On September 6, 2008, the College of St., Benilde will be having WordCamp Philippines, the premier event for bloggers, WordPress users and developers. It is the venue for all enthusiasts to learn from the best in the industry and further hone their skills, come together to share and learn the latest updates in WordPress.
I have been a 'writer' for quite some time now, submitting article to several submission sites, doing freelance work,a nd writing web content, but I have never been a participant in any writing workshop, lecture, or anything close to it. I've always thought that writing seminars and workshops will teach me a lot. Not to mention the cool people you'll meet and learn from. This is why when my supervisor sent us an email informing us of the event, I wasted no time registering (there are only limited slots and as of the moment, there are only a few slots left).
For interested writers, bloggers, and enthusiasts, you can visit http://philippines.wordcamp.org and the Mindanao Bloggers website.The event is made possible by:Register now before all the slots get full!
p.s. meron ding cool shirts you can purchase on the website, you can either have them shipped to you or just claim it on the day of the event.
American Idol rocks!
You can say it is the most popular show in the world based on the number of people who tune in every Tuesday and Wednesday (US time) and the number of franchises all over the world.
If my memory serves me right, it was in 2003 when American Idol caught the hearts of Filipinos because of Camille Velasco and Jasmine Trias, who finished third. Mula noon, mas madame na ang pinoy na nanunuod ng American Idol. From that season, naging hooked na din ako sa AI, at kahit hindi makaboto, taimtim akong nananalangin na sana wag matanggal si Carrie, Vonzelle, Anthony, Jasmine, Constantine, Mikaila, Katharine, Elliot, Lisa, David A., Ramielle, at iba pa. Syempre yung iba natanggal. Si Carrie lang sa mga bet ko ang nanalo.
The first time na dumating s Pilipinas ang idol franchise, exciting para sa mga gaya ko na mahilig sa reality shows. ABC 5 pa ang may-ari ng franchise. Pinanuod ko sya mula audition kasi nga may element of novelty. Titingnan mo kung papantay sya sa panlasa gaya ng AI. In a way, the first season did. Masaya sya panoorin. nakita ko pang nag-audition yung college schoolmate namen dati na si Jaja. Magaling sya kumanta, medyo chubby, at maganda ang personality. Ewan ko kung bkit hindi sya naka move on sa next level.
Ayos ang treatment ng ABC sa Philippine Idol. Swak si Agoncillo as host. The judges were very credible: Ryan C., Pilita Coralles, and Francis M., masasabi mo na authorized sila to judge a contest that big. Magagaling din ang mga contestants. Syempre may boses, pero higit sa lahat, may personality.
I even met some of the Idols sa Metrowalk one night when we went out for coffee. Technically and creatively, maganda ang treatment ng ABC. Medyo kinulang nga lang sa marketing kaya hindi gaano nag-rate kaya nalipat sa GMA 7.
You'd think that with a network as big as GMA, mas magiging maganda ang kalalabasan ng show. I personally think na mas magiging mabenta sya. Unfortunately, it disappoints in many aspects.
First, medyo alangan ako sa judges. Okay na si Ogie A. dahil matagal na din sya sa business at maganda ang credentials nya. Wyngard Tracy, okay na sana kasi halata naman na talagang he is out to look for the next singing star. Yun nga lang, may times na makikita mo na may effort to be as rude as Simon Cowell--hindi naturally believable. Then, si Jolina M. She was the least person I'd think they'd get as a judge. Sure, she is a very talented performer and well-liked personality. pero hindi sya that strong as a singer, mas marami ang mas magalong na singer sa kanya who could really judge an Idol contestant. Bakit hindi si Regine V. na beterana na, she'd make a better and more credible judge. But then Jolina is not doing a bad job, not great, but not that bad.
The host, Raymond, is a good host. But for some reason, there's something that doesn't quite connect with him and the show. Hindi ko masyado napapanuod ang PI dahil wala sya gaano thrill para sa akin. Unlike AI, kulang sya sa bentahe sa akin. Ewan ko, pero siguro if I force myself to watch more, baka magustuhan ko na sya. Pero down to seven na lang sila, at hindi pa ako convinced na it is worth my time.
Louie Ignacio is the director of the show (ata) and buti na lang magaling syang director dahil kaya nya ibenta ang show using other aspects. Watch SOP and you'll see na magaling sya. Yun nga lang, for PI, parang medyo wala yung magic nya, para sa akin. Medyo may kulang pa, siguro dahil na rin may obvious similarities sa attack ng mga shots, blocking, spiels(?), at flow ng show.
Siguro if they try to make it more of their own, baka mas maging maganda. Suhestyon lang naman.
Sa mga contestants, okay naman sila. Magagaling kumanta, obviously, but gaya ng mga unang nabanggit, may kulang. Siguro sa personality o stage presence, o baka ako lang ang nag-iisip nito. Hindi ako fan ng PBB o PDA sa kabilang istasyon pero mas gusto ko panoorin ang mga contestants ng PDA over the Idols.
Having said all these, hindi nman lahat ng first-time franchises ay ie-expect mo na sobrang ganda agad, we have to give the network and productionstaff some slack. Kaya okay pa din para sa akin to. At dahil isa sa mga former classmates ko nung college ay kasali as one of the remaining contestants sa Idol.
Kay Elizalde "Kid" Camaya, good luck and make the Tamarraws proud!
I am a true Survivor fan.
Ever since the second season, which I saw on Studio 23 years ago, I got hooked. It was a mixture of a lot of things. Wala pa akong nakitang television show na katulad ng Survivor that time. The concept was unlike others. At tsaka maganda siyang break from the cheesy and crappy soap operas at slapstick comedy shows sa local primetime.
Anyway, I won't be discussing how I came to love the show. Survivor fanatics reading this (sana may mga nagbabasa) would understand. And para sa mga hindi Survivor junkie, for sure alam na nila kung ano ang Survivor dahil maglalabas ng sariling franchise ang GMA 7.
To those who know me well, they can attest na isa akong true-blue Survivor fanatic. hindi bale nang umabsent ako sa klase noon at may ma-miss na exam, makapanuod lang ng Survivor. Sa enrollment, hindi ako kukuha ng subjects na naka-sched ng Friday, unless sobrang maaga sya, para maabutan ko ang live feed ng Survivor sa Studio 23. Yan at iba pang mga kalokokhan ko noon para lang sa Survivor.
Nung second year college ako, I wanted to be a castaway so bad. I went online sa CBS website to check on eligibility rules.
Shet, for US citizens lang. Bummer.
Binalikan ko ang Political Science class ko noong first year ako. Naturalization ang kasagutan sa pangarap ko. You have to be at least residing in the US for 5 years before you can apply for a change in citizenship (hindi ako ganun kasigurado sa figures pero yun ang naalala ko). 5 years, medyo matagal. Kailangan ko din magipon ng pera para makapunta ng Tate. Hindi pa ako graduate ng college, ilang taon pa, so matagal-tagal pa. Naiisip ko, kung sakaling dumating ang panahon na pwede na akong maging US citizen, wala ng Survivor.
Just to give you an idea how much I like the show, picture these:
1. Sa mga swimming outings, sa tuwing lalangoy ako, iniisip ko na immunity challenge sya. Kinokontsaba ko ang mga kasama ko na sabay sabay kami tatakbo sa pool.
2. Kapag ihaw na isda o baboy ang ulam namin, nagkukusa akong magpabaga ng apoy. Bakit? Iniisip ko na nasa fire-making challenge ako. Bago magsimula, kukuha muna ako ng mga kahoy at ilalagay sa isang spot, ilalapag ang lighter sa kabilang dulo at magtatawag ng isang tao para orasan ang paggawa ko ng apoy. Pag walang ibang tao, gumagawa na lang ako ng mental scenario. Parang tanga di ba?
3. Maarte ako sa pagkain. Ayoko ng buro, sawa, kambing, aso, pusa, daga, kahit atsara ayoko. Pero nakakain na ako ng palaka pero dahil inisip ko lang na nasa immunity challenge lang ako. Kahit nasa hapag ako kasama ang mga pinsan ko, hahawakan ko muna ang isang maliit na piraso ng karne, pause sandali, sasambitin ang "Go!" saka isusubo. Syempre nakapikit ako habang ngumunguya nang may pagka OA. Pagka lunok, ilalabas ang dila.
4. Minsan hindi ako naliligo dahil iniisip ko na sa isla, walang liguan.
5. Sa mga school projects, hanggat pwede ilusot, nilalagyan ko ng Survivor elements. Second year college, SocAnthro class. Kailangan namen gumawa ng family tree. Ang ginawa ko, nag-drowing ako ng dalawang isla, Jaburu at Tambaqui. Yung mga pangalan ng mga ninuno ko nakasulat sa papel na korteng "tiki". Nilagyan ko ng mga marka ang isla na parang isang totoong mapa. Ang pambato sa project? Yung logo ng Survivor, pero pinalitan ko ng "SocAnthro" yung "Survivor." Pagkabalik sa akin nung project, may mga red circles ang prof ko at nakasulat na: 'What does this mean?"
6. Ang Thesis 1 ko ay entitled "The Role of Reality Shows in the Fight Against Social Discrimination". Yung Thesis 2 ko: "A Textual Analysis of Survivor: Amazon."
7. Eto na siguro ang ultimate proof ng pagiging Survivor fan, ang pag-audition sa first installment ng Survivor:Philippines.
The first time I met Philip, it was during the annual "alay lakad" on a Maundy Thursday. My friends and I were preparing for the hours-long trek to the church in Antipolo. It was a Catholic tradition where devotees walk together for hours to converge at the end point of the trek: the Antipolo church.
But for me and my friends, it was a leisure trip. We were armed with our bottles of water, backpacks filled with food and change clothes, plus a pole with a custom-made banner bearinig all of our names. At eight in the evening, we were already on our way to Antipolo. There was really nothing else to do but chat while walking. And at certain times, we would stop somewhere to rest, buy a drink, or for others to puff a smoke.
I was not yet a smoker that time. I was intrigued by my friends' obvious pleasure while lighting sticks of cigarette.
I egged one of my friends to give me some and let me try it. He wouldn't. "'Wag na Wowie," he said. I tried the others, they all said the same thing. For something that was known for being caused by peer=pressure, it was certainly not the case for us.
Hours passed and we were still walking, and I was still pestering my friend to let me have some, and he still wouldn't let me. It was a Marlboro, red. Others puffed a Winston, much lighter than Marlboro.
Then I saw an opportunity when I saw a neighbor with a long white stick. I asked him for one and he gave me one. Excitedly, I grabbed a lighter and lit my very first smoke. The first puff sent me coughing. But there was something cool in the cigarette, like a menthol candy. I looked at it and saw it was a Philip.
One of my friends saw me and was obviously pissed. But there was nothing they can really do because I was already devirginized by the little cigarette stick. When they saw what I was smoking, they couldn't help but laugh. That was when I found out that if you are a teenager who wants to smoke and be cool, shun away from Philips or Hopes--they were said to be prostitutes' preference for a cigarette stick. If you are familiar with the way they do business, and the long waiting time they have to endure, you'll get why these menthol cigarettes got that preconceived notion.
So I immediately switched to Marlboro (red at first, god, what a head ache!) and Winston. Then eventually, after years of being exposed, I switched to Winston and Marlboro lights.
Fast forward to years later, I am still a smoker, although I really try to keep it down. I wanted to quit for a very long time, obviously for health concerns. But there are times when I couldn't resist the urge to light a cigarette. I'm sure all smokers share the same sentiments, no matter how hard they want to try to kick the habit.
It really takes a lot of determination and discipline. And of course, support from people who care about you. Those who care enough to punch you when you are like a junkie trembling to have a stick.
In a way I am successful in trying to quit, but there are still times when I succumb to the temptation.
Quit now before you regret it. You can really get sick. I used to handle an account that dealt with kicking the smoking habit and that was when I realized the effects smoking can have on us. So now, I am really fighting eacch urge.
Kick it!
http://www.healthmad.com/Addiction/The-Dangers-of-Smoking-and-How-to-Effectively-Quit.129253
Tsk, tsk, tsk
Ang tatlong salita (kung masasabi mong salita ang "tsk") na ito ay isa sa mga salitang nakakapang-init ng ulo. Kahit nasaan ka man, siguradong lagi mo itong maririnig. Sa abangan ng jeep o bus, sa pila sa mga fast food chains o supermarket, sa MRT, sa entrance ng mga malls at establishments kung saan may nag-iinspeksyon na mga gwardya, sa loob ng public utility vehicles, at kung saan saan pa.
Kapag nakakarinig ako nito ay naaasar ako. Parang naghahanap ng away ang sino mang nagsasabi nito. Per na-realize ko na lahat tayo ay guilty sa bagay na ito. Sinasadya man natin o hindi, nasasambit natin ang mga nakaka-pikong mga salita. Na-integrate sa ito sa ating lenggwahe kaya parang natural na lang ito na lumalabas sa mga bibig natin.
Halimbawa?
Sa pag-abang na lang ng sasakyan papasok o pauwi sa araw-araw. Natural sa Pilipinas ang mga pila sa terminal ng jeep o FX, mga pilang parang mga naghihintay na makapasok sa sinehan. Box-office kung tawagin. Scenario: Umaga, mainit, mahabang pila. Nagmamadali ka nang makasakay para hindi ka ma-late sa eskwela o trabaho. kahit labag sa kalooban mo, magtitiyaga kang pumila dahil wala ka namang choice.
Tumatagaktak na ang pawis mo dahil sa init ng araw, ilang minuto na ang nakalipas pero wala pa din ang kasunod na jeep o FX.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk,"
Lilingon ka kung saan mo narinig ang tunog na iyon. Makikita mo ang isang medyo may edad na babae na matindi kung magpaypay para hindi humulas ang make-up. Iisipin mo kung saan sya naaasar, sa init ba o sa tagal ng sasakyan. O dahil sa pangatlong late na nya sa opisina ngayon kung nagkataon. O baka dahil may pasimpleng sumingit sa pila.
8:30 na, alas nwebe ang pasok mo.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk,"
Hindi mo napansin na sa labi mo na pala galing ang mga salitang yun. Naaasar ka na din dahilmale-late ka na. Maya-maya nandyan na ang kasunod na FX. Swerte, iisipin mo dahil makakasakay ka na. Medyo natuwa ka na sa kabila ng init ng araw. Sakay ka na sa loob ng FX.
Ilang minuto sa loob ng FX, medyo naiinitan ka kaya medyo in-adjust mo yung aircon para itutok ng konti sayo.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk,"
Titingin ka sa katabi mo na diretso ang tingin pero gumagalaw ang bibig habang naririnig mo ang tunog ng letrang T, S, at K. Ayaw nya diretsahang sabihin sa iyo na wag mo itapat ang aircon sa sarili mo dahil naiinitan sya--kahit na pareho kayong 35 pesos ang binayaran. Sarap bigwasan ng mga ganitong kasakay sa FX.
Nasa EDSA ka na. Ilang minuto na lang 9:00 na. ma-traffic sa may Buendia.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk,"
Ngayon, hindi lang katabo mo ang parang manok na tumitilaok. Pati yung mga nasa likod at harap, habang panay ang tingin sa mga suot na relos. Sampung minutong nakatigil ang sasakyan. Napansin mo na sa loob na sampung minuto na iyon, lalagpas sa isang short bond paper ang "tsk, tsk, tsk," na narinig mo kung ire-record mo lahat iyon.
Sa wakas nakarating ka din sa Makati. Naglalakad ka na sa Ayala Avenue para pumunt sa opisina ninyo. Sa underpass (sosyal ang underpass sa Ayala kasi escalator): "Tsk, tsk, tsk"
Yung tao sa likuran mo, hindi mapakali na parang natatae dahil gusto na atang itulak ka pababa para makausad sila. may iba na nagpupumilit na gawing two-way kahit pang-isang tao lang ang kayang i-accomodate ng escalator.
Paalala sa mga taong ganito, kung nagmamadali kayo, gumamit po ng hagdan. Kaya naimbento ang escalator e para hindi na kailanganing maglakad sa mga hagdan. Alalahanin po natin ang mga nakapaskil sa dingding ng LRT 2: Sa mga nagmamadali, please use the stairs.
Ilang "tsk, tsk, tsk" na ang narinig mo sa loob ng isa't kalahating oras ng byahe?
Nakakaasar di ba?
Next attraction: Tsk, tsk, tsk (Midday rush)
