Nikon Introduces the Nikon D5100

Nikon recently announced the Nikon D5100, a Nikon DX-format digital-SLR camera equipped with a vari-angle monitor, and a 16.2 megapixels CMOS image sensor and the EXPEED 2 image-processing engine that enable high-resolution rendering.  

It is also equipped with the D-Movie function that supports recording of full-HD (1920 X 1080p, 30p) movies.  Along with this, are the in-camera movie editing functions that allow users to delete unnecessary portions from the beginning and/or end of movie files. There is also an HDMI output so that the users can show off their full-HD videos to their family and friends.

What I am excited about the Nikon D5100 is the Special Effects mode.  This is the first Nikon DSLR to offer this feature and the user can choose from seven special effects, including selective color where the entire photo is in black and white except for the elements chosen by the user.  There is also the night vision which  allows the user to capture images even in extremely dark places.  The special effects can be viewed through the lens before shooting, allowing users to see and confirm the results.  Complementing these features is the new High Dynamic Range (HDR) function which captures two shots at different exposures and combine these to create a single image that has little or no loss of highlights.

Another neat feature of this camera is the vari-angle monitor. The vari-angle monitor opens from 0 to 180° to the side, and can be rotated up to 90° clockwise and up to 180° counter-clockwise when it is open.  This will come in handy when shooting in a crowded place and the standard monitor won't do the job.  The 3-inch monitor is also bigger than the one in Nikon D5000 and since the hinge is now on the side, it will not hit the tripod when the camera is mounted.


The Nikon D5100 allows continuous shooting at up to approximately 4fps.  It also has a quiet shutter release mode for shooting in places and situations that needs quieter shutter operations.

The Nikon D5100 comes with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens. Amazon.com offers it at $899.

Mango Kreme Cake from Krispy Kreme

I passed by the Krispy Kreme store at the SM City North EDSA Annex this afternoon and I couldn't resist buying half a dozen donuts.  I bought three pieces of my favorite Original Glazed and another three of the Mango Kreme Cake.

They call it the "official doughnut of summer" perhaps because one of its ingredients is ripe mango.  The doughnut is topped with cream, nuts and bits of ripe mangoes.  Like any variant of Krispy Kreme, this one is soft and sweet. It has a slight hint of cinnamon but I cannot pinpoint whether it's from the doughnut or the cream.  The mango in this batch has a little tartness but it complements the sweetness of the cream.  Anyway, I like it and I think I will get more of this when I pass by a Krispy Kreme branch again.

My thoughts on the national bloggers association

The Pinoy blogosphere is currently abuzz with the proposal for a national organization of Filipino bloggers.  A friend pointed me to an online version of the manifesto which was prepared by the proponents of the said organization.  I perused it several times before deciding to dive into the widening ocean of approving and dissenting voices.

The manifesto contains six objectives of the organization, mostly aimed at promoting the welfare of Filipino bloggers here and abroad.  It also stated what it wants to be as an organization, which is to be a democratic, voluntary and non-profit organization. 

I have come up with the following comments and questions regarding the objectives:

• Promote and defend the right to free speech and to free expression Isn't the Internet the bastion of free speech and expression?  Besides, these are supposed to be protected by the Constitution, unless there is a curtailment of these rights of which I do not know. 

•  Promote and develop blogging, vlogging, photoblogging, microblogging and other online creative and expressive forms in all their diverse categories, topics and types Okay, this one I like but then again, how many blogs are already out there?  I'd say 100 million or more.  Obviously blogging has developed a life of its own and it is growing still.  But why should we promote it in the first place? As an alternative livelihood?  As a hobby?

• Gather and share Philippine blogging’s best practices that reflect our contributions to ourselves and our online communities, media, causes, organizations and businesses, government, the nation and the world.  My mind went blank on this one.  

•  Draft and adopt a code of ethics that underscore the members’ and organization’s sense of responsibility and maturity.  In my opinion, this one raises a lot of questions about the very nature of this organization.  When you come up with a code of ethics, naturally someone will have to monitor for compliance of members. Then any breach of this code will have consequences. Who or what will enforce this code?  Will this organization be regulatory like the KBP before?  Will it regulate what we can post on our blogs and then punish those who violate such regulations? Also, what if my view does not jibe with that of the organization, will I still be able to blog about it or do I really need to toe the line?

• Discuss issues and concerns that confront our members. This of course is expected from an organization.  But what do we do after discussing the issues? Do we make representation to concerned authorities to bring to their attention these concerns?

• Campaign and work for more affordable, reliable and better internet access in the country  It's about time that someone should stand up and demand for this.  Hopefully, the telcos would sit and listen if the consumers of their services have banded together and speak in a collective voice.  

But we still haven't answered the basic question whether there is really a need for a national organization for Filipino bloggers.

There are already local and regional organization of bloggers in the country.  Here in Bulacan, I know one that is based in Baliwag although I am not yet a member.  Will the national organization act as an umbrella organization. a federation of all these groups?  Instead of dealing with individual members, they will just deal with the leaders of these smaller organizations.  If not, what will happen to these local groups?

Naturally, there are some resistance to this proposal but the proponents have opened venues for discussion of all these issues.  Hopefully they would be able to clear all the issues and let everyone understand what the national organization is really all about.  Begin by answering the question: Why?

Personally, I am not yet convinced we need one because I still believe that blogging is a personal experience and activity.  It should not be encumbered by everyday rules which may defeat its purpose.

Whatever Happened to Bantay?

The dog has become a fixture in many Filipino households today.  In many homes in the country, man's best friend is not only a pet that is almost like a member of the family but also the official provider of security for its owners.

Before,  a dog was given a name for his trait or purpose.  If his task is to guard the house he would be called Bantay (guard), Bagsik (fierce), Tapang (brave), among others.  A pet dog's name could also be based on his color or appearance like Batik (spots),  Puti (white) or Tagpi (patch).

Many of these dogs were natives. They do not have pure breeds but mostly mixture of several breeds and characteristics.  More recently they're called askals short for asong kalye (road dogs).

When we were young, our grandmother who was then living in Manila had a pet named Manilenya (an old way to call a native of Manila).  It was a big brown female dog who slept most of the day under the stairs because she was already too old.  Our first dog was also a native dog and my mother named him Clever.  Since then, most of our dogs have English names except for one which my sister named Bansot because she was so small.

Nowadays, Filipinos have developed a liking for dogs with breed.  The most popular is the shih tzu, which can be found almost anywhere.  One cannot go to a mall or park and not see a shih tzu being carried by a human.

 Many of these dogs are now given cute foreign names such as Charming, Ashley, Princess, etc.  Even my dogs, who are all native ones, have proper names (Betty, Rod and Ted).  My sister in law's shih tzu is named Disney and my brother's girl Rottweiler is Margaux.

So whatever happened to Bantay, Tagpi and Tapang?  Perhaps the days of naming our dogs with good Filipino names are over.  Maybe, it's more "in" nowadays to give a dog a foreign name.  I still believe that Bantay, Tagpi and Tapang are still very much around but only with a different collar.  Or name.

Summer is (almost) here!

I went to SM Marilao here in Bulacan this afternoon to meet a friend.  While waiting for her, I noticed that most shops were already selling goods for summer.  After all, classes in schools officially ended yesterday so most kids and their families must be preparing for a trip to the beach or some fancy pool resort.

I was attracted to the colorful items at the mall's toy store, Toy Kingdom. There were inflatable swimming pools in fancy shapes, designed to instantly set up in the backyard or in my case, the frontyard. I wanted to buy one but then thought of how the neighbors would react upon seeing me splashing like a child in a rubberized pool.

Then there were the toys and gears that can be used at the beach. There were assorted inflatable rafts, boats, and other floaters for cruising the pool.  There were also goggles, swim masks and snorkel sets for exploring the waters at the beach.  And then there were the cute sand rakes, shovels, and pail play sets for the little ones who still can't swim but still need to be busy at the beach.

Looking at those items made me want to be a child again!