From Good to Great

It's been a while since I last updated my blog. I was stuck with work that I almost have  zero percent social life. Being a call center agent is not an easy job, believe me. I have lots of things to work on. For example, my QoS which made me cry a little bit. Talk about arrogant customers. No matter  how much I wanted to punch them in the face, all that I can do is to bounce back from those mid box surveys that pulled down my issue resolution percentage. Well, as I look into my statistics, I have lots of top box survey from those satisfied customers but  I need to exert more effort into it. I know that in the coming days, I will get the hang of it and it will be easier. I just hope there are no big updates that will make my brain burst! As much as the pressure is getting into my bones, I'm enjoying every bit of it. I am learning a lot; I'm sure I've earned a life experience degree that none of the accredited online colleges could ever give me!  I just hope that August will be a good month for me.

Straight Talk Is The Perfect Deal

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was still a student, I was under a family plan for my cell phone.  I had limited amount of call minutes and texts a month.  In short, I was always at their mercy but I did not have a choice as I could not afford to pay on my own.  Right after I graduated from school and found a job, my mother asked me to find my own service provider so I could have everything I want.  I was hesitant at first but I knew I would be better off with something that allows me to have everything I need at a much lower cost.  My mother urged me to check Straight Talk and I’m glad I did. The best thing about Straight Talk is:  there is no contract, which means no bills, no surprise charges, and no credit checks and yet I would be able to enjoy a lot more than what I used to have under my parents’ plan.  Truly, mom knows best, doesn’t she?

I guess choosing Straight Talk would be the smartest idea.  For only $45 a month, users would enjoy unlimited calls, texts, picture messaging and use of the web.  It is absolutely a hook, line and sinker kind of a deal. Unlike my parents, I am a heavy phone user and with Straight Talk, I could call a friend anytime without worrying about the bill. Why would you want to be tied into a contract when you can have everything you need at a much lower cost in the absence of a contract?  You could save a lot of money that you could use for something else and in my case; I could save some for a new laptop.

With Straight Talk, customers can pick any of the top brands phone like LG, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and the like.  You can choose from a cheap phone to the most expensive smart phone, depending on your needs.  So, what are you waiting for?  Check it out because it is absolutely the perfect hook, line and sinker deal!

I'm so ready for LOVE.

I feel so inspired after watching this video. How will you say no to a proposal like this ? If I were on the shoes of Ginny, I would do the same. It's really shocking ( in a good way) to see that there's still a man like Matt in this wicked planet. Knowing that there are a lot of douche bag that we have to deal with on a daily basis, it's like a breathe of fresh air to witness a scenario like this once in a while. To be honest, this video changed some of my perceptions with marriage/ engagement. I used to be bitter with love. After watching this, I feel like I'm ready to give love another try.

For those who haven't watch the video, I attached the video in this post for your entertainment. Enjoy watching :)

Fliptop Battle

It's been a while since I watch a Fliptop Battle. For those who are wondering what Fliptop is, I would love to spill some details about it. Fliptop is a rap battle league in the Philippines which was founded by Anygma early last year. It has been dominating the internet and even the television for almost a year now and it has become a source of entertainment for people from any age. What made this rap battle league unique above the rest is the fact that Fliptop produced talented battle warriors that entertain people with their punch lines. It also raise the popularity of Filipino hiphop industry which is good thing since Filipino hiphop lost it's spark when Francis M. died.

While browsing on facebook, a post from Fliptop fan page caught my attention. It is a video of a battle between Shehyee and BLKD. I decided to give it a try and good thing I did. I was so amazed on how the two battled. The two came up with sick lines with sense which is not common on fliptop battles.The two young battlers raised the standards of fliptop to the next level. I am so looking forward to see more battles from these two. I just hope fliptop battlers would learn styles and techniques like these. If this will become a trend, I know more parents would have approve of Fliptop. After watching this battle, I relaized that Fliptop is still on. I'm still an avid fan and just like the others, I'm so excited to see their next upload.

Blue Palm Resort

After a long wait and extensive planning, our much awaited family outing happened and it was fun! I can still picture how beautiful the place is.. It is located at the heart of Pansol, just a few blocks away from Sun City Resort. As you enter the resort, you can see the lobby which is decorated with native home decors that adds up to the cozy feel of the place. The cabanas are located near the pool area. What make this place exceptional among those private resort is that they have a built in jacuzzi in each cabana which is available 24/7. Another good thing that I love about Blue Palm is that they have a really huge pool. The presence of the pool is so inviting because it's really clean and it's not that deep. We stayed there for a day and It felt as if I'm glued to this place already. Blue Palm didn't fail my expectation. For those people who are looking for a nice place to have an outing or even a party, I would surely recommend Blue Palm. I can't wait to visit this place again next year.

Swimming Galore!

After a week of planning, the swimming/ reunion with my friends happened last night. Yesterday sure was tiring because I prepared our dinner. Good thing it only took me 3 hours in preparing the food. Aside from that, I have to deal with the stress of computing the entrance fee, cottage fee and even the transportation fee for each of us. As we arrived at the resort, I was surprised to see very few people bathing at the pool. It was a good thing since we aimed to have a quiet place as a venue of our reunion. Every minute of the outing was a blast. I had so much fun catching up with my friends whom I missed so much. We had so much fun playing at the pool. Another thing that put a smile on my face was when they complemented the food that I prepared. We went home at around 3am and I was so tired. The stress exhaustion was all worth it. I can't wait to do this again with my friends. Hopefully next time, the venue will be bigger and more extravagant. Talk about Bora or Palawan. I'm so looking forward to next year.

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love (review)

For unemployed newly grads like me, Sundays are usually spent inside the house, watching television or just surfing the internet. Last Sunday for me was extra special. Aside from the fact that I had so much fun on our way home from Laguna, I also had the chance to watch a Thai film that brought me back to my high school years.

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love is about a not-so pretty high school girl who had a big crush over her oh-so handsome senior. If you will rely purely on this, you will assume that this movie is just a typical romantic comedy movie that we usually watch on mainstream cinema. Good thing the film's story telling was exceptional among the rest. While watching the movie, I feel as if I were on the girl's shoes. It brought back memories from high school that is similar to the scenes in the film. Majority of the audience can relate to the film which made it realistic.

Another plus factor for the film are the artists who portrayed their characters really well. Aside from the leads, the supporting characters are superb in their acting. I give props for the casting people who did a really good job. Also, the cinematography was above average. The scenes are executed really well with the help of the right camera shots. The lighting of the scenes is also a big helped in making every scenes so real. Every minute of the film was worth watching.

I never knew that I would enjoy films such as these. Hands down to Thailand because they produced quality films that people from other countries would enjoy. I'm looking forward to more Thai films on my list. Because of this film, I became a Mario Maurer fan in an instant.

Agua de Mayo

Summer is getting into my nerves and I find it difficult to enjoy the heat. For people like me who don't have the privilege of having an air conditioner at home, the only way to beat the heat is a simple cry from heaven or in short, just a short rain. Yesterday, God answered my prayer. At around 1PM, rain came pouring so hard. I did not think twice in joining my relatives outside our house as they enjoyed bathing under the rain. Aside from the fact that it is really fun, old people believe that the first rainfall during the summer is a blessed water from heaven that can cure skin diseases. I was so amazed how a simple rainfall during May can bring the family together. I am looking forward to more Agua de Mayo in the coming years.

happy birthday luigi!

My youngest brother Lui has always been dear to me. He's a friend, confidant, or even an enemy all in one. I can still remember the times when I used to fetch him from school during his kindergarten days. Those times when I helped him out on his lessons when examinations are fast approaching. I just missed spending quality time with him. Last week, me and Patty decided to give him a little treat for his birthday. We decided to throw him a little party enough for the whole family and his close friends. I was assigned to do the cooking while dad put extra efforts in decorating the third floor which was his party venue. Patty, on the other hand helped me out in preparing the dishes. The 16th of April was the busiest day of the month for me. Imagine doing all the cooking from morning till early in the evening... Believe me, it was really tiring!
I was so happy that we were able to pull things off that day. Seeing how happy my brother was made me super happy as well. Knowing that he appreciated all of our efforts made everything worthwhile. I hope that next year, we will be able to surpass this party and throw him a party much bigger than this one.

Visita Iglesia

In the last four years, It has always been a tradition of our group to participate at the station of the cross at Antipolo. It is a long walk from our house to the Antipolo Church. It will usually take you six long hours of walk to finish the whole thing. It's my form of sacrifice for the Lord during the Lent. This year, I decided to break my tradition. This year, I decided to participate at the Visita Iglesia with my ATC  family. Visita Iglesia is similar to the thing you do at Antipolo but the twist here is that you have to go to 13- 14 churches to finish the whole thing. This means that one church is equivalent to one station.

Yesterday, we started our sacrifice at the first church which is located at Pateros. We walked from one church to another. We can't eat, nor take a jeep or any means of transportation until you finish half of it.When we arrived at the 9th station, we decided to grab something for our hungry tummy. After that quick lunch, we decided to continue our long journey. It was a tiring afternoon and it felt like my body is about to give up but keeping the thought in my head that I'm doing this for God makes me want to finish this process. As we arrived at the Last church which is the Sacred Heart church, I feel so happy knowing that I was able to finish everything. I offered a prayer and thank him for all the blessings the whole year. This was indeed a memorable experience for me. It was a tiring walk but it was all worth it. I can't wait to do this again next year.

Palm Sunday

Today is the official start of the holy week. What better way to start this week than to attend the Sunday mass, right? Just like most of the people here in our Barangay, we decided to attend the mass on the church here at our place. As we walked through the crowded streets, we see people going to the same direction as ours. You can also see a lot of palm vendors preparing their palms which will be blessed after the mass. I am so happy knowing that a lot of people still lives on the tradition of the Catholic church. It's good knowing that a lot of people still know how to thank God for every good thing he did for us.
As the mass started, I focused all of my attention the the mass proper alone. It's nice to communicate with God once in a while. I felt so blessed hearing his words. It felt like I'm talking to him up close. Finishing the mass today was a big accomplishment for me. It was satisfying in a way because I know deep down that I started holy week just right. Looks like I will have an interesting week ahead of me. I know that by the end of the week, I will be a better person for I will dedicate every minute of the week thanking the Lord for everything.

cheers to good friendship!

Having good friends sticking with you on a daily basis is like in icing on the top of a cake. I'm so happy to have good friends who are always there to back me up whenever I'm feeling blue or even when I just want to have someone by my side. I know four years is not considered a lifetime but the memories we've shared and the experiences we had makes the bond of our friendship tighter and closer. People may see us as a group with different personalities but I think that's what make this friendship unique above all. I know that the relationship established between me and my pals will last until my last breath. Going through college became easier knowing I have them around. I can't thank God enough for giving me wonderful people like them. I know it sounds cliche but I can't imagine going through college without them.

I know Graduation is fast approaching but that doesn't mean that it is the end of our journey. We may be going through different paths of career but one thing is for sure: I will always be here for all of you and I will never leave you. Thanks for sharing your life with me. I am looking forward to more parties and drinking sessions with you guys. :)

"Lucky" by Patty, Andrew and Me

I was browsing through facebook until a post on my uncle's wall got my attention. It was a video of me, my sister Patty and my friend Andrew singing "Lucky" by Britney Spears. I was so shocked to see the video since it's been a year since we uploaded it.  Actually, we did it just for fun, not for anything else. I was laughing while browsing on the comments. I never knew that people would actually like it. I never had a voice as good as my sister so please, no negative comments on that part. Attached to this post is the video that I'm bragging about. Enjoy watching  :)

Trip to Quiapo

After all the sleepless nights due to pressure on schoolworks, I can confidently say that I'm going to graduate by the end of this school year. This is a big blessing not just for me but for my whole family. What made this such a big thing for us is the fact that me and my sister succeeded in beating all the deadlines and luckily for us, we both passed and will attend the graduation.I knew all along that all of these are possible because God is by our side. Good thing I always talk with him through my prayers and just this semester, some of my classmates decided to visit Quiapo habitually to ask for guidance to the Lord. After all that we've been through, Me and my friends decided to give Quiapo another visit.

As usual, our trip to Quiapo is a long, bumpy ride from Makati to Manila. What made this ride fun are the conversations we had to keep ourselves entertained while we are experiencing the traffic jam on our way to our destination. As we reached Quiapo, our eyes feast on the sidewalk stalls full of different products with of course, different purpose. You can find almost everything in Quiapo: Pirated DVD's, pets, home decors, bags, shirts and yes, even sex toys! First timers will surely be surprised with what this place has to offer.

     Let's cut the chase and proceed to what we went there for. We attended the mass and good thing we finished it before rush hour. After the mass, we decided to talk a walk to enjoy th vicinity. 

Aside from the products that this place offers, we also noticed interesting people outside the church. A guy who dressed like Jesus was there encouraging people to join him in his "New Jerusalem". It was weird but he kept firm with his belief. To be honest, I found it entertaining rather than believable. We didn't stayed long since I needed to go to the hospital because my dad was rushed there due to high blood sugar. Good thing we finished the mass before that incident happened.

Even though our Quiapo experience was just a quick afternoon on a busy Friday, I was so contented and happy because I spent my time there with my friends. I know this is not my last visit to this place. Quiapo has been one of my favorite places in Manila for it offers different things in life. It's a place where you can strengthen your faith with God. A must visit for people who love to try new things. 

A "Kantina" Experience

Friday nights are considered bonding nights for me and my siblings. Every Friday, we make it a point to hunt for places that offers different varieties of food on a low price. Good thing my sister's boyfriend (Dario) introduced "Kantina" to us. At first, I was hesitant to try the place because it was the first time that I've heard of it. It is located at the parking lot of Market2x and they are open from 7PM-8AM during Fridays only. Anyway, we arrived there at 11PM. I was surprised to see mouth watering dishes and desserts. I knew at that very moment that I wont leave "Kantina" with an empty stomach.

I had a taste of the baked macaroni first. It's really affordable and it has a huge serving. I know i'll give it a second try when I visit the place next time.

The cheesecake didn't fail to deliver. We actually had two slices of it. They also offer blueberry cheesecake, oreo cheesecake, chocolate cakes, etc. I know this doesn't sound so healthy but it wouldn't hurt if  you try these just once a week, right ?

I can say that "Kantina" can be called the mini version of Banchetto or the Midnight Mercato. If you're in for a food trip that can make your tummy burst, give Kantina a try. This place is a haven for foodies on a low budget. Try visiting the place and believe me, your first visit wont be your last.

Emotions: An Album Review

I grew up knowing that Mariah was one of the so called “Diva” of the Music Industry. I became a Mariah Carey fan as soon as I saw her first video on MTV. I was awe struck by her vocal range and ability. She was loved by many and it seems that her music evolve as time goes by. She’s a great influence in terms of loving and appreciating music. Mariah is truly one of a kind. I have always been highly impressed with Mariah Carey for quite a few of her songs like Vision of Love, Hero and Heartbreaker.  Mariah could take on just about any song and make it so original, it was if you were listening to that song for the very first time. Mariah Carey has since proved that she is a legendary vocal pop diva, that is gifted and has truly grown, as someone who should be respected in the music industry. She has achieved great praise in the music industry for being talented. I think she is very much deserving of that praise, as she has brought something so unique and diverse to the industry, that many girls today, who attempt her style of singing are often known as "unoriginal". Mariah Carey is the ultimate female pop star that has projection down so naturally, she continues to show prove that with every performance. Every time we see Mariah Carey perform, we look forward to what she will do the next time.

Another thing that I love about her is that she tends to be flexible in terms of her look, but is also naturally beautiful . I think in terms of her look, she is spontaneous and she isn't afraid to try anything new.Mariah is one of the most advanced female artists that can project a song and make it believable, hence why every time we hear her sing, she makes us believe what she is singing. She proves she is elemental and universal in her own right. Although Mariah is more elemental, than commercial and Mariah is effortlessly good. I can say that Mariah is a legend in the music industry. With her accomplishments and timeless songs, there is no doubt that she will still be loved in the coming years.

Album Review: Emotions

Emotion was a strong follow up to Mariah Carey's self-titled debut album.  Every song here is worth hearing and some, like "Emotions" and the gospel-inflected "If It's Over" stand with Mariah  Carey’s  best. The title song is one of Mariah's catchiest songs complete with upper range vocal that can give a listener chills. This album is a showcase for her vocal talent.  Mariah also shows herself to be a good composer here as she writes and sings the songs  "Can't Let Go" and  "If It's Over". The ballads "And You Don't Remember" and "So Blessed" features  Mariah not only making great use of gospel organs but of equally strong gospel/soul passion from Mariah herself. "The Wind," is a full blown jazz track with strong lyrics and an elegant, understated vocal performance from Mariah. "Make it Happen", on the other hand, follows mixing gospel-style vocals and lyrics with a heavy dance beat. This track makes we want to dance along with it.


 With these said, I can also see some cons in this album. I would rate it a couple notches higher than her debut album, but for some reason find her debut definitely more interesting than this one. The lead single, "Emotions" was a No. 1 single for Mariah but it was also the only single from the  album that made No. 1. The problem with this CD is that despite containing ten songs, at least half of the album is forgettable, which is not a good thing. In my opinion, some songs just outshined some of the tracks from this album.


 Even if some cons are sighted in this album, I can say that Mariah still did a pretty good job with this one. Her songs make sense and have great emotions. The songs have heart to them and Mariah sings about love, heartache and loneliness once again. I know that Mariah Carey has so many amazing and awesome songs in her albums over the years, but this one has a distinct specialness on it's own.

A not so perfect love story.

Usually, when I'm feeling down and out, I turn to movies and television shows to cheer me up. For me, it feels good to encounter a fairytale like story from a show or a video once in a while. It seems like the world is full of hate and negative vibes and seeing a cute love story will definitely lighten up your mood. Just this morning, I was feeling so depressed until I saw Lee Hyun's video music video of the song "You are the best of my life". Even though the song is in Korean and was not supported by subtitles, I still enjoy watching the video's message was heartfelt. To be honest, I can really relate with the story because I was hoping for the same fairytale ending for myself. Believe me when I say that this video can change your perception when it comes to love. This 4minuter video made my day.


Anyway, for everyone's viewing pleasure, I've attach Lee Hyun's video in this entry. Enjoy the video and get ready to fall in love.

All American Rejects: An Album Review (2003)

 I am generally not a fan of bands like this, including ones like Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, but after I had heard their songs thru youtube , I gave them a try. I fell in love. The instrumentals are nothing to die for, in fact, generally, they're quite easy, so if you're looking for a band where the guitar solos take up the whole song, and the drumming is to die for, I don't suggest this band.

Aside from that, the voice of the vocalist is sweet sounding, and unlike many artists, he really sings, and it comes much more from the heart. Their songs are catchy.. and cheerful. They have a different sound than any other band I have heard of, even though they are classified in that punk rock/emo/pop section of music.

The most attractive thing about The All-American rejects is their straightforward sound. Teens and twenty-something's can relate to their music because it is simple and because the people making it are the same age. They have the presence and pop nature of Blink 182 and combine it with the heartfelt lyrics of Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional. What it all adds up to is an unbelievable record that should stand the test of time. The All-American Rejects use a lot of falsetto in their music, which also contributes to its edgy, raw emotional nature. The Rejects offer everything. Such power pop ballads as "My Paper Heart", "Swing, Swing" and "Don't Leave Me" will leave you humming all day with whatever you doing. Any band who can mix feeling and emotion in their lyrics with catchy, rocking beats deserves to be listened to. I really enjoyed the lyrics; they sing about things that most of us can relate to in the days of our youth. All American Rejects is a band to watch out for.

                  

Album Review : ALL AMERICAN REJECTS

A few months ago, I heard "My Paper Heart" for the first time and knew I had to download the album of this band. Though I had never heard little of  All-American Rejects before, the adept songwriting and melodic punk-pop sound of My Paper Heart" somehow had me knowing, after only one listen, that this would be a great album. My instincts were right. The All-American Rejects' debut simply cannot be rejected. Ever since I downloaded the songs a couple of months ago, it has been a regular listen on my mp3 player. The band deals lyrically in love songs: love dying, love unrequited, even starting over. The music tends to have somewhat of a same sound to it although not as much as others I've heard. This album consists entirely of songs with memorable hooks, up-tempo rhythms, melodic punk- pop choruses, and infectious  lyrics. The album has been well-produced, enhancing the overall packaging of each song. The hits "Swing, Swing", "Time Stands Still", and "The Last Song" proved that the band was creating interesting music. The All-American Rejects mixed pop, rock,  and synthesized sounds with just a hint of a grunge feel and the product was very unique. Their fusion even landed the band a spot in the soundtrack to the pilot episode to the television series The OC with the song "Swing, Swing". My personal favorites from this record include: "My Paper Heart", "Don't Leave Me" "Too Far Gone", and "Drive Away".

With this debut album, the All-American Rejects have demonstrated they have sharp musical senses. Their music compares favorably with any emo-type artist you hear on today's radio. Between the band's natural musical talent and its alignment with today's hottest commercial sound, it wouldn't surprise me to hear more from the All-American Rejects. 

Midnight Mercato Madness

I'm feeling stressed out and pressured with all the deadlines and stuffs. Not to mention our thesis defense which was scheduled a week from now. Just to break the ice, my sister and I decided to give Midnight Mercato a try. We were really curious about the place since it always get positive feedbacks from visitors and foodies. To find out if all of the feedbacks are true, we decided to go there just last night. As I walk through the crowded food bazaar, I was happy to see plenty of food stalls that offers different kinds of food. From Mexican, to Italian, to Chinese, etc.: name it, the Midnight Mercato has it. What made Mercato exceptional from other food bazaar is that they have a big food serving on a low price. To spice things up, they provided a band set up that didn't fail to entertain the foodies all night long. Mercato was a perfect mix of entertainment and food. I am looking forward to more Mercato trippings in the coming weeks. I can say that the food bazaar didn't fail to meet my expectations.

My Journey has come to an end.

Two months have passed and my journey as an assistant pre-school teacher is about to end. I will surely miss waking up in the morning, getting ready for the traffic that I will encounter in the busy streets of Makati and of course, thinking of ways to get the students engaged with the school activities. After this training, my Tuesday and Thursday morning will never be the same again. I will always cherish the moments when I reward the kids with chocolates whenever they perfect the exams or even when I just feel like giving them goodies. Those kids have been really nice to me and I've seen how they improve their potentials on the activities in school. Because of these students, I became more patient on certain situations and I started to love kids. If I will be given a chance to undergo this process again, I will never doubt to give it another try. I will forever cherish the moments I had in Maximo Estrella Elem. School. I hope that someday, those students will grow into a responsible human being that can contribute to the benefit of our country.