Whoa! I can't believe I've been doing this for the last three years! Okay may be sporadically at best. But being someone who easily loses interest on things, it's quite a feat that every now and then I am able to post something on this blog.
This is my first blog for the year of the rat. If I were to believe all those feng shui blabber, it's a very unlucky year for me since I was born in the year of the horse. But I don't really care, first of all I am not Chinese.
Oh speaking of the Chinese... In spite all the bad rap their poor country's been getting lately, I can't wait to see how they would act as host of this year's Olympics. The Chinese have gone a long way in the field of sports since they got out of their Iron Curtain a couple of decades ago. I remember when they hosted the Asian Games a few years back. They have a panda for a mascot and during the opening ceremonies there were guys dressed up as pandas prancing in the field. The problem is, they only have panda heads and hands...
Nevertheless, the Beijing Olympics will still be an interesting watch especially for Filipino athletes. After the complete meltdown in Thailand last December and the debacle of some boxers in the qualifying rounds, the Filipino athletes need all our support in their quest for Olympic glory.
Food, gadgets, books, movies, music, places and everything else under the sun
Earth Hour
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Shelfari
A friend invited me to a site where bookworms converge. It's called Shelfari. Here, the member is given a bookshelf where he can post books he has read, is reading, and plans to read. It is also a social networking site since any member can join groups that are classified according to reading interests.
I have my own shelf, which you could see at the bottom of this blog. However, this is just part of it. When I listed the books I own and have read, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they total 77 books! I haven't listed the other books that I once owned and read but can't locate anymore.
But this is still a small collection considering that there are some members who have more than a thousand books on their shelves.
I am still building up my library and trying to remember what books I have read before. Who knows, I'd also end up with more than a thousand titles!
I have my own shelf, which you could see at the bottom of this blog. However, this is just part of it. When I listed the books I own and have read, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they total 77 books! I haven't listed the other books that I once owned and read but can't locate anymore.
But this is still a small collection considering that there are some members who have more than a thousand books on their shelves.
I am still building up my library and trying to remember what books I have read before. Who knows, I'd also end up with more than a thousand titles!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas, Pinoy Style
Merry Christmas!
This morning I joined the throng of Filipinos who went out to do their last minute shopping for the Noche Buena later tonight. I never thought that in spite having to wait in line for what seems like an eternity at the check out counter, I would actually enjoy the experience. There's something about being with a huge, pulsating shopping crowd to uplift one's spirit. Or maybe it is the non-stop playing of Christmas Carols in the background that did me in.
Whatever the reason, it made me feel even more that Christmas is indeed here.
I had a great time watching my fellow Filipinos happily buying the things they have saved up for and prepared for months. At least for this time of the year, all of us were able to let go of our worries that our budget will not be enough. And we all went home happy.
Next year, I will be part of this celebration again that we Pinoys have embraced for almost half a millennium already.
This morning I joined the throng of Filipinos who went out to do their last minute shopping for the Noche Buena later tonight. I never thought that in spite having to wait in line for what seems like an eternity at the check out counter, I would actually enjoy the experience. There's something about being with a huge, pulsating shopping crowd to uplift one's spirit. Or maybe it is the non-stop playing of Christmas Carols in the background that did me in.
Whatever the reason, it made me feel even more that Christmas is indeed here.
I had a great time watching my fellow Filipinos happily buying the things they have saved up for and prepared for months. At least for this time of the year, all of us were able to let go of our worries that our budget will not be enough. And we all went home happy.
Next year, I will be part of this celebration again that we Pinoys have embraced for almost half a millennium already.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Intramuros Surprise
My father requested that we visit Intramuros last Sunday to view an art exhibit. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there are still a lot to see in the old city! Places of interest that I haven't been to before are still waiting to be discovered.
For example, the Silahis Art Center were the art exhibit was housed also has a lot of native products and artifacts inside. There are also books on Philippine history and culture. Some items are also on sale so any visitor can bring home a part of the Philippines.
A few steps away from there, one can find the "Casa Manila" Museum. It's an old house preserved from the Spanish era, which gives the visitors the chance to experience what it's like to live in a bygone era. Casa Manila contains exquisite art pieces and furniture. Photography is strictly forbidden and you cannot touch any of the displays, except in the kitchen area.
For example, the Silahis Art Center were the art exhibit was housed also has a lot of native products and artifacts inside. There are also books on Philippine history and culture. Some items are also on sale so any visitor can bring home a part of the Philippines.
A few steps away from there, one can find the "Casa Manila" Museum. It's an old house preserved from the Spanish era, which gives the visitors the chance to experience what it's like to live in a bygone era. Casa Manila contains exquisite art pieces and furniture. Photography is strictly forbidden and you cannot touch any of the displays, except in the kitchen area.
Monday, October 8, 2007
City Life
I was on my way to a mall yesterday when something straight out of a TV public affairs program happened to me.
While crossing a major roadway yesterday, through a pedestrian overpass, I felt a slight pull on my backpack on my right shoulder. I looked around and I saw a man behind me, holding on to one of the zippers of my bag's pocket. The pocket was already slightly open but the contents were still out of one's reach.
I was so surprised I could only say, "What are you doing, you fool!" The man raised his hand, with an innocent look on his face. I gave him a kick on his shin and he fell to the ground.
We stared at each other until he got up and ran away from the scene.
I've seen a report of this in one of those expose on TV. A gang of men and women opening backpacks of unsuspecting pedestrians, taking anything they could get their hands on. But that was in another part of the city, so I was surprised it happened to me.
But what really surprised me was that, it happened to me at 11 in the morning in a very busy pedestrian overpass. While the man was down, some people even passed him by. Nobody looked at him or at me.
It wasn't like that before. Had it happened a few years back, someone would have stopped and asked either me or the man what was happening. It made me think that this is part of a city's transformation. As a city gets big, people become callous and wouldn't want to get involved in situations like that.
Or may be a crime like this is so common, people are not surprised anymore. It was just another incident in their busy city life.
While crossing a major roadway yesterday, through a pedestrian overpass, I felt a slight pull on my backpack on my right shoulder. I looked around and I saw a man behind me, holding on to one of the zippers of my bag's pocket. The pocket was already slightly open but the contents were still out of one's reach.
I was so surprised I could only say, "What are you doing, you fool!" The man raised his hand, with an innocent look on his face. I gave him a kick on his shin and he fell to the ground.
We stared at each other until he got up and ran away from the scene.
I've seen a report of this in one of those expose on TV. A gang of men and women opening backpacks of unsuspecting pedestrians, taking anything they could get their hands on. But that was in another part of the city, so I was surprised it happened to me.
But what really surprised me was that, it happened to me at 11 in the morning in a very busy pedestrian overpass. While the man was down, some people even passed him by. Nobody looked at him or at me.
It wasn't like that before. Had it happened a few years back, someone would have stopped and asked either me or the man what was happening. It made me think that this is part of a city's transformation. As a city gets big, people become callous and wouldn't want to get involved in situations like that.
Or may be a crime like this is so common, people are not surprised anymore. It was just another incident in their busy city life.
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