luxury yacht

Here's another one of my wildest ambitions. It's a yacht! I want a yacht because I want to learn how to navigate it. I love driving. I even wanted to be a pilot when I was young but I know that's not possible because I don't have a 20-20 vision. Yacht cruising sounds like fun especially when you're the one in charge of navigating it. If I'll learn how to navigate a yacht, it's a dream come true!

For my dream to come true, I have to purchase a yacht first. I would name it, Escalera. It's a Spanish word for poker. Escalera sounds nice. It depicts a strongly-built yacht for me. Then, I would have to look for a parking space for my yacht, I already chose one even if I don't have one yet. I plan to park my yacht at the Subic Bay Yacht club where Willie Revillame's yacht and Chavit Singson's yacht are parked. It's a safe place for yachts. It's also not that far from Manila. After that, I have to look for a training school wherein I can learn how to navigate a yacht. I already looked for one and found "Yachting Experience". It's a yacht training school that teaches people how to navigate a yacht. It's based in the US. There you go, everything is pretty much planned. My only dilemma is how to raise money for my dream yacht, Escalera. Sometimes I hate myself for being so ambitious. But hey, it's okay to dream. Walt Disney said, "Don't just dream about it, Do it." I have to do something about my dreams. Right now, I'm only envisioning my dreams but in the future, I'll make sure that I'll do something about it. 

The Electronic Poker Table

There a new product of technology out there in the market for gamblers. It's the electronic poker table. It's like the regular poker table but everything is automated. There are screens for all eight players. The screen displays the cards of each player. In the middle of the poker table there's a big screen for the flop and the other cards and chips. Everything will be automated from the distribution of the cards, opening of the flop, counting of chips etc. Another feature of the electronic poker table is that you can swipe your credit card to buy in. I think in Las Vegas, Nevada they have this device but in the Philippines, I haven't seen one yet.

I love the electronic poker table. I want to experience playing poker where everything is automated. However, there are disadvantages when using this automated machine. In poker, you have to interpret the body language of your opponents, right? In the automated machine, you won't see the how the other plays count their chips or look at their cards. You'll lose the opportunity to detect body language which is crucial to the game of poker. Furthermore, jobs will be lost if we all use electronic poker tables. No manpower will be required to distribute the cards and chips. I'm pretty sure it's more economical for casinos to use automated poker tables but it won't do good to the people whose jobs are to distribute poker chips and cards(I dunno what you call them). But hey, I love this product of technology. It's exciting. It would be fun to have one in your house when you love hosting house parties and sleepovers.

home theater system

I love movies. When I'm stressed or dealing with a lot of problems, I just go and watch a movie and I immediately forget about my worries. It's a Filipino past-time. I'm just not a fan of movie adaptations of novels because I only get disappointed when I see novel-based movies. Movies don't capture what the text in the novel really says. But other than movie adaptations of novels like Twilight and Harry Potter etc., I love movies.

Another one of my wildest dreams is owning a home theater system. I've seen some home theater system's in MTV Cribs. Mariah Carey owns one and so does Snoop Dogg and Lil Bow Wow. I guess home theater systems serve as a form of recreation to busy people like them. Even right now, as a college student I am always busy and stressed. A home theater system can be helpful in reducing stress and for recreation. It's not a necessity but I want it. It's just cool to own one in the comfort of your own home. You can choose what movies to watch and what time to watch them. In the public movie theater, the movies you can watch are selected and can only be screened during pre-determined time schedules. In a public movie theater, you have to deal with noisy people, couples making out and people kicking your seat. It's just annoying. In a home theater system, you're in control. 

private jet is love <3

Owning a private jet is one of my wildest dreams. =) There's nothing wrong with dreaming, right? Of course, owning a private jet in a third world country is out of this world. I don'treally expect that my dream will come true. But I know some politicians who own them and I can even name some of them. I was able to ride a private jet owned by a former politician on the way to my province, Ilocos. The ride was sweeeeeet.

A private jet costs whopping billions. It makes me wonder how this certain former politician was able to afford it when we all know that a politician's salary is just meager. If ever I'll buy a private jet, I'll make sure that the money I will be spending on it is a product of my hard work. I love travelling and it would be nice to own a private jet where you can chill and relax without having to worry about the meager space in an economy class seat. A private jet is also a determinant of status. It screams success. I want to reach a point in my life where I can confidently say that I am successful. Part of success for me is owning a private jet. 

Manansala condo unit at Rockwell

After graduating from college and graduate school, I want my own pad. I want to experience living independently. Wouldn't it be nice to have your own space where you can relax, fend for yourself and decide for yourself on what you want to do inside your home? I want to decide for the color scheme of my condo unit and choose what furniture to put inside.

The Manansala Tower at Rockwell is one of my dream condominiums. You can rent it for 60 thousand a month. It's kind of steep but it's all worth it because of the tight security and commendable services that comes with it. Some of the facilities of the Manansala Tower are the infinity pool, gym, sauna, steam room and more.  The Rockwell mall and Ateneo graduate school are accessible. There's this fully-furnished unit that I've been eyeing on and I posted its pictures here. Unit 1409 of the Manansala is for rent. I saw the pictures of that unit online and I fell in love. I love minimalist and elegant designs. It's interior fits the description. I hope I'll be able to buy a condo that looks like this. I have to work hard to earn enough money to buy myself a nice pad.

Iphone 3GS is on top of my wishlist :P

Techonology really does wonders. I'm a fan of Apple products. Thanks to Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and other people behind the Apple corporation because I'm enjoying products like Macbook, Ipod and Apple Airport Express. There's one product that I've been eyeing on for the past few weeks. I have to say that it's on top of my wish list right now. It's the Apple Iphone 3GS. 

I read about its features and it has a camera, video camera, compass etc. You can use the internet with it. It's touch screen. It's fast. You can load applications without having to wait for a long time. There are a lot of applications to choose from. I heard that there's this cool application called pocket guitar and then I've tried the digital zippo lighter. It's fun. Some applications are not really a necessity. It's also pricey. The 32GB Iphone 3GS that I want costs 299 dollars. When I told my parents I wanted the Iphone 3GS, they laughed and said, "Why? Are you already working?" They said that I can only have one if I start earning money and work to buy the things that I want. 

I love you Miata MX-5!!!

While I was passing by Mazda Ortigas branch, I saw my dream car. It's the 2009 Mazda MX-5. It was on display. Wow! Everything about it is just perfect except the price tag. Hahaha! it costs around 2 million PHP.

I've always dreamed of having my own sports car. I love watching people drift and I want to learn how to drift. Have you ever seen someone drift? If you haven't watch any Too Fast Too Furious movie and you'll be amazed. I just love the screeching sound that you hear when you drift. Even though I haven't test drove this Miata, I know it's the perfect car for me because it comes in this stunning shade of yellow, it's small and light. It's a convertible. It's keyless. It's got speed. You can start the car even without inserting a key and having to twist that key. The only problem that I have with Miata is that it's a two-seater vehicle. I want to be able to take my friends on a joy ride. With the Miata, I can only invite 1 friend. I learned from a review, that the seats are cozy and comfortable. That's good. I'm also planning on buying Recaro seats if ever I'll get my own sports car. As for the moment, I really want a Miata MX-5. Santa Claus, please give me one for Christmas. I've been good lately. Hahaha! LOL.

Bombings in Cotabato, Iligan and Jolo

Everybody knows about the bombings that happened in Cotabato, Iligan and Jolo. What affected me most is the Cotabato bombing, the deadly bombing near a cathedral. Almost 10 people died and 100 people were wounded. What disturbed me really was knowing that the people behind the bombing obviously strategically planned to bomb a place of worship where people are gathered to pray. I believe that we should respect the religions of other people and not try to disrupt it's religious practices in any way.

We don't know who the people behind the bombing were but we know the victims. The victims are poor people from the Mindanao region. While bombings continue to happen in the Mindanao area, it's hard to believe that the government is allotting millions or even billions of pesos for national security. What are organizations like AFP and PNP doing about this? They must do everything in their power to stop the bombings because it's their responsibility to protect the Filipino people. PGMA even cancelled her plans of going to Cotabato. If she wants good publicity(Im sure she wants it because of the pictures of her all over MRTs and LRTs), going to Cotabato will surely give her that. The victims of the bombing need rescue and support.

 

The good news of the day - 1.50php cutoff on Shell's gasoline

I read the newspapers everyday and you know what's common among all of them? Most of the articles in the newspapers are about the negative things that happen to our country. There's the bombing in Cotabato city, water crisis, Visayas oil spill and many more. However, when I read the newspapers this morning, there's one heading that made my day. =) It was the one about shell cutting off gasoline prices by 1.50 php.

Food, gas and clothes are the things that I spend my allowance on. The prices of these commodities continue to rise as the years pass by. Gasoline is a big bulk of my expenses. From QC, I have to drive to Taft and go home to QC. It's kind of far because it takes two hours to go back and forth from QC to Taft and from Taft to QC. It requires a lot of gas. When I learned about the cutoff this morning, I told myself, "what a relief!". Finally, there's a good news that will brighten up my day. I got so excited that I drove to the nearest gasoline station and asked the gasoline boy to fill up my car's tank with gasoline.

Please don't file a COC, Mr. Estrada

COMELEC commissioner Rene Sarmiento said recently that former president, Erap Estrada can file a certificate of candidacy. There are allegations that he will be running for president again. What a horror! He's my least favorite president. He's actually our neighbor here in New Manila. We always pass by his "Boracay Mansion". It's a living proof of corruption and his obsession to luxury and yet his slogan is "Erap, para sa mahirap". Oh come on.

He's just the worst president ever! He dropped out of college and became a movie star. I think I might have personal grudges against him. He's slogan is just far out. When he became president, the poor became poorer. I can only recall the bad things that happened to his term. He slowed down economic growth. He was charged with graft and corruption and was house arrested. Why would he want to run for office again? He would need to spend millions or even billions of pesos for campaigning for a low-paying government job. Why would Erap want to spend millions for just a low-paying job? It's obvious that he has plans of corruption again. I wouldn't want that to happen. Let's face it, he has chances of winning in the elections and I don't want him to win.

Stop sweating GMA's breast implants!

It has been reported in the media that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was hospitalized recently because her breast implants leaked. I was shocked when I learned about this. I asked myself, why would the president want to have breast implants? But it's really none of my business. She underwent the surgery a few years back (1980's i think). I am not in the position to make a fuss about it because I believe that women have inherent and sole rights to their bodies. They can do whatever they want with it. PGMA has all the right to do what she wants to her body. 

The media is popularizing and making a big deal out of PGMA's breast implants. I actually think that there's nothing wrong with what PGMA did. It's a private matter. Even if she's a public figure she still has the right to privacy. We don't need to interfere with private matters like this. There are more pressing matters that concern the nation. There are more important issues that the media has to attend to or disseminate information on. The print media looked like tabloid to me when they made a big deal out of PGMA's implants. The TV news looked like The Buzz or Startalk to me when they covered the story. The news media is profit-oriented. They would cover and exaggerate stories even if they don't concern the nation. What will we gain if we dwell on an irrelevant matter like this? Nothing. We're being "chismosos" and "chismosas" which is not good. 

Your heartbeat could have stopped but the beat of your music lives on

Michael Jackson is one popular figure with many contributions in the field of music. One of his His best-selling albums, Thriller is still on top of the charts up to now in terms numbers of copies sold. Over 100 million copies of his album thriller was sold in the market making him and his music popular. Who doesn't know MJ? He's overflowing with talents. He has a nice voice. He has unique dance moves like the moonwalk wich other artists try to replicate. Many artists draw inspiration for him like Gary Valenciano and Justin Timberlake.

You may think that Michael Jackson has everything. You may think that he lived the good life since he has fame, money and the talent. But according to MJ himself, his life is incomplete. He is not satisfied with his life. He wasn't able to enjoy his childhood because his father always pushed him to perform and make no mistakes. His father didn't treat him well. He was beaten up by his father a lot of times. He claimed that his father abused him which made his childhood tragic. This is probably the reason why he created the Neverland ranch. It was named after Peter Pan's, Neverland. MJ;s Neverland ranch has a zoo, amusement park and two railroads. I think MJ spearheaded the construction of all these to make up for his tragic childhood. He probably thought that all these would make things right for him which I think did not really happen. He engaged in drugs and was involved in four cases of molestation.

A lesson that can be learned here is that children should never be beaten up or forced to do things. This will have a psychological effect on them. An example of a psychological effect is repression. Repression in psychoanalytic theory, is removing distressing memories from our conscious mind. In the case of MJ, it's distressing his painful childhood memories through the creation of the Neverland ranch. Repression leads to anxiety. Another lesson that can be learned here is that parents and children must maintain good relationships. You'll never know when you're time is up and you're life is over. If you have problems with your dad or any member of your family, try to patch things up before it's too late. :( Another lesson here is that we should enjoy childhood, adulthood, senior citizenship and teenage life. We should live our lives to the fullest. We can only be children, teenagers, adults and senior citizens once in a lifetime.

Automated elections 2010

We all know about that we might have automated elections here in the Philippines on May 2010. Computers will be used to count votes in precincts. 800 ballots will be scanned in each computer provided by Smartmatic International. If i'm not mistaken, the process that will be done is called optical scanning. It's the same kind of technology used by US and UK for their elections. After ballots are scanned, no more human intervention is needed. The results of the elections will available after three days. The results will be sent by the computers to us through satellites, SMS and calls. According to an article that I read in the Philippine daily inquirer, it's 100 percent accurate. If ever the system crashes, the ballots will still available for manual counting.

I am for this automated elections. Gone are the days where nuns have to protect ballot boxes and people have to wait for months for the election results. We are in the year 2009. Modern times call for modern ways. I can't say for sure that this advancement in technology will help prevent cheating in elections. But given the fact that no human intervention will be needed after all the votes have been scanned in the computer, is promising. Human intervention is just scary when it comes to counting the ballots. We live in a society where money is a god. Money can alter the results of the elections. That's why I'll trust a computer more. I think it's less susceptible to cheating. Unless, computer programmers and technicians are bribed to hack the system or something. I just hope that this automated elections will push through and that it will pave the way for a clean and honest election. If the operations are successful and that no cheating was done, we can set an example to other countries in Asia who are still stuck with manual elections.

My stand on China's Green Dam project

China is currently spending millions of Yuan for the Green Dam internet filtering project. The Chinese government said that their main purpose for implementing this project is filtering pornography. They will filter what Chinese people can access in the internet. They will ban pornography.

I think that this Green Dam internet filtering project's real purpose is to block out negative publicity about the Chinese government and to monitor what the Chinese people are doing while using the computer. It's a ploy for surveillance and for the public opinion not to think negatively of officials like Hujintao. The supposedly anti-pornography purpose of the project is just a mask. Who's to say that pornography is bad? I am an interpretivist and I believe that reality is interpreted through the mind. What is good and bad are socially-constructed. Pornography is bad only if you believe that it's bad. For me it's not bad. It's just that the Catholic church has attached a negative stigma to sex and anything related to sex but in reality, it's just part of human nature. Why filter out things that are part of human nature? Going back to the Chinese government blocking publicity, the Chinese government is accountable to their people. The Chinese people have all the right to know what's going on with their government. On the issue of surveillance, the Chinese people have the right to privacy. It's a universal and inalienable right. Even an insititution like the Chinese government cannot take away that right.

I say no to China's Green Dam Project!

"Yo Mama's Last Supper" by Renee Cox

"Yo Mama's last supper" by Renee Cox is a photograph of an African-American woman with twelve African men dining in a long table just like Jesus and his disciples during the last supper. The African-American woman is naked.

I decided not to post the work here because I find it very disrespectful. It disrespects the Catholic Church because of how the work portrayed Jesus as a naked African American woman. I don't understand why the artist decided to do that. Renee Cox also disrepected Leonardo da Vinci because "Yo Mama's Last Supper" was patterned from Da Vinci's "Last Supper". I just feel that she made fun of Da Vinci's masterpiece. Renee Cox defended arguments against her work by saying that we are created in the image and likeness of God and that she can portray God like herself(an African-American woman). I just don't feel that there is a need to portray the teaching that we are created in the image and likeness of God literally. Renee Cox literally portrayed Jesus as a naked African woman. Why did the woman have to be nude? It just doesn't make sense. I learned that the main themes of her works(mostly photographs) are debunking stereotypes and empowering women. In "Yo Mama's Last Supper", I'm guessing that she wanted to debunk the stereotype that men are more capable to be leaders that's why she portrayed Jesus as a woman.

Renee's argument is really strong but the photograph still disturbs me.

Damien Hirst's "For the Love of God"

Wahhhhhh. I just find this artwork super scary. This artwork was made by Damien Hirst last 2007. It's made out of platinum, diamonds and human teeth. The number of diamonds used for this artwork is 8,601. That's 1,116 karats. According to a site, it's the most expensive work of art. You will need about 16-20 million USD to create it. To purchase it you need 99 million USD.

What exactly is Damien Hirst's purpose in making "For the Love of God"? It was created to depict the ultimate victory of death or the maximum celebration you could make after death. I beg to disagree. I don't see the work as a depiction of ultimate victory of death. To me, it's nothing but a glittering overpriced material object intended for the artist to make money out of. If I had 99 million USD to spend, I won't spend it on this crap. Yes, diamonds are a woman's best friend but I just don't appreciate diamonds attached to a scary skull. I'd rather go shopping, travel, buy myself a car and of course, feed the children in Africa. <3>

Cosimo Cavallaro's "My Sweet Lord"

Cosimo Cavallaro's "My Sweet Lord" is a 6 feet tall replica of Jesus Christ during his last moments on the cross. It was made out of pure chocolate. It's the dietitian's worst nightmare because of the 200 pounds of chocolate that was used to create the life size sculpture of Jesus Christ. It was created in 2007 during Easter to anger the Catholic community. It was exhibited at Roger Smith Lab Gallery but after a few days, it was removed. The Catholic community sent Cosimo Cavallero hate mails because they were offended by the work and it's timing. Cavallero, a Catholic said that there's nothing wrong with his work.

Is there actually something wrong with it? Yes, I think there is. I don't know why but it disturbs me to see the leader of Christianity replicated using 200 pounds of chocolate. The issue of nudity may not be offensive to some because there's Adam and Eve who wore no clothes at all and there's nothing wrong with them. But being the conservative Filipina that I am, the nudity still bothers me. It would be better if Cavallero clothed him. Cavallero said that he does not want to offend or anger anyone. He said that "They're not allowing themselves to open their hearts. ... If it makes them feel better, I'll ask for their forgiveness and do 10 Hail Marys, but they should just lighten p and be more accepting of people." I think he's being sarcastic. I am pretty sure that this creation was intended to anger the Catholic Church. It's obvious. I am not a fan of this work. I believe that we should respect all religions.

Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Bernini

I first learned about this work of art when I read Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code. The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Bernini is a sculpture made out of marble that is displayed at the Santa Maria de la Vittoria Chapel in Rome. It was created by Giovanni Bernini during the Baroque period. An image of an angel and St. Theresa was sculpted. Above them are rays of light that are said to be the light of the holy ghost. The art is said to depict St. Theresa experiencing bliss or divine joy. This is because of transverberation or a point of contact between earth and heaven. This sculpture is said to be about a moment of time where God intruded St. Theresa's soul. I don't know what exactly that means. I'm guessing that St. Theresa felt God's presence in this moment or something like that.

However, critics think otherwise. They say that St. Theresa is experiencing lust-related happiness and fulfillment in this picture. I remember that I read the same opinion somewhere in the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Furthermore, in Dan Brown's novel, he said that St. Theresa and Jesus Christ had a relationship. Being a Roman Catholic, I don't know how to react. Even if Dan Brown's books are fictional, it did shake the faith of some Catholics that I know. I don't want to blindly believe Dan Brown and critics of Bernini's Ecstacy of St. Theresa. But the Church had it's propagandas before. They teach things like sicknesses are caused by sinfulness which science has debunked by providing scientific explanations regarding sicknesses. They introduced the concept of "indulhensya". They tell their followers that if they have relatives that are priests then they will be saved. I hate to say this but it's hard to believe the Church sometimes. I don't want to pass a judgment yet on this issue. I haven't formed my opinion on the issue yet.

Artist's Breath or Fiato d' Artista by Manzoni

This is another work of art by Manzoni. He called this work, Artist's Breath of Fiato d' Artista. He created it in 1960. It's a balloon with his breath inside it. He considered it as art. I find it unique. It makes me wonder why he creates such things like the Artist's Breath and the Artist's Shit.

Maybe it's because he wants to expand the concept of art. Because when we think of art, things that come to mind are paintings, sculptures and architecture. We don't regard things like shit and breath trapped inside balloons as art. Manzoni's works of art are unique because he uses his body to create it like the Artist's shit wherein he used his excrement and the Artist's breath wherein he used his breath. My view of art is very limited. It is confined to the traditional canvas, intricate strokes of paintbrushes, elaborate details of sculptures and commendable works of architecture. I'm guessing that's the reason why I wasn't able to appreciate Manzoni's work. I can't see it's beauty. I can't understand it. This goes to show that art is relative. If Manzoni considers his work art, that doesn't mean that I will consider it as art but his works art. His works intrigue me and continue to intrigue art historians. The underlying values in his works remains a mystery even the year 2009. It is up to you to interpret his works.

Artist's Shit or Merde d'artista by Manzoni

Can art get any crazier than this? An Italian artist named Piero Manzoni gathered 90 tin cans and put 30 grams of his excrement inside each can and sealed it. He labeled the cans with the worlds "Artist's Shit" in English, German, Italian and French. He considered it art. He planned to sell his Artist's Shit as expensive as gold. This means that one gram of his shit is equivalent to the price of one gram of gold.

You're probably wondering how he came up with this idea of putting shit in tin cans and considering it as art. According to rumors, his father once told him that art is shit. I think he took it literally. Hahaha! In 2007 oned of the cans was auctioned off. The buyer spent a whopping 80,000 USD for that shit. Now who in the right mind would do that? Who would have ever thought that a can of shit will be sold for 80,000 USD. Another can of merde d'artista can be found in Tate Modern in London. Nobody knows what it contained because no one wanted to open the can. Doing this would destroy the value of the work. Its monetary value is increasing year after year.

I don't know how I'll gain an appreciation of Merde d'artista. It's just out of this world. According to an art historian, "It is a joke, a parody of the art market, and a critique of consumerism and the waste it generates."

The 3.6 million dollar valued Duchamp's Fountain

I am taking up the course HUMAART or human art this term. I am learning a lot of things. One of which is that art is undefined and that art is relative. What I regard as art may not be art for someone else. This is because there are many factors that mediate our gaze such as education, religion, social class and the like.

Let me share to you a work by Duchamp called, Fountain. He considered it art. I don't know if you'll consider it art too. In 1917, he turned a urinal upside down and signed on the bottom part it with the text, "R. Mutt". People are not really sure if that came from the German word, "Armut" meaning poverty. Duchamp submitted it for an art exhibition but it was rejected. It was only in 2004 that the Fountain was noticed and art historians and critics declared that it was the most influential sculpture of the 20th century. I don't really know how to interpret the toilet but it peaked my interest because it's unique and so I researched an art historian's interpretation. He said that the upside down urinal looks like a renaissance madonna wearing a veil, a seated buddha or a sclupture of an erotic form. Haha! How can that be a structure of an erotic form? I don't really know. What are your interpretations of the fountain by Duchamp?

Changing of the guard at the Buckingham Palace

Ever since I watched the replay of the coverage of Diana and Prince Charles' wedding, I had this dream of visiting the Buckingham palace one day and knowing what its like to witness it's grandeur before my eyes.

We all know that the Buckingham Palace at London is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth and the other Royal Family members. It's one of my favorite works of architecture. I think what makes it beautiful is its symmetry. Everything about it is symmetrical, from the windows, pillars and even the positioning of the guards. Another reason why I want to visit the palace is that, I want to see the traditional changing of the guards. I've heard all sorts of stories about it. You know about the guards at the palace right? They have this big black furry hat and red uniform. Their uniform is really fancy. At 11:30 am, the changing of the guard happens. Tourists from all over the world visit the Buckingham palace just to witness this ceremony. What happens is that the guards march in front of the palace and new guards take their place. It's like a parade. People say that it's really entertaining. I'm looking forward to see the Buckingham palace and watch the changing of the guard. <3>

Going around Venice, Italy in a gondola

2 years ago, I read this book called "The Secret". It's a book that teaches you about the law of attraction. Law of attraction is about attracting what you want by thinking about it and asking for it from the universe. If you believe that you can attract what you want, then the universe will conspire for you to get it. Part of attracting what you want is creating a vision board. A vision board can be an illustration board, poster, cardboard etc. where you paste cutouts, printouts or drawings of whatever you want to attract.

Last year, I attached a photo of a gondola on my vision board and said to myself that by 2009, I'll be able to ride one. Yipee! I haven't experienced riding a gondola yet but I've seen it from the movies and heard stories about it. A gondola is a traditional rowing boat that serves as the main form of transportation at Venice, Italy. It passes through a body of water that looks like a canal. The canal is sandwiched by beautiful structures in Venice like palaces and churches. What is alien to me is what I usually find beautiful. When I saw the unique architectures of the buildings, churches and houses at Venice through the media, I told myself that I have to see this place. A gondola ride is not cheap. According to a friend, it costs around 80 euros for 40 mins. That's more or less 5,000 php. Wow! Talk about a first world ride! If the gondola guy serenades you, there's an additional fee.

Here's the highlight of my post. Two weeks ago, Singapore Airlines had a seat sale and me and my family bought tickets to Macau. We booked our hotel early. We're going to stay at the Venetian hotel. I decided to browse Venetian's website(Macau branch) and learned that they had gondola rides there! Their gondola rides were of course patterned from that of Italy's. My dream of riding a gondola ride is about to come true! I'm so excited! :P

Hanauma bay is my kind of paradise!<3

Aloha! Don't you just love the beach? Don't you just love being drenched under the lovely sun during the summer? Isn't it relaxing to just sit on the sand and appreciate the beautiful shore in front of you? I'm sure most of us have their favorite beaches or islands.

I want to blog about my favorite beach(actually it's not a beach.. they refer to it as a bay). It's the Hanauma bay at Oahu, Hawaii. For me, it's the closest thing to paradise. This beach is definitely a living proof of God's creativity. This is my paradiso here on earth. This is very special bay because of the unique story behind it. As you can see in the picture, the bay has a unique shape. According to a Hanauma local, the bay got its circular shape due of the flooding of a volcanic crater a thousand years back. This bay eventually became popular. Tourists visit the bay to snorkel, swim and scuba dive. The Hanauma bay has clear waters and you can see the wonders underneath. When I first set foot on Hanauma, I couldn't help but put on my goggles and explore marine life. There are different kinds of fishes and beautiful corals. It's like seeing those scenes in Disney's Finding Nemo in real life. However, not everyone can visit Hanauma bay. They have strict visitor limits to conserve marine life. To enjoy its grandeur, tourists must plan ahead. Go to Hanauma bay, Hawaii even just for a stopover and believe me, you will be wanting to come back!

Reverse bungy jumping at Clark Quay, Singapore

Anyone up for a wild ride? The reverse bungy jumping at Clark Quay, Singapore is one andrenaline-pumping ride. Imagine sitting inside a ball and being thrown in the air up to 60 meters with a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. It's too good too pass up!

The last time I've done reverse bungy at Singapore was around a couple of months back. I can still remember it clearly. I did it with my two brothers. The ball can accommodate three people. Inside the metal ball, there were three seats like the one you see in roller coasters where it had super thick leather straps as seatbelts. I insisted on sitting in the middle. We had to play rock paper scissors for the middle seat and luckily, I got it. When we were ready for take off, I made the sign of the cross, said a short prayer and closed my eyes. I didn't care if a lot of people we're watching. Before I knew it, I was about 60 meters above the ground and the metal ball was rolling. We were rotating 360 degrees while the metal ball was going up and down! My long hair was all over the place. I was feeling something weird in my tummy. I was shouting all sorts of words. After five minutes, the ride was over. I survived! Little did I know, there was a video coverage of the ride. The operators of the ride handed it to me. When we got back to the hotel, I watched it and I looked funny! I couldn't stop laughing.

The KIngpin Suite

Have you ever been to Las Vegas, Nevada? If you're up for some partying and gambling or if you enjoy staying in hotels, the city of lights is the place to go to. At Las Vegas, the well-lighted hotels such as The Flamingo, Wynn, Venetian and the Mirage will take you aback. Everyone knows that, in Las Vegas, it is the hotel that sets your mood.

There's one suite at Las Vegas that I will never forget. It's the Kingpin Suite at the Palms. Me and my family only stayed there for a night since it's very costly. It's worth every penny that my parents spent for that room. It's definitely worth the while. Imagine a suite with two regular sized bowling alleys, a pool table, a jacuzzi at the terrace and two beautifully-furnished bedrooms with king sized beds with chilled bottles of champagne on the bedside tables. That's the Kingpin suite! You don't have to be a professional bowling player to be able to enjoy the suite. You can just let loose and order sumptous meals like an ice cream worth one thousand dollars. Of course, we didn't order that but I saw it on the menu. What made it very expensive is that it contains fish caviar, the most expensive belgian chocolate, and white wine. You will also eat it with a 20 karat golden spoon. Sweet!!! I wonder how that ice cream tasted like. I forgot to mention that the Kingpin suite had its own full bar inside with Cabernet, Chardonnay, Moet and the list goes on. Me and my brother went "gaga" over this suite. We didn't want to leave the suite. haha! I want to go back soon. ;)

The Cadbury Factory Tour at Dunedin

I'm a self-confessed "chocoholic" and Cadbury is one of my favorite brands of chocolate. What better way it is to spend your vacation than going on a Cadbury factory tour and indulging on chocolates? Being able to tour the factory of Cadbury is on my to-do-list. I first heard about this from my dad who already had the tour when he was a kid and after that, I couldn't help but to imagine myself going on a Cadbury factory tour. It's going to be my happy place!=)

According to my dad, you can eat as much chocolate as you want while in the tour and that's what excites me the most, the unlimited chocolates. :P yum! Aside from that, you'll be learning about the history of chocolate and how it's done. You will also be given a loot bag with lots of chocolates inside. I imagine the factory in my head and the closest thing to my imagination would be the movie about Willy Wonka and the golden chocolate bar wherein a boy was able to tour the candy and chocolate factory. I identify with that boy because we both love chocolates. How many times have I said the world, chocolate? HAHA! Eating a chocolate is an impulse for me. It's a no brainer. Once I see a chocolate inside our fridge, I just grab it and eat it.

The Stonehenge

If there's one landmark that I've been dying to see all my life, that would definitely be the Stonehenge. People probably wonder what's extraordinary about a couple of giant rocks. What made it one of the most famous tourist spots in Britain and in the world?

Who made these stones and what was their purpose anyway? The question about who is behind the construction of the Stonehenge is unanswered even up to this day but there is a legend behind it, a very interesting one. According to the History of the Kings of Britain, the stones came from Ireland. Merlin brought it to Salisbury plain. Then, there had been a killing of 300 British nobleman. Their saxon leader at that time, ordered the killing. Their king, wanted a fitting memorial to the dead men. The Stonehenge became the grave of the 300 noblemen. This is only a legend. Part of the beauty of Stonehenge is its mystery. Its beautiful structure makes me wonder how it was built. The rocks were too heavy to move or carry around. This was built thousands of years ago. There were no machines that could transport the large rocks. I'm guessing that it was manually transported. How many men did it take to carry enormous stones? It surely required a lot of manpower. I wonder who designed the Stonehenge. It's structure is unique. The more I look at it, the more it draws me in. It's design is minimalist but elegant. I can't wait to see this work of art in real life.

Who's next for Manny Pacquiao?

I am a fan of this guy. I just have to blog about him. We all know that he is the pound for pound king. He defeated guys like Oscar dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton which really made me proud that I even bought the DVD's of those fights and asked Manny himself to sign it. 

The question is, who's next for Manny Pacquiao? I really think he's in his prime right now and that he's invincible. No matter who his next opponent will be, I'm sure Pacman will knock him out. Pacquiao has already made his mark. If I remember it right, Bob Arum called Pacquiao a legendary fighter. Right now, I'm trying to learn boxing at Elorde Boxing gym Gilmore. Some of the trainers there are former boxers from General Santos. They told me that they knew Pacquiao and that they were scolding Pacquiao before because he was so thin and he wasn't that good. But, where is Pacquiao right now? I think he was included in a magazine's list of top 100 influential people. Wow!

I'm really looking forward to Pacman's next fight. I think he will be facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. I know Manny will prepare for this fight. I hope he will bring home the gold!

Filipino games, gone in oblivion?

When I was a kid, I would always go outside the house whenever I have free time and play with my neighbors. I remember playing piko, tumbang preso and patintero with other kids during weekends. We would spend the afternoon  in the streets under the scorching heat of the sun playing. But now, in the year 2009, it seems that these Filipino games are already forgotten.

As I pass by the streets in our village, I no longer see children playing patintero, piko or tumbang preso. You know what I see? I see the strong proliferation of the media particularly Wowowee. Kids play games like "hep hep hooray", "giling giling" and "mukhasim" or whatever that is. I find it very disappointing maybe because I hate Wowowee in the first place. I hate the fact that Willie Revillame makes a comedy out of the less fortunate. He makes them do silly things just for money. Additionally, Wowowee can be viewed by TFC subscribers from around the globe and I don't want foreigners who will be able to watch Wowowee to think that Filipinos are silly because of stupid games like "mukhasim" and "giling giling". For those of you who don't know what the game "mukhasim" is, the game is about having the ugliest sour face. I can't explain it.

My point here is that, I want Filipino games like piko, patintero and tumbang preso to be preserved because it's one of the things that makes our culture rich. It's one of the things that make us a Filipino. It's one of the things that make us unique. I'm not saying that Wowowee is not part of the Philippine culture. I just don't want their games to replace our traditional games.

What to watch out for in UAAP Basketball Season 72

UAAP is fast approaching. My favorite event in the UAAP is the men's basketball. I enjoy watching basketball like most Filipinos do. I was always present during DLSU games especially the ones against ADMU. I wish the DLSU Green Archers good luck. I'll hope we'll win this year! I'll be crossing my fingers and cheering for the green!

1. Rookies - DLSU bagged a lot of valuable rookies. We know that coach Pumaren coached the RP youth team last year. Some members of the RP youth team will be playing for DLSU. DLSU was also able to bag Arvie Bringas, the standout former HS player of San Sebastian. He's one of the most sought after high school players out there.

2. Players who are gone

-JVEE Casio (DLSU)

-Rico Maierhofer (DLSU)

- Chris Tiu (ADMU)

- Marcy Arellano (UE)

- Jervy Cruz (UST)

3. new referees - Instead of having NABRO as the officiating body, it will be handled by BRASCU or the pool of referees from the SBP or Samahan Basketbol ng Pilipinas. Last year, there were a lot of complaints on NABRO. There were a lot of bad calls.

4. new commissioner: Remember last year when Ateneo was awarded two points when coach Pumaren was not wearing his ID inside the court? Well, it was the former commissioner's call. Now, there is a new commissioner named Joe Lipa who was the commissioner of NCAA last year. I wish him luck and I'll hope he'll be able to fulfill his responsibilities as new commissioner.

A Game of Shotglass Chess

My cousin from the states went to the Philippines yesterday. She had a "pasalubong" for me. It was a shot glass chess set. I love chess ever since I was a kid. It was a game of strategy and intellect. We decided to use the glass chess set and play at my house after dinner.

The game of  shot glass chess is played just like a normal chess game. The only exception is that, you would fill your shot glass chess pieces with alcohol and each time you eat a piece from your opponent you would drink the alcohol from that piece. We filled ours with two flavors of Bacardi breeze. The effect of shot glass chess is that you get drunk as the game goes on.

At first, nobody wanted to eat chess pieces because we were afraid of getting drunk. Bacardi is a certified alcohol killer! You know how it burns your throat once you take a shot? What I did was I intentionally made dumb moves so that my cousin will eat my pieces and eventually get drunk. It did not go according to plan because my cousin was doing the same thing. We ended up moving the pieces without thinking just for the sake of it. We got all wobbly and my vision started to blur. The game ended end we didn't even care who won. hahaha!

Shot glass chess was fun. It's a no-brainer game that will keep you laughing. Hahaha!

Pandemic

When my school announced that classes will be postponed for 10 days due to the confirmed case of H1N1, I drove my car to my favorite board game store, Hobbes and Lands located at Promenade, Greenhills. I had extra allowance to buy myself an addition to my board game collection. I figured that I need something to do during my ten days of vacation.

The salesperson was able to "sales-talk" me into buying this expensive board game called, Pandemic. He told me that Pandemic was a new release and that they only had one last piece. I bought it at once and headed home for me and my family to try out. Here is how the game goes. First you are given a role, you can either be a scientist who can cure diseases or an operations specialists who can construct research stations. The goal of the players is to eradicate four diseases and prevent a pandemic. Players must travel around the world to contain infections and at the same time develop the cures. If they don't create the cures for the for diseases in the nick of time, the players will lose. That's the concept of the game. That's pandemic in a nutshell. It's really fun and addictive. Try it out. *thumbs up*

Are you a Tycoon material like Donald Trump?

My grandmother was a businesswoman and so was my grandfather. My parents were also businessmen. They wanted me to become one also but I told them that this field does not interest me at all. During my 15th birthday, they gave me a PC game that they hope will peak my interest in the field of business because it had the same effect to the daughter of my mom's "kumare" and the son of dad's "pare". My parents ordered it from amazon.com.

It was Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon PC game. You're going to be like one of the contestants from The Apprentice. In the game, you're one of Donald Trump's new employees and your task is to prove yourself to some of the prominent developers in the globe. You'll be given a small amount of money which is a few million dollars. With this money, you will compete by buying empty lots and develop them into buildings, hotels, restaurants and the like. Your goal is to generate revenue and maintain the establishments. You also have to attract customers so that your income is greater than your expenses. 

I actually had fun playing the game and it peaked my interest in real estate. This game inspired me to buy properties when I grow up. I plan on investing in real estate after graduating. :P

Ever wanted to be a rockstar?

I’ve always wanted to be a guitar god. I wanted to learn the drums, bass, keyboards and even learn how to sing. I’ve always had this dream of going on a world tour and performing in front of a live audience. Imagine what it’s like to be a rockstar. Thanks to Rockband, I was able to do all that.

Rockband is game for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Just in case you’re not familiar with Rockband, it’s a game for up to four people wherein you can form your own band and play. One can be the vocalist, one can play the guitar, one can play the bass guitar and one can be the drummer. Basically, it’s a cooperative effort but two-on-two contests are also available. To make the players feel like they’re really in a band, Rockband comes with a USB microphone, guitar and bass consoles(with an effects knob and whammy bar), and a drumset. The song collections are superb. There are classics such as Deep Purple's "Highway Star" and The Ramones' "Rockaway Beach". There are also new songs like Weezer's "Say It Ain't So" and Nine Inch Nails' "The Hand That Feeds."

When you have nothing to do or just want to have a good time with your friends, try playing Rockband. It’s really fun and I’m sure you and your friends will put on a heck of a show. I also find it stress-relieving. If you want to forget about your problems, this will do the trick. You can play rockband at blueskies, Katipunan and University Mall, Taft Avenue for a very low price. :P

My Haute Couture Photoshoot Attempt

I watch America's Next Top Model all day everyday. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a contest for aspiring models. The contestants have to walk on the runway, go to go-sees and pose for the camera. At the end of the show the judges will eliminate a contestant based on her performance during the photoshoot and fashion shows. Because I have nothing to else to do today, I phoned my high school friend, Reese and asked her to model for me and she said yes.

The theme of the photo shoot was haute couture. I personally styled her and used clothes that I bought from The Ramp. The Ramp is a store where you can find articles of clothing designed by Filipino designers. I recommend it because the clothes are tastefully designed and of high quality. The price tags are also reasonable. Going back to the topic, I was also the one who did the hair and make-up of my friend, Reese. For her hair, I went for the out of bed look. For her make-up, I just enhanced her eye and lips. She did a lot of poses and I captured it. I really enjoyed my haute couture photoshoot attempt. *thumbs up*

Emma Watson for Burberry Fall 2009

I was surfing through entertainment news site today and noticed Burberry’s latest campaign. I looked at the ads of Burberry and thought I recognized the blond haired girl endorsing Burberry. How could I not recognize her at once! I’m a Harry Potter fan. It’s Hermione all grown-up.

Emma Watson is the new face of Burberry. I wasn't able to recognize her because of the smokey eye make-up and windswept hair. She looks nothing like Harry Potter's Hermione. She looks sophisticated and mature in those Burberry coats, bags and other signature items. I like the Burberry Fall collection 2009. I dig those high-fashion coats and tastefully-designed bags. I wish we could sport those trench coats here in the Philippines(if only we had a cold weather...) The photos in the campaign were artistically shot. The photos were simple yet captivating. There's something about the photos that draws my eye. It really showcases the outfits. The Burberry coats has an elegant feel to it. 

Overall, the Burberry Campaign is effective for me. The clothes are wearable but not in the Philippine setting. The clothes are simple yet elegant and stylish. *thumbs up*

Why women buy expensive handbags...

I went to the Podium today and I can't help but notice women toting ordinary purses or handbags with corporate signatures of Gucci, LV, Prada, Hermes, Dolce and Gabbana and the list goes on. It is one of the biggest trends that I've noticed here in the Philippines. Back in the day, it is said that it is the shoes that make the man but now in the year 2009, it's the handbag that makes a woman.

It boggles my mind why women are fond of expensive handbags. Some of the people I know are not that well-off but insist on buying or carrying handbags with price tags 50,000 php and above. What makes these bags so special? What makes them different from cheap handbags? Madonna is one of the endorsers of LV and yeah, she radiates glamour and luxury when she pairs an LV speedy 30 with her outfits. Why not? She has the dough, style and commendable taste! Some women argue that a price tags and quality are directly proportional. An expensive handbag has a high quality while a cheap handbag has a low quality. Some say that an LV is timeless. That's why it costs a fortune. My LV fanatic aunt's argument is that women spend thousands of pesos for their wedding gowns which they will only be using for a few hours. What's wrong with investing in a handbag that you will use for years? 

Whenever I see those handbags, I ask myself, "Will I be willing to spend that much for a handbag?" "Will I buy myself one of those?" The answer is yes. I argue that an expensive handbag makes a statement. It says a lot about where you are in your life and what you have achieved in your career. <3

What the colors that we wear reveal about us

The colors that surround us have a great impact on our mood or how feel. We all know how interior designers make use of colors to create different moods in different rooms. We can do the same thing when it comes to our outfits. Never plan an outfit the day before because you’ll never know what your mood is the next day. I read articles about colors from magazines and online articles. I decided to share them to you here in my space in the cyber-world. :P

RED - When you want to draw attention, wear red. It is also often attributed to romance and passion. If you’re going out on a date, red would be the perfect color to wear. It is also said that red makes you hungry and stimulates appetite. Notice the corporate signatures of Mcdonald’s and Jollibee? Both corporate signatures are red.

ORANGE - Orange is a like red but it’s a little more calming. It also puts you into a good and lively mood.

YELLOW - Yellow is the color of the sun. If you’re blue, wear yellow to make you feel sunny or cheer you up. It is also said that yellow is the color of intelligence and aspiration.

GREEN - Green is the color of nature. It is tranquil and soothing. It is also refreshing. Research has proven that looking at something green reduces stress. It is also the color of growth. If you’re stressed and overwhelmed with all the things to do for school, wear green to feel more relaxed and calm.

BLUE - Blue is the color of the sea. Blue is peaceful and soothing color. It can also be a color that can be attributed to being cold and standoffish. Like green, the color blue can help you relax in times of stress but it is said that the color blue can subliminally make you feel more “blue”. Additionally, a research revealed that blue can make you more creative. If you’re creating a work of art in the form of music, video, photo, websites and the like, be sure to wear blue.

PURPLE - Purple is associated with being regal and sophisticated. It also signifies creativity and luxury. Seeing the color purple can heighten your energy level. It is also attributed with spirituality and intuition. If you’re making a very big decision, wear purple.

PINK - We all know that pink is a very popular color when it comes to girly-girls. It signifies romance and happiness. If you are happy and inlove, wear pink.

WHITE - White reflects light. Remember when Hayden Kho wore a white polo in court during the trial of the case that he is involved in? White is often associated with peace, innocence, simplicity and cleanliness. Wear white when you want to hype other colors that you are wearing. You can pair anything with white.

BLACK - Black is a very popular color in fashion. It is also a popular color for rocker dudes and chicks and bad-ass villains. Black is associated with power, seriousness, authority and responsibility. When applying for a job or after a promotion at work, you might want to wear black. 

What do you think about these colors? Which color suits your mood right now?

style icon of 2009: Lady Gaga

Leotards, unitards, hot pants, false eyelashes and platinum blonde hair are things that you wouldn't normally sport or wear. But Lady Gaga, the American pop star behind the hit single, "Poker Face" totally rocks it! According to rumors, she was given the name Lady Gaga by her producer for being over the top.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie hate her fashion sense but what I like about her is that she doesn't care what critics say about her. She wears whatever she wants and is never afraid of expressing herself through her clothing. She designs some of her outfits and she will be launching her own clothing line soon. The last picture I posted in this blog is a pre-Lady Gaga photo from Perez Hilton(perezhilton.com). Hmmm I wonder who influences Lady Gaga when it comes to fashion. She definitely deserves to be hailed as the style icon of 2009.

Lookbook, Collective Fashion Consciousness

For all you fashion enthusiasts out there, www.lookbook.nu is a website to see! It’s a site where fashionistas post their full body pictures wearing different outfits. They also post where they’ve bought their articles of clothing. For those of us who need help on what to wear for certain occasions, you don’t need to hire a personal stylist. SImple visit lookbook for fashion inspiration.

Once you’ve earned your fashion wings, you can join lookbook and post your own pictures wearing your outfits. Your fashion sense can inspire people from around the globe. Other lookbook members can comment on your outfit or hype it. If you like a certain lookbook entry, simply click the hype button to show that you like that entry. Members can also award one heart to their favorite outfit of day. Through lookbook, you can showcase your outfits on a worldwide basis. =)

LV bags, how to spot the real deal

Fake fashion is a whopping 450 billion dollar generating industry. Today, I went to greenhills and one thing that this shopping center is known for is the triple A signature bags that can be found there.  Because of this whole LV bag craze, whenever i spot people carrying LV bags, my first reaction would be to question whether those are real or not.

Because the LV bag is the most popular signature bag, it has always been the target of knockoffs. The average consumer may easily be tricked into believing that a fake LV bag is  the real one. Here’s how to tell whether you’re getting the real Louis :P

1.Check the price - LV monogram canvas bags cost 365 - 1985 USD

2.What’s in a name? - Normally the LVs are crooked. If you see the LV name in a crease or overlapped by a stitch, it’s not the real deal

3.The zipper pull and purse snaps will also be branded with an LV

4.The zipper pull should be brass and heavy

5.The seams should not be uneven

6.Check the material - LV monogram bags are made out of canvas but its handles are made out of leather. The handles are oxidized. The handles changes color and becomes a darker brown over time.

7.Check the location - LV has no other authorized reseller other than eluxury.com. It also doesn’t go on sale.

You can also call the LV hotline: 212-758-8877

Fake Tans and Artificial Skin Whitening

Isn’t it paradoxical that people of color want to be have a lighter skin tone and that white people want to have a darker skin tone? It’s part of human nature not to be contented with what we have. The perfect example would be Paris Hilton, who always has a fake tan and Michael Jackson who has obviously undergone an artificial skin whitening. These are actually two of my favorite international artists.

Am I the only who thinks their before pictures are better? Michael Jackson actually looked handsome in his real skin tone . In his "after" pic, he gives me the goosebumps. Paris looked natural and sweet in her "before" pic. I learned from the insider, an application from facebook that Paris HIlton gets her fake tan at Completely Bare. I don't know how exactly this process goes but the insider says that Paris indulges in the 24 Karat Gold Tan which uses real specs of Gold! Paris and Michael looks good even without the fake tan and the artificial skin whitening. They shouldn't bother changing their original skin tones.