snippets of info : Applying for an LTSVP using your EPEC

When you're finally in Singapore and your initial 30-day social visit pass is nearly elapsed, the next step is to get a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) using your EPEC. If you don't have an EPEC yet, go here to find out how to get one.

Applying for a LTSVP is a 2-day process, so be sure to apply several days before your social visit pass expires.

DAY 1

Preconditions:

(what you must have before doing "Procedures")

1. original copy of your EPEC

This is the physical copy mailed to you by M.O.M. when your EPEC was approved online.

2. your passport

3. your disembarkation/embarkation card

This is the white card you filled up while you were on the plane bound for SG:

Disembarkation/Embarkation card

4. a photocopy of your EPEC
This copy will be kept by ICA.

5. a photocopy of your passport
Photocopy the page with your picture and personal details. This copy will be kept by ICA.
A photocopy machine is available on every floor of the ICA building. I forgot to check the price per copy though... sorry... :)

6. 1 passport-size picture
This will be attached to your Form 14. If you don't have one, you can have your picture taken inside the ICA building. Each floor of the building has a "instant photo room". 4 copies for 5SGD.

7. Accomplished Form 14
You can download the document in the ICA website. The form is also available in ICA, near the 4th floor elevators.

8. OPTIONAL: A really good/long book or a PSP or anything that can amuse you for a long period of time. (that is wholesome and legal in singapore.... :) )


Procedures:
1. Go to ICA
The ICA building is near the Lavander MRT Station of the East-West (Green) line. Just follow the directional arrows provided in the station (e.i. : "This way to ICA ->")

once outside of Lavander MRT station, walk a few steps and you'll see the ICA building

2. Proceed to the 4th floor
There are 2 ways to go to the 4th floor, each with it's own advantage/disadvantage:
a. Via Escalator
If you already have your photocopies, picture, and form 14, I suggest you take the escalators since it is closer to the 'Q' machines

b. Via Elevator
The trays for Form 14 is near the elevator. Also a few steps from the elevator are the "instant photo room" and "photocopy room".

3. Get a Form 14 from the trays near the elevator, fill-up the necessary requirements, paste/staple your picture.

4. Go to the 'Q' (as in queue) machines, lane #4 (labelled: Application for Social Visit Pass). Let the machine read the barcode in your embarkation/disembarkation card. The Q machine will give you a number. Obviously, you have to keep this number, as this will be used later.

my Q ticket. This will be cut in half once the documents are submitted

5. Go to the "Social Visit Wing". It's a few steps away from the Q machines. Take a seat as this is a REALLY LONG WAIT. This is where your optional item of amusement will come in handy. I would also suggest you seat near counters 28-38 as these are the counters that serve SVP applications.

6. Wait for your queue number to appear on the board. There is also a board there that tells you the average waiting time for applications. In my case it said 93 minutes. DO NOT BELIEVE that damn board. I waited for almost 3 hours (2hours, 59minutes to be exact). If you don't like to sit there and wait, you can have someone SMS you when your queue number is about to be serviced. So basically, you can walk around the lavander/kallang area... (not much to see though) For that feature do this:

text "VSC " and send to (+65)9070-6100

It will immediately reply indicating the current status of your queue number, and later on, SMS you when there are only 20 people ahead of you in the queue.

7. Once you see your number on the board, go to the counter assigned to your q number.

8. Give your q ticket, accomplished Form 14, passport, disembarkation/embarkation card, EPEC, photocopied EPEC and passport particulars page. The person at the counter will give you back your original EPEC and the other half of your Q ticket. You'll be advised to claim your passport the next day.
NOTE: DO NOT THROW your Q ticket. you will use this the following day to get a new Q ticket.

9. Go out of ICA building.


Postconditions:
(what you must have after doing "Procedures")
1. original copy of your EPEC

2. your Q ticket

===END OF DAY 1====



DAY 2
Preconditions:
(what you must have after doing "Procedures")
1. Your Q ticket from DAY 1
You'll need this to get a new Q number.

2. NETS or CashCard or EZ-Link card
You'll need this to pay 20SGD for the visa fee. They DO NOT ACCEPT CASH(they don't like touching money, remember?!), so be sure you have any of these 3(of course, loaded with more than 20SGD)


Procedures:
1. Go to ICA

2. Proceed to the 4th floor
Since your just there to get your documents, use the escalator, it's closer to the Q machines.

3. Go to the Q machines, this time. go to lane #3. Let the machine read the barcode in your Q ticket from DAY 1. The Q machine will give you a number. Obviously, you have to keep this number, as this will be used later.

4. Go to the "Social Visit Wing", a few steps away from the Q machines. This time take a seat near counters 43-48 as these are the counters that are dedicated for releasing documents.

5. Wait for your queue number to appear on the board. There is also a board there that tells you the average waiting time for document collection. In my case it said 10 minutes. Again, DO NOT BELIEVE that damn board. I waited for 22 minutes and 52 seconds.
NOTE: unlike in the "application phase", the Q numbers may not appear in sequential order, so be sure to periodically check the boards.

6. Once you see your number on the board, go to the counter assigned to your Q number.

7. Give your 2 Q tickets, the one from DAY 1 and the one you just got. Say goodbye to your tickets because you won't be seeing them again.

8. Pay 20SGD, using NETS, CashCard, or EZ-Link.

9. The person at the counter will return your passport, stamped with a 2-month extention of your SVP and a 2-page document, indicating that your application for LTSVP is successful, under 3 conditions:
a. you have a valid travel document - checked!
b. you have a valid social visit pass - checked!
c. you have passed a medical exam

Page 2 is the form the doctor will fill-up once you get your medical exam. Any singaporean clinic will do.

10. Go out of ICA building.

Postconditions:
(what you must have after doing "Procedures")
1. your passport stamped with 2-month SVP

2. the 2-page document given to you

===END OF DAY 2====

So what's next?
so there! you're nearly done with the LTSVP application. All you need to do now is to submit yourself to a medical exam, give the results to ICA, and pay 40SGD, then walla! you can now stay in SG for 1 year even without a local sponsor.

+Disclaimer: The documents I listed are those which were required from me at the moment I applied. It may change later on, so the point is, always be prepared. Bring all the documents you think will be needed and have them photocopied early on (if possible, in the Philippines since it's probably cheaper).

coz it's raining and i've got no umbrella...

i never really like rihanna's "umbrella". i'd have to say though, that mandy moore's version is more to my liking. watch for yourself:

what i've learned after a few days...

after almost 2 weeks here in SG, I've learned a couple of things. Some of them were knowledge passed on to me by my brother and his gf, who have been here for more than 5 years, and some I have learned (both fortunately and unfortunately) first-hand.

1. Ang lakas ng sipa, men!
kala ko nung una, joke lang nung sinabi nila na masusuka ako 'pag naamoy ko sila. Then I got to experience the "aroma" myself... wow p're! di mo na kelangan ng kape... magigising ka sa amoy nila... Most pinoys call them "anaps". Naawa tuloy ako sa isang kong ex-officemate na dun pupunta sa motherland nila... Grabe talaga, di kompleto ang MRT ride pag di mo sila naamoy... Ang bad ko no? pro promise, kung ikaw ang nasa kinalalagyan ko, you'd understand.

2. Kaya nga food store eh, kase "food" lang...
Hiwalay sa kanila ang bilihan ng food, at bilihan ng drinks. I find this really weird. Nung 2nd day ko dito, kumain kame sa isang hawker malapit sa robinson road. nung 4th day ko, nag-lunch ako sa kopitiam sa may mall malapit sa amin. in both of those places (actually, all hawkers, koptiams, etc...) hiwalay ang bilihan ng food at bilihan ng inumin. may separate stall na drinks lang talga ang binibenta, so pupunta ka dun after mo bumili ng food, hiwalay din ang bilihan ng dessert... medyo hassle di ba?

3. Tissue na lang, pahirapan pa...
kung sa Japan, parang umuulan ng tissue dahil sa dami ng mga "giveaways", dito naman, taghirap sa tissue. hindi sya binibigay by default. kung meron mang bibigay syo, say for example, sa isang resto, for sure daw may charge yun. sa kainan lang yan ah, pro sa mga public toilets, meron namang tissue.

4. gentleman? ano yun?
kung ikaw daw ay isang binatang pilipino na nakaupos sa mrt/lrt/bus, wag na wag kang mag-o-offer ng seat sa isang babae, dahil ma-o-offend lang sya. Yung gesture daw kse na yun ay ginagawa lang para sa mga matatanda at disabled. so parang sinasabi mo na din na matanda na sya... (ei, auntie, want to seat?)

5. sungit!
pansin ko lang, karamihan ng mga locals medyo may pagkamasungit by philippine standards. kse tyong mga pinoy, pag may makabangga sa paglalakad accidentally, normal sa atin na mag-sorry or something like that. dito, di yun uso. di rin uso dito ang pag-ngiti, unlike sa atin na nagkatabi lang sa jeep, nagchi-chikahan na bago bumaba. dito... deadma!

6. biglang dadami ang mga kamag-anak mo dito
dito daw, ang usual na tawag sa mga nakatatanda ay "uncle" at "auntie". parang version nila ng "manong" at "manang" natin sa pinas. so pag kelangan mong kausapin si manong taxi driver, call him uncle.

7. ambilis ng escalator!
ibang level ang bilis ng escalators nila sa mga mrt/lrt stations... promise, minsan nakakatakot! unlike sa pinas na minsan may "humps" pa (refer to mrt ayala station, leftside, going down), dito OA sa bilis. ginawa daw ganun kse lagi daw nagmamadali ang mga tao. sa mrt/lrt stations lang naman. yung sa mga malls, so far, wala naman akong nakitang "express escalators"

8. pedestrian lanes do work!!!
i love it! motorists here respect the pedestrian late. ang galing talaga. sa pinas kse sanay tyo na yung tatawid pa yung magbibigay sa motorista. dito sobrang opposite. kahit malayo ka pa sa pedestrian lane, at yung kotse malapit na, hihinto talaga sya at hihintayin ka. kaka-pressure tuloy minsan na tumawid agad... hehehe... consistent ito ah, mapa-bus or kotse, hihinto talaga... so nice!

9. what money? don't you have a card?
for a country that has a lot of money, they sure don't like to touch it. you can use an ez-link card if you want to ride the lrt/mrt/bus. the fare is higher if you're gonna pay in cash. pwede rin ang ez-link sa mcdo. meron ding cards ang mga food courts dito. may 10% discount pag card ang gamit. kung taxi naman, pwede kang gumamit ng credit card or debit card. (wala atang discount) for every thing else, believe it or not, even small and cheap-looking stalls also accept credit / debit cards. Bills, concert tickets, mail stamps, and fund transfers can be done in several kiosks, charging it to you bank account. syempre meron pa ding old fashioned hand-the-cash-over-to-the-lady-in-the-counter, but the government is really making an effort to make transactions cashless.

10. Reload == top-up
Top-up ang term na gamit nila sa "reload". Top-up your ez-link, kopitiam card, and of course, you prepaid phone, via counters, kiosks or atms.

11. Library == video rental shop
di lang books ang pwedeng hiramin sa library, pwede ding audio/movie cds, dvds, pati mga comics at magazine. pro di lahat ng library ay mapalad. the one here in sengkang only has books, magazines and comics... booooo...

12. di ka rin galit sa plastic eh noh?
grabe talga ang mga grocery baggers dito. kulang na lang i-plastic bawat item na binili mo. dapat mag-seminar sila sa pilipinas. galing mga mga baggers natin e, daming items napagkakasya efficiently sa isang bag.

13. di uso ang libre dito...
bumili ako ng sushi nung isang araw, hihingi dapat ako ng wasabi, aba! may bayad?!!! teka, di ba yun included na dapat since bumili naman ako ng sushi??? at itong malupit... may "sushi sauce allocation table" sila. so kung 1-5 sushi ang binili mo, meron ang 1 sachet ng sushi sause, pag 6-10, 2 sachet and so on... huuuuwaaat??? sa pinas hinihingi lang ito sa yoshinoya ah?!!!

14. sale kung sale!
mataas ang bilihin dito... and singaporeans are known to be quite stingy. tipid kung tipid talga, since mahal nga ang bilihin. pro wag ka, pag sinabing sale, aba! bagsak presyo talga. branded sneakers that usually costs around 20SGD, would sell at 10SGD, 42 inch plasma tv, priced regularly at around 5,000SGD would cost around half during a sale. insane diba???

anything...? whatever...!?!

para sa mga taong ang madalas na sagot ay "kahit ano", pag tinatanong kung anong gustong inumin...





















ang kulit noh?

"whatever" is non-carbonated drink, while "anything" is carbonated. There are several possible flavors... click here for more info... :)

Discover your Sentosa...

Rear of Vivo City Mall, near Sentosa

Harbor near Sentosa

Sentosa monorail entrance

Rear view of Vivo City Mall from the Sentosa Monorail

Merli, the Merlion

Merli, upclose

Images of Singapore

View of the Harbor from the Sky Tower

more pictures to follow...

Random Pictures...

Manila -> Singapore

My room:

View from my room window. we're on the 15th floor

the next day, we're off to sentosa...

snippets of info : In the airport

So you already have your EPEC, plane ticket, and pocket money... next stop, the airport.
As usual, be there 3 hours before your flight. Look decent, smart casual will do. Check-in your bags, and pay the whopping 750-peso terminal fee. At the immigration counter, indicate that you are going to SG on VACATION, not to find work. DO NOT SHOW your EPEC. There are several possible questions like where you work, where you'll stay in SG, what you'll do in SG, etc. just don't look like you've committed a crime and you're good to go. RP to SG flight takes around 3.5 hours. PAL serves their usual crappy food and you get to watch a movie you've already seen... goody!

Once you've reached SG, go straight to immigration, and show them your passport and EPEC. I think EPEC holders are given a 30-day social visit pass by default. After that, go get your luggage and ride the taxi/mrt.

Next topic: getting a Long Term Social Visit Pass(LTSVP) using your EPEC. I was told it would be advisable to apply for an LTSVP few days before your 30-day social visit pass expires. (say a week before) I'll post it here once i've done mine.

I've landed!

I'm finally here in SG.
will post pictures later... :)

pack shet!

this whole business of packing really gets on my nerves.

buti na lang talga at nagawan ko ng listahan few days back, kahit papaano may direkyon ako... kung di, malamang maraming gamit na ang nagsiliparan sa kwarto ko...

haaaay... kakapagod...

it's the veggies, i tell you! the veggies...

There seems to be a flu virus floating around the house. My mom, then my kuya, then my dad caught it, and guess what?! for the first time in my life history, i didn't catch it! since time immemorial, im usually the first or second one to contract a contagious disease in the family.

I have no concrete idea why im suddenly miss iron woman, except for the fact that i've started a vegeterian diet nearly 2 months ago. I've also stopped drinking coffee and substituted green tea for it.

yeah, maybe it's the veggies...

i also noted a noticeable drop in my weight inspite of the fact that i have no tedious physical activity (unless you consider typing as tedious). This could mean that i'm burning stored fat since my usual intake of fat has been lessened OR i could be losing the muscles i have built during the time i was still active in the gym. (muscles weigh more than fat) I'm hoping that it's the former.

opsss... got to go, dinner time...
my dinner: adobong sitaw, their dinner: adobong baboy... tsk..tsk... kaya di gumagaling eh! hehehe... :)

snippets of info : EPEC

Snippets of info i would like to share...
Dahil naniniwala akong magkikita-kita din tyo sa finals... :)


if you have decided to take a chance and go to Singapore to get a job, you might want to apply for an Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC). (unless you got a job offer while you're still in the Philippines and your would-be employer already got you an employment pass, then there's no need for an EPEC.)

Why get an EPEC?

The typical length of a social visit pass to singapore is 14 days, 30 days if you're charming enough to the immigration officers. since 14 or 30 days is usually not enough to land a job, you'll be needing an EPEC. an EPEC entitles it's holder a up to 12months of stay in SG. You should apply for an EPEC while you are STILL in the Philippines. Applications are done online.

The EPEC is issued on a one-time basis and is non-renewable. You may apply for
EPEC if you hold acceptable tertiary/professional qualifications. You should
apply only when you are ready to come to Singapore.

Here's a step-by-step procedure...

1. Apply for an EPEC online. Follow the instructions, and select New Application.

2. Fill-up the required information.

3. Remember the reference number that will be given to you. You will use this, together with your passport number to check the status of your application. (If you're the type that worries alot... :) )

4. Wait for an email from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), confirming your application. This email also contains your reference number. This is sent the same day you submitted your info to the MOM website.

5. Prepare scanned copies of your recent passport-size picture, passport particulars page, college diploma, or transcript of records, or other documents that would prove you're qualified to work. MOM will later email you to upload them.

6. In my case, after 3 days, MOM emailed me to request scanned copies of the items specified in step5. I uploaded a 2x2 picture, passport particulars page, college diploma, and transcript of records. You must upload the documents within 7 days upon receipt of the request email. otherwise, the EPEC application will be rejected.

7. In my case, after a day, MOM informed me via email that my EPEC application was approved.

8. Wait for the physical copy of the EPEC approval via snail mail. Waiting time is dependent on the efficiency of the Philippine postal system... so good luck na lang! hehehe...
Based on the timestamps on the mail i received, MOM sent the mail 5 days after they sent the approval email. It reached the Valenzuela post office after 8 days. And it was sent to our home after a week.

NOTE: EPEC is not recognized by the Philippine immigration. DO NOT SHOW your EPEC to Philippine immigration officers. it is only relevant once you reach Singaporean shores.
Also note, getting an EPEC does not instantly give you a 1-year social visit pass. Once you arrive in Singapore, you still have to go to Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to apply for a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP). The EPEC is only a proof to ICA that you are qualified for an LTSVP even though you don't have a local sponsor (an employer or a relative that is a PR or Singaporean).


more snippets of info to come... :)

credit card scammer?

warning to all credit card holders...

just this afternoon i received a call from a certain "Mr. De Leon of Makati City Warrants Section" saying that metrobank allegedly filed a case against me for breech of contract regarding my metrobank mastercard. to which i responded with a "huh?". he asked for my credit card number so that he can "verify" the case. hhmmnn...let me see... some random dude over the phone probably pretending to be some person wants to get my credit card number... yeah, like i'd give it! what a moron! so i didn't give him my credit card number and said i would have to call metrobank directly to confirm. i asked for his number so i can call him back.

too bad for "mr. de leon" because he has not done his homework well. first, my metrobank credit card is visa, not mastercard. second, metrobank does not know the number through which he contacted me. third, i don't have an outstanding balance with my metrobank credit card. fourth, my metrobank credit card was not issued by makati city. fifth, "breech of contract" is not one of the cases credit card companies file against it's users, but RA 8484. (thanks to my dad's lawyer for this info... :) )

just to be sure, i called metrobank to confirm this "case", and i was told that no such case was filled, and assured me that they have no reason to file one. I also asked if there are other cards / loans under my name, baka kase mamaya eh may gumagamit na pla ng pangalan ko. wala naman daw. I reported this incident to metrobank, just incase other people would get this same call.

i have no idea how this dude got my home number and name. and how in the world he knew that i have a metrobank credit card. i tried to call the number he left me, but guess what... it can't be contacted!

so far he hasn't called yet. but just in case he does... talking with him will definitely be fun...

snippets of info : Airlines

Snippets of info i would like to share...
Dahil naniniwala akong magkikita-kita din tyo sa finals... :)
(or kung trip nyong magbakasyon... *wink* *wink*)

4 Airlines with regular flights to Singapore:
(ordered from "cheap-ass" to "OMG-i-have-no-intention-of-buying-the-plane!?!")
1. Tiger Airways
2. Cebu Pacific
3. Philippine Airlines
4. Singapore Airlines
(not so sure if there are other airlines out there...)

1 and 2 are also called "budget airlines". airfares are relatively cheap, however prepare yourself for philippine immigration "interrogation". I've read/heard several stories of people not being able to make it to SG because they seemed "suspicious-looking" to the immigration officers. Pro kung bakasyon lang talaga ang habol mo, at kung wala ka namang tinatago, then go lang. malaking tipid din kung dito... :)

if you want to save yourself from the trouble, take 3 or 4. Immigration officers assigned to these airlines are allegedly "kinder" than those in budget airlines. Airfare however is nearly twice as expensive as 1 and 2 airlines.

If your taking PAL, also note that the length of stay also determines how much your airfare is. If the duration of stay is less than or equal to 8 days, you save more than 1 thousand pesos.
ex:
length of stay is 08 days = price of ticket is 14,072.00 (roundtrip)
length of stay is 14 days = price of ticket is 15,888.00 (roundtrip)

no idea why they have this scheme. just call PAL hotline for more info... hehehe :)

also, try surveying prices in travel agencies. according to the PAL hotline dude i talked to, agencies usually have cheaper deals...

more snippets to follow... :)

now this is insane...

14 Spy Squirrels In Iranian Custody

spy squirrels???
they should have used tarsiers...
i bet they'd be better spies!



-----
ps... thanks to donna for the link :)

slow blog day

it's a slow blog day today...
almost all the blogs i'm subscribed to have no new entries. what the hell am i supposed to do now??? haaaay...
matulog na nga lang...

breathe... breathe... breathe...

As I am a person who likes to plan things, I'm not particularly fond of people who don't keep their end of the bargain... i have a schedule to keep you know... baaaah...
it's back to the drawing boards again!

breathe... breathe... breathe...
count to 10 and breathe...

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I got a copy yesterday and planned to start reading just the first few chapters since it was pretty late (around 9pm), but somehow I ended up finishing the book in one sitting… puyat galore… I seriously could not get myself to put it down.

The book has the same advice I’ve heard a few times, pay yourself first, buy assets, not liabilities, make money work for you, etc…etc… but it’s only after reading the book that those concepts actually sunk in my thick skull. Ika nga ng merit rating sheet namin dati, “Naa sya point!” hehehe…

Suddenly the DSLR and electric guitar I was drooling over does not look so good in my eyes right now. I’m also having second thoughts on that Master’s Degree I was hoping to get… talk about overnight paradigm shift… I really need to think hard smart about this.

Reading the book made me think about my own dad. I was raised by a father like “rich dad”. He was able to own a nice house in the suburbs, sent all 5 children to college, and at the peak of his business, had 4 branches and was supplying 70% of the trucking companies in Metro Manila with recapped tires which was produced by his own recapping plant. All of this he did without a college degree, and without a truck load of money as capital. “Abilidad ang tawag dyan”, he used to say. But the irony of it all is that my “rich dad” gave me “poor dad” advices like “get good grades, finish school, and get a secured job”. Perhaps he didn’t want us to go through the hardships he went through, or maybe its just plain old Filipino culture.

And now I’m off to find ways to make money, and then making the money work for me… but first, how the hell do I do that??? Hehehe… think, think, think….

Religion 101 : Buddhism

Medyo natagalan ako dito...
madaming resources... at medyo natagalan sa initial testing phase... hehehe.. :)

Disclaimer: Contents written here are based on my opinion and excerpts from various research materials (websites, audio books, ebooks). Contents should not be taken as a concrete resource in knowing Buddhism. Ika nga ni Buddha, "I encourage you to test the teaching rather than accept it as true" For more info, just google Buddhism :)
Apologies na din sa mga taga-ibang religion kung ma-o-offend man kayo sa mga sasabihin ko, as i've said, opinion ko lang naman yan... kaya peace tyo hah... :) kung may madadagdag kyong information to enlighten me, then by all means, feel free to post your comment.

I will start first with my misconceptions before I started reading about buddhism. I think marami-rami ding tao ang may kaparehong maling akala...

My Misconceptions:
1. Buddha (a.k.a. Siddhartha Gautama) is their god.
No, for Buddhists, Buddha is their great teacher, not God. In fact, Buddhism is a religion that centers around man, not God. Buddha, by the way, means "one that is awaken". So technically, all of us have the potential to be Buddha.

2. Buddhists worship Buddha
They pay respect to their great teacher, not worship. It’s more of gratitude for sharing his teachings. As i've said, Buddha is not God.

3. Buddhism = being poor
Blame the movies for this misconception! Hindi naman sinasabi ng buddhism na wag ka ng magka-ambisyon or kapirasong orange na tela lang ang isuot mo, magpakalbo ka, at dapat mukha kang malnourished. Ika nga sa kanila, one should take the middle path, di OA sa pagpapakahirap, di din OA sa pagpapakasasa… in short, moderation.

Teachings in a nutshell:
Meron daw na 4 Noble Truths:
1. Life, although sometimes beautiful, is filled with suffering. It’s not pessimistic, but realistic.
2. The source of suffering is desire.
3. Suffering can be overcome, and happiness can be achieved.
4. The Noble 8-fold path is the path that leads to the end of suffering.

In other words, getting what you want does not guarantee happiness. Rather than constantly struggling to get what you want, try to modify your wanting. Wanting
deprives us of contentment and happiness.

The Noble 8-fold path:
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

1-2 pertains to having wisdom
- It means to acknowledge the 4 noble truths and to have the commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement.

3-5 is about ethical conduct:
- One must live life in harmony with EVERY creature. Aside from not stealing, have a generous heart. One's livelihood must not cause harm to any creature. One must not indulge in alcohol / drugs, since Buddhism is about being in control of your mind and body.

6-8 is about our personal mental development
- One of the ways towards enlightenment is to be self-aware, to have focus and control, wherein all mental faculties are unified and directed to one particular object at a time.


My Pro's and Con's:
Pro's:
1. Going to the temple is not required, kahit sa bahay lang pwede na!
- pang tamad! :)

2. It's a very peaceful religion
- nakarinig ka na ba ng suicide bomber na sumigaw ng "for buddha!"... kidding aside, please see this excerpt: (sorry di ko na maalala yung website na pinagkunan ko nyan... dami na kse...)

Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian',
'Moslem', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that is why there have never been any wars
fought in the name of Buddhism. That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to
convert, only explain if an explanation is sought.

3. It's a religion that uses the head.
- although may mga anecdotes and "flowery" stories, most of the teachings are very well grounded. ika nga, walang "now it's bread, later it's something else, wala ng tanong-tanong, basta ganun!..." (no offense meant dear christians :) )

Buddha himself asked his followers to test the teaching rather than accept his
word as true. Buddhism depends more on understanding than faith.

4. It's a very "accepting" religion
ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng religion na ok lang ang gays and lesbians, live-in, at pre-marital sex. basta ang importante lang, pure ang intention, consensual, at hindi nagcau-cause ng harm.


Con's:
1. The religion centers on man, not God.
- kaya nga sabi ng iba, mas accurate daw na tawaging "way of life / philosophy" ang buddhism, kaysa religion, kse nga it's based on understanding, not faith. kya parang gusto ko syang ihalo sa ibang religion, preferably a monotheistic religion. mono, meaning ISA lang talga... ayaw ko nung "isa pero tatlo" di ba nakakaloka? ...

2. I find some Buddha statues scary…
- actually, pati mga santo, barbie dolls, or life-like dools / images for that matter... blame it on chuckie!

3. I am incapable of sitting still and having a full meditation…
I’ve tried and I’ve tried, but to no avail… in fairness, dati less than 1 minute, give up na ako, ngayon umaabot na ako ng 2 minutes! (nagmalaki pa e noh?!) Masyado lang talga siguro akong neurotic... yung feeling ko dapat may mas "tangible" akong ginagawa kesa naka-upo. One day at a time ika nga... still the mind and be self-aware!

as of now, testing phase pa din ako...

"always act with a compassionate heart" ---> parang ang hirap!

bakit di ko ito ginawa dati???

ngayong wala akong magawa sa buhay ko, aside from "research"(a.k.a. aimlessly browsing random websites), naisip kong patulan ang mga audio at ebooks na nakatambak sa pc ko. at dito ko muling nasilayan ang "Getting Things Done" ni David Allen (c/o of Dennis). Isa lang ang masasabi ko, bakit hindi ko ito ginawa dati??? akalain mong may mapupulot pla sa mga sinasabi ni dencio??? hehehe... joke lang cio! ngayon ko lang na-appreciate ng mabuti yung mga pinagsasabi mo about it. ngayon gets ko na why you're really raving about the book. :) marami akong "oo nga noh!" moments...

At dahil nga sa kawalan ng magawa.... masdan ang nagawa ko...

ang problema ko na lang ay wala akong matinong protective covering...
kakahanap ng kung anu-anong pang cover, may naisip akong magandang lalagyan, at swerte naman at saktong-sakto sya!

yun nga lang.... passport ko naman ngayon ang nawalan ng tahanan... hehehe...
makabili nga ng bagong passport cover... akalain mong kasya pala dun ang 3x5 index card! swak na swak!

wala lang... naaliw lang ako...

-----

kapag ang tao walang magawa....
mag-iimbento't mag-iimbeto ng gawagawin...

rainy days...

make me so laaaaazy....
ZzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzz.....

ang cute-cute

from http://www.funnyordie.com.
Warning: Contains slight violence, but the baby's really cute!!!

I AM THE LAW!

going...going...gone...

OMG...

4 more...
then another 3...

i hope they do something about it...

bye bye...

bye bye gloi...
make ingat!

Atheism

In the spirit of fairness, i will also look into this kind of belief...

Atheism is the absence of belief in any Gods or spiritual beings. The word Atheism comes from "a", meaning without, and "theism" meaning belief in god or gods.

Atheists say that human beings can devise suitable moral codes to live by without the aid of Gods or scriptures. There are several reasons why these people don't believe in God, mostly because there are no evidences to prove God's existence.

Some atheists are also critical of religions. For them, religion imposes irrational rules of good and bad behavior, divides people, and is a cause of conflict and war, doesn't give equal treatment to women and gay people, and thus offends basic human rights, and stops people thinking in a rational and objective way.

I'm a logic driven person. Given this argument, Atheism may be the choice for me. But no. I believe in God. I believe that there is a higher power out there looking out for me and everyone else in the world. Cheezy, but it's true. It's one of those things I really can't explain, but know for a fact.

-----Side Note Begin-----
One might think this is an oxymoron... but did you know that there is such a thing as "Christian Atheism"? They say that they do believe in God - but not in a fairy tale way. He exists, but only in your head. For them, God is a projection of the human mind.
-----Side Note End-----

He exists I tell you! He's everywhere! Not just im my head... how do I know?... I just do. And that's more than enough reason for me to believe... and now i will stop screaming... :)

Religion Hopping 101

I found a good website which I can use as starting point in my "religion hopping adventures".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/

The discussion of the religions are concise and well-structured, so this is really a good springboard.

Hopefully I'll find more indepth resources later, or better yet, actually talk to people who are in a particular religion...

usapang religion...

i've always wondered what my life would be if i grew up in a non-catholic household...

i mean, my family is tenaciously devout... every room has a designated "santo" (image), we have "pabasa" every holy week, we used to pray the rosary everyday at 6pm when i was younger (this tradition brokedown when everybody was suddenly busy even to have dinner together....), mass every sunday... all that catholic-whachamacallits.... name it, we've probably done it (or doing it still).

-------side story start-------
there was this one time, when i was a little kid, my mom was "forcing" me to dress up for sunday mass. i asked her what's the point of going to mass. (yes, the early beginnings of a religious anarchist...hehehe) Her answer was that jesus would be angry if we didn't, which i think confused me more at that time.
-------side story end-------

i was educated in catholic schools from kinder to college... which i think made matters worse. more questions were derived from the answers received... some questions were simply given shrugs and answers like "it's a mystery..." or "it's God's will" or "it's the church's tradition" yadayadayada...
don't get me wrong, i believe in God, but i really can't quite put my trust in the Catholic religion...

it was in college when i talked to someone about my situation. she said that it's good to question one's religion, but it shouldn't stop there. it is one's responsibility to find the answers. nothing's wrong with exploring other religions, she said she did it once before, and realized that the Catholicism is the religion for her. she said it gave her a greater appreciation of her beliefs. somehow i believe her because she really seems happy and at peace with her choice...
i wanted to do what she did... to go on this "religious journey" aka "religion-hopping" as she fondly calls it, but somehow, other things in my life got in the way, school, then work, then other things... i went on with my life, while my soul was miserably rotting away...

now i have this time to for myself, i figured i should be giving more time to the best (and quite neglected) part of me...

let the journey begin...

what i need right now...

I Need Love
by Sixpence None The Richer

i left my conscience like a crying child
locked the door behind me put the pain on file
broken like a window i see my blindness now

i need love
not some sentimental prison
i need God
not the political church
i need fire
to melt this frozen sea inside me
i need love

driving into town tired and depressed
like a flare the streetlight bursts an s.o.s.
peace comes to my rescue and i don't know what it means
i need love

true

"It is better to be hated for what one is,
than to be loved for what one isn't"
- Andre Gide, Writer

asteeeeeg!!!!

my jaw dropped...

To Cut or Not To Cut... researched version

Given that im bored, i tried searching for hairstyles that i might like.


I stumbled upon the Stellure Website which gives you a free analysis of your face shape and the appropriate hairstyle for you. You have to sign up though, so prepare your "for-spams-only" email addresses. Once you have signed up and filled up the questionare, several 3D model hairstyles are generated. Since i've decided to keep my hair short, these are some of the styles generated for me:

1. Everyday Layered Bob

Trim Period: 6 Weeks

Styling: Towel dry hair and then apply a styling product such as mousse. Either leave hair to dry or blowdry. Finish with a shinning spray and a light hairspray hold.

Maintenance level: low

Styling time: 5 to 15 minutes

--> i would never classify a hairstyle as low maintenance if it uses a styling product. my definition low maintenance = shampoo + conditioner + water + let-the-bus-do-the-drying.
If im going to sport this hairstyle, that means i have to buy a mousse, a shinning hair spray, and a light hairspray hold. low maintenance you say? I will never buy a mousse, unless it's the kind that has chocolate in it... yum!


2. Choppy Two-toned Bob




Trim Period: 6 Weeks

Styling: Blow dry 80% of moisture out, apply a light smoothing cream, using a small round brush take the hair in sections and curl the hair around the brush, hold in place and apply heat for 10 seconds then move away. Repeat twice. Slide brush out.

Maintenance level: Medium

Styling time: Allow 30 minutes to achieve this style at home or for a special occasion allow your stylist 40 minutes in the salon.

-->first of all, coloring my hair is not an option. i like it black. period. and what? i need to have a stylist? i actually have to hire a stylist to make me look like i just woke-up after a night-long party? what the hell is a light smoothing cream?


3. Razored Uniform Layers

Trim Period: 6 Weeks

Styling: Blowdry using a radial brush. Flick out ends to create the effect. Or used large hot tongs and dress out when finished. Finish with hairspray.

Maintenance level: Medium to High

Styling time: 30 minutes

-->forgive my ignorance, but what is a radial brush? forget that, how about tongs?, "hot tongs" to be precise... are those the kind you wear?? why then would i need it for my hair?? yeah... looks like i need a stylist....


4. Short crop with textured fringe

Trim Period: 5 weeks

Styling: Blast your hair dry at the roots with a hairdryer. Make sure you create as much volume as possible. Add the texture to the style with styling paste and hairspray.

Maintenance level: low

Styling time: Allow around 5 to 10 minutes to do your hair at home. When you go to the salon allow 1 hour and 45 minutes (including color)

--> okay, lets assume for one minute that a decent employer would give me a job given this hair... seriously... does this look like the kind of hair that would fit my bubbly personality? (where "bubbly" is used sarcastically) Why do i get this feeling i'd be involved in gang wars if i'd get this hair...

after all the search, im still quite lost. it seems like every year, i say to myself that i should get a different kind of haircut. but each time i sit in the salon chair, i find myself saying "trim lang please". why can't i stop playing safe??? i tell myself that i should try taking risks... but is taking risks the same as having a 50% chance of getting a really bad haircut? all this mumbling for a stupid haircut... i must be really bored...

---------

Help! I need somebody,

Help! not just anybody,

Help! you know I need someone, help!

---Help! by The Beatles

To Cut or Not To Cut

6 days of no work has taken it's toll on me...

i'm bored, and now i'm turning against myself, or more specifically, against my hair. i'm really not the one to take utmost care of my hair... i think it's quite obvious. i find fixing ones hair too tedious... in fact, the mere act of "beautifying" oneself is too tiring for me. i have no idea how these "kikay" girls have the energy to do the things they do to themselves. im not saying stop taking a bath or brushing your teeth... im just saying, can't we just stick to the basics... ain't the hygiene stuff not enough? just saying...

anyway... back to my hair...

my dad tells me i should cut it, mom tells me don't, my kuya on the other hand couldn't care any less. and i am just completely clueless as to what to do.


if only being a bald woman isn't so frowned upon... how i'd love to be one...

Must Have

matagal na pla akong di nakaka-post ng lyrics...

Must Have
by Pupil and Barbie Almabis

Your gravity pulls me
Depravity feeds me
My destiny leads me to you to you

My feelings have grown now
Sweet feelings that somehow
Reveals itself so loud to you to you

And I am breathin’ hard
Looking for the sound of my soul
And I am breathin’ hard
Looking for the taste of something beautiful

You’re a must have
A must have
I must have you now

You’re a must have (I must have you now)
A must have (I must have you somehow)
I must have you now (I must have you now)

You spin me all around
I’m upside down, I’m inside out
I wanna get so close to you
But I’m so far away

I got the microphone
I tell you something you already know
I look for you in the broad daylight
You look for me in the darkest night

And I am breathin’ hard
Lookin’ for the sound of my soul
And I am breathin’ hard
Lookin’ for the taste of something beautiful

You’re a must have
A must have
I must have you now

You’re a must have (I must have you now)
A must have (I must have you somehow)
I must have you now (I must have you now)

I look for you in the broad daylight
I look for you in the darkest night
You taste so sweet on the tip of my tongue
I look for you in the brightest day
I look for you and I want to say
Your words are sweet on the tip of my tongue
And everything is done

After 3 trashbags...

di pa rin tapos ang paglilinis ko sa kwarto...
'nak ng tokwa... ganun pla kadami ang gamit kong di ko na kelangan...
mostly papers, some nung highschool pa ako... ang lala noh?
yung iba kse akala ko noon magagamit ko pa, kaya di ko tinatapon, ngayon ko lang na-realize na karamihan ng mga bagay na 'yon, di ko na dapat pang itago.

ja, maliligo muna ako... otherwise, magiging makatotohanan na ang pagsabi kong mag-ta-taong grasa muna ako... :)

the meat hiatus

It's been two weeks since i stopped eating meat.
(im not counting the time i ate spaghetti with lots of ground pork in it... it was a party and it's impolite to say no...but i did stay away from the grilled chicken and pork)

so why stop eating meat? hhmmnn... it started when i had intestinal problems due to shrimp intolerance. i really didn't feel like eating something meaty. so while surfing for vegetable recipes, i ended up watching this video on animal cruelty. this video was filmed in the US, and im pretty sure the meat industry here in the Philippines isn't as cruel. but after seeing the video, i can't help but feel sorry and at the same time disgusted. Some people say that animals are here to serve the purpose of being man's food. Well if that's your argument, why not eat your dog or your cat? See... it's just not right, it's cruel, and it's disgusting. then what makes the other animals less than your household pets? are they less intelligent, less social, less adorable?

if you still want to eat meat or have a weak stomach, you might not want to see this:



-------
animals are friends not food...

plano, plano, plano...

so ngayong officially jobless na ako, what's next?

1. maglinis at mag-ayos ng mga gamit
sandamakmak na mga gamit ang nakatambak sa kwarto ko ngayon, dumagdag pa yung mga bagay na dala ko from the office... grabe, napakakalat talaga. i'll post the pics of my room pag na-ayos ko na, para ma-motivate akong matapos sya ASAP.

2. mag-ayos ng pc files
kung gano kagulo ang kwarto ko, malamang mas magulo pa dun ang mga files ko. ang mas masaklap pa dyan, kalat-kalat pa sila. may files sa pc ko(yung nasa kwarto ko), may files sa isa pang pc(yung nasa may sala), may files din sa external HD ko, isama pa nating yung 2GB at 1GB flash disks ko... so good luck na lang sa akin...

3. mag-collect ng mga necessary documents
if ever matuloy ako sa SG, kelangan ko nang i-collect ang lahat ng documents na kaya kong i-collect bago ako umalis. kahit yung mga di ko pa kelangan. you'll never know, baka magkaroon ng cases na kelangan pla sya. mahirap nang kumuha pag wala ka na sa pinas.

4. catch up on my reading
dami kong books na di pa nababasa.... may binigay pa yung projectmates ko na book about photography(thanks guys!). tsaka si donna din binigyan ako ng uber cool (and heavy) book(thanks donna!). can't wait to read them all... :)

5. play the guitar
tagal ko na ding di ito nagagawa... wawa naman yung guitara ko, wala ng pumapansin sa kanya.

6. practice photography
gagawin ko siguro ito after ko mabasa yung 2 books na nakuha ko.

so far yan pa lang ang mga naiisip kong gawin.
syempre may matinding pahinga in between... :)

ja, magpapaka-taong grasa muna ako... :)

Good bye's and Thank you's...

Last friday was my last day in the office...
Hindi pa talaga nag-si-sink-in sa akin na that was my last day. it's weird...

Syempre, first on my list of thank you's ay ang aking lunchberks. like i said before, sila ang isa sa pinakamalaking reason kung bakit ang hirap umalis sa NSP. I really don't know how to thank them for everything we've been through... :)
Pati ang mga projectmates ko na nag-tyaga sa kakulitan at pang-"bu-bully" ko, also deserve my thanks...
Gaya ng sabi ko, lahat naman ng tao sa NSP mababait... medyo weird nga lang... hehehe...
I will surely miss NSP. I can only hope na yung next job ko ay halos same environment.

they just keep on quoting...

a few months ago, someone quoted my sam milbo post in pinoy exchange... not really my proudest moment... thank God it's no longer online...

now, i just found out that someone "quoted" my camotes island picture from my flickr account to a pinoy exchange forum thread on "Davao vs. Cebu"


im not really angry or anything at anyone for using my pics, in fact im flattered. a "by dyingsonnet" caption was below, so credit is given where it is due and social justice is served...yadiyadida.... although i would have picked the other camotes island picture over this one.

picture in pinoy exchange

a better picture

well... whoever posted the picture, good luck on your mission to promote Cebu...
it really is a great place... :)

4 days to go...

apat araw na lang, and im officially free...

im actually excited because i'll finally have time to do the things i want and need to do. for starters, i really need to fix my room. sobrang dami ng gamit na nakatambak lang sa tabi-tabi...books, papers, CDs, etc. i also need to catch-up on my reading. i still have 4 books which i bought but haven't read. i also want to start playing the guitar again. it's been quite a while since i played. i wonder how rusty i am. another thing i want to do is to organize my files on both PCs at home and also the ones in my external HD. geez, i've never been this excited about cleaning!
haaaaay! can't wait to be free!!!

funny pro-animals video... :)

this is so cute and funny...



(so don't eat animals... :) ) hehehe...

because the old one just seem too depressing...

i changed my blog layout from pitch black to OMG-where's-my-shades-white.
out of a whim i guess... the old one just seem sooo depressing... hehehe...

my favorite sad song...

huh?!

i came across this article in yahoo...
some of it i agree with, pro may iba talga na halos mahulog ang panga ko nung nabasa ko... read for yourself...
i also took the liberty of inserting my comments per item... simply because this is my blog and i can... :)

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/careerist/35700

The Five Biggest Workplace Myths
Posted on Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 12:00AM

As I've written before, the workplace is experiencing massive cultural shifts due to changes in both demographics and technology. Consequently, there are new rules for getting what you want out of work.


But some people still continue to give advice that only applies in the old, outdated office. Here are the five biggest myths about the workplace today, and new ways to think about the issues they raise:


Myth 1: Getting a promotion is good

Promotions aren't created with you in mind -- they're created with the company in mind. But you need to pick the steps that are right for you. You deserve a customized career, so be wary of all promotions.


Most people who are good at their non-management jobs won't excel as leaders. It takes a very specific personality type to do better as a leader than as someone who's actually doing the work. The irony is that people who are conscientious about getting their work done are promoted into leadership positions that don't value conscientiousness so much as being open to new ideas.


Also, the average salary increase is 4 percent. Is that going to change your life in any meaningful way? Getting a promotion is so last century. Instead, negotiate for training, mentoring, or flex time. These are all things that will really improve your life and your career.

--> this i agree with... sometimes promotion isn't always good... but having higher pay definitely is! :)

Myth 2: Hide gaps in your work history

The most productive, organized, and excited people are those who respect ideas enough to take a break and have some. In the best cases, a gap in your résumé is evidence that you're both thoughtful and productive.


So it's not whether you have gaps that matters, but whether you talk about them well. Tell a good story about your accomplishments.


A gap is only bad if you go back into the workforce with nothing to show for it. As long as your résumé shows progress, curiosity, and increasing responsibility, you'll be fine. And it's very hard to show these things without switching things up on a regular basis.

--> yup, gaps can be good... but on your next job interview, try to make "i just feel like bumming around for awhile" sound smart and profound... :) send me a comment when you've made up one, i might be needing it within this year... :) hehehe....

Myth 3: Sexual harassment laws protect you

News flash: If you report sexual harassment it'll probably hurt your career. The law protects companies from getting sued for sexual harassment, and human resources professionals are trained to circle the company and protect it as soon as someone reports a problem. This isn't to blame people in HR -- there's nothing else they can do because the law dictates this behavior.


When you do report harassment, the most likely thing to happen is that you'll lose your job because of retaliation. Yes, that's illegal, but it's pretty much impossible to prove in court. But let's say you can sue and win: You'll get a settlement that's too small to allow you to retire, you'll be virtually unemployable in your field and career, and your harasser will probably do the same thing to your replacement.

Before you accuse me of being indifferent to social justice, please know that I'm not saying this is OK. I'm saying that unless you're independently wealthy, you can't afford to single-handedly face down the injustice of sexual harassment laws. So unless you're in physical danger, figure out how to make the best of a bad situation and move away from the harasser if possible.

--> now this is just downright unbelievable... im not so sure if this is the case with US companies though... but this is just sad if true...


Myth 4: Your first job out of college matters a lot

Don't place too much importance on your first job -- you'll have many more. Most people have 8 jobs before they turn 30, and that's fine. It's nearly impossible to know what career will be a good fit for you until you start trying things.


So give yourself the latitude to try a lot. And don't get hung up on a big soul search -- you don't need to know the meaning of life to land a great job, just the meaning of hard work.


Entry-level jobs typically can't cover the cost of rent, college loan payments, and insurance premiums, all of which are rising faster than wages, so moving back into your parent's house is a smart step toward finding a career that's right for you.

If you don't have to worry about paying rent, you have more flexibility to take a job that feels right but pays very poorly. The rise of the prestigious but unpaid internship intersects perfectly with trend to move back home.

--> yup, true... but it's less annoying though, when your talking to a person who actually knows what "NEC" is... [insert flashbacks here] "NEC? call center ba yan?" ... wow... if i had a peso for each time that was asked... i'd have.... well...nevermind... :)

Myth 5: You'll be rewarded if you do a good job

You'll actually be rewarded only if you're likable. So spend your days trying to figure out what people need and what people want, and how you can help them. Empathy makes you likable.

The people who don't want to have to deal with kindness will complain. But for most of us, it's big relief to know that the workplace of the new millennium demands more kindness and respect than ever before.

--> oh shit! don't tell me i've been doing it wrong all this time?! di pla dapat ako nagtatrabaho?! bullshit!

Im losing money... virtual money... :(

waaaaaaa.....





ok... im still not selling...
i'm hoping that the stocks i bought will eventually go up.
*cross-fingers*

thank God this ain't real money. :)

Marry, Boff, or Kill

In the tradition of 30 Rock, im bringing you the game the TGS writers love to play during their idle times... "Marry, Boff, or Kill".

The mechanics, given 3 people you have to classify them using, obviously, "marry, boff, or kill" and by "boff", they mean "do the nasty with"... hahaha... funny!

if you dont have friends to play this with, the 30 rock website has a slightly different game for this. kinda like tetris, where personalities fall down (like tetris blocks) and lying below are the 3 categories. you have to navigate the blocks using the arrow keys. do it fast and think about it pretty well, as all categories have a limited slots. 5 "marriables", 5 "boffables", and 5 "killables", you might end up marrying kevin federline! (and we all know how nasty that would end up!)

You can also view the statistics of the past games other people played.

here are the intersting figures:
45% would love to kill ryan seacrest (me included). 43% would marry bill gates, and i bet there a billion [dollar] reasons why people would answer that. 45% would love to kill alf (me too), interesting how ryan and alf are tied at 45%... hehehe...
58% would love to kill kevin federline (top 3 so far) 49% would boff cristina aguilera. 40% would boff johnny depp. 45% would marry einstein. and 35% would marry fred flintstone... hahaha... now that's funny!

the game is a little US-based as there are american politicians like al gore and condoleezza rice. you can just base it on the "looks factor", as there are pictures in the block if you dont know the person... :)

check out the game:
http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/games/MBKgame.shtml

here's the top male and female, and top 3 picks for each category:

30 Rock rocks!!!

im hooked to a new tv series, 30 Rock.
imdb describes the plot as:

"Liz Lemon, head writer of the sketch comedy show "The Girlie Show", must deal with an arrogant new boss and a crazy new star, all while trying to run a successful TV show without losing her mind"

the description does not do the series justice.
you just have to watch it to appreciate it's humor... but then again, mababaw lang naman ang kaligayahan ko... hehehe...

Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon. She also writes and produces the show. please dont judge the "actor/writer/producer" title, i understand the apprehension as most movies/series with these kind of people have a tendency to suck... remember ronnie ricketts?... need i say more??? But Tina Fey's different... she actually does have talent! :) If the name rings a bell, you probably watch Saturday Night Live. she also stars in that show, and she's also the head writer. (although i don't really like that show....)

i think 30 Rock is available through cable... star world i think. or you can just download them in your favorite bit torrent download sites...

i cant wait for season 2...

i'm earning money... virtually....

im currently playing in the stock market...
virtual nga lang... hehehe...
check it out... virtual stock exchange... hehehe...
for those who want to play in the market, but don't
have the money or the guts... :)
http://vse.marketwatch.com/Game/Homepage.aspx

my initial investment was on IBM, with 100 shares.
Each share costs $106.08. I initially lost 0.03.
But as of press time, i have a 0.32 gain! wooohoo...
if only these were real money... damn!

now i invested on Viragen Inc, a medicine company.
since may bird flu scare, i think mukhang tataas
ang value ng mga shares nya. plus mababa ko nakuha
yung price ng each share ($0.05 per share) from the
original price na $0.50 per share last july. so either
this company's going to the shithole, or it's eventually
gonna go up. I bought 1,000,000 shares (total of $45,900.00
worth of investment)

im currently number 42 out of 220 traders...
the standings are changing quite frequently...
if Viragen goes down... so do i...
it's an awfully big risk...
however, if it picks up, even to half of it's original price,
woooohooo... virtual money baby! virtual money!!!

shit... im excited about money that aint real...
must be the meds im taking... stupid flu!!!

virtual money!!!!! virtual money!!!!
mwuuuuhhhaaaaahahahaaaa....

uuwi na lang, nadale pa! hehehe....

promise, maaga na ako papasok...
by maaga, i mean 9am ah (layo ng bahay ko!)...
bakit kamo??

abay, handang-handa na akong umuwi
(well, di naman tipong suot na yung bag,
more like di ko na feel mag-work)
nag hihintay na lang ako na mag-7pm...
(nyeta... bakit kse ako 10am pumasok!...)
mamayang konti... nilapitan ako ng aming
japanese manager para itanong kung ako daw
ba ang support ngayon... waaaa.... may problem
daw sa NCOS... (kelan ba nawalan...???)
haaaaay... so medyo wala akong choice kung di
mag-stay at maghintay...
maghintay sa kanilang mga email
at mga uploaded logs sa ftp server...
haaaay buhay...

it's a comforting thought though, na konting
araw na lang, di ko na gagawin to... :)

----

para akong lalagnatin... waaaaaaah....
allergic yata tlaga ako sa work... :)

masama bang wala pa...?

i always get that odd look when people ask me kung san ako lilipat after my resignation, and i answer back na "wala pa".
masama bang wala pa? I know it's impractical, syempre, lalo na kung breadwinner ka.
siguro, swerte lang ako at supportive ang mga magulang ko (in short, papalamunin nila ako ulit habang wala pa akong trabaho...)
actually, marami akong plano, maraming gustong gawin at matutunan. pro after a really good rest siguro, tsaka ko sila magagawang concrete.

going to singapore is definitely an option. ang tanong na lang e kung kaya ko ba talagang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa at kung kaya kong sakyan ang culture nila. gusto ko rin sanang mag-aral. kung papalaring makapag-trabaho ako sa SG at di naman ganun kabigat ang trabaho, i might try to get an MS degree. haaaay... nangarap na naman ang bata.... hehehe...

pro seriously, this time, i will do my very best na gawin lahat ng gusto kong gawin... i want to be part of something big, but first, i want a clean slate...

nag-usap na kme ng japanese manager namin kanina. nung morning, nag-send sya ng email with 4 questions, related sa pag-re-resign ko at kung anu daw ang suggestion ko for improvements sa company. then nung hapon, pinag-usapan namin yung mga sagot ko. medyo mahabang usapan, pinaliwanag nya sa akin na yung ibang changes mahirap talgang gawin. meron din syang mga pieces of advice for me. mabait talga sya.

ja, pahinga muna... di daw kelangang pumasok bukas! walang support! buti naman...

the die has been cast...

or in my case, the resignation letter has been handed-in...
ang tagal bago ko ito nagawa.
matagal na syang plano, ngayon lang nagkatotoo.
ang hirap pla talaga.

nung sinabi ko sa japanese manager namin,
mukhang ok naman. pro kanina, bago ako umuwi,
nilapitan nya ako and asked me kung pwede daw kameng mag-usap bukas...
waaaaaaaaaaa....

wala lang...


-----
can't wait to just sleep all day...

decisions... decisions....

ang dami kong dapat pag-desisyonan sa mga darating na mga araw...
pro wala ako sa mood mag-isip... gusto ko munang magpahinga...
mahirap plang mag-hand-in ng resignation letter...
ilang buwan ko na sya pinag-iisipang gawin, pro di ko magawa-gawa...
promise, next week... gagawin ko na sya...
i can't wait to be a bum... gusto kong matulog ng mahabang oras... yung walang iisiping problem pagkagising... haaay... buhay...

ika nga ng japanese manager namin...
"give me a braak!!!"

nyaaahahaha....

golden compass quiz

got this from the golden compass movie website...
it's the film adaptation of Philip Pullman's book of the same title.

It's about a girl, in whose world, all people have "daemons". No, not the background process, you geek! According to the movie/book, daemons are animal spirits that accompanies people through life. Actually, it's more than just a companion, it's more like a person's own soul... (char...)

So parang "what kind of animal are you" ang dating... :)

If you want to know your daemon, check out http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/

here's mine:

nice name noh? "Arkadion"

vacation???

i have a 5-day vacation...

im currently on day3, but somehow, i dont feel rested... :(

so many things are bothering me right now...
*sigh*

o tracy... o tracy...

i really love tracy bonham... such talent...

guitar-and-piano-playing-singer-songwriters rock!

here's a good song...

-----------

And The World Has The Nerve To Keep Turning

by Tracy Bonham

from the album Blink the Brightest

Oh greedy one oh greedy two

Did you do what you could do

For crippled one or crippled two?

A can of beans a sugar tooth?

You dig a hole under your greed

You follow down until you bleed

You don't know how it feels

You don?t know how it feels

Oh busy one oh busy two

None for them and all for you

The can of dreams you sold your soul

Someone when and poked a hole

Now there are days when you feel bad

You almost feel the heart you had

The kid inside your head

Keeps asking why the

World has the nerve to keep turning

And why the sun has the balls to keep burning?

Oh fickle one oh fickle two

it's back to work what can you do?

Someone else will take the time you've got yours and i've got mine

Your nagging heart wont settle down as you stop to look around

The kid inside your head

Keeps asking why the

World has the nerve to keep turning?

And why the sun has the balls to keep burning?

And why the moon has the gall to keep staring?

And why your heart can not stop caring stop caring stop caring?

The kid inside your head keeps asking why the

World has the nerve to keep turning?

And why the sun has the balls to keep burning?

And why the moon has the gall to keep staring?

And why your heart can not stop caring caring caring stop

-----------

you can hear some of her songs (including this one) at her website http://www.tracybonham.com

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“Guitar-wise I have a certain style that I can’t seem to get any guitar player to mimic, and it’s because they’re good and I’m bad...And I don’t mind...” ---Tracy Bonham

ambilis ng oras

april na...
ang bilis ng oras....

this is it...

wala ng atrasan 'to...

this is probably the biggest risk i've ever taken.
hopefully i'll learn a lot from it...

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tpos na ang contract namin sa gym.
di na ako nag-renew... sayang kse, di ko naman

magagamit ng buong taon. medyo matino

naman yung "home gym" namin dito....

pagtsa-tsagaan ko na lang.

i'll post the pic pag naayos ko na...

------------------------------------

so surreal...