goin' country

i'm not really into country songs but right now i'm playin two of them on a repeat mode.  one is a haunting tune that talks about yearning for someone sung by the better lady in the music scene right now.  the other is a cover of another country/love song originally popularized by shania twain but given a breath of fresh air by the latest idol winner who sounds like past winner david cook but has a more likeable personality.  play 'em and enjoy 'em.  they can easily be in your faves list too.

hotnothot 34

Hothot: PNoy’s first SONA. Hearing (or in my case reading) PNoy’s first State of the Nation Address is just like hearing a Senator who uses his privilege speech in the Senate to expose anomalies specially those that are perpetuated by his political foes. Dahil ginamit ni PNoy yong speech nya to expose the atrocities that Gloria’s regime left behind lalo na pagdating sa mga pondo ng gobyerno. Pero sabi ko nga sa mga kaibigan ko, these exposes are nothing but blurbs until something happens. Yong makapag-sampa sila ng matibay na kaso at may mangyayari sa bandang huli. It will be a big challenge for PNoy to come up with criminal conviction to these ‘crimes’ that the past government did. Pero hindi yon ang main hothot ko. What I find in PNoy’s speech, kahit nong inauguration niya, is that he uses Tagalog in most parts of his speech. Mas madaling maintindihan ng masa. Afterall, sa masa sya nagre-report, hindi sa mga konyo at elitist. Dahil dito, PNoy is enjoying a very high popularity rating. And if he keeps communicating directly to the masses, mas maiintindihan sya anoman ang gagawin nya sa kanyang pagka-pangulo. With that, maaring hindi sya makakuha ng negative at sadsad na rating na ilang panahon ding inani ni Gloria.

Hotnot: Ang kwento ng nabubulok na Bigas. Sa dami ng pasabog ni PNoy sa kanyang SONA, this could be the one that sent my teeth clenching. Bigas na nabubulok sa kung saang tambakan? Samantalang napakaraming tyan ang kumukulo sa Pilipinas, ke mga pulubi o mga taong nagkukumahog mag-trabaho pero kulang at kulang pa rin ang kakayahan para sayaran ng pagkain ng mga bibig. At dahil lang sa kung sinong herodes, sa kung anong kurakutan, sa kung anomang red tape, pinabayaan lang mabulok ang bigas kesa ipakain sa mga nagugutom? I find it so revolting. Para sa akin, this is criminal. Dahil hindi ninyo nararanasan ang kumalam ang sikmura, ang magutom ng ilang araw, ang mahilo at mag-hallucinate dahil walang sumasayad na pagkain sa sikmura, wala kayong pakialam. At wala kayong pakiramdam sa mga kababayan nating nagpapakamatay na lang dahil sa kawalan ng makain. You could have done something to ease their pain. Ang ipakain sa kanila ang bigas na binili rin naman ng pera ng taong bayan. Mabulok sana ang mga kaluluwa nyo kasama ng mga bigas na yan!

Hotnot: A Congressman in HK prison. One of the most scandalous events to hit the headlines lately is the arrest of Congressman Ronald Singson in HongKong for possession of illegal drugs. Despite an obvious news blackout that successfully kept the event from the press for a couple of weeks, it was his father Chavit who gave the confirmation readily followed by a public apology for what’s an obvious misdeed in the part of his son. Bumilib ako coz it showed humility on the father’s side to have done the admission and the apology. Kaya lang, bakit kailangang sundan pa ng press releases like : baka nasulsulan lang. For goodness sake, he’s already in his mid-30’s, old enough to father a high-school student himself. Or yong angle na dahil broken-hearted daw. Jeez, I’d still say the same thing – magku-kwarenta na sya and still nurses a broken heart like it’s his first? Pero ang pinaka-off na nabasa ko eh yong kwentong hindi daw talaga kay Ronald yong drugs, sa isa raw sa mga kasamahan nya. If this angle is being played out to picture the guy as a hero instead of a criminal, then mali pa rin. Dahil kung hindi talaga sa kanya at inako lang nya to save his friend, it’s still irresponsible to put the welfare of his friend above his duty to protect the integrity of the Philippine Congress. Mas malaki ang obligasyon nya sa Kongreso, sa kanyang mga constituents at lalo sa mga kabataan na pinabilib nya sa pagi-sponsor nya ng isang anti-drug law.

Hothot: Wowowee finally off the air. If it will mean bringing down Willie back to earth, it really is something hot. At least ABS-CBN is finally showing this guy who’s the boss. Ang papalit daw na noon-time show ay Pilipinas Win na Win starring Willie’s girls plus Robin and Kris. Originally, Pilipinas For The Win (FTW) ang title nong program but just a day after the station announced it, binago agad sa Win na Win. Ang sabi ng mga intrigerang showbiz writers, bistado raw kasi na yong FTW is F**k That Willie. Hahaha! But let’s forget Willie now and let him wallow in his defeat, lick the deep wounds this blow has inflicted upon his hot air-balloon-sized ego. Gusto kong saluduhan ang ABS-CBN sa ginawa nila. Not just for finally kicking Willie’s ass but most importantly for putting Robin Padilla and Kris Aquino together in a show. Matindi talaga ang eye nila for business. Alam nilang may mabubuong kontrobersya sa mga hosts na pwedeng i-capitalize ng show para sa ratings. With Robin’s charms and Kristeta’s vulnerability from her recent marital debacle, siguradong ngangawa si Mariel Rodriguez soon. Bakit? Sus magpaka-intregera din kayo paminsan-minsan!

presenting... MA the songwriter!!!

Remember MA (em-ey), one of my dear friends from my Magnus stint?  I mentioned in my march 16th posting (see One Lovely Reunion under label of friends and more) that this charming Coca-Cola Phils lady exec is also a talented songwriter who's just starting to explore her God-given talent.  

I had the honor of hearing her first composition (2nd vid below) in her car's cd player on our way to our small reunion in Greenbelt.  That song was her entry to the songwriting contest by Regine's Diva show in GMA 7.  Though it didn't win, it still won my heart coz it was one beautiful love song. 

It took a while before it happened but here she is, sharing that song with  friends plus another ballad which is equally heartfelt .  In turn, let me share them with you too so you can claim you've heard it first in DS before it exploded huge in the airwaves. Contemporary love songs that'll sure make it big anytime soon.  Nice work MA!  I'm mighty proud of you!

apdeyt-apdeyt!!!

Last Wednesday I had no choice but to comply with the latest requirement from the bank where I do the transfers of my hard-earned money to the Philippines. The bank is now implementing a new procedure where they will ask for more explicit information about your work in the Kingdom as well as your details back in whatever country you’re sending your money to. Hindi ka pwedeng mag-transact hangga’t hindi ka magpapa-update nong info mo.

Actually second attempt ko na yon. The first time I went there a couple of days before, noon ko lang nalaman yong update-update na yon. But because I wasn’t pressed to send money that time, inurungan ko yong mahabang pila. Nakita ko kasi kung gaano kabagal yong proseso.

But after receiving SOS messages from a couple of my self-imposed responsibilities back home, kailangan ko na talagang magpadala ng pera.  Kaya napilitan akong bumalik nong Wednesday. Buti na lang maaga akong nagpunta, wala pang 10 yong nauna sa akin sa pila. Despite that, inabot pa rin ako ng more than one hour doon pa lang sa updating part.

Mainly because si kabayang bank officer na gumagawa nong update is frustratingly slow. Sa dami ng details na ipapasok nya sa account mo like your current salary, company address, home address and phone number in Phils etc, gusto ko nang agawin yong keyboard para mapabilis yong pagta-type. Aside from that, dalawang beses sya tatayo per client kaya aabutin ka talaga ng indulto.

Una, lalabas sya ng office nya dala ang Iqama mo (residence permit) to ask one of the arabic staff outside to read/interpret your sponsor’s name and your position (which is actually the position stated in your visa when you entered Saudi Arabia).

After that, babalik sya para i-type yong info na nakuha nya. And he’s one of the slowest typist I’ve ever seen dahil parang hinahanap bawat letter na pipindutin (parang hindi normal for an office staff, much more a bank employee yong bagal nya sa keyboard! O baka dahil medyo maedad na si kabayan). Nakakatawa pa coz he mumbles as he was typing, parang kinakausap yong monitor. Kaya may tinatanong na pala sa akin, hindi ako sumasagot dahil akala ko yong monitor pa rin nya ang kausap. Hahahaa!

After entering the details, ire-review nya yong buong 4 or 5 pages yata ng data sheet. Saka nya ipi-print. And then he'll get up from his chair again to fetch the printed document coz the printer is located somewhere outside his office! Nak nangggg!!!! Anyways, natapos din kahit paano.

Ang paliwanag ng mga kabayan natin sa bangko, requirement daw ito ng Saudi government. Hindi na raw pwede yong mga information na nakalagay na dati sa database nila dahil kulang-kulang. Kaya ngayon, kino-kopya talaga lahat ng details na nasa residence permit unlike before na kung ano-ano lang ang information na ibigay mo pwede na.

I understood it better when I was watching the news that night. Talaga palang hindi lang yong bangko na yon, in fact, hindi lang banks in KSA ang nagi-implement nito. Worldwide requirement na pala ito coz even in Europe, they will be implementing in August. Ang pagkakaintindi ko sa report, banks are obliged to supply data to the US government whenever requested to.  Epekto yata ito nong anti-terrorism campaign. They wanted better traceability of bank transactions dahil sa mga dubious bank transfers daw kaya nakakalusot ang funding para sa mga terrorist groups.

That is why this updated information will be visible to authorities should they decide to scrutinize your transactions for whatever reason they deem necessary.  It looks like banking giants in Geneva, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg and other countries known for it's bank secrecy policies will soon be saying goodbye to their reputation.

Kaya pala sabi ulit ni kabayan sa bangko, one effect of this updated info is the powers given to the police to investigate anomalous bank transactions. And by anomalous they mean transactions para sa mga questionable beneficiaries as well as those involving unusually large amount of money. Ah well, I'm sure hindi ako kasama don dahil wala akong questionable beneficiaries aside from the 14 names listed under my account na napag-diskitahan ni kabayan kaya pinagde-delete yong mga inactive na beneficiaries.  And yes, kakapiranggot naman ang padala ko kaya siguradong hindi naman ako pag-aaksayahan ng panahon ng kung sino.

To view Euronews’ report, click here…. http://www.euronews.net/2010/07/08/eu-s-new-bank-data-sharing-deal-with-us/

vapiano... non troppo buona!

I should have read Keith’s (see Leap of Faith blog) review carefully and remembered it well. Basta na lang kasi tiningnan ang pictures at na-impress eh talaga namang maganda ang pics coz the author is a superb photog himself. Kaya last Thursday nong nasa Ikea kami and decided to have dinner, sabi ko sa grupo, i-try na lang namin yong Vapiano kasi nabasa ko nga sa LOF.

While waiting for our food, Raoul mentioned na hindi nga raw maganda ang review ni Keith don sa place. And that’s the time I remembered that it wasn’t Vapiano Keith was praising, it was Bona Banana! Eh nandon na kami nakaupo at naka-order so just for the heck of it, sige na stay na lang.

Hindi nga maganda yong ginawa nilang self-ordering scheme (na sabi ko nga kay Keith reminded me of Streetlife in Glorietta). Considering na 6 pa lang kami sa group, hirap na akong i-memorize yong individual orders nila. Hindi naman pwedeng patayuin ko si Tserman at sya ang pa-orderin ko, hindi ako magaling na host pag ganon. Asar naman kung hahanap ako ng paper and pen, aba hindi ko naman pinangarap mag-order taker, gusto ko kumain lang.

So, relying on my memory with a little prayer that it’s still as sharp as it was, I went to the counters where you have to order the pasta, pizza, salad and beverages separately. At least I remembered much of them but in the end, my memory failed me. 1 gig na lang yata ang capacity kaya yong iba nakalimutan agad. Darn! I have to ask Ega to check back on the other two kung ano yong order nilang drinks!

After a while, the food came and I eagerly dove into each and every plate of them. I wanted to placate my growing impatience dahil sa nakakalitong pag-order, sa maingay na crowd (pero mas maingay yata kami! Hehehe) and the place na hindi rin conducive to a fine dining mood coz being in a mall, the ambience was a bit street-like with waiters and customers running back and forth. Kaya nadidismaya na ako and I was hoping the food will salvage my mood.

Kaso, I didn’t find anything that would merit my usual ‘hmmm sarap’ seal of approval. Pwede na yong Carbonara, pwede na rin yong Canillone, pwede na rin yong seafood pesco and the other two dishes na nakalimutan ko na (this time 0.8 gig na lang ang memory! Hahaha). Eh nothing impressive nga kaya nakalimutan ko na. Tapos eto ang coke ni Ega na hindi man lang inalis sa bote, nilagyan lang ng straw. Pati ang apple juice ni Ricky at John, served in bottle din. Minahalan na ang presyo, nilagyan pa ng service charge pero parang bumili ka lang sa bakalah ni Khaldi!

One thing I like about the place is the honesty of the staff na mga kabayan natin. The guy who explained the card system went to the lengths of giving us tip on their bestsellers. Which saved us from ordering a plate of something I would’ve probably given them a thumbs down. Pati yong sa beverage section, sinabi talagang hindi masarap yong death by chocolate nila. Which made me change my mind and ordered just 2 instead of the initial 4 servings I asked for. Tama si kabayan, talaga ngang nakaka-sisi yong cake. Kung sa Bennigans sa Glorietta eh talagang you will ‘die’ because of the heavenly piece of chocolate cake, dito, mamamatay ka sa inis at sa tigas! Parang swelas ng sapatos na pinatungan ng chocolate syrup na ewan!

So what’s my rating for Vapiano? Not so good. Not counting the slight commotion that happened as we are about to leave the place (it’s something that I won’t hold against the resto itself but against an arrogant old man who saw what it’s like when Tserman lost his cool!) but I already said Vapiano is another place I’d never visit again. At sa mga regular sa DS, alam nyong may kasunod yong linyang yon. Unless may mang-libre sa akin para bumalik don! Heheheh.

Place : 3

Food : 3

Service : 4

Price : 3

Total: 13

funny commercial

the next time you're projecting, make sure there's no bluetooth dangling from her ear! hahaha

patience my friend, patience!

Taon-taon na lang yata, kapag parating na yong contract anniversary ko sa trabaho, I’m always thinking of packing my bags and catch the earliest flight out. Yong tipong ayaw ko na and this is the best time to call it quits. Parang pini-pressure ko yong sarili ko na sige na, make it happen now. Afterall, ang tagal mo na yang pinag-pa-planuhan.

And that season is here again dahil early next month, 7th year ko na. At kung gagawa man ako ng desisyon, it’s gotta be within these days. Any day later will mean I’d have to stick it out for another year. At dahil tipong hindi ko pa rin magawang mag-alsa balutan like what I’ve been dreaming of doing for the longest time, babagsak na naman ako sa simangot, walang gana at super tamad mode.

Nandon na naman ako sa panahon na walang magawa ang dalawang alarm clock sa umaga. Pahirapan bumangon, hihilahin lahat ng parte ng katawan para makaalis sa kama. Maliligo, magbibihis, bababa ng hagdan – all in a zombie-like movement. No sense of urgency, no eagerness, simply no zest.

Madalas, nakasinghal na naman ako sa mga makukulit na Indyano o katutubo sa trabaho. I’m no different from a firecracker with a very short fuse. Konting kanti, sasabog. Ito rin yong mga araw na hindi ako camera friendly dahil mahirap akong patawanin, daig ko pa ang naka-botox. Ito yong mga araw na pwede akong pumalit kay Oscar the Grouch habang kumakanta ng Sick and Tired ni Anastacia.

Nandyan na naman yong aking bmw (bitching, moaning and whining for those who have’nt read my previous posts). Up to the point na maglilinya na naman ako sa ilang malalapit na kaibigan na gusto ko nang umuwi ng Pinas. Pagod na ako. Tinatamad na ako sa buhay dito. I think most of them have grown tired of it all by now and never take it seriously anymore. Yong iba siguro tinatawanan na lang ako sa mga pinag-sasabi ko.

Sa mga ganitong araw, panay-panay na ang kwenta ko ng kakaunti kong savings. Na para bang everytime na kukwentahin ko sya eh may makikita akong significant interest samantalang mabagal pa sa kuhol ang pag-tubo ng interes na binibigay ng RCBC at PNB sa dollar accounts ko.

Kwenta rin ako ng kwenta ng mga susuwelduhin, kasama ang mga benefits na makukuha ko kung aalis na ako. Na parang everytime kong kukuwentahin eh may madi-discover pa akong detalyeng nakaligtaan ko at lalaki pa ang nakikita kong numero. Samantalang ilang beses ko nang kinulit si Tserman sa HR namin about those benefits.

Sabi siguro ni Tserman pag nagtatanong ako ‘hay naku, heto na naman po kami’. Pero syempre hindi nya masabi yon sa akin dahil mabait syang kaibigan. At yong mga nakarinig ng BMW ko, they must be laughing hard by now coz here I am, months and years later, and never have I moved an inch. Hindi naka-alis at nagmukha lang engot sa mga pag-eemote na ginawa.

Naisip ko lang, kung tinuloy ko kaya ang paglayas last year or even the year before, ano kaya ang nangyari sa akin ngayon. Para siguro akong dinaanan ng twister nong nangyaring economic crisis na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa fully recovered and ibang bansa. Maraming nawalan ng kabuhayan. I could have easily be one of them. Buti sana kung may food stamps sa atin, grocery stamps at kung ano-anong charitable assistance na ginagawa ng gobyerno sa mga westerners. Sa atin, buntot mo hila mo. Sikmura mo, bahala ka.

Ang masakit pa nito, kung nawalan na ako ng pera at wala na akong makain, mag-aaplay ulit ako ng trabaho. Pero dahil sa economic crisis, may isang trabahong available pero ang kasabay kong applicants, tatlong libo. Isang libo doon ay mga fresh graduates, the other thousand ay mga ex-abroad din, karamihan galing USA and the last ay mga dating managers at executives ng malalaking kumpanya. Ang masakit, all 3,000 of them are willing to accept the job kahit halos barya na lang ang ino-offer ng sweldo. Krisis eh.

Tapos biglang nagkaron ng major event sa pamilya ko. Something na hindi lang emotionally taxing kungdi financially din. My heart bled and so did my bank account. Kung lumayas siguro ako sa trabaho noon, nagmamatira na ang kakaunti kong naiipon sa bangko. Worse, baka nage-email na ako sa mga kaibigan ko para mag-do the needful (sikat po ang phrase na yan sa mga Indiano na ina-adapt din ng mga Pinoy in jest). Something that would be very difficult to do for someone like me with an ego bigger than Faisaliyah Tower.

So saan ako pupulutin? Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine.

Pasalamat na lang ako at malakas pa rin ang command ng utak ko kesa sa emotions ko. I was able to put some checks into what can be a potentially crippling decision na gustong-gusto ko nang gawin. And in the process, napatanuyan ko yong sinasabi nilang patience is a virtue. A virtue which I didn’t have and now I’m slowly letting it grow on me.

Sa ngayon, nandon pa rin yong kawalan ko ng eagerness sa araw-araw. But at least I’m managing to keep it under the surface. I’m trying to minimize the grouching, the touchiness, the sparks of temper. Nandyan naman ang mga adik at iba pang mga kaibigan para sa araw-araw na chikahan o mga spur of the moment na lakwatsa. I owe them a lot kasi malaking tulong yon para mawala ang pagkaburyong ko. I just have to wait. Afterall, madali lang ang isang taon. Pagdating non, saka ko na ulit pag-isipan kung anong gagawin ko. In the meantime, I’m keeping my spreadsheet updated.

the future of flying

a solar-powered airplane just completed its 26-hour maiden voyage proving to one and all that fossil fuel isn't everything in air transportation.  developed by a company in switzerland, the light plane called solar impulse has 12,000 solar cells that soak up the sun to store power enough to fly the plane through the night. 

quite exciting huh.  dunno however if the company aims to develop this technology for commercial flight application. if they do, i just hope they'll be quick with it so i can experience the 9-hour flight back to manila.  that would be a huge deduction on my carbon footprint!

for complete info about the company, visit http://www.solarimpulse.com/

and here's al-jazeera feature about the solar impulse

hotnothot 33

Hotnot: P-Noy’s Dep Ed Secretary. Nakakadismaya na hindi pa nag-iinit ang upuan ng bagong Pangulo pero heto at sangkot na agad sa isang kontrobersya ang isa sa kanyang appointed official. Ang bagong Dep Ed Secretary daw na pinatikim ng kagaspangan ng dila ang ilang mga reporter. Porke hindi raw nakakatulong ang media sa mga tanong na obviously ay hindi nya nagustuhan. Granted na hindi maganda ang tanong, granted na may mga reporter talagang nakakairita, but to get such harsh reaction from someone who heads the Education sector, is very very disappointing. Being a man who must have several diplomas under his belt, people expect nothing short of a refined, cultured person in him. Hindi isang taong umaastang walang pinagkaiba sa isang sanggano. Nag-sorry na raw si Secretary. But I guess the damage has been done. Nakita na agad ng bayan kung anong kulay nya. And it’s far from the yellow color Cory so humbly wore when she was still a President. Nagkamali yata si P-Noy sa pagpili sa kanya. Sayang. Pari pa naman.

Hotnot: The Silver Cleaner phenom. Ang ka-adik kong JunC ang nakapansin nito. Araw-araw na lang, mababasa mo sa dyaryo na may nag-suicide gamit ang silver cleaning solution. Very accessible siguro, madaling bilhin sa mga tindahan at talagang effective kaya marami ang gumagamit nito. Mahirap nga namang bumili ng insecticide lalo na kung nasa city ka, madaling pag-suspetsahan. Besides, minsan sablay pa kaya instead na matapos ang problema ng nagpapakamatay, lalong nadadagdagan. Hindi ako magugulat kung may matalino na namang kongresista na mag-file ng batas na dapat ilagay na rin sa kontrol ang pagbebenta nito. Ang punto ko, hindi ang silver cleaning liquid, hindi ang insecticide, hindi ang lubid ang dapat kontrolin. Ang tao. At maku-kontrol ang mga nagsu-suicide kung ang ugat ng problema nila ay magkakaroon ng solusyon. At base sa mga nababasa natin, lahat kahirapan ang tinuturong problema at ugat ng pagpapakamatay. Ito yong sinasabi ko sa posting ko tungkol kay P-Noy. Habang marami ang naghihirap, walang makain at nagiging desperado sa buhay, marami pa rin ang iinom ng silver cleaning solution. Dahil yon ang alam nilang solusyon sa kahirapan na unti-unti rin namang pumapatay sa kanila.

Hothot: Ang Wang-Wang ni P-Noy. I salute P-Noy for banning this highly irritable device so abusively used by jerks just to get their way through traffics. Afterall, pare-pareho lang tayong nagmamadali kung saan man tayo pupunta. And for you to use a blinker is pretty much like shouting to the top of your voice ‘tumabi kayong mga hampaslupa, dadaan ang hari’. It’s infuriating coz it’s already a public facility and yet it looks like you only have lesser right to use it than the ones who are sitting comfortably in their airconditioned, chauffeur-driven benzes armed with that wang-wang. It’s plain and simple arrogance on the part of the haves. Mabuti naman at nakita ni P-Noy ito. Though in his case, it could prove to be a problem. Ayan nga at na-late na agad sya sa isang appointment. He might want to lead by example but if it will mean missing out on important engagements, he should rethink his position. Besides, malaking problema nga sa security kung maiipit sya sa traffic ng ilang oras. Kung hindi man gumamit ng wang-wang, his security escorts should devise a plan to allow him safe, secure and speedy passage pagdating sa mga congested traffic points .

Hotnot: Another Toyota Recall. After last year’s recall of thousands (or hundreds of thousands?) of Toyota cars, I saw they issued a commercial spot which was obviously put together to regain some credibility to the brand. It shows people from various social strata and nationalities proudly showing off their car and saying ‘my toyota’. To me, that ad wants customers to feel confident and proud about the name despite the big let down. If ever that commercial spot had positive impact among the buying public, I guess it’ll all be gone by now. Coz here comes another recall from the beleaguered car giant. This time, they’re recalling their top of the line Lexus and the more ubiquitous Corona model. I wonder what the auto industry is doing about this. Shouldn’t they stop Toyota from rolling units out of the assembly plants unless everything’s tested and guaranteed roadworthy? Or is it another question of commercialism, capitalism and plain greed that stops something that is simple and so easy to solve. Your guess.

 

Hothot:  The World Cup Predicting Paul.  Don't look now but there's a star grabbing the headlines aside from the football players themselves.  It's a two-year old octopus named Paul who supposedly predicted the result of the five German games correctly.  But hey, he's not a German fan.  In the latest video shown in Euronews, he chose Spain to win over Germany in their semi-final match tomorrow.  We'll, let's see if Paul is better than Madam Auring! 

let's go ukay-ukay!

this was sent to my yahoo mail last week by my friend Cesar.  ngayon ko lang naisipang basahin and it turned out to be very useful specially now that we have to be more conscious of our spending more than ever.  dedicated to those who simply can't resist buying anything and everything that usually winds up in some corner playing host to dust and cockroaches.  para na rin sa mga fwend kong updated sa electronic gadgets, o yong kabibili lang ng diamond at yong isa na favorite hang-out ang Ikea!  peace mga fwends! hahaha!

21 Things You Should Never Buy New
by Lynn Truong in her Wise Bread Column dated 28 June 2008, US News

If you're looking to get the most value for your dollar, it would do your wallet good to check out secondhand options. Many used goods still have plenty of life left in them even years after the original purchase, and they're usually resold at a fraction of the retail price, to boot. Here's a list of 21 things that make for a better deal when you buy them used.

1. DVDs and CDs: Used DVDs and CDs will play like new if they were well taken care of. Even if you wind up with a scratched disc and you don't want to bother with a return, there are ways to remove the scratches and make the DVD or CD playable again.

2. Books: You can buy used books at significant discounts from online sellers and brick-and-mortar used book stores. The condition of the books may vary, but they usually range from good to like-new. And of course, check out your local library for free reading material.

3. Video Games: Kids get tired of video games rather quickly. You can easily find used video games from online sellers at sites like Amazon and eBay a few months after the release date. Most video game store outlets will feature a used game shelf, as well. And if you're not the patient type, you can rent or borrow from a friend first to see if it's worth the purchase.

4. Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: Sometimes you'll need to buy formal clothing for special occasions, such as weddings or prom. Most people will take good care of formal clothing but will only wear it once or twice. Their closet castouts are your savings: Thrift stores, yard sales, online sellers and even some dress shops offer fantastic buys on used formalwear.

5. Jewelry: Depreciation hits hard when you try to sell used jewelry, but as a buyer you can take advantage of the markdown to save a bundle. This is especially true for diamonds, which has ridiculously low resale value. Check out estate sales and reputable pawn shops to find great deals on unique pieces. Even if you decide to resell the jewelry later, the depreciation won't hurt as much.

6. Ikea Furniture: Why bother assembling your own when you can pick it up for free (or nearly free) on Craigslist and Freecycle? Summer is the best time to hunt for Ikea furniture--that's when college students are changing apartments and tossing out their goodies.

7. Games and Toys: How long do games and toys remain your child's favorite before they're left forgotten under the bed or in the closet? You can find used children's toys in great condition at moving sales or on Craigslist, or you can ask your neighbors, friends, and family to trade used toys. Just make sure to give them a good wash before letting junior play.

8. Maternity and Baby Clothes: Compared to everyday outfits that you can wear any time, maternity clothes don't get much wear outside the few months of pregnancy when they fit. The same goes for baby clothes that are quickly outgrown. You'll save a small fortune by purchasing gently used maternity clothes and baby clothes at yard sales and thrift stores. Like children's games and toys, friends and family may have baby or maternity clothing that they'll be happy to let you take off their hands.

9. Musical Instruments: Purchasing new musical instruments for a beginner musician is rarely a good idea. (Are you ready to pay $60 an hour for piano lessons?) For your little dear who wants to learn to play an instrument, you should see how long his or her interest lasts by acquiring a rented or used instrument to practice with first. Unless you're a professional musician or your junior prodigy is seriously committed to music, a brand new instrument may not be the best investment.

10. Pets: If you buy a puppy (or kitty) from a professional breeder or a pet store outlet, it can set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. On top of this, you'll need to anticipate additional fees and vet bills, too. Instead, adopt a pre-owned pet from your local animal shelter and get a new family member, fees, and vaccines at a substantially lower cost.

11. Home Accent: Pieces Home decorating pieces and artwork are rarely handled on a day-to-day basis, so they're generally still in good condition even after being resold multiple times. If you like the worn-out look of some decor pieces, you can be sure you didn't pay extra for something that comes naturally with time. And don't forget, for most of us, discovering a true gem at a garage sale is 90% of the fun!

12. Craft Supplies: If you're into crafting, you probably have a variety of different supplies left over from prior projects. If you require some additional supplies for your upcoming project, then you can join a craft swap where you'll find other crafty people to trade supplies with. If you have leftovers, be sure to donate them to your local schools.

13. Houses: You're typically able to get better and more features for your dollar when you purchase an older home rather than building new. Older houses were often constructed on bigger corner lots, and you also get architectural variety in your neighborhood if the houses were built or remodeled in different eras.

14. Office Furniture: Good office furniture is built to withstand heavy use and handling. Really solid pieces will last a lifetime, long after they're resold the first or second time. A great used desk or file cabinet will work as well as (or better than) a new one, but for a fraction of the cost. With the recession shutting down so many businesses, you can easily find lots of great office furniture deals.

15. Cars: You've probably heard this before: Cars depreciate the second you drive them off of the dealership's lot. In buying a used car, you save money on both the initial cost and the insurance. It also helps to know a trusty mechanic who can check it over first. This way, you'll be aware of any potential problems before you make the purchase.

16. Hand Tools: Simple tools with few moving parts, like hammers, hoes and wrenches, will keep for decades so long as they are well-made to begin with and are well-maintained. These are fairly easy to find at neighborhood yard or garage sales. If you don't need to use hand tools very often, an even better deal is to rent a set of tools or borrow them from a friend.

17. Sports Equipment: Most people buy sports equipment planning to use it until it drops, but this rarely happens. So when sports equipment ends up on the resale market, they tend to still be in excellent condition. Look into buying used sporting gear through Craigslist and at yard sales or sports equipment stores.

18. Consumer Electronics: I know most folks like shiny new toys, but refurbished electronic goods are a much sweeter deal. Consumer electronics are returned to the manufacturer for different reasons, but generally, they'll be inspected for damaged parts, fixed, tested, then resold at a lower price. Just make sure you get a good warranty along with your purchase.

19. Gardening Supplies: This is an easy way for you to save money, and all you need to do is be observant. Take a look outdoors and you'll likely find such gardening supplies as mulch, wood, and even stones for free or vastly reduced prices. Used garden equipment and tools are also common goods at yard sales.

20. Timeshares: Buying timeshares isn't for everyone, but if you decide that it suits your lifestyle, purchasing the property as a resale would be a better deal than buying it brand new: on average, you'll save 67 percent on the price for a comparable new timeshare. If you're new to timeshare ownership, give it a test run first by renting short term.

21. Recreational Items: It's fairly easy to find high ticket recreational items like campers, boats, and jet skis being resold. Oftentimes, they're barely used at all. As long as they're in safe, working condition, they'll make for a better value when purchased used than new.

reactions? comments?  you know you're always welcome to say your piece...

ano ba talaga ang meaning ng abs-cbn?

with a combined hits of less than 10,000, this two-part satirical video is still fresh in youtube courtesy of someone who looks like he's made a hobby out of poking sarah palin and larry king.  but i think it will not take long before it becomes another hit specially among pinoys lalo na at tungkol sa ating bayan, buhay, pulitiko at iba pa ang pinag-uusapan. 

siguradong maraming magrereak dito coz the script is quite brazen, irreverent and highly controversial (though you must see other vids from the same crafty author na mas grabe pa dito).  nagpapatawa itong video pero mangingiwi kayo in some parts.  at times it's foul.  but there are parts where what's being said is painfully true.

i'm sharing this coz it's one good benchmark for us now that we are starting afresh with a new president.  hope you can have a good laugh in some parts and be able to reflect on some. 

(thanks to miss jones for sharing)

part 1

part 2

the road ahead

(note:  this is a re-hash of the posting that disappeared when i changed the theme.  just updated it a bit to make it current)

Noynoy is now officially the 15th President of the Philippines. He was inaugurated the other day at the Quirino Grandstand in front of a sea of yellow shirts sported by his supporters. Judging from the number of people who attended the rites, P-Noy is enjoying a rockstar popularity that shoul inspire a newly-elected official like him. 

Obviously there's a huge expectation bestowed upon this 50-yr old bachelor who enjoys a legacy left behind by his parents - President Cory and the iconic hero Ninoy. Now, it's his turn to step into the limelight and prove to the world that he's more than just Aquino by birth.  And that he will uphold that family name by leading the country better than the past (specially the most recent) Presidents did.

When I heard his speech, my first reaction was big words, big promises.  sana matupad kahit kalahati. Siguro naman hindi nyo ako masisisi for being pessimistic about this.  At siguro hindi lang ako ang nagsabi nito.   

But all my pessimism aside, gusto ko ang ginawa nya sa kanyang speech.  Mas effective dahil Tagalog.  Nauunawaan ng lahat, lalo ng masa na siyang main target nya na makaunawa ng mga pinapangako nya.  Departing from the usual flowery, abstract promises made by past Presidents in their inaugural speech, mas detalyado ang ginawa nyang speech.  Details that might prove to be his stumbling block later on. 

Bakit naman kamo?  Sa sobrang detailed ng mga sinabi nya, parang sinasabi nyang bibigyan ko kayo ng bahay na 3-bedroom, two t&b, painted in bright yellow na kasing-tingkad ng gown ni Kris, may patio at may picket fence.  What if after 6 years, ang naitayo nyang bahay ay two-bedrooms lang, may patio at picket fence nga pero ang pintura ay kasing-pastel ng yellow na suot ng ibang Aquino sisters?  Then people will say he didn't keep up to his promise? Sasabihin isa syang failure?  Honestly, I don't want that to happen.   

We should all remember na lahat ng bagong Pangulo, kahit saang bansa, at the start of his term is always seen as the face of change. Pero pag hindi na-meet ang pagkalaki-laking expectation, lalo na at pinangako pa ng uupong Pangulo, sasabihin he’s one ineffective President. Obama is just one example. Gloria herself was my face of hope back then. Ang kaibahan lang, Obama is doing his best. Gloria did something else.

I’m not a hardcore political pundit but I think there are many things Noynoy has to overcome to prove his mettle. Napakaraming IFs na naka-kapit na parang talaba sa pwestong inupuan nya. And he will only be hailed as a success at the end of his term if he can overcome these IFs: 

(He has already addressed most of these things in his speech, and I'm glad hindi nalalayo ang ideas ko sa mga bagay na ni-recognize nya as major issues that his administration need to tackle. Wala lang ako nong wang-wang part!)

1. If the number of Filipinos living in dire poverty goes down. Ito ang pinakamalaking challenge ni Noynoy. Dahil kahit hindi natin tingnan ang statistics, we cannot deny the fact that poverty is the biggest demon haunting most of the Filipino people. Homeless people dying in the streets like flies. Families living in dumpsters. Hungry children, beggars, and everybody else who live a life devoid of any dignity.

2. If he can turn around the Philippine economy and make it one of the strongest in Southeast Asia like it was before. Something na pinagyabang ni Gloria na porke 7% daw ang growth rate ng economy natin. Talaga? Nasaan? Where are the companies and manufacturing plants that buoy up that robust economy? Na dapat nagpo-provide ng trabaho sa mga tao para magkaroon ng disenteng buhay instead of committing suicide out of desperation. Pinoys need a real economy, not the economy of the haves where the previous administration so short-sightedly trained their eyes upon.

3. If he can curb, if not, eliminate corruption in the government. Just like poverty, it’s one plague that has already crept into the Pinoy society. Kaya lahat ng umupo sa gobyerno, ang tingin ng tao, gusto lang magpa-yaman. But more than the impression, it is the crippling effect of corruption that Noynoy has to eliminate. Ilagay ang pondo sa dapat paglagyan, hindi sa bulsa ng kung sino. When this happens, doon lang talaga mag-uumpisa ang pagiging effective ng kanyang gobyerno. Dahil doon lang makakapag-provide ang gobyerno ng maayos na mga kalsada, enough classrooms, better health services and many other basic services na hindi kayang i-deliver kung ang pondo ay binulsa ng magnanakaw.

4. If he can solve the many problems that he inherited from the previous government. Kung totoo ang report na wala na halos assets ang Phlippine government dahil naibenta na lahat, saan kukuha ng pondo ang Aquino government para ma-implement ang kanyang mga programa? Taxes? If he goes this way, maaga syang hahatulan ng taong bayan na kuba na sa laki ng EVAT.

5. If he can find a solution to the longest running conflict in Mindanao. Although it’s one complex problem that many Presidents has already tried solving. Ad failed. I don’t know if he’s got any aces up his sleeve to improve the situation down South. Nakaka-lungkot lang isipin na Pinoy sa kapwa Pinoy pa rin ang naglalaban doon. And the innocents, if not dying, are deprived of a peaceful life in their very own homes.

6. If he can crush organized crimes that victimize mostly the hard-working population. Particularly drug rings that just keep on wasting many lives. Nakakalungkot isipin na kahit sa mga liblib na probinysa, heinous crimes are being committed because of people who are addicted to drugs. The Aquino administration should be firm and resolute in chasing these drug lords. Hindi yong huhulihin ngayon, bukas nakalaya na. And go for the root, hindi yong mga small time pushers lang. Nip it on the bud. Drug addiction is one evil we should eliminate from this society before we can even talk of improving the lives of the populace.

7. If he can win over the Armed Forces. Medyo hindi maganda ang start nya for openly criticising Bangit’s appointment. He should be very careful when dealing with the men in uniform. He needs them as his allies, not his foes. He wouldn’t want coups threatening his rule like it did his Mom’s. He should be wise enough to realize that as the Commander-in-Chief, he needs to wield command and respect from these men to back him up and allow him perform his duties uninterrupted.

8. If he can contain Kris. Ganon ba kahirap sawayin si Kris para mapasama sya sa malalaking IFs ni Noynoy? I think so. Hindi pa rin matigil si Kris sa pagbibitaw ng kung ano-anong salita that just puts Noynoy in bad light. Even if she’s already given up her showbiz work, hindi pa rin paawat ang bunso nila. Ayan at two days before the inauguration of his brother, nakaw-eksena pa rin sya, telling the whole world that her marriage is over.  Pati sa pag-a-appoint ng mga tao sa kung ano-anong pwesto, nadadawit pa rin sya. Now, more than ever, is the time for her to get some level of maturity that will allow her to control her tactlessness.  Tactlessness that could prove detrimental to the Presidency specially now that she's privvy to a lot of issues of national concern.  Kaya dapat magpakatino na sya.  She should let her big brother do his thing.  She should let him prove to the Filipino people that he is his own man.

9.  If he can find support from the splintered group of the upper and lower houses, both of which he doesn't have the majority.  Laking sakit ng ulo yan pag may gusto syang gawin tapos ibabasura lang ng legislative and executive bodies. It could kill any useful and fruitful ideas he has dahil lang sa hindi maipasa ng nag-babangayang honorables.

Ilan lang yan sa very obvious problems that Noynoy is about to face. With only 6 years to do his job, wag na tayong umasa na lahat yan mabibigyan ng solusyon ng Aquino administration. Afterall, sya mismo nagsabing hindi sya si Superman.

Aside from that, nandyan pa rin ang mga magagaling at nagmamagaling na epal who will oppose just for the sake of opposing. Marami tayong ganyan dahil sobrang dami ng matatalino sa Pinas. Ang problema lang, ginagamit ang katalinuhan mostly for their own interest and not for the sake of our dear country.

But as a Pinoy who doesn’t give up hope, I pray that Noynoy really has the supernatural powers to solve all the problems our dear country is suffering from. Sana nga sya na yong matagal na nating hinintay na Pangulo na magbabangon sa ating bansa to become one of Asia Pacific region's powerhouses.

More than anything else, sana magkatotoo na yong matagal nang sinisigaw natin na magkaisa na tayo para sa pag-unlad.  Let's unite once and for all and support P-Noy in his march towards the straight path of progress.  If not, the road ahead will be very bumpy for P-Noy. At magtitiis pa rin tayo sa lubak-lubak na kalsada ng kawalang asenso.