Milo Marathon Finals 2014

MARS QC Runners! Photo by Excipio Imago Photography

last year, i wasn't able to go to the milo marathon finals because my legs were still too sore from running at Nike We Run Manila which was a week before the milo run. mejo ambisyosa kasi i pegged for 2 consecutive 10k runs with only a week recovery in between. i was a beginner at running and didn't know best. :P

but finally, after a year, i was able to attend na! woooh! and here's my record:

the Milo Marathon Manila Finals was rescheduled a week later (Dec 13) than the original date (Dec 7) due to the threats of typhoon Ruby/Hagupit. luckily i just live in the metro and had no plans on the 13th so i was able to come. but as for those who came from the provinces who qualified for the finals, spent money on transportation, lodging, etc, and had to extend for another week due to the rescheduling, i feel bad for all of them. they can't be blamed for all the hassles they went through. :( it can't be helped though. the marathon has to push through this year, and there are no more available dates for december. >XS

anywaaaaaay, i was supposed to run with my MARS9 buddy, Ken, but she didn't make it huhu. T___T i came in late so i missed the warm up with the other guys haha okay lang din naman. >XD

the run was... great! haha. it's my second time to run around MOA/Pasay Area, my first time was during Red Cross Million Volunteer Run (which was kindof bad), so this is definitely the better of the 2 runs.

they say RunRio is a great run organizer and i couldn't agree more. everything was actually organized. there were km markers everywhere, hydration was sufficient, and everything was pretty much in place. as usual there were a loooot of people who ran, and since i was late, i kindof got mixed with the non-competitive crowd (ie. students) who just pretty much walked and took selfies at every kilometer mark, or wherever there's a large Milo signboard around. i don't get annoyed with them, at some point, i was like them too. hahaha

i felt bad for those who were running 5k with their backpacks on though. apparently, 5k runners aren't entitled baggage stubs so there. good thing APEX has a tent where we can leave our bags! we were even given a tapsi breakfast after the run, and i was finally able to claim my MAR9 singlet! yeyy! >XD

that's pretty much it! late post i know. let me leave you with a JGH (just got home) selfie i took that day! haha

PS: thanks for the ride back kris! >:D

my happiest 5k!

wooooh! this afternoon's jog was the best i had so far. in terms of record and overall feeling. i jogged 5.02km in 43 minutes! that's quite a milestone for me because that's my fastest 5k, and i jogged without stopping! HAHAHA sorry naman sa "PR" ko (kung maituturing). still on my way to 30 minutes! <3

i really wanted to call it a run, but at the (literal) rate at which i was going, i was more jogging than running. nonetheless, i never stopped! that means i'm probably doing something right on account of my breathing skills. haha! skill talaga, yes. cos at some point in every run, we need to pause to catch our breaths. most runners do that on a light jog, i do it on a walk... which drags the record lower so yeah. will work on that! >XD

even though i had a great jog, it wasn't really that smooth. come 3k and my feet started blistering! so i had to adjust my steps to lessen the impact on the sore areas. huhu. then after a kilometer i was feeling side stitches naman! common running problem; so i had to slow down a bit. :(

magkaganun man, push parin!!!

when the nike+ app announced 5k, i was sooo frakking happy i could imagine the gray pavement turning red, lanes being drawn with white strips, and a finish tape waiting to be breasted in slow-mo. BEST. FEELING. EVER.

i don't know what else made this run special, could it be the coffee i drank some 30 minutes before, or the #Drop10Workout i did a few hours back, or just the fact that i'm on vacation? lol. whatever the other reasons may be, THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS RUN! <3

i'm still struggling to realize why i'm so slow. at my age i should be breaking the 30minutes barrier already. after MARS9, i felt stronger, and my succeeding runs have finally become injury-free. for the first time in my life, when i stiffen up and poke myself, i finally feel some hardness and not some disappointing jello of fat haha. >XD

i'm suspecting i have weak lungs. though i have to check w/ a doctor parin. for some reason i want to try getting checked-up at Peak Form! ever since that summer where i lived in a newly painted dorm, my health has declined radically. my lungs are just so blah. better check with the doctor. >XS

anywaaaaay, that's it!

btw i'm so excited this season cos i have a lot of personal projects in tow for the coming days, like:

- selecting works for a new portfolio
- a desk calendar!
- watercolor and lettering stuff
- an obligatory year-ender post
- 2015 wishlist
- backlogs, backlogs, and more backlogs
- reviving #ProjectKorra even though the entire Avatar franchise has just ended and by the time i'm finally Korra-ready, no one could probably relate to my fitness peg anymore. haha

sooooo.... i have to gooo!!!
happy Christmaaaasss!!! <3

Breastfeeding and getting pregnant

Oops! Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near getting pregnant and having a baby, not just yet, but just recently I learned something informative about it that I just wanted to share it with you guys. A couple of my friends are in the family planning stage and I thought this is a very helpful thing to know. Here it goes:

click for source

Many women decide that they would like to get pregnant while they are still breastfeeding. However, many women do not realize that breastfeeding is actually a natural contraceptive that disrupts ovulation. Breastfeeding makes it harder for ovulation to return to normal after giving birth, and can keep women from being able to get pregnant again. According to Pregnancytips.org, there are a few things that you can do to try to improve your chances of getting pregnant while breastfeeding if that is something that you want to do. First of all, once your baby begins to sleep through the night, you can try to space out your breastfeeding sessions as much as possible. The longer you space out your breastfeeding, the more likely you are to “trick” your body into beginning to ovulate again. The same is true for when your baby begins to eat solid foods. The truth is, the older your baby gets, the more likely it is that your periods and ovulation cycles will begin to return to normal, and you will be able to get pregnant again.

So ultimately, the breastfeeding phenomenon acts as a contraceptive. So for parents out there who'd like to get another baby while the mother is still on it, spacing is the key!

You're Invited! The Storytelling Project BOOK LAUNCH!

Finally! The Storytelling Project will be launching "Super Labandera" and "Si Uligmaya at ang Dambuhalang Buwaya"

Imagine. Create. Share

The First-ever TSP Book Launch

Featuring stories written by Jim Mark of Dagupan and Aprille Joy of the Mountain Province

It will be on December 14, 2014 (Sunday)
4:30pm at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street (BGC, Taguig)

Admission is free!

here's the official facebook event page :D

see you all there!

to give you a short background, these books were written by children who were part of TSP's Storywriting Workshops. If you don't know TSP yet, they're a team of passionate people who travel to remote communities in the country to teach children reading, storytelling, and writing; following a comprehensive 3-phase program, Imagine-Create-Share which is best explained here at their FB page's About section (expand on the long description please!) hehe

i'm so excited because i'll be signing for Super Labandera as the illustrator! moreso, it's going to be my first time to see the book for real because i wasn't able to participate during the proofing process. haaay busy kasi haha.

this is such a freaking dream come true not just for me, but for the many kids in far flung places who will be inspired to dream BIG! imagine, Jim Mark and Aprille were just ordinary children who wanted to learn story writing, AND NOW THEY HAVE A BOOK! amazing grabe!

i hope you all go and support the cause! the books will be sold at 150 pesos each, and next year it will be out on Fully Booked bookstores!

FYI December 2014: A World of Inspired Flavors

last month i gave you an update on what's up on FYI for November, now it's time for this month's update! since we're all in the midst of this merry season celebrating here and there, attending parties, and cooking for the family, i'm so sure you will enjoy this month's lineup as we're all about FOOD!

let me take you to FYI's December lineup that will surely fire up your gastronomic senses!

Taste of Vietnam (Tuesdays at 8pm)

Immerse yourself in the hearty, local flavors of Vietnam with Taste of Vietnam. Host Robert Danhi takes us on not just a food odyssey in Taste of Vietnam, but a voyage into across the country trying local food as he meets fascinating people along the way, unveiling the hidden charms of Vietnam as he curates this dynamic culture to find the deepest flavours in each community.

Atul's Spice Kitchen: Malaysia (Tuesdays at 9pm)

 Explore Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a melting pot of Asian flavors with Atul’s Spice Kitchen: Malaysia. Double Michelin-starred chef, Atul Kochhar travels to Malaysia  in Atul's Spice Kitchen: Malaysia, exploring the country’s traditional cuisine and its spice trade influenced by Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Thai and Arab flavours. In the first episode Atul lands in the diverse capital of Kuala Lumpur, discovering hidden gems, sampling authentic Nyonya dishes and preparing a Rogan Josh for a wedding.

The Feed (Premiers December 4, Thursdays at 10pm)

Travel to the West and discover what’s been tickling the taste buds of America with The Feed. Join culinary expert Gail Simmons; superstar chef Marcus Samuelsson; and comedian and food writer Max Silvestri anchor a rollicking adventure into the world of culinary and food culture in America as they share their take on today’s most innovative food trends. Each episode of The Feed pits the unlikely combination of these three personalities against each other in unconventional food challenges that allow each competitor to show off their unique perspectives on the food world.

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That's it! Make sure to tune in FYI Channel and immerse into these unique food adventures!

The literal sports clinic: Peak Form

when i first heard of Peak Form, i thought it was a yoga studio. it sounded like one! haha but apparently, it's not! it's a sports clinic, and a literal one at that!

it's where you'd want to go if you want expert medical treatment and advise about sports related health conditions. Jaymie Pizarro, The Bull Runner, herself testifies to the awesome wonders the technology of Peak Form has done to help her quads recover.

it's amazing to know that specialty health centers like these exist in a metro full of sports advocates! what with the apparent boom of fitness conscious fellows, almost everyone wants to get into a sport. with that in mind, it's reassuring to know that there's a clinic we can run to to get our body recovered in case we face injuries and such.

Peak Form is definitely a front runner in providing only the best services to their clients in terms of sports medication and therapy, and that includes having one of the best names in Sports Science to lead their team.

Take a look at their press release:

Peak Form is pleased to announce the Dr. Gar Eufemio has been appointed as President of the Asean Society for Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy. He is an Orthopedic Surgeon who finished as Chief Resident of the UP-PGH Department of Orthopedics and had his fellowship in Sports Medicine at the University of Cincinnati.

He was the founding head of the UP-PGH Department of Orthopedics Sports Clinic for ten years. He is the Head of the Ortho-Rehab-Rheuma Division of the MegaClinic and has set up the Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Units of Healthway Medical Clinics and My Health Clinic.

In 2008, he was the “Godfather” for the European Sports Medicine Travelling Fellowship program. In 2011, he underwent additional training, this time on platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, in Milan, Italy. He practices in Cardinal Santos Medical Center, MegaClinic and in the recovery center. He was the President of the Philippine Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine from 2011-2014.

With Dr. Gar Eufemion leading the team at Peak Form, anyone can definitely confidently say that I’m glad #IGoToPeakForm.

Location and Contact

Unit 807, The Infinity, 26th Street
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig

Open 9am - 6pm
0916-3534485 or (02)4789408

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peakformmanila
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/peakformmanila
Instagram: http://instagram.com/peakformmanila

Run BGC Urban Adventure 2014

Pinoy Fitness opened a sign up form last week that will allow us to join Run BGC Urban Adventure for FREE if we were among the first 500 to sign up. so right there and then, i filled out the form, submitted it, and invited jeckie, and also some of my college friends to join! it was exciting! FREE SHIRT EH ANO BA. lol. chos

joma, jec, and i :)

anyway, in the end i came with jeckie and joma (his officemate), and together we went to BGC on Saturday (November 29) to collect our kits. chos.

the mechanics says to form a group of 10 people max. we were only 3 but we didn't care cos we thought we could handle all the puzzles and activities naman. sos. haha

but then, while claiming our shirts. they wouldn't let us form a group of just 3. aw. so we had to team up with other people looking to complete their groups. that's where i met kuya Jesus, who was looking for 3 more to complete his team. Amen!

with our team mates!

when all 10 of us huddled up, i was looking at my team and thought, hindi naman kami competitive so it's okay that our group is composed of a bunch of middle aged men who looked like they were only in it for the run. they looked like they could run. and we 3 looked like we could solve puzzles. and that's about what we need in a team right? haha honestly, i was a bit disappointed and thought for a while if we actually have a chance of winning with this team. ang sama ko. sorry po.

QC MARSians spotted!

before the race started, i spotted some QC Marsians and asked them how come they're all here! apparently, the event was also offered for free for MARS (Milo Apex Running School) students and i didn't know because i was absent when it was announced. part of me died and wished i was in their team instead. ang sama sama ko talaga.

but then, SURPRISE SURPRISE! when i got the chance to chat with kuya Jesus, i learned that he and all his companions were BGC GUARDS!!!! OMG! HAHAHAHA i felt like we hit the jackpot! Amen! i just had to highlight that cos i was so shocked and happy! hahaha

i mentally confessed at my prior thoughts. we finally have a chance at winning. HAHAHA #chos

How the game works

Each team will be given a small envelope with puzzle cards that they have to solve. each puzzle will reveal a location in BGC that they have to seek out. on each location, they have to perform a challenge. and on every challenge they complete, they will be awarded stars (3,2,1 stars in order of performance) that will be stamped (well, stickered) on their score cards.

teams will have to perform as much challenges as they can, and earn as much stars as they could. after 3 hours, they must surrender their scorecards back to the commencement area for evaluation.

the winning team will get 50,000 pesos! i don't remember what the other prizes were hahaha!

The first puzzle card we solved led us to 9th Avenue at Bonifacio High Street. i don't know where the hell that was but i thank God our team is composed BGC Guards lang naman *ehem* *ehem* who knew every nook and cranny in BGC. we just had to tell them and they will lead us to the place!

WE WERE NEVER LOST!!!

it fascinates me to no end how they knew every single place in BGC. as in! as we were solving puzzles, we would consult them again and again if any of the words we're forming is making any sense.

"kuya, ano yung market? market market ba yun?"
"ah hindi ibang market yan. dun yun!"

"kuya, ano yung may kalikasan something?"
"kasalikasan yan, dun yan!"

"turf? turfgc?"
"Turf BGC po, dun!"

etc. etc. etc.

HOW COULD IT GET ANY MORE CONVENIENT THAT THAT?! hahaha

we didn't win but we enjoyed a lot! the first activity we did, the one with the BINGO cards was exhausting and at the same time super enjoy! we were tasked to take group pictures with all the items listed in the BINGO card. i could imagine doing this with my college barkada! sobrang saya sana! haha

Pic spam!

drones watching over us

that's a drone up there surveilling the place for cheaters. lol. we were actually called out for opening the envelopes before the announcement to begin took off, but that's because we thought it was already announced. we were just so atat. sorry. the event staff was kind naman not to disqualify us so thank you!

Robot pose at Burgos Circle

Thumbs up with a store employee

With a pet dog or pet cat

Finally

When the game ended we were so exhausted. my knees were so tired, and my tummy was voilently growling for food already. what with all the running, going back and forth to places, and literally dancing in the rain? haha we decided to eat at Murray and D'Vine -- burgers, ribs, and damn good wine! haha

Here's a shot of my food. Heart shaped buns kamown!

According to one staff, some valentines ago they made their buns and patties heart shaped, and the customers liked it and requested not to change it. and that's what they did. i wonder what they would do if we suggested we liked round buns better, or star shaped ones. lol

my Juicy Lucy. 425 pesos. ouch

deeeeym that thick beef patty stuffed with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese. reminds me of Stuff Over at Maginhawa, only waaaaay more affordable. didn't quite enjoy this honestly. Big B parin the best!

going home was terrible cos no taxi would accommodate us. i always understand naman cos makati to fairview is a pain in the gas. i had to add an extra fee para lang makasakay. buti na lang hindi traffic sa EDSA! yeyy!!

cheers to a happy day! >XD

[GIVEAWAY] Win GCs from Franck Provost Paris, Status Hair Salon, The Zen Institute, and I Do Nails! [CLOSED]

I mentioned some entries back that i was planning on giving away a couple of gift certificates that i won't be able to use because of their locations. Dahil dyan, eto na! I'm giving away some 3k worth of GCs to two lucky winners.

The mechanics are super simple as usual: like, follow, share, comment, repost, retweet, regram... you know the drill! i always try to make it easy for you to earn entries so make sure that you do them all! Who knows if i throw in a couple more gifts hehe

Here are the prizes and essential GC details as well:

Prize #1:

1. Franck Provost Paris 
- Php 1,500 worth of GCs from Franck Provost Paris
- Valid at Franck Provost branches at Jupiter Makati, Molito Alabang, and Manila Peninsula (Makati).
- Valid from November 2014 to November 2015. GC value must be used in 1 visit, and is not valid for cash back. GC value is not convertible to cash. Only 1 GC per person will be honored per redemption.

2. The Zen Institute (A Medical Spa)
- 15 minutes complimentary Ultralipo (Body Sculpting) or Resolift (Facial Contouring) treatment worth Php 5,000, and a promo rate of Php 1,000 for Diamond Peel and Facial Spa (regular).
- Valid at the follow branches (and by appointment only): Tomas Morato and Sto. Tomas Batangas

Prize #2:

1. Status Hair Salon
- Php 1,000 worth of GC from Status Hair Salon
- Valid until December 31 2014 at the following branches: Robinsons Galleria, Katipunan, Tomas Morato, Eastwood, and Greenhills

2. I Do Nails
- Php 500 worth of GC from I Do Nails
- Valid at the following branches: Eastwood Mall, and Tuscany Mckinley Hill

Mechanics:

1. Open to everyone who has a Metro Manila mailing address

2. Contest will run from December 2 - 10, 2014

3. Winner will be announced within the week of closing date, and will receive a confirmation message via email

4. Prizes will be shipped to the winner's Metro Manila address

5. If you win, all of your entries will be validated for completeness. 

Alright, off you go to the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveawayIf you're having trouble loading the Rafflecopter widget, you may also access it here!

We have our winners!

Congrats to the following people! Email sent!

Lastly, thank you to everyone who joined my second giveaway! I pray that each and everyone of us will enjoy the merry season in perfect health! God bless you all and stay tuned for more giveaways! :)

[FIXED] Have you been getting this sorry message from Google?

For a while, every time I access my Google Analytics and Adsense pages, I get this error page: 

Source: http://www.southbourne.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Google-Block.jpg

It says:

We're sorry... 

 ... but your computer or network has been sending automated queries. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now.

See Google Help for more information.

I searched around did all of the suggested solutions, i scanned for mal/ad/spywares, cleared the cache, cleaned up temp files, etc. i basically cleaned up my browser. BUT NOTHING WORKED...

except for one:

one forum post suggested to disable some page ranking plugins, cos they might be the one causing the automated queries.

in my case, i have Alexa toolbar installed but it was disabled. the only enabled plugin i have is McAfee Site Advisor, so i deleted that. i also deleted Alexa to be sure. in fact, i deleted all of the plugins i'm using at chrome! there's not much anyway haha take note that i deleted them, and not simply disabled them.

then, i restarted the browser and boom! i was finally able to access analytics and adsense! yeyy! :D

let me know if it works for you! :D

the week that was

haller! how was your week goys? mine was crazy! i'm between meeting two deadlines simultaneously, work and more work... as i put it HAHAHA. the first being Super Labandera, and the latter being my regular 9-5. hahaha

okay so this will be quite an update on what's up, esp my birthday last week HAHA

Super Labandera

i'm 100% done on every page i needed to illustrate! YAHOOO!!! this is really iiiiit!!! best birthday gift ever!

i'm sharing with you the inside cover because i've shared the cover too much already haha, plus one of my favorite pages too! hope you like it! <3

this is such a dream come true for me! this is validation that i still haven't lost my mojo as an artist. i know there's still a lot to learn but as long as i keep taking opportunities like this i'm sure i'll be able to improve a hell lot (and lose a hell lot of sleep too, but that's a different story. read: time management).

it's only a matter of time (and funds!) before the book gets published and i'm very happy to be able serve as an instrument to help TSP in its vision of raising a nation of learners by inculcating the habit of reading to young minds in remote communities. education is a cause that's closest to my heart, it's what i think the country needs the most.

Carbtrim galore

last saturday, the day before my birthday, something came in the mail for me! guess what, 10 packs of Carbtrim from Unilab! i'm totally devouring this! bwahaha i shared the boxes with my mom and my sister cos we all want see how it works.

as per the label, it works like a carb blocker and has white kidney bean extract as its primary ingredient. based on research studies, it helps reduce the absorption of dietary carbohydrates. by how much? I DON'T KNOW and it's good that they didn't put any % claims on their label like most weight loss products do. :)

a single sachet can be added to a glass of hot or cold water, and is preferably taken before meals.

in my opinion, i can't say it works just yet cos i'm only taking it once a day, before breakfast, and most of the time during breakfast na. hahaha i take it hot cos i'm avoiding cold drinks and i'm taking it on a 16oz mug. IT'S STRONG, by the way. i mean, i can't believe a single sachet which has so little powder inside could give off so much flavor. IT TASTES SO GOOD i wouldn't care if i didn't lose weight. it's like warm lipton iced tea which is more sour. i love the lemon flavor!

it sells for around 25pesos per sachet and 150pesos per box of 6. it also comes in apple flavor! not a cheap treat i might say, if you're aiming for 3 glasses a day, but it tastes so good kasi eh try nyo na rin! hehe

Salad love

if you follow me on social media you would know i love salads a loooot. last week i ordered from Salad Mamas (will talk about them in a separate post! watch out!) just to try how it tastes and see how i could replicate some at home. i tried all their variants and loved everything, and after devouring five tubs of salad in one day, i figured i still wanted more! they're aaaall so good!

so voila, my inspired version of their best sellers... taco salad, and tinapa salad!
nope! i'm not posting the recipe just yet haha but i plan to :D just wait for it hihi

this should intrigue you! and all the ingredients are cheap!

not the healthiest of salads honestly, what with the ginormous amounts of cheese, sour cream, and chips i threw in. BUT DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE!!! <3 <3 <3

my team mates birthday surprise!

it's a tradition in our team to surprise a birthday celebrant with a cake at least, and for my birthday, they gave me this!

a sad red ribbon ensaimada with a sad candle on top. can you feel my sadness? haha chos

but i knew this can't be it. hard as they try to pull off the joke, they eventually gave in and took out the reaaal thing!

yeheeeyyy! lol as if papayag ako na walang cake diba? hahaha

we sure have been in a lot of pressure lately so it's kinda cool how we can still laugh w/ each other at the pantry. tapos pag-balik sa work area, galit galit na ulit. choooss. hahaha <3

GIVEAWAY soon?

earlier this day i received these bunch of GCs from NEW Phils. for becoming a media sponsor on their recently concluded Fashion and Beauty Fair Year 2, thank you soooo much!!!!

the GCs are from Franck Provost Paris, Status Hair Salon, I Do Nails, and The Zen Institute. All very high end, and all very far from me. hahaha

i'm planning on giving these away since i'm nowhere near the places where i can use them (most are in Makati, Taguig, and Eastwood). so what do you think? i'm actually kindof wary of asking people to share my blog because FB still hates me. i'm still being asked for a captcha everytime i post my site, so thaaaat sucks big time.

anyway. haha

that's probably it. will try to work on my backlog tomorrow! 

happy weekend and God bless you goys! <3 

[Call for Sponsors] The Storytelling Project BOOK LAUNCH!

this month has been one of my busiest ever, the project we're working on at the office is under debug fixing so our hours have been very much in demand lately, including the weekends (which i sooo hate haha). then last month i got a wake up call from kuya rey and ate grace about my pending commitment to Super Labandera, they're targeting to launch the book this december so i was alarmed that i got less than a month left to finish the project. looking back, i wasn't so diligent with my tasks. the last time we talked about the project was March pa and i kindof forgot about it over the months even though i promised myself to work on it every weekend. sad.

anyway, guess what! i just finished the book! well not reallyyyyy since i still have a couple of pages to fill, but the entire story pages are now complete, CAN I CRY?! i'm just soooo happy that it turned out cute! and i'm also so thrilled that kuya rey and ate grace liked how it came out!

now i know how frkn hard it is to become an illustrator. emegeeeesh i can finally call myself an illustrator!!! best title evaaarrr! <3

now what? we have the soft copy but that's ours to keep, sorry. WHAT WE WANT YOU TO HAVE is the hard copy of course, tangible spreads of colors and stories bursting with values and culture and loooove. don't we all love that?

TSP is looking to launch two books by December, Uligmaya (retold by Aprille Joy of Mt. Province) and Super Labandera (by Jim Mark of Dagupan). They are products of our Litle Helpers from the story writing workshops with Ate Grace!

So, when there's a book launch, there has to be books, right??? That's where we need you guys!

TSP is looking for sponsors who can help make this event a reality! See poster for more details!

Help my friend win a Colgate Optic White Dream Wedding!

My friend is getting married soon and would love it if you could help her win her dream wedding! Please help me gather votes for her by doing the following:

1. Go to https://apps.facebook.com/dream-wedding/

2. Click on 'Top 10 Videos'

3. Look for Inez Celestino and click 'View'

4. Then click 'Vote'

That's it! You don't have to watch the video, or even share that you voted, but of course it would be very much appreciated it you do!

Do this daily until November 26 and help her realize her dream wedding! A prenup photoshoot by Pat Dy and a SDE from Jason Magbanua lang naman ang prize! bongga!

We still need some major ass kicking to do with the votes, they're currently on second but we're very very near that #1 spot.

So, help us please? :D

Trivia: they're getting wed on March 14, 2015 and are both Math teachers! that's kind of a Pi wedding you knoooow! hahaha cool no? osya let's vote in and make this epic wedding epicer (ano raw)!

Thank youuuu!

We are #TeamChocolateMousse!

the Christian life is a daily struggle, which is why i always turn to these beautiful ladies to affirm my resolve whenever i feel like the week has taken its toll on my good side. i thank God that i was given a wonderful victory group who has been very supportive of everything i do, who always keeps me in their prayers, and looks out after my spiritual life. :) 

among the many things i learned from them is the value of giving time to God every waking day.

every solitary minute you spend with God is priceless, and He values our time because it's a strong expression of our love. you'll never know what he wants to reveal to you through his word, and just the thought of realizing something from the Bible and channeling it out to the world already makes my day!

every saturday afternoon, we sit to gather in fellowship, catch up, and exchange thoughts about love, life, and everything. nothing really escapes us when it comes to being updated with everything! that's my kind of sweet ending to cap off the week that has been!

and speaking of sweet endings, here's another thing that will definitely add life to your day!

Cadbury Milk Chocolate is launching two exciting new flavors for us that will definitely give a sweeter cap off our busy days!

French Vanilla

Enjoy the light exquisite taste of Vanilla cream-filled chocolate with the new Cadbury. Dairy Milk French Vanilla. You can just imagine sitting in view of the Eiffel Tower while savoring this delicious treat! Try siting in a quaint café while enjoying the sites and this new flavor.

Chocolate Mousse

Then there’s Cadbury Dairy Milk’s Chocolate Mousse. Did you know that the word mousse in French means “foam?” Hear the strains of “La Vie en Rose” as you bite into the light and airy taste of chocolate-flavored cream covered in delicious milk chocolate. Watch the beautiful Manila sunset while on a Balcony and the experience of eating this chocolate will be just as romantic.


Guess which team we're in? haha if it's not too obvious from the picture yet, we're all rooting for Team Chocolate Mousse!

Traditionally, chocolate mousse is made by whisking egg whites and chocolate together to create that light and airy mixture that sits atop a chewy brownie.

And that's how we are together, light, fun, and a perfect cap off to a very busy weekend!

Cadbury Dairy Milk French Vanilla and Chocolate Mousse are available beginning November 2014 in the big and satisfying 180g pack for an SRP of only P180.00.

Hurry because they're only out for a LIMITED TIME ONLY! 

Which team are you in?

thank God

// because i was able to hold off publishing my previous draft because i swear, i'd be doomed for the amount of hatred i channeled on that post.

// also, i thank God that i was able to sleep some 12 hours last thursday cos i needed an immense amount of energy and creativity to continue sketching, here's a teaser of what i've been up to with regards to Super Labandera:

it's the same prototype and i don't even know which page will use this HAHA anyway, that's the style i'm going to push for the entire book and it actually pretty excites me! i'm done with the paper sketches and i'm halfway on transferring the lines on photoshop, tonight i plan to finish the linearts, then sunday to tuesday i have to get serious with the pen tool and swatch colors like a madman cos hues be like crazy and i'm quite inconsistent with the hexes.

this pro-bono work is so much rewarding than what i'm doing right now (read: coding), i just hope i make it in time for the, uhm, soft deadline? i'm so bad with deadlines and you should know that. prayers please?

// another thing i'm thankful for, i kinda lost a kilo! or our scale is just malfunctioning haha. hmm to be fair, i downed 5 large tubs of salads last thursday, it's a lot but that's pretty much just lettuce! i love love love salads. it's healthy, i could eat a ton of it without feeling guilty, and still lose weight. haha >XD

// Global Test Market finally sent me another check (thank God), but it's still crappy. last time, they sent me a peso check but the bank account that issued the check has already closed. now, they issued me a freaking dollar check from a US bank that has no local presence.
first concern, i have to create a dollar account for that (and that already costs some $500).
second, i'm unsure if local banks can withdraw from a foreign bank that has no presence in this country.
third, it's going to be a dead cause if i get charged for that kind of transaction more than what the check can release.

it's like GTM doesn't want me, AT ALL, to withdraw my earnings! i thought i could give them the benefit of the doubt for trusting them the second time but then look.

haaay. will consult further on the matter on monday! haha

how about youuu? what do you want to thank God for this day? >XD

Something wicked is brewing over at FYI!

happy weekend goys! I hope you're doing well and is enjoying the day! :) remember last month when I plugged in a couple of new shows that are going to premiere at FYI soon? Well, they will be rolling out REALLY SOON so i'm giving you a heads up on what to look forward to in the coming days!

here are FYI's November 2014 highlights for you!

For Your Space: Red Hot Design

Shasta Smith and her talented team of bearded metal workers

 Unleash the creative potential of your home with a fiery new series. Red Hot Design, hosted by fiery redhead Shasta Smith, the queen of up-scaling, an extremely talented artist and a celebrated interior designer, watch as Shasta and her team take on 2 awe-inspiring design projects each week. Premieres 28 Nov, Fridays at 9pm (SIN/HK).

For Your Taste: Epic Meal Empire

The "Sauce Boss" and another set of bearded geniuses!

Seriously, what's with FYI's shows and bearded men? hahaha

From whiskey-laced, burger-stuffed lasagnas to donut casseroles to Jack & Coke cupcakes, the Epic Meal Empire team delivers recipes that are visually mind-blowing spins on food preparation and presentation. This new FYI series will follow the ingenious group as they invent spectacular new dishes, on a whole new "epic" level – premieres 20 Nov, Thursdays at 9pm (SIN/HK).

Other highlights include:

For Your Journey: Bondi Vet

Bondi Vet S5 - Premieres 5 Nov, Wednesdays, 9pm (SIN/HK)

--

That's it! Make sure to tune in to FYI channel this November to catch that super awesome program line-up! For the record, FYI is one such lifestyle network that upgrades your viewing experience into a more dynamic and passion based experience. They have shows FOR EVERYTHING you love and this is exactly what makes FYI a stunning new channel to tune into.

Want something FOR YOUR STYLE? They have BORN to Style!

FOR YOUR SPACE? There's Tiny House Nation and Rowhouse Showdown

FOR YOUR TASTE? World Food Championships and Destination Flavor have got you covered!

FOR YOUR JOURNEY? Watch Travels with the Bondi Vet and The Coolest Places on Earth!


From fashion, to interior design, to food, and travel, there's nothing FYI missed!

[FIXED] MX Player Pro incompatible with latest Android 4.4.4

i love MX Player Pro, it's my favorite android media player because it effectively plays videos with subtitles in .srt! I've been using it for years but just recently when I upgraded to Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), the app stopped working and i get this:

i inquired using the email link found at their google play page and they responded with this:

that's it pretty much, we just have to wait until they release a version later than their August 22, 2014 build.

Meanwhile, any MX Player Pro alternatives you know? 

I switched to HD Video Player for the meantime but it sucks that it can't play subtitles so i'm stuck watching english series for now! huhu can't catch up with Angel Eyes tuloy! >X(

download the latest version finally! 

UPDATE:

MX Player Pro released a build last December 28, 2014 that fixed this problem for us! Yeyy! Go download yourselves the latest version, that's MX Player Pro 1.7.35 :D works perfectly!

3 important things I learned at DPOP Professional Blogging Summit 2014

i was really fortunate to have scored an invite to the recently concluded Professional Blogging Summit organized by Janette Toral and Jeoff Solas. It happened last October 18, 2014 at A.Venue Mall, Makati and was co-presented by A.Venue Mall, Salad Box, Island Rose, and Profriends (Property Company of Friends).

the half-day event targeted bloggers, social media specialists, entrepreneurs, digital marketers, etc. so they could learn and discuss how to turn blogging into a sustainable profession.

i was really excited to attend the event, it's my dream to become a professional blogger. it's the only item in my passion list i'm willing to do full time because it excites me a lot!

i came with my friend and former colleague tina and we came in late because we were so lost! coming all the way from the north, we didn't expect the EDSA traffic (srsly, who doesn't expect EDSA traffic?! our bad!) so we had to find a different route. with the help of waze (our new found love), and some guts too, we were able to navigate through the downtowns and reached makati after one and a half hour! when we were finally near, we were literally flailing over the sight of makati city hall like "OMG!!! there's the city hall! we're almost there!" (but nonetheless still late).

New blogger friends! Leo, Donna, Dianne, Me, Tina, Shane, and Vic :)

anyway... here are my takeaways from the event. i learned a lot, made friends, and realized that the summit didn't only cover blogging per se, but its entire impact in the business industry as well.

1. do not build contacts, build relationships

this is how i see a "contact": 

for a good while i only considered the people i worked with as contacts. people i interact with everyday in a professional manner should be segregated from my so called friends. i simply didn't want anyone from my workplace to meddle into my personal life, if that's what having a relationship with them meant.

and i was wrong. 

if i was to do blogging as a profession and kept everyone i worked with as a blogger in this category called "Contacts", sure that's kindof valid... after all, they're contacts naman talaga. but then they'll be forever boxed with my concept of a contact which is: just someone i know... with a number on my phone.

listening to the speakers i was reminded that in order to really succeed in what you're doing, you have to build relationships. and that meant getting to know the person deeper, not just as a blogger but as a person as well.

it's kindof challenging if you ask me cos i'm not really a friendly person, but since i'm running a personal blog... i want to be as personal as possible to everything i've accounted here so far, even the brands i promote, and the people i work with. it's really haaard. HAHA but i'm positive about it! >XD

here's to making relationships!

so... how are you? (err, that was an awkward start)

2. avoid bashing online

and this applies not just to people or celebrities, but also to bad service we get from some establishments. we read a lot of this online, from a worm in one's soup, to a cockroach poop in someone glass of iced tea, yadda, yadda, yadda. 

i must admit, i have a short temper and i get easily pissed with bad service. when i'm greeted with something displeasing from a store i patronize, i just want to take pictures all over in a manner that will tell everyone looking that "this is going online. beware." 

as blogger, i was made to realize that we have great power (yeahh, no matter how small-time you think your blog is!). and you know what's next, responsibility! haha! >XD how do you want your power to be used? do you want it to close down businesses? or to help them improve? instead of ranting online, why not take that feedback form and write down your concern? talk to the manager, and discuss things over. don't make a public spectacle of someone's mistake. businesses are run by humans too, so let's be kind and responsible as bloggers. :)

3. the beauty of social media strategies and target marketing

apparently, not just because you have a large facebook following means you'll get instantly considered to promote this and that brand. it's not that simple. if you were the social media strategist of that brand, you'll have to consider your target market, where they lurk most at online (it's not always facebook, i tell you!), and what they do. then build from there. if you were targeting kids, would you always want to lead them to a blog or a website with lots of text? or would you want to contain them to just a photo on your facebook page with all the information laid out in a creative manner?

i'm not a marketing person so the technicalities involved with brand promotion is something that amazes me a lot. apparently it's not as simple as having a fashion blogger promote your store, and waiting for the horde of customers to come in. haha

this business is crazy and exciting at the same time! 

---

that's it for me! it was one very informative day! imagine if we came in earlier! aaargh! it only fueled up my passion for blogging more! grabe, someday talaga i'm going to turn this into my 9-5! hahaha! i'm glad that i was able to meet new blogger friends too! :D i came in inspired and came out more motivated than ever!

so...let's start with my ever growing backlog. hahaha

Husay at Malasakit: just what the world needs

Happy throwback Thursday everyone!

Last year I was given an opportunity to do some design work for an organization's fund raising event --- a fun run! Being that I get easily excited with anything that has something to do with layouting and all the nitty gritties involved with it, I took the offer and did most of the design paraphernalia for the event.

click for source

Apart from the proud feeling that people got to wear a race bib I designed, or saw a poster I so carefully thought of, there's also the heartwarming impression knowing that the organization I'm supporting is going to run miles with their advocacy of reaching a community of young learners and impart to them the indispensable value of reading. :) 

This non-government organization., The Storytelling Project is one such effort that is very close to my heart, for it allowed me to share my passion for the arts, and it's also advocating something that I strongly believe in -- education!

Up until now I'm still extending my talents as a volunteer artist. I'm currently doing a children's book project with them and I'm so freaking excited about the outcome! Stay tuned for that! >XD

When it comes to something you're good at, you love doing, and is benefiting a lot of our countrymen, there should be no stopping you! Our greatest passions have the ability to feed our souls in an incredible manner. 

That's my husay and malasakit story, and much like UNILAB, I have taken it to heart to exert my best in everything I do, and consider the many lives i could touch with my passion. 

Being the biggest pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, it's no wonder how they have braved the test of time and proved themselves to be worthy of our trust. It's admirable how in spite of the changing times and technology, UNILAB's heart didn't waver in its mission of providing only the best healthcare products to the Filipinos.

Watch their latest TV commercial thrusting their newest campaign and be further assured that UNILAB cares for us. :)

Bawat hakbang may husay

Bawat galaw may malasakit

UNILAB yan!

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what's up!

here's an update, i've just become officially terribly busy and i can't be any happier. ANO RAW?!

work

well, it's a default thing. it's always busy at work, but lately i found myself not succumbing to it totally like a, uhhh, i dunno. maybe my load's gotten lighter, that's got to be it. or is this the effect of working out regularly (and still not losing weight)? chossss.

blog

i have a huuuuuge backlog to attend to (what's new!) and they're piling up day after day! i haven't even blogged about Blogapalooza 2014! i'm afraid i'll just skip it altogether, which isn't a good idea if you ask me because i wanted to share a lot about what happened there. hehe plus it's unfair to the products i've sampled from the event hehe

there's also quite a bunch of writing opps sitting pretty in my mailbox. i'm so excited to blog about all of them. haaaay, work is so much easier if you're writing about something you love! <3 how i wish i could dedicate my 9-5 to this. tsk. haha

illustrate

i knew a day was gonna come when i have to be reminded about my pending illustrating project. Super Labandera is still hanging on for dear life, after being lost in my radar for an awful 8 months. now i only have a few weeks to deliver and oh my gulay, this is going to be a freaking stressful month for me. wooooh! aja! excited parin ako pero andun parin yung guilt na bakit ba kasi ang tamad tamad ko. hay Lord. give me strength! >XD this is for my favorite NGO --- The Storytelling Project, and the advocacy that's closest to my heart, education. bow.

What really happened at the Quezon City Food Festival?

foreword: this is coming from someone na napagod kalalakad, at naubusan ng pagkain. expect some anger haha 

Around 4pm. Maginhawa x Masaya 

honestly, i was one of those who were overly excited about this event. it was a definite must-go. a food fest at Maginhawa? are you kidding me? it's already a food haven over there and staging a festival in that popular street will be such a gastronomic adventure. 

i only learned about the fest a month or so before the actual event and by that time it has already made an incredible hype. their facebook page was full of teasers that effectively invited over 10,000 likes in less than 3 months! everyone was excited! who wouldn't be?

the vision their agenda gave me looked exciting at first glance, a concert during the day, fireworks display at night, a street full of food, and a 2km road closure. wait, what?

they had to close the entire stretch of Maginhawa from Masaya St. to V.Luna Extension to better regulate the fest. i was griping at this thought at first, specially when i was made to walk some 500m to jeckie's house. argh, i was in such a sour mood i even confronted the marshalls to express my disappointment. obviously, that didn't work cos i was just bitching out. and bitching out never worked. take note. 

by the way, i'm writing this super late after learning so much about DPOP's Professional Blogging Summit, so taking my learnings into account.... I SHALL (try) NOT (to) HATE. keyword: try

you know how hard it is to not rant when you're so pissed off by a certain experience right? so i waited for my furrowed brows to come down and tried to look at the event in a different light. naks. let's not be partial. haha

okay, let's break it down:

THE GOOD

• as a frustrated designer, i found the online teasers and ads very well designed. that included the posters, the infographics, the commemorative plates, and everything they shared digitally. hehe it's one of the reasons why i enjoyed promoting the event. i'm very partial with the design haha

• they hosted a lot of pre-event giveaways and promos! aaaand as much as i'd love to join, i was discouraged by the amount of people actively participating... so there goes my totally diminished chances of winning.

• they picked a very good place to hold a food fest. diba diba? haha

• i believe everyone was well informed about the event... the place, the road blocks, possible detours, who to contact as an exhibitor, tent prices, etc. it's all in their fb page.

• i must say, kudos to their PR/Advertising team. they did a really good job promoting the event. i think the idea of a Quezon City Food Festival was unique and exciting so it's no surprise it was such a success.

• i called it a success because from the organizers' view, well that's something to add to their booming portfolio of events handled/designed/executed/headed/etc. i just hope it adds the value they hoped to get from it. >:|

• from a purveyor's standpoint, amassing an incredible amount of foot traffic meant money, money, and money. i bet every single tent sold out, even those who have never sold out ever since. hahaha!

THE BAD

it was literally The Hunger Games when dusk came about. so many stalls have sold out. there were just SO MANY PEOPLE and SO LITTLE FOOD left to appease everyone's growling tummies (ours included).

i was already at the place by 4pm but decided to take a nap at jeckie's first. we came out around 8:30pm and we're already so freaking late. no more Big B, and everyone's kindof wrapping up their tents already. only chance you get to, uhm, enjoy the night is to buy booze, but then again, NOT ENOUGH SEATS. and can i just add that it's also TOO DARK FOR A FESTIVAL. i thought it was because a lot of stalls started packing up early, but then again, they're not supposed to be our major source of light...rrrright?

another thing, the promised WIFI WAS NOWHERE TO BE FELT. pinalampas ko na lang cos i know better than to rely on public wifi for big events like this, but it seems like even the Smart stalls didn't know they were offering free wifi coverage. when i inquired to ask for some 2 booths, the free internet they were promoting was the one which needs data connection (text FREE to 9999). and that's hardly the wifi the poster was boasting about.

anyhow, we gave up scouting for food when we reached this point:

the crowd has already gone to a toxic level i swear i wouldn't have survived that bottle neck without fits of rage and lots of elbowing. chos. i'm not that violent... and hungry. haha

THE UGLY

i'm not sure how to differentiate the bad from the ugly haha kelangan ko lang kumpletohin talaga haha.

in the end, we just came back to their house and ate hotdogs with the family. hihi i'd say it's still fun, after all, it's the company that's really going to save your day! we watched TV all night (but i slept halfway) and waited for the fireworks display. tsss, we could've sold those hotdogs out haha!

oh the fireworks! that's something good right? >XD haha back to the ugly things...

i feel like the organizers don't feel sorry enough for causing so much trouble to a freaking lot of people. a lot of angry posts were littered over their facebook wall, and while some of them got a personal reply from one of the organizers, it still didn't feel right. and i read some really negative posts were deleted too.

yes. i was kindof expecting an apology post or something addressed to everyone, but i guess if they think it was a success, it'll be up to their prides to issue something as humbling as that.  they posted a thank you photo though. nope. that's not an apology.

on a critical note, the success of the event cannot be concurred as a fact when a major fraction of their service endpoint isn't happy! and that's us! aaaargh. it's so frustrating when only the capitalists are being served! kainis!

TO THE ORGANIZERS

i hope you learn from this experience. rest assured that i still believe that you all want us to be happy and that half of the bad things i emphasized up there (read: bold red) are out of your hand. you surely cannot be blamed for that, right? how could you have known there'll be thousands upon thousands of hungrybods coming for food? and how could the business owners have prepared for that multitude? then again, you pulled the people in, you're kindof responsible.

hmmm, next time what about putting up a facebook event parallel to the page just to get a headcount of the people joining? >XD also you could setup something banchetto style that wouldn't take an entire street. i think that would be enough. but i guess you wanted to involve the entire food circuit so err, oh well. >XD

as for the bad stuff in blue, i blame you for that! :P

in all honesty i didn't the enjoy the event, but i can't hide the fact that i'm still positive about a 2nd QC Food Fest next year, simply because there's already so much points for improvement that there's no reason not to improve. hehe

whew! were you also there? how did you find it?