Mauie's Corner

HOLIDAYS in THE PHILIPPINES 2012

2012-01-03T08:53:00.001+08:00

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III has declared a total of 16 official holidays for 2012, Malacañang announced Thursday.

Aquino signed Proclamation 95, which designated 10 regular holidays next year, five special non-working days and one special holiday.

The proclamation was in accordance with Republic Act 9492, known as the “Holiday Economics,” which was made into law in 2007.

Following are next year’s holidays:

A. Regular Holidays

New Year’s Day: January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday: April 5
Good Friday: April 6
Araw ng Kagitingan: April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day: May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day: June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day: August 27 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day: November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day: December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day: December 30 (Sunday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Days

Chinese New Year: January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day: August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints Day: November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special (non-working) day: November 2 (Friday)
Last Day of the Year: December 31 (Monday

C. Special Holiday (for all schools)

EDSA Revolution Anniversary: February 25 (Saturday)
Chinese New Year, which will fall on January 23, 2012, may be declared as a special non-working day without detriment to public interest, the proclamation said.The Chinese New Year is “ one of the most revered and festive events celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines by both Chinese Filipinos and ordinary Filipinos as well; and the joint celebration is a manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people,” it added.
November 2, 2012 will be declared as a special non-working day “to give full opportunity to our people to properly observe All Saints’ Day with all its religious fervor which invariably requires them to travel to and from different regions in the country.” Traditionally, only November 1 (All Saints’ Day) is declared a holiday.
Meanwhile, the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be issued after it is determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar, the proclamation read.The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos will issue the dates when will the Islamic holidays fall, it added.The Department of Labor and Employment will promulgate the implementing guidelines for the proclamation.

Sources: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net

My Fascination with Vampire Novels

2011-12-29T14:41:00.010+08:00

Eerie.
Recently i've been reading a lot.. Err, not exactly reading, rather listening or both (thanks to ibooks). I've grown really really fond of audiobooks. Very convenient specially if you don't have the eyes too sturdy as the addiction to read. I am specifically fond of those recorded by Penguin Audio or Listening Library or McMillan Audio. They have really really good readers. Hmm had i mentioned I'm into novel series? I can stand listening all day and still hope i can do so in my sleep specially if I'm so into the climax already. Back when i read, books or eBooks or PDF,My eyes just always gives up on me.

Best Vampire Series I've read and listened according to MY OWN CHOICE.

1. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.I love the plot, the twists, the romance, the characters of the protagonists. Above all i love Adrian Ivashkov. Well you know how someone broken and mistakenly evil can love so much so purely and unselfishly? Well Vampire academy series ended on the 5th book as Rose Hathaway the female lead character succesfully put everything back into place or better. Her love life has bloomed after getting Dmitri back from darkness. Getting her bestfriend Lissa into the throne she rightfully own, and earned the respect of the people around her which was an impossibility during the first book.Sad that this has ended but I am just as happy that the handsome Adrian Ivashkov is in the 1st Book of my next favorite.
2. Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. Currently on the first book, is a story about Alchemists, humans that are specialized in studying ancient relationships between vampires, dhampirs and humans. They are acting as damage control organization fixing everything up so humans would not be aware about such existence and will not create panic. The story is evolving on a lead character that has appeared in Vampire Academy Books, Sydney Sage as she struggle to proving herself worthy of the title Alchemist. It is known that she has comprised her credibility when she was involved in vampire politics helping Rose Hathaway escape from Prison. As it appears, Adrian Ivashkow may possibly be paired with her in the future books. Well at least that's what i'm hoping for. Adrian Ivashkov seems too hot be left dumped with a broken heart.

3. Twilight series by Stephanie Myers.Perhaps the most popular vampire series in the present generation. Is a story about two beings of different worlds, a vampire and an ordinary human fell in love and went an extra mile to be together, get married and miraculously produce a child. Their efforts to protect each other including the man , Edward Cullen, moving away to save and let the girl Bella Swan enjoy a life out of Danger.A few action during book 1 on the fight between James and Edward, love triangle on Book 2 as Bella discovered the true identity of her besfried Jacob, the struggle toprotecteach other from the avenging Victoria on book3, and the story on kinship, bravery asthe Cullen family muster their friends possibly the biggest vampire gathering in hundred years to attest on the authenticity of the miracle child being Renesmee against the possible massacre from Vulturi,which of course Alice has seen in one of her visions. Well just like a typical kids book, the ending was rather happy, or too good to be true. Vampire characters.. Hellow, someone big is gotta die one way or another, but not in this book sorry.

4. Sookie Stackhouse aka Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. Oh Sookie..As popularized by the tv Series True Blood, this novels about the title bearer herself, Sookie, a barmaid in Bon Temps LA go about her experiences as a human and a fairy, tangled in love with 2 vampires, Eric Northman and Bill Compton and a Shape shifter Sam Merlott. This series involved a wide range of supernatural creatures, fairies, shape shifters, werewolves, werepanthers,vampires, ghosts, witches and necromancers, demons etc. Story is evolving in a lot of areas, romance, politics, betrayal, family, friendship etc. Has 11 Books in total. As mentioned beforehand, Sookie Stackhouse series is shown on TV as True Blood under the direction of Allan Ball, however there are so many differences in the characters, the plot however is the same or slightly changed. Well the tv series is on going so lets just wait what Allan Ball offers us. By the way im for Team Eric!(Hurray hurray)

5. Queen Betsy aka Undead Series by Mary Janice Davidson. Elizabeth Taylor aka Betsy was proclaimed Vampire Queen after rising from the dead on a pink knock off flats. Currently on its 9th book, going 10th come June 2012 (Undead and Unstable). Is a hilarious novel being Book 8 as my most favorite. Great plot with only limited characters, if you are a designer shoes buff, you will love this novel, and if you are not, you have to read it to realize in the end, that having a designer pair of shoes is just one time pain in the pocket but a great addition to your personality. You will love the Bitchy but true nature of Betsy, she's a snob, sometimes she's mean but in the end, she's still nice.At least she's not so very fond of drinking blood from humans, she loves her friends and family. The tone is more adult than expected. Sexual pleasures are iminent on almost all books, i guess vampires like making out.

6. House of Night Series by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. Yeah right, i was thinking the same. Its just not so vampire sounding at all. House of Night really exists but the authors just derived the name of the books from a certain bldg and made the story on top of what was really present and existent (just like how dan brown's da vinci code was accurately plotted in real life places and structures). I think that style is great too, they give readers a more solid imagination. House of night series is lead by a girl, Zoey RedBird who was marked to become a fledgeling. Fledgelings are grown into vampires after their transformation, they are nortured and taught at the House of Night. The story is about her, and her struggles being the Chosen, most gifted fledgeling in the history, She has an affinity for all 5 elements, her body is intricately marked with tattoos no one has been marked much before. The series is revolving at the words given to her by the vampire Goddess "Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good"

The List Goes on ..Continued ..

Paskong Pinas 2011

2011-12-29T14:41:00.009+08:00

We had a simple but happy Christmas celebration. My mama, papa, sister and family, my grandmother and aunt. This is my family. And we are complete, this is the most important thing anyone could wish for, my grandmother is still with us, hopefully also next year and i am home. Happiness. Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you had a blast

Our Noche Buena are not much either, Crispy Pata, Pancit, Puto Binan, Fruit Salad, Crema de Fruta and my new invention, Sizzling Tofu (Yum yum) .. Merry merry Christmas!!

Dec. 26, Jan. 2 Not a Holiday for Philippines

2011-12-16T12:52:00.001+08:00

MANILA, Philippines - The two successive Mondays right after Christmas and New Year’s Day – Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 – are not holidays.

These days do not fall under the list of holidays for 2011 in Proclamation 84 issued by President Aquino in December 2010.

The remaining regular holidays for the year are Dec. 25 (Christmas) and Dec. 30 (Rizal Day). Dec. 31 (last day of the year) is a special non-working holiday while Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day) is traditionally a regular holiday.

“The presidential proclamation is the one we’re observing so if that date falls on a particular day, it will fall on that particular day,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

The administration no longer practices the so-called “holiday economics” implemented by the Arroyo administration in which holidays are moved to the nearest Mondays.

The law also mandates the provision of holiday pay to workers required to render service during regular and special holidays.

Those who report for work on holidays shall receive double their daily income for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work rendered in excess of eight hours.

If the holiday falls on the rest day of the worker but he is required to work, he shall receive 230 percent for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work in excess of eight hours.

Workers who opt not to report for work during regular holidays are also entitled to receive their daily basic pay.

The Department of Labor and Employment also directed all employers to grant the mandated 13th month pay to their employees before Christmas to enable them to buy necessities while prices are still low.

The National Wage Productivity Commission said most workers are supposed to receive higher 13th month pay compared to last year because the wage increases granted by the wage boards should be integrated into the computation of the 13th month pay. – With Mayen Jaymalin

Source: http://www.philstar.com

K+12 Education System Philippines

2011-12-16T08:37:00.002+08:00

What is K+12?

K+12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.

Kindergarten refers to the 5-year old cohort that takes a standardized kinder curriculum.
Elementary education refers to primary schooling that involves six or seven years of education

Secondary education refers to high school.

How are we planning to implement the K+12 program?

After considering various proposals and studies, the model that is currently being proposed by DepEd is the K-6-4-2 Model. This model involves Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school (Grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11 to 12). The two years of senior high school intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.

Features of K 6-4-2

(1) Kindergarten and 12 years of quality basic education is a right of every Filipino, therefore they must be and will be provided by government and will be free.

(2) Those who go through the 12 years cycle will get an elementary diploma (6 years), a junior high school diploma (4 years), and a senior high school diploma (2 years).

(3) A full 12 years of basic education will eventually be required for entry into tertiary level education (entering freshmen by SY 2018-2019 or seven years from now).

An open and consultative process will be adopted in the development and implementation of K+12.
Change is two-fold: (a) curriculum enhancement and (b) transition management.

What is Senior High School?

2 years of in-depth specialization for students depending on the occupation/career track they wish to pursue
Skills and competencies relevant to the job market
The 2 years of senior HS intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.
The curriculum will allow specializations in Science and Technology, Music and Arts, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sports, Business and Entrepreneurship.

What is the proposed implementation plan of DepEd?

Phases of Implementation:

(1) Universal kindergarten will be offered starting SY 2011-2012.

(2) DepEd will begin unclogging the basic education curriculum in SY 2012-2013.

(3) The enhanced 12-year curriculum will be implemented starting with incoming Grade 1 students of SY 2012-2013.

(4) Incoming freshmen of SY 2012-2013 will be the first beneficiary of a free Senior High School education that will be made available by DepEd in public schools beginning SY 2016-2017. Electives to be offered in Senior HS (arts, music, tech-voch..etc)

In implementing the K-6-4-2 proposal, DepEd will take into account the issues and concerns of all stakeholders, including the high school graduates before 2016. This will be done through regional consultations to begin early 2011. The mechanics and other details of the transition plan will be threshed out with HEIs in coordination with CHED, TESDA and other critical stakeholders.

Why add two more years?

To decongest and enhance the basic education curriculum
To provide better quality education for all
The Philippines is the only remaining country in Asia with a 10-year basic education program
K+12 is not new. The proposal to expand the basic education dates back to 1925.
Studies in the Philippines have shown that an additional year of schooling increases earnings by 7.5%.
Studies validate that improvements in the quality of education will increase GDP growth by 2% to 2.2%.
Minus 2 instead of plus 2 for those families who cannot afford a college education but still wish to have their children find a good paying job. Right now, parents spend for at least 4 years of college to have an employable child. In our model, parents will not pay for 2 years of basic education that will give them an employable child. In effect, we are saving parents 2 years of expenses. The plan is not “Plus 2 years before graduation” but “Minus 2 years before work
To inspire a shift in attitude that completion of high school education is more than just preparation for college but can be sufficient for a gainful employment or career.

How much will this cost?

The immediate cost for the program will not be needed until 2016 when the first year of the two additional years is implemented.
Meanwhile, we will continue to close the resource gaps in basic education – the President ordered DepEd to its close resource gaps in 2 years.

At this time, we estimate the total funding requirement to procure all needed resources at P150 billion for:

152,569 new classrooms
103,599 more teachers
95.6 million more books
13.2 million seats

What will society gain from K+12

K+12 will facilitate an accelerated economic growth.
K+12 will facilitate mutual recognition of Filipino graduates and professionals in other countries.
A better educated society provides a sound foundation for long-term socio-economic development.
Several studies have shown that the improvements in the quality of education will increase GDP growth by as much as 2%. Studies in the UK, India and US show that additional years of schooling also have positive overall impact on society.

Are private schools obliged to follow?

While we enjoy the support of private school associations, we are yet to discuss with them the implementation of the program.

Where are we at now?

Insufficient mastery of basic competencies is common due to a congested curriculum. The 12 year curriculum is being delivered in 10 years.
High school graduates are younger than 18 years old and lack basic competencies and maturity. They cannot legally enter into contracts and are not emotionally mature for entrepreneurship / employment.
Other countries view the 10-year education cycle as insufficient.

K+12 Education Vision

Graduates of Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program will:

Acquire mastery of basic competencies.
Be more emotionally mature.
Be socially aware, pro-active, involved in public and civic affairs.
Be adequately prepared for the world of work or entrepreneurship or higher education.
Be legally employable with potential for better earnings.
Be globally competitive.
Every graduate of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program is an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that is rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, the capability to engage in autonomous critical thinking, and the capacity to transform others and one’s self.

Source: deped.gov.ph

Warm then Cold Water Good for Skin

2011-12-10T20:50:00.005+08:00

In bathing and washing, I've always believed that warm water do me good.

Since i moved to Singapore, which is equally a tropical country like the Philippines, I've learned that bathing and washing in warm water is not only relaxing but also beneficial to my skin. Not only until i returned home to the Philippines and lived back here long that i realized .. I might be wrong.

Not counting tomorrow's future trip to salon, i've had 3 hair spa's already in the last 2 months. Not that hair spa is a pain at all nor too expensive to have, but its the dryness and the stiffness that i cant take. Whenever i look at how my hair falls dull, i feel miserable. I have many physical imperfections, but if i can help it, oh God please, not the hair, and certainly, not the skin.

Deepwell. The bathing water i used in the Philippines is not centralized nor it is the same in Singapores 'cleaned' whatsoever. It a deepwell. and the water most likely is impure, yes we have filtration, and yes, we've had the most number of pipes installed all the way down. But to no avail, the water still suck, whenever i bathe, i feel like getting minerals on my skin, minerals just like how an iron or aluminum smell? or how coarse the metal shavings are when on water. I had my work around. I am basically blaming the water for my poor skin and hair. It went on for months and me trying to get the best filter i could to install in the bathroom faucet.

And so i realized, its not the water. Or its not the water,only.

What were my regimen back in Singapore? i should consider those right?

Lots of fruits. In Singapore i dont eat much chips, but lots of fruits, longgan and grapes.

Less fried chicken, Backin Singapore i've opted out from Old Changkee Friend Chicken Wings on my first 2 months and decided to remove it from my vocabulary on the third month. Its just soo not healthy (but trust me they are heaven yummy, mybf love them so much too)

Occassional Vitamin E facial. Well i do this on my own, there are vitamin E capsules, i prick it and apply it to my face, normally every other week when i feel my skin is really stressed.

Shampoo and Conditioner. I actually use the same brand. Panteen Soft and Silky.

Soap. I can go about using any kind of soap, but im fond of papaya soaps, i think it makes my skin fairer. However i often get bored using the same scent of soap soexpiriment all the time, specially for body soap. For facial soap, itend to stick to whatever makes me feel better and gives me result.

Moisturizer. Not a fan but im keeping a few types, Nivea and Olay. I apply only when i feel like it. Im so not into the greasy feel. I use moisturizer only when my facial skin feels dry and the air is causing it, ahmm just like how it feels during Christmas season.

I tried to do and practice what i've been doing before and still without luck im doomed to a parlor visit in the next 24 hours. But why? Why can't i get the same result?

I this regard, i made a research on the internet and found out - i was really mistaken.

Dry skin and hair. Because i bathe with warm water every morning. Only warm, i dont even rinse in cold or tap temp water, that explains it. i've been so inlove with warm water only to realize its the one possibly causing it. On the other hand, the differencethat i missed to remember was, i had a bathroom heater in Singapore (and have only kettle wonder here.crap). When i bathe, i adjust the water, to warm, then cold, then warmer, then colder, i finish my bathing with a really hot (most i can tolerate and i can tolerate a lot, max on my heater), then i apply whatever i need to apply oil, lotion, moisturizer,toner (im so moody with lotions or the greasy things) then i step inside the airconditioned room with enough cold level to trap the moisture and heat inside my skin. I change to my office clothes and walk to office.. Oh yes, another point.. i never take a bus or train to the office, i only walk, no pollution. Whereas here,i travel 1 hour to work, then i walk 15 mins after the bus in a street filled of cars and people on a rush hour. So thats the trick that made my skin and hair really nice when i was in Singapore.

My photo when i was in SG (a yr ago)

Christmas Bonus

2011-12-04T19:33:00.006+08:00

Apparently, in my 30 yrs of existence out of which more than 10 yrs of working with various companies, i've never really received a Christmas Bonus (in cash not in kind, thank you!). I feel bad to be accepting the fact that i'm not as lucky as i believed with my "Employers". Well Christmas is the biggest holiday for me, and i guess for most yeah? It would lift me beyond heavens having more bucks to spend for food, buying gifts, give aways and keepsakes, charity work etc etc.. the list just runs on and on.. its Christmas! everyone's supposed to be celebrating!

Oh Well, just because i'm bitter not having 'that' again this year, i thought of researching where the hell bonus during Christmas holidays came from, how in the world is that fair that i never ever get to have one for the last 10 years? Oh Santa!

Evolution of the Christmas Bonus

It used to be that business owners would give gifts to all of their employees as a sign of gratitude for all the hard work they have done for the year that passed. This was the origin of the "Christmas bonus". What happened and how come it is what it is now?

An owner of a small manufacturing company, Mr.X was a generous person. His business was doing well and profits were growing steadily. One Christmas, he decided to share the company's blessings to all of his employees.

He gave them ham for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were all very much grateful and delighted. The ham was a symbol of their pride. They felt they were vital to the company's success.

A few years have past, the employees slowly got sick of always receiving ham for Christmas. Some say they didn't like to eat ham. Some say the brand of ham given was not the best. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them food baskets for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were all very grateful and delighted. The food basket was a symbol of their influence. They felt their voice was being heard.

A few years have past, the employees slowly got sick of always receiving food baskets for Christmas. Some say they didn't like to eat too much while some say it was still not enough. Some say they didn't want to receive food as a gift. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them gift baskets for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were all grateful and delighted. The gift basket was a symbol of their triumph. They felt their will is being followed.

A few years have past, the employees slowly got sick of always receiving gift baskets for Christmas. Some say they didn't like to carry the heavy gift baskets, while some say the gifts were still not enough. Some said they wanted to choose which gift they want to receive. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them a gift vouchers for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were somewhat grateful and delighted. The gift voucher was a symbol of privilege. They felt it was only proper for them to be rewarded every year with what they really want.

Do you know what happened next? Some employees didn't like the store whey they got the gift voucher from! Some said the store was too expensive while some said it was too cheap. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them CASH for Christmas. The cash gift became the employees' symbol of power. They felt that it was their right to receive the cash gift every year.

Since then, the Christmas bonus was not treated as a thank you from Mr.X. Rather, it was just that extra money the employees receive by the end of the year.

Disclaimer : This is a fiction, article from the web previously written and published at www.blogtopsites.com

Trend Micro Philippines "NOOOO" contest

2011-12-02T21:29:00.003+08:00

Hi guys,

Just wanna let you know that Again, Trend Micro is giving away an Ipad 2. All you need is to submit your entry of a NOOOOO face ..

Fun isn't it? and really really cute !!

Here is my entry, my nephew in the picture, he was obviously on a NOOOO rampage because i stole his pacifier!!

Dont you wish to get a FREE ipad 2 this Christmas?? Join now! all it takes is your Noooo Face :)

Have Fun guys. Click here to join this contest.

xoxo

Decorating For Christmas 2011

2011-11-27T14:56:00.014+08:00

Its better late then never. Its a sunday today and i decided to make most outof the last few hours of me being on "Rest" mode. Decorating the house is one of my Christmas Tradition. I normally spend quite an amount for my decoration, but i've grown practical to i just reuse the

old one from last Christmas.

Color Coded. I love a color coded or themed Christmas decoration. Unlike before, Christmas colors are normally red, green or so until abt 10 yrs ago, silver came in, then blue, then some metallic chrome, mixed with all hues of metallic nature, nowadays, Christmas decorations vary from colors, settings, texture or tone, so experimenting different color combinations is quite fun.

This year my mom opted out for the Christmas tree. The living room was too small, putting up one with all the ornaments would occupy too much space, thus moving around would be uncomfortable. But the thought of Christmas without a tree isjust too dull for me so instead of putting up the whole tree, i just took the uppermost portion of the tree and stick it in a vase. Put on some rice bulbs, a few ornaments that are neither too big nor native and now Now i have a table top Christmas Tree.'

Since space is a big factor, just like last yr, hanging lanterns was a good option. So i just tried variety of balls intoa string, put on some poinsettias, ribbons etc.

I also replace the plastic flowers with various colors of poinsettias, so i have another piece aside from my table top tree. Unlike the previous Christmasses (decorations), this year will be the most simple arrangement i had, but it don't matter is it. I am home, that what matters now.

The outside of my home is also adorned with a few Christmas lights, my father hung them from the tree in front of the house, a few also in the garage. My mother put star lanterns near the gates.

Images of Christmas in Philipines 2011

2011-10-30T21:33:00.007+08:00

Just a collection of images while i go around everywhere in Manila during weekends, workdays and anytime i feel like it. I made this because i haven't done this before (like collect the pics into a blog and share it). Its a shame i dont have dslr for better picture quality (which reminds me how much i wanted to buy one). Photos are taken from either my Nokia 6267, iphone, samsung/cannon digicam with equally acceptable resolution (not that i have a choice) ..

Well, i realized how happy Christmas season in the Philippines is, and i would like to remember it even if i am away (or would be away in the coming years). I'll shoot anything that fancies me, and share it until There's not a single thing i could see that means Christmas.

My Christmas Collections from the Cheapest to the Posh

(all are mere opinion, no advertising intended)

Shang's Candylicious Sweet Christmas

Shangrila Edsa's Christmas Decoration is awesome. Starting from Doors to walls to ceilings. Its theme is candy /cake / bread or whatever you call it. Not entirely a Christmas symbol aside from the fact that ginger breads were often served during Christmas seasons. Nonetheless, creativity had it.

Shang's main entrace facing Shaw Blvd. Fom the inside.

Lovely isn't it? those big lantern like cakes, muffins and gifts, rather train of gifts, hang from above.

The basement's view from escalator would show almost the same style, hanging decorations with lighting, really nice effect.

From below, basement floor, food court.

From below left wing. Left wing is decorated with cakes and muffins, while right wing is decorated with toy cars and gifts. Also hanging.

The gingerbread house. Its as big as a realhouse. Kids can actually fit. But they cannot open or go in, only take picture from beside it. When the security guard isn't in bad mood, kids can get inside the ring and actually take picture beside the house. even touch it.

A bigger view. Dang, my iphone cam killed the quality.

Is it a tree or a cake? or a cake tree?

These snowpals are undoubtedly the most popular in the showcase, almost all kids and even older ones stand ther side for a picture.

High isn't it?

Genuinely creative. Gingerbread dolls apparently made of cloth, foam, and intricate details are really amazing..

Even the Escalator aisle is adorned with garlands and gingerbreads made of styrofoam, colored clothes, fancy pins, sequins etc.

This is my personal favorite, the purple giant clown. standing out amongst the rest.

Yummy cakes and muffins and other gigantic things that hung but definitely not edible at all.

Just passing by at Shangrila, ofcourse you wont miss Rustan's. A Class-A department store for the well-off ones. I did not bother to go in cause im in a hurry going home i just took some shots from outside. I did not bother as there's a great chance taking pictures inside is not allowed.
Well, Rustan's have this very classy posh appeal that makes me actually feel like im in Singapore's Ion Orchard or Tang's.

A touch of native combined with glass, makes everything very flashy, very classic and yet indeed very Christmassy

A Visit to Divisoria : October 2011

Store owners and Christmas Ornaments vendors started taking out their 'old' stocks of christmas decorations and put them on super low sale.Some items are not old, but new ones, but mostly old designs (its October FGS). Just like Fashion,Christmas decorations are also a trend.

At 168 Mall in Divisoria, this is infront the 168 admin office. it used tobe a place where people can just rest on some stools lying around but now they lease it for some Bazaar like this.

The Big Santa and the Foil Garlands are soo from yesterday

A cheaper variation of table top Christmas Tree. I remember doing something like this when i was younger, only that, those were made of "walis tingting" upside down.

selling old stocks before new ones come and outdate them

native beauty, anything that's made from native looks rather classy than cheap. its actually more expensive

Christmas Trees of Different Sorts

Table top, turning and optically lighted trees, table top native trees, they also have built in music system that plays caroles. i think those make good gifts bec its very handy. but who would give a xmas tree for a gift? (well i did lol)

Native slim pyramids, those are actually christmas trees that you can use as lamp post, ideal to put on sides and corners. Normally made with metalbase and abaca skins, adorned with smal flowers, xmas balls etc.

Spruce tree this reminds me how much i wanted to change our christmas tree this season. the materials used in christmas trees nowadays are so much different from my old tree. well, its 10 yrs more or less lol

Another shop from the same mall but in different area, Filipinos can make anything feel christmas by just putting it all together. halogen lights, led lights, garlands, wreaths etc.

The Threats Coming

2011-10-07T09:32:00.005+08:00

Dear Readers,
Okay this is morbid but i frankly tell you, this chain of posts may be able to help me after i am gone or anybody relevant to me or my father, for that matter..
How so? let me begin with a story.

A child(dsm) was born on 3rd june from a semi - spanish father(dm) and a cebuana mother(cv). child became boy and yet still to young and unfortunate, but both parents were earlier separated. the father was a womanizer and had another child (dms) with another woman(n), but also never settled instead found another woman(luz).(and who knows if there are any other women in between). the mother(cv) found herself a good man (rt) and settled a new family, with (rt) she raised 4 more kids (rt,ot,ct,st) now all grown up wives. the boy became a man, married a woman 31 years ago, raised their family with 2 daughters beautiful daughters. the man is my father, and of course i'm one of the daughter, i mean beautiful daughter. ha-ha.

I had a vague memory of my grandfather, but i know he was existent in our lives when i was younger. I was born in Pasig, we lived there for roughly 4 or 5 years, those were the first few years of my life, before we moved to Mindoro. I remember how my grandfather looks like, he's a mestizo, he had sunburnt most of the time, when i was still a kid, he was very macho. Oh he's a playboy afterall, how can he look dull? He would visit us once in a while and bring me a lot of Popsicles with monggo or buko. I remember him hugging me, and the scent of beer coming from his breath mixed with his strong masculine perfume is something i cannot forget. I was 4.

I grew up pretty fast. But i grew at the thought that my grandfather abandoned my dad. He was left at such an early age, during those years that broken families were not a trend and single parents were not an acceptable social status. Many years ago, lolo mestiso died,but the death of my grandfather is something that sadden me only bec i knew how my dad felt. He was abandoned, but never was an orphan to his dad, but now he is. Well, Blood is thick, as the saying goes.

Now.. many years after his death, my father has begun a journey in looking for some assets left to him and his mother. He has been working on getting documents and evidences many months ago. he has consulted lawyers.

Setting : a portion of the property left by my grandfather (conjugal property of lolo and lola) has been sold despite the HOLD ORDER to release title and or sell..
the property was sold to rom(ds) wife of ant(ds) daughter of an "alleged (DL)" (BLK).. the property being conjugal, and the hold being in place, my grand mother and father filed a case to adverse claim.

BLK is a known person in Marikina, he is rich and powerful. This is the start of the threat. to deal with a person like this may not exactly be the best move. My father have long known about this, since we don't have any means to pay a trusted lawyer before, he gave up hope in claiming his rights over the properties left by my grandfather.

Last Monday October 03, he went to San Mateo to file the case.
(Everything Beyond this will be in Tagalog)
Ang bilis nga naman ng usad ng impormasyon para sa mayayaman (at makapangyarihan) ano? Imaginin mo.. hindi pa tapos magfile ng kaso ang papa ko sa munisipyo, pero eto ang kinakasuhan.. tinatawagan na ang abogado ng papa ko.. ibig sabihin?? may tao ang mayamang DL na si BLK sa munisipyo?? hindi naman nakakapagtaka.. ikaw na ang maging 'makapangyarihan' at 'Alleged' DL. Alleged kasi hindi sakin nanggaling yan at wala akong basehan, pero galing yan sa paniniwala ng karamihan!
So nakipagkita si BLK sa abogado ni papa na si Atty Agui at nagkausap sila doon, well hindi daw magandang usapan ang nilabasan, dahil bastos daw kausap si BLK..(Mahinahon na tao c Atty Agui at ang kanyang mga proyekto ay para sa mahihirap).. Kahit noon pa, ayaw na sana ni Papa na habulin ang parte ng lupa na nabenta kay BLK, delikado daw kasi, pero ngayun, nagbago ang isip nya, gusto nya kasing mapakinabangan ang mga naiwan sa kanya ng kanyang ama. para naman guminhawa ang buhay namin. Ang sabi ni BLK, alam daw ng kapatid ni papa ang tungkol dito, at eversince, alam daw ni tita (dms) and pagbebenta ng lupa sa kanya.. Kung totoo ito, mabuti pa ang anak sa labas ano? may napakinabangan na..Subalit, nasa America c tita (dms) kaya sinulatan sya ng papa ko thru email, naka cc po ako at kapatid ko ang nagtype. Sa email ipinaalam ni papa kay tita (dms) na nagfile sila ng kaso at sinabi ni BLK na alam nya ang mga transactions ng bentahan ng lupa.Kahapon ang email(october 6)
Ngayun, wala pang reply si tita (dms)

Nakakatakot talaga, dahil indi namin alam ang iniisip gawin ni BLK, diba nga 'alleged DL' sya?? Napakaraming pwedeng gawin ng isang taong mapera at 'alleged DL'.. Kung totoo ang 'allegations' tungkol kay BLK, ipinagdarasal konalang na sana, ilayo sa disgrasya si Papa, sana maging patas ang batas, sana maging patas si BLK. Masamang pumatay ng tao!

Ngayun october 07 2011, tatawag c papa sa court para alamin from the clerk kung tapos na ung document na kelngan nitong itype dahil dadalhin un ni papa sa RD ng Marikina, ipapaannotate daw ung certificate..

Sana maging okay ang lahat..

(Somewhere in this blog u will find what those Symbols mean) for security and confidentiality purposes i will not be able to publicly give out names and identities. this is a personal blog, however this is also publicly accessible)

Gamja! Gamja! Garlic Potato

2011-09-25T13:27:00.008+08:00

While waiting for my BF to fetch me,I strolled at the basement of Robinson's Galleria in search for a nice finger food. I thought of going for donuts or potato corner but before i reach their booths, i found this new shop located just exactly right infront of the Supermarket.

It smelled very enticing so i told myself why not give it a try :)

Gamja! Gamja!

Gamja is a Korean term for 'potato'. It is derived from the Korean side dish called Gamja Jarim. However despite being Korean in Nature, Gamja!Gamja! is not too spicy, there's a slight kick and due to it having garlic, but its just very mild, it is very calming. Gamja Gamja's taste is adjusted to Filipino taste not being too spicy, a little sweet and flavorful due to the combination of corn syrup, and a little bit salty due to the soy sauce.. Its a little bit sticky but the potatoes are also a little bit crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside.(in my opinion it is nicer to include the peel)

they also come in nice packaging container with holes on top.

saves u from the mess

Gamja!Gamja! is available in three different sizes: Potpot- PhP39, Jaja PhP49 and Garlee size PhP59.

Heres a little sample recipe

Ingredients

2 potatoes, peeled and cut (not too big)

onion, sliced

1 tbsp red pepper paste

1 tsp red chili powder(optional)

2 cloves of garlic, crushed (adjust amt depends on your love for garlic)

1 carrot thinly sliced (optional)

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp corn syrup or honey

sesame seeds for garnish

Cooking Instructions:

Stir fry the potatoes and onions in oil. Its nicer when its browned and a little crispy on the corners
Add the pepper paste, chili powder, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, corn syrup, and a little water.
Cover and turn down the heat.
Cook until the potatoes are tender.
Serve with sesame seeds and carrot as garnish.

I miss Celestia Luna

2011-09-24T22:58:00.014+08:00

Did I mentioned from an old post that i am currently playing an online game? Well, i do.. I am playing Celestia Luna and loving it :) just recently i've been very busy with work so rather than playing, i just rest as soon as i get home. I thought of sharing my Celestia Luna experience so here are a few pictures.

I used to play a different game (rpg) but i quitted when i moved to Singapore. During the stressful days,i really long to be home, however i can't. Philippines is too far to often travel back and forth, not only that, its also quite costly to be coming home so often. I know i needed a new environment so i could enjoy time and detress. I asked my bf to look for an onlinegame since i dont want to go back playing rose or reviving other online games,after being gone too long i'm sure it would be very hard to go back to a long playing rpg. I wanted something new but something free, something fast paced but is definitely not something thats item mall centered at all. Just a balance gaming where hardwork pays off. We tried Celestia Luna, and we loved it.


This is my First Character, She is a Grand Master, wearing her typical gypsy set, a smart worm, +13 athena hammer and her brand new Industrialist Hair that makes her look like Tasartia. Lazy, i stopped levelling her after reaching a good level. Quite a failure in path i took with her, very hard to solo, good aoe but very slow cooltime. She stayed on my account, iuse her to shop, go around the game and deal with buyers and seller. Was never deleted ans never will be for she bears my name.

These two bunny babes are my vendors. Sometimes i use both but normally i use the yellow hair as i only vend on 1 char most of the time.. on a normal day my shop contains crafted gems, crafted weapons like Dominator and Death Maker, sometimes we also sell heaps of glasses and hats from Lucky 4th box bec it is available from the item mall for only 10GP. In our unfortunate luck for getting a pair of Hegemonic Rainbow, we ended up with tons of trashes that normallygoes dragged outside and destroyed while the others with descent stats gets sold at a cheaper price.

My main char shopping around the town of Nera at channel 1.At the moment, vending in Celstia Luna is concentrated on one map only and only first 3 channel out of the many is enabled to putting up a shop.

PVP IN CELESTIA LUNA: PvP comes in between me and my bf after (1)change job (2)reset (3)new gears (4)bored >:)
My BF and I on our PVP, just testing my damage after getting my new BWL suit from donation. Lets Begin!
this is me on my Sword Master winning over my BF whos a Magnus
Now im dead :(
Now its a Draw
But still I won !!Yey!!

Whenever we make characters ingame, we always make a pair, we always make it a point that the pair have a good team. This is my Assasin and this is my BFs Warrior. My Assasin has stayed lvl 80 and ihave since then kept her at that level for farming. She is stationed at Makas spot and changes channel to channel when we are farming. This is one way i earn my money ingame. I farm..Faithfully :)
GrandMaster ans Paladin. Our First Few days in Celestia Luna. When my BF crafted our first pair of wedding dresses.
Assasin and Gladiator
My Inquirer and my BFs Soul Arbiter.
My Cardinal and BF's Paladin
My SwordMaster and BF's Magnus
My Assasin and Lower Boss Farmer.
My SM and Naila Harbor Farmer
My Second Main. My Cardinal. Since i was getting bored and bored playing with myGrand Master myBF and i decided to make me a new char and since im quite fascinated with Mages, plus the fact that most of mygears were for mage, we decided to make me a Cardinal. I enjoyed every level playing with this cardinal. She can solo, She is fast, great damage, high def, great buffs.
My Third Main. My Inquirer. Almost as nice as the cardinal, great deal damager and awsome buffs too.
My Fourth Main. My SwordMaster. Definitely my only char that is not a mage but he most i enjoyed amongst all my chars. Imba skills, capable of soloing, great in PvP. This char is also my Naila Harbor Farmer.

my cardinal on her farming set and on her levelling set

my archer in the making :)
BOSSES and FARMING
My Makas farmer as she takes her rounds
My SM and BFs Magnus as we take turns farming the 3 bosses in one region, this area of the map has 3 bosses adjacent to each other.
Other Spots : We also farm in the Gate of Alker for Powder and in Naila Harbor for Ingot
DATING DUNGEON !! Lets go on a Date! This is the dating Dungeon of Celestia Luna, at the moment, only characters with opposite genders can date each other (i dont know if they will make changes in the future for same sex dating) Dating dungeon rooms are divided in terms of level. It is a place where exp is so much higher and monstersdefense are so much lower. Easy kill and easy EXP.




FASHION !! FASHION!! Hehehe. the photos below are taken after my bf and icompleted item mall sets for all of our first 4 chars (at that time we onlyhave 2 chars each). Ofcourse i wont miss it for another pictorial. We even made the chars danced together but end up with this. not synced but definitely not any lesser cute.







The two pictured below are my entries to one of the contest in Celestia Luna Forums for DressUp your Character. I draw the dresses thru adobe Photoshop (just a beginner kekeke) unfortunately i did not win, there are some other concepts that are nicer, also i should have made a pair to show also how the guy costume would look like.

My Sailor Inspired Sexy Babes


GUILD Well I said i am playing but i did notmentioned im living ingame so, i did not join a single clan in Celestia Luna instead my bf and I made a guild and put all our characters in there so it is easy to communicate with each other even if using a diffrent char. We created so many chars our guild points eventually enough to level the guild to Grade 3.

Win an IPAD with Trend Micro Pilipinas

2011-09-11T14:26:00.006+08:00

I just bumped into a website with a promotion about a free IPAD so i thought of signing up and trying, after all it is free and just very quick. Trend Micro is building up their fansite and this promotion will really help bring more "likes" to their page. JOIN THIS CONTEST

Trend Micro Pilipinas Contest Terms and Conditions :

This contest is open to anyone above the age of 17 years. All staff of Trend Micro and INEO Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd are disqualified from winning any prizes in the main draw.
*However, an Internal Referral Contest is open for TrendLabs PH employees only. Employees from other BUs are not included.
Contest period is between 19th August 2011 - 16th September 2011, Pilipinas time.
Winner will be drawn randomly based on the number of chances allocated.
All entries are allocated one chance in the draw. For every Facebook user that you successfully refer to participate in the contest through your own unique referral url, you will get 1 extra chance.
Friends and non-friends who sign up through your referral url will be credited as a successful referral for you.
You can use the link for your reference and tweet about it, put on your blog, forum or just send an email to your family and friends informing them about it. Along with the drawing of the winner, we will reward the top referral (based on number of successful referrals) with a set prize separately.
During the contest period, you can view your number of chances in the Contest Details page.
Results will be announced before 30th September 2011.
You will need to come down to our office in Pilipinas to collect the prize should you win.
The contest rules, terms and conditions may be changed due to unforeseen situations.
Contestants found cheating (creating many shell Facebook accounts to take part in the contest) will be disqualified immediately.
All information provided may be used for research and statistics usage and is not sold or given to any 3rd party outside of Trend Micro Pilipinas.
INEO Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd has been engaged to design, manage and run Trend Micro Pilipinas' Social Media Campaigns on Facebook. They are bound by a non-disclosure agreement not to sell, use or give away any information collected.

If you have any questions about the contest, drop us a message on our wall at http://www.facebook.com/TrendMicroPH.

:))

Im Playing Luna

2011-09-10T13:44:00.005+08:00

Hi guys!

All work and no play makes Maumau a dull girl yeah? so i just wanna let u know that i am still online in some other game aside from Rose. Don't get me wrong I still love Rose :) Its just that a lot of things have changed now since i left.

I am playing Celestia Luna. A private server for Luna Online that will never ever become a Plus. That's a good thing. I believe and held on to that promise from the staff and owner of this Private server.

My Character in Celestia Luna. She's a Cardinal

PLAY CELESTIA LUNA AND HAVE FUN

~_~

How to Make Parol (Filipino Christmas Lantern)

2011-09-09T13:25:00.008+08:00

There is nothing more popular as a Christmas decoration in the Philippines than the Star Lantern locally known as Parol (Pah-rroll). All through out the Christmas Season, star shaped lanterns can be found hanging outside their homes and along side streets. Parol making in the Philippines starts as early as 3 months before Christmas.

History of Parol

The earliest parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper, crepe paper, and a candle or coconut oil-lamp for illumination; although the present day parol can take many different shapes and forms. Around Manila, parols made of Capiz shell or plastic illuminate the city.

One of the most spectacular innovations can be found in the city of San Fernando where 20 foot tall parols with kaleidoscopic blinking lights are paraded through the streets on truck beds. Whatever the material or shape, the parol is a recognizable symbol to all Filipinos and represents the star ofBethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to the manger of the newly-born Jesus Christ.

The word parol comes from the Spanish word for lantern, farol. According to World Book's Christmas in the Philippines, the roots of the parol can be found in the Mexican piñata.

The piñata came to Spain from Italy in the 1300's, spread to Mexico and finally came to the Philippines when the Spaniards brought Christianity to the islands. The book A Child's Pasko: Christmas in the Philippines explains that the parol was originally used to light the way to church to attend the daily Misas de Aguinaldo, or Gift Masses, which begin on the 16th of December, and ends with the Misa de Gallo, or "Mass of the Rooster" at midnight of Christmas eve. The midnight mass is followed by a usuallylavish meal at home, which is always anticipated by the kids. The first Misa de Aguinaldo that is held at dawn on December 16th marks the official start of the Christmas season.

Credits:

MyParol, AsianArtMuseum

Related Articles

Christmas in the Philippines 2011

2011-09-04T14:38:00.003+08:00

Just as I predicted! Facebook posts flooded by Pinoys as soon as the calendar stroke 1st of September. It is not the holidays just yet, but the initial entry of the "BER months" means only one thing; Count down starts to Christmas in the Philippines. Despite being a poor and economically behind country in Asia, Filipinos are proud to proclaim their Christmas celebration to be the longest and merriest in the world. Although they start preparing when the BER months enter, The Christmas Season begins formally on December 16 with attendance at the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses and continues on nonstop until the first Sunday of January, Feast of the Three Kings, the official end of the season.. As i have experienced being abroad during Christmas (for years), believe me, nothing compares to Christmas in the Philippines. This is one of the best times to be home in Pinas.

Unlike other countries, who can experience white Christmas, there is no snow in the Philippines. There are very few pine trees. There is no traditional Yule log or fetching of the pine sprigs from the woods. And Santa Claus, though visible in displays and believed by most Filipino children to exist, seldom comes bearing gifts. Nonetheless, there is no doubt its Christmas in the Philippines.

Filipinos love to adorn their homes with different decorations embodying the Christmas Spirit. From Christmas Trees of different styles to lanterns, Wreaths, Ribbons, Christmas lights, and the traditional Parol.

The Filipino Christmas Tradition

It is a Must for families to get together on Christmas. The most important season of the year must be spent with the ones you love. Children are to visit the homes of their grandparents and kiss their hands or bow to them, in the Philippines it is referred to as "Pagmamano" .. Families and friends see each other, enjoy a nice conversation with each other over a bountiful lunch or dinner and exchange gifts.

Filipino Traditions on Christmas includes the following:

Simbang Gabi
Noche Buena
Puto Bumbong and Bibingka
Parol
Filipino Christmas Songs and Carole

Pasko Na Naman

Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw.
Paskong nagdaan, tila ba kung kelan lang.
Ngayon ay Pasko, dapat pasalamatan.
Ngayon ay Pasko, tayo ay mag-awitan.
Pasko, Pasko, Pasko na namang muli,
Pasko, Pasko, Pasko na namang muli!
Ang pag-ibig naghahari!

Pasko na Sinta Ko

Pasko na sinta ko
Hanap-hanap kita
Bakit nagtatampo't
Nilisan ako

Kung mawawala ka,
Sa piling ko sinta,
Paano ang Pasko
Inulila mo?
Sayang sinta,
Ang sinumpaan
At pagtitinginan tunay.
Nais mo bang kalimutang ganap
Ang ating suyuan at galak?

Kung mawawala ka,
Sa piling ko sinta,
Paano ang Paskong
Alay ko sa iyo?

Kay Sigla ng Gabi

Kay sigla ng gabi, ang lahat ay kay saya!
Nagluto ang Ate ng manok na tinola,
Sa bahay ng Kuya ay mayroong litsonan pa!
Ang lahat ay may handang iba't-iba.
Tayo na giliw, magsalo na tayo!
Meron na tayong tinapay at keso.
Di ba Noche Buena sa gabing ito,
At bukas ay araw ng Pasko!

Related Articles
Christmas Bonus
How to Make Parol
Images of Christmas 2011
My Home during Christmas 2011

Free Coffee at McDonald's Philippines (Aug 8-12, 2011)

2011-08-10T08:13:00.002+08:00

Good morning! Its a wet Wednesday for most, another storm is on its way but frown not my dear friends because we got something good coming today.

What's nicer than a cup of coffee than to share with friends and family? Now that's even nicer because it is Free.
You heard me. Free! McDonalds Philippines is giving away free coffee!

Get a chance to grab a free 8 oz. McCafe Premium Roast Coffee starting today August 8 to August 12 at any McDonald’s breakfast store from 4:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Coupons are distributed as early as August 5 and is still on going. Just keep a lookout for McDonald’s crew who will distribute the coupons in selected offices, universities, colleges, terminals, churches and even outside the McDonald’s stores nationwide.

Need more info? Visit their Facebook Page

Book 1: Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles)

2011-06-30T18:27:00.005+08:00

Behold !! My idol Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles debut its first book called Red Pyramid.
This is a story of 2 ordinary siblings a girl and a boy whose lives are turned on the eve of Christmas. They learned that they are special children, strongest of their kind. Read the first book of the Series to know more about them and their journeys as they try to win a battle that holds the destiny of the world. (That's so Rick Riordan huh.. End-of-the-world-in-a-few-days-and-kids-saving-the-day). For those who loved Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, this is more like it except that Kane chronicles is based on Egyptian Gods and Goddesses not Greek. A little bit of Roman mythology mentioned herein to give emphasis to the eras of Egypt as they were conquered by Romans and been colonized for many centuries.
This Novel is very very rich in Egyptian culture, worth reading and may possibly keep up with Percy Jackson and the Olympians in time.

Book 1 : The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus)

2011-06-20T13:55:00.008+08:00

The Lost Hero is a 2010 fantasy-adventure novel written by Rick Riordan and based on "Greek and Roman mythology". It is the first book in the series The Heroes of Olympus, the next series about Camp Half-Blood. It was preceded by the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, which focused solely on Greek mythology. The Lost Hero was released on October 12, 2010.

Summary

Jason is a boy who suffers from amnesia. He wakes up on a school bus not remembering anything from his past, including anything about who he is. He is sitting next to Piper McLean, a girl who appears to be his girlfriend, and a boy, Leo Valdez, who says he is Jason's best friend. The bus is taking them, along with the rest of their grade at their school, the Wilderness School, on a field trip to the Grand Canyon. While they are there, storm spirits, or venti, attack the three. Their supervising teacher, Coach Gleeson Hedge, reveals himself to be a satyr, and helps fights the venti. Jason surprises himself by using a sword disguised as a coin to fight off the spirits, and Coach Hedge is captured while defending them. At the height of the battle, two pegasi land next to them carrying strangers: Annabeth and a boy named Butch with a rainbow tattoo; he is a son of Iris. Annabeth is angry because she had a vision that she would find a clue to her missing boyfriend, Percy Jackson, at the Grand Canyon. She was told to look for the "boy with the missing shoe"; Jason lost a shoe in the battle, but has no memories of his own identity, let alone Percy Jackson's whereabouts. Jason, Piper and Leo are informed that they are demigods (children of a god and a mortal) and are taken back to Camp Half-Blood where they meet other demigod children like themselves. There, Leo is revealed as a son of Hephaestus, Piper as a daughter of Aphrodite, and Jason as a son of Zeus and the brother of Thalia. He remembers his sister while seeing a picture of her in Cabin One. After scarcely 24 hours of learning about their previously hidden identities, the three receive an urgent quest to rescue Hera, queen of the gods, who was captured by unnamed forces.

The three friends set off on the back of a giant robotic dragon, Festus (which in Latin means "happy") on a cross-country quest to save Hera and Piper's fathaer from the clutches of Enceladus. Their enemies are under orders from Gaea to reawaken her and overthrow the Olympian gods by pulling up- destroying- their original roots in Greece. On their way, Jason, Piper and Leo meet Boreas the North Wind (who lives in the Château Frontenac), a trio of cyclopes, the evil Medea, King Midas, a pack of wolves and Lycaon and the very unhelpful Lord of the Winds, Aeolus. In the end the heroes and their friends, the Hunters of Artemis, manage to save both Piper's father and Hera, whose godly life force was being used to raise the giant Porphyrion. They temporarily stall Gaea's plans, but they were unable to completely destroy the ancient beings, and will have to face them again. With part of his memory returned, Jason realizes that he is a hero from a Roman counterpart to Camp Half-Blood somewhere near Long Island, NY, and that Hera has switched him with the Greek hero Percy Jackson, who is now at the Roman camp with no memory of his life at Camp Half-Blood. Both Jason and Percy had to let the Greek and Roman camps know of each others' existence, so the Roman and Greek demigods must unite to provide the prophesied group of seven heroes who will defeat the giants along with the gods. Jason, Piper, Leo, and Annabeth have to find the Roman camp and convince them to help.

Article : www.wikipedia.org

Miley Cyrus Live in Manila Philippines 2011

2011-06-10T02:13:00.005+08:00

Good new to the fans of Miley like Myself :)

She is coming to the Philippines, her only stop in Asia and we must be proud because she will definitely grace us with good music. I would love to hear her sing my favorite inspirational song "The Climb" and other songs she sang in her movies. Party Philippines yeah:))

Here's the Detail of the Concert

Artist : MILEY CYRUS

Concert Title : Corazon Gitano Tour

When : 17 June 2011 @ 8:00PM

Where : Mall Of Asia Concert Grounds

Ticket Prices

VIP – P 7,640 (Reserved Seating)

GOLD A – P 4,670 (Reserved Seating)

GOLD B – P 4,670 (Free Seating)

SILVER – P 3,500 (Free Seating)

BRONZE – P 1,844 (Standing)

GEN AD – P 650 (Standing)

When: June 17, 2011

Where: SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds

Call Futuretainment Inc. at 577-3265, TicketWorld at 891-9999 or SM Tickets at 470-2222 for more information and ticket reservations.

See you there :))

Disclaimer : Miley Cyrus Concert Poster is property of Ticketworld.Ph

Rainy Season Philippines 2011

2011-06-08T17:27:00.008+08:00

Bring out your umbrellas everyone!

( and don't steal my cat's umbrella ) just kidding its just so cute i drool.

It's been long overdue yeah. Since summer started late and took quite longer to end. But summer had it blast so bye bye beach for now as we brace for the coming of the Wet Season.

“Rain, rain go away, come again another day”

As kids we normally asks the rain to stop specially if its taking too long and pouring down too much. It kinda gets in a way with some planned things or so.
Well rainy season is up expect what it brings along. Storms, floods, skin diseases, diarrhea, power outages, and gloomy days. Apparently one of the only reason why everyone enjoys this season is that its an excuse itself to slack. Feels good be under the sheets whilst the rain is pouring outside. Dvd marathon and hot chocolate.. While dreaming of freshly cooked macaroni or steaming rice soup..

My comfort food for the rainy seasons

Well enough of gloomy day dreaming.. I was browsing the web and thought of sharing what i found out.

Typhoon Names for Philippines From Year 2005 to 2016

Auxiliarry List ( After the list is finished then they use this )

So..

The weather's been all but cocky since 5am today, gushing winds blowing on and off and really frightening. However i heard no news about a tropical storm to hit Philippines or what but according to news there's a low Pressure area somewhere in Mindoro, under strict observation by Pagasa bec it may turn fully into a storm anytime..ohha #ImFeelingLikeNewscaster..

To get the latest weather forecast logon to PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST

Thats all for now :)
#BackToPigginOut

Can Glasses in McDonald's Philippines

2011-06-03T23:11:00.007+08:00

Coca-Cola is 125 yrs old now. This brings something good. Free Can Glasses from McDonalds (well ofcourse, when you buy a meal) Here in the Philippines i believe its a few Pesos after some Meal..
Oh Can Glasses!! So cute lah!!!
I've been waiting for this soon as i heard its out in Malaysia.

Argghhh ! sometimes im just a sucker in collection :)

Coca-Cola, the world's largest beverage company, and McDonalds Corp, have once again collaborated to bring excitement to consumers in Asia- Pacific by offering a series of coloured Coca-Cola can glasses. Coca- Cola Fans will be able to collect the can glasses in six colours (Green, Pink, Lime, Purple, Blue, Charcoal) at McDonald'ds Restaurant. The said can glasses was initially released in the Gulf area somewhat 2009 and was available only in two colors. Green and White. The release was indeed a success.

Coca-Cola is excited to offer once again these glasses in celebration of Coca-Cola's 125th anniversary. McDonalds which has been partner with Coca-Cola since 1955 is offering consumers for a limited time to collect six colors of the can glasses collection.
The glasses will be available in 13 markets namely, Singapore, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Hongkong, Macau, Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia.

The can glasses will be available in the McDonald'ds Philippines come JULY 2011

Photobucket Goes Unlimited

2011-06-03T15:12:00.006+08:00

Dang. Not joking :) Really

It is really unlimited and its indeed a good news yeah?

I've been using photobucket long before i had a facebook account. I find it a good place to host my pictures for my blogs and forums. I also have the Photobucket App on my iphone, i find it really handy to upload the pictures there so i can use it later for blogging.

Free users get all of the following :

Unlimited photo storage
There will be a limit of 500 videos for free users
All storage for free users will be resized (we will not keep originals)
Bandwidth restrictions will remain at 10GB/month for free users

Now’s the time to sign up for an account with Photobucket and upload all your photos and videos to share with family and friends!

Disclaimer : Photobucket reserves the right to limit excess use and unlimited storage offer pertains to non-commercial use only.

Goodbye Friendster

2011-06-01T14:48:00.005+08:00

Friendster was my very first social network site as far as i could remember. And sadly today, 31st May is its last day.

News had it, and Friendster made an announcement as well that they will be shifting from social networking site to a social entertainment site which will focus on gaming and music. The accounts are unchanged and still existing. However, all the photos, messages, comments, testimonials, shoutouts, blogs, forums and groups that the users may have now will no longer be part of the account by May 31, 2011. However due to public requests and demand and possibly to market the new Friendster Content to existing users, they have extended the Exporting Tool until 27th June.

An exporting tool is provided to back-up the information of the user account.

This tool has an ability to export photos to Flickr and Multiply.

How to export photos?

To export your photos:

1. Login to your Friendster Account

2. Install the Friendster Exporter Application (http://apps.friendster.com/exporter)

3. Once installed, open the app and select the option to export photos.

4. Select which site you'd want to export your photos to

5. Select the photo album/s you'd want to export - All albums, whether public or private, can be exported.

6. Authorize the export - You'll be asked to login to the site that you chose, so make sure that you're ready for this.

7. Wait for the export to be completed – You will get a notification email when the export is ready. If the export is still "pending", it means the export is still in-process and not yet ready. There's no problem here. If it is more than 48 hours and it is still pending, please email help@friendster.com

To find your exported photos in Multiply:

- Login to your Multiply account at http://multiply.com/.

- Click "Media Locker" tab and go to "Photos".

To check your exported photos in Flickr:

- Login to your Flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/.

- Click "Your Photostream" link.

Note: Friendster will process your request but not real time, they will send you a confirmation via email that the (Zip) file of your profile is ready for download..

If you don't want to gamble on your precious memories lost and wants to be sure you have them safe before the time runs out, You can logon to Friendster and download the photos one by one.. Or you can follow the steps below to download the files to your computer and have it posted somewhere else in the internet.

1. Open friendster.com in Mozilla Firefox browser

2. Login using your username and password

3. Click Photos tab

4. You need to do this per album, so open the first album you want to save

5. Then click on the first photo on the album

6. In the menu bar of the browser, click Tools-->Page Info

7. On Page Info, click MEDIA tab

8. On the list of addresses, select the links which start with http://photos-p.friendster.com. You can select multiple addresses by pressing CTRL button while clicking the links.

9. Click Save As

10. Select the folder where you want to save the images

11. Click Ok. Wait for the images to download.

13. Repeat the same procedure for all images

14. Once the photos have been downloaded, login to your Facebook account, myspace, multiply, or any online sites you have

15. Upload the photos using the upload feature of the site.

16. By default the downloaded file should go somewhere in your computer, it could be in the /Downloads folder.

Disclaimer : Image Quality from that of Friendster after this procedure may differ.

Maruya (Banana Fritters)

2011-05-27T17:11:00.003+08:00

Maruya is my Mom's new recipe for her merienda store.

But her maruya was a lot different from what i know. I thought of only one variant of Maruya (Banana Fritters) and they are sliced bananas sitting side by side cooked using Riceflour mixture.

Maruya - Finished Product

Well, ive learned that this "Pounded Maruya" tastes a lot better because it has more flavour..

So here it goes .

Ingredients:

one whole set (isang piling) Banana (Saba)

half cup Baking powder

one cup Flour

one cup Sugar

two eggs (optional)

half cup milk (optional)

Banana Leaf (optional)

Step 1

Peel off banana skin and prepare them for pounding. You can use mortar and pestle. Slice the bananas in small pieces to make it easy to pound. The outcome does not need to perfectly pounded. A little roughness is fine. Do this for all the bananas.

Step 2

Mix in sifted flour and baking powder to the banana. Add sugar. Optionally you can add eggs and milk for more flavour. Mix untill all ingredients are smooth. Your product will gain a little volume due to the baking powder. Try to taste if it needs more sugar.

mixing the banana paste with all the ingredients

Step 3

Scoop a good amount of the banana paste then put it in a small banana leaf.

The use of banana leaf is optional but it is one of the easiest and most conventional way to do this. Some would directly scoop and put in oil, however it comes messy because it is sticky.

placing the mixture in leaves

Step 4

Heat the pan. Put the banana leaf with the paste in the pan, the maruya will fall off the banana leaf a few second after it is drenched in oil, when that happens carefully remove the banana leaf. You can still use it for the next scoop. In replacement of banana leaf use wax paper, or in other provinces they use palm leaf.

frying the maruya

Fry the maruya evenly, medium to low, poke the middle with a toothpick to know if it is cooked already.

Step 5

Cool and place in basket with tissue paper to remove excess oil.

Serve with a chilling drink of your choice. For me i like to eat it with ice cream. :P

cooling..

For a really nice effect in serving, dash the maruya with confectioner's sugar or for more flavour, try adding cooked ingredients in the mixture likes raisins, etc. I love it with walnuts.

Have a happy meryenda !!

Mary Janice Davidson

2011-01-24T12:33:00.003+08:00

Mary Janice Davidson (born August 1969) is an American author who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult literature and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular Undead series. She is both a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. She won a 2004 Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and was nominated for the same award in 2005.

MaryJanice Davidson invented the vampire chick lit genre . Appearing several times a year on the best-seller list, as well as occasional Federal "person of interest" sheets, she takes time from the living hell that is being paid to do what she loves best to seek out the nearest Cinnabon franchise. Her goals include working for world peace, figuring out how to make potstickers, and speaking at writer and reader conferences around the world.

Start Reading Undead Seriesby Mary Janice Davidson.

*Biography courtesy of www.maryjanicedavidson.net , www.wikipedia.net

Undead Series

2011-01-24T12:31:00.002+08:00

Elizabeth "Betsy" Taylor turns thirty in the most unfortunate manner possible: she is laid off from work and then run down by an SUV. Waking up in the morgue fails to improve her mood, and when she discovers she can't kill herself, she gets downright stroppy. Being proclaimed "Queen of the Vampires" by the obnoxious Eric Sinclair, who places himself first in line to be her consort, proves to be the last straw.

1. Undead and Unwed
2. Undead and Unemployed
3. Undead and Unappreciated
4. Undead and Unreturnable
5. Undead and Unpopular
6. Undead and Uneasy
7. Undead and Unworthy
8. Undead and Unwelcome
9. Undead and Unfinished

Related Articles : Mary Janice Davidson (Author of Undead Series)

Undead and unfinished

2011-01-24T12:29:00.003+08:00

Satan, wants her daughter Laura (Betsy's half-sister), who is the antichrist, to visit Hell so she could understand her heritage. But Satan says Laura would need Betsy to accompany her so that Laura can get to know Betsy better. Betsy agrees, but only under the condition that Satan fix things so that Betsy can read the Book of the Dead for more than just a few minutes. Reading it for more than a few minutes at a time drives a person insane.

Betsy and Laura visit Hell, which results in a time-traveling journey that reveals the history of Betsy's husband, Eric, and that has some serious consequences.

Related Articles:
Prev Book : Undead and Unwelcome
Next Book : Undead and Undermined (2011)
Main Page Undead Series
Mary Janice Davidson

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unwelcome

2011-01-24T12:28:00.002+08:00

Is the eighth book in the Undead series, by MaryJanice Davidson. It was released on June 2, 2009.

Summary: Betsy Taylor has problems that only a vampire queen/suburban wife could possibly understand. Such as taking the body of her werewolf friend Antonia—who died in her service—to Cape Cod, where she's not sure if the Wyndham werewolves will welcome her with fangs or friendship. Meanwhile, her posse back in St. Paul is sending frantic e-mails alerting Betsy to her half-sister's increasingly erratic behavior. Looks like the devil's daughter is coming into her own—and raising hell.

Related Articles:

Prev Book: Undead and Unworthy
Next Book: Undead and Unfinished
Main Page Undead Series
MaryJanice Davidson

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unworthy

2011-01-24T12:26:00.003+08:00

Seventh in the hilarious New York Times best-selling series featuring Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor—now with a hot new look.

No one does humorous romantic fantasy better than the incomparable MaryJanice Davidson” (The Best Reviews), and nobody reigns over the undead with more savvy than her heroine Betsy Taylor,

Back to rule the nights as Vampire Queen––and survive the days as a new suburban bride. But it’s not all marital bliss. Betsy’s husband, Sinclair, has been perusing The Book of the Dead, Betsy’s being hounded by a ghost who’s even more insufferable in death than in life, and a pack of formerly feral vampires has decided to pay an unwelcome visit…

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Uneasy

2011-01-24T12:24:00.001+08:00

It is the sixth of Davidson's Undead series of books.

In the days leading up the The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house - and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiance, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.

Betsy knows the next few weeks won't be smooth sailing - but she never expects just what's in store for her. Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing - and not just to avoid wedding preparations - along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever in the bestselling series that "breath(es) new life into conventional vampire lore."

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unpopular

2011-01-24T12:23:00.002+08:00

Betsy Taylor, Queen of Vampires, is celebrating her 31st birthday and her 1st anniversary of being dead (or perhaps that should be undead.) She has told her friends that she doesn’t want a party but she is sure that they are planning a surprise party for her.

She is trying to plan her summer wedding to Sinclair but it doesn’t help that he is avoiding having anything to do with it and deciding to give up drinking blood in honour of her birthday is just making her cranky. And nobody likes a cranky vampire.

Jessica her best friend since childhood has been diagnosed with cancer and this leads Betsy to think that maybe converting her friend to become a vampire might be a good idea.

With a delegation of European vampires arriving to pay their respects to her, a baby brother to baby sit, unexpected guests dropping by and a phone that just won’t stop ringing she has plenty to keep her occupied. And that’s before she deals with the zombie in the attic..

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unreturnable

2011-01-24T12:20:00.004+08:00

It's Christmas time in the Kingdom of the dead(Minneapolis), which is complicated as it sounds. Betsy Taylor isn't going to let a little thing like death and blood-drinking stop her from enjoying the holidays or planning her upcoming spring wedding to drop-dead gorgeous vamp Eric Sinclair. But all is not merry and bright-Betsy is plagued by ghosts who demand her help in rectifying their past mistakes, and a serial killer is on the loose. With his victims all being, blond women. Besty fits the profile exactly... The book starts out with the knowledge that Betsy is technically dead, however everyone but close family and friends think that she is still alive. In Betsy's life she has a stepmother, Antonia (the Ant) who gives birth to a younger brother, Jon, and her best friend, rich Jessica, and Laura, is technically her half-sister but also the devil's daughter after Satan possessed her stepmother (The Ant who gave her up to adoption to, ironically, the Goodman's) and produced a daughter. She also receives attention from a human boy who is a past member of a gang of vampie slayers. She also has a gay human friend called Marc, a doctor she saved in the first novel from suicide and a human policemen who is a former flame called Nick Berry.

Aside from all of this she has vampire servants who work for her and a hostage wild vampire dubbed George the Fiend. George is a wild vampire created by a 500 year old vampire Betsy killed. She feeds him with er blood to make him stronger and Jessica teaches him different things such as crocheting. Laura later attacks George the Fiend thinking her mother (Satan) is using him to annoy her and meddle in her life. After Betsy tries to break up the fight Laura stabs her with a sword forged by Hellfire that kills magical creatures, however it doesn't kill her. After this Laura is sent to feed him.

Eric and Betsy fight after she reveals she can hear his thoughts during sex. Eric is hurt she doesn't tell him earlier and goes back to his room which causes Betsy to point out that he hasn't fully committed to their relationship.

Also, in an attempt to connect with her people Betsy starts an advise column to new vampires which some deem as stupid. Also, the human boy decides to write her life story as a fiction story and publish it through his university course, however Sinclair and his best friend Tina wipe his memory of it to save Betsy from exposure. After a serial killer known as the "Driveway Killer" kills her stepmother's next door neighbour a ghost starts plaguing Betsy. Laura and her set out to find him and discover him in a rundown house with a hostage. Laura kills him and the two set the hostage free.

In this novel it seems that Antonia knows that Laura is her daughter.

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unappreciated

2011-01-24T12:18:00.001+08:00

Is the third novel in the Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson. The breezily written paranormal romance novel is told from the point of view of Betsy Taylor, reluctant Vampire Queen and not-so-reluctant shoe-hound, and introduces a major character to the series: Laura, Betsy's half-sister and the daughter of the Devil herself.

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unemployed

2011-01-24T12:17:00.002+08:00

Is a paranormal romance novel by MaryJanice Davidson.

"And the first who shall noe the Queen as a husband noes his Wife shall be the Queen's Consort and shall rule at her side for a thousand yeares." The Book of the Dead

"If that rat bastard Sinclair thinks I'm going to be his wife for a thousand years, he's out of his f****** mind." From the private papers of Her Majesty, Queen Elisabeth I, Empress of the Undead, Rightful Ruler of the Vampires, Consort of Eric I, Lawful King.

Nothing can make Betsy Taylor give up her shoe fetish- even dying and rising as the new Queen of Vampires. Only being royally undead doesn't mean that there aren't credit card bills to be paid. Luckily, Betsy lands her dream job selling designer shoes at Macy's Department Store. But then there's a string of vampire murders in town and Betsy has to enlist the help of the one vamp who makes her blood boil: the oh-so-sexy Eric Sinclair. Only the last time she ran into Sinclair she accidentally fulfilled an ancient prophesy- and ended up married to him...

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Undead and Unwed

2011-01-24T11:55:00.005+08:00

Betsy Taylor—former model, newly unemployed secretary, 30, and still single, wakes up after being flattened by a small SUV in a tacky coffin wearing cheap knock-off shoes. Her mother is glad she is back, albeit as a vampire, but her stepmother is enraged that Betsy has reclaimed her designer-shoe collection.

With a wealthy best friend and a newly acquired doctor pal who is not susceptible to her formidable allure, she sets out to right wrongs but is abducted by Nostro, a tacky 500-year-old vampire who rules the undead roost. It seems that Betsy is an anomaly: a vampire who doesn't burn in sunlight, can fight the urge to feed, and is not repulsed by religious articles, all of which may make her the prophesied Queen of the Vampires. Teaming up with gorgeous vampire Eric Sinclair, who is in her opinion a major pervert, she takes on Nostro and his minions.

*Summary taken from www.wikipedia.org

Vampire Academy 4 : Blood Promise

2010-07-17T10:16:00.002+08:00

Blood Promise is the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. Previously in the series, the main character, Rose, and her true love Dimitri made a pact that if either of them were turned into strigoi, the other would kill them rather than let them roam as an evil vampire. Blood Promise

follows Rose's emotional struggle as she travels to Russia to hunt down Dimitri and fulfill this promise.

Blood Promise's opening week sales put the Vampire Academy series on the New York Times list for children's series, making its best rank to date at #2, just behind the dominant Twilight series.

Vampire Academy 3 : Shadow Kiss

2010-07-17T10:07:00.004+08:00

Overview of Book3

Shadow Kiss is a vampire novel written by Richelle Mead. It is the third novel in the Vampire Academy series, and was preceded by Frostbite. The release of the book pushed the Vampire Academy series into the New York Times Best Seller list for the first time, making its debut at #4.

Shadow Kiss continues the story of the main character, Rose Hathaway and her education in becoming a Guardian. Rose knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend Lissa- the last Dragomir princess- must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous tutor Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken... Including school rules and the law when she takes her romance with Dimitri to the next step... love.

Then a strange darkness begins to grow in Rose's mind and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy's iron gates. The immortal undead are closing in, and they want vengeance for the lives Rose has stolen. In a heart stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between love, life and the two people who matter the most... But will her choice mean that only one can survive?

--- End of Overview ---

Other books by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy Series

Vampire Academy 2 : Frosbite

2010-07-17T10:01:00.005+08:00

Overview of Book 2

The story begins with Rose and Dimitri traveling to meet the legendary guardian Arthur Schoenberg for Rose's Qualifier Exam. Once they arrive at the home of the Moroi family he protects, they discover a bloody massacre of the entire family and their guardians, including Arthur by Strigoi. Rose also discovers a silver stake, a magical device which Strigoi cannot touch, meaning the Strigoi must have had human assistance in their attack. The massacre puts the vampire community on high alert, and to keep the students at St. Vladimir's Academy safe, a ski trip to a lodge owned by a wealthy Moroi family is required right after Christmas.

During the ski trip, panic sets in when news of another Strigoi attack on a royal Moroi family spreads, where one of the dead was Mia's mother. During her stay at the lodge, Rose meets a Moroi named Adrian Ivashkov, who shows obvious interest in Rose, and later becomes friendly with Lissa after they both discover they are spirit users. During Adrian's pool party, Mason, his friend Eddie, and Mia begin voicing their opinions about hunting Strigoi. After a heated argument with Dimitri, Rose tells Mason confidential information that Dimitri had given her before about the possible whereabouts of the Strigoi's hideouts. Using Rose's information, Mia, Mason, and Eddie sneak out of the ski lodge and travel to Spokane, Washington, to hunt down the Strigoi themselves. Rose discovers their plan and together with Christian, run out to stop them.

Rose and Christian find the group and convince them to return to the lodge. However, they are ambushed by Strigoi, who hold them captive for days, threatening to kill them. Rose eventually comes up with a plan to escape, and they all manage to get out of the house into the protection of the light, except Rose, who is left fighting two Strigoi. Mason is killed when he returns and attempts to help Rose. Rose then kill both of the Strigoi by beheading them, and then collapses into shock, as Guardians arrive after being informed of where the students were. Once back at St. Vladimir's, Rose receives two molnija marks for her Strigoi kills. Dimitri also tells her that he turned down Tasha's offer to become Lissa's guardian, admitting that his heart is with Rose.

--- End of Overview ---

See other novels of Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy Series

Bridging the Distance

2010-06-20T19:19:00.006+08:00

Since i am in Singapore and my boyfriend is in the Philippines, so everyday i am online. Thank you Skype and YM :D

Here's a video i captured from YM one day when Nelo and I are chatting, we cant do video call on my iphone because im using 3gs. So we can only chat an webcam when im on the lappy.. (But soon i will be able to do videocall.Iphone <3 I want 4g yay)

5 Sundays To Go

2010-06-20T19:09:00.002+08:00

Im going home. Confirmed!i have booked my flight a month ago. I miss everyone already, i miss home, my family, my house,a few friends,my boyfriend, my dog.
I got a little of something for everyone but i did not bring so much since im flying without check in but only a hand carry on i also have a laptop to take with me, 15 inches and it weighs around 5 kg?
Going home made me realize a lot of things, theres really no other place like it. However negative thoughts also dwell in me i cant help it. :(
Friends who don't even talk to me before now asking pasalubong. Should i be obliged? People around expects different things or so.. Theres only a little money i have for those extra expenses. Its also sad to realize how the people you treat "friends" will remember you only when you are coming home. "pasalubong", "libre".. Anyway enough of those..
There's only 5 Sundays left. Thats what matters <3

Vampire Academy Book 1

2010-04-22T12:53:00.005+08:00

Vampire Academy is the first book in the Vampire Academy series by the American author Richelle Mead. It was listed on the list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. It was also recommended by booklist, teenbookstoo.com, and VOYA. Vampire Academy was also voted number 4 after Eclipse, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid on ALA's teens top ten.The Vampire Academy series was also one of the New York Times Bestseller top ten in the children's books series division.They chronicle the life of 17 year old Rosemarie Hathaway, commonly known as Rose, after she finds that her best friend Vasilisa Dragomir's life may be in danger. Vampire Academy introduces Rose to a world of vampire social classes: the dhampirs, the Moroi, Strigoi, and humans.

Ever since the car accident, Lissa and Rose have been bound together through a unique bond. But weird things have been happening recently and Lissa finds herself in grave danger. Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from the VA but after two years of freedom, they are dragged back to the VA, the very place they are in the most danger. History begins to repeat itself and Lissa is in more danger than ever, now that someone knows their secret. But how can anyone help, when Rose and Lissa barely understand the truth? Determined to protect Lissa, not just from Strigoi but from whatever is out there waiting, Rose trains with Dimitri. As their connection grows, their distraction increases and Lissa's in even more danger now that the time is perfect for their enemy to strike. Will Lissa be saved from her enemy? Can she be saved from herself?

Richelle Mead

2010-04-22T12:50:00.003+08:00

Richelle Mead (born November 12, 1976) is a bestselling American fantasy author. She has three ongoing series: the Georgina Kincaid series, the Vampire Academy series, and the Dark Swan series. All are available internationally, including countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

She was born in Michigan, and now lives in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, Washington.^[5] She has three degrees: a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Michigan, a Master of Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Teaching from the University of Washington.Her teaching degree led her to become an 8th grade teacher in suburban Seattle, where she taught social studies and English. She continued writing in her free time, until she sold her first novel, Succubus Blues. After quitting her job to write full time, her other books quickly followed.

Mead actively writes books in three different series. The schedule for this is so demanding that she has to turn out a draft for a new book every three months. This is an extremely fast turnaround compared to the year that most authors take to write a book.

Novels

Georgina Kincaid series

Succubus Blues (2007)
Succubus on Top (2008) (UK title: Succubus Nights)
Succubus Dreams (2008)
Succubus Heat (June 2009)
Succubus Shadows (released March 30, 2010)
TBA

Dark Swan series

Storm Born (2008)
Thorn Queen (2009)
Iron Crowned (scheduled for release early 2011)
Title TBA

Vampire Academy Series

Vampire Academy (2007)
Frostbite (2008)
Shadow Kiss (2008)
Blood Promise (2009)
Spirit Bound (scheduled for release May 18, 2010)
Last Sacrifice (scheduled for release December 7, 2010)

Vampire Academy

2010-04-22T12:48:00.006+08:00

Vampire Academy is an on going series of six vampire-based fantasy/romance novels by USA Today and New York Times best-selling American author, Richelle Mead. It tells the story of Rose Hathaway, a seventeen year old Dhampir girl, who is training to be a body guard for her best friend, Lissa Dragomir, in St. Vladimir's Academy. She will then find herself caught in a forbidden romance with her instructor, Dimitri Belikov, while having an unbreakable bond with Lissa.

The books

There are to be six books in the series, followed by a spinoff series consisting of six more books. To date, there are some 1.5 million copies of Vampire Academy in print.

Vampire Academy, 2007
Frostbite, 2008
Shadow Kiss, 2008
Blood Promise, 2009
Spirit Bound, to be released May 18, 2010
Last Sacrifice, to be released December 14, 2010

Digital Fortress

2010-04-22T12:35:00.005+08:00

Digital Fortress is a techno-thriller novel written by American author Dan Brown and published in 1998 by St. Martin's Press. The book explores the theme of government surveillance of electronically stored information on the private lives of citizens, and the possible civil liberties and ethical implications using such technology.

When the United States National Security Agency's code-breaking machine (TRANSLTR) encounters a mysterious and ingeniously complex code called Digital Fortress that it cannot break, Commander Trevor Strathmore calls in Susan Fletcher, a brilliant, beautiful mathematician and their head cryptographer, to crack it. She discovers that it was written by Ensei Tankado, a former NSA employee who became displeased with the NSA's intrusion into people's private lives. Tankado intends to auction the code's algorithm on his website and have his partner, "NDAKOTA", release it for free if he dies. Essentially holding the NSA hostage, the agency is determined to stop Digital Fortress from becoming a threat to national security.

Synopsis

When Tankado indeed dies in Seville, Spain, of what appears to be a heart attack, Strathmore sends David Becker (Susan's fiancee) to Seville to recover the ring Tankado was wearing when he died. The ring is rumored to have the code that unlocks Digital Fortress. However, he soon discovers that Tankado gave the ring away immediately before his death. Each person that Becker questions in the search for the ring is murdered one-by-one by Hulohot, a mysterious assassin.. Read more in [My Corner]

The Da Vinci Code

2010-04-22T12:21:00.004+08:00

The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective fiction novel written by American author Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus Christ of Nazareth having been married to Mary Magdalene.

The title of the novel refers to, among other things, the fact that the murder victim is found in the Denon Wing of the Louvre, naked and posed like Leonardo da Vinci's famous drawing, the Vitruvian Man, with a cryptic message written beside his body and a pentacle drawn on his stomach in his own blood.

The novel has provoked a popular interest in speculation concerning the Holy Grail legend and Magdalene's role in the history of Christianity. The book has been extensively denounced by many Christian denominations as an attack on the Roman Catholic Church. It has also been criticized for its historical and scientific inaccuracy.

The book is a worldwide bestseller that sold 80 million copies as of 2009[update][1] and has been translated into 44 languages. Combining the detective, thriller, and conspiracy fiction genres, it is Brown's second novel to include the character Robert Langdon, the first being his 2000 novel Angels & Demons. In November 2004, Random House published a Special Illustrated Edition with 160 illustrations. In 2006, a film adaptation was released by Sony's Columbia Pictures.

Deception Point

2010-04-22T12:20:00.004+08:00

Deception Point (2001) is a techno-thriller novel by Dan Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Digital Fortress, and The Lost Symbol.

Intelligence Analyst Rachel Sexton is in her mid-thirties, is single, and works for the NRO (National Reconnaissance Office). Her father, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, is a presidential candidate who is more popular than incumbent President of the United States Zachary Herney. The President sends her to the Arctic as part of a team of experts to confirm and authenticate findings made by NASA deep within the Milne Ice Shelf. NASA's new Polar Orbiting Density Scanner (PODS), part of the Earth Observation System (EOS), a collection of satellites monitoring the globe for signs of large-scale change, has found an extremely dense spot in the Milne Ice Shelf. At this spot NASA discovers a very dense meteorite. In it are fossils of bugs very similar to, but not the same as, species on earth. NASA claims this as proof of extraterrestrial life.. [Read More from My Corner]

Angels & Demons

2010-04-22T12:16:00.004+08:00

Angels & Demons is a 2000 bestselling mystery-thriller novel written by American author Dan Brown and published by Pocket Books. It revolves around the quest of fictional Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon to uncover the mysteries of a secret society called the Illuminati and to unravel a plot to annihilate Vatican City using destructive antimatter. The book uses the idea of a historical conflict between science and religion, particularly that between the Illuminati and the Roman Catholic Church.

The novel introduces the character Robert Langdon, who is also the protagonist of Brown's subsequent 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code, and 2009 novel, The Lost Symbol. It also shares many stylistic elements with its sequel, such as conspiracies of secret societies, a single-day time frame, and the Catholic Church. Ancient history, architecture, and symbolism are also heavily referenced throughout the book. A film adaptation was released on May 15, 2009, though it was set after the events of The Da Vinci Code film, which had been released in 2006.

Missin' DET of AruaRose

2010-04-18T16:00:00.011+08:00

There was no doubt for real that gaming had been a great part of my life. There are times that i find myself going back and quitting after a few days. I felt i had outgrown being and living online. Recently i had been in this huge confusion whether to go back or visit and let this longing simply pass. I miss RoseOnline and everything about my AruaRose life.

I started playing Roseonline many years back, those times i was still in the Philippines and the games ruling RPG was Ragnarok. My boyfriend (exbf now) played this game and i joined him. Later on i was the one who 'd grown more addicted to it that i play even in wee hours of the night after my shift or even before i take calls. (I was working in a call centre)

I left Aruarose about 2 years now but i felt still attached to the game somehow. I made friends in there and long time buddies which i have known even back in Prose (Sirius) was playing in Arua too. Two years back my decision to leave the game was mainly to fulfill the changes i have promised myself because Aruarose was taking too much of my life.

I was HIRAIA.

DET. Dont Even Trip was my last clan in Aruarose before i left the game. I also have my own clan which i keep for my own characters and farmers. Chic and SweetHeart.
DET was the strongest clan i have ever joined in AruaRose.

I was not really around here : But Jeiram managed to login my cleric because of this photoshoot..

DETs are camwhores.

Tired in ECF farming CP and warring.

Leet Line up .. DET sit proud. See people trying to annoy. How jealous. lol During these times, only a few are leet ingame. Only a few can wear Arch Wings. Eat your heart out. We had the best gears in DET.

So we got bored after farming CP and warring we ended up here in the Beach doin' some random summoning. We actually did summoned a BK, but we were hoping for a Kera.

There was some time DET got into Union wars. It was fun we login at the same time even if we are located in different time zones. Even the busy ones can do the war thingy twice a day. As a clan we would normally root for one union or two of the same sides. But being that popular (wow) attracts people, often where we go people follows, its more than sure win to get DET on your sides after all we got the best fighters, and ofcourse, the best healers ~_^

Fast Levelling. One way to level a noob fast is going to the beach. Summon galore for level but this eats Zulies big time. But you can be lucky. BK in beach drops uniques thats where i got a few expensive ones.

My raider. I am proud of my raider Amaziah. He brings me billions in a week. I well know how to use him, his built, his skills, his timings. My raider without a single Int is my moneymaker among my chars.

my chars before i quitted. the first one is not me, thats lalaines cleric.
elisha is a scout who stayed at 208 for universal boss farming.
Hector is the sub cleric. Amaziah my raider. Hiraia my DET cleric.

My signature in DET created by Bionix

:( I dont play anymore butsometimes i really miss the game. The addiction. But at times i feel thankful.. I almost lost my life online and i made it out. I was lucky.
Gaming is not bad. Just get yourself a nice set of priorities and stick to it. Set the gaming a few steps from the last. You will be fine. Enjoy. :)

I highly recommend AruaRose. I have tried other games. There's no one closer to it.

PLAY ARUAROSE . Long Live Don't Even Trip !

Cassandra Clare : Mortal Instruments Writer

2010-04-14T11:25:00.004+08:00

Cassandra Clare is the pseudonym of the bestselling author of the young adult quartet The Mortal Instruments.
Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Tehran. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten

years old. From her high school years on, she lived in Los Angeles and New York, where she worked at various

entertainment magazines and tabloids. She started working on her novel City of Bones in 2004, inspired by the urban

landscape of Manhattan. The Mortal Instruments have been optioned for film by Unique Features.

Prior to the publishing of City of Bones, Clare was known for writing fan fiction under the similar pseudonym Cassandra Claire. Her main works were The Draco Trilogy and The Very Secret Diaries (The Lord of the Rings). Claire was considered a Big Name Fan and was covered in several newspaper articles about fan fiction, but has since been accused of plagiarism from within the fan fiction community.

Clare took part of her pseudonym from The Beautiful Cassandra, on which she had based an epic novel during high school.

She is friends with another Harry Potter Big Name Fan Sarah Rees Brennan, who also writes in the young-adult genre.

Books by Cassandra Clare in this Blog (downloadable PDF)

Mortal Instruments Series

Book 1 : City Of Bones
Book 2 : City of Ashes
Book 3 : City of Glass

Mortal Instruments Book 3 : City of Glass

2010-04-14T10:49:00.000+08:00

Mortal Instruments Book 2 : City of Ashes

2010-04-14T10:46:00.000+08:00

Mortal Instruments Book 1 : City of Bones

2010-04-14T10:11:00.001+08:00

My Grandfather : My Saint

2010-04-13T13:05:00.000+08:00

Exactly 2 years ago this day was not a very happy day for me and my family. Our beloved grandfather died and left us after many years of fruitful living. My sister and I calls our grandafther 'Tatay', in Filipino its a term like Papa or Dad. We get to imitate the older people when we are younger and so following my mother, we called him Tatay.

You see, Tatay was not exactly the very cuddly cheerful granfather you could find. Infact he is very moody and very stubborn. He was the first man i knew who smoke cigarettes because he always ask me to buy one for him when i was younger. I would normally ran his errands, because when he was living and younger i always find him fierce when he shouts. But that do not stop me from being the spoilt kid to him. My parents would say that when i was a toddler, he was very fond of me, there was even a history when i bit him in his leg, but he remained to be nice and loving, anyway i was the first grandchild. That could be the reason.

People said i got my brains from him because i have always known my grandfather to be smart and intelligent. He reads a lot. He likes sports. And he is good with crafts. I am the same. He was not the perfect father , but i know his life was far worth lived than anyone else because he raised my mother.

Since Tatay died i feel rested at the thought that there is someone with me wherever i am. True that i missed those rare times i visited him when he was still alive. I also regret never giving him ample attention when he was still living. But i know tatay would understand. Even when i came back home with a broken heart and Tatay did not ask any questions, i know he understood.

Tatay is gone now, but he will live in my heart forever. I talk to him everyday i feel alone. I know he is here guiding me and giving me luck, showing me the right decisions i must do.

InkDeath by Cornelia Funke

2010-04-12T10:38:00.001+08:00

InkSpell by Cornelia Funke

2010-04-12T10:37:00.001+08:00

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

2010-04-12T10:20:00.002+08:00

Cornelia Funke, the Lady of Inkworld

2010-04-12T10:17:00.005+08:00

Cornelia Funke is by many counts one of the most talented writers of children’s literature currently. Though she hasn’t yet approached the popularity of J.K. Rowling, several of her works are considered nearly on par with the Harry Potter series, and sometimes she has been referred to as the German answer to J.K. Rowling. Gifted at writing and illustrating books in the fantasy genre, Funke became even better known to American audiences in 2008 with the release of the film, Inkheart based on one of her most popular series.

Cornelia Funke was born in 10 December 1958 in West Germany and after graduating college, took up a career in social work. After briefly working as an illustrator, she began to create her own works, with her two series of books called Ghosthunters and Wild Chicks. While these books were popular in her native country, it was her 1996 novel Dragon Rider which drew her international notice when several years later.

Dragon Rider was followed by the successful work The Thief Lord. Both novels spent time on the New York Times Bestseller list. Subsequent novels included the three volume Inkheart series, Inkheart, Inkspell and Inkdeath. More recent works include Igraine the Brave.

Fan’s of the works of Cornelia Funke enjoy visiting her website, where her own biography is less full on details than inspiration. She states one reason for writing books was that she wanted to write works she would have fun illustrating. She also notes a lifelong interest in education and confesses an addiction to both books and films.

Funke’s work can definitely be considered a boon to children’s literature, and she has received numerous acknowledgments and awards for her books. These include a 2004 award for Inkspell as a Book Sense Children’s Literature Award, and the Rosawitha Prize, the oldest and one of the most esteemed German literature awards. The Rosawitha Prize is awarded exclusively to exceptional female authors.

Many of the stories of Cornelia Funke feature very intelligent children with a great love of reading. Some have traced her style, which feels somewhat different from traditional American and UK children’s literature to the German gothic tradition. She also often places children in situations where they must frequently care for themselves and possess extraordinary know-how and wit.

Though Cornelia Funke grew up in Germany, she, her two children and her husband Rolf relocated to the US in 2005. Sadly Rolf passed away in 2006. On her website, Funke describes their Los Angeles household, which she shares with a female turtle named Hercules and a “crazy” dog named Luna. English speakers may be interested in pronouncing her name correctly. It should be said “Foon-ka” instead of pronounced like the English word “funk.”

The InkWorld Trilogy is available for Everyone

InkHeart
InkSpell
InkDeath

Dan Brown - Timeless Thrillers Writer

2010-04-11T12:34:00.007+08:00

Dan Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period,[1] feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into over 40 languages, and as of 2009, sold over 80 million copies.

Brown's novels that feature the lead character Robert Langdon also include historical themes and Christianity as recurring motifs, and as a result, have generated controversy. Brown states on his website that his books are not anti-Christian, though he is on a 'constant spiritual journey' himself, and says of his book The Da Vinci Code that it is simply "an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate" and suggests that the book may be used "as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith

Novels By Dan Brown in My Corner

Digital Fortress (1998)
Angels & Demons (2000)
Deception Point (2001)
The Da Vinci Code (2003)
The Lost Symbol (2009)

Rick Riordan, Godly Writer

2010-04-10T01:02:00.005+08:00

Who is this Guy?

Rick Riordan is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the creator of a new series The 39 Clues. For Rick Riordan (pronounced Ryer'-dan), a bedtime story shared with his oldest son was just the beginning of his journey into the world of children's books.

Already an award-winning author of mysteries for adults, Riordan, a former teacher, was asked by his son Haley to tell him some bedtime stories about the gods and heroes in Greek mythology. "I had taught Greek myths for many years at the middle school level, so I was glad to comply," says Riordan. "When I ran out of myths, (Haley) was disappointed and asked me if I could make up something new with the same characters."

At the time, Haley had just been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Greek mythology was one of the only subjects that interested the then second-grader in school. Motivated by Haley's request, Riordan quickly came up with the character of Percy Jackson and told Haley all about "(Percy's) quest to recover Zeus's lightning bolt in modern-day America," says Riordan. "It took about three nights to tell the whole story, and when I was done, Haley told me I should write it out as a book."

- taken from www. scholastic.com

I got really crazy with Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson Series. I bought books, researched online, did reviews, saw the movies, relearned mythologies ..I swear i always curse Percy Jackson for always lacking sleep and being mentally absent at most times. I cant stop myself until i read the last book. I am really hoping that Rick Riordan would make some kind of sequel to continue it. I don't know how but i wish it is possible.

Please refer below my items about Rick Riordan's series.

Book 1 : The Lightning Thief

Book 2 : The Sea of Monsters

Book 3 : The Titan's Curse

Book 4 : The Battle of the Labyrinth

Book 5 : The Last Olympian

Hira's Book and Movie Review : Lightning Thief (The Movie vs The Book)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 5

2010-04-09T23:33:00.003+08:00

The Final Cut . The Final Book among the 5 . The part where the prophecy would make its real meaning. Make way to read about Percy Jackson's adventure for the last time (and hopefully not)

The PDF was hosted by Scribd. Incase the link wont open to you just leave a comment with your email addresses and i will forward you the PDF. Have Fun Reading :D

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 4

2010-04-09T23:32:00.015+08:00

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson Series Book 4 . The part where Annabeth gets the quest of her own.

Incase the link wont open to you just leave a comment with your email addresses and i will forward you the PDF. Have Fun Reading :D

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 3

2010-04-09T23:31:00.005+08:00

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series Book 3 . The Titan's Curse.

Can Percy save Annabeth and the rest of the World before the curse destroys him Forever? Read on..

Should it not work for you, you may visit their website at www.scribd.com , or you may leave a comment below with your email and i will send you the file as soon as i can. Have fun reading :D

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 2

2010-04-09T23:30:00.004+08:00

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series Book 2 - The Sea of Monsters.
The restoration of Order in Half Blood Hill is nearly impossible. But not for Percy Jackson. Book 2 is fun and light and focuses on places outside the camp.
Read on..

If you cant see it properly and could not download the PDF, leave your comment below and i will do my best to send you the pdf when im available.

Have fun reading :D

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 1

2010-04-09T23:25:00.011+08:00

Percy Jackson Series Book 1. THE ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE :D
Percy Jackson is no ordinary boy, he is a demi god, not an ordinary one, a powerful godling. Rick Riordan's Famous Series begins with this story. How Percy Jackson lived to be truly called a Hero and be recognized as son of Poseidon.

Just when you cant read or download from there, leave me a comment down below and i will email you the PDF. Have fun reading :D

MRT Joyride

2010-04-09T18:37:00.005+08:00

On a casual day, i prefer going to and from places on a bus because first of all if you are in Singapore, Hello?? - almost everywhere is nice to look at, there's peace and order, and all is clean and tidy. Unfortunately, if you work in a CBD like me, going by bus will take you places quite longer. There's also congested traffics in Singapore although not as much as what you can experience in Manila.

I take the joyride to MRT everyday, its no unusual thing, but today in my desperation to prevent the smelly guys, i went all the way to the front cluster. Lucky day to find all seats empty on a weekend. Yay!..

Once i saw an engineer before on that small portion between the front seat and the train hood, i think most likely its not permitted for public because its kinda looks scary. There are caution signs on all sides ( which i tell u is very common in Singapore). Curiosity had me, pretending Just as clueless as i could i glided myself till i get there. Whoa i almost did not fit lol!

I can see the tunnel from afront. and as the train started to move i cant see anything, i feel like riding a haunted mansion roller coaster. I see light once in a while as the train passes to stations. But the totallity of the ride was very scary, i can't imagine being lost in there.

Shot Take from the front facing tunnel..Its dark in there..

3 stations before my destination, i decided to go back sitting. I feel like throwing up already. I closed my eyes and tried to get my composure back bec im not feeling better. Im so giddy. I closed eyes and concentrated on leaving those stress to the tracks as the train swiftly move away. still nothing.. i feel even worst when i rose up. and i got no choice i have to get off or else the train will be going back the other far end side and i have to sit one more round trip on my way back..

A new look

2010-04-07T08:17:00.003+08:00

Easter has passed, my forgotten blog deserves some make over...

Plans.. To include a pdf viewer for my ebooks so people can read it.just recently my scribed published ebook (percy jackson 4) has been removed due to some copyright shit.i dont know why when for a fact i also got it from the web. So you guys who want to have pdf of that book just send me an email and i will send you one..

So.. As you have noticed,i have successfully incoporated pdf reader in my blog,however its a srcibd reader, i intend to leave scribd for good and put my pdfs somewhere else. As you may not know, i am an ambasadress of bookworms lol..

Right now im tapping only just to complete this post, i have so long been wanting to doblogging on the road. With an iphone, although inconvinient,but it is possible. ( + 1 point mac ) ..

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

2010-04-06T21:54:00.005+08:00

The Lost Symbol is a 2009 novel by American writer Dan Brown.It is a thriller set in Washington, D.C., after the events of The Da Vinci Code.

Released on September 15, 2009, it is the third Brown novel to involve the character of Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon, following 2000's Angels & Demons and 2003's The Da Vinci Code.It had a first printing of 6.5 million (5 million in North America, 1.5 million in the UK), the largest in Doubleday history. On its first day the book sold one million in hardcover and e-book versions in the U.S., the UK and Canada, making it the fastest selling adult novel in history.It was number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover fiction for the first six weeks of its release, and has remained near the top since then.

What i want for my birthday

2010-02-27T14:43:00.004+08:00

Hot. For a February it feels weird hot today, just when i actually thought it will rain and this is what i got.Crispy sunny sunshine above Singapore.
I should not care since i am inside most of the time, but heck the season gives me headaches and all sorts of negative feelings. I hate the sun, i hate the gleaming shine of sunlight in my window every morning. I hate the burning feeling of ultra violets in my skin. I despise the freedom of light that goes about anywhere it wants to.

Its my birthday tomorrow. I want rain.

A Flint of Fear and Sadness

2010-02-17T22:42:00.002+08:00

Today i was home unusually early and i truly intend to have a little fun in this benefit but fun turned out sadness and anxiety. I have come to realize that maybe this is God's calling. I should be lucky. For a few hours now, i had been silent and i kept consoling myself of a phrase that might seem simple for others. "Fortunate are those prepared for death".. Really..

So, when i saw a sign should i be happy? should i be overjoyed to be fortunate, every one is going there anyhow and i know its just a matter of time..But I am not a hypocrite. I know I am not ready..

This day i promised myself one thing i will live my life to the fullest and fulfill my purpose. For God and God alone.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

2010-02-15T12:49:00.004+08:00

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Lightning Thief : READ this if you wanna watch the movie or if you did already !!! >>

Okay so i was feeling bored and wanted some brain food i hushed to MPH and grabbed a few books. One being the stated above. I thought of getting myself busy after all the longest holiday in Singapore wont be much of use to me. I was halfway done when i thought of looking for some free movies of the same book. I mean, i did the same thing with Harry Potter, Twilight, New Moon..so i stopped reading, and i marked the pages where i'd stopped, turn the lights off and told my boyfriend to shut up on ym. So there goes the movie, i watched until the part that was the same as i read in the book and until it was finished. I had my thoughts but i kept a few reservations since i have'nt finished the book just yet.. this morning i finished the book.. Now its time for me to write my review both on the film and on the book itself.

What about the book?

I would say its a good article, it can actually be a piece of learning material, its fun way to learn mythology and to remember names and places much easier which are in most cases greek or latin.

The pacing is good and the setting is very common. To give the impression that it happens in the present world New York is set to be the lead's hometown and the setting in the real world is America.

The lead, which happens to be Percy Jacson, demi god, son of Poseidon.

The twists in the story are nice but it is not as nicer are those in Harry Potter, the style is narration which has a negative effect specially that it is being tld by only one person. percy and Percy Alone.

So the direction of the story is always forward, there are twists and turns, but its always heading forward, in chronological sequence just as how Percy sees it from his eyes.

Percy was born from a poor family back in New York. His mom works for a candy store and lives with his stepdad which he calls "Smelly Gabe" . Percy never knew his father.

Percy was not normal like the other kids. For 6 years he transfer from school to school. He was dyslexic and he has ADHD.

His quest with the other world started one summer when he thought her mother died. Bec he believed he was not normal he gave himself reason why he sees writtings differently and hallucinated oftentimes.

he went to camp and he soon learned that he is normal. he just happens to be special. he is a halfblood. a sire from one of the 3 most powerful gods. Poseidon.

he was sent to a quest to look for the Zeus bolt, the most powerful weapon. and his journey started he left the camp and went out the real world, killed monsters on his way to the Underworld. Apparently the Underworld is located in Los Angeles and Olympus in New York, right up at the 600th floor of the Empire State building.

Percy was persistent to go to Hades to get her mother back. He met Hades and Hades learnt that he has the bolt which was actually given by Ares. He saw his mother in the underworld and learned that she is still alive kept hostage by the Lord of the Dead. He bargain to get the Helmet of Darkness for his mother

But Percy do not know anything abt it, as far as he is concern he only knows of the missing bolt and he is not even responsible for stealing either of the two. He left the underworld without his mother and went to Olympus.

When he touched the land. He met Ares, surprised that he is alive. They went on a fight and Ares told the whole story how the Helm and the Bolt was stolen, but he never said a name. They fought and bargained their debts, when Ares wins, he gets the bolt, if he wins he get the helm.

It was no easy for Percy to battle with Ares. after all he is the God of war. He is no match for his strength, but he also believed that sometimes strength vows to wisdom. He fought with all his wits and used his power. Being the son of the God of the Sea, he has control over water. He overpowered Ares and he was able to wound him on his heel. Ares cursed him and declared him an enemy.

He got the helm back and send it to the Hades tru the furies which happens to be following him from the Underworld. The furies have seen everything and heard everything from Ares. Percy's name was cleaned. He was after all, not the real thief. Hades paid his pawn and he sent his mother back home in one piece.

Percy got back on his feet and headed to Olympus to hand over the Bolt to Zeus and asked him to stop declaring the war. the war of Gods have direct effect to humans. if Percy had'nt been brave enough to return the items Kronos's plan will happen. Zeus blames Poseidon for the missing bolt. Poseidon thinks it Hades. Hades blames Poseidon for the missing helm. World War III will surely happen.

Things ended well and everything was in place and he also get to talk to his real father. He went back to New York and saw her mom alive. He missed home. Or maybe not because Gabe keep pestering his life and for many times he was holding his temper so as not to harm Gabe, a human. so he decided to go back to camp.

He was more than satisfied to come back. He stayed in camp for 9 months and he grew pretty strong until one day he learned the real story as being told by Luke. His friend and the real enemy. he was the ligthning thief. his orders come from no other than the voice in the deepest Pit - Kronos.

Luke left Percy to die with the venomous sting of a pit scorpion. Luke went to the real world and will continue to serve Kronos. Percy survived the bite and lived he decided to leave the camp too and saved the next year living with her mom who has already left Gabe.

They have plans for the next year to come as they will be returning cam after their seventh grade.

(the story i made here is just a gist, i did not mentioned the Oracle the prophecy, other monster they fought, his thoughts, bec if i do i cant finish it in one sitting) but this is how close the story is as it is written in the book..

Now about the movie part.. i could say one phrase "such a shame"

The movie changed the story. maybe the director did not read the book lol and has only come out of fancy things in his head or maybe the movie writer was some kind of possessed to have written something falsely of the same title blaha.. let me point out a few differences.

in the movie, they are teens, about 15 or so.. in the book they are 12 they are kids.

in the movie percy lives with his mom, in the book he don't he lives at school dorm and only comes back home every breaks.

in the movie percy lives a much more normal life, in the book percy is some kind of a sick person, he is dyslexic has adhd and he studies in the schools for the disturbed.

in the movie the character of Clarise (daughter of Ares) is strong and pretty. in the book the character of Clarise is ugly.

in the movie he did not kill the Fury, his teacher.in the Book he killed the Fury in the museum using the pen that turns into a sword.

in the movie he did not see the Fates.

in the movie he did not struggle to learn who he really is being the son of Poseidon, in the book it took his effort to learn that he is Poseidon's sire. He was not the one who took the flag as well, it was Luke.

in the movie Luke gave him a map and some instructions about the pearls and how to get it one by one. Pearls are used to take them back to where they want once they are done with Hades. Luke also gave him a Shield. In the book, Luke only gave him a pair of sneakers with wings.

in the movie there are pearls they need to recover from different places in the book it don't, the pearls were given by Nereid, servant in Poseidon's court.

in the book they met Ares who gave them a task in the book it don't.

It the movie the bolt was in the shield Luke gave Percy, in the book its in the backpack Ares gave him.

in the movie there's only one missing item - the Bolt, in the book there are two - Zeus lightning bolt and Hades' Helm of Darkness.

in the movie, Persephone appeared and was their hostess in hell, Persephone stuck Hades with the bolt and they escaped, he took his mother but since there are only 3 pearls, he left Grover - his keeper.

in the book, there's no Persephone - because it is summer that time, so she must be visiting her mother Demeter (Goddess of agriculture). Summer is a season created because Persephone is above, the summer heat comes from her. instead in the book, the gates of hell was guarded by a dog creature - Cerberus. In the book they met Hades and Hades looked for his helm in exchange for his mother. they left the underworld he left his mother, not Grover.

When they escaped Hell he met Ares on the beach. They battled and he wounded his heel he won the pawn. the Helm. It was with Ares all along. the entire incident is not in the movie.

in the movie he asked Zeus to return his mother, in the book it was Hades to returned his mother as the price for him retuning the helm.

in the movie he met Luke on his was to Olympus, he tried to stop him from bringing the bolt to Zeus. Luke told the complete story and Percy killed him claiming his true power being son of a god. there's nothing like this in the book, in the book percy learned about Luke later after 9 months in the camp.

in the movie he went Olympus with his mother and Annabeth, daughter of Athena. in the book he went alone.

in the movie they cut Medusa's head off and kept it and there's a scene at the museum where they used it to turn a Hydra into a stone. Its not in the book

in the book, after cutting Medusa's head off, he put it in a box and sent it directly to Olympus.

in the book, at the later part, the box was sent back to his address in new york, returned. He planned on turning Gabe into a gnome with it one day when he saw he hit his mother. that's when he decided to back to camp. he left the box to his mother's care.

During his stay with the camp, his mom wrote to him. that suddenly Gabe left and she found a very nice piece of life size garden gnome and sold it for very good amount. she got money as well for his education and savings.

There are still a lot of missing things i should have written but those are not as important as the above. So if yu are ever going to watch the movie and brag of how much you know about the real story, think again, because its not the real story.

The story filming of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Lightning Thief >> WORST ONE i SEEN SO FAR. WHY THE HELL DO THEY EVEN HAVE TO CREATE A MOVIE OF THE SAME TITLE WITH EXACTLY A DIFFERENT STORY?

Are u gonna watch it or have you? just read the book its worth more than the movie.

~~~ The ending is still a mystery. Which only means, just like any other sequels, the ending will the next beginning. The Next book is titled "Sea of Monsters". Good! i hope they don't make another shame of movie out of it!

Wuthering Heights

2010-02-12T10:57:00.005+08:00

I’m not yet done but I’m more than half way through it so I don’t know if my judgment will change after im done with the entire book. Having read this far I thought of things and I have failed to capture the excitement I was expecting. Reviews mentioned this book as a great find. I don’t. Maybe its not my type of reading. The story is all but sad and dark and everything seems negative. Each character’s domineering attitude is insane and savage and brute. No one seems to provide contrast of the same degree, or maybe there’s a little, but so little its not even felt. Even the settings are harsh, all around is an atmosphere of wild and carefree and unmannered generation. I guess I maybe expecting too much or maybe I have incorrectly understood that the time this novel was written and the condition the writer had been is just the same as the story was told.

I will continue till I finish the book, I will watch the films and I will try another book same Wuthering Heights but retold by a different writer. So far I got one from Usborne, this is what I am reading now. And i have come to realize that maybe this is Usborne’s Style of writing and not that of the original writer which is Emily Bronte. I still don’t know, but I will find out eventually.

So..

2009-12-18T08:54:00.002+08:00

What?
.. Im feeling different today. Im tired and stressed and im almost at the edge of giving up. Its so complicated to be me..

Something's New in Farmtown

2009-09-29T12:47:00.006+08:00

Okay, so i slept for 9 hours and im back drooling no my keyboard. Its my 3rd window that always pulls up facebook, the 4th that always gets to Farmtown, i made it that way with Firefox because most of the times i forget many things like URLs.
Somethings new with Farmtown, yey, they increased gift items yey.

Items they added are the following :

Fences (2)
Brown Scarecrow
Pink Hammock
Spiral Hedge
Crate
Pink Crate
Green Bin
Dolphin Hedge
Hedges (2)

Since there are a lot more gift items now for sure a lot better looking farms now. Its truly nice to make your farm look beautiful, its even nicer to get compliments about it. So friend hurry hurry send me gifts now. Play Farmtown

Jacque Bermejo issue

2009-09-28T10:49:00.002+08:00

Every Filipino web user must have already known about some issue that started with just a tiny comment. I must admit, i felt mad too, knowing how a fellow Pinay could make such statement. Its very disappointing.

I am in Singapore and i could tell that the whole world knows how much the Philippines suffered from the very recent tropical storm Ondoy, International news had it even here in Singapore the popularity of the storm tragedies does not go any less with the Famous Formula 1 which just ended last night.

Philippines is a know Christian country, i can still recall when i asked my housemate Jet about this "why Philippines of all places, a country barely striving, poor and economically challenged" and she said "because we are Christians, its just God's test to our faith"..

What i read in facebook just now was an exact opposite. It was like, or it sounds like that we are condemned because we are sinners. I so hate the statements she made in FB, but i reservd my thoughts to myself until i know whats true.

Some people said that she's a victim of Identity Theft, and that her FB account was a fraud, friendster account got stolen, imo, i really dont know. But i wont be like her. I wont judge so easily, as i still dont know what's true. But, i will never ever be able to accept the statements she (or her account hacker) gave. Never. Whoever wrote that is surely a Filipino, she/he must have lacked so much love in life to say that.

http://chikamuna.com/the-case-of-jacque-bermejo.html

I am not in defense of anybody, not for Jacque, imo, but whoever you are that wrote that statement, its so damn easy to find you. Everything in the internet leaves tracks, from where you logged from where and what IP u are when u made that statement.

To my fellow Filipinos, lets leave this for now. Theres so much to do after a day of tragedy. In Real life, for those that suffered bec of Ondoy, for those who truly needs your attention. >> Offline.

PS.
To Jacque /or Jacques hacker : God knows ..

Hamilton Bags the Bacon

2009-09-27T22:09:00.002+08:00

Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix just ended today, at this very moment hurray Hamilton won the race :)

Google Turns 11

2009-09-27T11:56:00.002+08:00

Everyday. Yeah. Everyday in my life i open goggle websearch atleast once. Today after opening my imeem and facebook, i finally paused on my 3rd window and thought about what to open next, but in a shirt glimpse i thought i have mistakenly seen a mispelled google eh. 'Goog11e'. Well its too bad to be true so dang i opened another browser and see fo myself. its really "Goog11e"

Apparently its not a mispelling its not even "2 Ls" its the number 11..

Taken from google blogs .."

Google celebrates 11th birthday with a Doodle!

Google.com has a new doodle today and it highlights the point that Google is now 11 years old.

The logo of the Google spells Goog11e today to celebrate the event.

Here is the image if you are not seeing it at your place.

Google’s 11th Birthday

11 years is a long time. Some of us may have kids younger than that. Google is still perceived as a young company compared to their rivals like Yahoo and Microsoft.

However, they have had an interesting and very impressive journey in these 11 years.

We wish them well!

Happy Birthday Google :) hurray hurray :))