The Comfort Rooms

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2010 is definitely different from 2009. Though there are a few things that remained the same, 2010 is unique enough to make me conclude that this is a better year.

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There must be riot in the streets of Jakarta right now.

After getting into the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010, everyone should be in party mode - the President, the spectators, people at home, all13,500 islands of Indonesia, the players, and especially that Bahraini referee.

It was a well-deserved victory for them. That small chocolate-brown guy was a handful, Gonzales was just too good (and that first half goal ?!?) and Markus the goalkeeper just wouldn't let any Filipino goal in.

More than the partying in Jakarta right now, some thousand miles north would be a quiet capital of Manila. People has just witnessed its football team beaten by a superior team. Anyone would consider the match as tight, but a goal will make all the difference in the world. And what difference it did in favor of Indonesia.

Despite the loss, the Philippine team will come home as heroes. The sport long-forgotten in the annals of Filipino sports consciousness has finally been given the attention it so deserved. There must be a reason why this is called the world's most popular sport. There must be a reason for all this excitement revolving around the sport. There must be a reason why people go crazy before, during and after matches. THIS must be the reason why I converted myself (including scores of other Filipinos) to this sport.

Football, meet the Philippines. The Philippines, meet football.

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Top (L to R): Alex Borromeo (captain), James Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Ian Araneta, Anton del Rosario, Rob Gier. Bottom (L to R): Jason de Jong, Phil Younghusband, Emilio Caligdong, Chris Greatwich, Ray Jonsson.

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Fine, so Indonesia beat the Philippines 1-0 at the first of their semis matches at the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. It was a close fight with the Philippines conceding only the second goal throughout the competition and suffered its first loss as well.

While the loss wasn't really a big thing for me, I mean, who would have thought the Philippines would end up in the semis? Who would have thought that this tournament would make overnight football fans among Filipinos?

All in all, this tournament has provided the Philippines with a breakthrough in football. I know this should be largely credited to the Fil-Brits, but it is like the gathering of Israel only in football (google it). Filipinos from other countries gather back to the Philippines to represent the country on various fields. So to those Indonesians who keep on insisting that the Eurasians (e.g. Etheridge, Grier, De Jong, Younghusband brothers, Borromeo and Araneta are NOT) were actually naturalized and were not even Filipinos, then guess what, they're Filipinos too. They chose to represent their mothers' country and it was a big sacrifice that they made instead of making it big on Europe. Learn to accept the fact that there are a lot of Eurasians in the Philippines.

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Wow! Another The Amazing Race All-Stars in the offing!

The Amazing Race Unfinished Business will be the 18th season of this long-running reality competiton. And basing on the official primer for this season, 24 pais will be battling it out for the win. Wait, 24 teams will battle it out? That's a lot! I actually missed a good two of those teams (I was only able to identify 24 of them corrrectly)!


Without further adieu, the primer suggests that the following teams might be included in the race:

Jet and Cord (Cowboys/Brothers) Season 16
Jaime and Cara (Formeer NFL Cheerleaders) Season 14
Flight Time and Big Easy (Harlem Globetrotters) Season 15
Greg and Mallory (Father/Daughter) Season 17
Kisha and Jen (Sisters) Season 14
Sam and Dan (Brothers) Season 15
Connor and Jonathan (Ivy League A Cappella Singers) Season 17
Kynt and Vyxsin (Dating Goths) Season 12
Nick and Vicky (Dating) Season 17
Gary and Matt (Father/Son) Season 15
Chad and Stephanie (Engaged) Season 17
Margie and Luke (Mother/Son) Season 14
Mel and Mike (Father/Son) Season 14
Toni and Dallas (Mother/Son) Season 13
Brooke and Claire (Home Shopping Hosts) Season 17
Louie and Michael (Detectives) Season 16
Zev and Justin (Best Friends) Season 15
Michael and Kevin (Father/Son) Season 17
Maria and Tiffany (Professional Poker Players) Season 15
Andrew and Dan (Frat Boys) Season 13
Mark and Michael (Brothers/Stuntmen) Season 14
Ron and Christina (Father/Daughter) Season 12
Amanda and Kris (Dating) Season 14
Brent and Caite (Dating Models) Season 16

This early, I'm rooting for Jet and Cord to win! If they won't, I'll be happy with Ron and Christina, Amanda and Kris, Toni and Dallas and Michael and Kevin. I hope Margie and Luke would get eliminated first. Haha!

Watch the video here. Enjoy!

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To the real suspects:

May Mang Lauro Vizconde's reaction haunt you for the rest of your life.

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I am one of the millions of Filipinos who felt numb and helpless upon hearing that the Vizconde massacre suspects have been acquitted.

I hope the Supreme Court was right with this one and that the real suspects will be caught soon. But until the real suspects will surface, ordinary Filipinos like me will still see the Supreme Court as one corrupt organization wherein the moneyed can buy court decisions in their favor.

If Hubert Webb and the others were really behind the killings, then they be damned. If terrestrial judiciary system will never find them guilty then we will let the heavenly judiciary system punish them for their doing.

I hope justice will be served (again) soon. If not, we will let heavens do it for the country.

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Finally! An all-female team won The Amazing Race!


Doctors Nat and Kat ended up as winners of the race! Congratulations ladies!


Right from the start of the season, I always felt that these doctors was the team to beat (Jill and Thomas for me was a close second). And they sure did! First females to ever win the race!


Looks like girl power finally rules at my favorite reality show!

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First of all, I forgot about the fight! I was preparing lunch (Philippines timezone) a few hours ago, completely forgetting about UFC 124 - the fight that would bring Georges "Rush" St. Pierre and Josh "Kos" Koscheck together for yet another exciting fight.


True to what people have been guessing, GSP won fight, in a dominating fashion. Though Kos was never in trouble of having the fight stopped, his blue and beaten face sure was a sign on who was dominant throughout the fight and who wasn't.


All three judges scored identical 50-45 cards in favor of St. Pierre, who won his eighth straight fight. Rush was completely dominant, though he never came close to finishing Koscheck. He ran his UFC record for consecutive round victories to 30, dating back to St. Pierre’s first victory over Koscheck in 2007.

Well, it was another sweet victory for GSP. And if his words will come true, a UFC fight will transpire here in Manila sometime in the future! Oh yeah!

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The AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 has shown one side of Southeast Asians that is highly appalling. We Southeast Asians are such racists. You heard me right folks, we are such disgusting racists.

I'll just go with what the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Facebook page suggests. People there just take snide remarks of each other and at the same time glorify their countries to no end. There wasn't really much unity going on. People take such great pride in their countries that they in turn crush other countries with hurtful words thinking that they are better than people from those other countries.

I know sports shouldn't be like that. It was unity and solidarity which was the main point anyways. Not too much competitiveness that things get a little too personal, politics even playing a part.

I hope we can just learn to appreciate other countries and see what's great in them. It is cool to be proud of your country, just don't put others down.

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Finally, a Filipino team has emerged the winner of The Amazing Race Asia!
Fil-Ams Richard Herrera and Richard Hardin won $100,000 (on top of others) as winners of the Amazing Race Asia season 4.
To all Filipino fans of the show, this is a huge sigh of relief cos finally, we won the contest! After years of frustration (Season 2 we ended up 3rd and Season 3 at 2nd), we finally broke through after finishing again inside the top three for the 3rd consecutive year.
Any fan of the show couldn't just help but compare these two to the first all-guy team from the Philippines who just happens to be the most popular racers of the show. Marc and Rovilson, who finished a heartbreaking third on season 2, must be missing out on something that both Riches have.
But anyways, I just wanna send out my congratulations to both guys and welcome to instant celebrity-hood!
The other Filipino team (Jess and Lani)wound up 4th.

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Team Philippines Logo as suggested by Team Manila

Ini adalah untuk semua Indonesia, Này là dành cho Việt tất cả. Thanks to Google translate, I can have people from these countries read what I had to say regarding them. 


To Indonesians first:


First of, the Philippines is NOT A FOOTBALL country. You can't expect us to have all of the best equipments in football. Heck, Filipinos can't even call football as football. We call it soccer. Football for Filipinos is the one played in the US. NFL style football. Not MLS.


You keep on bashing our half-Filipino contingent by calling them naturalized. Well guess what, these guys aren't naturalized, they are half-Filipinos and are willing to sacrifice for their mothers' nation.


Pertama, Filipina TIDAK Sebuah negara FOOTBALL. Anda tidak dapat mengharapkan kita untuk memiliki semua peralatan terbaik di sepak bola. Heck, Filipina tidak bisa bahkan menyebutnya sepak bola sebagai sepak bola. Kami menyebutnya sepak bola. Football untuk Filipina adalah yang dimainkan di Amerika Serikat. NFL gaya sepak bola. Tidak MLS.


Anda terus bashing kontingen kita setengah-Filipina dengan memanggil mereka dinaturalisasi. Nah coba tebak, orang-orang ini tidak naturalisasi, mereka setengah-Filipina dan bersedia berkorban untuk bangsa ibu mereka '.


Let me reserve my Vietnam comment maybe tomorrow. :)

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I honestly don't know what's going on but the Philippines has defeated defending champion and host Vietnam 2-0 at the group stages of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup last night.

To anybody who knows a thing about the most popular sport in the world (Football) and the biggest basketball-crazy nation this side of the globe (the Philippines) knows that the country is nowhere near being football-crazy. Hence, the Philippine Football team has been always at the butt-end of the football tournaments, even in the regional level.

To all who loves Football, let's all celebrate this victory! Victories like these doesn't happen a lot. Hopefully, this will trigger a new start on Philippine Football, onto new heights!

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Fireflies flicker
Fireflies illuminate
Fireflies spark
Fireflies shine

Fireflies travel
Fireflies journey
Fireflies fly
Fireflies embark

Fireflies live
Fireflies miss
Fireflies temporary
Fireflies impress

Fireflies impact
Fireflies touch
Fireflies leave
Fireflies stay


---This is dedicated to the family and loved ones of Ken Cañonero, a maternal second-degree cousin who passed away last November 21.

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For starters, I think this LeBron "mural" looks great. For some reason, it reminded me of Salma Hayek's Frida Kahlo. :)


The LeBron James brand is a multi-million dollar money-making machine that Nike and NBA have jointly made successful. The christening of the Air Apparent was a well-celebrated and much talked-about event and even until now, LeBron James is still attracting legions upon legions of fans wanting to take a grip on the future Michael Jordan, who until now is still a future Michael Jordan. I'm just thinking, when will he get past that next Michael Jordan monicker?


I mean, I think it is absolutely cool to be called the next MJ, but yeah, you have to deliver the goods first. After one NBA finals appearance (which I think was great), he still has got to show more than that. It's great that he's won consecutive regular season MVP awards (which I think will go to either Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, even Tim Duncan) but being "the next Michael Jordan should be so much more than that. LeBron knows and everybody knows that it takes championships to ever be called as the King.


In my book though, LeBron still isn't near there.


Now that Miami Heat is having the biggest disappointment SO FAR this season (9-8 win-loss card), any insinuation of LeBron James being the King is next to blasphemy. All the hype in the world was given to him last summer, all the money spent on promotions and the hoopla, it is only customary to "reward" that with wins and championships. But until THAT championship comes LeBron's way, there is not a single possibility in this world that he is the King of the NBA.

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Overrated.

That's how I describe KFC Double Down - the newest food craze that hit this side of the globe. When Manila got introduced to this meal, everybody went salivating. Everyone made a pact that he/she must try it cos it looked (the TVC to be exact) really inviting and filling and heavy and yummy. Being the food lover that I am, I was once of those eagerly awaiting to finally have a taste of this newest buzz-word on Follywood (Food Hollywood).

Much to my dismay, I was disappointed about this food. Amidst all hoopla and hype, the excitement on me went on an alarming sink, losing all hope for a positive food review. The patties weren't big. The mayonnaise was off. Although the food felt heavy hours after my eating, it still isn't enough to reason fo rme to give this food even a passing grade.

I haven't spoken with anyone who shared a positive review about the food.

If KFC guys can hear me, here are my little suggestions on how to make your KFC Double Down a lot better:

1.) Since the Philippines is a rice-loving nation, an optional rice to go with the Double Down would be a great idea.

2.) Ditch the mayo. It doesn't work well with the rest of the ingredients.

3.) Make sure your patties are as big as those advertised on TV. Seeing the miniscule patties for the first time sure made me feel disappointment.

I hope my review was kind of helpful. Though the Double Down is always out-of-the-stock wherever you go (I really don't buy the story), it doesn't mean people necessarily liked the food.

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I'm still not over the NU 107 Last Goodbye feeling. It was just plain sad. Like a part of me was taken out without justice.
 
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most rocked-out person out there. But I know what good music is. And NU 107 provided Manila with a great music option, thanks to its purely rock genre.

Been familiar with the NU 107 since I was in 5th or 4th grade (dating back to the mid 90s), I always knew that whenever I felt the need to listen to rock music, it was NU 107 that I should be listening to.

NU 107 represented all the boys in our classrooms who sat at the back and barely listened to what the teacher was saying, painstakingly finishing his drawing with an intermediate pad paper as his canvass. The station represented a big chunk of all the cigarette smokers back in high school, complete with ear piercings only to be removed because the school security asked him to do so. The station represented a huge chunk of the rebel chicks we had during high school, those girls, who the pretty and popular ones disliked the most because these girls were just plain bad-ass.

To all concerned, NU 107 represented a part of us. And its taking away from us means a part of us was also removed.

Just plain sad.

Let's all relive the magical final minutes instead. Like a slow death on death row.

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Someone's so messing up with The Amazing Race Asia 4 on Wikipedia. I know anyone who was caught divulging info about the race outcome is liable to an amount reaching millions of dollars. Whoever the troll is, he's got to pay. Big time.

I can't imagine why someone would deliberately disobey The Amazing Race rules and risk himself paying US$5 million for the information he shared to everyone? I thought what this person did was pure, unadulterated bull crap. And a foul-smelling one at that.

Although the supposed spoiler is good news to all Filipinos (since it says the top 2 finishers were Filipino teams), I thought it was really crazy to post something as risky as this. It's like posting the Oscar winners few days prior to the actually date.

We don't know if all this is true but, whoever did this has got to pay.

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First off, Antonio Margarito looked really bad! Seeing the wounds on his face and the way his eyes were almost closed made me feel really sorry for him. Well, what's a really beaten-down face when there's a multi-million dollar prize in waiting, right?! So yeah, congratulations as well to him. Hopefully, he's the last Mexican that Pacquiao will fight.

Some people have already made theories that Pacquiao IS the Muhammad Ali of this generation. Surely, he has already secured his spot among the all-time greats (must have made his mark during his twin Hatton/Dela Hoya wins) but for him to be placed right under THE Ali is something else.

As a Filipino, I might be biased but I think he ranks among the top 4 boxers of all time: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard and Manny Pacquiao. Such an esteemed grouping. Any violent reactions are welcome.

Meanwhile, I gathered here different thoughts from different people regarding Manny Pacquiao:

We love our sports figures in the U.S., but he’s bigger than a sports figure over there. When he speaks, it transcends all class and cultural boundaries. Everyone listens. He’s a one in a 92 million story.
-Gary A. Poole, author of "PacMan"

I can’t think of any other person in the world who has ever been so adored by his people.
-Bob Simon, CBS Correspondent

It was awe-inspiring. I was so touched by what he was doing...there’s never been anyone like this kid and there probably never will be.
-Bob Arum, Pacquiao's publicist

Manny Pacquiao was once again masterful, beating Antonio Margarito so frightfully that Margarito’s face looked as it had been pounded repeatedly by a club.
-Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports Correspondent

Manny is the best fighter in the world, He is just too fast—very, very quick.
-Robert Garcia, Margarito's trainer

There was no way I was gong to quit. I’m a Mexican, we fight until the end.
-Antonio Margarito

I can’t believe that I beat someone this big and this strong. It’s hard. I really do my best to win the fight.
-Manny Pacquiao

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I can't believe that the 6/55 Grand Lotto prize now stands at a whopping 410 million pesos (roughly US$9,372,499.71)! That's the biggest ever lottery prize in the Philippines (I think) and if nobody won, the jackpot will just keep on ballooning

and ballooning

and ballooning.

Until fate has it that the money be given to a very, very lucky Filipino.

If ever I would win the money, I wouldn't tell anyone for at least the first month. I'd fear for my security of course. And fifteen days before going to the PCSO to receive my loot, I'd resign from work. I'll try my best to be as discreet as possible in spending my own money. And like all wise businessmen, I'd love to invest on something that I know will be very profitable.

Let me write here on bullet form on how the 410 Million Peso jackpot will be spent.
* None will be paid for taxes 'cos I heard from someone connected with PCSO before that Lotto prizes aren't taxed!
* 60 million will be paid to purchase two Jollibee franchises. The money should include everything that should be spent including construction, initiall salaries, etc.
*30 million will be spent to purchase 50 1.3L 2010 Toyota Vios units for a taxi business. Additional 10 million for the purchase of a garage and the mini-office that will house the 50 units.
(The first two will help me live and my family for as long as both shall be productive)
*50 million to purchase Chinese Yuan-bonds. I'm not really sure if this will work, but I'd love to do that.
*50 million to be invested on various stocks at the Shanghai Stock Exhange and the future Sydney-Singapore joint stock exchanges.
*50 million to be invested on insurance.
*50 million to be deposited on various banks in the Philippines.
*90 million will be spent on real estate (particularly a few hectares in Tagaytay, Batangas and a condo unit in Fort Bonifacio and a not-too-big house on a not-too-exclusive subdivision).
*10 million to be spent on my own IT Company (my field of work).

and then the remaining 10 million will be spent to splurge (2 Japanese cars, clothes, lots of shoes) and for donations. Since I'm a Mormon, 10% of all my increase will be given to the Church (the church doesn't accept gambling money as tithing).

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This is a milestone birthday for me. Why? Because I'm already 26.

And 26 is a serious number. Why? Because it's past the first quarter mark - which for me symbolizes youth in human earth years. Now that I'm 26, I'm officially old.

Old.

Old.

Old.

And more old. And it doesn't stop from there. (I'm old)

Goodbye youthfulness. Goodbye irresponsibility. Goodbye carelessness. Goodbye (partial) dependence. Goodbye randomness. Goodbye excuses.

For me, 26 signifies the real welcome to the outside world.

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Having spent a couple of years alongside New Zealanders, Australians, Samoans and Tongans has got me excited over Rugby. To me, it is the most testosterone-filled sport out there and anyone who doesn't wanna get bruised will be in for some one hell and a half playing (or even just watching) the sport.

To everyone's information, Philippine Rugby is currently on the upswing, thanks to expats and half-Pinoys who have showed interest and sacrifice to elevate Rugby's status as a sport here in the Philippines.

Though still largely an elitist sport (protests are welcome in form of blog comments), Philippine Rugby is opening its doors to anyone and everyone who wanted to experience the sport (I do!) via its Rugby Development Training Program.

This is a free program to all men and women over 16 every Mondays and Wednesdays at the Philsports Arena. This is one cool sport every person shouldn't dare miss!

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Only fifty days before Christmas! Blame it on the kid within me, but I'm really excited about Christmas. I love Christmas parties, Christmas dinners, Christmas gifts, Christmas lunches, Christmas reunions, and everything there is about Christmas.

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I can relate alot to the movie The Social Network. If there is one movie that serves as an Internet Business 101 course, then this is it.

The lessons I learned from this movie would be among those things that I will cherish as I try to create my niche in this broad and competitive online world.

I've tried blogging. I've tried content writing. I've tried SEO. I've tried Affiliate Marketing. I've tried Pay-Per-Click Advertising. I've tried Web Hosting Services. I've tried Social Media Marketing. In short, I've tried almost everything that I know involving the online world. As a person on the constant look-out for my own Eureka! moment, the movie served as a reminder of my quest for that road to El Dorado.

I'm no Mark Zuckerberg. A good friend of mine is my Mark Zuckerberg. I'm Eduardo Saverin. The business-savvy partner of the Facebook CEO. We two have had our Mark and Eduardo fights. There have been Sean Parkers who tried to persuade my Mark Zuckerberg to alter our own Facebook (my potential Eureka! moment). But unlike to what have happened to Mark and Eduardo, I hope me and my Mark Zuckerberg won't end up like that, though we wanted the financial rewards of course.

When our own Facebook becomes live, I can only hope for all the success we could have. This can be our ticket to Internet success. This can put me and him into unprecendented heights. However, this can turn out to be a poop-mine for us both if we weren't able to push the right buttons.

If The Social Network tried to prove that financial power rests above that of loyalty and friendship, I would love to prove it otherwise.

To all those who are in the web business, this is the movie for us! Cheers!

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I know halloweens are not supposed to bring out that lovin' feeling among its devotees. It would have been BS if it did.

Well, surprise! BS it really did! Instead of spreading out screams and fear that day, it instead put on its heart-face and spread cupid arrows into the hearts and imaginations out of everyone who thought partying on that date would be the best way to celebrate that day.

By the way, the party I attended was on a 30th. Not on the actual 31st which fell on a church-filled and spiritually-uplifting Sunday.

Just wanna make that clear to y'all who's reading.

Maybe October 30 was designed to give Halloween its perfect irony, vaccine and antidote. Right before the world enters into a day that was supposed to be frightful and scary, it, at first, dawns into a 24-hour period of loveliness and hope. Of excitement and anticipation. Of joy and calm. Of inspiration and motivation.

If all October 30s were tailor-made to be just like that, I wouldn't be surpised if Love Found During Halloween wouldn't be all too alien for us all.

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I know there are rumors that Justin Beiber will be the new host of MTV Punk'd so sorry for using that word. This story is in no wise related to The Beiber. I mean, why should I?

I started my morning laughing. Why? Because the new Miami Heat Big Three lived up to my expectations - it felt like a stunted growth. An ingrown toe nail. An ingrown facial hair. A rocket launching gone bad. A premature explosion. An urban legend.

LeBron James must have felt right at home as if he only changed uniforms and still assumed that one role he knew best: carry the entire team on his broad tattoed arms and shoulders. His co-Big Three members Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade were not even half as good as the hype around them christened them with.

For basketball fans, the game was a disappointment. Sure, it showed how merciless and devious Rajon Rondo and the Boston Big Three plus the Shaq, but their Miami counterparts went pffffffffft and blagggggggggggggggghhh and (crickets chirping).

I hope the Fil-Am coach Erik Spoelstra won't be at the losing end and lose his head coaching duties to stupid Pat Riley.

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Call it a pretty lackluster week for me. Week passed by so boringly, I get sleepy thinking about it. The week's activities included:

1. Getting sick and take a sick leave on Wednesday

2. Be early for work only to have a meeting not push through on Thursday

3. Countless trips around the office just to cut down on my boredom

4. Get preoccupied with other things thus contributing to the boredom even more.

I think my week went really bland and tasteless until I saw this piece of news a few hours ago - The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Miami Heat on Christmas Day! To all basketball fans, this is one saliva-inducing moment!

For obvious reasons, I will not be able to view the game live on Staples Center. So I will enjoy the next best thing - watch it on TV. I'll scream and jump with every Laker field goal and clench and cuss on every Miami Heat score.

Eventhough the head coach is a Filipino, my lovin' still stays with the Lakers.

Save your best seat now - at your own home!

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I think I'm about 90-95% Asian (being Filipino and Japanese with some Chinese and the remaining 5% is Mexican). But it doesn't mean that almost 100% is Asian.


Case in point:


I can't appreciate K-Pop


I don't enjoy Chinese martial arts films


I hate the smell of Chinese incense


and this one majorly important thing.


I hate Asian poses.

like this lady and her crying pose


or this cat-like pose.

Admittedly, these ladies are cute. But there's a thin line between being cute-looking and annoying-looking. You can be pretty without making such efforts.


Like Devon Aoki. No need for cutesy poses.

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Photo courtesy of NY Daily News

So all of the Chilean miners have been saved by now. I was surprised when two officemates didn't even know what the heck it was that happened in Chile. I know Chile and the Philippines are a universe and a half apart but with the technology we got, I thought it was close to impossible to have not been able to come across that news. Or maybe they just didn't care. Anyways...

If I were one of the Chilean miners, I would have been very afraid. Why? Because I'm claustrophobic. I hate cramp and closed spaces. I would have had severe asthma attacks every single dark and dreary day there.

I would have had a reflection of sorts about my life. Since I'm a blogger, I think my blog would have been a superstar blog by now since I would have been recounting every single day whatever it was that we did there and write it everyday on the blog. Of course, I would have prayed more sincerely. Like Jonah inside the whale's belly, I would have had a serious wrestle with my Lord and Savior and hopefully, would have had a remission of all my sins.

Once I would have been taken out from the abyss and into the surface, I would have cried a big cry, not being able to utter a single word in about five minutes, just hugging my family to death (not literally) and kneel down and pray.

I would have ordered two Quarter Pounders from McDonald's coupled with a huge 22oz. rootbeer. I don't know if I would love the media attention. All I would have wanted to do, was just rest and sleep and watch tv and hug my family over and over again.

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I felt bad that Maria Ressa (acclaimed Filipina journalist) will be leaving ABS-CBN. I thought she did a great job as ABS-CBN's news head and she will be leaving a big hole once she leaves the company. Here's her resignation letter:


Statement on Maria Ressa
Released by Bong R. Osorio, ABS-CBN Corporate Communication

"There is a time and place for everything in our lives. My time and place as head of ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs is nearing its end. My contract ends on Jan. 3, 2011, and I will not be renewing. I have nearly six months of accumulated leaves so I will go on terminal leave beginning Nov. 15.
It’s time for me to move on, but it’s important we transition properly and prepare our organization – and its new leader – for the challenges ahead. Ging Reyes will be taking over as news head. She will be arriving in
Manila on Oct. 18 to begin our transition. Home-grown ABS-CBN, she has more than twenty years experience as a journalist, the last eight years as North America bureau chief. Please give her your full support as she takes the helm of our multi-platform operations. I want to thank you for six amazing, incredible years where we took risks together to help define the future of journalism and our nation. We decided to take a stand and say no to corruption; to embrace the growth of social media; and to join hands with citizen journalists to patrol our votes and our nation . Thank you for your trust and support, for following
me even when I tilt at windmills.
Journalism faces challenging days ahead. Value and protect your editorial independence. I wish you clarity of thought, stamina, and courage to fight for what is right and avoid the compromise of mediocrity. You have taught me so much about what it means to be a Filipino. While my time with this company is ending, one of the most precious things it has given me are our friendships, which I hope will continue to grow even when I’m no longer with ABS-CBN.

Maria Ressa

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For some reason, there are people who you just couldn't stand seeing, be it officemates from day-to-day, or a former classmate you haven't seen in years or even celebrities who you couldn't stand seeing on television, prints, internet or in the movies. While scanning thru the morning paper earlier today, I just happened to see one of the guy celebrities I hated to see the most. I saw him, hated him again, thus giving me the inspiration to come up with this post.

So yeah, enjoy whatever it is that I will eventually write up in here (what I write here isn't prepared beforehand. They're written as soon as they get typed in).

Ben Affleck.
I never appreciated that guy. In fact he's the guy I'm referring to above. I know he's got a new movie coming up. I think I only saw one of his movies (Forces Of Nature with Sandra Bullock back in the 90s). Wait, he was there on Pearl Harbor right? Well, I must have almost not noticed him since the story pretty much revolved more on Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett.



Gerald Anderson.
Especially the hunky Gerald Anderson of 2009 onwards. I hated the way he talks (the deep voice with the overly-emphasized Filipino accent) and the way he acted whenever he has a scene with Kim Chiu (I watched Tayong Dalawa). His makuha ka sa tingin look with Kim Chiu always make me wanna puke and change channels (I watch the TV with mom and sisters). And I didn't get why he had to show off his abs on his Centura Tuna Meat Loaf commercial?

Tom Cruise.
I know the guy is really strikingly gwapo but it doesn't mean it will outright give him the advantage that people will like him automatically.
To me, he's like the male version of Sharon Cuneta - typical artista who is plastic and just puts up a show on public.
Try catching his Oprah episode wherein the host visited him and Katie on their home. He made his wife look like an alalay! Such a pig.

Tim Duncan.
Last but not the least, this guy is the main reason why I hate the San Antonio Spurs. Gregg Popovich is a Communist guy (only stupid people will take this comment seriously) disguised as a basketball team coach and Tim Duncan is his sleepy head player with the most uninspiring personality amongst NBA Superstars.Because of his boringness, he has sucked life out of his teammates, especially Tony Parker who would have been charismatic enough to have won legions and legions of fans.

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It's either you 

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FOREWORD: If you would consider this as an act of rebellion then yeah, feel free to consider this as such. But I will be smart enough not to name names in this post. Should you feel guilty and felt like you could relate to the post I will be creating here, consider yourself hit. I guess I'm talking about crocodiles like you.


Darwinian theory suggests that only the strongest of the strong will survive and that the weak will find themselves at the losing end of the (social) strata. The corporate world indoctrinates its faithful followers that the corporate world is a dog-eat-dog world - only the best, the most ruthless, and the most competitive will survive. Whatever it takes to get to the top (whether to sleep with every single boss, or be "friends" with every single one of the execs, or power trip everyone around you), you will do it and none else will and can stop you from accomplishing your goal.

Money will always be the perpetual end of all causes, however, logic and common sense will help you judge that the drive and will to get to the top should and can't be without a justifiable backing, be it sensible pre-promotion experience, quality communication skills, innate and solid leadership qualities and the mostest of them all, brains. No variable will be far more important than having a solid and working brain. All brains and no guts make a coward and incompetent employee. All brains and all guts employees make a kick-ass future company executive. No brains and all (effing) guts makes one big beeyotch who thinks he/she could rule the company through sweet-mouthing everyone with senseless hi's and hello's.

Honestly, smiles and words will never be enough to put you on the zenith of all them zeniths. Power play is reserved for the great. Unfortunately, you are not cut for it.

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GSP Hits Manila at The SM Mall Of Asia

"Oh my god, I don't know what I'm getting myself into", was the one thing Georges St Pierre or GSP said when he set foot in front of thousands of screaming fans at the SM Mall of Asia here in Manila yesterday afternoon.

The event was supposed to have started at 2pm but for some reason, it got delayed, and delayed, and delayed. Until it was almost 4pm before the show actually started. But it's ok, the reason why I came is because I wanted to see GSP. And that's the one thing that's important yesterday.


To give you a rundown on what happened yesterday, read this:

1. Boom Gonzalez was boring as usual. He just bores me to death. Maybe because a huge chunk of that hate is that, I wanted his job! Haha! But I liked Jinno Rufino more on HardBall.
2. There was a fashion show courtesy of one of the sponsors. I thought it was the lamest part of the afternoon.
3. Cristine Reyes was there! She was there! And she looked like a normal person, which was great!
4. Paolo Santos was also there. It was alright. Iya Villania was there and she looked great in person.
5. I was told that Dennis Trillo was seated a few chairs away from me. Didn't even notice him. And I don't care.
6. The celery sticks were great. Thanks to my VIP pass and I got free food. Courtesy of one of the sponsors as well.
7. I loved GSP. I hope what he said would come true, that a UFC fight will happen in the country soon! Woohooo!

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Dad (L) and KevJumba (R)

I couldn't be more excited about the coming The Amazing Race Season 17. You know why? Because KevJumba and dad are gonna be a part of it!

I think for the first time, I got really excited when TAR has first introduced its participants. I usually just wait for the actual season premiere and get to know the participants from there. I just happen to be a subscriber of KevJumba, one of the most popular YouTube celebrities, and the news (it was released a few weeks ago) just made me really excited for the coming season 17.

For the non-fans, you might be asking, who the heck is KevJumba? He is a YouTube celeb that posts funny videos of himself speaking just about anything and everything. He also shows his closeness with his dad, how different they were. KevJumba being a second-generation Asian American and his dad being the actual immigrant.

All fans alike will agree that we all fell in love with KevJumba's dad. Why? Because he represents all first-generation Asian-American parents who, despite the changed citizenship, is still very much the same person from the country they belonged to.

I will not be surprised if this will be the most-watched season! And if their team will place highly in the competition?! Expect KevJumba to go mainstream. Take that! Haha!

Meanwhile, check their video here.

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The first time I saw Snooki from the reality show "Jersey Shore", the Italian-Chilean-American's fake tan was the first thing I noticed. "That was pretty darn thick" I thought to myself.

She was petite, kinda cute actually. But I haven't really seen her on TV (except for her Ellen interview a few days ago) that would have had me say that this is one dignified woman.

As far as my memory can serve me right, here are a few of the bleak instances that I've seen her on the boobtube:

* Involving her and a friend fighting inside a car

* Involving her drunk and wasted and the rest of the cast somewhere captured by the camera

* Involving her and her recent debacle with the court judge, comparing her to Lindsay Lohan

* TV people talking about her fake tan

We can also blame reality TV on how she was portrayed. Why? Because the TV execs would only want to capture their reality stars on their most dramatic moments (think Kardashians). TV execs wouldn't want to have their reality stars just alone and reading their books right? They want action, they want drama, they want conroversy. All for the sake of ka-chingggg and ratings.

Meanwhile, Snooki can do so much better than how media has portrayed her to be. She's given her stern warning already (the court incident). It takes a smart person to learn from that.

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It will be my first time here to feature magazine covers, so this will be pretty exciting!

 This is one sexy picture that I wouldn't be uncomfortable staring right into even while my sisters accidentally walk right past me and see what I'm actually looking at. Brooklyn didn't look trashy at all. Her balding husband does.


It's been a year since acclaimed local film critic Alexis Tioseco was brutally murdered from his West Triangle home in Quezon City with his girlfriend. I honestly think he's a schoolmate though. When I first saw him on a local news channel talking about the local indie film scene, I was like "woah, i know that guy". He had an amazing sense on how the Filipino movie industry is and for sure, everyone would have become wiser after listening to his thoughts about the film industry. I hope justice will be served soon.




I have a confession to make: I was once offered to write for this magazine. But I thought that would be the biggest irony of them all. Cos of all the magazines I could be offered to write, why Men's Health when I'm obviously not fit? But anyways, they made a man out of Enchong Dee here.


One quick tip though: Men's Health is not really a guy magazine. Haha!

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Although the Muslim world celebrated this holiday yesterday, the Philippines, having a significant number of Muslims down south, is paying respect to our Muslim brothers and sisters by declaring today (September 10, 2010) a holiday.

What have I done this day so far?

1. Clean my bathroom once and for all. It's been 2 weeks since I thoroughly cleaned it.

2. Drink C-Lium Fiber for the first time. I haven't pooed in hours though, to think it's been around 8 hours since I've tried the high-fiber drink.

3. Continue reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. I haven't consistently read the book though. It would have been a lot more fun if I could at least reach halfway mark by now.


4. Cook Chicken Wings for lunch.

5. Eat my mom's Paella she cooked for dinner (although it wasn't dinner yet).

6. Read the New Testament. Seriously. I have this weekday Sunday School at church on Fridays. It is volunteer work (somebody volunteered for me) and it was my way of paying back to God the blessings he's given me.

7. Watch Napoleon Dynamite and laugh at Jon Heder.