World Pyro Olympics 2008 !!! :)

after much speculation and a lot of confusion.... at long last, the World Pyro Olympics 2008 is going to be held in Manila!!! finally...

They were rumors that they are going to have it last February and we, the tanga-tanga people, went there thinking that we are going to see the World's Finest Pyro Techniques...sad to say...it was postponed... what the f**k?....

1. The dates were already posted in the World Pyro Olympics site and I hope that this one is for real...


DATES
May 3 -China vs. Germany
May 10 -Canada vs. France
May 17 -Italy vs. Venezuela
May 24 -Fellowship of Fire - Collaboration of all countries with the Philippines
**La Mancha Pyro Productions representing the Philippines - Pyromusical show
exihibition

2. This time around, tickets will be sold to spectators, unlike, the previous years.

*** General Admission – US$4.00 (PhP150)
~~free seating area, much more like a picnic area
~~just bring mats, relax and watch the show

*** Special Viewing Area (No dinner) – US$24.00 (PhP1,000)
~~free seating area where you can buy food and drinks inside




*** Special Viewing Area (With dinner) - US$36.00 (PhP1,500)
~~with guaranteed free seating, where dinner is served
~~Guests can feast on a scrumptious dinner and can enjoy the best and
central view of the fireworks as this is the area right next to the seawall
of Manila Bay. There are 10 persons to a table. One can reserve a table by
purchasing 10 tickets in advance which is what most people did last year.
This guaranteed free seating area is the perfect place to have memorable
family, class or corporate gatherings. Some have already purchased seats in
advance for client gifts, employee bonuses, etc. Don't miss the chance to
share this world-class occasion with your loved ones!

FOR TICKET INQUIRIES AND PURCHASES: CALL 817-3073 (LOC 102)

I just hope that this time around they will not cancel again or else, we will perform pyro techniques on them!!!

Location:
Esplanade
Mall of Asia
Pasay City

Manila Hooters Girls - a BIG Disappointment!!!

photo courtesy of Anton

After a long wait...Manila Hooters is already here in Manila!!!

Sad to say, when I found out the pictures in Anton's blog, the Manila Hooters girls are way beyond from their International Counterparts!!!

I can't help but to gasp with a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT feeling about this!

I was expecting good-looking, sexy, smart girls....
Sad to say, they did not meet the requirements!!!

I was surprised to see the Manila Girl Hooters...
They looked like they were picked up from the Ermita streets...Manila Hookers

They are a lot of beautiful and smart looking Filipinas. Sad to say, we are not well represented...

I hope Manila Hooters will not be like LA Cafe or Outback...full of Manila Hookers!!!


eventhough, i still want to go there....for a catfight....just kidding
Good thing, their food looks delicious and enticing
-------------

The best time to go there is before May 8 while the International Hooters Girls are still here or else...

Hooters
Esplanade
Mall of Asia
Pasay City

Read More: Hooters Philippines

True or False: 10 Common Travel Beliefs

I got this from Yahoo! Travel and I want to share this with everyone....

1. The Rumor: London is always gray and rainy, and the food is terrible.

The Truth: "In terms of rainfall, it's actually low on the list," says Nicole Mitchell, a Weather Channel meteorologist. (The statistics: London gets 23 inches a year, while, on average, supposedly sunny Miami gets a whopping 60 and soggy Seattle gets 39.) "Because London is coastal, it gets drizzly during the winter. But, as with any place, you have to pick the right time to visit," says Mitchell. (She recommends the summer, when it's warmer and sunnier.) And as for the local fare, it has come a long way since the days of ubiquitous bangers and mash. "There was a time when English food was, by definition, bad food, but that reputation is about 10 years out of date," says Tim Zagat, a cofounder of Zagat Survey, a publisher of international restaurant guides. "Now it is one of the best places in the world to eat." (The turnaround is due in part to the increased availability of fresh ingredients.)

2. The Rumor: It is rude to make eye contact during conversation in Japan.

The Truth: In the Land of the Rising Sun, do not avert your gaze just yet. "That used to be the rule, back in the old days, during the Meiji and Taisho eras (the late 1800s and early 1900s)," explains Robert Whiting, a Japanese-culture expert and the author of "The Samurai Way of Baseball." "It was considered disrespectful, especially when talking to a superior." These days, however, "people in Japan act just like people in the West. Not making eye contact would be considered a bit odd when talking to someone, even the emperor," says Whiting.

3. The Rumor: Venice is sinking.

The Truth: Not so much, says Fabio Carrera, a native of Venice and a professor of urban studies and planning at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts. If by sinking you mean that the land is going under and losing elevation, then, no, that is no longer true," says Carrera. Once upon a time — from around 1900 up until the 1970s — Venice did dip deeper into the water, by nearly five inches, because the aquifer beneath it was being drained to provide water to the mainland. "When people realized what was happening, they stopped pumping water out, and Venice rebounded by about half an inch," says Carrera.

Still, the city is not totally out of hot water. Thanks to global warming and rising sea levels, Venice — along with other low-lying locales, like New Orleans — remains vulnerable to flooding. But as long as it stays one step ahead of the problem by incorporating preventive measures, like the underwater floodgates currently being constructed, Venice should be the home of many a piazza (and pigeon) for years to come.

4. The Rumor: New Yorkers are rude.

The Truth: Fuhgeddaboudit! "It's absolutely false that New Yorkers are unfriendly — they may seem standoffish at first, but that's just concealing a very big heart," insists Ed Koch, a former New York mayor and a quintessential New Yorker. (Hey, someone who appeared in "The Muppets Take Manhattan" should know.) So what is with the gruff exterior, then? Call it a coping mechanism for living in a city of more than 8 million people. "We believe that people want their own space, so we don't intrude unless asked for assistance. But if you're visiting from out of town, just walk over to any New Yorker and he'll immediately help you out," says Koch. And rather than feeling upset about a brusque cab driver or a bagel guy who seems to toss your change at you, remember that they are just trying to keep the wheels in motion. "People here want to help you get on with your day!" says Koch.

5. The Rumor: Afternoon thunderstorms in Florida always pass within an hour.

The Truth: "This does not always happen, but a lot of storms are pretty quick," says meteorologist Nicole Mitchell. "In the heat of the afternoon, there is enough of a contrast between the slightly cooler ocean air temperature and the warmer air temperature over land to trigger storms," she says. "By late afternoon, there is less of a contrast and you lose the trigger for the storms, so they start dying out." And Florida is not the only place you should keep an umbrella handy. Mitchell says the same conditions exist up and down the Gulf Coast, making the weather in places such as Biloxi, Miss.; Mobile, Ala.; and New Orleans equally erratic.

6. The Rumor: South of the equator, toilet water swirls in the opposite direction.

The Truth: This one goes straight down the commode. Wondering where that crackpot theory originated? "South of the equator, tornadoes go clockwise, while north of the equator, they go counterclockwise, because of the earth's rotation and something called Coriolis force. In principle, the same would happen to water in a toilet or a bath," explains Michael Goodchild, a professor of geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a 2007 recipient of the field's highest honor, the Prix Vautrin Lud. "But the effect of Coriolis force on a small scale is very weak and outweighed by other forces, like the relative positions of the inlet faucet and the plug hole."

7. The Rumor: The Leaning Tower of Pisa will eventually topple over.

The Truth: It seems inevitable that the tilting medieval bell tower will take a dive someday. But the structure, which developed its famous wonky posture when its foundation settled into the soft ground beneath it, is actually on surprisingly solid footing. About 10 years ago, the base of the tower was reinforced with a combination of concrete and other bracing methods, decreasing the lean by 17 inches to 13 feet 6 inches. "It was the culmination of years of work and planning — the new foundation will last indefinitely," says Donald Friedman, a structural engineer at Old Structures Engineering, in New York City. "It is not going to tip. Now it has the heaviest foundation of anything in that whole city!"

8. The Rumor: In Russia, locally made vodka is cheaper than water.

The Truth: The answer is a flat-out nyet, says Paul Richardson, who has visited the country more than 20 times and is the publisher of Russian Life magazine. While locally made vodka can be nearly half as cheap in Russia as the imported stuff we buy here — prices start at around $2 a bottle in Moscow — it still outprices water by a long shot.

9. The Rumor: If you dug a hole straight through the Earth, you would probably make it to China.

The Truth: "It depends on where you start out," says author Michael Goodchild. "If you dug through the center of the Earth, you would emerge at a point opposite to where you started," he says. "Most of the time, if you started from land, you would end in water. But you would end up in China if you started digging in northern Chile." Oh yeah, there is one more little catch. Says Goodchild, "You would need a machine that could form a tunnel through liquid metal at a temperature of around 5,000 degrees." Um, try eBay?

10. The Rumor: There is a top-secret city beneath Disneyland.

The Truth: Legend has it that there's a top-secret command center under the theme park in Anaheim, Calif., but, alas, not even a wave of Tinker Bell's wand could make this a reality. "There is not much under there — certainly not a city," says Bob Sehlinger, who has visited the park hundreds of times over the past 20 years and recently wrote "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2008." It is very likely that this rumor stems from a case of mistaken identity. As it turns out, sister amusement park Disney World, in Orlando, Fla., does have a subterranean setup of sorts, though it is not quite a metropolis. "In Disney World, there is something called utilidors — Disney-speak for a huge system of tunnels under the park, which allow costumed cast members to scurry underneath the property," explains Sehlinger.

Summer Contests!!!

Who doesn't like freebies right?

As I was browsing for the best place to go this summer season, I bumped into some summer contests!

1. Sun, Sand, and Snapshots 2008
Sponsored by: Click the City

Mechanics: Open to all amateur photographers residing in the Philippines. Just upload a snapshot which you think represents summer at its best, like "The Kiss by Ray Ticsay", previous winner.

Prize: Trip for 2 to Boracay. Plus lomo cameras are up for grabs as well.

Promo Period: March 24 to May 15, 2008.

For more information go the Sun, Sand and Snapshots 2008 page.

2. Flipping for the Beach

Sponsored by: Havaianas Philippines

Mechanics:
Cite your experience in a unique beach destination in the Philippines, which includes experiences while traveling to that destination and the activities available therein.
Open to all Filipino citizens who are of legal age (at least 18 years old at the time of submission of entry) and permanent residents of the Philippines.














Prize: **A 3-day/2-night all-expense paid trip for two (2), consisting of two roundtrip airline tickets and accommodations to the destination that the winner wrote about; one (1) pair Limited-Edition Havaianas 7 Waves; and a summer package from T-Box, David and Goliath and Dakine.

*The first seventy (70) qualified entries that meet the minimum criteria, based on the contest criteria, will automatically get a pair of Havaianas Limited-Edition 7 Waves.

Promo Period: 1 April 2008 until 5:00 p.m. of 23 May 2008

For more information, please go to Havaianas Philippines website.

3. Summer Fun in BalerSponsored by: SEAIR
Mechanics: Just leave your comment at Summer Fun in Baler
and tell why Baler is your must go surfing destination and why it such a great place to visit. I already have my comment in the contest!Prize: SEAIR tickets for 2 to Baler and surfing lesson.

Promo Period: Until Sunday, 3 May 2008, at 8:00 p.m

For more information, please go to Ivan Henares' site.

4. Uniquely Singapore
Sponsor: National Geographic and Singapore Tourism Board

Mechanics: Video record yourself expressing your unique personal experiences in Singapore. If you are not in Singapore, you may still join the contest by sharing why Singapore is unique to you.

Prizes: Trip for 2 to Singapore

For more details, please go to NGC's Unique Singapore's site.

Busy?

sorry, no pics please...im kinda busy....zzzzzzzzzzzz

feeling busy? or nagpacute lang?

Rainy Days and Mondays

Why?
Sounds like the Carpenters' song, huh?

Monday - aaaaaah Monday, time to go back to work...

welcome back stress!!!

But why do Rainy days and mondays always get us down?

Amici Restaurant

Cuisine: Italian
Country: Philippines


I'm no big Italian Resto fan but sometimes I crave for pastas and pizzas...Since we have no plans in getting somewhere one boring Saturday, we have decided to try out one of the best Italian Resto in the metro. Amici restaurant is run by Italian nuns and it has been featured in newspapers and in internet websites in Philippines and in abroad.

Good thing, the resto is just a few blocks away from our place though we still need to ride a jeepney to get there.

The ambience is like European cafeteria style since it is in front of Don Bosco College Technical Institute. Mostly they cater to students and office workers in Makati.

Food are of reasonable prices. Pastas just costs around Php125 ($3) to Php250 ($6) and pizzas are about Php250 - Php400 ($6-$9.50). You can also have gellatos for desert that costs Php45 - Php60 ($1-$1.50) only.

The food was great and it is a good place to dine in and chill out with friends and family.

Amici di Don Bosco
1299 Don Bosco School, Arnaiz Ave. cor Chino Roces Ave.
Makati City
Phone Number: 818-4444
Open from 7:00am to 9:00pm, Monday to Sunday

Food Blogging

i love to eat
my bar hopping days are over since im no longer a teenager
and my body is already losing the hype that i used to have
right now, im into resto-hopping...and i've decided to start food blogging!

i love trying out different restaurants, however, my taste buds is not that adventurous

believe it or not...i'm a filipina who never got to taste balut...
i feel sick whenever someone is eating balut in front of me...

i just couldn't handle the duck embryo being eaten with hairs and all that stuff...

hope next time i can show you a pic of a balut

Surfing Siargao

I've always wanted to learn how to surf and be one of those cool dudes that I see on TV and perhaps...meet someone there...so we hit Siargao...

Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines

and it has gained popularity these past few years when it landed as one of the Top Surfing Destinations of the World....Since Siargao is just a nearby island to Leyte, we thought that it would be easier to go there from Sogod. Little did I know that the island is very remote and hard to reach....we even got stranded in Surigao City...
It took a gruesome amount of time just to reach our destination and I found out the Siargao is a big island composed of many municipalities. Fortunately, the locals were sooo kind (typical Filipino trait) and advised us where to go, how to go, and where to stay. GL or General Luna is the name of the municipality where most surfers go. This is the home to Cloud 9.

Once we arrived there, we searched for a place to stay and we have decided to stay in Patrick's on the Beach. It is owned by a German guy who married to a local Filipina and their son is named Patrick.
The surfboard rental fees are staggering high around $10 (Php 450 per half day) or $20 (Php 900 a whole day). Since the tutorial costs around $10 per hour, we have decided to use our charm with the locals to get a FREE TUTORIAL!!! ooooohhhh...i just love freebies!To my surprise, Siargao does not offer surfing only, you can also do a lot of watersports and beachineering activities like kayaking, fishing, collecting shells, island hopping and spelunking.
I also love the food in Patrick's on the Beach. They cook ala carte and the ingredients are fresh...I was overwhelmed...I love, love, love to eat!


I'll be back for sure....:)


Wish you were here!!!!

Patrick's on the Beach
Siargao Island
Gen. Luna, Surigao del norte , Philippines
Mobile : (63) 920 402-4356 / (63) 929-345-5566

I've also met and talked with the friendly couply Gerry and Susan Degan of Sagana Resort in Cloud 9 and I think their place is also highly recommended.

Sagana Resort
Cloud 9, General Luna
Siargao Island, Surigao del norte
Philippines
sagana@cloud9surf.com
www.cloud9surf.com

Phone : +63 (0) 919 8095769 Gerry Degan
If unavailable, please call :
Phone : +63 (0)928 960 7745 Susan Brandstetter
Japanese speaker Ph + 63 (0)9215395485 Naoki Nakata
English/Filipino speaker Ph +63 (0) 9287942865 Edna Solloso

home sweet home

our house in sogod, southern leyte is located near dakong suba.
dakong suba means "big river" in bisaya.
it's very tranquil and people live a very modest life.
i wish i can go back there again for a long vacation...

touch my body - mariah

me and noreen are going gaga over this music video!
the lyrics are really kinda obscene done in a cute way...
way to go to mariah!!! malandi pa rin....forevah!!! ;)



**note: you need to have a youtube access to view this one

Sooo Busy....Sooo Feeling Fashionista....

I've been sooo busy these past week that I wasn't able to update my blog...

However, more things to come in the next few days so watch out!!!

Anyways, I got this pic as I was browsing in our office pics and to my surprise...there was a picture of me looking like this!!!
Hahaha....

Feeling feelingan talaga me pala nung Xmas Party...
Last December, we held our Christmas Party in Hotel Intercon Makati and it was great!!!
The food... the dresses... the location... but nevermind the giveaways...though...

Dress: Regalos, Glorietta 1, Makati
Accessories: PeopleRpeople, Glorietta 4, Makati
Shoes: Janylin
Hair and Makeup: Jessi Mendez, Park Square 2, Makati
Hair Color: Bench Fix, Glorietta 4, Makati

Cheerleaders beat up a 16-yo girl in Florida - Bad

I can't help not to share this with my readers as this is really a very bad example of being bitches....

Please don't try this at home.
Parental Guidance is strictly recommended.

Note: You should have a youtube access to be able to view this one.

Best and Worst of Philippines

This list is according to Forbes Traveler

Amazing Asian Mega-Malls
by Aaron Dalton

1. Starhill Gallery: Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia
2. Harbour City Mall: Hong Kong
3. Roppongi Hills: Tokyo, Japan
4. VivoCity: Singapore
5. The Siam Paragon: Bangkok
6. SM Mall of Asia: Pasay City, Philippines

7. COEX Mall: Seoul, South Korea
8. Dream Mall: Taiwan
9. South China Mall: Dongguan, China
10. Mall of the Emirates: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Learn more Aaron Daly's list at Forbes Traveler.

World's 10 Best Scuba Spots
Forbes Traveler asks diving pros about their favorite scuba spots.

1. Blue Corner, Palau, Micronesia
2. Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef, Belize
3. Coron Island, Philippines
Coron Island is a wreck diver's playground, with Japanese WWII ship wrecks scattering the area. "The future for divers here is immense," says Jackson.Swim from bow to stern exploring the corals growing from the rotted wood, and the colorful schools of fish that have made their homes in the crow's nest. For the superstitious who would rather steer clear of sunken vessels, investigate the shallow coral gardens and underwater caverns nearby. Philippines' diving is great for all levels, with fabulous snorkeling for the less adventurous. April and May have the best dive weather.
(Oh yes! We are going to Coron this May! Itinerary will be post soon. :) )
4. Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean
5. Southern Red Sea, Sudan
6. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
7. Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
8. Providenciales (or Provo), Turks and Caicos
9. Bali, Indonesia
10. Dinah's Beach and Observation Point, Papua New Guinea

The World's Worst Taxi Rides

1. New York City
2. Mexico City, Mexico
3. Lagos, Nigeria
4. Bangkok, Thailand
5. Naples, Italy
6. Caracas, Venezuela
7. Moscow, Russia
8. Sao Paulo, Brazil
9. Manila, Philippines
In a city full of fanciful transportation alternatives--everything from rickshaws to wildly decorated jeepneys--the local white taxis appear boring by comparision. What won't be boring is the fight you have with the driver when he refuses to turn on the meter (frequent visitors say it happens all the time) and instead tries to haggle for an unfair flat fee. Ask that he turn on the meter before you close the door and sit down. If he won't, simply flag down another taxi and try again.
Tip: Hire a private car (as low as $20 per day), or try the reputable Avis Taxi (011-63-2-532-5758), which comes when you call and adds about 70 cents to the meter for the pick-up. You may also click any Avis Taxi add for more details.
10. Baghdad, Iraq

More on World's Worst Taxi Ride on Forbes Traveler

Horse Riding in Taal Volcano Crater! :0

Budget: P1,700
Inclusive: bus fares, banca ride, horse ride, tips, buko drink, lunch, snack, entrance fee, and a luscious dinner at Leslie's Tagaytay
Weather: A long cloudy saturday
Tour Duration: 8:30 am to 7:00 pm

the slow bus rides

8:30 am Jam Transit Bus Station We arrived in Jam Transit Bus Station in Taft Avenue. This is near Buendia. We took an aircon bus to Tanuan. Bus fare is just P84. Tell the driver in advance to drop you off in Tanuan in case you don't know the place yet.

the friendly batangueños

Once we were in Tanuan, we took a motorcycle to the Talisay jeepney station.
The kind motorcycle drivers and locals will show you how to get there. P27 is the cost for the whole motorcycle ride.

The Talisay Jeepney Station is at the back of McDo in Tanuan. We took a jeepney to Talisay and asked the locals again and the driver to drop us at any boat station going to Taal Crater.

meeting the Manalos

11:30 am Manalo Beach Resort, Talisay, Batangas
The kind jeepney driver dropped us in Manalo Beach Resort where we got a lot of discounts. The banca ride usually costs at around P1,500 to P2,500 and the horses costs around P500. We easily haggled the prize to P1200 for the banca ride and P350 for the horses

the banca ride in the creepy lake

12:00 noon Brgy. Pooc, Talisay, Batangas

The Manalo henetes greeted us when we arrived in the island.
Before we took the trek to Taal crater, we decided to take our lunch in the Mami House owned by friendly Manong Felix ( he is kinda gayish).

long and dusty horse trail

12:30 pm Horse Ride to Taal Volcano Crater
It looked sooo dangerous while I was there because of the cliffside hills and it was my first time to ride a horse that long...

My henete at that time was Ate Marilyn and she told me a lot of stories of being a henete and such.

So, I named my horse after me...He was such a PG horse....as in patay gutom...always stopping by to get some grass food

sulphuric lake of the crater

1:00 pm Taal Crater


The Taal Crater smelled sulphuric because of the lava.

We arrived in the Taal Crater. There was a woman who was selling sodas and asked to buy drinks for our henetes at a cost of P30 each. I think the henetes deserve some drinks after walking in the long and dusty road.

drinking buko juice

There were buko vendors who sells buko at P50 each.
It is my first time to be in the Taal Crater. I've been to Tagaytay before but was never able to trek in this place. It was awesome!

2:00 pm Descend to Brgy. Pooc, Talisay, Batangas
We paid the following fees:

Horse - P350
Environmental Fee - P50
Tip - P100

Overall, the whole adventure costs P500

2:30 pm Talisay, Batangas

After talking with Mr. Manalo Beach Resort, we took a jeep to Tagaytay. The whole jeep will go without being full at a cost of P600. If there are only 6 passengers and you are in a hurry, you have to pay P100 each. We decided to take a rest for awhile and wait for the jeepney to get full. Luckily, after taking a nap, the jeepney is way beyond from being full---it was already OVERLOADED! So the jeep ride costs just P35 each


chilly Tagaytay weather

3:00 pm Tagaytay, Cavite
We arrived in the market and took a motorcycle that costs P70.







3:15 pm People's Park in The Sky
Entrance Fee: P15
This was the ugliest park I've ever been. It beat Tacloban's Children's Park in my list. It was literally Ugly with a capital U.
The moment I saw the dilapidated building, I just want to get my ass out of there immediately.But it is not worth to have a date there...I swear...If I am the girl (shown in the pic), I already dumped the guy! (literally)

The 360 degree panoramic view of the whole Taal Lake and the nearby towns is a catch though...


5:00 pm Mahogany, Tagaytay, Cavite
I don't know exactly the name of the place but the bus driver said "baba kayo sa Mahogany" and that's how I got the name for this place. I think it is called Magallanes blah blah or whatever. We just asked on how to get to Leslie's.
Leslie's is one of the best recommended resto in town. This is actually just beside Starbucks, Dencios and others. Leslie's have a nicer view and ambience though.
We ate....

Bulalo Special P499
Leche Flan P140
Rice P120

7:00 pm Left Tagaytay

We took an ordinary bus to Baclaran.
Fare: P60
Duration: 1 1/2 hour

8:30 pm We were back in Makati.

Happy and Satisfied
:)