Cebu (CPDRC) Inmates Tribute to Michael Jackson (video).

Pinoy inmates performed a tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson last June 27, 2009 hours after receiving the news that Michael Jackson passed away. In memory of the music icon, 1, 500 inmates performed dance routines of popular songs of Michael Jackson in front of hundreds of spectators at the prison.

The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center is a maximum security prison in Cebu, Philippines. The prison became an internet phenomenon because of their version of Michael Jackson's Thriller video.

Watch their video below:




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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 29, 2009)

Top Ten

01.David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02.2NE1 - Fire
03.Taylor Swift - White Horse
04.David Cook - Come Back To Me
05.Jonas Brothers - Paranoid

06.SpongeCola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt!
07.6Cyclemind - Walang Iwanan
08.Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
09.Green Day - Know Your Enemy
10.The Veronicas - Untouched



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A Tag and an Over the Top blog award!

It’s not everyday that I received something from a fellow blogger, be it an award, a tag or a meme. That is why I always find time and space to repost them in this blog as a token of how I really appreciate the thought.

A new blogger friend Recel of My Written Expressions has passed on me a tag and an award all-in-one. She thinks that this humble blog is OVER THE TOP! Accordingly, this blog has an exceptional design and content with new knowledge presented, with a sense of style, or at times just giving the readers a smile! I can only say thank you to Recel! Indeed, this award is greatly appreciated.


I am now passing on this award to a couple deserving bloggers who I think are OVER THE TOP!


Vlad of Stalking Minds
Meryl of Places, People, Events, Good food and my Life
Carlota of My Web-Blog Designs
Rochelle of Femme Power
Rolly of Joro Livelihood

And now here are the rules for the tag:

USING ONLY ONE WORD! It’s not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Your hair? black
3. Your mother? Caring
4. Your father? Home
5. Your favorite food? Pansit
6. Your dream last night? Forgotten
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? Happiness
9. What room you are in? Living
10. Your hobby? blogging
11. Your fear? Poverty
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? abroad
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. Something that you aren’t? Funny
15. Muffins? What?
16. Wish list item? House
17. Where you grew up? Bulacan
18. Last thing you did? Eat
19. What are you wearing? Nothing, lol.
20. Your TV? Old
21. Your pets? None
22. Friends? None, hehe.
23. Your life? Boring, hehe.
24. Your mood? Brooding
25. Missing someone? A friend.
26. Car? Toy
27. Something you’re not wearing? Jewelry
28. Your favorite store? SM
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? Now
31. Last time you cried? Recently
32. Who will resend this? Me of course
33. One place that I go to over and over? Bed
34. One person who emails me regularly? Kylie, from work
35. My favorite place to eat? Kitchen

I thought it was easy but it’s not! If you think this is fun, go ahead and try it yourself! Anybody can just grab this if you want!


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Farewell to the King!

It was this morning in the Philippines when I heard about the sad news: the King of Pop, Michael Jackson died after suffering a cardiac arrest. Fans and stars alike were stunned with the news; the entertainment world is now mourning the loss of this legendary music icon.

I will not claim to be a big fan of Michael Jackson but I grew up with his songs. I was merely a toddler when he made it big in the music industry with hit songs like “Thriller”, “Beat It”, “Billie Jean” and other monster hits. My sisters adore him and they even have cassette tapes and later on CDs of his albums.

Filipinos love Michael Jackson. Over 50,000 Filipino fans watched him when he went to the Philippines for a two-day concert that was part of his historic world tour last December of 1996. It was his first and last concert in the Philippines. Fans even began arriving at the venue 8 hours before the concert and they stayed on their feet while their idol sang his hit songs. It was the pop icon's third and last world concert tour as a solo artist.

Based on news reports, he even visited a hospital in the Philippines as part of his humanitarian efforts days before the concert. A sea of screaming fans followed him wherever he went.

For his Filipino fans, Michael Jackson will forever be the music icon and the King of Pop worthy of adulation.




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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 25, 2009) Featuring "Fire" of 2NE1

There is not much change in the countdown today. David Archuleta remains the top artist with “Touch My Hand.” Taylor Swift is at number 2 with “White Horse” followed by 2NE1 with “Fire.”

6Cyclemind’s “Walang Iwanan” is the top OPM artist.

Top Ten

01. David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02. Taylor Swift - White Horse
03. 2NE1 - Fire
04. David Cook - Come Back To Me
05. 6Cyclemind - Walang Iwanan
06. SpongeCola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt!
07. Miley Cyrus - The Climb
08. Jonas Brothers - Paranoid
09. Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
10. Green Day - Know Your Enemy

Here's the video of the number 3 song in the countdown, 2NE1's "Fire":





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A budget hotel in Makati City

If there’s one city in the Philippines that can stand alongside the world’s best financial cities, it will be Makati City. The city is considered the financial capital of the Philippines being a major commercial and economic hub in the country. No wonder why many global companies opted to house their offices and local headquarters in the city. It is a major destination of businessmen from all over the world.

Because of its strategic location, the city also boasts of many of the country's five-star hotels to cater to foreign and local businessmen. But if you want to make the most of your stay in Makati, you have to choose a budget hotel in Makati City with the best location. You should be close enough to bars and restaurants and to the business and shopping district.

One hotel that boasts of quality accommodation is the Jupiter Suites - a budget hotel in Makati City which is along Jupiter St. in Bel-Air. They now have recently upgraded spacious rooms, all of which are equipped with internet access and other amenities that will surely make your stay in your hotel room extra comfortable.

Jupiter Suites lives up to the Filipino tradition of warm hospitality and the willingness to serve all guests, Jupiter hotel prides itself with courteous staffs that are willing to make your stay as pleasurable as possible.



If you are into Facebook like me and you want to know more about this hotel or you are one of the many people who have experienced the quality accommodation of this hotel, be a Facebook fan of Jupiter Suites.





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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 22, 2009) Featuring 6Cyclemind's "Walang Iwanan."

David Archuleta started the week again still at the top spot of the MYX countdown. Taylor Swift’s “White Horse” is at the second spot followed by David Cook’s “Come Back To Me.”

The top OPM artist for the day is 6Cyclemind’s “Walang Iwanan” which is at number 5.

Top Ten

01.David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02.Taylor Swift - White Horse
03.David Cook - Come Back To Me
04.2NE1 - Fire
05.6Cyclemind - Walang Iwanan
06.SpongeCola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt!
07.Jonas Brothers - Paranoid
08.Miley Cyrus - The Climb
09.Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
10.Green Day - Know Your Enemy

Watch the top OPM artist below:





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Happy Father’s Day 2009!

Today is a very special day to all fathers so let me just greet every father out there a happy father’s day! If you haven’t greeted your father, you still have a couple of hours to do so. They deserve a special day like this. Anyway, they are responsible for what we have become. I’m out of ideas today so let me just repost something that I wrote about a year ago.

This is something personal… I just want to honor a very special person who is responsible for what I have become: my father. I used to think that he favored my elder brother but now I’m not sure. The sure thing is we have our own share of misunderstandings and differences. Our minds often clashed. His beliefs are very traditional and mine is progressive which have resulted in heated arguments and debates on even seemingly trivial issue as politics. And would you believe that in every election, we support opposing candidates and we race to influence other family members?

Yes, one thing that we have in common… we are both stubborn and we steadfastly cling to our principles in life.

I don’t know where it all started, I mean our differences. Of course, we don’t fight and I always end up obeying his rules but there’s that unmistakable difference in our beliefs. Don’t get me wrong, I have a very high respect for the man.

What I can only recall is I grew up without him by my side. He worked abroad for a couple of years and those were my formative years.

Yes, he is not perfect and neither am I. I can even list a full page of his shortcomings but I know that I can also list twice more of my own fault as a child. To think that most people would consider me a good son is ironic.

Undoubtedly, whatever I have become I owe it to my father. The fact that I’m rational enough to stand by my principles and beliefs is a great indication that I was raised well. He let me think and do things my way. And I know that even with our differences in opinion, he is always there to support me in his own ways.

When I visited our house in the province a couple of years ago, I saw my novels and magazines where my short stories were written neatly stacked under our center table for every visitor to see.

He never told me about this but I know that somehow, he is proud of what I have become. I never told him about this either, but I love the old man.

Happy father's day, Tatay!


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Are you looking for e-books?

I used to be a bookworm. I still have a collection of different books that I bought in the past. Although I already refrain from buying books because I no longer have the time to read I still get to read good books from great authors especially if I fancy one. If I have the luxury of time, I usually search the internet for e-books that I can read when I am free at the office.

I actually prefer reading e-books than the paperback or hard-bound type of books because I can do it even when I’m at the office or when I’m at my computer at home.

I have a collection of e-books on my computer, some I haven’t had the time to read. I even used to share e-books on this blog.

Searching for e-books and other on the internet is not an easy task. I used to visit forums and other websites to look for the e-book that I like. And most of the times, I don’t get positive results.

This is the reason why I was delighted when I found a search engine for ebooks and other documents. You can now search pdf ebooks and other documents in doc, ppt, txt and rtf formats. The good thing about this search engine is it can find the book even if you don’t exactly remember the title as it also uses the text of the book. You can then search, preview and download the ebooks that you are looking for.

So if you are looking for e-books, you may want to try www.ebook-search-queen.com.



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Influenza A(H1N1) Frequently Asked Questions.

Still on the influenza A(H1N1) virus. I believe that panic can be prevented by providing people with accurate information. If we are equipped with the right information, like if we know how this disease can be transmitted to other people, we have better chances of avoiding or spreading the disease.

A few days ago at the office, I overheard one of my colleagues, expressing her worries that the flu is continuously spreading and it is getting nearer to her place.

Another colleague quipped that the flu virus is airborne. I told them that the WHO (World Health Organization) has yet to declare that the disease is airborne, at least it doesn’t travel that far and it is not travelling the air in search of new hosts.

According to WHO, people mainly gets it from direct contact or via droplets that are expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing.

At least, it’s not yet the time to be paranoid and we haven’t seen anyone yet putting high fences or barbed wires around their houses and shooting people who tried to come near, lol.

Okay, I know it is not a laughing matter, and we must take precautions seriously. We can pray a lot but let’s do our share of actions. Let us be informed and let us spread the right information.

So here are the Frequently Asked Questions about the disease and these were taken from the WHO website:

What can I do to protect myself from catching influenza A(H1N1)?

The main route of transmission of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus seems to be similar to seasonal influenza, via droplets that are expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing. You can prevent getting infected by avoiding close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms (trying to maintain a distance of about 1 metre if possible) and taking the following measures:
• avoid touching your mouth and nose;
• clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching the mouth and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated);
• avoid close contact with people who might be ill;
• reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible;
• improve airflow in your living space by opening windows;
• practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.

What about using a mask? What does WHO recommend?

If you are not sick you do not have to wear a mask.
If you are caring for a sick person, you can wear a mask when you are in close contact with the ill person and dispose of it immediately after contact, and cleanse your hands thoroughly afterwards.

If you are sick and must travel or be around others, cover your mouth and nose.
Using a mask correctly in all situations is essential. Incorrect use actually increases the chance of spreading infection.

How do I know if I have influenza A(H1N1)?

You will not be able to tell the difference between seasonal flu and influenza A(H1N1) without medical help. Typical symptoms to watch for are similar to seasonal viruses and include fever, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat and runny nose. Only your medical practitioner and local health authority can confirm a case of influenza A(H1N1).

What should I do if I think I have the illness?

If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough or sore throat:
• stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds;
• rest and take plenty of fluids;
• cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing and, if using tissues, make sure you dispose of them carefully. Clean your hands immediately after with soap and water or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub;
• if you do not have a tissue close by when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth as much as possible with the crook of your elbow;
• use a mask to help you contain the spread of droplets when you are around others, but be sure to do so correctly;
• inform family and friends about your illness and try to avoid contact with other people;
• If possible, contact a health professional before traveling to a health facility to discuss whether a medical examination is necessary.

Should I take an antiviral now just in case I catch the new virus?

No. You should only take an antiviral, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, if your health care provider advises you to do so. Individuals should not buy medicines to prevent or fight this new influenza without a prescription, and they should exercise caution in buying antivirals over the Internet.

What about breastfeeding? Should I stop if I am ill?

No, not unless your health care provider advises it. Studies on other influenza infections show that breastfeeding is most likely protective for babies - it passes on helpful maternal immunities and lowers the risk of respiratory disease. Breastfeeding provides the best overall nutrition for babies and increases their defense factors to fight illness.

When should someone seek medical care?

A person should seek medical care if they experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or if a fever continues more than three days. For parents with a young child who is ill, seek medical care if a child has fast or labored breathing, continuing fever or convulsions (seizures).

Supportive care at home - resting, drinking plenty of fluids and using a pain reliever for aches - is adequate for recovery in most cases. (A non-aspirin pain reliever should be used by children and young adults because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.)

Should I go to work if I have the flu but am feeling OK?

No. Whether you have influenza A(H1N1) or a seasonal influenza, you should stay home and away from work through the duration of your symptoms. This is a precaution that can protect your work colleagues and others.

Can I travel?

If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of influenza, you should not travel. If you have any doubts about your health, you should check with your health care provider.

Source.


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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 19, 2009) featuring SpongeCola and Gary V's " Ayt"

David Archuleta swept the countdown this week at number one with his song “Touch My Hand.” Another David is at number 2, David Cook’s “Come Back To Me” while Taylor Swift landed at number 3 with “White Horse.”

The top OPM artist is SpongeCola featuring Gary Valenciano with “Ayt” which is currently at number 5. 6CycleMind’s “Walang Iwanan” is at number 10.

Top Ten

01.David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02.David Cook - Come Back To Me
03.Taylor Swift - White Horse
04.Jonas Brothers - Paranoid
05.SpongeCola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt!
06.2NE1 - Fire
07.Miley Cyrus - The Climb
08.Green Day - Know Your Enemy
09.Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
10.6Cyclemind - Walang Iwanan

Here’s a video of the top OPM artist in the countdown:






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A(H1N1) virus in the Philippines.

Now, I have to admit that I’m starting to worry with the growing number of cases of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus. As of writing, there are now 344 confirmed cases of the virus in the Philippines including the new 33 cases that were added today. That is according to the evening news on TV.

Some of the newest cases are also getting closer to my residence in Quezon City. Based on reports, there were two confirmed cases in Lagro, Quezon City which is just within our vicinity and a student was tested positive in the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The Lung Center of the Philippines which is one of the major facilities for testing and treating the influenza virus is also a few blocks away from my work.

I can’t help but to feel anxious when I ride a bus, a jeepney or an FX taxi. What if one of the passengers who has been sneezing and holding the bus handrail is an influenza carrier? God forbid!

I also worry for my family in Bulacan as there were also reported cases of the virus in the province. I just hope that they are all safe and that they will be spared by this disease.

On a positive note, 242 cases or 70% of the confirmed cases have been healed according to the news. And there are ways to help strengthen our immune system and to prevent the spread of the disease. I will be writing more of this in my next post.

I know that worrying is not healthy and is just a waste of time as it doesn’t even accomplish anything. But sometimes, our faith falters which we should not tolerate.

We should be spending our energy not in worrying but in praying. Let’s trust that God will keep us all safe and away from harm.

God bless us all!



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Kreativ Blogger Award

It’s been a long time since I received a blog award from a fellow blogger but here’s another one when I least expected it. I would like to thank my new blogging buddy, Vlad of Stalking Minds for giving me this Kreativ Blogger Award. I’m very much honored and I greatly appreciate this.


The rule of the award is to tell seven things that you love. Here is my list:

1. My family and that includes my girlfriend Donna – Need I say more?
2. My computer – I will not be able to blog without it.
3. My 3 blogs – They are my brainchildren and they also serve as stress relievers after a stressful day at work.
4. My TV – I love watching television. I can watch TV and work with my computer at the same time. Multitasking at its best hehehe.
5. Fruits and Veggies – I can live without meat and fish in my diet but never without fruits and vegetables.
6. Books – I used to be a bookworm and even though I no longer have much time to read books I’m still keeping my collection of books that I bought in the past.
7. Bed – I would kill for a good night's sleep, lol. Working in a call center made me appreciate the value and the benefits of resting and sleeping at night time. It’s a good thing that I no longer work the graveyard shift.

There you have it, the seven things that I love. And now it’s time to pass this award on to 7 other kreativ bloggers who also deserve this award:

1. Badong
2. Xprosaic
3. Arlyna
4. Janice
5. Seiko
6. DJ
7. All members of Blogging for Fun group.

Thank you and happy blogging to everyone!

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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 15, 2009)

David Archuleta is still at the number 1 spot for today’s MYX Daily top ten with his hit song “Touch My Hand.” Taylor Swift’s “White Horse” is at number 2 followed by David Cook’s “Come Back To Me.”

Spongecola is the top OPM artist with the song “Ayt!,” their collaboration with Gary Valenciano.


Top Ten

01. David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02. Taylor Swift - White Horse
03. David Cook - Come Back To Me
04. Miley Cyrus - The Climb
05. SpongeCola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt!
06. 6Cyclemind - Walang Iwanan
07. Jonas Brothers - Paranoid
08. The Veronicas - Untouched
09. Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
10. Green Day - Know Your Enemy



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Link Exchange. Be part of my blog roll!

Friends come and go. I didn’t know that this old adage is also appropriate in the blogosphere.

When I was just starting with my blogging journey, I met a couple of bloggers who have helped me learn so many things about the wonders of blogging. As a newbie, I learned how to drive traffic to my blog, how to improve my page rank and so many other things. These friends used to comment on my posts and I did the same thing. We exchanged links.

However, these friends have moved on. When I visited the links in my blog roll a few days ago, they are now broken links; some are now sites showcasing the latest travel packages to Boracay Island or the Windsor Hills Resort. Some were still active blogs but with the last post dated three months ago.

When I bought myself my own custom domain, I visited the blogs on my blog roll to request for them to update my blog’s URL. A few updated my link which I am very grateful, but some just didn’t care.

Anyway, I’ve managed to meet new friends in the course of my blogging journey. I also joined a Yahoo group called Blogging for Fun and I am proud to be a member of the group. By the way, I’ve added the links of my Blogging for Fun friends in my sidebar.

So I guess it’s time to rebuild my Blog Roll. I already received a couple of requests for link exchange but I was just too lazy to work on it. But I’ll surely find time this weekend.

If you want to be part of my new blog roll and exchange link with me, kindly add my link on your blog and comment on this blog post. It will be greatly appreciated. Rest assured, you will be added to my new blog list.

If you used to be part of my blog roll and you still want your link in here, just buzz me so I can include you on the new list.

Have a great weekend to everyone!


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Happy 111th Philippine Independence Day!

Tomorrow is a special day for all Filipinos as we celebrate the Philippine Independence Day. It is a public holiday in the Philippines so some employees will have to spend a long weekend. However, for us who work in the call center industry, we still have to go to work. Anyway, we will get double pay for work rendered tomorrow.

Based on historical accounts, it was June 12, 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence and sovereignty of the Philippine archipelago from the colonial rule of Spain.

However, the declaration was not recognized by the US government or Spain due to the 1898 Treaty of Paris where Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in exchange for an indemnity for Spain’s expenses and lost assets.
The US government finally recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 under the Treaty of Manila and we have been observing Independence Day during this day until President Diosdado Macapagal signed RA No. 4166 into law on the 4th of August 1964 designating June 12 as the Philippine Independence Day.

I just hope that tomorrow’s celebration of the Independence Day will become more meaningful to all Filipinos as we are in the brink of economic and political recession. Let us not forget that our country’s Independence was not given to us in a silver platter. Our ancestors fought hard to free us from bondage sacrificing their own lives in the process.

Happy Independence Day to all my Filipino countrymen!

Photo credit: www.filipinasoul.com

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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 11, 2009) Featuring David Archuleta's "Touch My Hand" video

For today’s MYX Daily Top Ten Countdown, David Archuleta is still on the number one spot with “Touch My Hand.” Taylor Swift’s “White Horse is on number 2.

Kyla is the top OPM artist with “Back in Time.” 6Cyclemind is on number 8 with “Walang Iwanan while SpongeCola’s “Ayt” is back in the countdown at number 9.

Top Ten

01. David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02. Taylor Swift - White Horse
03. David Cook - Come Back To Me
04. Miley Cyrus - The Climb
05. Demi Lovato - Don't Forget
06. Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
07. The Veronicas - Untouched
08. 6Cyclemind - Walang Iwanan
09. SpongeCola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt!
10. Green Day - Know Your Enemy

Watch David Archuleta with his number one song "Touch My Hand" on AOL sessions below:




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Buying a treadmill

More and more people nowadays are becoming conscious of their health. Donna and I just started a diet that consists of fruits and vegetables. This program looks promising as Donna already lost 4 pounds in just two days. It is designed not only for weight loss but to improve the body’s overall performance because of its cleansing effects.

Aside from various weight loss diet programs, the number of people indulging in exercise is continuously increasing. Some people are adopting various workouts with the use of different fitness equipment.

One sure way to burn extra calories is using a treadmill. Treadmills are good since you can enjoy the benefits of walking and exercise at the comforts of your home. You can even watch your favorite movies or TV shows while exercising. And to top it all, there’s no need to make excuses when the weather is not good as you don’t need to go to the gym to do your routine exercise.

However, purchasing a treadmill can be a major purchase decision. There are different treadmills to choose from, you can even choose to purchase brand new or used equipment. What you can do is to shop around and check out different treadmill sale before you buy. When buying a treadmill, make sure you’re getting just what you wanted and the one that will suit your needs.

Make sure that you have all the information to make that major purchase decision. There are websites out there that provide a broad range selection of new and used fitness equipment. Try to look for information on the advantages and disadvantages of each treadmill model so you can check which model suits your preferences and budget.



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Hindi Ako Papayag! (Con-Ass video)

I already expressed my strong opposition to the passing of the House Resolution 1109 or any move to amend or revise the Constitution. The time is not now, and the process is not through a sham and a shameless process.

Yesterday, an ad that shows different celebrities voicing their stand against ConAss was launched and shown on TV. The clip shows Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Gov. Ed Panlilio, Gov. Teddy Baguilat, Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Atty. Alex Lacson, Cooky Chua (Color It Red) and former Rep. Neric Acosta.

Watch the video below:





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IT Solutions for your business.

Time is money. This is maybe an old cliché but is very much applicable in all business settings. I can understand why managers and owners of small and middle size businesses would freak out when something is wrong with the company's computers or software.

The company that I’m working with has an IT Department that would easily fix technical or computer issues in the fastest possible time to minimize the disruption on the business operation. However, not all companies can afford to maintain an IT Department. If the business is just starting, you would rather spend your resources on marketing and other aspects of the business. Anyway, there are on site technicians that can also provide fast and affordable computer service and Computer Help.

Furthermore, you can still manage your computer needs by hiring the services of a computer services company. This is certainly a good cost-cutting measure as you will have your own IT department for a fraction of the cost. They provide data backup and recovery, website design and hosting and computer and network security.



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No To Con-Ass!

This blog has been online for over a year now but I have been very sober in my criticisms about the government or any government institution. I may have a few rants about government officials or politicians in general but never a direct attack on anybody or the administration. As a person who is concerned about the welfare of the country and of my countrymen, it is taking a great deal of willpower on my part not to express my political views on this medium.

Being true to my slogan (Celebrating Filipino pride), I have been blogging about stories and articles that will make all Filipinos proud. This is the least that I can do to help lift the spirits of my countrymen despite all the odds and the negative news that has been dominating the country.

However, we can only take so much. People need to make a stand about issues that will sooner or later affect the entire country, even our future generations.
I believe that dissent as well as rage is warranted for the events of June 2, 2009, where 170 or so Congressmen passed a callous and repugnant House Resolution 1109 or the move to convene a Constituent Assembly or Con-Ass. Their intention is to amend or to revise the Constitution despite the clamor to put an end to this issue and concentrate on more important problems of the country.

Various mass actions are expected to be staged beginning next week in protest of the constituent assembly (Con-ass). I just hope that protesters can do away with violence when holding rallies and just express their outrage in a peaceful non-violent way. .

All of these are in response to the way the resolution was passed. It was railroaded and passed on a marathon session without respect to the Constitution. They even passed it using voice voting as if it is just an ordinary bill, without even the benefit of prudent dialogues and debates.

Yes, the majority has the numbers to pass the resolution and it is because of their maneuvering that their intentions become questionable. The timing is really bad. Why now when we are less than a year before the 2010 elections?

If there are changes that need to be made in the constitution, so be it. But the time for amending the Constitution will come. The time is not now, and the process is definitely not this way. Not through a sham, and a shameless process. The country is on the edge of recession, their motive of a possible term extension of President Arroyo is questionable and its legal basis is debatable.

No wonder, Con-ass, was called different names--from "immoral" to "treachery of the highest order." And I can only agree. I just hope that for a change, our government officials will heed the public's clamor.

Vox populi, vox dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God.

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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 8, 2009)

Last week’s number 8 is today’s number one song in the countdown. David Archuleta’s “Touch My Hand” is now on the number one spot. Taylor Swift is on the second spot with “White Horse.”

Kyla is still the top OPM artist in the countdown. The other OPM artist is the band Spongecola with their song “Ayt” which debuts in number 7.

Top Ten

01.David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
02.Taylor Swift - White Horse
03.David Cook - Come Back To Me
04.Miley Cyrus - The Climb
05.Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
06.The Veronicas - Untouched
07.Spongecola f/ Gary Valenciano - Ayt
08.Green Day - Know Your Enemy
09.Demi Lovato - Don't Forget
10.Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow



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Filipino pride: Rubilen Amit won Women's World 10-Ball

Rubilen Amit of the Philippines captured the first ever JBET Poker.net Women’s World 10 –Ball championship on a thrilling finals match last Saturday. The Filipina cue artist defeated Liu Shin Min Liu of Taiwan to secure the victory.

Amit asserted her dominance in the match by posting a 10-4 lead to win the match in the Sky Dome at SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

The Filipina pocketed the $20,000 top purse and the honor of being the first Women's World 10-Ball champion.

Among the contenders were Women’s World No. 1 Kelly “Kwikfire” Fisher of UK, 9-Ball champion Allison “Duchess of Doom” Fisher of UK, former No. 1 Jeanette Lee of the US, and Jasmin Ouschan of Austria.

The Filipina is also a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.




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Fun Friday - My Five Favorite Books

For this week’s Fun Friday, we are to blog about the five favorite books we have ever read. Well, I no longer have enough time to read books but I used to be a book worm. I still read during free time but mostly e-books.

I should be listing Filipino books here but most of my readers will not be able to relate and recognize the books, hehehe. So I’ll pick those who have become international bestsellers. These books are worth-reading, entertaining and really kept me at the edge of my seat wanting to see how it will end.


Anyway, here are my five favorite books in no particular order:

On my list is “A time to Kill”, the first book by John Grisham who is best known for his legal thrillers. The book is heart wrenching and I considered it the finest work of this writer. It subtly explores the themes of racism, murder, punishment and revenge.


Another favorite is "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown. I read "The Da Vinci code" before reading “Angels and Demons” and I both enjoyed the novels. I just think that “Angels and Demons” has a more suspenseful storyline than the The Da Vinci Code. It was here that the character Robert Langdon was introduced.



The Harry Potter book series is also on my list of favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed J.K. Rowling’s storytelling about Harry Potter and Hogwarts school of Wizardry. Based on accounts, the idea for Harry Potter was conceived when the author was on a crowded train. Anyway, I read the series a few years ago while I’m at work during idle hours at the office. Those were the times when we are not yet busy with calls.



Then, of course, I have on the list “Rising Sun” by Michael Crichton. He is one of my favorite writers. The book was an international best-selling crime thriller about a murder in a Japanese corporation in Los Angeles. The book was adapted into a film, starring Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes, Tia Carrere and Harvey Keitel.



I made a review of “The Alchemist” of Paulo Coelho in this blog, the first book review that I did. It is a tale of a boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it.



So there you are, my five favorite books.

Enjoy reading!



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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 5, 2009) Featuring Taylor Swift’s "White Horse" video

It’s Friday once again and it is the last day of the MYX Daily top ten for this week. Miley Cyrus reclaims the number one spot with “The Climb.” Former number one, David Cook’s “Come Back To Me” is on the second spot. While another David, Archuleta debuts at number 8 with the new song “Touch My Hand.”

Rico Blanco is the top OPM artist with the hit song “Antukin.” Kyla is the only other OPM artist in the countdown at number 10.


Top Ten

01.Miley Cyrus - The Climb
02.David Cook - Come Back To Me
03.The Veronicas - Untouched
04.Taylor Swift - White Horse
05.Demi Lovato - Don't Forget
06.Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
07.Rico Blanco - Antukin
08.David Archuleta - Touch My Hand
09.Green Day - Know Your Enemy
10.Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time


The featured video this week is Taylor Swift’s "White Horse" which is currently at number 4 on the MYX daily top 10. It is the second single from Taylor Swift’s Fearless album. It was released on December 8, 2008. It missed the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Country Songs as of the week April 11, 2009, but it claimed the #1 spot atop the USA Today/Country Aircheck chart in that week.




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Banking in the Philippines.

Working in the call center can help you appreciate good customer service. You will know when a person is going the extra mile to serve you better. Spending years on a thankless job like mine can make you value excellent customer service and criticize those that fell short of your service standard.

About two weeks ago, I went to three different commercial banks in Metro Manila for a couple of banking transactions. I needed to open a checking account from PNB (Philippine National Bank) for my housing loan. I also applied for a replacement ATM card from BDO (Banco De Oro). Not so long ago I posted here that my ATM card was stolen with Donna’s wallet and cellphone inside a bank. I also lost my EON card from Unionbank a couple of days after that incident so I also applied for a replacement card. Whew, these streaks of unfortunate events made me realize how lucky I have become, lol.

The trips to these three banks made me compare the services of these institutions. I first went to BDO, I was instantly assisted by a smiling staff, she made me fill out forms and she asked for two valid identification cards. I was told that I needed to secure an affidavit of loss but since I don’t have that piece of document, she immediately offered to take care of it. I was told that I can just sign an affidavit and for a minimal fee, they can just have it notarized. It was a win-win deal for me so I obliged. Everything has been done in just a matter of minutes, about 10 minutes. I didn’t even need to go to the teller to make an over-the-counter withdrawal. I only needed to deal with one of their staff who was very accommodating. It was a great service!

On the other hand, I just had a different experience when I went to PNB. The facilities at PNB pale in comparison to what I saw in BDO. The computer monitors that the staffs are using were bulky just like mine at home, hehehe. And the staff's demeanor doesn’t help brighten the gloomy aura of the bank. Are these people underpaid? I don’t know, but that was my impression. They don’t seem to enjoy what they are doing. It took me over an hour to wait for the checks. It’s really disappointing, to think that they were attending to only two other customers. I also needed to go out of the bank premises to have my ID’s photocopied.

My visit to Unionbank was not that good either. I’ve waited for a couple of minutes waiting for somebody to attend to my concern. And when I finally got to speak with a staff, I was told that I needed to call the EON customer service to have the EON card blocked. The lady was nice, though. But I cannot see the logic of having to call a customer service hotline to have my card blocked and replaced when I was already on the branch where I applied and opened the account.

Anyway, these experiences are limited to the branches that I visited. These may not hold true to other branches of these commercial banks. I just hope that they can focus more on providing excellent service to their customers.

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MYX Daily Top 10 (June 1, 2009)

Just a quick post on what’s happening on the country’s top music countdown. Miley Cyrus is back on the number 1 spot with “The Climb” while David Cook is on the second spot with “Come Back To Me.”

Kyla is the top OPM artist with “Back in Time” at number 4.

Top Ten

01. Miley Cyrus - The Climb
02. David Cook - Come Back To Me
03. Lady Gaga - LoveGame
04. Kyla & Jay-R - Back In Time
05. Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy
06. Green Day - Know Your Enemy
07. The Veronicas - Untouched
08. Rico Blanco - Antukin
09. Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
10. Taylor Swift - White Horse



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