Proclamation No.84: Special, Non-Working and Regular Holidays in the Philippines for 2011 2 comments

What's the sign that you are fully leaving behind the intoxicating world of tertiary education and delving into the unknown world of corporate madness and adult responsibilities?

Well, for one thing, you care about when certain days are  deemed 'special' for double pay or no work at all. 

The Office of the President has just released this list of holidays in the country for 2011. Hope this helps as a reference for those looking for such information.

A. Regular Holidays

• New Year’s Day – January 1 (Saturday)
• Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Saturday)
• Maundy Thursday – April 21
• Good Friday – April 22
• Labor Day – May 1 (Sunday)
• Independence Day – June 12 (Sunday)
• National Heroes Day – August 29 (Last Monday of August)
• Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Wednesday)
• Christmas Day – December 25 (Sunday)
• Rizal Day – December 30 (Friday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Days

• Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Sunday)
• All Saints Day – November 1 (Tuesday)
• Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Saturday)

C. Special Holiday (for all schools)

• EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 25 (Friday)

Source: http://www.gov.ph/2010/12/20/proclamation-no-84/

Top 10 Things I Wish For This Christmas 0 comments

10. Anger management classes for some Charice die-hard fans.

9. A couple of those newly designed Philippine Peso paper bills to keep in my wallet. Not for spending, just for show.

8. Bruno Mars's songwriting talent and musicality.

7. Darren Criss's charisma and wit.

6. The hilarious sarcasm of Emma Stone's character on Easy A. (Great movie btw.)

5. An invite for me and all my friends to one of those call center Christmas parties where everyone is dressed up and sparkling pretty, complete with red carpet and background tarp with the company logo for picture taking purposes.

4. Personal blogs for friends who still send group messages of things that happened to them that day.

3. That the RH Bill be passed. Go go go, CONDOMS!

2. A universal sign that will let Jeepneys, FXs (FXes?) and Buses know whether you are looking for a ride or trying to cross the freaking road.

...and the No. 1 thing I wish for this Chrismtas:

1. A stop to the endless karmic cycle of me leaving the house with good music in my ear from my iPod earphones just to board a Jeep belting out Jejemon rap songs in heart-pounding bass and inhumane volume.

Happier-Looking New Philippine Peso Bills 2 comments

You may have heard it in the news recently. I, however, had no idea that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is doing a facelift on the kind of paper bills that we have grown accustomed to. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to see one picture floating on my Facebook wall showing the new designs of our country's money.

The new bank notes sport a younger-looking photoshopped versions of the personalities that were already a part of the old design, except for the 500 Peso bill where former-president Corazon Aquino joins her beloved husband as they together smile at our nation. Everybody say "awwww...".

The new look also retained the color used in the current bank notes as to avoid confusion.

Value aside, I think my favorite design at this time (basing from the pictures) is the 500 and 200 bills. The chocolate hills scenery is a great addition to the otherwise lackluster bank note. Also, the splash of a yellow Tarsier in the monochromatic green bill gives off a nice aesthetic finish and boasts one of the Philippines' rarest creatures.

The 500 just screams Aquino the Royal Family as it showcases husband and wife Cory and Ninoy Aquino with their son President PNoy's signature in the lower right side of the bank note. What I like best about it is the regal gold color and the fact that Ninoy lost his infamous pensive scowl. I'd like to think that he is now happy that he is reunited with her loyal wife. Once again, all together now: "awwww..." Part II.

With the release of these new bills, what I hope and pray for is that Filipinos will treat them with pride and respect. I shudder to think of these new happy bills in the hands of a Jeepney driver who will just roll it until it resembles a cigarette stick and slip it in a narrow crack in the vehicle's dashboard. 

I remember when we were outside the country, we were so afraid to fold the foreign money in our hands for fear that it will lose its value because we have noticed that the people there have kept theirs crease-free and still looking almost brand new.

I just hope that our fellow countrymen will follow the same practice. And mind you, it is not a bad habit to learn and live by.

Just The Way He Is: Why I Am A Fan Of BRUNO MARS (Him Being Half-Filipino NOT Included) 0 comments

Singer, songwriter, producer and musician extraordinaire Bruno Mars is exactly what I am talking about when I say I appreciate artists who can do it all rather than those who just belt out tracks written by others. Peter Gene Hernandez, half-Filipino and half-Puerto Rican, was catapulted into the international music scene by his collaboration with other artists such as B.o.B. (Nothin' On You) and Travie McCoy (Billionaire). Just a few months ago, he released his first album "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and now has been nominated for 7 Grammys at the 53rd Grammy Awards to be held in 2011.

And take note, he has neither authentic star-spangled American heritage nor magazine-cover-worthy pretty-boy looks. Not that he's not attractive, but you can't really say that his appearance is his strongest point.

With the dramatically heart-pounding song Grenade and the panty-dropper debut single Just The Way You Are, it's no wonder how he has captivated the hearts of music lovers worldwide and even the ears of the Grammy committee. His lyrics are symbolic, deep and surprisingly heartfelt and honest you can't help but to  stay and listen to what he has to say.

With genuine talent comes genuine fans. An artist doesn't have to be a part of a certain race or demographic to attract admirers nor retell a sappy life story to get attention. His/her music is supposed to speak for itself, without the help of make-up, hair gel and/or partial nudity. With the current state of the breast-filled and curse-motivated music industry, I, for one, am thankful that real musicians like Bruno Mars still exist.

Psychological Adaptation of Expectant Mothers During Pregnancy 0 comments

Carrying a developing child in your womb for nine months, or having a wife, sister, mother or friend who is, can be quite stressful when coupled with confusing mood changes and erratic behaviors. With a myriad of disorders associated with motherhood and pregnancy, it is advisable to know which behaviors are common and developmentally significant to expectant mothers. This article offers a glimpse of a woman's psyche during the months that she is nourishing another human being in her body.
 

1st Trimester: Establishing an Acceptance of Pregnancy
 

There is feeling of surprise, ambivalence, ... 

From: Psychological Adaptation of Expectant Mothers During Pregnancy

On Changing Facebook Profile Pictures to Cartoon Characters 0 comments

 

Imagine my surprise when I log in to Facebook and find that almost all of my friends have cartoons as their primary picture. And when I say 'almost all' I really mean approximately about 90% of my 500+ friends. Now, that's a lot of people too insecure to show their faces on a social networking site. I would understand if this is still one of those early Friendster days more than 5 years ago when nobody wanted to post their real faces online. There must be another reason.

Well, there is and this viral status basically sums it up:

Change your Facebook profile picture to a CARTOON FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday there should be nohumanfaces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories! This is for a CAMPAIGN AGAINST VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

Now, I usually do not participate in online fads like those circulating messages about women posting just a color on their status for Breast Cancer Awareness Week or whatever but this one, I can't help but join.

First of all, I like how fun the campaign is. I enjoyed thinking of a cartoon character for my profile photo and, at the same time, it's interesting to look at who my friends also chose. It says a lot about what their personality's like more than an "At Starbucks, chillin'." status can.

As an online viral game or a serious crusade against child abuse, I'm with this latest trend even though all these pictures of childhood cartoons make me feel old.

I mean, would you believe that Princess Sarah, Cedie, Power Rangers, Mojacko, Ghost Fighter and Sailormoon are all almost 2 decades old? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was doing weird arm movements and reciting "...sa ngalan ng BUWAN!"

How to Avoid Being Bitten by a Dog 0 comments

Dogs may be man's best friend but sometimes, these normally placid and friendly creatures gets threatened to the extent that they are forced to bite. These wounds, like any other, may be a cause for infections and even rabies, if not properly treated or prevented. Here are some of the ways to help prevent being bitten by an unkown dog or even your own pet.

• Don't go near dogs you don't know. Some dogs may be just to cute  and fluffy that you can't imagine them hurting someone, but some dogs  are wary with strangers and can bite from the slightest provocation.
• Let a dog sniff and... 

From: How to Avoid Being Bitten by a Dog

More Than You'll Ever Know (Piano) 8 comments

A simple rendition of the love song classic originally sung by Michael Ruff (who I thought was Side A from the start) and is still popular in the country despite the decades of pop/rap/rock music that it has been sharing the airwaves with.

For me, the song has such an effortless melody torn between romantic and melancholy that it is a perfect soundtrack for bittersweet lovers.

Almost like a lullaby, this arrangement was made by my piano teacher for another student for a recital. It is so simple that it is supposed to be played with loving caresses like there's something going to happen later that night with you and the instrument. I don't know if I succeeded in such a task but since I managed to record it in one take, it seemed suited for public consumption.

As for those asking, well, yes, there is a music sheet for this exact arrangement, however, I still need to ask the permission of the one who actually made it and add to that that I don't have a soft copy, I doubt that it is coming up anytime soon. I will look for the chords used for this specific piece and maybe upload it soon. Stay in love.. ;)

First Aid Tips on How to Treat Jellyfish Stings 6 comments

Jellyfish may be pretty to look at but being stung by one may be one of the most painful scenario one can encounter. It can even be life threatening due to occasional severe allergic reactions from their poisonous tentacles. So the next time you find yourself frolicking in the beach, best to have these simple tips in the back of your mind just to be safe.

In the event of a Jellyfish sting, do the following:
 

Step 1: Get out of the water.
 

Jellyfish stings cause extreme pain and discomfort. It is best to help the victim out of the water to prevent further accidents like drowning and/or getting...

From: First Aid Tips on How to Treat Jellyfish Stings

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot: Those Vampires Better NOT Sparkle! 2 comments

Trust Twitter to bring in the freshest of all news even before international and local programs manage to pick them up. I just recently read that The WB is moving forward with the once phenomenal TV show 'reboot'. And that Joss Whedon, Buffy's creator, mentor, snappy dialogue God is NOT a part of it.

So that means, a new movie with different cast, storyline and unjoss-like dialogue. Just with the same name. Certainly not the Buffy we have grown with and love.

The idea is so ridiculous that I would have laughed so hard if the news isn't true. But it is. And that someone else will be writing the script. Probably someone who knows nothing about the world Joss Whedon has created.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), the hit TV show with a massive loyal cult-like following has garnered modest ratings, rave reviews and countless tie-in products including a spin-off show back in its day. It has spawned worldwide attention with its remarkable storyline, relate-able characters and witty dialogue, even landing in Time Magazine's 100 Best TV Shows of All Time and winning 3 Emmys. It is a game-changer for shows in the late 90's and has influenced the direction of other series like Charmed and Roswell.

It originally made Vampires look cool to the teenage population, and now that the fad is barging back, this reboot movie is obviously a money-making ticket to jump in the middle of the undead hysteria.

See, I have spent a tremendous amount of time, far too many than what is considered healthy, watching and obsessing over this particular TV show. I have almost all of the episode titles, bad guy of the season and various quotes memorized. I have all the songs from the musical episode "Once More With Feeling" burned in a CD. And mind you, that was the time before anyone can watch the latest episode online or download all of the seasons and songs in a computer. I had to deal with RPN9 and, later, Studio 23's 2-season late airings. Aside from Harry Potter, this is my childhood, err, teenage-hood. Undeniably geeky period in my life, yes I agree, but it's still part of my past and it's horrific to find out that they will patch all those nerdy memories with a movie flick that would most likely fail even before it shows up in the big screen.

Back to Joss Whedon, here's his reaction to the surprising news. (Joss's email to Kristin of E!)

Kristin, I'm glad you asked for my thoughts on the announcement of Buffy the cinema film.  This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths—just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.

Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, "Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson?  This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER."  Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, "I'll make a mint!  This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!" Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?

I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death.  But, you know, AFTER.  I don't love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I'm also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can't wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I'm making a Batman movie.  Because there's a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.

Leave me to my pain!  Sincerely, Joss Whedon. 

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b212644_joss_whedon_reacts_buffy_movie_news_i.html#ixzz167C5mpUo

 

The cast of BtVS with creator Joss Whedon

 

Just when you thought you could not admire him more, he responds to the annihilation of his life's work with eloquence, dignity and humor. The man is just brilliant.

Twitter is now all abuzz with horror and speculation on the aforementioned news. There are some funny tweets in there but here is my favorite:

 

@sophia537: *cries even harder* they ALREADY made a Buffy movie without Joss Whedon and it was SH*T! Those vampire better not f*cking SPARKLE!!!

 

(Hence the post title.) 

If that ever happens, it will be official. There is no hope left for mankind.