where it makes your fears come to life?

I watched the movie The Hole starring Chris Massoglia, Haley Bennett, Bruce Dern, and Teri Polo, on SM Mall of Asia last Sunday.

As expected, this supernatural/thriller movie gave me goosebumps. First, I am just too quick to react over simple peek-a-boos – one thing I can’t get rid of.

The Hole is a story of conquering your own fears. Dane Smith (played by Chris Massoglia) found a hole at the basement of their house. Together with his brother Lucas (played by Nathan Gamble), they run after discovering what’s inside the unusual hole they found at their basement.

Dane got attractive with their neighbor named Susan (played by Teri Polo). And Susan, who’s also curious about the hole, joined the Smith brother in unfolding the truth behind this hole.

Since the three of them opened the hole, visions started to run after them. Dane is seeing a huge image of man. Lucas is haunted by a toy clown, and Susan is haunted by this weeping little girl.

Only in the end they found out that these things that keep on haunting them are their own fears. I’ll leave it to you to find out why these things are running after them.

Of course, watching the movie is the best! I watched this movie with my special someone! *Yaiks* HAHAHA! LOL! I would always love to watch a movie with this person. Not because we’re nibbiling McDonald’s fries and a fruit shake from Fruit Magic, but because we’re just too ecstatic to have each other, side by side, watching a movie.

What about you? Do you have any fears you would like to come into life? Imagine if your fear is an alpha male hunks or a sexy blonde lady, perhaps you would say “the best part of my house is the hole”!

By the way the film’s available in 3D!

Watch the trailer:

What your handwashing can do

2010-10-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

Philippines is currently under the immense power of super typhoon Juan. Isabela and Cagayan took the ravage of Megi, the international name of Juan.

Trees got no strength to stand still - they've been uprooted. Roads were closed by trunks and huge chunks of land. Residents from these regions were rushed on immediate evacuation center. The local officials were busy accommodating all the typhoon victims.

During the Bagyong Ondoy, I personally had the chance to contemplate with the word 'survival'. Honestly, no matter how clean you are with your body, and no matter how much you pay attention to it, during these times, it could be the least you would think of.

But we can't set aside hygiene. Last October 15 is the Global Handwashing Day, which promotes proper hygiene. To those who are affected by super typhoon Juan, even if you are just at your home or in the evacuation area, it is very important that we regularly check our hygiene - and maintain cleanliness.

Health is a very delicate thing to maintain, but most of the time it is the most set aside from all of our thing-to-check or routines-to-maintain. By simply being vigilant about our health help to reduce the risk of acquiring viral infections and other unlikeable diseases.

May be, your regular hand washing is the solution to a better health.

I got the video (above) from one of Yahoo's site. I re-post it to include also awareness on this blog post. Thanks to Yahoo!

10 trivia about your social networking sites

2010-10-15T01:30:00.000-07:00

I am one of the millions of people around the globe who keeps on checking if I have friend invitations or comments, perhaps a tagged photo also.

Millions of people from all continents are hooked in numerous social networking websites. Currently, at the top of it now is Facebook.

Also millions of people are getting gaga over the worldwide trending on Twitter. Some are even waiting for the name of their idols to be on the #1 spot of the worldwide trending.

When Miss Universe 4th runner-up Maria Venus Raj entered the Top 5 for Miss Universe 2010 held in Las Vegas, #venusraj topped the worldwide trending. Filipinos got overwhelmed with the results of the pageant as reflected all over, not limited to Twitter, but to all social networking sites.

Do not also discount the fact that some are still obsessed in using Friendster, and millions are still registering on Multiply in the hopes of creating their own basic blogging site.

But behind these names that earn millions of dollars, are few exciting trivia I researched over the web while seating on my desk in the office.

10 TRIVIA ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING

#1: The first underwater tweet was in April 2010 by Julia Gorodetskaya, a Ukranian TV journalist, who went down to a 19-foot deep dolphinarium. While underwater, she tweeted "This is first in history #underwater_tweet".

#2: On February 4, 2011 Facebook will be celebrating its 7th birthday!

#3: Do you know that the majority of the contents of the tweets according to Peer Analytics are "pointless babble", which gained the highest percentage with 40.1%. "Conversational" tweets gained only 37.6%.

#4: According to a survey, the top most reason why people get Facebook "defriending" is "going-on-and-on-and-on-and-on"! What's the meaning? This shows that a lot of people gets Facebook "defriending" just because they keep on "going-on-and-on-and-on-and-on" on non-sense posts

#5: Social networking site Facebook suffered its worst shutdown in four years on September 23 of this year. Around 135 million people were unable to log on because of, according to Facebook's statement, "An automated system [to fix the problem] ended up causing more damage than it fixed."

#6: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ranked No. 2 on Fortune's list of 40 under 40. Twitter co-founders Evan Williams and Biz Stone followed Zuckerberg's rank. The top spot of the list went to a web browser co-creator.

#7: Facebook and Ping kicked Justin Bieber off their social networking sites. Justin Bieber, a Jacksonville resident who shares the same name with the young singing sensation Justin Bieber, was kicked out of these two sites and was accused of using a fake name.

#8: Friendster was kicked in the TOP 5 list of social sites in 2009. The ranking was Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flixster, and LinkedIn respectively.

#9: Asia remains to be the top user of Friendster. US is being dominated by Facebook and MySpace.

#10: The line in the movie "The Social Network" You Don't Get To 500 Million Friends Without Making A Few Enemiesliterally describes Mark Zuckerberg's journey during the early development stage of Facebook.

This time it is not "Panaginip"

2010-10-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Marvin Ong's signature (or more popularly known as 'autograph') on the album I got from him.
..........................................................................................................

I met Marvin Ong on July 15, 2010 when he promoted his album on our company. He’s nice, happy, and approachable I should say.

He is one of the new names in the Philippine music industry for some yet one of his songs already hit the airwaves.

Marvin, a half-Chinese and half-Filipino artist, released a few months ago his self-titled album Marvin OngPanaginip. I heard him sang this live. HAHA! Sans the effect of the microphones because he sang this one in a capella . with the carrier single

He has that sweet, soothing voice but I think, since he’s new in the music industry and entered the business at a young age, he could improve his singing prowess.

The album, which is produced by Viva Records, “is a realization of a long-cherished dream.”

“Pangarap kop o talaga since bata pa ako ang maging singer,” he said during the interview. At the age of nine, Marvin was top-billed in well-acclaimed campus musicals.

Marvin studied in Ateneo de Manila with a degree in Communication Arts. After four years, he accepted his first musical role as a professional singer/actor at the orphan Tobias in Repertory Philippines’ “Sweeney Todd”.

This young artist believes that aside from his born talent, he knows within his visions that someday he would reach his dream to be one of the Philippines’ finest singer/performer.

Who knows? Filipinos are “born” to be stars!

Look at Bugoy Drilon and Jovit Baldivino, they also came from the stories of believing in yourself and reaching your dreams. But look at them now; they have reached fame just with their talent.

Marvin Ong will go a long way. Surely this time it not "Panaginip" for Marving Ong because what he dreamt of is now a reality.

“The Happy Meal Project” gets worldwide backlash

2010-10-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Sally Davies Flickr account)

A globally renowned fast food chain is receiving a worldwide backlash.

McDonald’s is known all over the world. The popular fast food chain is also venerable for its advocacies and its sponsorships for massive activities such as Olympics.

Though McDonald’s is a big corporation, it is not exempted to criticisms.

Recently, a New York-based photographer Sally Davies discovered that a McDo’s burger and French fries resists decomposition after 180 days. (See Sally's photos from Flickr)

Sally was, according to stories published on the web, dared to prove her friend wrong, who believes that a burger would mold or rot after two or three days of being left on a counter.

The project, which Sally called as “The Happy Meal Project”, gave results that ignited discussions over the web whether to believe Sally’s project or not.

But the McDonald’s corporation abruptly cleared the issue. An email was sent to Yahoo! news blog The Upshot to clarify the alleged resistance of McDonald’s happy meal to decomposition.

"McDonald's hamburger patties in the United States are made with 100% USDA-inspected ground beef," Riley wrote. "Our hamburgers are cooked and prepared with salt, pepper and nothing else -- no preservatives, no fillers. Our hamburger buns are baked locally, are made from North American-grown wheat flour and include common government-approved ingredients designed to assure food quality and safety. ... According to Dr. Michael Doyle, Director, Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, 'From a scientific perspective, I can safely say that the way McDonald's hamburgers are freshly processed, no hamburger would look like this after one year unless it was tampered with or held frozen.’”

All Happy Meal lovers are afraid this issue is true.

Nonetheless, the rumor is still flimsy to prevent millions of people from queuing on a counter for a Happy Meal. In the first place, if this is true, this could have surfaced a long time ago directly from a worker (or someone behind the manufacturing process), and testify about the truth behind the Happy Meal.

World-class Filipino dishes at Chef's Table

2010-10-12T15:49:00.000-07:00


The chefs' workplace at Chef's Table.

Nothing beats the dining experience where you can actually see chefs doing their culinary expertise, just a few meters from your Bent plywood chair and school desk-type dining table.

Chef's Table Manila is an all-Filipino cuisine resto in the rising suburb of Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Owned by Chef Bruce Lim, CTM offers a wide array of all Filipino gastronomic delights rediscovered in a new light and exquisitely prepared right before your eyes – literally.

Chef’s Table Manila’s unique idea of dining experience is what makes it different from the other sophisticated dining hubs in the metro. Dining at CTM gives you a view of how their cunning chefs perfectly prepare your appetite’s guilty pleasure: from opening their ingredient-packed fridge – to the sounds of the knife kissing the chopping board – to a Green Papaya Salad impeccably plated.

REINVENTING AND PROMOTING FILIPINO FLAVOR

Chef’s Table Manila is more than the creative concept and artistic presentation. Despite the numerous food establishments offering Western dishes, this gastronomic haven caters to all-Filipino menu and aims to promote the Philippine flavor to a higher level.

“Everything here is local. What we do is support local farmers. I don’t get anything imported. My alcohol may be – the standard cocktails. And I do have signature cocktails like lambanog, tuba.” Chef Lim reiterated.

Chef Bruce Lim also spent time in reinventing the Filipino cuisine to be the trademark of his business and to promote globally the Philippines’ delectable flavor.

“Everything was my own idea. I get my inspiration by the show Tablescapes. I would travel to all the different provinces in the Philippines and I would learn Filipino food in the purest form that hasn’t been perverted by commercializing. So a lot of ingredients I serve here like for example – the kilawin – it has tabon-tabon from Camiguin that takes out all of the lansa of the fish.”

We asked Chef Bruce Lim. Among his dishes, what would he offer to a VIP?

“Well, I like the Chill-A-Fino, which is one of my signatures. I call it Chill-A-Fino because it’s a Chinese-Filipino mix. It represents me actually because I’m a Chinese-Filipino. What I did was I got a really good steamed fish recipe and I sit it on a bed of mash so it’s like a roasted garlic mash – it gives more like the Filipino side and [the] Chinese side that goes hand and hand. The other thing I like is my Corned Pork.”

MENU ON THE TABLE

Here are some of the dishes listed on the menu:

• Fried Pusit – hot-oil blanched posit on a bed of butterhead lettuce served with green mango salad

• Crab Cakes – Freshly picked crab meat, seared and baked to perfection served with sampaloc aioli

• Cool Watermelon Soup – a refreshing combination of watermelon and calamansi enhanced with quesong puti, pickled shallots and roasted shallot oil

• Chilled Carrot and Ginger Soup – a combination of fresh raw diced tanigue, apples and cucumbers tossed in citrus fruit juice in a pool of an invigorating carrot and ginger puree

• Ginataang Sitaw – Chinese long beans simmered in creamy coconut milk enhanced with sautéed bagoong alamang

• Salted Eggs and Minced Pork – CTM’s version of the classic tortang talong enhanced with salted eggs

• Corned Pork – creamy laing topped with soft pork strips served with tinapa rice

• Chill-A-Fino – Chinese-style steamed lapu-lapu on a bed of Filipino ube mash topped with pechay

• Green Papaya Salad – fresh green papaya, cucumber and pechay Baguio tossed in calamansi-patis vinaigrette topped with cured salmon and crispy monggo

• Inasal na Chicken Caesar Salad – torched romaine lettuce in a localized Caesar dressing topped with grilled chicken and queso de bola

• Biko with Calamansi Cream Sauce – Filipino rice and coconut cream pudding paired with a sweet and tangy calamansi cream sauce

• Buko Pie Martini – classic buko pie twisted in Chef’s Table style

“NOT OVER”

Chef Bruce Lim posed for a picture in front of his restaurant and imitated Gru from Despicable Me by saying “not over!”

Actually Chef Lim’s right. Once you tried Chef’s Table Manila, you’ll be saying “not over” too because you’ll be coming again to CTM for another “very Filipino” dining experience.

Must-read PHR love stories from Hana Rei

2010-10-11T03:03:00.000-07:00

I have this one close college friend, who happens to be one of the contributors of the renowned pocketbook publisher “Precious Hearts Romances.”

PHR broaden its reach by letting a huge television network to dramatize its published stories.

With the permission of the writer herself, she allowed me to publish on my blog some of her works, which has been published on PHR.

By the way if you’re interested, these are all out it in the market so don’t worry to have your own copies.

Just a little trivia, some of the characters’ name in her stories are derived from her close friends! But the stories are purely from her ingenious and creative mind.

(I intentionally not to edit the words written by my friend. Enjoy her published works! They are available by the way in all National Bookstores nationwide.)

When Blaze And Frost Collide
(Wrongfully Right For Each Other)
By: Hana Rei
Sa pamimilit ng mga kaibigan, pumayag si Blaze para sa isang blind date, where she met the arrogant Frost Ricafurt. Kahit pa para siyang nakuryente nang magdaiti ang kanilang mga balat, hindi niya gugustuhin ang isang tulad nito. Pero kinailangan niya ang tulong nito at wala siyang choice kundi pagtiisan ang ugali nito at araw-araw na makita ang kaguwapuhan nito. Then she learned about his past and how broken he was as a man. Her heart went out of him. Sa isang iglap, gusto niya itong paghilumin ang sugat sa puso nito. And maybe she could
teach him to love again...

Rahab, My Ballerina Lover
By Hana Rei

Rahab thought her life was perfect. She had a happy family, a loveable boyfriend, and a good career. Pero sa isang iglap ay nasira ang inaakala niyang perpektong mundo niya. One day, she found herself on the beach, alone, with an injured ankle and a battered soul. Everything was falling apart right in front of her eyes. Handa na niyang yakapin ang kamatayan nang bigla siyang pigilan ng isang estranghero na may asul na mga mata. He offered her his hand. And his magnetic gaze was enough to make her forget the pain she was suffering…

Ironic
By Hana Rei

Dahil sa ginawang panghihiya ni Riki kay Benteng noong mga bata pa sila ay nagsimula ang kalbaryo ni Riki sa presensiya nito. Palagi na lang itong nang-aasar sa araw-araw sa buhay niya. Ngunit nang maaksidente ito ay bakit ganoon na lamang ang pag-aalala niya rito?

Hindi niya matanggap iyon.
Ngunit ang lalong hindi niya matanggap ay nang may mangyari sa kanila.
Paano nangyari iyon gayong mortal silang magkaaway?

TEL’s Top 5 Stories for the Week

2010-10-09T00:25:00.000-07:00

#5 – 200 new species found in Papua New Guinea

This is one proof of life’s biodiversity. Just to summarize a few, there were 20 species of frogs, 29 species of ants, 9 to 30 species of katydids, 9 species of plants, 45 species of spiders, 2 species of mammals, and 6 species of dragonflies/damselflies found in Papua New Guinea. The full list of the species is available on the website of Conservation International.

#4 – Socotra: Yemen’s hidden kingdom

This island has thousands of dragon-blood trees, yellow vultures, calm sea and a tradition people greet each other by touching nose and foreheads.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

#3 – Carl Guevarra’s statement: “Okay lang na pag-piyestahan, ‘di naman nila makukuha e”

Photo credit: Bench

Carl Guevarra is one of the successful product of the Bench-initiated modeling contest. He bagged the prized for the male category, while Regine Angeles on the counterpart.

Carl Guevarra is now being more visible in the limelight. He is now tagged as one of the hottest male stars of GMA-7. Lately, he also shows his “abdified” body during the 2010 Cosmpolitan Bachelor Bash together with other Kapuso stars.

Now, many of his fans are asking. Is he willing to do more daring roles and stunts?

#2 – Google’s tribute to John Lennon’s 70th birthday

Google pays tribute to music legend John Lennon by creating and embedding a "John Lennon's Google Doodle" on its homepage.

#1: RH bill stirs debate

The controversy and the unresolved issue of the Reproductive Health Bill tops the TEL’s Top 5 Stories for the Week!.

Twitter has been flocked with so many tweets using different hash tags like #rhbill, #CatholicChurch and so on.

Debate is still at loose but President Noynoy Aquino is firm with his decision that he’s not just for the Catholics.