7107 Reasons to Love Pinas!

Globe My Apps Mall Superstar Challenge and Hash Tag Promo

2012-02-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Globe just launched their latest offering... the My Apps Mall.

And there's no better way to gather attention than by giving away prizes as incentive spread the word.

There are two ways to win...

A brand new car is at stake...

With their ever-growing list of mobile applications, there's bound to be a few that would suit your lifestyle.

SM Southmall's IMAX

2011-11-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

Last week, Az invited bloggers to the special screening of "The Adventures of Tintin" at SM Southmall's fairly new IMAX 3D Theater.

I quickly signed up because I had three main reasons for going:
1) to visit SM Southmall again
2) to check out the "first IMAX of the South"
3) to hang out with other bloggers.

The movie was only the fourth reason, haha! I resisted the temptation to do research or even view the trailer, so when I got in, I had (almost) no idea about what Tintin's character is all about.

I was pleasantly surprised! I was thoroughly impressed by the incredible detail on the characters: the freckles, wrinkles, and even icky nose hairs (I think they went too far with the details there :D ).

Of course, there were segments that made you think, "Why didn't he just do this?" and "Why did he do that?", but it was a family movie so they needed to insert "simple" (albeit illogical) twists. I'm not a fan of slapstick moments either, and there were plenty of them, and again I reminded myself that this is a family movie, so they are a necessary part of the show.

The chase scene at the latter portion of the movie was spectacular. For me, that few minutes of gorgeous screenplay alone was almost worth the price of admission (if I had paid for it). Describing it using mere words would be silly. So go and watch it! :D

After the movie we got the chance to take photos of the IMAX theater. Since it is still fairly new, the interiors are clean, shiny, and "non-sticky".

Here's Arvin posing in front of the screen.

The best "feature" of the cinema is the wonderful team. Every staff member I encountered in the area was nice and polite. The security guards, the ticket girl, the ushers, and even those cleaning up everyone's mess. I feel that they are extremely under-appreciated. They contribute to the overall enjoyable experience of watching a movie. Cheers to the people-oriented team of SM Southmall IMAX Theater!

Jose Mari Chan and Richard Poon Invite You to Their Concert

2011-11-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

Unrehearsed, unedited invitation by Jose Mari Chan and Richard Poon...

Their high-end style and classy appeal may lead you to believe that these two talented men of music are stiff and serious. Quite the contrary, as seen in the impromptu video, they are not afraid to laugh and joke around.

During their press conference, they charmed the people in the room and had them "LOL" every chance they get. That gave a hint of what the audience should expect at their upcoming concert. Fine music (that goes without saying) and over-all entertainment.

The Songwriter and the Crooner

December 2, 2011

Friday, 8:00 PM

PICC Plenary Hall

As requested by their Chinese fans, they will sing a duet in two languages, English and Chinese. Now that's something to watch out for.

Puerto Princesa Underground River Is A Provisional Wonder

2011-11-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

I'm happy and proud (and obviously biased) that the Puerto Princesa Underground River made it to the provisional list of New Wonders. But the word "provisional" bugs me. A quick online dictionary search reveals the following definition: "provided or serving only for the time being".

"The results that I am about to announce are provisional and based on the first count of votes completed today since voting closed at 11:11 GMT. Starting from today, this voting calculation will be checked, validated, and independently verified over the coming weeks. It may be the case that one or more of the provisional winners announced today is not confirmed during this process, and we will issue an update should this happen."

The natural tendency is to think "who cares, as long as my country's in the list". And although I'm quite confident that the PPUR's slot is in the bag, what bothers me is the possibility that one (or even two) of the other wonders could be booted out of the list.

Why was there a rush to announce the "provisional" winners if there is a risk of pissing off one of the participating countries? Imagine the wrath of an "almost winner". It would be terribly awkward... and embarrassing. Pinaasa lang sila. A massive protest is almost certain. If that happens, the credibility of the whole thing gets messed up. And winning a "contest" tainted with controversy is less than ideal (as if the "contest" itself isn't controversial enough).

As it is, vocal commenters from non-winning countries have been expressing their disappointment, as expected.

How the ___ can there be only 7 wonders. Everything in the nature is a wonder in one or other form. We do not have right to pick few places (by vote) and declare them better than all other amazing creations of nature.

Nonetheless, our local campaigners knew from the start that this is a marketing and popularity contest (and a lucrative money-making venture for the founders of the N7W organization). They knew the rules and objectives of the game and played it well.

Thanks to the intensive nationwide vote-getting campaign, the Philippines (or at least a part of the Philippines) has been added to the list of must-see international tourist destinations. So hooray for us!

Kaya Natin Apparel at the Global Pinoy Bazaar

2011-11-02T23:44:00.000-07:00

Kaya Natin apparel...

Flowers, birds, and butterflies sold separately.

Available at...

Let us continue to support Pinoy products. Kaya natin!

18 Reasons Behind My Iligan Trip Excitement

2011-10-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Being the third person to register for Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011 proves how excited I am about the upcoming event. Here are my reasons:

I want to see the real Maria Cristina Falls, not just the man-made version shown above.
While at the Nature Park, I will not skip the chance to try the zipline adventure ride (despite my fear of heights).
I also want to see Mimbalot, Tinago, and the other majestic waterfalls, if time permits.
I'll be going on Friday morning, which means I have an entire day to explore the city. I will most probably get lost because of my poor sense of direction, which would lead me to discover and learn new things serendipitously. Hooray!
I want to meet new blogger friends at the event.
I want to meet non-blogger friends, too!
Catch up with old friends whom I met at the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3.
I want to listen to Janette Toral's talk about becoming a blogger-entrepreneur. She always updates her materials so no matter how often you hear it, you never really witness the same presentation twice.
As a bit of an environmentalist, I want to hear what Anna Oposa has to say about blogging for the environment.
I have adopted Google Analytics on my website long ago, but I've never really understood how to take full advantage of it. So this time I will pay attention to Aileen Apolo-De Jesus when she shares her knowledge about it.
I'm deeply curious about the topic of sustainable lifestyle by Dr. Marilou Siton-Nanaman. What does it really mean?
People have recommended that I try Sunburst Fried Chicken, which was "born" in Iligan. As a fried chicken glutton, I will make it a point to seek this out.
I'd also like to have a taste of Iligan's version of the lechon whose tastiness does not need help from any magical sarsa. Mmm.
And while we're talking about food... Cheding's peanuts.
It would be interesting to check out what surprises The Strip has to offer, especially during a Saturday night.
Pre-Halloween concert!
To disprove the "doom and gloom" being projected by the media regarding the peace and order situation in Mindanao. Friends who are based there assure me that it's perfectly safe, and I definitely trust them more than traditional sensationalized media.
I'm looking to add at least a dozen different "reasons" to my personal advocacy: 7107 Reasons To Love Pinas! wherein I intend to gather 7107 big and small reasons to love our gorgeous country. The rationale behind the project is: the more we know about the good stuff the Philippines is made of, the more we'll appreciate and take good care of her. A dozen reasons from one city would be a good haul. =)

This is an entry to the What Excites Me to Go to Iligan City Blogging Contest for the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 20011 on October 29, 2011 at Iligan City

Squish Em All In Iligan

2011-10-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

I'll be on my way to the airport in a few hours to catch a flight to Cagayan de Oro, then on to Iligan City to participate in the 5th Mindanao Bloggers Summit. Well, the summit is on Saturday, and I'm going on a Friday because I don't want to be late (That statement might puzzle those who know me as Mr. Tardy).

Ok, so I'm obviously excited to be there. I'm really looking forward to exploring the city, meeting new blogger friends, and learning from the impressive line-up of speakers.

---

Globe is a co-presenter of MBS 2011, and they're promoting the new Globe Squish App. According to Globe, the app is "a unified messaging and social networking service that allows users to stay connected to their messenger and social networking accounts on their mobile phones"

It's an application that you need to install in your high-tech phone. It will consolidate all your social networking sites into different pre-defined tabs for easy access. I personally think it's very useful since I need all the help I can get when it comes to organizing stuff.

It's free to use for the first 30 days. Enough time to play with it until you get hooked. After that, should you wish to continue, the rates are very reasonable.

Okay, that sounds interesting. The first step for me is to get an Internet-capable phone. I hope they give one (or more) away at the event. =D

On second thought, I won't be surprised if they actually do! So that's another reason to come on over and join the fun at the Mindanao Bloggers Summit!

Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011 Writing Project

2011-09-01T20:54:00.000-07:00

My list of emerging influential blogs...

Blogger Manila - http://www.bloggermanila.com
Serial blogger Jonel started his blog last October 10, 2010. What an auspicious date! If this blog reaches the level of his other blogs, it'll definitely be influential!
Certified Foodies - http://www.certifiedfoodies.com
Excellent brother-sister tandem! I like the fact that they also feature "ordinary" food like hotdogs, chocolate bars, etc.
Orman Manansala's Food Blog - http://www.ormanmanansala.com
When Orman talks, we listen. When he blogs, we read.
Levy Martinez' Personal Blog - http://www.levyousa.com
This simple blog is more influential than it seems! Primarily because of the hard-working mommy blogger behind it.
Mommy Survival - http://mommysurvival.info
I'm not a mommy (Duh!) but even non-parents often learn a quick and practical tip or two from this blog.
7107 Reasons to Love Pinas! "Sub-blog" - http://7107reasons.blogspot.com
Shameless self-promotion, of course! This is a blog about the main blog, 7107reasons.com
Libotero - http://www.libotero.com
Check out the Libotero Libot Map on the right side of the blog. He has liboted so many places! :). The stunning photographs definitely make the blog even more appealing.
Unbox - http://www.unbox.ph
Prolific posting and frequent giveaways made this a popular tech blog in 6 short months.
Rizal Park - http://rizalpark.org
Influence will come naturally since the blog is actively promoting our national park.
Lafangero - http://lafanggero.blogspot.com
Alex's crisp photos of aesthetic dishes occasionally cause uncontrollable (and embarrassing) drooling.

Thanks to the support of the following sponsors: Cyber Monday Deals, TRIbeca Private Residences, How To Videos, Palawan Beaches for Sale,Green and Natural Lubes Philippines, Philippine data center, Philippine online shopping, Singapore Jobs, Pinoy Party Food, Manila rentals, and Great product deals

Eureka! Entrep Summit 2011

2011-08-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have found it!

What an impressive line-up of speakers! I've heard 7 out of the 12 guest panelists from various other seminars, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that listening to just one of them is worth more than the price of admission.

Please note that the venue is at SM Mall of Asia Premier Theater, NOT at the SMX. That's a mighty long walk if you make that mistake.

Since this summit was conceptualized with the youth in mind, students get a 30% discount on the ticket price. The already sulit price of 500 pesos is trimmed down to 350 pesos.

What I find cool is that the organizers of the summit, JCI Manila, will not make a single centavo from the ticket sales. All proceeds will go to Project TOTO of Let's Go Foundation, which has a goal: "Teaching Of Teacher On-line". A worthy foundation that deserves this level of support.

Another unwritten benefit in attending such events is the opportunity to network with fellow participants. Imagine being in a room together with 999 other business-minded individuals. You're bound to find a potential business partner or two!

I might not be within the "young" age bracket anymore, but this is still an event I don't want to miss!

Pilipinas, Tara Na!

2011-08-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

The first of three videos being promoted by the Department of Tourism...

In case you want to sing along...

Pilipinas, Tara Na! v.1
Words by: Rene Nieva
Composed by: Mike Villegas and Rico Blanco
Arranged by: Angelo Villegas

Ikaw ba'y nalulungkot
Naiinip, nababagot
Ikaw ba'y napapagod
Araw gabi'y puro kayod?

Buhay mo ba'y walang saysay
Walang sigla, walang kulay?
Bawa't araw ba'y pareho
Parang walang pagbabago?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Kasama ang pamilya
Barkada at buong grupo
Para mag-enjoy ng todo.

Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Nag-driving ka na ba
Sa mga bayan sa baybay
Ng buong Laguna de Bay
Tuloy-tuloy sa Tagaytay?

Nalasap mo na ba
Ang Lanzones ng Camiguin
Penoy balot ng Pateros
Ensaymada ng Malolos?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matanto
Tayo man ay iba-iba
Diwa't puso ay iisa

Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

RAP:
Mga kababayan, ating puntahan,
Dambana ng kadakilaan at kagitingan
Fort Santiago, Kawit, Mactan
Barasoain, Corregidor at Bataan.

Nag-shopping ka na ba
Sa malls ng Metro Manila
Naka-bargain sa Baclaran
Greenhills at Divisoria?

Nakapag-uwi ka na ba
Ng perlas mula Sulu
World-class shoes from Marikina
Abaca bags from Bicolandia?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Nang makabili
Ng maganda at murang-mura
Gawa ng kapwa-Pilipino.

Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Nakisaya ka na ba
Sa Pahiyas at Masskara
Moriones at Ati-atihan
Sinulog at Kadayawan?

Namiesta ka na ba
Sa Penafrancia sa Naga
Umakyat sa Antipolo
Nagsayaw sa Obando?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.

Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.

Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

A Duet with Himself

2011-07-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

Song starts at the 2:43 mark

Without looking at the screen, I could've sworn that it was indeed a woman singing.

Amazing how a dude could not only mimic a woman's voice, but mimic a woman's singing voice at that. With no formal voice training whatsoever.

He reminds me of Anton Diva, the "Songbird with a Bird" as he/she prefers to be introduced.

I can't say with absolute conviction that deserved to win the Pilipinas Got Talent grand prize because I didn't bother to watch the other contestants perform.

Interesting fact that I found out: prior to this stint, he was a Talentadong Pinoy contestant, but was deemed "not talented enough". Well, nobody said that to his face, but he didn't win. So there.

Since I'm tone deaf and I couldn't distinguish between a good singing voice and a great singing voice, I evaluate singers based on entertainment value. From my own strange criteria for judging, he's definitely entertaining.

I don't think he'll blow the lid off the music charts when his album comes out, but I think he'd rake it in with live performances.

I hope he would make good use of his new found fame. Somebody should warn him to watch out for those "new" relatives!

Free Admission at Ayala Museum!

2011-05-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the diorama of Philippine history located at the second floor. For visual learners, it's a treat to see the miniature depictions of key historical events that shaped our country.

The last time I was there, there was an adorable grandma-granddaughter pair examining every panel. I kept overhearing their conversation (well, maybe because I was intentionally eavesdropping). The grandma seemed to know a thing or two about Philippine history. Or perhaps she was just reading the descriptions, who knows? But the little girl was visibly having fun while asking question after question... intelligent questions, no less. It was such a pleasant sight.

The "diorama stroll" is a highly recommended activity that I hope other grandparents would consider as a bonding moment with their grandchildren.

And that's just one section of the museum. There are several other floors with fascinating exhibits.

Free admission or not, Ayala Museum is definitely worth a visit.

What Are These People Looking At?

2011-05-08T02:09:00.000-07:00

A very tall preacher perhaps?

Ahh... Another Pacman Show

Thumbs down to television stations who milk the heck out of the event with commercials that last far longer than the actual fight. Thumbs up to owners of malls and food courts who allow visitors to watch the fight live and for free.

Bravo for MMDA Tweets and Live Updates

2011-04-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

I was searching for information about next week's number coding scheme, hoping that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would temporarily suspend it during the Lenten season. I hopped over to the MMDA website, and without even having to type in any search text, saw the announcement: "Number Coding Lifted from Holy Tuesday (April 19) to Good Friday (April 22)".

I'm happy about that piece of news, and I'm delighted to know that somebody over at the MMDA thought of providing the information to the public in a timely and convenient manner.

The article not only contains the news about the number coding scheme, it also shares a list of alternative routes (including a map and other pertinent information) in anticipation of the holiday traffic. And get this, they declared that "The MMDA's Facebook and Twitter account will be also be open 24/7 during the Holy Week to accept and respond to inquiries." That's not just a press release for pogi-points, because when you check their Twitter account, you'll see that they actually do respond to queries. Go ahead, ask them something (something relevant please).

No wonder they're getting all this positive feedback...

Screen capture from the MMDA website.

Showing appreciation is a very simple and easy way to "reward" the hard-working people manning the MMDA Twitter account. I believe in John E. Jones' quote, "What gets rewarded gets repeated." So let's be generous in thanking them for their efforts.

A fine example of a government agency using technology to do its job. Kudos to the MMDA support staff!

Watta Three-in-one Technolife Affair at Cyberzone Megamall!

2011-03-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

I went out of my way to visit Megamall to attend a 3-in-1 coffee, er, event featuring tech sampling, information-rich seminars, and passionate cosplay!

Look at the crowd of people! And this was hours before the event!

The host did a fantastic job getting the crowd into it.

Azrael Coladilla shared about blogging. He was blogging even on stage. Kidding!

It was for beginners, but I learned some neat tricks! Like using dlvr.it and ping.fm to spread the word about his blog posts.

In case you forget his name.

Microsoft is one of the major, major sponsors.

Some cosplayers start young, really young!

Wow! What a fantastic costume!

Ashley and Alodia!

Alodia (in the Mario suit) celebrated her birthday recently, and the crowd sang a birthday song for her. How sweet and adoring the fans are!

More cosplayers waiting for their turn to get on the stage.

Thanks to Cyberzone for the fun event! I heard they're cooking up more events. Looking forward to them!

Maryknoll Batch 86 Supports Southeast Asian Institute for the Deaf Scholars

2011-02-28T22:17:00.000-08:00

Last February 22, a trio of bloggers were invited to a little get-together at Miriam College to witness the launching of an advocacy organized by Maryknoll College Batch 86 in cooperation with the Southeast Asian Institute for the Deaf.

The aim is to help "doubly marginalized individuals", meaning disabled kids who cannot afford to go to school.

Let's see who the beneficiaries are...

Some of the students at Miriam-SAID doing a dance routine.

What was cool about the performance was the fact that they're deaf (remember?). They couldn't hear the music, but danced with passion nonetheless. Quite impressive!

Feel the intense passion!

Mark Gaspar, a 3rd year B.S. Psychology scholar, delivers a speech of gratitude.

It's the principal!

The lovely ladies of batch 86.

After the announcements, Assistant Principal Ms. Jing Cadiz graciously offered to give us a quick tour of the campus.

Green abundance!

I guess this is where the flag ceremonies take place.

Classroom rules... clearly illustrated.

Hey, where are the students?

Miriam College is the first school in the Philippines to embrace deaf students from pre-school all the way to college.

Maryknoll College Batch 86 Will Host an 80’s Party for the benefit of SAID scholars.

If you wish to support this advocacy but are unable to join the party, you may deposit any peso or dollar amount to the corresponding Miriam College Bank Accounts:

Peso Account
Account Name: Miriam College Foundation, Inc.
Bank Name: Bank of the Philippine Islands
Branch: Katipunan Branch
Account No: 3081-1112-42

USD Account
Account Name: Miriam College Foundation, Inc.
Bank Name: Bank of the Philippine Islands
Branch: Katipunan Branch
Account No: 3084-0375-31
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

Reminder: Have the depositor fax his/her bank validated deposit slip to 426-01-71 with his/her/organization’s/company/s name so Official Receipt can be requested by MC-SAID.

Two Contests to Celebrate Dr. Jose Rizal's Birthday

2011-01-28T00:05:00.000-08:00

Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, will celebrate his 150th birthday on June 19.

Well, not exactly. We Pinoys will be celebrating Dr. Jose Rizal's birthday. Two simultaneous events will be held on June 19. One in Rizal's birthplace, Calamba. Another celebration in Manila, where Rizal's body lies.

In line with the celebration, the National Historical Commission came up with not just one, but two contests that would highlight our main man.

The first one is a Rizal monument photography contest with over 130,000 pesos worth of prizes at stake.

The second one is a stamp design contest to commemorate the event with no monetary prize whatsoever. Huh? Did I read that right?

No money involved because it's priceless, actually. Instead of cash, the prize is something money cannot buy. How many of us can claim that our design was used in a Special Limited Stamp issued by the Philpost? Not too many.

Check out the contest mechanics at their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/rizal150

Bagong Taon, Bagong Rebolusyon

2011-01-24T03:30:00.000-08:00

A modern-day rebolusyon...

Check out the powerhouse guest list.

Bagong Taon, Bagong Rebolusyon seems to be geared towards the youth. And since I still consider myself part of the youth's age bracket, I'm going!

Iloilo Film Festival 2011

2011-01-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

Friends in Iloilo, check this out...

Their advocacy is "Bringing Filipino Films to Filipinos". Hmm, if I were to be a pilosopo, I'd say that the most efficient way to bring Filipino films to Filipinos is through low-cost, but 100% legal,DVDs.

Anyway, going back to the film festival. This is a truly interesting event. What I find truly worthwhile are those movies with the Director/Star in attendance + Q&A.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to have watched the movie Adela, with multi-awarded Director/Writer/Producer Adolfo Alix, Jr. and Living Legend Anita Linda in attendance.

The Q&A session was an absolute blast! Both stars sincerely and brilliantly answered every question thrown at them. The questions came pouring in non-stop for over an hour... longer than the movie itself. For me, the face-to-face session added at least three layers of appreciation for the film.

I hope the Ilonggos would take full advantage of the opportunity.

The Two Of Us = Tayong Dalawa

2010-12-29T00:24:00.000-08:00

Another Pinoy export... a telenovela for Singapore-based Kimerald fans...

A full-page ad promoting "The Two Of Us"

Ok, so this is old news, but it's new to me since I just found out about it while flipping through the newspaper.

Our Country Is In My Team Pinoy Planner

2010-12-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

Check out the Team Pinoy Planner...

I'm not a fan of the color gray, but I like how this looks.
Lester Anonuevo did a fantastic job with the design.

Everyday heroes who shared their wisdom.

An autographed copy!

Messages from Team Pinoy's founders.

A quick peek at what's inside.

Monthly calendar for "appointments at a glance"

My name is somewhere in there. =)

I won't share any comparisons with coffee-inspired planners (although I'm itching to do so), as this caters to a different target audience.

At only 399 pesos, it will never be sold without an official reciept, since that is one of Atty. Alex Lacson's "12 Little Things".

I gave some as gifts and the recipients loved them! =)

A little piece of trivia from Ralph Morales, Team Pinoy Inc President: "Did you know that Team Pinoy Planners are 100% recycled; made of chlorine-free and heavy metal-free papers, non-wood based paper, soya ink and other earth-loving materials?"

Here's an unadvertised mega bonus... within the pages of each Team Pinoy Planner, there's a gift voucher which is actually worth much more than the planner itself. How's that for value for money?

Luisa Beltran Is The Bride Of The World 2010

2010-12-26T00:47:00.000-08:00

Luisa Beltran, a proud Pinay, cemented her name in the history books by becoming the first ever Bride of the World winner.

I literally took a photo of the tv screen.

I caught the tail-end of the pageant's rerun while on vacation in Singapore, where Bride of the World 2010 was held. I wasn't really paying attention until I heard the host call out "Miss Philippines" as one of the finalists.

Being the last among the finalists in queue, Luisa didn't get to pick her mystery question, so she was asked (I'm paraphrasing here), "What is the bravest thing a person can do?" A super broad - and therefore super tough - question to answer, given the time pressure and hundreds of eyeballs staring at her.

What was her response?

"Having a family." Good answer.

But what made it extra-impressive was the comparison between her question and the question that was asked the previous candidate: "Intelligence or integrity, which is more important?"

It was like a calculus midterm exam versus an arithmetic pop quiz!

The judges seemed to have taken that into consideration (on top of her good looks and grace) because they gave Miss Philippines the crown.

Mindanaoan.com Is My Choice

2010-12-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

I admire bloggers who write blog posts oozing with passion. For that reason alone, Mindanaoan.com gets my vote for the Bloggers' Choice Award.

I'm not saying that the other nominees don't write passionately enough. Mindanaoan.com's "passion level" just appeals to me. Plus the fact that she's such a prolific writer (posting as much as 3 entries in a single day) further enhances my amazement.

One Million Hectares of Forests

2010-11-24T09:16:00.000-08:00

Haribon Foundation is aiming to restore one million hectares of Philippine forests. One million is a huge number, especially if you're talking about hectares of trees. Why is it a goal to "restore" them? Because the forests were there before, and we took them for granted. So now that we've been knocked back to our senses, we need to do what we can to bring them back.

Why is it important to do that? Because our future depends on it. We know that trees support life, not just the lives of awesome eagles and cute little creatures. Directly or indirectly, we humans living in concrete jungles are affected. And that reason alone should be enough motivation for us to leap into action.

Haribon's slogan: "Protecting nature. Preserving life." encapsulates the idea.

Thanks to Haribon Foundation, ClubTravelNOW! and Pinoy Holistic Healthcare for this initiative. As a passive environmentalist, I support this!

Meet Your Favorite Pinoy Comic Artists at Komikon 2010

2010-11-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

Meet Your Favorite Pinoy Comic Artists at Komikon 2010 at Starmall on Saturday, November 13!

Support Pinoy talent!

Bo Sanchez' Maid Invests in the Stock Market

2010-10-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

Got this little 82-page book for free when I attended the "Riding the Bull with Growth Companies" Market Briefing organized by Citisec (my preferred online trading company).

The stage was huge! I deliberately sat at the last row.

Anyway, going back to Bo Sanchez' brilliantly titled book, it's "truly rich" with simple stories and illustrations to encourage readers to become investors.

He outlined a simple process that anyone can do, even his maids. Literally, he has been mentoring his maids (who earn 7,000 pesos a month) to invest in the Philippine stock market using (take a guess...) CitisecOnline. The steps really are simple, but the procedure requires high Emotional Quotient.

I'm not sure if the book is for sale or merely a marketing tool to promote Bo's Truly Rich Club. Either way, it's a good, quick read.

Barangay Elections 2010 at Jose Abad Santos High School

2010-10-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Some supporters were doing last-minute campaigns despite the rule against it.

Jose Abad Santos High School, Building 1 (or was that Building 2?)

Playground. The tower is NOT part of the school.

Ah, that's Building 2

Oo nga, panatilihing manlinis ang paaralan.

The hallway to the voting rooms.

A peek inside the classroom.

They really wanted to make sure that I couldn't wash off the indelible ink that easily.

Since the previous election was just 5 months ago, the procedure was still fresh in my mind. The steps we (my Dad and I) had to do were rather simple:

Went to our assigned school/voting venue after lunch instead of early in the morning.
Looked for the "poster" that indicated the room assigned to our barangay.
Climbed up to the second floor because that was where our room was located.
Searched for our names in the list posted outside the voting room, and remembered the corresponding numbers to facilitate search.
Recited our names and numbers to the teacher manning the ballot area.
Signed the logsheet and stamped our thumbmark on it.
Got our ballots.
Filled out the ballots.
Dropped the ballots in the ballot box (of course!)
Waited for the PCOS machine to count our ballot. No wait, that was last May.
Another thumbmark on another sheet of paper just to make sure.
Got a drop (or in my case, several drops of indelible ink) on our right index finger.
Attempted to remove the indelible ink by wiping it on my clean white shirt.
Left the area with a badly smudged index finger and a dirty shirt.

Total time inside the voting room: 4 minutes. Very efficient, eh?

Jollibee Eats Mang Inasal

2010-10-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

Jollibee got hungry and decided to eat Mang Inasal. Well, he wasn't that hungry, so he only ate 70%. The bill... 3 billion pesos!

After the disclosure, Jollibee Food Corporation's share prices shot up by 8.02% in just one morning. Since JFC is a high-priced stock to begin with, that's a huge leap!

Things are looking up, up, up for Jollibee

This was probably what Jollibee had planned to do all along, right after they decided to give up Delifrance.

Mang Inasal has been preparing itself for its own IPO (initial public offering) to fund its aggressive target of 500 outlets nationwide. The offer from Jollibee, though a little sooner than expected, seemed too much to resist. And why would anyone turn away from a 3B-peso offer from a company that has a solid track record of making a profitable company even more profitable?

Crisostomo Ibarra Is A Ballet Dancer

2010-10-13T02:52:00.000-07:00

Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara are ballet dancers.

Witness Dr. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere come to life in this contemporary dance version.

According to Ballet Philippines' website:

Crisostomo Ibarra springs to life in a new production about a young man's struggles to stand tall in his ideals despite the cruel buffets of fate. The dance narration takes the audience inside the psychological world of Ibarra and strips bare this epic story that underscores the continuing relevance of Rizal's timeless character.

Watch them gracefully jump, tiptoe, pirouette, and plié live on October 15, 16, and 17 at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

Padre Damaso will probably make an appearance. I'm not sure if Carlos Celdran will do the same.

Tickets are priced at Php 500 for 10am and 3pm performances and Php 800 for 8pm shows.

Bring a friend.

LED Video Board to Promote Patriotism

2010-10-10T02:14:00.001-07:00

Black Friday deals asks: Why do you need a free LED video board ad for 150,000.00 pesos?

I have a ready answer for that! I'm working on a collaborative project wherein the aim is to gather 7,107 reasons to love Pinas. That sure is a LOT of reasons to collect!

As the word "collaborative" suggests, I will not be doing this alone. I would like to encourage as many contributors as possible. They only need to share a photo, an anecdote, or even a one-sentence comment about something found in the Philippines that makes us Pinoys proud. Every contributor will be given due credit. So essentially, my role is to stitch together all your patriotic thoughts.

Again, I wish to attract and encourage as many participants as possible. What better way to do that than to post a giganormous, bright moving ad along Guadalupe Bridge EDSA, one of the busiest areas in Metro Manila?

But why am I doing this project in the first place? I sincerely believe that the more reasons we have to love the Philippines, the more we'll appreciate and take good care of Her. This will be the starting point for a First World Philippines, because if you love something, and in this case, our country, you'll do everything you can to make her great. And when the country' status improves, all of us will reap the benefits.

Imagine if every Pinoy would increase his love of the Philippines even by just a bit. That would be enough to create a huge wave of change... until we hit the tipping point of positive change that will propel our country back to the top.

Sometime in the future, history books would point to this generation of Pinoys as the ones who made the country great again. I'm sure that you will be so proud to be a part of it!

I'm not trying to be a noble hero here, I'm just doing my share to be "part of the solution" as mentioned by Professor Solita Monsod in her inspiring lecture...

Starting with "little" things like loving our country and expressing it to everyone, each of us can be part of the solution that will erase our current problems.

What about you? Are you part of the solution?

Would You Steal If You Knew You Wouldn't Get Caught?

2010-10-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

I can't remember who uttered this, but he said that "Pinoys are honest by nature".

Take the regular jeepney passenger, for example. It's so easy for him to get on board, sit there, keep silent and get off once he reaches his destination without handing over any amount to the hapless driver. Because what will the driver do if somebody hops off without paying? He can't chase the guy down.

One can also lie about his destination. What if he just pays the minimum fare, but go the distance? A jeepney driver has too much going on in his head for him to remember every single passenger's entry and drop-off point. It's really easy for anyone to get away with petty "crimes" like this. But overall, jeepney drivers don't go home complaining about lost revenue.

So in that common scenario, it seems that Pinoys are still suited for a trust-based system. Sure, some bad mangoes get away with some loose change, but that shouldn't tarnish the image of the honest majority.

Manila Bulletin 3D Photos

2010-09-24T00:27:00.000-07:00

Hear ye! Hear ye! Manila Bulletin has launched the first ever 3D edition newspaper.

The moment I found out about it, I rushed downstairs to grab a copy so I could see for myself. The one I bought didn't come with the special 3D glasses though (boo!). For some mysterious reason, the newspaper stand in our area didn't have them. And the Tita who was minding the stand was in a grumpy mood, so I didn't dare complain to her.

I had to dig out my old-school red-and-blue 3D spectacles (that word made it sound even older, eh?) to view the effects. I got those 3D thingies back when I was still collecting basketball cards in the 90s, and one "collectible cards" company experimented with the idea. So this is simply old technology being injected into an old medium, producing something "new".

Without the 3D goggles, the special pictures seem like they were taken by a photographer with shaky hands. So as a publisher, do you try to please the general public who don't care about this 3D fad, or the small group of people who consider this the greatest thing since dirty ice cream?

Nice photos highlighting local sights. Best viewed using very old 3D spectacles

On top of that concern,some people are asking, "What value does that add to the news?" Not much, really. But today's edition will probably sell twice as much as usual. It's called marketing.

I'm quite certain that other newspaper and magazine publishers could come up with a better, nicer, clearer, "ererer" version. But nobody can take away the fact that Manila Bulletin did it first.

Keep Moving! A Call to Personal Leadership by Francis Kong

2010-09-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, Francis Kong is the best Pinoy speaker I have ever witnessed in a "live performance". I've heard him speak at 5 different events, and I was thoroughly impressed each time.

A few months ago, he conducted a half-day seminar somewhere in Makati. I wanted to attend that too, but unfortunately for me, I had a prior appointment. Tickets for that seminar (organized by a different events company) was 2,500 pesos each. And many of his whole-day workshops go for as high as 8,000 pesos per seat.

But for the upcoming event at SMX on September 25, from 1 to 5 PM, thanks to the sponsors' support, the price has been cut down to 1,500 pesos for a Gold Ticket (very near the stage) and only 1,000 pesos for a Silver Ticket. It's a different topic, but it's still the same Francis Kong!

The details are listed at the AT3 Events notes page. I highly recommend this. Especially at this bargain price!

I've been raving about this with Bong of AT3 Events when he was a guest at our cable tv show 3 weeks ago. And I don't remember what I said, but out of nowhere, he generously offered to sponsor two tickets to the seminar as contest prizes. Since I can't attend (again!) because of a prior commitment, I'm tossing in my ticket into the prize pool as well.

If you want to attend (and why wouldn't you?), here's your chance to win one of three Silver tickets to "Keep Moving! Reaching Up for Success"

Here are the contest mechanics:

Log into your Facebook account and "like" the AT3 Events Facebook page and the 7107 Reasons Facebook page.
Think of specific questions about leadership that you wish to ask Mr. Francis Kong.
On your Facebook Wall, post your question, and tag AT3's Facebook page so they could track your contest entry.
To tag AT3, type an "@", then type AT3. A drop-down list will reveal "AT3 EVENT PLANNING AND CONCEPTS, INC.". Click on that option and it will become a blue link.
After posting the question on your wall, check to see if your question appears on the AT3 Events Facebook page wall. If it does, then your question is counted as a contest entry!
The event organizers from AT3 and some external judges will help choose the winners based on the quality of the questions.
Three winners will receive Silver tickets (worth 1000 pesos each) to "Keep Moving! Reaching Up for Success".
Tip: Specific questions are far better than generic questions. Here's a sample question: "I lead a team of 14 staff members whose age range is from 22 to 54 years old. What is an effective way to develop good team culture in this diverse group?"
You may post as many questions as you wish until September 22, 12 noon (Yes, lunchtime). More questions will give you more chances of winning.
Results will be posted on the AT3 Facebook page wall on September 23.

How easy is that? Just think of a good question, and you have a shot at attending this wonderful learning event for free! Paraphrasing a quote a famous talk show host, "Sali na! Now na!"

Emerging Influential Pinoy Blogs

2010-08-31T02:16:00.000-07:00

Whoa! I almost missed this year's writing project again (like what I did last year)!

One of the instructions on http://www.influentialblogger.net/2010/05/join-top-10-emerging-influential-blogs.html states that "Any blog in the world can be picked", and I've encountered several fascinating foreign websites, but I'd prefer to focus on Pinoy blogs. =)

1) When in Manila - http://www.wheninmanila.com/
I keep going back for more of their well-written articles and laugh-out-loud videos.

2) Nomnom Club - http://nomnomclub.com/
If you can use your less-than-a-year-old blog as leverage to organize parties/events and have somebody else pay for it, I would definitely consider you influential.

3) Thirsty Blogger - http://www.thirstyblogger.com/
One of those "Why didn't I think of that?" blog niches, further enhanced by skillful photography.

4) Ganda Ever So Much - http://www.gandaeversomuch.com/
Written by someone who is completely true to himself. No pretensions at all.

5) The Blogging Advertiser - http://thebloggingadvertiser.com/
Very informative blog which is in the process of bridging the wiiiide information gap between clueless bloggers and clueless advertisers. We're all clueless!

6) Sex and Sensibilities - http://sexandsensibilities.com/
Ana Santos pulls out all her professional writing skills on her blog. Nothing raunchy at all, just solid information about sexual health.

7) Facebuko - http://facebuko.com/
Not just a hilarious blog, it actually connects different aspects of Pinoy pop culture, creating unusual snapshots of Pinoy showbiz "history as it unfolds".

8) Art of Changemaking - http://artofchangemaking.com/
Truly inspiring blog because she doesn't just write about change, she makes it happen!

9) Rina Alcantara - http://www.rina-alcantara.com/
Started out as a personal blog, well, it still is, but Rina is now devoting more time and effort in promoting individuality through art, specifically, nail art.

10) The Creative Dork - http://thecreativedork.com/
If you dare to use the word "creative" to describe yourself, you better have the ammo to back that claim. And I'd say that the author of this blog certainly has the right to call himself one. Check out his work!

Whew! I thought it would be easy. WRONG! That list took quite a while for me to put together.

Thanks to the following sponsors for supporting the project:

Miss Congeniality

2010-08-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Whenever I ask foreigners what they like about the Philippines (and I ask that all the time), they quickly reply with the usual reasons, like nice warm weather, fantastic beaches, etc. And the most common response is "Filipinos are so friendly!" Call me biased, but I completely agree with them!

So, if that's the case, I think a strategic "branding" move involving beauty pageants would be to send the friendliest candidates to the competitions, with the main objective of winning as many friends as possible.

Unlike the other awards, Miss Congeniality is chosen by the delegates themselves. Peer voting. It's the same as the "most likes" contests proliferating on Facebook. But unlike Facebook lowlifes who spawn bogus accounts just to win lame contests, it won't be so easy to create fake candidates at the pageant.

It doesn't mean the candidate will ignore the chance to become the Miss Universe (or Miss World, or Miss Earth, or Miss Whatever), but that aspect requires the judges to appreciate her outer beauty.

If our representatives take home the Miss Congeniality Award year after year, viewers will naturally equate the Philippines with friendly people... which would be perfectly consistent with our culture!

And pretty soon, we will all react this way...

Personal, Entrepreneurial, and Patriotic Reasons to Visit Boracay

2010-08-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

Why would I want to go to Boracay?

I have three main reasons (and a truckload of subreasons) ... personal, entrepreneurial, and patriotic.

PERSONAL REASON

I'll start with the selfish bit... the personal reason (Yes, this has to go first because it's selfish).

I'd like to see Boracay (not Bora!) through my own four eyes. I only see it in magazines, travelogues, and friends' Facebook albums (sob! sniff!). Some of my friends go there a few times per year. Hey, a handful of them fly over on a whim just to toss a frisbee around!

So, I'll be going there as a first-timer, where everything will seem new and fresh. And I'll be one of the representatives of the soon-to-be-founded Boracay Newbies' Club.

When I get there, I would love to:

be thankful that the plane has landed safely
touch, feel, and caress (easy there, Tiger) the world-famous white, powdery sand

photo from mariatheresanoel.wordpress.com

see an actual lets-build-one-on-the-spot-because-we-can majestic sand castle
experience the night life... wearing shorts and sandals
make new friends (bloggers and otherwise) on the island
take a whole bunch of photos

photo from rheykz.wordpress-com

witness the Boracay sunset
try very hard to wake up early to see the sun rise
go island-hopping

That's Hannah of flaircandy.com; photo by Nicholson Ong

stare in awe (nothing beyond that) while brave cliff jumpers leap off a plank at Ariel's Point
hold on for dear life while parasailing

You might have noticed that I was limited to borrowing others' photos because I have none of my own. How sad.

ENTREPRENEURIAL REASON

I also intend to interview some entrepreneurs in the area, to shoot some video snippets for a newborn, "experimental" tv show called SME Forum (not my show, I'm just fortunate enough to be a part of it). The show aims to encourage our fellow Pinoys to explore the possibilities of entrepreneurship, so why not feature Boracay-based, business-minded individuals who took the leap?

I will attempt to talk to a number of entrepreneurs on the island... the manong who rents out his bangka, the talented tattoo artist, the souvenir stall owner, and several others in the area.

PATRIOTIC REASON

Everyone raves about Boracay's fine white sand, clear water, and fantastic night life. But in the travel blogs and tv shows I've read or seen, there's usually very little mention, if any, about the locals and the "tiny things" that make Boracay Island the way it is. If we love the place now, imagine how much more we'll appreciate it once we find out about the fascinating stuff rarely talked about.

This blog you're reading now is "the blog about the main blog". My main blog, 7107reasons.com, is meant to accumulate "7,107 reasons to love Pinas!", which means that my goal is to compile 7,107 unique and specific reasons to love our mother land. The reasons will range from the obscure to the obvious. I conservatively estimated that I would be able to collect at least 20 good ones in just one trip.

I will be gathering quips and quotable quotes from both tourists and locals. Various perspectives that will share insights that others who go to Boracay take for granted. I will take photos and even videos that help others visualize what the locals see. All this is meant to create deeper interest in the island. And this will, hopefully, add to the overall picture of building an even more "lovable" Philippines. And this is my main objective whenever I visit various areas in the Philippines.

So to me, visiting Boracay will be a combination of work and recreation. Although I'm sure the "work" portion won't seem like it.

National Sport?

2010-08-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

Basketball may very well be our national sport.

I love the Philippines (duh!). And I love basketball. But I don't completely love the idea of pouring so much resources into a game that we probably won't excel in. The fact that we need an import to beef up our national team lineup, to sort of "even up the playing field" says a whole lot about our current situation. We can argue that hey, other countries to it, too. But if you were an athlete, how would you feel if our national team won in a tournament that was determined by "who has the most resources to find the best external help"?

Before I get accused for being a racist. It's not about race at all.

We give so much emphasis and shower so much support to our basketball teams that we neglect the less lucrative sports like... hmm, chess.

How many mentally gifted but financially constricted chess prodigies can we support with the money being invested in a single import?

World Class?

2010-06-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Why do we need validation from outside before we appreciate ourselves?

By "outside", I meant "other countries". Why do we wait for award-giving bodies from other countries to bestow prestige to one of ours before we even take notice? We had to wait for CNN to tell us that Efren Peñaflorida is a hero. We took the cue from Ellen and Oprah before we noticed that Charice Pempenco has an astounding voice box.

Look out! Rhetorical question coming through...
Do we really need external approval before we take pride in ourselves?

Buy Filipino!

2010-05-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

Almost all the clothes, bags, shoes, and even food I buy are locally produced. I think it's cool to buy Pinoy products, but am I considered a traitor when I buy certain foreign brands?

Will I be charged with treason because I prefer sushi over kilawin (I don't like vinegar)?