Thursday, March 31

My March to-do list (Final Update)

As of March 31, here are the things I've accomplished so far.


1. Have my eyes checked for a possible replacement of eyeglasses (Done).
2. Attend Jo Avila's 4th and 5th basic photography module refresher (Done).
3. Complete my men's magazine collection for March (Got FHM, Rogue and DPP so far).
4. Accompany my wife for her check-up twice this month (March 4 and 18): Done for both
5. Renew my passport which expired last July of last year (I might do this in April)
6. Save as much as possible for the birth of our baby (I need a lot of improvement on this).
7. Try to go home to San Pedro to visit my folks there on the 11th (Done).
8. Try to look for baby supplies in Avenida on the 18th (Done. Already looked last 12th of March).
9. Settle my Philhealth and SSS contributions for the first quarter (Done for Both).
10. Update my blog regarding wedding suppliers rating (One more entry to go). 

Now its time to set-up my targets for April XD.

IPA Street Photography Contest

I saw this in one of my friend's facebook wall as he shared it to the rest of the cyberspace who loves photography


Taken from IPS Website



IPA STREET PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE


Invisible Ph t grapher Asia celebrates their 1st anniversary in April 2011. To mark this anniversary milestone, we are hosting our first Street Photography Contest. This contest is a celebration, a challenge, and a search for the best street photography and photographers in Asia.
The contest is open and free to photographers of any level, and in any country of residence. Each photographer may submit up to 3 entries in total. Submissions must be in the street photography genre and shot in Asia within the last 12 months. Contest submission period starts from 1st April and closes 1st June 2011. For the winner, we have what we believe is the classic Street Photography Kit as the contest 1ST Prize.

CONTEST SUBMISSION
To participate and submit an entry, send an email with your entry and picture to streetcontest@invisiblephotographer.asia. The entry must be accompanied by the following information:
  1. Email Subject – [IPA Street Photography Contest - Photographer's Name - Entry Title];
  2. Entry Title;
  3. Photo Caption;
  4. Country in Asia where the photo was taken;
  5. Approximate date of the photo captured;
  6. Photographer’s name & website;
  7. Camera or equipment used.
Note: Incomplete submissions may result in disqualification.
Please submit pictures resized to 1200 pixels on the long side (width for landscape, height for portrait orientation), in JPG or JPEG format, with a maximum file size of 2MBs each only. Ensure that you name your image file this way: photographername_title.jpg. You may submit up to 3 entries, but submit each entry in their own individual email.

CONTEST PRIZE
There will only be one key 1ST PRIZE, consisting of a ‘CLASSIC STREET KIT’ valued at approximately USD$2,000.
The ‘CLASSIC STREET KIT’ Prize includes:
1) A great shooter/user condition black repainted LEICA M2 Rangefinder Camera. This is one of our very own cameras we use for street photography.
2) A brand new Nokton 35mm F/1.4 Lens kindly sponsored by Chiif Cameras, Official Voigtlander Dealer.
3) An original IPA SUNNY 16 Dog Tag.
4) 3 rolls of Kodak TRI-X film in a 35mm Ammo Sleeve that we designed ourselves and use.
1ST Prize Winner takes all, but Finalists and Runners-up will receive bragging rights and an original IPA SUNNY 16 Dog Tag.

CONTEST JUDGES
Contest Judges will be announced shortly.

RULES + T&Cs
1. Contest is open to photographers of any level and in any country of residence, and any camera – digital or film too.
2 Entry images must be in the Street Photography genre and shot in Asia no later than the last 12 months i.e. Images taken from April 2010 till end of submission period qualify.
3. Each participant may submit up to 3 entries.
4. We reserve the right to disqualify any entries as we see fit.
5. Our decision and that of our judges is final.
6. Shortlisted finalists must produce an original high-resolution file on request to qualify.
7. By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that you are the creator and owner of the image.
8. You own the rights to your photos – by submitting an entry you grant us explicit rights to publish, exhibit and use your images on our website and other official online/offline channels as we see fit.
9. Upon notification, finalists and winner must respond within 3 weeks providing an appropriate shipping address, or risk forfeiting their prizes.
10. You know the drill – no photoshop montages, comps, cut & pastes – show us what your lens captured in that 1 frame. Dodge, burn, and tonal adjustments are fine and dandy.
Note: This is our first contest so rules, terms & conditions may be updated or modified as we deem necessary.

CONTEST DATES
Submission period starts from 1st April 2011 and ends 1st June 2011 at 12 AM (UTC/GMT +8 hours). Finalists and winners announcements in June/July 2011 – Exact dates to be confirmed soon.

Wednesday, March 30

Shifting to Mid-Shift (My Last Night at Work)



 Taken from Google

This would be the last day (err night) I'll be working on the graveyard shift. For the past seven months that I've worked at night, I have learned so much from my colleagues here and from our counterparts in the US as well. That seven months were humbling for me because I got to get reminded through emails of the lapses I've done previously. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't celebrate it with my fellow colleagues since we haven't got our paychecks yet. What a bummer. 

I got two tickets to Best Food Forward by Peanut Butter Company

While sifting through my emails and uploading pictures to my blog at the same time, I got a message from Peanut Butter Company saying that I was selected for winning 2 free tickets to the Best Food Forward event this coming Weekend (April 2 and 3) 


Congratulations! XD

 
After checking my email, I checked their fanpage to see if its real or probably an April Fool's joke in advance. Just to be sure you know XD.


Taken from their facebook fan page


Indeed, I was included in the list of selected winners of 2 tickets to the event. The email mentioned that I have until today (March 30) to claim my free tickets at either SM MOA or Paseo Center Makati branch (I picked Paseo Makati Branch for its proximity from the office). 

I can't wait for Saturday and Sunday to see what's in store for me XD.

Like, Share and Fly to Singapore.

Note: This is a copied post from TAG Event Concepts' facebook fan page. I posted here for me to join the contest hoping I could visit Singapore for the first time. And this would be a good time to have my passport renewed. XD


Taken from their facebook's fan page


Detailed Promo Mechanics

Firstly, WHAT ARE THE PRIZES that the WINNER will get?
- Two (2) round trip air tickets Manila-Singapore-Manila or v.v.
- Two (2) nights hotel accommodation for TWO at a 3-star hotel in Singapore

1. Who can join?
All qualified Facebook users who “liked” the TAG Event Concepts Facebook page until 15th April 2011, 11:59 pm Manila/Singapore time. A qualified Facebook user is a real person who has his real name or nickname and real last name as Facebook username. You should NOT have "unliked" the page by the raffle draw date.

*To “like”, go to www.facebook.com/tageventconcepts then click “like”.

2. After I "like", what should I do?
On the wall of TAG Event Concepts, look for the post entitled "Like. Share. Fly...to SINGAPORE! Raffle Promo - Mechanics". This was posted on Thursday (March 24) at 14:36 Singapore/Manila time; time won't be the same if you're located elsewhere or your PC is set for another timezone.
Click “share”.

3. Just "share"?
No. Write an "intro" that starts with "I want to win a free trip to Singapore because..."
Then click "post". After you click "post", it should appear on your own wall.

4. That's it?
No. Email us a screen shot of your wall, at info@tageventconcepts.com.

Why?
Because we will NOT know that you shared it if you don't email us. Also, your email will tell us that you really want to join the raffle. 

Uh, how do I take a screen shot of my wall?
While your computer screen is showing your Facebook wall, press "Ctrl+PrtSc" on your key board. Then go to Word (or Paint, etc) then click "Paste". 
Your screenshot should clearly show your Facebook username and the required wall post.

What else should I indicate in my email?
Please indicate your complete name and contact number on your email. Only one entry per person.
      
When's the deadline?
April 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm Manila/Singapore time. Emails received after that will not be included in the raffle. 

5. The winner will be chosen via electronic raffle.

6. Raffle draw: The electronic raffle draw will be on April 22. It will be done in the presence of a certified public accountant. Final time and venue to be announced later.

7. All Prizes are tax free. Tax will be shouldered by TAG Event Concepts.

8. The winner will be notified via phonecall and a direct email from info@tageventconcepts.com. The email will be sent to the email address used in submitting the screenshot. The winner’s name will be announced on the TAG Event Concepts' wall. He/she will also be featured on the event’s website (short article or interview).

9. Within 7 days of notification, the winner should "reply" to info@tageventconcepts.com and give us the complete names of the 2 persons who will use the air tickets.

10. To arrange the flights, the winner or his authorized representative should meet with a TAG Event Concepts representative, also within 7 days of notification. He should present photocopies of the 2 passports and sign in to confirm these persons’ eligibility to fly to Singapore on the dates set by TAG Event Concepts (June 3-5) or any date within the next 6 months. He should also provide other information required in booking tickets.

11. Winners without valid passports will not be awarded the tickets.  Passports should be valid until 6 months after date of entry to Singapore.

12. Employees of TAG Event Concepts, and any of its official partners and sponsors, including their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion.

13. Prizes are not convertible to cash.

SPF Lucky Draw Ref No LD/483/2011

Tuesday, March 29

A Year in IT




Tonight marks my first year in the IT industry after working with various industries for probably 10 years. The path to where I am right now took me a while to realize that this is the one that I really enjoy working with. Actually, its a combination of all the careers I've had in the past and probably just made me realize I had to mix them altogether.

So far, I've learned a lot from working as an IT Helpdesk for only a year. But I know I still have a long long way to go. Now I'm thinking of extending my contract with them for another year or two so that my skill would be at par with my US counterparts.

But anyway, Happy One Year to me in IT XD.

Monday, March 28

Incredible Math Lesson

I got this from somewhere but I forgot to get the link. I'll add it once I remember it where XD.


This is a very amazing and encouraging lesson in math. Could this actually be a math lesson from God? Looks that way to me. Or maybe this is something that just evolved by a series of random, mindless accidents, mutations, and survivals of the fittest numbers. (Be sure to scroll all the way down to get the full message.) The Beauty of Mathematics and the Love of God! This is TOO cool!

The math part is good, but the end is even better.

I bet you will NOT be able to read it without sending it on to at least one other person!

1 x 8 + 1= 9
12 x 8 + 2= 98
123 x 8 + 3= 987
1234 x 8 + 4= 9876
12345 x 8 + 5= 98765
123456 x 8 + 6= 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7= 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8= 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9= 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn ' t it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
111 1111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 =12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...

Now, take a look at this...

101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they
are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%...

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

What equals 100%in life?

Here ' s a little mathematical formula that might help
answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It ' s the Love of God that will put you over the top!

If you find this interesting share it with your friends & loved ones. Have a nice day & God bless you.

Sunday, March 27

The week that was (March 20 - 26)


 No Moon XD


Sunday: I got up at around 2:30am even if I was in my senses as early as 12:00am. I had several weird dreams during my few hours of sleep for whatever reason I'm still trying to find out. Then at 3:00am, I went outside hoping I could get a shot of the moon which is closest to earth that night but unfortunately, I wasn't able to capture it. Instead, I got a shot of the Mc Donald's Logo when I was about to get back inside our home. I am online from 2:30am till 7:00am probably before doing my laundry. Then I went out to get Sunday's Paper as I went online again for an hour until I went upstairs to read them. I was having second thoughts of going to mass but eventually, my wife and I hear the 12:00pm mass. After mass, we had lunch before going to bed at 2:00pm. I got up at around 7:45pm as my wife was beside me doing her online stuff since she's having little back problems especially when sitting in an uncomfortable chair downstairs. I left home at almost 9:00pm for my first night in the office. Good thing I got in the office just in time for my shift and hoping my first day would be a quiet one XD.But my colleague endorsed me a call that was apparently an outage for one of the Greif's site in the US.I had to take care of it since its important for every site not to go down.

Monday: I got a call regarding a follow-up for an outage that one of the site has encountered. I was able to escalate it but it took me a while and I got to speak with the Director of the IT Infrastructure. He told me to do the following which I did until we got to chat on sametime. I was able to ask some questions to him as well as learn a thing or two with handling servers and routers. I was trying to prepare my oatmeal for lunch but when I noticed that the cover was almost falling off due to the boiling water, I turned off the microwave and removed my bowl right away. But the problem was when I was about to open the cover to let the hot air out, I couldn't open it. Within a few minutes, my lunch bowl deformed making me unable to open it further. Now there goes my 2nd microwavable bowl deformed again =(. I am beginning to think of getting a microwavable glass bowl the next time I pay a visit to the supermarket sometime soon. After my shift, I got hungry even if I was full that time so I had a quick breakfast at Jolijeep. Aside from the breakfast was warm and filling, it only costs me 37 pesos for fried egg, hotdog and fried rice which can satisfy my hungry tummy XD. I was surprised that I got home an hour later at 8:30am since I've left Makati at 7:30am because of having breakfast there. My wife was still asleep when I got home but my kid was kicking already from her mommy's tummy XD. I was able to go online for 2 hours as well as took my wife to the LRT Station for work. Then by 12:30pm, I dozed off for a couple of hours before getting up at almost 8:00pm. My wife was already home when she woke me up and told me there a an earthquake at 6:45pm with a magnitude of 6.6-6.8. I didn't felt it probably because I was sleeping soundly the entire time XD. I left home at almost 9:00pm and got in the office just in time for my shift. My 2 new colleagues were there too as I try to teach them as best as I can.

Tuesday: We got 4 calls during their lunch hour but since were 3 here in the group, we were able to hold our own here. I got to do a call-out to one of the clients in the US, I wasn't able to have it fixed so we have to reschedule it to a different date. Then one of the VIP's executive assistant emailed our Helpdesk inbox stating that their call got disconnected while they're trying to reach us. Our US Helpdesk Superisor asked one of my colleagues about it and he mentioned that all of us here were stuck in our calls when they're trying to call. They could have left a voice mail message in our inbox and one of us could have called them. The rest of our shift was totally stress-free. After our shift, I went to Harisson Plaza to meet my mom there. She told me to join her in her shopping at Shopwise and told me to get some things I basically need. After getting some stuff from the grocery, I went home right away to see if my wife was still sleeping or not. And she was still sleeping as I touched her tummy, our baby was playing already XD. I went downstairs to go online for a few more hours before taking my wife to her LRT ride. I was able to doze-off at 12:30pm and got up several hours later. Good thing I got in time for our shift.

Wednesday: To our surprise, we didn't have any calls during US team's lunch time. All of us here were enjoying their lunch hour as we monitor the team's email if there were any new mails that are coming from our users. We got to laugh a lot with our jokes and stories that we didn't notice how time flies so fast. By 5:00am, we were quite busy handling calls and emails much as we wanted them to call or email us during their lunch time instead. But it was fun since we were able to help out one another while laughing at each other. I went to Tropical Hut to have my heavy breakfast there. I got home at around 8:45am. I went upstairs to change before facing our laptop for 2-3 more hours to edit my entries as well as blog-hop. After taking my wife to her ride, I went upstairs at 11:30am to read Wednesday's paper before going to sleep. However, it took me a LONG time as I'm having toothache that really bothered me so much that I had to brush my teeth three more times and gargle with available mouthwash before I felt asleep at around 2:30pm. I forced myself to get up at 8:00pm and made sure to do my rituals at a faster rate than I usually do. I left home at past 9:00pm and got in the office late at almost 10:30pm. As I checked our team's inbox, we got lots of emails to work on. Fortunately, we were able to finish almost all of them by lunch time (EST).

Thursday: The phones were passed to us during their lunch hours that ended up having 5 calls for our team during the night.  While on my way home, for some reason, I was already at Subway trying their 69-peso 6-inch Ham sub which should have cost more than a hundred pesos. I got home almost two hours later even if I left the office at around 7:00am. My wife was still sleeping so I set-up our laptop for me to be able to go online while waiting for her to get ready for work. After taking her to work, I made sure to go to bed early so I could recharge and recover from loss of sleep the previous day.

Friday: It was a busy lunch night for us as we got several calls while the US team is having their lunch. I got to do some special tasks that my US manager assigned to me. It was an easy task that was able to finish in an hour or so.I was able to do some call-backs to some of our users in the US which gave us a big sigh of relief. After our shift, I took the cab on my way home so I could get some rest by 8:00am. My wife was awake already when I got home as I lay down on bed and try to go to sleep. I got to doze-off for an hour and a half before I noticed the time on my phone and my wife was still sleeping. I woke her up reminding her that she'll gonna be late for work. I tried to get some more sleep but I wasn't able to fall asleep as my wife asked me to take her to her LRT ride. After taking her to the LRT, I went to Chowking to have lunch since I'm feeling hungry that time. Then I went back home and went online instead to make me feel sleepy. Then someone popped me a message over facebook. It was a colleague of mine whom I haven't seen or talked to personally for 15 years. She mentioned that she saw me the other day while I'm on my way home from work. That's why I noticed someone familiar that day but I was too sleepy to notice her and say hi. The chat was short since I had to go back to sleep at around 2:30pm and I got up at 5:00pm. I went online again to check some things and kill time while I wait for my sister-in-law to get home so we could go to my wife's office that night. I decided to leave the apartment by 8:00pm and I was able to meet her halfway so I waited her before we took our ride at the LRT. Once we got to my wife's office, we had to wait for a few more minutes before we went to Eastwood since my wife will be having her baby shower dinner at Mr Kurosawa. When we got there, I felt like reminiscing since the last time I've been to Eastwood City was last August 2009 when there was a lousy car show over there.

Saturday: We left Eastwood at past midnight and got home at around 1:30am. I felt dizzy once we got home due to lack of good sleep and 4 cans of San Mig Light. I tried to doze-off as much as I can but I got up at 6:30am having a sort of hangover. With only less than 5 hours of sleep, I went online with a bad headache as I tried to fight it. Luckily, the pain was gone thanks to coffee and a pain killer (mefenamic acid). I was able to get myself updated online as I wait for my wife to get up. At around 11:30am, my wife asked me to assemble the Baby Stroller she got from her boss' wife (her boss too) as a gift. It didn't took me that long to understand how to assemble it but I was skeptical on forcing it as I might break some parts which I didn't. Then my wife and I went to Kowloon at West ave to meet some of her friends there since she told me she'll get a refund for their Chistmas Party last year (I know this would be another baby shower party for my wife again XD). Once we got there, she was greeted by her friends and we had our lunch there too. Lunch was quite ok but I didn't took pictures of it since it looked too common anyway. My wife had a good time with her friends and I took some snapshots of them. We left Kowloon West at 3:30pm and took a cab going back home. Then I went online again to update some blog entries in my draft before going to the grocery to do some shopping for my personal consumption at work. Finally, at 8:00pm, I hit the bed and waited for the Earth Hour before I could finally get some sleep XD.

Saturday, March 26

The Earth Hour 2011


Taken from Google


Today marks another hour for us to turn our light off from 8:30pm to 9:30pm to help mother nature as well as to conserve energy and lessen carbon footprints contributed in our everyday life.

In its fourth year in the Philippines, the Earth Hour is anticipated by those (including me) who wanted to contribute to help preserve our planet and its resources. 

For those who don't know, The Philippines topped global Earth Hour participation levels for both 2009 and 2010. Ten million Filipinos in 647 towns, cities and municipalities switched off in 2009, while 15 million Filipinos in 1076 towns and cities joined the 2010 switch-off. Over a billion people from 128 countries participated in Earth Hour 2010 – marking it as the largest environmental event in known human history. I hope we could do a Grand Slam this year XD. 

To know more about the Earth Hour, you may check the links here, here, and here
As for me, I'll go beyond Earth Hour and will do this probably on a monthly, weekly or on a daily basis. Since its just an hour right?

Gotta wake my wife up since we need to got to Kowloon West in West Ave to meet some of her friends there XD

My wife's baby shower dinner at Mr Kurosawa in Eastwood City

Last night, my sister-in-law and I went to my wife's office not to pick her up but to join her together with her office mates in Eastwood City since her boss will be having a baby shower dinner at Mr Kurosawa for my wife. We got to Eastwood City at almost 10:00pm just in time for dinner despite heavy traffic while on our way there. When we got there, her (my wife) other office mates were already there waiting for us outside while having appetizers.

We settled down first before taking a look into what's on the menu. I could have wished that we were able to get a good table inside so I could take pictures of its interiors. I got to read some previous blogs about this restaurant prior to visiting them and so far, I've been seeing good reviews from them. I told my wife what I found while doing my search and she was hoping that she would enjoy the food knowing her that she's not fond of Japanese food unlike me XD.

Here is a brief background about the restaurant that we had dinner last night.

Inspired by the late Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, the flagship restaurant opened last February 12, 2009 at the ground floor of the Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City, promising a new concept in fusion restaurant dining which is a notch higher than what the founders had done before – Japanese cuisine with a touch of European flair.

I was about to set-up my camera and my eternal flash when I got a shock for the night. My 8 AA batteries for my flash were NOT in my camera bag. My wife got furious last night knowing that all of my things needed to take pictures were all there. I got surprised too and had no choice but to use the pop-up flash in my camera and try to adjust my settings so as not to make my shots harsh.

Well some of my shots were good enough though it could have been better if I could have used my external flash. I was able to take some food shots before the food was devoured since all of us were hungry that time. 

Anyways, here are the food that we tried. Well almost XD.

Chicken Teriyaki Waldorf - 299 pesos (This pizza tastes good and it crispy as well. The cheese sticks and melts in your mouth)

Beef Teppan - 378 pesos (Beef was just right though I wasn't ale to fully appreciate it since I only got a bite XD)

Ika Fry - 258 pesos (Just ok though.)

Salmon Wasabi Cream Sauce - 338 pesos (I ordered it but it never came =( )

Bacon Wrapped Dory - 238 pesos (This on tastes good. The taste of bacon was there but I never noticed the taste of the dory XD).

Chicken and Ebi Japella - 518 pesos (The stickiness of the rice was perfect for my taste.)

Seafood Japella - 858 pesos (I wasn't able to try this XD)

All - Fruit Ice Cream - 358 pesos (I enjoyed this since I'm a big fan of ice cream but I wasn't able to get a second serving XD).

Strawberry Milkshake - 158 pesos (I sipped some of my wife's and it tasted really good).

As most of us were almost full (with me getting tipsy with four cans of San Mig Light), my wife started to open the gifts she received from her office mates. I see in her face that she really liked all of them (and me too) as I try to capture her emotions through my camera. At least our daughter has a new set of baby clothes to wear (and less worry for the both of us which baby clothes to choose).

Probably, I'll be going back here soon enough to try out their other dishes but I'll tag some friends so we could order more food plus we'll make sure to get a spot inside the restaurant XD.

Pictures and updates to follow very soon XD.   

Friday, March 25

Congratulations Graduates


Taken from Google


To all 2011 Graduates (from grade school to college), may all of your goals and dreams come true. Grade school and high school graduates can now relax and enjoy their well deserved vacation. As for the college graduates, time to get the dream job you want and stop slacking-off XD.

Now, I'm off to Katipunan to pick-up my wife there XD.

Bullies Beware!

While doing my daily blog-hopping for inspiration, I got this from one of the blogs I'm following.




After watching the 15-minute video, I can't help it but remember some of the events that happened to me way back when I was in grade school and in highschool (until third year). Though I wasn't bullied that much in the physical sense, I got a lot of beating in the emotional aspect that most of the time, my self-esteem was always low. Good thing I reached fourth year highschool back then before off to college where bullying is the thing of the past and enjoyed life since then.

I admire Casey's extreme tolerance against bullying before he fought back to the little fellow who kept on bullying him. I will definitely have my daughter watch this video a few years from now and tell her to fight back if and only if she's really pushed to the limit. Bullying is a no-no for me and I won't even tolerate my kid is she bullies someone.

To Casey, you're the man! XD

Poor People BANNED from the mall (A Hoax).

I'm starting to read some posts from face book when I saw this from Yahoo. I couldn't believe the news that I saw. 

Taken from Yahoo


It never dawned to the that they could do such a thing but I don't believe the picture that I'm seeing.

I hope the Ayala Lands Management will do something about it and capture the real perpetrators behind this prank.


Here is the official statement of Ayala Lands regarding this iincident

The Ayala Malls Management does not tolerate such pranks and is currently investigating the matter. We shall be coordinating with the proper authorities for corresponding actions to be taken.

We would like to reassure everyone that Greenbelt is for the enjoyment of the public and the community it serves.

Back to work. XD

Thursday, March 24

Swabeng Top 10: Behaviors Fatherhood Doesn't Excuse

After posting the second read I found from askmen.com, I can't help it but to post the third one I got from them. For me I don't take any lame excuse on life as to why this and why that. And that's why I am posting this to remind myself to keep on improving and not to make any excuses.


Top 10: Behaviors Fatherhood Doesn't Excuse

There are few jobs as demanding as being a father. From clothing, feeding and changing your child to playing endless games of peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, being a good dad can be an around-the-clock racket. And while fatherhood can certainly change your schedule, it shouldn’t change your core values. The same behaviors that you considered reprehensible before you had a “Mini-Me” should still be avoided at all costs now that you have a child, regardless of how sleep deprived you may feel.

Come along as we examine the top 10 behaviors fatherhood doesn’t excuse. To be clear, what we’re talking about are the inexcusable behaviors that many new dads carry over from their baby-rearing lives into those other spheres where babies have no place.


No.10 Assuming everyone is as interested in your baby

We appreciate that your new bundle of joy has become the center of your universe, but that doesn’t mean strangers are interested in hearing every dull detail about their “miraculous” milestones. That’s especially true when it comes to their minutiae of their frighteningly frequent potty sessions. Although the density, color, smell, and heft of your child’s colon cannonballs may be endlessly fascinating to you and your spouse, we can guarantee that no one else will be moved by stories of their toxic bowel movements.


No.9 Always calling home to check in

We think it’s admirable that many new fathers take on the role of protective papa bear when their newborns enter the world. However, there are few things that interrupt the flow of an evening more than an anxious father who calls home every few minutes to make sure his baby is still breathing. Experience has taught us that there’s a fine line between being responsible and being a paranoid nutcase, and that line usually starts after the third phone call of the night.


No.8 Starting to look like a donkey

Babies are not light packers. Even a simple trip to the corner store often requires three Sherpas just to carry all of their toys, diapers, clothing, and accessories. However, under no circumstances is it acceptable to store any of those odds and ends in a fanny pack. There are just some things big boys don't wear. The day you wear a bum bag in public is the day you should be required to donate your testicles to charity.



No.7 Humming children's tunes

We appreciate that many new fathers spend 90% of their waking hours listening to nursery rhymes and Barney sing-a-longs, but do they really have to continue to hum these inane tunes while they’re not on daddy duty? Do yourself and your fellow man a favor by keeping these simpleminded songs quarantined at preschool where they belong.


No.6 Being late for everything

It’s a well-documented fact that babies can bring the pace of your life to a screeching halt. Sometimes even getting them out the door is an operation requiring more tactical precision than Desert Storm. However, just because you’re now a father doesn’t mean you’re suddenly allowed to show up late for every important function and meeting. Simply plan your outings more carefully, taking into account the extra time it will require to bathe, feed and clothe your child before they throw up and you have to bathe, feed and clothe them all over again.


No.5 Continually pointing out what is "unsafe" in friends’ houses

There are few things more annoying than new fathers who feel the need to point out all of the potential safety risks in your home. Maybe it’s time that they stopped yapping and realized that your glass coffee table, exposed outlets and barbed-wire encased ottoman have all been carefully selected with the expressive purpose of keeping their rambunctious little rug rats away.


No.4 Sharing your parent-exclusive knowledge

Although being a new father is a perfectly good excuse for being covered in baby spit up and snot, it isn’t grounds for boring your friends with your parent-exclusive knowledge. Trust us, if they want to know about the toxicity levels in toys or the benefits of using nipple shields, they’ll ask. Until that unlikely time arrives it’s important to keep your friends engaged by discussing topics you can all enjoy.



No.3 Belittling non-baby-related concerns

There are few things more aggravating than a new father who insists on playing a constant game of one-upmanship. You think you’re broke? You’re just lucky you don’t have to shell out for diapers and baby formula. You think you didn’t get much sleep last night? You should try waking up every half hour with a colicky baby. You think you have a lot to do around the house? You should try spending five hours cleaning SpaghettiOs and strained peas off of your ceiling fan. And on and on it goes.


No.2 Pressuring everyone to have children

Why is it that so many new fathers constantly ask their unwed pals when they’re going to have children of their own? Is it because they want to share in the bliss of caring for a newborn, or is it because they don’t want to have to suffer alone? Regardless of the reason, one thing we know for certain is that having a baby isn’t for everyone and no one should feel pressured into popping out a mucus-encrusted "Mini-Me" merely to appease their peers.


No.1 Letting baby trump everything

As a new father it’s only natural that you’ll want to focus all of your attention on your baby, but that’s no excuse for neglecting other aspects of your life like your friendships, your relationship with your wife, your health, and your personal hygiene. We understand that it isn’t easy finding time for everything, but you owe it to yourself to be the kind of man that your baby will want to grow up emulating.


Swabeng Top 10: Things Nobody Warns You About Before Becoming A Father

After reading the article I got from askmen.com, I would follow-up on the previous entry that I made about the Top 10: Things Nobody Warns You About Before Becoming A Father which I got from askmen.com. Even before I became a dad, I would anticipate things like these since it will only be a few more weeks before our little girl would be born in this earth.

You’re weeks away from becoming a first-time father, and by now, countless friends and relatives have tried to prepare you for the momentous occasion by giving you well-meaning advice. They’ve told you that children can be expensive, they’ve advised you to take some time off work, and they’ve even hinted that you’re in for a lot of late nights during the first few weeks of your child’s life.

Their advice is sound, but there’s so much more they could be telling you. We believe every man should enter this important phase with his eyes wide open, so we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 realities that nobody warns you about before becoming a father. Prepare to be informed, entertained and a little bit horrified as we give you a sneak peek into the next two years of your life.


No.10 Your wife will turn into a Sasquatch

Hormones can be duplicitous little bastards. On the one hand, they can give your wife gorgeous, gravity-defying boobs during the last trimester of her pregnancy. And on the other hand, they can cause bristly little hairs to cover her upper lip, cheeks, neck, back, areolas, abdomen, and all seven of her chins. Just imagine Chewbacca with a robust set of 36 double D’s, and you’ll know exactly what to expect.

No.9 Your entire music collection will be replaced by a single Wiggles CD

It may have taken you 30 years to refine your musical tastes, but it will take your baby only an instant to decide the one album he wants to hear for the rest of his childhood is It’s A Wiggly Wiggly World! Whether you’re in your car, cooking dinner or “relaxing” at home, every move you make will be accompanied by the Wiggles and their obnoxiously chipper tunes. On the upside, it’s still far better than anything he’ll listen to in his adolescence.


No.8 You will dread going to the grocery store

Your days of “popping in and out” of the grocery store are long over. Even a simple trip to buy a loaf of bread will likely result in a) one display being knocked down, b) two tantrums, c) three failed bargaining attempts, and d) the purchase of four boxes of animal crackers to appease the tiny little terrorist in your shopping cart.


No.7 Your single friends will disappear from your social life

Having a child doesn’t necessarily ruin your social life, but it certainly does alter it. You’ll still get out of the house just as often, but you’ll likely do it between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. And rather than hosting all-night keggers and attending boozy pub crawls, you may find yourself spending entire afternoons playing peekaboo or building forts out of seat cushions. Unfortunately those kinds of activities aren’t very appealing to anyone over the age of 7, so it won’t take long before your single friends begin drifting away to pursue more age-appropriate endeavors. The good news is that you’ll be so exhausted, you won’t even notice their absence until well after your child has graduated from high school.


No.6 Your car will resemble a second-rate restaurant

Enjoy the pristine condition of your automobile while you still can, because as soon as your child starts eating solid foods, your car mats, upholstery and ceilings will be smeared with 17 pounds of finely crushed Cheerios. Oh, and don’t even try to open the glove compartment, because chances are it will be crammed with the drained remains of 56 supersticky juice boxes. Sure, your vehicle’s resale value will never be the same, but at least you’ll never starve if you get stranded in a snowstorm.


No.5 Your wife will take three times longer to lose her baby weight than you think

Having a baby doesn’t just change a woman’s life; it also changes her body. The stress of incubating a 5- to 10-pound freeloader for nine months causes an enormous amount of strain on a woman’s anatomy, and it generally takes four months before most new mothers successfully shed their pregnancy weight. So be patient with your wife if she ends up wearing her “happy pants” and tarpaulinlike granny panties for a little longer than you anticipated.


No.4 Everything you own will smell like baby vomit

Whether you call it spit-up, puke or barf mulch, there’s simply no denying the fact that every article of clothing you own will eventually start to smell like baby vomit. That includes your favorite pair of blue jeans, your $2,000 Armani suit and all 27 of your handwoven silk ties. You can try masking the odor with Lysol or cologne, but you’ll still end up smelling like you’ve just taken a dip in an industrial-size vat of strained peas.


No.3 You will spend Friday nights cleaning poo off your walls and ceiling

Think monkeys are the only animals that fling their feces? Think again! Babies also share the same enthusiasm for hurling their own bodily waste, and they do it with frightening frequency. On the positive side, most children grow out of this filthy habit soon after you’ve replaced your wall-to-wall carpeting for the fifth time.


No.2 75% of conversations with your spouse will be about poo

Try as you might, it’s impossible not to discuss the color, texture and consistency of your baby’s diaper bombs. Suspicious new tones will become a cause for concern, while particularly hefty deposits will become a source of inexplicable pride. And just wait until your baby starts eating solids -- your dinner table conversation will never be the same again.


No.1 You won’t have sex for at least two months after your child is born

The birth of a child is supposed to bring couples closer together, and in a way it does. You’ll find yourselves spending an inordinate amount of time together at 3 a.m. folding laundry and cleaning crayon marks off the walls. Just don’t expect to spend much time together between the sheets.

Not only will your wife be too exhausted to satisfy your needs, but she also may not feel up to task physically. Studies have shown that pregnancy and lactation significantly lower a woman’s sex drive by decreasing her usual supply of testosterone-related hormones, estrogen and DHEAS. Add to that the possibility of postpartum depression, negative body image and vaginal dryness, and it’s easy to see why many new mothers have zero interest in dancing the horizontal mamba.


Swabeng Top 10: Signs You're Not Cut Out For Fatherhood

I received an email from askmen.com whether or not I'm ready for fatherhood. As I opened it, it showed me the Top 10 signs that won't make me a good father figure. This post is an eye-opener for guys who wanted to be dads but not sure if they're fit to a bill. 


Top 10: Signs You're Not Cut Out For Fatherhood


All of your friends are starting to have children, and you’re slowly but surely warming up to the idea of becoming a father yourself. You love the thought of building tree forts and coaching sports teams, but are you really up for handling the less glamorous elements of being a parent? We can't tell you for certain whether you’ll be a good father, but we can definitely predict if you’ll be a bad one. Find out if you’re capable of becoming a dependable dad with these 10 signs you’re not cut out for fatherhood.

 

No.10 You always abandon projects

Remember that summer you tried to learn the guitar? Or that half semester you spent in cooking school? Or how about that day you tried to become a sword swallower? Admit it: You always set out with the best of intentions before abandoning each project once the glamour wears off and the real work sets in. And, make no mistake about it, children are a lot of work. If you're not in it for the long haul, you shouldn't be in it at all.


No.9 You're too materialistic

With all due respect to blazing infernos and cattle stampedes, nothing puts your material possessions at greater risk than letting an infant have free reign over your house. Apple juice will be smeared on your artwork, slices of cheese will be loaded into your Blu-ray player and puddles of drool will cover every single surface in your home. If you can't handle that kind of kiddie-induced carnage, you may not be ready for fatherhood.


No.8 You're a Womb Raider

A womb raider is a male gold digger who deliberately impregnates a wealthier woman within weeks of meeting her. And while there’s nothing amiss with knocking up an heiress if you genuinely like children, there is something fundamentally wrong about doing it purely because you want to quit your day job. Children are a blessing, not a meal ticket.


No.7 All of your plants are dead

If you're too busy to water your Chinese evergreen once a week, there's no way you're going to find the time to diaper, clothe, feed, entertain, and nurture a baby. Being a parent is easily the most demanding job in the world, and it requires a concentrated, full-time commitment.


No.6 You're a neat freak

Babies were designed to get messy. They poop, barf and fling their feces around like Charlie Sheen after a half-dozen cocktails. If you can't stand the thought of your home looking like it's been ravaged by a hurricane, then you're probably not ready for children.


No.5 You're a slob

Perhaps the only thing worse than being a neat freak is being an unrepentant slob. If you can't clean up after yourself, then there's no way you're going to be able to keep up with the mountains of toxic diapers, stained washcloths and pee-soaked onesies your baby will generate on an hourly basis.


No.4 You need to be the center of attention

One of the most difficult things about having a child is coming to terms with the fact that you no longer matter. Oh, sure, you’re still essential to your baby’s care and well-being, but friends and family members will suddenly start ignoring you to give their undivided attention to your little bundle of joy. Playing second fiddle to an incomprehensible rug rat may be fine for some men, but it can be a huge blow to the ego for guys accustomed to having the spotlight all to themselves.


No.3 You're in debt up to your eyeballs

Anyone who insists that children are priceless clearly hasn’t read the latest data. According to the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, the typical two-parent family will spend $222,360 on a child by the time he reaches 17. And that’s assuming you have a son. If you have a daughter, you’ll also want to shell out an additional $10,000 on a chastity belt and a shotgun to scare away her potential suitors. If that sounds like more money than you’d care to spend, you may have to wait until your finances are in order before having children.


No.2 You have zero patience

When it comes to dealing with children, patience is more than just a virtue -- it's an absolute necessity. Most children don’t begin to talk until they’re 14 to 20 months old, and their frequent inability to be understood often results in epic meltdowns. Make no mistake about it, you will have Lego blocks flung at your head, strained carrots dumped into your lap and any number of ballistic devices aimed at your groin. It’s absolutely critical that you maintain patience and composure during these trying times, as your baby tries to communicate his most pressing needs and desires. If you can't handle that -- and many men can’t -- you may not be ready for fatherhood.


No.1 You want a surrogate you

We know that your life may not have turned out exactly the way you wanted, but having a child won’t magically erase all of your past mistakes, and you can’t live vicariously through your kid. Anyone who enters fatherhood with those kinds of ulterior motives is setting themselves -- and their offspring -- up for a lifetime of bitter failure.



Wednesday, March 23

Today is the World Meteorological Day

Before the day ends, I read from The Manila Bulletin that today is the World Meteorological Day. 

This year, the theme is “Climate for you”. 


Taken from Google


Each year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization, its 189 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. This day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the WMO Convention creating the Organization.

Originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO). IMO was founded in 1873 and established in 1950. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

To know more about this event, you may check it here, here, here, and here.

The Eight Types of People to Unfollow on Twitter or Unfriend on Facebook

The Eight Types of People to Unfollow on Twitter or Unfriend on Facebook


Taken from Google

Everybody has a few people clogging up their social networking sites with frequent updates, annoying pictures, and general stupidity. But there's often guilt about offing these former friends. Feel bad no more! These are the people you must ditch now. Now I know why my 4500 friends on facebook has dwindled down to 3500 which can still be considered abundant XD.

Now, to be fair, you should probably consider your relationship with these people before you go deleting them from your electronic life. After all if it's your partner, parent, boss, best friend, or the guy you've been seeing on and off for the last few years, they might notice what you did and take it as an affront. If you're close enough to this person for them to notice you went out for a pack of eCigarettes and never came back, then it might be better to just have a talk with them about fixing their obnoxious internet behavior. Or you can do the passive aggressive thing and defriend them and then when they say "Yo, what's up?" tell them that they suck. That works too. I wasn't surprised why some of my model-friends were not in my list anymore. Oh well XD.

If you know any of these people below, it's time to cut the cord. Hopefully they'll know what they did. Thanks to Brian Moylan for this article.

The Overuser: Their thumbs are practically shackled to their Blackberry and their fingers never leave the keyboard. It's always some new update about where they are (fucking Foursquare!), what they're doing, or other similar inanities. It's like someone tweeting about their work out. Oh look, Bill is on his first set of bicep curls. Now Bill is on his second set of bicep curls. Now Bill is on his...we don't care, no matter how good his guns look. We don't want to read the seven million articles about Robert Pattinson someone thought were so revealing they had to be shared with the world in rapid succession. We don't want to hear a critique of every American Idol contestant's wardrobe, song choice, and singing ability in separate dispatches. This person is like the cyber version of the guy in the Micro Machine's commercial. Just shut the fuck up. The noise is drowning out the conversation we're trying to hear.

The Oversharer: The minute one of your followees says anything about a bowel movement, it is time to go. Period. Some people use Facebook to share what they're doing and how they're feeling in a fun and interesting way. It's like running into them at a cocktail party and getting the quick rundown. An annoying few use it for their disgusting confessional full of graphic biological, biographical, and sexual information. We don't want to hear about yellow toenails. We don't care that this is the heaviest flow that the world has ever seen. We don't want to hear about every petty slight, bicker, and squabble with a significant other. We're not a couples counselor, we're a friend. Sure, if the results of the biopsy come back negative, please celebrate and share it with the world. But a constant stream of gross overshares won't just make us flinch, it will make us click that little X next to your name.

The Proselytizer: These aren't just the people who are constantly sharing Bible quotes with the world, it's any person who is constantly nagging other people to join their causes, political battles, and groups. Guess what, if we cared about stopping the deforestation of the Florida panhandle, we would seek the group out and join it ourselves. We don't need you suggesting that we become a part of it every time we log on to the site! And just because we were guilted into joining "One Million Smooches for Gay Marriage" doesn't mean we'll have the same magnanimity when it comes to "Make Gay Marriage Happen Or We'll Stop Arranging Your Flowers," "A Petition to End Oil Dependence in the Middle East," or "Save the Owls of Tuscaloosa County." These people might as well be one of those horrible college kids who stand on the street with a pack of pamphlets and say, "Do you have a moment for environmental rights?" No, we do not. It's bad enough when it's something we already agree with. If someone is spreading crazy Christian nonsense, creationist magic, or right wing political propaganda, they're so dead to us.

The In-Joker: Have you ever gone to someone else's high school reunion? Unless you are the world's most patient partner, of course not, because who wants to sit through hours of people sharing stories that you can't put into context, understand, or enjoy. But that is just what following an In-Joker's Twitter feed is like. "Like Mark is totally eating a shrimp taco, wink wink @Mike Totally makes me think of that guy in Cancun: 'Por favor' Am I right?!!" We're glad @Mike chuckled because we have no fucking clue what you are saying. No, we don't know what is so LOL about a cruller in a Corolla or what is so LMAO about karaoke in Bangkok. (OK, that is kind of amusing.) Sure, those might be hilarious for a small collection of people, but it's a total confusing bore for the rest of us. And please don't leave in-jokey comments on our page either. Sure, you just want to show how close we are by reminding us of a great moment we shared. We get it, but we want to propagate an open conversation among people we know and like, we don't want our little slice of the internet to be the back of a 13-year-old girl's yearbook.

The Replyer: There is nothing more annoying than looking at someone's Twitter page and every burst of characters starts with either an @ or an RT. This is especially true if the response has no context of what the original comment was about. If we don't follow that other person, we have no idea what the reply is all about. It's like turning on a David Lynch movie 45 minutes into it. You will be lost, frustrated, and possibly on the verge of an LSD flashback. These are also the people who have something to say about every status update, every picture posted, and every event invitation confirmed. To the casual observer, he is your only or best friend only because he is always there, lurking like two-day-old onion bagel stink in your trash can. He never has anything to say for himself, he's just feeding and living off of what everyone else has to say. Come up with something of your own or go away.

The Meme Lover: The only person who should be sending you weird forward chain mail letters is your mom. Some strange neurotoxin must be released when a woman pushes a baby out of her body that makes her send these to her offspring years later. It can't be helped, only tolerated. However, if anyone other than your mother is bothering you with "25 Things You Don't Care to Know About Me" or #sometimesiwonder or tagging you in one of those stupid grids of Little Miss characters, then they need to be cut loose from your life. Yes, a Blingee kitten every so often isn't the worst thing in the world and can brighten a day, but for those people who fall for every retarded Avatar Week tomfoolery the web dreams up, there is a special sort of banishment.

The Fisher: These are the people whose low self-esteem needs to be bolstered by other people wanting to know the details of their life. "I just feel like crying right now" or "You're never going to believe what I just bought!" or "Can't wait to tell everyone the big news." People who say vague and leading things like that want someone else to say, "What?" or "Why?" or "How Come?" That is what The Fisher makes you do, but what they're really saying is "Tell me I'm good enough to care about." You probably are, but you don't need a bunch of anonymous affirmations to tell you that. And sorry, Al-Anon taught us how to not be an enabler so we're not taking the bait. We're just going to ignore you and let some poor Replyer feed your madness.

The Nobody: Face it, everyone's Facebook friend list is bloated. It includes people from high school you haven't talked to in eons, people you you met once at a cocktail party and never talked to again, people who you have 90 mutual friends with but have never actually met in person. And you have to listen to all these things that people say. More often than not, these are the folks who are the types above that you have to get rid of. Your real friends don't annoy you. Well, they probably do, but you put up with it because, as Dionne sings, that's what friends are for. Just cut out all the fat. If you don't recognize someone's name or face, let them go. It doesn't make you any less of a person that your numbers are dwindling. You are still important, people still know and like you, and it's going to be OK. Just take a deep breath. These tools are here to keep you connected, share information, and have fun. Just like the winner of The Biggest Loser, life going to be so much easier to do that once you get rid of all the excess.

I could add some more but it would take me a while to update this though XD.

Tuesday, March 22

Today is World Water Day 2011

I should have wrote about this earlier but since I just know this event a few minutes back after receiving an email from our corporate office in the US, I'll write about it now XD.


Taken from Google.


International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. On this page, we present a brief overview of the different themes that have been the focus of World Water Day celebrations.

Here in the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III lead the event which was held at SM Mall of Asia early this morning.

To know more about the event, you may check the links here, here, and here.

Happy World Water Day to everyone XD

My Canon Photomarathon 2010 Experience

Pardon me if this post is already more than four months delayed as I'm still looking for a nice picture to include in this post XD. 






Last November 6 2010, I woke up early with eagerness and excitement to attend my first ever Canon Photomarathon for 2010. I got up as early as 4:00am since I'm having a hard time to fall asleep again. At around 5:30am, I left home and took a jeep to Rizal Ave in Sta Cruz only to hop on to LRT Doroteo Jose Station. (I should have took the LRT Legarda going to Recto instead XD). Then as I got to Gil Puyat (also known as Buendia), I took a cab going to SMX where I should have took the orange cabs instead to save on money. I got there probably within an hour.




I noticed a small line outside SMX so I joined them. Then we were able to get inside only to find out the there was a longer line as some came as early as 4:30am just to be early for the registration. If my memory serves me right, we were about more than two hundred eager photographers inside. I waited together with them and took some photos of the long queue while waiting for the registration to open. At around 7:00am or 7:30am, the registration has been opened. As I went inside, I saw a very organized queue that accommodates participants in alphabetical order. Something I wish other contests or events would do in the near future.





I saw some of my friends from my photography club and seated right next to each other as we got 2-3 tables alone for our group. I was having an impression that there will be free breakfast during the event. But instead, we only had free coffee and I didn't mind since the event was free of charge anyway and I was able to take a bite at home before going here. We were given Canon shirt and cap that we will be wearing throughout the day. Though I have an extra shirt with me, I opted to use the Canon shirt they gave me and have a feel of the shirt in my body.





Then the event started. First, there was a dance number by a certain group which I forgot the name followed by the introduction of all Canon Ambassadors in their respective fields. Then, the mechanics for the contest has been announced. There were three themes for the event. Each theme will be announced (except for the first) after the time is up.





Our first theme was Deep and Wide, peaks and valley go inside and outside, all the places you know. Near or far, it doesn’t matter, It’s the view that counts to the photographer.It made me think hard on what to shoot since this is my first time to join an on-the-spot photo contest sponsored by Canon.





As soon as we got the first theme, we went out and scouted the entire area to look for a good spot. It took me a while before picking my shot as I make sure I'm the only one there so that they won't be able to copy it or have the same shot. After taking that shot, I went back at SMX to submit my shot. Then I had enough time to relax and take snaps of my bag and the bottled water I purchased to quench my thirst.








Come lunch time, the queue was very long, I wasn't able to enjoy much so I had to be contented with the food that I had on my plate. It would be better than having nothing as I can't complain because it's free though there a lot of people complaining about the food XD. After lunch, the second theme was shown to us. The theme was “Big or Small we come in different sizes, short or tall we grow in spurts and phases, round and round the circle of life goes, when we stop only God knows“. I think I know the subject to shoot but the question was where to go.





I scouted almost all of SM Mall of Asia to find the right subject. After picking the right subject, I thought it was good enough but I had to look for more possible subjects since the one that I got was way to common for an entry. Then I went back to SMX to submit my entry and take a breather. I know Canon's event coincides with the other events near SMX so my friends and I took the opportunity to take a look into those events and take a snapshot or two.




Then we got our third and final theme for the day. The theme was “Happy, mad – sometimes we feel the blues. Angry, glad- our moods are changing hues. Up and down or lows and highs, when we close our eyes – surprise!” The theme was quite easy since there were throngs of people within and outside SMX. While looking for the perfect subject, I got a chance to shoot cosplayers from the other event just beside ours and carshow models at the back of SMX. We went to SMB by the bay to look for interesting subjects. I was able to find my subject and take pictures almost unobtrusively (except for other shooters at my back XD).





After my 3rd shot, I went back inside to submit my 3rd entry. After submitting mine, one of Canon's staff handed me a token as appreciation for attending the event. As I opened it, I was indeed delighted because I got myself a Canon Lens Mug plus other goodies from Canon (like lens guidebook, etc). He said everyone who attended the event will receive a genuine Canon Lens Mug. I was really ecstatic as I told my wife about it and how did the event go. She was so happy with the gift I got she hoped that they give out real lens instead XD.





After time ran out for the 3rd and final theme, all of us were inside already and waiting for dinner which won't be served for the next 30-45 minutes.We were entertained again with the same dance group who performed that morning. Then dinner was served which I made sure I got more than enough food since I'll be working for that night after the event. I had my plate filled for seconds as food was much abundant as compared earlier.





Then the winners were announced per theme and over-all. I wasn't surprised with the entries of the winners. Their shots were really unique and dynamic. Dynamic in a sense that there were people included in the photos and not just stills.The over-all winner go a lot of prizes from Canon and its other sponsors that would made me envious of the winner. But well, there is always a next time and plus, having a shirt and cap plus a genuine Canon Lens Mug is already a steal for me.

I hope I could still join the Canon Photomarathon 2011 this year. XD

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