Help the victims of Typhoon Sendong in the Philippines

Photo of a father mourning for the loss of his child circulates the web.

Typhoon Sendong is the "Ondoy" of Mindanao.  It left the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday but it left more than 650 casualties, 800 still missing and more than 2,000 families affected from Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City.

Donations in cash or in kind are needed to help the families affected by the typhoon.

TV5 KAPATID FOUNDATION

Donate in Cash

Bank of the Philippine Islands 

Savings Account No. 1443-05333-2

Donate in Kind

News5 Aksyon Center, TV5 office 

San Bartlolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

News5 Aksyon Center hotline - 938-6393  

SAGIP KAPAMILYA

Donate in Cash

BDO Peso Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya

Account Number: 39301-14199

Swift Code: BNORPHMM

BDO Dollar Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya

Account Number: 39300-81622

Swift Code: BNORPHMM

PNB Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 419-539-5000-13
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

BPI Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3051-1127-75
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

BPI Dollar Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3054-0270-35
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Donate in Kind
Sagip Kapamilya
ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. 
Mother Ignacia cor. Eugenio Lopez St.
Diliman, Quezon City

Hotlines
(02) 411-4995
(02) 394-9272
0917-887-4411

THE CIVIL RELATIONS SERVICE, AFP
Donate in Kind
Situation Awareness Center (SAC), 
CRS AFP, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Landline: 912-6615
CP Nr. (0917)2471252
Focal Person: LTCOL ROLANDO RODIL, Opns Officer

Breathtaking: Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Photos from here.

Pacquiao Won!

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao for retaining his welterweight champion title. The pound for pound boxer beat Marquez via majority decision. It was an exciting match that ended with a criticisms and bottle throwing fans when the result was announced.

Marquez thinks he was being robbed again of the title and said "I don't know what else to do to win."

Will there be a Pacquiao-Marquez 4?

New 7 Wonders of Nature: The Palawan Subterranean River

The Palawan Subterranean (Underground) River made it to the list of the provisional new seven wonders of nature. The announcement was made yesterday. 11-11-11 was a lucky day after all.

The underground river located in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines is the longest underground river of the world. It features a mountain of limestone deposit of 8.2km navigable through an underground river.

The list also includes the Amazon River, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo and Table Mountain.

11-11-11

Today is a special day for the superstitious. It so happens that today is November 11, 2011 or 11-11-11. 

As I write this post, I received a text message that reads like this:

"Today is 11-11-11. I wish you 11 things: love, smile, health, wealth, success, beauty, luck, dream, dream come true, lover, and happiness. Please forward this to 11 people and you will have these eleven wishes forever. Hurry up! You only have 11 minutes to send."

People can be so obsessed with whatever symbolism peculiar dates have if there is any. Why can they wish me those things in any given day? And if I break the chain I will receive bad luck for the rest of my life? Isn't that cruel?

I don't know what the six number 1s will bring me before the day ends but I do hope it is something good.

Oh, and I will break the chain like what I always do. I think I have broken a hundred already and yet I am here, living happy.

I Woke Up Crying, Again

I woke up crying again.

I will not go into the details of my dream. All I can share with you is that the feeling was so intense that I actually felt tears roll down my cheeks and I was sobbing non-stop.

Dream Moods Dictionary interpreted this type of dream as:

"signifies release of negative emotions that is more likely caused by some waking situation rather than the events of the dream itself... it is a way to regain some emotional balance and to safely let out your fears and frustrations... to wake up crying represents some suppressed hurt or previous trauma that is coming up to the surface. You can no longer suppress these emotions. They need to be dealt with head on."

Steve Jobs is dead

When Steve Jobs resigned from Apple last August, there were rumors that his decision was because of his failing health condition. And the rumors proved to be true today. Steve Jobs is dead. 

Miss Universe 2011 Final Questions and Answers

Miss Universe 2011, Miss Angola Lelia Lopes.

Congratulations to Miss Philippines for bagging the Miss Universe 2011 Third Runner-Up title! And congratulations to all the winners!

Here are the nerve wracking final questions and the top 5 candidates' answers.

MISS UKRAINE

Amelia Vega: If you could trade lives with anyone in history, who whould it be and why?

Miss Ukraine: I simply live my life and I’m very satisfied with it. But if I did have the chance to trade positions with someone I think I would choose Cleopatra. I think she is a very powerful and strong woman who is very much worthy of respect. And I think a woman could also be a leader like Cleopatra.

MISS PHILIPPINES

Vivica Fox: Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person you love? Why and why not?

Miss Philippines: If I had to change my religious beliefs, I will not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God, who created me. And I have my faith, my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too.

MISS CHINA

Isabel Fontana: Nude beaches are common in some parts of the world. Is public nudity appropriate or inappropriate and why?

Miss China: Every country has its rules and regulations and every country has their own habits as well. We should respect them and be more understanding.

MISS BRAZIL

Helio Castrovenes: What would you do to avoid a war that you did not agree with?

Miss Brazil: First of all, I would explain to people that the premiere quality of human being is respect. And more war is not based on respect. It's always based on misunderstanding, it's always based on a lack of education. So I would tell this person that we should respect each other as human beings.

MISS ANGOLA

Lea Salonga: If you could change one of your physical characteristics, which one would it be and why?

Miss Angola: Thank God I'm very well satisfied with the way that God created me and I wouldn't change a thing. I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty, I have my principles, I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I plan to follow these through the rest of my life and now I want to give you all a piece of advice: Respect one another.

I will be biased here because, for one, I am a Filipino and second, she's the only finalist to answer without an interpreter. Miss Philippines deserves the crown because she has the best answer and she delivered her answer straight without having the chance to pause and think for her next words. And Oprah agrees with me. They all answered respect--which is for me the most used and abused word in any beauty competition. Miss Philippines, on the other hand, answered with conviction the foremost characteristic of Filipinos--valuing one's faith and religion.

I think it is about time that organizers of Miss Universe change their rules in Q & A. I think, a candidate who needs an interpreter should answer straight, without having to pause, while the interpreters record the answer and translate it afterward. It will take some time but at least we know that the candidate answered it without the privilege of seconds to pause and re-think of better words.

Tres Chic fashion spreads

More Looks...

Check out my fashion blog--Tres Chic!, and get the latest news about fashion and entertainment. Here are some of the spreads that I did. I hope you'll like them.

Broken Hearted Me by Anne Murray

This is one of the saddest songs ever. Sigh!

Steve Jobs resigned from Apple

Steve Jobs, the innovator  of Apple who brought geeks and non-geeks alike to a tech euphoria by introducing the ipod, iphone and ipad, resigned from his position as CEO. His long-time business partner and COO of Apple, Tim Cook, will replace him but he would still be the chairman. Reports said that the decision is because of his undisclosed illness.

That brings Michael Zuckerberg as the worst dressed CEO of the year.

Paris Hilton to Design Azure Urban Resort Residences in Manila

Photo from Tres Chic!

Paris Hilton, the hotel heiress and socialite, arrived in Manila last Sunday for a 5-day business trip for her design collaboration with Century Properties for Azure Urban Resort Residences in Paranaque City and to open her posh boutique in SM Megamall.

It was reported that Paris lost her two ipads but contrary to the early reports, she did not lose it in Manila, probably in Dubai where she boarded for a flight in Manila, or somewhere else.

Azure is a six-hectare property development in Paranaque City that features resort-inspired theme with a man-made beach as one of the many luxurious amenities.

"Her unparalleled style that made her a successful businesswoman and a style icon, as well as her zest for living the good life are the qualities that we would like to incorporate into our vacation-inspired residential property," said Century Properties Chief Executive Officer, Mr. John Victor R. Antonio.

Paris will lead the design team of Azure's Beach Clubhouse amenity.

Dream Interpretation: Falling Hair

My weirdest dream of all time is about my hair falling out. I could not remember the details of my dream but it is the falling hair that stuck into my head. 

According to Analyse Dreams, dreaming that your hair is falling out means that you may be concerned about the way you look and feel about yourself. You may be worried about getting older and you are preoccupied with your appearance and the aging process. It could also mean that you fear of losing strength like Samson. Try to re-examine yourself and concentrate on your good qualities and try not to focus on the things that you cannot change.

I have to admit that Analyse Dreams is correct. I have been thinking about my age lately and how I miss doing things that I used to do when I was younger.

Autobot or Decepticon?

Goodbye, Amy!

So young... so talented. Goodbye, Amy!

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home in London in the morning of July 23. There are no official report yet of the cause of death. Her body was cremated last Tuesday.

Good luck, Mr. Gorsky!

Photo from here.

On July 20, 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon. His first words after stepping on the moon, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," were televised to earth and heard by millions. But just before he reentered the lander, he made the enigmatic remark, "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky!"

Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet cosmonaut. However, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs.

Over the years, many people questioned Armstrong as to what the "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky" statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled.

On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26-year-old question to Armstrong. This time he finally responded. Mr. Gorsky had died, so Neil Armstrong felt he could answer the question. In 1938 when he was a kid in a small midwest town, he was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard. His friend hit the ball, which landed in his neighbor's backyard by the bedroom windows. His neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky. As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky, "Sex! You want sex?! You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"

Source: hcomi.com

The Transformers Say...

Photo from Manila Fashion Observer.

Say it over and over in a robotic voice.

Obviously, I still have a Transformers: Dark of the Moon hangover. I am imagining every vehicle that I see to transform into an Autobot or Decepticon. Haha!

What does your name say about your personality?

I stumbled upon acrophonology.net and had my full name analyzed. Here's the result:

My First Name

You have a love of travel and adventure, and you enjoy sports. You also have a very strong sense of fair play and want justice. You have a great deal of loyalty to those you love. You have much inner strength. You have much enthusiasm with a driving attitude toward achievement in life. You can handle details well. You have a methodical mind. You must learn to give 'wise' service and not be a martyr. You have a need to be up front. You have a diplomatic flair to your nature. Equality and fairness are important to you. Your independence and freedom are important to you. You can be quite inventive and quite curious.

My Middle Name

You are clever, inventive, imaginative and youthful. You enjoy socializing. You have much enthusiasm with a driving attitude toward achievement in life. You can handle details well. You have a methodical mind. Your privacy is important to you. You have a rich inner life. You have a need to be up front. You enjoy a challenge. You can take thought-directed actions.

My Last Name

You want to be productive and feel useful, and enjoy helping solve problems. You like to be busy and not waste time. Your privacy is important to you. You have a rich inner life. You enjoy make-believe and fantasy. It is hard for you to forget injustices. You enjoy a challenge. You can take thought-directed actions. You can be assertive and aggressive when the occasion arises. You have a great deal of loyalty to those you love. You have much inner strength. You tend to be private and secretive.

Well, true.

Happy Father's Day

Super Mom will take charge saving the world tomorrow while you are having your day off.

Go the Fuck to Sleep!

Adam Mansbach probably had a conversation with me some time this year, heard my night struggles about trying to get my son to sleep and made it an inspiration to write a book.

That's a made up story.

Anyway, the author created a funny children's story book for adults that clearly narrates a parent's struggle each night for their kids to go to sleep. To make the story more hilarious, Samuel L. Jackson narrates it. 

The ABC of Superlative Leadership

I just have to re-post this article from Read Bud because I find it useful for business or to anyone who just wants to be at the top of their game.

If you want to make the move from managing to leading, from being a professional to being an inspirer, from being one of the team to being a leader of the team, you need to know the ABC of Superlative Leadership.

****************************

A is for Appreciative Cultures, the end result of a leader's work, when the culture he or she fosters becomes an appreciative value of the company.


B is for rock-solid Belief that your team can move mountains.


C is for Culture, which is the way people behave when you're not looking.


D is for the Drive for Power that makes you want to lead.


E is for Encouragement, like sun after the rain.


F is for Fun, an indication that the right work is happening.


G is for Growing your people. Like Sir Colin Marshall, head of British Airways, who personally attended every one of his customer care programmes, "Putting People First".


H is for Helicopter vision, because you need to see in three time zones: the near, the middle and the far.


I is for leader Identity, the ability to be comfortable in your own shoes.


J is for Joy because leaders rejoice in their own blessings as well as the successes of their team.

K is for Knowing your people, not just by name and number, but by strength and weakness, character and spirit, skills and potential, what makes them sigh and what makes them soar.

L is for Learning, because learning is change and learning is growth.

M is for Mission which leaders live as well as write. Like Bill Gates insisting that his staff at Microsoft, Germany, use the familiar "Du" instead of the formal "Sie".

N is for the Nobel complex, the belief that everything your people do is worthy of a Nobel prize.

 

O is for Opportunity. Like Edmund McIlhenny who returned from the American Civil War to find his sugar plantation and salt works in ruins except for a few hot Mexican peppers that had sown themselves. He used them to produce a sauce that is now known as Tabasco and sold around the world.

P is for Plain-talking because leaders need to be understood.

Q is for Questions, such as "What do you need me to do?" and "How can I help you work better?" and "What should I be doing?"

R is for Respect, the touchstone of every relationship a leader has.

S is for Symbols, the language of leadership. Like the CEO of a candy factory facing financial ruin, whose first symbolic act was to shorten the tails on the sugar mice.

T is for the Traits of courage and determination, patience and perseverance.

U is for Unleashing what's there. Like 3M, who allow their scientists to spend 15% of their time working on projects that interest them.

V is for Values, the guiding principles of the team, or "the Walkmans of the mind".

W is for the Way, the Chinese "tao", the route that leaders take and others follow.

X is for Xtraordinary because leaders get ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Y is for Yes, because there is always a plus to be found even in the worst situation and the toughest setback.

Z is for Zero tolerance of failure, sub-performance and giving up.

 

Learn these simple principles, and there are no limits to where you can lead your team.



Empty Oprah Syndrome

Photo from Random Thoughts.

After 25 years of giving us daily informative, educational, funny and touching stories (not to mention the happy headaches)... Oprah finally said goodbye on television. It's been four days since Oprah's final episode and I bet lots and lots of people are starting to develop the EOS or Empty Oprah Syndrome. It is like you have lost a friend or someone dear to you who you can share your secrets, open up your feelings and ideas without being judged.

Oh, well, we can still see her in OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and we can still read her updates at oprah.com and through her Twitter account (@oprah).

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Something to look forward to in cinemas this month is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, of course, with Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) leading the group of pirates and Angelica (Penelope Cruz) in the search for the Fountain of Youth.

You can read the plot of the movie in Wikipedia.

Today's Life Quote

Kate doing her own grocery

Photo from here.

Kate is still down to earth! 

The Duchess of Cambridge, despite the title, still does her own grocery shopping wearing common clothes--jeans, sweater and ballet flats. I am just so proud of her... no royal air, just the plain and "commoner" Kate that we fell in love with.

Pacquiao beat Mosley via unanimous decision

From Reuters.

It's still Pacquiao! But, I have to say that it was the most boring fight ever of Pacman. I thought he had Mosley at round 3 but he relaxed a bit (so much) that they ended in round 12. And the referee called a knock down on Pacman on round 10 when it wasn't really the case when they played a replay. I was nervous at that point, but, still I wasn't fully impressed of the outcome of the fight.

What's next for Pacman? Mayweather?

Congrats Pacman for making the Filipinos proud again!

Side comments:

Charice Pempengco made the National Historical Commission proud for singing the Philippine National Anthem right. That's how we should do it fellow Filipinos.

Jamie Foxx should have sang the US National Anthem. Who's that guy who did that?

LL Cool J made Shane Mosley's entrance cool enough to make me nervous for Pacman. He made the crowd go wild.

Jimmy Jamison, on the other hand, made the crowd be quiet by singing Eye of the Tiger. It was as if I was attending a mass. It was the most unimpressive entrance of Pacman. It was sort of predictable. I wish they chose the Black Eyed Peas.

Random Thoughts: Pacquiao vs. Mosley

Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt

Shucks! Still aching. It is not easy but I will get by. How long has it been? Seems like forever.

***************************

Did I disappoint you or let you down?

Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?

'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,

Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.

So I took what's mine by eternal right.

Took your soul out into the night.

It may be over but it won't stop there,

I am here for you if you'd only care.

You touched my heart you touched my soul.

You changed my life and all my goals.

And love is blind and that I knew when,

My heart was blinded by you.

I've kissed your lips and held your hand.

Shared your dreams and shared your bed.

I know you well, I know your smell.

I've been addicted to you.

Chorus (2x)

Goodbye my lover.

Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.

You have been the one for me.

I am a dreamer and when I wake,

You can't break my spirit - it's my dreams you take.

And as you move on, remember me,

Remember us and all we used to be

I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile.

I've watched you sleeping for a while.

I'd be the father of your child.

I'd spend a lifetime with you.

I know your fears and you know mine.

We've had our doubts but now we're fine,

And I love you, I swear that's true.

I cannot live without you.

Chorus (2x)

Goodbye my lover.

Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.

You have been the one for me.

And I still hold your hand in mine.

In mine when I'm asleep.

And I will bear my soul in time,

When I'm kneeling at your feet.

Chorus (2x)

Goodbye my lover.

Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.

You have been the one for me.

Outro (2x)

I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow.

I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow.

Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

Osama Bin Laden is dead.

The most wanted terrorist was killed by the elite US armed forces Monday. His body was quickly buried at sea to finally put an end to a decade of hiding.

"Justice has been done," President Obama said in his announcement at the White House.

Kate's Wedding Day Dresses

Yesterday, the world came to a stop to witness the wedding of the century--Prince William and Kate's. Aside from making world history, the couple, particularly the Duchess of Cambridge, made fashion history with Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. 

The Duchess wore two dresses of equal sophistication from UK's most celebrated fashion house. For the wedding ceremony, the bride wore an intricately embroidered ivory and white satin gazar floor length dress with long lace sleeves and 8-foot train. During the party, she wore another white floor length gown with diamante embroidered belt and white angora bolero cardigan.

My verdict... stunning! She's looks every inch a princess in those gowns. Great job, Sarah!

Prince William & Kate balcony kiss

Photo from Yahoo!

The long awaited kiss! And they kissed twice!

Prince William and Kate Middleton Wedding: Watch it LIVE!

Webcam chat at Ustream

Happy Easter!

How did you spend your Holy Week?

Off for the Holy Week

Photo from here.

I will be back with my regular blogging after the Holy Week.

It is the time to reflect and the time to remember the true reason of our existence... the love of God.

The New Wonder Woman

Adrianne Palicki is the new Wonder Woman. What do you think of her more conservative costume? Oh, wait! This isn't the costume she's been using since she started shooting NBC's new TV series.

Click on the jump to see her real costume.

The Rules of A Gentleman

I just have to share with you The Rules of A Gentleman that men should consider. And here are some of the rules that aren't that hard to follow.

The Old Songs by Barry Manilow

I found some old cassette tapes in my great grandmother's house the other day. Apparently, those tapes, including a Barry Manilow collection, are mine. I bought them when I was in college and listened to them while studying for major exams.

Here is one of my favorite Barry Manilow songs--The Old Songs. Enjoy listening.

This is how LSD affects the brain

Acid Trip - Government experiment with LSD.

DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TRY THIS.

I am in love with Scotty McCreery

Who isn't?!

I am not a fan of country music but hearing Scotty McCreery sing those makes me think otherwise. He's just so great! I love his deep voice. He will go miles with that gift.

So, now I am scared  for Thia.

Tsunami after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan

Japan was hit by a tsunami following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake at around 2:46pm today. Authorities reported 50 people were dead but they are expecting more as they assess the extend of the damage. Pacific islands including Hawaii and the Philippines were warned of the coming tsunami.

Finally! Lady Gaga and Maria Aragon Born This Way Duet

Finally! Lady Gaga and Maria Aragon had their duet in Toronto. This video gave me double goosebumps. I am so very proud of this girl. Lady Gaga seems like a really cool big sister. I hope there'll be more of this.

Enjoy watching!

Roll-up Piano

$58 at Fred Flare.

I miss playing the piano but my piano is in my grandmother's house. I left it there when I moved into a new house because there's no way I can fit it into anywhere in my tiny house. I was delighted to know that there is actually a roll-up piano that works like the real thing. 

You just lay it on a flat surface and you are ready to play.

It can be rolled neatly when your fingers get tired of playing.

This flexible roll-up piano definitely goes in to my wishlist. *Wink*

When is the right time to surrender?

It is the right time to surrender when more than half of the world's population is telling you to do so.

It is the right time to surrender when all you have is your hands, while your enemy still has bombs.

Surrendering is not an act of cowardice, rather, it is a courageous way of saving lives.

Surrendering is not an admission of weakness, rather, strength. Because surrendering takes a lot of courage.

Whatever is happening now in Libya and the rest of the Middle East, is a test. A test of courage, humility and acceptance.

Libya's flag only has one color--green. It means life and yet many lives were taken away because of violent demonstrations.

Pray. Whether you believe in God, in Allah or Buddha and even if you do not believe in gods at all, pray... it is more powerful than we all can imagine.

Jessie J - Price Tag version of Maria

This girl has earned another fan... ME!!!!!!!

Fashion Dissection: Another Smurfs Look

Hayden Panettiere tried the Smurfs look and she failed miserably. Time to look for another stylist. Sorry, Hayden but there's a better Smurfette... and she lend Smurfette her voice.

Frames and Shelves

I am such a lazy homemaker. If I could only add four or even two hours in a day I will decorate my teeny tiny house with little trinkets and frames and DIY shelves.

This would be perfect in my living room.

This would be great in my work space.

My only shelf in the living room broke yesterday so it needs to be replaced with something like this.

This is a great way to show off my son's cute photos.

Get more interior design ideas from Martha Stewart. I just love her shabby chic designs.

Movie Trilogy Stats

Photo from here.

I have actually seen most these movies and I agree that Lord of the Rings created buzz in all of their movies. And yeah, Planet of the Apes sucks.