Young Professional Fellowship

After office I went to join Young Professional Fellowship in our church (United Evangelical Church of the Philippines). This was my first time attending and was nicely entertained by my friends from High School =)

I arrived at around 7:20 PM, dinner was served there. I've met some new friends and started filling up the bio data form =P. Today's topic was to live a debt free lifestyle by Dr. Andrew Liuson. Some thing which i'd like to share:

Cut Credit Cards. Yes I know most of you would tell me that you use credit cards but pay them on time, however it gives us a false sense of power. The other day I went shopping for a book and I used cash despite an advise from my friend to use my credit card. What a difference, after that I was unwilling to spend money to buy anything else since I knew i'll be over my budget. If I had used my Credit Card I'll probably continue spending =P

After that... what else... I went home... =P Have a nice day !

Keeping in touch

"I'll miss them" was the first thing that came into my mind this morning, that was upon knowing that some of my friends were leaving the country for "greener pastures" =P (they told me today... and they are leaving today =( ....speechless !!). "Its probably for the better" they say....true =)

I'd like to say kudos to all of you.. for being able to go out there and try your luck in a foreign country. I wish you all success... and hope to see you guys again.. someday soon. (i mean if we/you visit..... =P)

Thinking about it for a while, it shouldn't be much of a problem to keep in touch. Here are some ways I'd think of:

Email, Letters can be sent in an instant through email...FREE OF CHARGE and if that's not enough we have the dependable chat clients,Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk... you name it... i probably got it =P although sometimes you receive a message a day delayed =P (at least you still received the message =P ) and theres even VOIP (VOIP stands for Voice over internet protocol, it allows computer users to make telephone calls using a computer network ) =P

then again... nothing compares to meet friends personally... face to face =)

International Coastal Cleanup

Today, i've joined another volunteer service =) for a good cause =P. International Coastal Cleaup Day, (aww you missed it =P) is celebrated every third saturday of September in an effort to keep our beaches, lakes .... and so on =) clean! "This is an international event celebrated all over the world" as reiterated by the organizers =P Before the actual eventI thought I was gonna jump across the ledge into Manila Bay's shore.. guess i was wrong...

Upon arriving at the site, I immediately went to the shore and figured it was not gonna happen =(. Anyways, at least it was not raining anymore and it was not blazingly hot either. The event proper started at around 9 AM, with our free t-shirts on (yahooo free t-shirt) we started picking up the trash along Manila Bay.

Boy were the organizers right about the activity being an international event, schools and other organizations flooded the whole Manila bay (and where are we supposed to start picking up trash??? THEY'VE ALL BEEN PICKED UP!?!?... ok guess i'm just exaggerating.. there are still some trash here and there =P)

It probably took us around an hour to finish cleaning up, I was able to pick up a lot of cigarette butts, candy wrappers, barbecue sticks, "tansans", and a shoe ! Well i guess to prevent this from the future is to stop people from smoking there?... that would probably be a solution that'll solve two problems in one go... Less trash... and less smoke =P

The activity was successful in a way(yes we did reduce trash in Manila Bay... i hope :D), but i think there were a lot of things we could improve on next time around. (or so i think =P)

1. We have to bring in some nets, I think it's more important to scoop those trash down there...
2. Somebody organize a event for all to take part in??... there were a lot of other organizations around there and maybe if everybody talked first... we could split the area so we won't be cleaning and looking for trash in the same places...
3. ....... don't have anything to say anymore... can somebody help me fill a list of reasons here? (Achi? Sef? Grace? Glenda?) AHA!!! we encountered a Severity 1 problem FOOD WAS LATE !!!

So what's next after a hard morning's work? rest of course !! I went straight to (with Achi, Grace, and Glenda... although they went back to the office... did they??? =P)Makati, Greenbelt to catch a movie, "Cinderella man" great movie.. you should go watch it. After that I went on to greenhills, just in time for an appointment with my dermatologist =P whew !

Signature campaign: Haribon

Today i'm doing something for a good cause... save the Natural forests and mines in the Philippines =P by joining a signature campaign to stop illegal logging. Btw, the event is hosted by Haribon Foundation, it is a organization dedicated to conservation of the Philippine biodiversity. To know more about them visit their site (link on the title of this article =) )

As I was travelling home, I got my signature sheet, blank (each sheet should have 30 signatures), and started offering every person i've met on the road to sign it (of course i started looking for people I frequently met =P)... surprisingly no one turned me down... it must be real easy when you are doing something nice. of course there are still some people who would raise their eyebrows upon seeing a signature sheet... =P you'll just have to let them know you are not making some hocus pocus "thing" with that signature sheet =P

From this experience i've learned some things... some things which you probably would not learn any other way... and here they are:
1.) Sometimes it's easier to sell something to a stranger. why? because they wont ask too many questions, they'll just pick up a pen and sign on it =P
2.) Getting some peoples signature is probably a nice way to practice your sales skills. The paper somewhat acts as your product and the signature is the payment you get when you are able to successfully sell your product.
3.) It's nice talking to some new people ! maybe you already know this but i think i'm just beginning to like it =P. Beware though... sometimes some people just won't return a nice greeting.

Well that's probably about it... btw i've managed to collect 18 signatures 12 left for tomorrow =P also distributed some sheets to my sister... its easier to collect signatures in schools =P i think !

Crossing the river IQ game =)

Another flash game.. well this one will keep you busy guessing for the right combination (I hope =P) As a summary a family is lost in the woods, they met a policeman with a robber (striped shirt). Along their their journey they come across a river, which they need to pass through and the rules are as follow (mechanics =P)(i'm sure some of you have already heard this by mouth iq game... but it probably looks cute here so try it =P)

Mechanics:
1. There is a total of 8 persons who should cross the river. They are composed of the following
a. Father
b. Sons X 2
c. Mother
d. Daughter X 2
e. Policeman & Robber
2. Only the Father, Mother, and Police can drive the raft
3. The Sons cannot be left with the mother without their father, because the Mother will punish the Sons (dunno why though)
4. The daughters cannot be left with the father without their mother, because the Father will punish the Daughters
5. The Robber cannot be left to any member of the family because he'll escape (dunno why the police won't put the handcuffs on this guy though =P)
6. Only two persons are to ride the raft or it would sink
7. Good Luck!!! and God Bless !!

It took me around 30 minutes to solve this problem =( (a tad slow i think), anyways as a tip, don't be afraid to go around the raft as many times as you can.. theres no limit =P... If you still can't figure something out... ill give you some hints if you want... just post em below. Good day !

A new site under spaces.msn.com

Today I've actually finished moving my posts to spaces.msn.com... but i'm not gonna let go of my blogger account just yet.. The new site only contains links to this site and you'll still be reading whole posts here =)

The msn site has a lot of other features... it seems like an sts site. You could post pictures, list of books list of blogs and some other neat stuff =) But i'm probably not yet ready to leave my blogger site... i've already liked this site and i'm all familiar with it =)

Today is probably rest day, I went to church the whole morning.. went home got some sleep.. went out to eat .. rest for another few hours at home again... in other words i rested the today.

Wedding crashers.. all by myself..

Don't get me wrong, I do not crash weddings... even if I was with someone... (well maybe i'll reconsider if there's someone with me =P jks). Today I've went to watch wedding crashers in the theaters... starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. My theme song.. all by myself =( coz again... ill be watching a movie by myself =(

Anyways I still enjoyed the day, I woke up @ around 10 AM and took a bath. Went to rest and eat some food before I went out to the mall. I brought with me two cans of spuds potato chips which i've bought at a bargain price of 15 PHP per can =P I arrived there a few minutes... actually a few hours before the film starts... so I went walking around the mall.

I bought myself a footlong sandwich.. plus an iced tea... with my two cans of spuds.. I looked as if i'm going on a picnic inside the theater =P. I sat down at the fourth row.. sat back and relaxed. I started on the footlong sandwich, even before the film actually started i've already finished my sandwich and started on my spuds potato chips =P

The film was great and real funny (of course a lot of people suggested this movie). I'm not gonna tell you anything about the movie though... please go and watch it yourself =) I might spoil everything ... if i'd say something =). I went back home after the movie (after some more window shopping of course)

Team building Rockwell

It was postponed till today... it was originally scheduled wednesday last week, wall climbing somewhere in forgot the place... hehehe. but due to the rainy season... it was raining like mad... so it never push through... (we might slip you know... =P)

So it was originally postponed till wednesday this week... but still it never went through... there are currently two storms in Manila so you probably could imagine how strong were the winds and rains =). Till today, we have decided to scrap the wall climbing thing if it still kept on raining and go play bowling in Rockwell instead on friday=)

After office, we rode a cab to rockwell (others went on a car =P). after a few minutes of travel we arrived at rockwell and went directly straight to the bowling venue... (forgot the name... i think i'm gettin old forgetting everyone's names =P). That was when we discovered the lanes were occupied till 9PM... a tournament was on going.. so we went to have a sumptuous dinner at Shakey's first. We had some mojo potatoes... two pieces of pizza... a chicken... some spaghetti and salad (oops almost forgot ... a ... small cake... again.. forgot what it's called..=P)

At around 8:30PM we got two lanes, divided into two groups and started playing. I really don't know how to play bowling... in fact this is the second time i'm playing... and i've got to tell you... I scored the least.. in all three games... way way below the next lowest score =(.. i managed to pull one strike though =P at least =P

2nd Year anniversary working =)

I have not written anything for the past few weeks and i'm getting a little bit guilty =P (cause it says something i did today and yet I have not post anything... ,i've just said that did I =P). Anyways today is my second year anniversary working =) congratulations to my self !

Today, I would like to greet all fc8/11 group (2003) a happy second year anniversary working... fc8/11 by the way means Feeling Close August 11, it was a group name we created when we all first met in the orientation day, we created a mailing list... and we gather together sometimes... =).

I would say after working for 24 months... that it has been a pleasure working... while working I have met a lot of nice, great people... I have learned a lot of things... and..... i don't know other things to say =) (mimicking tv soap operas .... words just can't express blah blah ... hehe maybe it's true though.. cause i can't say anything =P)

And so what happens after these 24 months?.... my bond is finished... some say it's independence day... (yeah that is true... to some extent... i've never really felt tied... maybe i was enjoying what i was doing =))I guess i'll stay ... and continue to work on... and enjoy my work.

The Crimson Room

Today my friend Tina, has introduced me to this flash game she recently played online. It's not really some big mmorpg and yet it's real addictive (frustrating at times) and very time consuming... (if you don't know the answer that is!)

This game was created by Toshimitsu Takagi (and believe me I don't know who he is.... but since you read his name here... better start your research and tell me =P i'm a little bit lazy right now). You are trapped in this square room and your goal is to get out using objects/items which can be found laying all over the place. (don't understand why he can't just whack the door know off.... you basically do the same thing at the end of the game =P hey that's a tip... remember that =P)

It took me a few minutes..... actually hours playing this game. I even needed a little help from mr. google =P. As a tip, the game runs on how you click on the flash page... try to click on those corners, sides, different colored walls/floors. Try to move things repeatedly.... ok that's probably it... and if you can't get through the game.. simply post a question in the comments section and i'll be willing to divulge some information =P

P.S. You may also find a lot of guides online.... but I thought itll be nice to have some interaction in this page =P Have a nice day !

A day at "The Spa"

What a wonderful day. As the day progress my anticipation... the excitement... the curiosity... (a little bit afraid i may add.... actually really afraid :P). Have performed my homework too, i've asked my ever wonderful Big Sis =P, my friends... my parents... oops ! forgot to tell you i'm going to go to a spa today for a body massage :). This is the first time ever i'll be visiting one... and the reason why i've decided to try a massage is because I received a gift certificate a few months back.... which expires.... Today :P

Got there around 4 pm and got a schedule for 5 pm, the place was nice, really neat girls and boys are seperated into two different sections :). The first room is the locker room, people get dressed... actually undress here, an attendant is available to guide/help you all the way... (thanks to that guy... was always lost inside there :P)After undressing you are asked to take a shower, after which you may go in for a 15 minutes steam bath.. since this was my first time.. i might just as well go try everything there is.

And so i went in for the steam bath, the place was cloudy.. very cloudy, I actually thought I would go coughing inside.. but actually the menthol fragrace was really relaxing, as i went in the warmness enveloped me, sitting in one corner, naked (except for a towel) i closed my eyes, mimicking the other guy inside this smoky chamber :P sweat started to run out of my skin... without even doing anything... fast. After a few minutes, i stepped out of the room all sweaty, yet it felt nice :)

I was escorted to a waiting room, i sat on a nice sofa and poured myself some ginger tea waiting to be called. Before i forget (I know i already did :P) I'm already wearing a short plus a robe. After finishing my tea, I was escorted to the massage room, the room was dim and a relaxing music played in the background... and so it happened... the massage i mean :P

After an hour, i've moved back to the locker room, took a bath, got in my shirt, and dried my hair and away I went to the mall, relaxed :)

It was almost 7 PM and boy was I hungry. I had a nice dinner (alone :( ) in "Cafe Breton" located at Greenbelt 3, my friend, Tina suggested this place a few weeks.. months back and wasn't able to visit it till now. After dinner, I went shopping for a few more items (it was midnight madness sale anyways :P) before fetching my sister on my way home.

P.S. I did all this and cashed out a total of 170 PHP only. (I used GC's mostly :P Gift certificates)

Play SuDoKu

If there is one thing which kept me busy on my vacation then that would be SuDoKu, i've found puzzle in the newpaper sent everyday. It's such an entertaining, challenging game and yet you need not know any math tricks.. just pure logic and reasoning.

The game is real addictive, it probably consumed all my time trying to get my hair wet... you are presented with a square made up of 9 squares wherin each square is again made up of 9 squares. Some of the squares has number in it, and the goal is to fill up all squares such that every row, every column, and every 3x3 block contains the digits from 1 to 9

Try it, each puzzle should take from 10 to 30 minutes to solve.... (although i really think the first time i tried to solve it .... it took me more time :P) You could also look at the tips in http://www.sudoku.com/

Hong Kong Vacation Day 5

It was time to go home, after lunch and checking out of our room we had a final shopping spree ! buy food !!!! We bought some Porkchop rice from delicious kitchen, a few Orange juices (Mr. Juicy) and some "Taho" (delicious :P)

In the airport we checked in our luggages as usual, however this time our luggages were over weight (they ate too much during the trip :P). This is where you'll see how big Hong Kong International Airport is... I mean of the 20+ (i think maybe more) aisle you could check in your luggage... the Airport in the Philipines probably had only one Aisle. There were about a hundred boarding gates and if you happen to be boarding on the 100th ++ boarding gate you even have to take the train below the airport just to get there on time. (wow)

And so that probably sums up my five day trip to Hong Kong. Give me comments and suggestions I probably have left out something... so please do remind me :P

P.S. I received a nice text message from my friend Julie on HK airport.... Holiday on Monday. That means I even get to rest for 3 more days :P

Hong Kong Vacation Day 4

So it was officially the last day of shopping, I woke up around 10 AM and again went to mcdonalds for breakfast (I really like their breakfast here, dunno why :P) bought some DVD's (donald duck, CSI :P)

In the afternoon, I went to Sham Shui Po's Golden Arcade this place is full of computer related stuff, motherboards, processors, Optical Media Drives. I spent a few hours here before deciding to buy a Lite-On DVD Burner (1693s) for only 2,800 Philippine Pesos. That is soooo cheap compared to the prices here, an older model would cost me around 4000 Philippine Pesos. Bought a few chinese games too, one which my mom raises an eye when she sees me playing (a mahjong game, really want to learn this game :P)

And so we continued shopping till the sun went down, bought all those "pasalubong" and things. (not really something big... just some candies). I also bought 4 Giordano plain t-shirts, it is again cheaper (4 shirts for 700 Philippine pesos, while it costs 1000 Philippine pesos here for just 3 shirts)

We had a midnight dessert from "许留山", also packed up for getting ready for tomorrow's departure :P

Hong Kong Vacation Day 3

And so I woke up early today, went to McDonalds for my breakfast. I had an egg mcmuffin sandwich plus iced milk tea. (delicious!, also bought one of those cute Hello Kitty plushies... dunno what to do with them though :P)

If there is one thing I should learn whenever i visit Hong Kong is their time, I mean almost all shops open around 11:00 AM !! and going out 9:00 AM in the morning is somewhat early :P (Although I get to do window shopping, is good for the pocket :P)

I've went to see some DVD's today, in HMV. Looked at some PC parts, some geeky stuff... digicams. I am really planning to change my old reliable 6210 phone for the new Sony Ericsson K750i, but ill probably wait for the price to go down a little. Am also planning to buy Canon EOS 350D... want to learn photography :P, it's kinda cheaper here compared to the Philippines... however i'm thinking of the warranty so i'll probably buy one in the Philippines.

Have also visited Toys R Us, if you are looking for children's toys this is the place to go. I believe even some for those young at heart :P

Discovered a nice game today, "SuDoKu" i'll probably write another blog on this some other time. :)