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Relocation

2010-10-21T09:02:00.001+08:00

I will no longer be updating this blog, but I'll keep it online for now. This is my new blog: Melvel's Closet. Hope you come visit me there!

Ciao!

Yahoo!

2010-01-05T05:45:00.000+08:00

I am so there! Now I have to figure out how to get tickets.

Awesome Kerastase Giveaway!

2010-01-03T22:25:00.004+08:00

Kerastase hair products are a luxury for me. I love them, but they're (somewhat) expensive.

Fortunately, Hair in Manila is giving away this to-die-for set of Kerastase miniatures to one lucky reader:

Awesome,no? Click on this link for more details on how to join.

*crosses fingers*

My Grown Up Christmas List

2009-12-24T19:16:00.005+08:00

So it's already Christmas from my side of the world, and this list is waaaay late but...better late than never, right?

Dear Santa, please reward me with any one (or two or three) of these items before the year ends. I've been good this year, promise!

1. The Beatles RockBand game for Wii (around P15,000.00?)- I've been not-so-subtly hinting that I want this ever since the game was released. But if no one took the hint, I'm willing to accept the next one as substitute.

2. The Beatles Remastered CD and DVD set (P13,000.00)- I know this is expensive even for a gastadora like me, but please God, Santa, whoever, make it happen!

3. Tempur-Pedic Neck Pillow (P4,000.00?) - This is not a luxury, it's a necessity!

4. Lampe Berger Starter Kit (in Eucalyptus) - Again, not a luxury, but a necessity.

5. Brow Haus Gift Voucher for 10 eyebrow threading sessions (P3,800) - I normally would scoff at the prices for their services, but after two visits to this salon I have to say the prices are justified.

6. Tony and Jackey or Piandre Gift Voucher - My hair needs a rebond. And my wallet needs a break.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I watched, I squeed, I flailed

2009-11-22T19:15:00.000+08:00

Yes, I've seen New Moon. I wish I could offer a sensible review, but how could I, when I was bombarded with images of this:

The whole movie is practically two-hour montage of Taylor Lautner's transformation from lanky shark boy to werewolf hottie. Not that I'm complaining. It certainly distracted me from cringing at how cheesy the lines were ("It not you, it's me"....Really? this dialogue in a Hollywood movie?) and how Bella is setting back the women's movement several decades with her incessant moping and pining and "my life can't go on without you" schtick. It's getting tiring. Forget Bella boys, you'd do so much better hooking up with each other!

On a positive note, director Paul Weitz did much better on the technical elements than Catherine Hardwicke. The CGI looks a little more expensive now, and the Cullens no longer look like espasols. They even got Alexandre Desplat to compose the musical score.

Bottom line: The movie is ok, and to be honest I'm really just watching for the eye candy. So if you have the same motivations as me, then go go go see it now. But otherwise, save your money for the (pirated) DVD. Screaming fangirls can be dangerous to your health.

Please Excuse My Fangirl Indulgence

2009-11-08T19:14:00.004+08:00

Why are U.S. magazines so ridiculously expensive? It makes shallow obsessing over celebs so tough on my finances.

So this month alone, I just HAD TO buy this (it's Glee! I couldn't resist!):

And this (holy hotness Batman! And I don't care if bats for the other team):

Then I forgot it's already November, which means this:

and this:

And most likely this: People's Sexiest Man Alive 2009

Damn, G**** we need to save up! Hehe.

Live Like We're Dying...

2009-09-22T06:16:00.000+08:00

...is the title of Kris Allen's new single (not the title of an inspirational blog entry). I am so invested in this guy's career I feel like his mother.

Click on the YouTube video to listen to the new single. Sorry for the quality, it's a crude recording from the radio. The single will be officially released this weekend pa.

I'm trying to listen to it as objectively as possible...and I really really like it (No joke!). Reminds me of Maroon 5, Jamiroquai and Jason Mraz. The song is actually a cover (sort of), it was recorded by the Brit indie band The Script as a demo, but never made it to any of The Script's albums. So the band pitched it to record companies for other artists to record...and it landed on Kris' lap.

Now I just have to wait for Adam's new single :)

Five Reasons Why I Love Glee (And Why You Should Give It A Try!)

2009-09-14T09:38:00.005+08:00

1. It’s like High School Musical…on crack! The similarities are aplenty. A jock who sings well? Check. Social outcasts with hidden musical talents? Check. Inevitable jock-nerd (sort of) romantic connection? Check. If HSM is rated G, I’d say Glee is rated PG-15. Not because there’s sex and violence (at least not yet, or I hope none ever!), but because there’s actually some gay characters (does the term gay…and I don’t mean gay as in happy….exist in Disney la-la land?). And illegal drugs. I love it.

2. Show tunes galore! Even the non-Broadway musical tunes are sung in a musical style…I like. And now I’ve got Amy Winehouse’s Rehab and Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing playing over and over in my head…blame it on those round-the-clock promo spots on ETC.

3. I’m not familiar with a single person in the cast. OK, that’s an exaggeration, I actually know who Jessalyn Gilsig is (only because I’ve seen her on other TV shows, and I’m such a tv/movie nerd). The rest are unknowns, or were plucked from Broadway. Which means they ARE all uber-talented, and not just there because of star power.

4. For some inexplicable reason, Glee reminds me of Election, that Matthew Broderick-Reese Witherspoon-Chris Klein indie that no one in my circle of friends has ever seen (digression: go see that movie now!) The lead female in Glee is totally Tracy Flick (Reese’s character) and the lead male reminds me of Paul Meltzer (Chris Klein’s character).

5. Listen to the musical score. It’s even more amazing than the show tunes. They took semi-popular scores from films, and had them sung by a choir a capella. Clever.

I would normally follow that list with raving recommendation, but…I actually don’t think Glee is for everyone. It’s too campy, too Broadway-ish, too corny at times. But as a girl who’s seen High School Musical an unhealthy number of times (not proud of that), whose favorite TV show is American Idol (not proud of that either), and who has several Broadway cast recordings on her iPod…Glee is totally my TV dream come true. Thank you, Ryan Murphy.

[And on a final note, can I just say that ETC and JackTV are the Best. Channels. Ever. Not only can I watch Glee only a few days after it’s US showing (on both channels!), but JackTV is also airing Jay Leno’s new show (live!) and ETC will air Gossip Girl Season 3 (also only a few days after the US airing!) And then there’s TMZ pa!]

The Best Things in Life are (Duty) Free

2009-08-27T00:48:00.006+08:00

This is just too good of a deal for me not to share with my shopaholic friends.

Duty Free Philippines has an ongoing promo : If you pay for your purchases in Philippine Pesos, the US dollar conversion rate is only 43 pesos to a dollar (compared to the current conversion rate of 48+ pesos to a dollar). That doesn't sound like much, so here's some mathematical proof to convince you all, using my purchases as examples (sorry no actual pics, I tried, but my iPhone camera skills are blah at best):

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream
Rustan's price: P2,950.00
Duty Free price: $51.00 or about P2,200.00

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Rustan's price: P2,450.00
Duty Free price: $42.00 or about P1,800.00

The promo is especially worth if you want to stock up on imported skincare and makeup products. Perfumes are also relatively cheaper (I got a couple of bottles, each costing approximately P1,500.00 less than the price in local retailers). I have no idea if the chocolates and sweets would run cheaper too, but it's also worth a try.

If you want to take advantage, go directly to Duty Free, do not pass Go, do not collect $200...you get the drift. Promo runs until August 31 only. You'll thank me for this, promise. :)

The Picture Says It All

2009-07-06T07:08:00.002+08:00

*Pic borrowed from Tennis.com

Poetic Justice (well, sort of)

2009-06-07T23:43:00.002+08:00

A few months ago, I said this:

I think fate is just delaying Roger’s fourteenth Grand Slam title so that he’ll win #14 in Roland Garros and beat Nadal on clay in the process. That would be poetic justice. I can only hope.

Well, I was close. Roger just won #14 at Roland Garros, beating Robin Soderling (the guy who beat Rafael Nadal, so pwede na) in the final. I am so deliriously happy that I couldn't care less if Roger never wins another match after this. But I'm also greedy so....here's hoping that #15 will be at Wimbledon, this July.

Well, I've had quite a month as far as rooting for favorites is concerned. First, Kris Allen wins Idol, and now Roger wins the French Open? Sweet.

Today's the Day!

2009-05-20T00:31:00.004+08:00

May the best man win!

I love them both, I can't pick a winner, but if I had to vote for only one and just one...I'd go for Kris.

Now I have to figure out how to stealthily watch the finale on live streaming while pretending to be reading emails at 8 in the morning. Heh.

World Domination

2009-05-05T22:42:00.006+08:00

This is made of win:

That’s Manny Pacquiao featured in Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. The magazine was released prior to Manny’s triumph last weekend. I guess Time’s editors are really confident in Manny’s abilities...or they’re just remarkably prescient.

Manny is the first Filipino to be named to this list and he’s one of only three athletes featured this year (the other two are Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal). Even more impressive is this:

Manny gets a full page, while Oprah and Sarah Palin are squeezed on the opposite page. Bongga!

[On a side note, why does an issue of Time magazine cost 120 pesos already?!? Wasn’t this just around 50 pesos a few years ago?]

Zac Attack!

2009-04-20T08:13:00.000+08:00

I know I can never justify why I watched 17 Again on the first day of showing, so I'll just let these pictures do the talking:

Yep, that's reason enough for me.

Truth be told, 17 Again ain't that bad. It's a mishmash of 13 Going on 30 (in reverse) and Click (replace BBB salesperson with a janitor), with a little Back to the Future thrown in. Despite my obsession with (ahem) how Zac Efron looks, he IS a good and charismatic actor, and this film proves it.

Of course, this film is pure popcorn entertainment, so it does have its share of WTF?!? moments. I could have done without the best friend-principal subplot, for one. And does every film featuring Zac Efron have to involve basketball, dancing and the line "we're in this together"? Still, just because it exceeded my expectations, I'm giving 17 Again three stars.

30 Going on...17?

2009-04-10T20:37:00.006+08:00

First off, I’d like to thank all my RL and online friends for all the warm greetings.

I turned a year older today but I don’t feel a DAY older. Physically, I’m aging, but mentally and emotionally, I think I’m regressing! How else can I explain my obsession with Twilight and Robert Pattinson, my affinity for all things pink and girly, and my not-so-secret fascination with Miley and Zanessa?

The past year has been fufilling in more ways than one, and my only wish on this day is the that next years will be just as fulfiling.

(Oops...that's not my only wish pala. I also want this. And this. I can dream, can't I?)

Twit, twit, twit!

2009-03-23T21:44:00.004+08:00

When I resumed blogging a few months ago, I promised to update my blog more often. Obviously, I didn’t even come close to keeping that promise, so now I have to make amends. I resolve to post at least one entry a week, even if it means that I have to blog about totally useless, random stuff, such as this:

Yep, I’ve caved in and registered with Twitter (username: melvel). It’s the simplest networking site out there, all you need to do is register (which took me less than a minute), post a status update whenever you want to, and “follow” your friends. It’s a no-frills way of knowing what your friends have been up to, without having to wade through all the quizzes and virtual gifts and changes in profile pictures and whatnot (I love Facebook, but seeing a million and one updates a day can get tiring after awhile).

Another plus? You can follow the status of your celebrities by just following their Twitter page. No approvals necessary!

I sound like an infomercial. But you get the drift.

Déja Vu

2009-02-01T21:53:00.004+08:00

Another Grand Slam tournament, another five-set nailbiter, another disappointment.

I promised myself I wouldn’t cry again if he loses, but then Roger himself bursts into tears and then bam! I cried. It’s pathetic.

I can’t help it. He’s my favorite athlete of all time! One of my lifelong dreams is too see him play tennis live and in the flesh! I’ve followed his career from the beginning, even back when he was losing in the first round of Grand Slam tournaments! Seeing him dominate the rest of the field all these years didn’t prepare me for the time when somebody would dominate him. It just happened so fast.

So just like last year, I’ll be avoiding all forms of media for the entire week because I just cannot bear to watch/read about how great Rafael Nadal is, or how it’s officially the end of the Roger Federer era. I refuse to believe it. I think fate is just delaying Roger’s fourteenth Grand Slam title so that he’ll win #14 in Roland Garros and beat Nadal on clay in the process. That would be poetic justice. I can only hope.

Still, it hurts.

Beginnings and Endings

2009-01-14T12:10:00.003+08:00

A show that I was once obsessed with has finally, officially been cancelled: Prison Break Final Season Announced.

Looking at the bright side, at least now I’ll get to see Wentworth Miler in other projects, wearing something other than prison blues. Another TV gig is what I prefer. He’d be perfect for one of those detective/crime dramas where not much acting is required. (Not as a corpse, but as a detective ala Nick Stokes on CSI).

And American Idol Season 8 is finally here! With a new female judge, isn’t Paula Abdul now even more superfluous? (Speaking of AI, wasn’t there supposed to be a David Cook concert in the Philippines this January? Whatever happened to that?)

Shopping at BenefitCosmetics.com

2009-01-09T19:06:00.001+08:00

I don't normally exhibit my online purchases here (it only reminds me that I am such a profligate spender!), but I'll make an exception in this case because I was impressed with the packaging and the relatively quick delivery time of this item from Benefit Cosmetics.

Inside the box:

Everything wrapped in cute tissue paper, with the Benefit "mascot" sticker. Love it!

That cute brown polka dotted kit is what I actually ordered. See how big the box in comparison to the item I purchased? They stuffed the box with air-filled balloon thingies to make sure nothing gets squashed. And they gave me a catalogue and two samples of their products as freebies:

What I actually ordered, the Realness of Concealness Kit:

Even their catalogue is adorable. Now I want to purchase some more!

I got this package in a record time of less than two weeks, and I didn't even have to pick it up from the post office. It was delivered straight to my shipping address. Benefit uses DHL Global Mail for its shipping needs, but the company doesn't charge an exorbitant amount for shipping -- only $4.99 for one item, plus $2.49 for each additional item. Shipping is free for orders over $115. So if you want to get ahold of Benetint (Benefit's much-raved about liquid blush) just order straight from the website. Pool orders with friends to negate the shipping costs.

Now if only Sephora would follow suit. :)

Luxury on a budget: Microtel Inn & Suites Mactan, Cebu

2009-01-06T22:23:00.003+08:00

A friend and I attended a wedding in Cebu over the Christmas holidays, so we took advantage of the short trip to check out the newest hotel on the edge of Mactan Island: Microtel Inn & Suites Mactan.

Microtel in Mactan just started operations this year and is located in the same street (and along the same coast) as the Shangri-La, Hilton and Abaca Resorts. We really wanted to stay in Shangri-la as a Christmas treat, but P15,000.00 for a double-occupancy room is a splurge that I am not yet prepared to spend on. So we settled for the P4,000.00 a night room in Microtel. We didn’t get five-star amenities ala Shangri-la, but Microtel ain’t bad at all. Check it out:

PROS:
-Relatively cheap compared to other hotels in the area
-Nice beachfront. IMO, even better than Shangri-la’s beachfront
-Funky, eclectic interior design. I love it!

CONS:
-It’s a small hotel, so they have only one restaurant inside, serving mostly Thai food. The food is great, but if you want variety, you’re better off making the short trip to the other hotels in the area.
-It’s in Mactan so it’s 30-minute drive to the heart of Cebu City
-If you’re really not planning to soak up the sun, and wouldn’t mind a hotel without a beachfront, I wouldn’t recommend Microtel. Some hotels in the city offer cheaper room rates (for reference, we also stayed one night in Regency, and it was only P2,800.00 for a double occupancy room.)

Overall, I’m quite pleased with Microtel and wouldn’t mind going back there on my next trip to Cebu. I heard that Microtel is planning to establish a resort-hotel in Boracay, and if the rates are comparable to the Mactan rates, that will be one to watch out for indeed.

A Little Bit of Nostalgia

2009-01-03T01:46:00.003+08:00

I welcomed the new year doing something that I’ll probably doing for most of the first quarter of 2009: cleaning up and packing away stuff. It’s not my new year’s resolution, but since we’re moving out soon, I have no choice but to pack up and get organized.

Honestly, I don’t mind cleaning up and organizing stuff. The O-C in me actually enjoys this chore. Sifting through loads and loads of junk might not be a great way to spend an afternoon, but it did bring me some laughs and nostalgia. Some “treasures” from my highly-unorganized filing cabinet:

The letters on the top of the picture are my admittance letters from U.P. College of Law. I tried to justify keeping this for the longest time because I wanted to put them in a scrapbook, but it’s been four years since I graduated and I haven’t done a single page of my intended scrapbook. So (*sniff, sniff*) these have to go. Meron naman akong U.P. diploma (wait, where did I put my U.P. diploma?!?) Anyway, seeing those letters brought back memories of what I was doing when I heard I passed. I was watching Miss Congeniality in Robinson’s Place Ermita when a friend texted me I had qualified for interview. Syempre I couldn’t concentrate on the movie after that (not that anyone would need to concentrate to watch THAT film!) And I was in church for our pre-board mass when my mom texted me that I had been admitted to the College of Law.

The paper on the bottom left is my enrolment form in my very first semester in U.P. I have no idea why I kept this. The worst part? I’ve kept every single enrolment form in all my eight semesters in U.P. And every single class card too. My goodness, tuition was just P6,000.00 back then. I’ve spent more than that amount for a single pair of shoes. Yikes.

The tickets on the lower right are my favorite find, never mind the uselessness. Those tickets are for Game 3 of the 2001 UAAP Finals between La Salle and Ateneo. We were never able to use those tickets, because the game coincided with our final exam for Legal History. Humabol pa kami sa Araneta, pero tapos na ang game when we got there. The ride to Araneta was memorable in so many ways. We had to call someone to give us a play-by-play over the cellphone. Unfortunately, that someone had never watched a La Salle game before, and didn’t know any of the players, so her play-by-play went something like this— HER: “Naka-shoot yung kalbo! US: “Sino?!?” HER: “Ewan ko, lahat sila kalbo!” LOL. We were cheering inside the taxicab like lunatics and the taxi driver probably thought we were crazy. Thankfully, La Salle won.

That’s just from one row of my filing cabinet, there are two more rows to go. And I haven’t even started on my books. What will I do with my Sweet Valley Highs and my Christopher Pikes? Abangan.

Jumping on the Bandwagon (My take on Twilight)

2008-11-27T17:28:00.007+08:00

Yep, I’ve seen the film. We wanted to watch it on the first day, so we had to settle for the 10 pm screening. The verdict: I loved it! I will probably watch it again, in fact.

I was never really a Twilight fan until June this year, when I was looking for a book to read during a long 24-hour flight from the U.S. I wanted to read something light and enjoyable (I’m still in my Jodi Picoult phase, but reading her novels almost always give me a heavy feeling afterwards), and this series captured my interest. Needless to say, I finished the first book on the airplane ride back home. The book is not a literary masterpiece, but it was so addicting.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the film really managed to capture all the parts of the book which I loved. I’ve heard complaints that it was boring in some parts, and I agree to some extent, but that is to be expected from a first film in a series, because there’s a lot of introduction and exposition involved.

On the shallow side, watching this film in the theater was an experience in itself. The first time Edward appeared onscreen (it seemed like slow motion, or perhaps time just stood still? Hehe) a lot of the females in the theater couldn’t contain their squealing. And to think I watched this in Rockwell!

On a scale of 1 to 5, I’d give this a four stars. Watch it in theaters, but if you’re not an avid fan, go on the second week. Fangirls can be crazy :)

Feeling Fashionista

2008-10-26T01:48:00.003+08:00

I got a text from Jill (I can never get used to calling you Jill, Clems!) asking me if I wanted to watch the Project Runway Philippines Final Runway Show with her. Of course, she really didn’t need to ask…I’m so there! I’m such a fangirl/sucker for this show.

So last night, the two of us trooped to SMX Convention Center (my first time here…it’s impressive) to catch the show. And what a show it was!

Unlike majority of reality shows where there’s always some contestant who undeservedly makes it into the finale, the three finalists for PRP Season 1 are all deserving in my book.

My thoughts on the show (I won’t reveal too much, for those who don’t want to be spoiled):

Philip Tampus’ collection was girly, beautiful and very intricate. Overall, I was impressed, but there were some clothes which looked a little bit costume-y to me. There was one outfit with weird coil-like designs on the bosom, it reminded me of a costume for the Star Wars movies. Actually, Philip’s designs could be worn by Queen Amidala. I’m just not sure if that’s a compliment. :)

The Amidala Dress

Coming into the finale, I was personally rooting for Veejay Floresca, because he made my favorite creation of the season, a very chic and modern wedding gown for the Bridal Challenge. But his collection was a tad disappointing. It was…safe. Nothing was extraordinary, although every single piece was wearable (no funky headdress in sight, no sticky tapes needed). It was underwhelming.

Veejay's minimalist style exemplified

And then came Aries Lagat. From his introduction alone, you could already feel that the collection was something special. He even had a title for his collection, “More Than A Woman”. (O di ba? Kahit di ko gets yung connection, basta may title siya!) He was the only one who used some color (Veejay and Philip stuck to a neutral palette, which didn’t really pop onstage) and he also used this shiny black sequin-y material that looked so attractive under all those lights. And unlike the other two designers, Aries had that “wow” moment that had the audience (and even the judges) smiling and clapping in appreciation.

That's actually three outfits from one dress...impressive!

My pick for the winner is obvious, but I’ll still be watching the telecast of the finale on ETC to see if the clothes also translate well onscreen.

[ETA: I found pictures of all the clothes in the runway show! For those who want to be completely spoiled, check out Click the City (where I got the pics above). Jill attempted to take some shots as well (including one fangirl moment for both of us), you can view them here: PRP Finale]

It's Worth a Try

2008-10-14T17:32:00.005+08:00

I’m a bag-a-holic and a sucker for internet contests and freebies, so naturally this caught my eye:

24 Handbags in 24 Hours Completely Free!

Contest description from the website:

Handbag Planet is almost here. To celebrate the October 15, 2008 launch, we are giving away a free handbag every hour for 24 hours on the day of the launch. Our high fashion, trendy handbags are inspired by popular designer brands and priced between $30 and $80.

“Inspired by popular designer brands” screams fake designer knock-offs to me, but what the heck? It's worth a try!

Posting this blog entry will apparently increase my chances of winning.....so there you go... :)

Sold!

2008-10-11T00:17:00.000+08:00

I’ve known about this for a few months already, but it became official last Wednesday. My parents just sold our present family home, so we’re moving to a new place early next year.

I feel a little a bit sad, a little bit relieved and somewhat excited. This has been my home for practically my entire life (we moved here in 1981) and if not for some factors beyond our control, I would have really loved to stay here. The location is very convenient for a commuter like me (jeeps, trikes, taxis and colorum vans all pass by in front of our house). BF is like a mini-city, everything you need is just a 5-minute drive/ride away. But BF is no longer the quiet, peaceful subdivision it was years ago, and despite my parents’ efforts to fight commercialization, we just learned to accept the fact that you really can’t fight city hall.

Not surprisingly, the buyer of our house intends to convert it into yet another restaurant. So six months from now, this house will no longer be a home, but a crab shack.

The good news is that my parents are building a new house, and I can finally get that walk-in closet that I’ve dreamed of for years. And a bedroom with purple walls. :)

Post Office Horror Stories

2008-10-01T20:34:00.002+08:00

Note to self (and a word to the wise): Never ever have an international package delivered to a Makati City address!

I ordered a Beauty Blender a month ago to take advantage of free shipping from a US cosmetics company and a Paypal rebate. I normally use my address in Paranaque as the shipping address for all my online orders, but I decided to switch to Makati for a change because the Paranaque PO is out of the way from my normal route to the office and they allow you to claim packages on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Since the Makati PO is just a 10-minute taxi ride from the office, I figured it would be more convenient since I can just drop by the PO on my lunch break, take my package, and go.

I dropped by the Makati PO at lunchtime to claim my long-awaited package. I didn’t mind that it took about 30 minutes before I was finally able to get ahold of it (it only takes me 10 minutes max in the Paranaque PO, but I guess Makati being the center of business and all, I should have known the place would be busier). I also didn’t mind that I only received the postal notification today, even though the package arrived at the Makati PO on September 15 (a whopping 14-day lag time). I was willing to forgive the red tape as long as I received the Beauty Blender safe and sound. To my horror though, I opened the package and discovered that the Beauty Blender’s plastic container was crushed beyond repair, as if somebody (with really large feet) had stepped on it. I immediately tried to restore the case to its original shape, and this is the best I could come up with:

You can still see the dents. I thought, okay lang, it’s just the case, I’ll throw that away anyway, what matters is that the Beauty Blender is not ruined. But Mr. Postal Office Big Foot didn’t even spare my cute little pink egg:

There’s a huge dent on one side which is irreparable. Honestly, I don’t think the Beauty Blender’s function would be significantly diminished by this dent, but that’s not the point. I paid $$ for this, I expect to receive something in tiptop shape. And I don’t blame the online seller because it was packaged really well, with sufficient bubble wrap to protect it from reckless handling by the local PO. In all my years of receiving packages from Paranaque PO, I have never received any package with its contents in less than perfect condition, and trust me, I’ve ordered or bought stuff even more delicate than a pink sponge egg. Makati PO, which probably receives more packages than any other city in the

Philippines

, can’t even handle packages properly. No wonder the top online stores like Amazon don’t ship to the

Philippines

, they’ve probably heard how unreliable the system is. My experience isn’t even the worst case...I’ve had friends who waited and waited for a package that never came. Once, a friend sent my sister a gift of 6 Nike baller Ids (nung uso pa dati), and she got only five. And it was clearly indicated on the outside label that the package contained six bracelets ha...garapalan talaga. Sabi ko sa kanya, punta ka sa PO, tingnan mo kung sino may suot-suot na Livestrong bracelet doon, tapos i-confront mo! LOL

After this, I'd rather be inconvenienced and make a side trip to the Paranaque PO than having to go through this Makati PO shit again. Hmph.

Thank you, Green Archers!

2008-09-26T00:49:00.006+08:00

Well, well, well. Congratulations to Ateneo for a well-played series. We’ll get ‘em next year, right Green Archers?

Surprisingly, I didn’t cry (yeah, I did cry in 2002, but I was much more invested in the team then). I was mostly sad for JV Casio, one of the nicest, most humble and most talented players La Salle has ever known. I wanted him to go out on a high ala Ren-ren Ritualo, but it was not meant to be. Still, JV did give La Salle two championships (2004 and 2007), so maybe a third one was too much to ask for?

JV acknowledging the "thank you" cheers yesterday.
Thank you JV for 5 years of LaSalle basketball!
(Photo courtesy of inboundpass.com)

Gosh, this means Ateneans have bragging rights until next year! As if they didn’t brag enough already (hehe, I had to take one last cheap shot). Even Ateneans who never gave a damn about basketball are sounding off on their historic win (historic kasi paminsan-minsan lang... oops make that TWO last cheap shots). Practically every Atenean on my friends list in Facebook account has a status message making reference to the championship... kahit yung mga hindi nanonood ng basketball. Ayos!

As this will surely be my last word on UAAP until next year, it is only fitting that I end with this (specially dedicated to Json):

Hail, hail, alma mater,
Hail to De La Salle!
We’ll hold your banner high and bright
A shield of green and white!
We’ll fight to keep your glory bright,
And never shall we fail!
Hail to thee, our alma mater,
HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!

Keeping the faith

2008-09-22T15:40:00.003+08:00

(I will keep this short because God knows how saturated everyone must be with all the La Salle-Ateneo talk the past week. Inquirer even had two special sections devoted to the rivalry, and a special article about Chris Tiu, in yesterday’s edition!!!)

The thing I hate most whenever the Green Archers lose to the Blue Eagles is the intense ribbing I get from office colleagues (even those whom I consider my friends, hmph!) the following day. And true to form, one officemate already paid a visit to my room today just to remind me of Ateneo’s win.

I guess that’s what I get for working in an office where there are Ateneans aplenty. And for wearing my La Sallian roots on my sleeve!

Even though everyone’s predicting a La Salle demise on Thursday, I still have faith. Bilog ang bola, diba?

Animo La Salle!

TV Time

2008-09-01T18:27:00.004+08:00

Today is one of those days when I wished I lived in the United States.

And no, it’s not because of some earth-shattering, life-altering reason. I want to be in the U.S. right now because my three favorite guilty pleasures are airing their season premieres today.

I have no idea why I still “watch” Prison Break, but after three seasons, I still do. I have hung on to this show even if its title ceased to be relevant after the first season, even if most of my favorite characters are long gone (although one of my favorites is returning), even if the plot has become more ludicrous than Lost’s or 24’s storylines combined. The Power of the Pretty (a.k.a. Wentworth Miller) is just too hard to resist.

And then there’s One Tree Hill. I have no idea why I still watch this show either. I hate every single character on the show, I hate their stupid emo issues, I hate soap opera style acting. But I just. can’t. turn. away. I don’t even think Chad Michael Murray is cute. And unlike most people, I want Lucas to end up with Peyton. By tomorrow, we’ll all know if he ended up with Peyton after all. They need to cancel this show already, because it’s the only thing that will keep me away.

Finally, there’s Gossip Girl. I actually don’t feel guilty watching this show, because it’s really good. It has a plot (albeit an unrealistic one), it has great writing, and promising actors too. Forget Serena, Blair is the STAR of the show. Her headgear alone has spawned thousands and thousands of copycats locally (see: Mariel Rodriguez and basically every other girl walking in the mall with those big bows). The fashion and style on this show rivals Sex and the City’s, but here I can actually afford some of the stuff they wear/carry. And I haven’t even talked about the hot guys yet. All I can say is that Chace Crawford + Penn Badgely + Ed Westwick = hottest male cast on tv today, by a mile. (They all look gay in the picture on the left, but trust me, they're hawt!)

Now, how can I possibly download all these season premieres in one night?!?

Pixar rules! (a.k.a. my Wall∙E experience)

2008-09-01T00:10:00.006+08:00

Isn't he the cutest?

It’s official: Pixar can make a film about anything.

Time and time again, Pixar has always managed to prove me wrong. Years ago, when Finding Nemo was about to be released, I had this to say (I even scoured old emails just to find this):

A father-son underwater adventure featuring Nemo, a boy clownfish, stolen from his coral reef home. His timid father must then search the ocean to find him. This must be the lamest cartoon plot I’ve heard in years. Besides, wasn’t there a low-budget animated fish movie a couple of years ago?

I happily ate my words. Finding Nemo became my most favorite Pixar film of all time, I even have a Nemo plush toy in my room! When Ratatouille was released last year, I was skeptical as usual…who’d want to watch a film about rats…and food?!? Why would kids want to watch this when they can’t even pronounce the title? But in true Pixar style, Ratatouille actually made rats look cute and lovable.

I don’t even know where to start with Wall∙E. Not only did Pixar animators make a filthy robot cute, they even made me like a cockroach! For almost an hour into the film, there was hardly any dialogue, but I never got bored because the filmmakers managed to convey Wall∙E’s emotions with sound effects, the movement of his robot parts, and even the background music. I particularly loved the scenes where Wall∙E followed Eve (the sophisticated female robot, who I think looks like a sleeker Ipod), trying to make Eve notice him…set to the tune of “La Vie En Rose.” And yes, it’s embarrassing to admit this… I almost cried at the final scene (The only thing that kept my tears from falling was the presence of my officemates). I left the theater feeling warm and fuzzy inside...and wanting to immediately buy a Wall∙E toy as remembrance. Speaking of which, why aren't there any Wall∙E Happy Meal toys? Doesn't McDonald's have tie-ins for all Disney films?

Pixar will have to produce another masterpiece just to top Wall∙E, but given their track record, I trust that they will. On a scale of one to five stars, I give this film a much-deserved FIVE stars.

----------

Since I will probably be reviewing more films in the future, I have devised my own rating system:

Five stars - A cinematic masterpiece! Run, run, run to your nearest theater to watch it! (e.g. Wall∙E)
Four stars - Generally wonderful, and deserves to be seen in theaters, but you can wait for the second week (e.g. The Dark Knight)
Three stars - Above-average, but you can just catch it on HBO or DVD (e.g. Kung Fu Panda)
Two stars - Has some redeeming value, but overall...blah (e.g. Get Smart)
One star - Scraping the bottom of the barrel (e.g. You Don't Mess With the Zohan)
Turkey - I wouldn't watch this again even if you pay me (e.g. The Love Guru)

Dissenting Opinion

2008-08-29T23:55:00.000+08:00

Unlike most people my age, I am not enamored by Barack Obama.

Sure, I think he is intelligent. And eloquent. But to be honest, I think most of what he says is just empty rhetoric. He reminds me so much of Chiz Escudero...both ambitious, young politicians who IMO, are more about style than substance.

And this just in: John McCain chooses Sarah Palin, a lady governor from Alaska, to be his running mate. She's a former beauty pageant queen, basketball player, and mother of five children. She's even younger than Obama and even more inexperienced. I wonder if the Obama camp attacks Sarah Palin for her inexperience? What irony.

I do not know what John McCain is thinking with this choice, but if it's attempt to woo undecided Hillary supporters, then it might prove to be a brilliant move.

Take Two!

2008-08-26T11:27:00.001+08:00

As I promised Jill and Golda, I have decided to start blogging again. I initially wanted to use my old blogger address here, but then I realized that I would have to delete every entry one by one before I could start blogging from scratch...not worth the effort. So here I am, at my new home.

This blog won't be about me (my life isn't really that interesting, hehe). This blog will be my outlet for my uncensored (and mostly nonsensical) views about anything and everything I can criticize, and my unrestrained passion for my long, long list of obsessions. So sit back, relax and waste a few minutes of your day with me.