Destination: Empanada Nation

After a major job hunting letdown, and since I was in Makati for the day, I've decided to look for a new restaurant to fill my famished stomach and I've found to my surprise, Empanada Nation, a haven for empanada and Ilocos food freaks. Located at Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, just a walking distance from Aegis People Support. 

Ilocano empanada is different from your regular-everyday empanada. Rolled with meat, veggies and egg, deep fried and should be eaten right away with spicy Ilocos vinegar. Yummers! 

Financially robbed to do local travels? For the meantime, get your dosed of these affordable Ilocano inspired menus by Empanada Nation. 

Late lunch Ilocos style. Nice talaga akong buena mano sunod-sunod ang customer na pumasok...hahaha. Highly recommendable for foodies and foreigners craving for authentic Pinoy dish. The manager is uber nice, too. He approached me and asked me questions/suggestions about their food and services. He even took this photograph of moi. 

10/9

Me and Abby (alongside Haide, Gena and Pam, yup the original "Untouchables"), we go a long, long way back more than the rest of our BS2 pals. My friendship with her started in the not so memorable Chemistry laboratory of Letran. But one thing is for sure that moment is emblazoned in our minds, just like the time we were caught late in that said class because we saw Stigmata at WalterMart...hahaha. And that's like 14 years ago and counting. Abby, thanks for being my John Lennon to my Ringo Starr -- because we share the same birthdays with these two Beatle members. For being my Marit Larsen to my Marion Raven -- because we're not only friends but also music buddies and we used to be the M2M's of BS2. For being my favorite cinema buster (Exorcist days and Harry Potter?). For always having my back. For listening to my craziness, boring real life stories, unrequited loves, and off-the-chart impossible dreams, Facebook or no Facebook. Thank you for the sleepovers, pig outs, SVH books unreturned courtesy of me, and for being so uber nice to my family. For you, I'd fight catfights, with matching claws and all. I've never known any one as pure and kind-hearted as you. You have inspired me to continuously reach for the stars and to shoot for the moon. We'll forever be young at heart even if we are both wrinkled and gray. Happiest birthday Abs! Wishing you the fulfillment of your dreams and heart's desires. We will always have Letran! Fat or nonfat. In this life we may not share the same parents, but I know you are my soul sister. Love you always! =)

09/30

Heaps of sparkling good luck for you on your special day. My firm believer and number one fan and band-aid. Always going for the miles to see me after my dreams. Thank you for the heart-to-heart conversations and hangout sessions. College days were a blast and I seriously wouldn't pass Algebra without you. Hahaha. You are one of my favorite persons in this whole galaxy. Our pact as "The Untouchables" will be intact forever more. No matter what happens we'll always have each other's backs despite of time, distance and change. Have the happiest birthday mi amiga, also known as Shinjee, Helga, Hyde's, Haide...Miss you lots. xoxo :-;

Little Helpers: Posca-Camposano Nuptials @ 08.03.2013

The Cake Rack Bakeshop (formerly Sugar Rush by Anne)
Since the first day I step foot into your office for inquiries you made this little event planner very much welcome and at ease. The whole experience of choosing the number of layers and design for a wedding cake was stressful indeed but you made it easy for the couple's to choose from the entire gamut. The finished product really live up to everyone's expectations. Thanks for designing a cake that match up to the Breakfast at Tiffany's wedding theme -- it look so sophisticated and the taste is just delicious.









Entourage Flowers, Wedding Assistance and Hosting by ThinkWarren

Thank you Bea for putting together the entourage flowers per our instruction that truly complimented the Posca-Camposano wedding theme. Everyone is just raving about their bouquet, especially my sister, and it is still sitting on her vase until now. My mother couldn't even complain. I would also like to send my gratitude to the entire team of ThinkWarren for assisting us, and in particular, me, before-during-and-after the event. For taking my nagging phone calls, listening to my instructions and for following them spot-on. Thank you Sir Warren for hosting the reception beautifully and for making it really fun for everyone to participate at the program. I wish you and your company all the success in the future. 


Ceremony and Reception Music by Infinite Soul Acoustic

If there is one thing that I am grateful for for the internet then that would be my luck in finding this band through YouTube. There are so many wedding band's out there but they couldn't cater to my ideas and needs. Most of them are expensive and difficult to reach. I drop by a message to Infinite Soul Acoustic's Facebook account for inquiries and got a response right away from Ms. Monica Gil. You can schedule a meet-up with them and they would gladly fit you right in at your most convenient time and place. They do accept special song requests, but make sure to consider the date of your event. They played every song that we put up in our playlist and their performance is nothing short of fantastic. They sound great at YT but they are even better live. If you are considering them for your event, my advise for you is to BOOK THEM right up! You won't regret you choice. Lastly, I'll have to send my thanks to the band, especially to Ms. Monica, for accepting some of our late song requests, for answering my text messages, for being so punctual and professional, and for making my sister and brother in-law's wedding truly memorable. You truly live up to your word. 


Event Styling and Catering by K by Cunanan

For my sister's wedding I want our caterer to be the best. And that best in my opinion is no less than K by Cunanan. We chose the cheapest package and yet we still get all the satisfaction guaranteed treatment from them, from the food that is oh so yummy and the design that made the venue look like a whimsical Tiffany's. Our EA Ms. Monique Pascual took our pegs and made the Tiffany Blue scheme and our Audrey Hepburn dream come to life. Our family's money was very well spent. The reception, with those centerpieces were both simple and idyllic, and the food was to die for - it stuffed our guests's famished stomach and made them very satisfied and full. The couple were on cloud nine and totally happy with their service. 



Hair and Make-up by Touch of Arlan

Thank you very much Arlan and his team for making the bride and everyone else look incredibly pretty for this very special occasion. I gave him sample pegs for our hairstyle -- my sister did an Audrey Hepburn number and mine was Carey Mulligan's Bob hairdo, and they executed them effortlessly. They even made my mother and aunt look very hip, sleek, chic and younger than their age...haha! Extra thanks for all the doses of laughter they kicked in during the process. They truly made our day a happy one. If you need any hair and makeup services for your event then, I highly recommend them to you guys. 

09/16

Germilyn Jammy Herrella...my favorite ka-hangout in beauty bars and my go-to person when it comes to girly things, our favorite baker, my favorite shopping & taste buddy, and my long time friend since our NFI days. Just in case I won't be able to greet you tomorrow here is my greeting's in advance. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Welcome to the 3 year's old club. Love and light, Chin.

08/08

Bon Anniversaire to my dearest friend Astaire Tin (aka Mrs Naessens). She's that one person in my book that I can drag along with me to visit museums (even when the weather is on a heavy downpour), have fun in Enchanted Kingdom, dine in at expensive restaurants...etc. Although I am quite sad to no longer be able to hang out with her, and yet at the same time I am glad that she's gone abroad to live blissfully with her husband. Because of her the cynic in me (yup...you know that fully) makes me believe that true love can be found in the most unanticipated time and place. So regardless of her absence here in the Philippines I am wishing her all the best, may it be in the aspect of love, life and career, and I hope that we'll meet again...in Europe so we can travel the entire continent by train (or explore the gallantry of the Louvre). A la prochaine! - Chin

WYD Rio 2013

Wishing I could be there. But since I won't be able to go with my vagabond shoes here's a promo trailer for the 2013 World Youth Day to be held in Rio de Janeiro this coming July 23-28, 2013. I'll be celebrating in spirit together with every folks from all over the world praying for their safety, enjoyment and harmony.

Someone's Always Better Than Me

Maybe I won't live overseas. I used to be frustrated all the time being left behind (and my soul sister Abigail Rose Zaide Juano knows all about this) because I've always wanted to live in Paris, Amsterdam or Kyoto. Whenever there's a friend or a relative packing their bags to live abroad I am struck malevolently with envy. But after travelling to Singapore City last year, reading a 3rd grade classmate's blog, and when one of my closest friend passed away last month (she died without having her passport stamped) I had a change of heart. So I'll be stuck here in the Philippines, eating my favorite street foods and pica-pica, enduring the summer sunshine the whole year round, getting rained on, having my hair smell like engine fumes, keep on hating the government and its bureaucrats and etc. But I would never stop shooting for the moon, even if the powers that be refuses to make it happen. I can always travel the world while living full time in my country -- all I needed to do is to save up some money. I don't care if I have to do it alone, I'm always alone after all. Some people couldn't watch movies in the cinema or attend rock concerts and eat at restaurants by themselves -- that's never an issue to me because I'm accustomed to going solo. Perhaps I'm just a second rate pauper with no good-looks and no special skills, with dumb luck and ADD, and I'll be chase around eternally by credit card collectors and law offices, but at least I have an awareness of this truth and I won't spend my cash recklessly ever again like I was some nouveau riche bitch. Life is hell. Happiness is a burden.

Conduct Unbecoming

Our society has brainwashed its homo-sapien inhabitants and demanded its female counterparts to dolled themselves up in order to prove to the world that they are true girls inside and out. If you refrain from acting that way you are therefore labeled and mistaken for a lesbian. So what the f**k if I do not frequent the salon and can not (for the life of me) paint my own nails? I do not like putting rouge on my face, and I find it unnecessary to pluck my eyebrows. So what if I'm not in a relationship? I'm too selfish, sad and conceited to be in one anyway (I'm already committed with myself and I enjoy being single immensely; to settle is a grave sin). So what if I find comfort going to places, riding trains and watching movies all by myself? My sanctuaries are bookstores, record bars and video shops. And most often than not when I buy my clothes and shoes I do not dilly dally around (except for bags), because I prefer comfort over style. So what if I like my over sized tees with Disney prints and my feet flat in a Converse? I don't like to pout my lips or to look cute in photographs. I like it better when I'm behind the camera than to be the subject in front of the lens. My favorite books are children's fantasy novels, transgressional literature and travel guides because they tell more truth and danger than Dan Brown. Technology is overrated and it takes away jobs from mankind. There are only four occupations I give my utmost respect to: farmers, fishermen, butchers and mothers, and yet they are the most under appreciated (thankless) jobs in the world. I have a love-hate relationship for my country so I prefer to stay away from posting any patriotic messages about the beauty of the Philippines and the talent of its people. I like looking at the mountains but I refuse to climb over its peak. I hate beaches (but I love the ocean), swimsuits and summer. Conversations about work during friendly get-together's are despicable. I am a Daria Morgendorffer persona in real life: I talk grim and my conversations are peppered with neurosis. When something I like becomes mainstream my interest for it fades away. Stupid are those people who drinks beer for the sake of fitting in. (I mean, who cares if they turn you into an outcast, at least you stood up for what you believed in). Girls are stupid when they let their friends tweezed their eyebrows even if they don't want to. Girls are stupid when they copy each other's hairstyle and they wear color coordinated clothes for a day. And I hate everyone for being too bothered about my non-existent dating life and solitary civil status when I am clearly unperturbed about the whole idea. After all, I stopped believing in the divinity of marriage a long time ago; it is an institution that man can create the rules and break the rules. 

I have a habit of saying random things. For now this soliloquy will be put to an indefinite halt and to be resume sometime in a not too distant futuristic reality. 

From your lost wanderer, 

Chin

Alcohol-Free

My whole life I never got drunk - in a true sense of the word. The closest thing I ever get from being intoxicated to alcohol is during our little Christmas soiree with a glass of dry Spanish red wine mixed with iced tea. My best friend concocted them together so it would be manageable to sip. But other than that, nada for me. I can only handle sweet red wine and white wine, but beer and any hard liquor is a major no-no for me. It may sound bull but these are my following reasons why I chose to stay clean from alcohol:

1. No to puke and vomit.

I only vomited once or twice in my life and I hate the process of having the food I already swallowed from my mouth - stored in my stomach to be under premature evacuation other than my ass. The taste of vomit is gross and once it got out it smells yucky and it would stink all over you.

2. No to Hangover

Probably I do not know what it feels like to have a hangover since I never got drunk but I know the feeling of suffering from migraines and headaches. They are literally a burden especially during mornings. When I lack sleep from spending too much time on the internet my body reacts painfully, what more if you stay up late intoxicated. Well at least with internet surfing I have done something productive.

3. Control

I am near borderline obsessive, though not entirely, I hate not being in control. When you are drunk you have all these urges to do stupid things that you don't normally say or do under your sober self. Even with close friends and family I have no plans of showing them Ms. Hyde. Nowadays, they can capture your most embarrassing moments with their cellphone camera and post them on YouTube or Facebook and I'll regret that forever. 

4. Non conformity

I do not view drinking as an act of rebellion but rather as an act of conformity. Everyone does it now, so what makes it so special? You drink socially in order to fit in with everyone. While some conforms because of peer pressure for fear that they would look uncool and boring to their friends. Honestly, if they do not like that part of you then they were never your true friends to begin with. And I don't like doing something just because everyone is doing it. 

5. No to Liver Cancer

In the movie the Sound of My Voice Brit Marling said that each death is suicide inflicted. Cancer is a prolong version of suicide since a person knows that if you keep on drinking or smoking your body would deteriorate eventually and you will die. Alcohol drinking causes liver cancer as we all know. If you are already afflicted with one you'll be in and out of the hospital because of complications, you wound spend your hard earned money over medications until you ran out of cash, and you would be a burden to your family. 

6.  Tropics

I live in Southeast Asia, in the Philippines, and our weather is famous for its tropical summer all year (except during rainy season) - it never gets cold since we have no winter and the temperature never reaches to zero. What's the point of getting drunk if your body is already warm because of the weather itself. Only countries with harsh winters should be allowed to use drinking as an excuse to get warm. 

7. The Taste

I never like the taste of beer. I did took a sip once as a child. No offense to the Germans and Belgians but I find it rather unfitting for human consumption, especially the hard liquor types such as whiskey and gin. 

8. No to Alcoholism

I already have my own form of addiction. I have no plans adding alcoholism to that list. Too much hard work before you can emancipate yourself from alcohol dependence. 

Wide Awake and All Alone

Today I just had an encounter with a debt collector and it was a stressful and traumatizing moment indeed. My hands are all shaking, my heart keeps on racing and my head is swirling. This is just my second time facing them up since June of last year - where the messenger was in a motorcycle, compared now that they were transported by a white van. Seems to me that they are bringing their big guns to really scare me off so I could be forced to pay them right away. They were even looking for my parents in order to involved them with my troubles. That's a sacred line that I would never allow for them to cross. My problems are my own -- so stay away from my family, especially to my old folks. So what's next? Calling up the barangay captain, the police? I have no means of clearing my debts with them at the moment as I am currently unemployed. Basically my ballooning debts are the reason why I resigned from my job, I worked hard for years and I failed to save anything. When I realized that my only purpose in life is deduced into paying those credit card bills, it got me all exhausted from almost everything. They made me lose my raison d'être, my life became pointless, trivial and simply without reason. The only resort to escape from all of this mess is by doing myself in, but I know that I can't do that because of my family, I know that it would cause them too much pain. I always have everything and I lead a very selfish existence. Heck, my suffering is my own doing so I am in no position to complain. Here is the glitch, I don't want to let my parents down, but if they discover about my financial problems it would break their hearts, surely in the same angle if I take my own life. Honestly, I really have no idea what to do any more. They would probably come back next week, in the next few days or probably next month, and by then they would have caught me offguard and the meaning of throwing in the towel would take shape in twos. So here I am venting to you my dear blog while listening to The Smiths. I am petrified, shaken and pushed to the ground. Kamisama, I am not a religious person per se, but please help me, I badly need you.

A Sudden Ranting Of A Late Twenty-Something

My generation -- being born in the 80s and raised in the 90s -- grew up with an abundant amount of everything Japanese. What the kids have today in K-Pop and Korean dramas we make up for with anime's and manga's. So although there are some Korean films that I have come to like I never fully connected or stay "in-love" with their culture. I could not stomach the Korean manhwa's taking over the Japanese manga. I prefer listening to J-Pop-Rock music over K-Pop. I would always give my wholehearted love to Tokyo -- despite it being earthquake prone -- over Seoul. My fashion palette beats for the Kimono and Yukata over the Hanbok. And although I seriously love Bibimbop, I would always choose a Japanese restaurant to dine together with my friends and family because Ramen is as sacred to me as pizza and pasta. While the world has gone 'gaga' over Gangnam style I remain disconnected with this fad realizing that I have never viewed its video on YouTube and I don't even have it uploaded on my iPod. I have never watched the Korean version of 'Boys over Flowers' and I could never finish a Korean drama. I have no love for Korean gadgets and I still believe that Sony and Sharp makes the best TV and mobile phones. And although the Japanese invaded the Philippines and do us more harm during the WW2 I must have had a long overdue case of Stockholm syndrome because I am so fascinated with their country and culture the way I love France or the way my love-hate relationship with my country goes. So I'll let today's world and its youth fest up with its Korean bug because I know, forevermore, that as a kid born in the 80s raised in the 90s I would always have my Japanophilia and nobody can't take that away from me (not even time, change and society).

Don't Say "Lazy"

I am so lazy these days and that's a fact. There are so many photos and videos to edit and process that are filed up on my disc drive and memory card -- I don't even know where and when to begin with. My attention is too wrapped around by anime's and my constant worry about my health (the latter contributing to my being mentally stressed all day). The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to work on them before the year ends, that way if I get the diagnosis that I fear the most then I won't need to worry about them any more. I'm already a burden to my parents, I don't want them spending their money on me for hospitalization, medication and operations. I want to stay optimistic so I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be alright and that the wonders of drug can take my illness away.

Lessons on Love from "Ano Natsu de Matteru"

Most people would have thought that anime's are for kids alone. My parents often commented about my anime watching habits -- thinking it is too childish because the characters were mere hand-painted only. What they were oblivious about is not every Japanese anime were made for the pleasure of the 13 below age group, considering some of the subject dealings are mature and grownup to begin with. I am not talking 'hentai' here okay. Basically some of my favorite anime's were pretty much on the slice-of-life type; filled with allusions on science, psychology, religion; expressions of life, death and love, although the last one is placed recurrently in the Shoujo category. 

Take for example is "Ano Natsu de Matteru". The characters are high school students in cute school uniforms, and yet I have found a sense of awakening on love through their very own complicated love stories. The pragmatic would just shrugged off their shoulders and tell you that that is not real life. However, if you disregard the sugar coating and the "alien" premise and instead look closely in the feelings of each characters, I dare you you would tell me right away that that is real life. The five characters were all involved in a love pentagon, all except for Remon (the petite girl in a different school uniform). I won't give in the details about who is in love with whom, but if you have been in an unrequited love before you would relate to the story. 

I have come to realized that the most luckiest people in the world are those who had been in love with someone who also loves them back. That doesn't happen all the time you know, that's why there are words such as "settle", "conform" and "compromise". Chances are, the one's that caught our eye would always fall into the unreciprocated box. Love is not a feeling that you can force feed in to somebody else's heart no matter how good of a person you are. It only works on parallel ways. And if you are lucky enough to be in love find the courage to tell that person what you feel because you owe it to yourself to have a peaceful heart and mind. Rejection is inevitable; fear is a basic human emotion. Let yourself be heard -- although the outcome might be unfavorable -- and you would be surprised and overwhelmed by the kind of power and strength that love has rewarded you. Our courage releases us from the pains of what ifs and the what might have been. It is also through courage that we regained the freedom to fall in love again. So tell that someone what you feel, cry a little, and do not regret ever saying it. 

Happy Birthday!

For the past year, I have learned a few things about courage, taking risks and success, not from the context of my hard bound books, not from my favorite films, but through my mother and aunt whose life is the embodiment of those things. Both of them championed the art of hard work and showed us what it takes to become a real life Gabriela Silang. No kidding.

My mother and aunt did not have a very frivolous life back in their youth , they were impoverished, they had no college education, they married early and had their offspring in their early twenties and yet they had manage to forged a successful career for themselves. (Shame on me to think I have something to prove). They never waver to share their blessings to their families in need without expecting anything in return. Although they talk very loudly and are often misunderstood because of their hot temper, I know they only mean well, specially when it comes to our welfare. They were shaped by time. They become the person that they are today because they refused to give up or give in to every trials that they encounter along the way. For better or worse, my mother is the voice inside my head pushing me to do better.

I would always be proud to have them both in my life. They were never perfect, but I love them...and that's what makes them perfect.

For the two most hardworking people I know, happy birthday mommy and auntie Baby!

The Land of the Rising Sun Vol. 1

Oh Japan, I have loved you since my youth. When my cousin and her daughter leave on a jet plane to Tokyo to live and work there for four years I set aside all my feelings for you. Out of my  foolish envy I presume. So I forgot about my Japanophile self by moving on with something else. Then I fell in love with France and I'd exclaimed to the world about my being a Francophile (oh France I still love you, you know I always do, because you had me at hello and my soul belongs to you). But sometimes, even lovers needs a time away. So I took off my French hat, said a momentary adieu to Canal Saint Martin and fly straight back to your heart, Japan.

Obviously, all these are hypothetical, because I've never stepped foot to Japan before and I have no means to travel there at the present time. I love East Asia, it is a culture so varied from mine, after all I came from the South East. The East have South Korea (I like even the grayish gloom of the North), China (although I'm pissed off with them because of their ongoing island dispute with the Philippines), and of course Japan, the land of the rising sun.

I would be posting videos and photographs from different sources online focusing on places, spots, culture and food that took my fancy. If I cannot travel there physically I would not deter my mind from running wild imaginatively.

My first take for volume one is the beautifully preserved old town of Takayama, located in the Gifu prefecture; the place is a cocooned of quaint little shops, coffee houses, sake breweries and street houses. I discovered this place through an anime I just finished two days ago titled, "Hyōka", where the author based the story from. Whenever I discover a place I always look it up on YouTube to see how it looks like with people moving and phasing around it . The video is nevertheless perfect as it shows us the Takayama through the videographer's eye as he rides, explores, captures even the most intricate little nooks of the old town with his bicycle and handy camera. Judging by the look of it, Takayama is such a clean and tidy haven worthy of travel time.

The second location that captured me on the get-go is the Chaya districts (teahouse) in Kanazawa. I've been researching about Kanazawa for more than a month now. The one that led me to this majestic place was the anime "Hanasaku Iroha" since the series got me interested on Japanese Ryokan. One thing leads to another, I came across Chaya through Japan Guide while reading about Kanazawa. The place is made up of wooden buildings and paved streets that would surely take you back into the Edo period. If you want to see a real life geisha -- perform a song and dance number -- this is the perfect place to visit.

From Where I'm Standing

It is not an excuse to neglect your blog just because you know there are no readers around to read and criticize your mundane entries. For the past few days (and months) my attention has been all over the place. I have a very short attention span (due to ADD) so if I get caught up on to something it is difficult for me to do other things. Figuratively speaking, my brain would explode into tiny bits if I am faced with numerous duties and complexities. It takes time for me to finish a task, let alone concentrate on doing anything. Fortunately though, I went on an introspective journey in relation to the purpose and intent behind my blog. I already made the necessary reformat last September, but I still have this nagging feeling of discontent and disinterest that cannot be cured off by my passion for movies or by any cut-and-paste information of my liking. I want to do more without trying too hard. I want to travel the world, but not blog about my trips; I want to go to every restaurants I read on the internet, gulp down the best food with my family & friends and make memories with them; I want to do photo and video shoots, with me behind the camera; and I want to go back to singing just for the fun of doing it. You see, I lose all the perspective of fun (that I have conceptualized) for this blog just because I made it a responsibility as a Cinephile to post film trailers, posters, reviews and all things related to movies under the sun. I was bored and all I've turned into is a bystander by default instead of a proactive doer. What did they say about idle hands being the playground of evil? I guess my petrified self was caught off guard and I've become a very willing victim.

I'm still in my lazy mode; exhausting up the last days of my twenties before the next year's dreaded thirty. All I've got to show is my return trip to my old Japanophile self. I've been consuming voraciously Japanese anime's, food and culture; vehemently imagining being transported to old towns of Takayama, Hokkaido, Hakone, Kanazawa and the neon lights of Tokyo; packing music uploads of Japanese music -- listening to them even when I'm on clothes washing duties and while I am taking a shower. Aside from anime's the movies I have only seen this month are repeats of Woody Allen's ouvre. Too bad!

I am still in search for my own niche. Not sure what it is, but I am certain I would know what it's like. I'm a not feeling too well though, I've got this runny nose and cough. I'm having a hard time hearing because of my nose. Mother weather is being fickle-minded, but I'm hoping fully that it won't get worst and that I'll recover in time for our trip to Quezon.

The Cycle Ends Right Now!

Plastic surgery is not the solution to stop bullying. Bullies are bullies...they won't stop teasing you just because you go under the knife. Maybe they will calm for some time after the kid had the operation, but they will continue doing the same thing later and I think it would breed a new level of bullying. I was bullied my whole life, but I don't give a rat's ass if they think my skin is darker and my hair looks like a wig. Bullies made my life like hell during my school years, and yet I've learned not to give in to their stupidity. You see, no matter what you do you could never please a bully, even if you have come to a decision to conform to their ways or to go through surgery, because they would -- in their sick and twisted pathetic little brain -- find ways to inflict pain against you. To begin with, I don't need them in my life because I don't want a bully for a friend. This world is a far better place without them on it. I feel sorry for them because in order to feel stronger, braver and better they have to feed on the little, timid, and the helpless just to get back to those who hurt them. I feel sorry because they have to be so charismatic and cool to convince people to take their side.

I am not ashamed to say that I am coward and a loser. I dislike confrontations and arguments. But at least I am not the kind of coward who hides behind a cloak of evil deeds, who pushes people around, say mean things against them or make fun of them for their imperfections (because I'm also flawed from head to toe, from skin to bones). I feel sorry for all the parents who encourages their children to participate in bullying; even laughs or scoffs off to the sight of their children beating someone around, may it be in verbal or physical. I feel sorry for those parents who has the audacity to point the blame (or the gun) to the bullied one, when matter of fact, it is their child that caused all the damages, insults and bruises --- that would take years to mend for the victim's life. This October, the bullying prevention awareness month, let's put a stop to this monstrosity. Do not be a bystander. Do something. Be an anti-bully! #StopBullying

Fish Fight

I am the 820,248 fish fighter supporting the protest against the improper discard of dead fishes back in to the sea. Do your part and join the campaign at http://www.fishfight.net/ or get involved by joining Hugh's Fish Fight on Facebook and by following the campaign on Twitter. Let's spread the word!

Introducing: Fujitsu Docomo STYLE series™ F-02D

Honestly, I never really give an "ah" for mobile phones or to any gadgets; I was never a techie person. As long as I can send a message or make a call, it will do. And I prefer my point and shoot for capturing precious moments, so my camera phone is rarely put to use. All those smart phones look the same to me. Seven or eight years ago, cellphones have personality --you can differentiate a Sony Ericsson from a Nokia from a mile away -- but now, everyone is just an iPhone wannabe. Since flip phones has been close to becoming obsolete --except for the Japanese and the Koreans who still manufactures them via their own brands -- I have become more interested and attracted to them. Now they are no longer trendy, I seriously want to own one!

Fujitsu Docomo Style F-02D is a smart phone. It has a WIFI, and a camera and all the works, but it is styled in a flip form. Quite unique from the rest of the iPhone wannabes, don't you think?

For the specifications, click the link and read http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/pr/archives/month/2011/20111109-01.html