IT Show 2012 Day 2

I tried my best to get as much pictures as possible. :)

Latest promos for just about everyone on the Web

I don't usually blog about any ads that I ran into, but at least one of the current advertising campaigns right now should appeal to some on the net. So, I'm just doing my part in spreading the good promos out there right now.

This picture pretty much sums up the campaigns. We have something for SingTel and AMPed users, Lady Gaga Fans, Marigold brand patrons, logo designers and artists, anyone who uses makeup, bloggers, Facebook, Twitter and other social media buffs. And did I mention, also anyone who wants to win an iPad 2 or XBox Kinect? :))

Baptism Ideas for your Baby Born Abroad

Happy New Year!

After completing your "quest" to get a valid pass for child -- and you're Roman Catholic -- it's only natural that you arrange for your newborn to be baptised. For most Filipino Catholics here, you either have your child baptised where you are, or back to the Philippines where most of your relatives and friends are.

We went for the Philippine route. So anyway, if you're interested, here are some firsthand tips from us.

• Prepare the documents. Namely, the child's Birth Certificate and the parrent's Marriage Certificate. Prepare some photocopies as well. If you don't have this, you'll be in a whole lot of trouble.
• Contact your Church. You should have done this waaaay ahead of your target date of baptism --even way ahead of your flight back to Philippines. Ask for the requirements (i.e. above documents, seminar for parents and godparents, etc.), whether they offer "special" (i.e. solo) baptism or only mass baptism, available schedule, and what fees are required, if any. Most parishes have websites nowadays, so you should check them out online.
• Contact your local contact. To make things even easier for you, you need someone "onsite" -- could be a relative or a close friend -- to actually help smoothen things out even before you arrive. They should be able to help out arranging with the church/parish, talk with caterers, prepare your place, etc.
• Prepare the budget. Can't be stressed enough. A well-planned budget goes a long way. This will help you plan ahead with the event.
• Prepare the Guestlist. With the budget on hand, you should be able to make a list of the people you want to invite. Usually, this should always include your immediate family, close friends, and godparents. This is a bit trickier than what you may think. So plan ahead.
• Consider your luggage when booking a flight. Expecially if it's your baby's first-time to travel, you should consider the amount of luggage. You'd be surprised that the large bulk of your total check-in baggage is your kid's. So you may want to consider carefully before going for the cheaper airline's 15kg check-in limit or the more expensive one with a slightly more 20kg check-in.
• Pictures, Pictures, Pictures! If you're like us, you'd probably want to take pictures of your newborn everyday if you could. Save, collect, and collate. It may not seem much now, but you should organize the pictures before the total number is way too much to handle -- you'd be surprised that you may end up with hundreds of pictures in one month alone. Anyway, where are you going to use this pictures? Well, in case you have absolutely no idea, here are some hints for you:
• invitations
• sourvenirs
• tarpoulins
• guest book
• Hire some Help. Might be a bit costly and some may think even unnecessary. However, you need some people to take care of stuff -- food, pictures, video, whatever -- so that  you can have the time to concentrate on the things that are more important. You don't need to hire someone for everything, but you should consider hiring for the "big stuff" that you should not be worrying about like caterers and a photographer.
• DIY Stuff. There are some stuff that you can do yourself, provided, you have the time, energy, and resources. Example: for us, since we have photoshop, tons of pictures, and a decent printer, we did the invitations ourselves.

Guess that's it. There are still many other considerations but this list, based from our personal experience, tops them all off. Good luck! :)

Foods-To-Eat List: Christmas 2010 in the Philippines

After three long years, we will finally be going back to Philippines to celebrate Christmas! It's been a while so here are some food items that I want to eat once we get home:

"Star Bread" or Putok -- yep, miss the good ol' putok / star bread made in our local bakery, accompanied with Coke which I consume every afternoon. Though I'd probably pass on the Coke this time around...

Halo-Halo -- whether it's the halo-halo on the streets or the halo-halo in Chowking or Razon's, it's way better than anything they have here.

Red Ribbon's Salisbury Steak -- very yummy! Love the sauce on top of that luscious salisbury steak! Mmmmmmm...... Steeeeeaaaak..... :))


KFC Gravy -- yep, there's KFC in Singapore, but there's NO gravy! And no spoon and fork either! Yep, I miss the bottomless gravy we love and enjoy at KFC! Maybe I'll order some chicken too.....

Pampanga's Best's Pina Ham -- I used to sell some of this in my last job back there... Well, there's really no reason not to like it. It's cheaper than the traditional Christmas hams, but is very very tasty. A lovely alternative if you're on a tight budget.

Hen Lin's Siomai -- One of my favorites, going way way back in gradeschool. I remember when the local Park and Shop was still open and the "food court" area had a Hen Lin stall which sells 4pc of Siomai for 16 pesos. Then there's the calamansi/lime and the chili! Ah good times... Anyway, the only thing that's changed is the cost. And the fact that Park and Shop closed down a long time ago...


Smokey's Chicago Dog -- One of the reasons I love watching movies so much! Perfectly cooked hotdog on bun. Pickle relish. Bacon bits. Onions. Sauce -- not sure if it's just meat sauce or chili sauce? Plus a healthy serving of ketchup and mustard! Now, all we need is a move to watch...

Ah yes... Good times... :)

Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito: The Results

WBC World Super Welterweight Title Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito
Cowboy's Stadium, Arlington Texas
November 13, 2010

Undercards:
Lee (winner) vs Dowther - KO ("dark match")
Rios (winner) vs Lourther - KO
Rigondeaux (winner) vs Cordoba - split decision
Soto-Karass vs Jones (winner) - majority decision

Main Event:
Michael Buffer - Ring Announcer
Yarir (?) - Himno Nacional Mexicano
Zyrene Parsad - Lupang Hinirang (sang the Anthem better than most; good job!)
3 Dallas Texas Cowboys Cheerleaders (awooga!) - Star-Spangled Banner

Judges: Glenn Crocker (Texas), Jurgen Lagos (Germany), Oren Schellenberger (Texas)
Referee: Laurence Cole

Intermission by Nelly

Recap: Tale of the Tape:
Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38KO)
Age: 31
Height: 5'6 1/2 "
Weight: 144.6 lbs
Reach: 67"

Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO, 1 NC)
Age: 32
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 150 lbs
Reach: 72"

Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito - Tale of the Tape

What: Manny Pacman vs Antonio Margarito for WBC Super Welterweight Title
When: November 13, 2010
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Continuing the tradition, here's the latest of Pacman's Tale of the Tape post:

Manny Pacquiao	Tale of the Tape	Antonio Margarito
Pacman Fighting Pride of the Philippines The Mexicutioner Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) The Fighting Congressman	Nickname	Tijuana's Tornado
Philippines	Nationality	Mexico
31 yrs	Age	32 yrs
5'6 1/2"	Height	5'11"
67"	Reach	73"
Light Middleweight	Weight Class	Light Middleweight
Southpaw	Stance	Orthodox
56	Total Fights	45
51	Win	38
38	KO	27
3	Loss	6
2	Draw	0

Notes: If Pacman wins, this will be Pacman's eighth unprecedented, record-breaking title division championship.

Pacman vs Clottey Match Breakdown

Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey
The Event
WBO Welterweight Title Match
March 13, 2010
Dallas Cowboys Arena

Judges:

Duane Ford (Nevada)

Levi Martinez (New Mexico)

Nelson Vazquez (Puerto Rico)

Referee: Rafael Ramos
Ringa Announcer: Michael Buffer

Stats:
Joshua Clottey: 35(21)-3 (Red/Grey trunks)
Manny Pacquiao: 50(38)-3-2 (Red/White trunks with sponsors)

PacMan Trunks Sponsors

• Motolite
• Nike
• Cafe Puro
• Ricoa
• PAGCOR
• MP (Manny Pacquiao) Productions
• RGB
• Head and Shoulders

---

Round by Round:
Round 1:
2:14 Pacman forces Clottey to the ropes;, then he unleashed his first flurry of body shots.
1:45 Pacman scores a lot of body punches again.
1:01 Pacman takes one in the face, but punches back, catching Clottey in with a glancing right blow, shocking Clottey for a moment.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 2:
2:33 Pacman scores a straight to the face.
2:18 Pacman pounds Clottey with shots to the ribs.
1:12 Clottey has Pacman against the ropes, attempts an uppercut, Pacman blocks and counterpunches.
0:30 Clottey scores two hits to the side of the head.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 3:
2:20 Clottey unleashes a then goes back into his shell.
0:50 Pacman pommels and forces Clottey to the corner.
0:42 Clottey lands an uppercut and a right straights to pacman's face.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 4:

1:36 The Pompyang FPJ doublepunch moment. (Others call it A Three Stooges moment.)

1:10 Clottey on the corner; still in the impentrable shell.

0:30 Pacman flurries again, Clottey on the ropes but slides away.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 5:

1:57 Clottey catches and locks Pacman's right arm then pushes him back.

1:28 Clottey scores a left jab knocking his head back.

1:15 Clottey and Pacman exchanged flurries, Clottey and Pacman lock, Pacman taps and both break off cleanly.
0:34 Clottey catches Pacman with a right, left uppercut, exchange blows, then sends another left to the side of the face, staggering Pacman a bit.
0:18 Pacman ctaches him on the ropes; back in shell and slides away.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 6:
2:16 Clotteys combinations forces Pacman to the ropes; Pacman taunts Clottey.
1:30 Pacman throws side-body shots.
0:33 Clottey evades and was caught under Pacman's gloves; Pacman breaks off cleanly, Pacman and Clottey touch gloves and continues the bout.
0:21 Clottey on ropes, body shots.
0:00 Bell rings, Clottey left jabs Pacman on the face.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 7:
2:41 Clottey unleashed straights and jabs to Pacman's face, Pacman pushed back.
1:55 Pacman unloaded combinations pushing Clottey against the ropes.
1:45 Clottey catches Pacman with a hard right across the face.
1:15 Clottey gets past Pacman's guard and scored a strong left uppercut.
1:03 Pacman forces Clottey again against the ropes.
0:58 Pacman focrse Clottey against the corner. With Clottey quickly back in his shell, Pacman backs off.
0:04 Pacman caught under the arm again.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 8:
2:01 Pacman scores combination shots left and right to the ribs.
1:40 Clottey inadvertently lowblows Pacman, ref calls timeout, Pacman walks it off, touch gloves, then match continues.
0:57 Minor headbutt, ref calls it, both fighters OK, touch gloves, then match goes on.
0:31 Pacman fires up, throwing lefts and rights to the head, to the ribs, the head again, getting through the Clottey's guard.
0:02 Clottey catches Pacman under the left arm, then throws a right cheapshot. Ref warns, then bell rings. Both touch gloves (in respect).
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 9:
1:58 Pacman scores combinations to the body again!
1:25 Clottey combos Pacman on the face.
0:45 Pacman stepped up offensive, dominating Clottey starting to lose his defensive posture, arms lowered.
0:37 Clottey forced against the ropes as Pacman throws shots to Clottey.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 10:
1:45 Pacman keeps throwing punches, Clottey keeps soaking them up.
1:36 After Pacman's barrage of body shots, Clottey counters with a single straight to Pacman's face.
1:01 After a melee of trading blows, Clottey scores a left to Pacman.
0:49 Clottey uppercuts with his left, stunning Pacman for a bit, then Clottey follows up and pounds Pacman.
0:08 Clottey locks Pacman twice, both times they break cleanly, as the round ends.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 11:
2:41 Clottey locks Pacman again under his right; both break cleanly.
2:01 Pacman and Clottey exchanging combinations one after the other, like in a practice sparring match.
1:36 Clottey clocks Pacman with two left uppercuts, followed by two body shots.
1:04 Clottey staggers back to the ropes as he takes on the barrage of Pacquiao's combinations, Clottey pushes Pacman back.
0:31 Clottey scores 2 uppercuts, Pacman barely blocks the third.
0:13 Pacman unleashes another barrage of body shots, Clottey slinks back to his shell until the closing seconds of the round.
0:06 With Clottey against the corner, Pacman scores lightning fast left and rights to the face and jumps back. Clottey shocked by the blast.
Scorecard: 9-10 (Pacman-Clottey)

Round 12:
3:00 Pacman and Clottey hug to begin the 12th and finaaaaaaaal round.
2:28 They headbutt each other, ref calls it, both ok, touch gloves, match went on.
1:16 Pacman pretty much dominated Clottey, throwing 10 punches for every one punch of Clottey.
0:53 Clottey catches a break when the two lock arms and hug; both break cleanly, touch gloves again.
0:48 Clottey scores another uppercut.
0:45 Pacman caught under the right arm of Clottey. Clean break.
0:20 Pacman caught and locked by Clottey again. Another clean break.
0:06 As the seconds countdown, Pacman fires up and unleashes his last onslaught of punches on Clottey.
Scorecard: 10-9 (Pacman-Clottey)

General Observations:
Pacman is almost always on the offensive, getting in throwing combinations, then stepping out. His combined power and quickness was a little too much for Clottey to mount an offensive of his own.

Clottey is almost always on the defensive, his long arms firmly guarding his face and uppper torso, forcing Pacman to throw combinations to the side and lower torso. But he has scored more uppercuts than Pacman, and the power and effect of those uppercuts are apparent on the closing rounds of the match.

Great respect for each other is clearly visible. This is one of the more "feel-good" fights for Pacquiao. One of those rare moments when sportsmanship is observed by both fighters in the ring.

---

Official Result:
Manny Pacman Pacquiao retains WBO Welterweight
Winner by Unanimous Decision

Duane Ford: 120-108
Levi Martinez: 119-109
Nelson Vazquez: 119-109

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey - Tale of the Tape

We're days away from the big event with Manny Pacquiao. As such, here's the tale of the tape:

Manny Pacquiao	Tale of the Tape	Joshua Clottey
Pacman Fighting Pride of the Philippines The Mexicutioner Pambansang Kamao	Nickname	The Grand Master The Hitter
Philippines	Nationality	Ghana
31 yrs	Age	33 yrs
5'6 1/2"	Height	5'8"
67"	Reach	70"
Welterweight	Weight Class	Welterweight
Southpaw	Stance	Orthodox
55	Total Fights	39
50	Win	35
38	KO	20
3	Loss	3
2	Draw	0

Since that pathetic excuse of a loudmouth, all-bark-no-bite boxer Floyd Mayweather was making lame excuses to avoid the fight with the Pacman, the respectable Joshua Clottey promises to give Pacman one of the greatest fights of his life!

Go Pac-Man! Go Clottey! Don't disappoint us! Give it everything you've got! Woohoo!

Looking back at 2009

This will be a long post. This should make up for my silence the past few weeks. :)

Another year has passed. Another year gone by so quickly, we barely noticed it. Looking back at 2009, we experienced one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride. The year was riddled with both the good and the bad, not only personally but also globally. Who would have thought so many memorable things could happen in a span of a year?


2009 and Us

We had our greatest joy turned to the greatest sorrow, as we learned early June that we were blessed with a child, only to be taken away the following September... It sucks. Don't know how to put it more bluntly than that. I was brought down to my knees for the second time in my life; I cried my heart out. Pain was unbearable. But I had to keep it together. We had no choice but to let her go. Trying to move on and, as in the movie "Meet the Robinsons", keep moving forward. Just keep moving forward...

Then came December... A few days before Christmas, our loving aunt, Tita Cory -- not to be confused with Cory Aquino, mind you -- passed away as well. Could not go to the wake which makes it that much more difficult. It's like losing another mother. Made me realize how important it is to show your loved ones that you care. Especially for people who are away, overseas... Because you'll never know when you can see them again.

Oh well... Enough brooding...

Although I doubt if any of the good things could match up to the bad things that happened, I still like to think that at least we still had good things to celebrate. Like what I learned in high school, focus on the good things... No matter how dark it is, always look at the good side of things. There's always something to learn.

What we'll take away from our harrowing experience is the wisdom and knowledge that we gained, a new appreciation for life, plus Che and I have become closer and much more open to each other.

Also, we had our third year anniversary at Quincy Hotel in Orchard. The food is great (breakfast, lunch and dinner), not to mention the room. Not a spectacular view, though, but hey we're in the middle of the shopping district... :)

Another great experience is our weekend trip to Malacca (Melaka) in Malaysia. Once you're used to shopping in Singapore, you will really, really, REALLY appreciate Melaka. Most unforgettable would be the "Fish Doctor" there. You let the tiny (and some really big) fishes nibble your feet. An hour after that, our feet are so soft and smooth. If ever we get a chance to go back there, I'll be sure to drop by that place again!

Then one important thing to be thankful for: our approved permanent residence status. In a time when many applicants were rejected and told to re-apply again after six months (others up to two years), we are lucky enough to be approved. Although it means that it will eat up some of our salary, we are at least much more secure here in Singapore, not to mention, it opens up new possibilities.

We're also thankful for our jobs -- despite the troublesome shifting schedule and endless politics -- I guess no office job is complete without one. We can afford new things we need and want; things which we would think more than ten times before buying if we were back in the Philippines. Not that we do not like our flat, but it was kind of unwelcoming and unrelaxing, until we brought in some new furniture like the dining set, which I'm very, very pleased with. Slowly and steadily, it is feeling a lot more like home. :)


Philippines under siege

The Philippines is battered with catastrophe after catastrophe. It's always sad whenever I see Philippines in the news in our office -- it's as if the Philippines is only in international news whenever something bad has happened.

The great flood brought about by Ondoy and Pepeng has been the worst of its kind in recent memory. Houses ruined, livelihoods destroyed, lives lost. The silver lining in all of this is that it brought out the best in all Filipinos. The bayanihan spirit is seen best in times of trouble. Heroes bold and true died saving lives of others. People banded together to help those who were most devasted by the floods.

Another saving grace is the proof of the resiliency of the Filipinos. Despite going through a lot, Filipinos still manage to become happy during the festive Christmas season. Even those hit hardest by the floods won't let Christmas and New year pass by without a bang, a bunch of lechon, and others. :)

Then just before the year ends, Mayon volcano fires up anew, threathening the whole countryside. Glad to know that it has simmerred down for the Holidays. Hope it stays that way for good.


Scandals left and right

The Philippine government - particularly the Arroyo government -- is not new to scandals. Heck, it's almost impossible to think of the Arroyo administration without thinking of all the corruption cases piling up, which -- I hope not -- would likely end up at the bottom of the stack of cases...

Not to mention the infamous lunch/dinner of the Arroyo contingent during their US trip. The apparent insensitivity of the president in the midst of the global economic crisis left a bad taste in the mouths of Filipinos.

Also, there's this "little" issue about the different sex scandals of the former doctor Hayden Kho. through the whole ordeal, at least one person benefitted from all this. After the scandal broke out, for some reason, one TV network gave her a break giving her one prominent role after another, eventually winning her an award for one of those roles. Well, at least something good came out of this whole mess.


Prominent deaths

The death of the first woman Philippine president was felt by all Filipinos. Even the younger generation who were not even born during the EDSA revolution felt the loss of the former Time Magazine Woman of the Year, the icon of EDSA revolution, the symbol of People Power. The day-long drive from the Manila Cathedral to her final resting place in Manila Memorial Park just shows the number of people that showed up and gave their respects for the former president.

Not to mention, the latest and most apalling election-related violence perhaps in the entire Philippine history. The Ampatuan case down south just shows the extreme violence present in the provinces and, possibly, the best display of the giant rift between the rich and the poor; being the third(?) poorest province in the entire Philippines, the Ampatuan clan allegedly owns at least 20 mansions, an unknown number in their private army, and some heavy armaments. It's been 40+ days since the mass murder. 'Wonder how long before justice is served?

Then there's also the other controversial death of the Ruby Rose Barrameda, sister of former beauty queen and actress Rochelle Barrameda. The fact that the body was found sealed up inside a drum... well, let's just say it's gonna be ugly...

Also, there's also the deaths of music legend, the King of Pop Michael Jackson, and likewise the Hollywood star of Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze.

Is it just me, or is the death toll for 2009 higher than the previous years? And it's not even 2012 yet! Oh well, enough of that...


The good things

Good year for PacMan. This is the year that brought him his unprecedented 7 championships in different weight divisions. Filipinos couldn't be any prouder. He probably could do better and hold eight -- if only Mayweather sucks it up and stop complaining about drug tests here and that, and finalize the fight already. He's just a jack@$$, afraid of facing PacMan who could possibly end his winning streak. Hell, if he wanted to keep his streak, who should have just stayed retired and shut the hell up. If the fight doesn't push through, he's just all bark, no bite.

Then again, maybe that's just a technique of them promoters. Damn shame on you guys! That ain't right! :))

Of course, the only problem I have with Pacquiao is his political ambitions, trying, once again, to run for public office. Heck, no doubt that's because of the that corrupt, gambling devil on his side whispering into his ear again. You know, the one who was also a money launderer but did not get a trial because he's a "star witness". Before I lose control of myself again, I better move on...

So, going back to the good things...

Another person we can be proud of, Efren Penaflorida. The 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. Do we really need to say more? The whole world loves and respects what he does... Well, at least most of the Internet voters... But still, his work is an example to all. Hopefully more and more people will look up to this young man. Now the question was raised during one of his interviews: Should he run for public office? Well, it would be nice for someone like him to actually lead us. I just hope if that's the case, he won't get sucked in and be corrupted by the prevailing, stinking politics in our country today.

Also, global economy is slowly getting back on its feet. Should be a great opportunity for people looking for better jobs -- I know some colleagues who did! :)) Hopefully, the road to recovery would be a smooth one and hopefully opportunities along the way open up for us as well.

Okay that was tiring... :)) But I enjoyed doing this.

Cheers to 2010! Hoping for a better year than last year! Good luck to all of us! Happy New Year to all!

Efren Florida is the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

Off the heels of Manny Pacquiao's historic win and controversies, another Filipino gives us another reason to be proud to be Pinoy.

Efren Penaflorida, the one who started the "kariton klasrum" or pushcart classroom concept, and the founder of the Dynamic Teen Concept, is voted the CCN Hero of the Year for 2009.

All of the Top Ten finalists receive USD 25,000. Efren, being the top this year will get USD 100,000. More good news for the hundreds of kids who have grown to depend on this program.

The event will air in CNN on November 26, at 9:00 PM ET/PT.

For more details, click here.

Our Third Year Anniversary!

We celebrated our third year wedding anniversary at Quincy Hotel where we spent three days and two nights. It is a very nice place, very near Orchard Road and offers special discounts for permanent residents and citizens.

What's more, we get complimentary breakfast, lunch AND dinner buffets! I honestly don't remember any other hotel which offers three complimentary meals per day. Of course if you're in town to visit the entire place, you normally can't go back to the hotel for lunch. (Well, not us! Hehehe)

Anyway, here's some shots that we took of the place.

Pacquiao wins WBO Welterweight Belt

After twelve intense rounds of fighting, the Pacman gets the WBO Welterweight Championship and becoming the first ever boxer to hold championship in seven different weight divisions! SEVEN! Proud to be Pinoy! Congratulations to the Pacman!

The First
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Aside from the the late great Corazon Aquino, he is the only Filipino in recent memory who has become a "first" in anything globally. The very first boxer to be a champion in seven weight divisions. (Yep, can't get tired saying or writing it.) The first! The first!

The first... (Ooh yeah.)

What more could the Filipino people ask for. The most famous Filipino in the world today has now captured the hallmark of excellence. He will go down in history books with this very distinct honor.

Truly one of the greats in our lifetime...


Not without a scratch

The Pacman admitted this is a tough battle. And we can see why in his interviews following the match. The right side of his head is a bit swollen... A testament to Miguel Cotto whom many -- including the Pacman himself -- respect.

We should all raise our hats to Miguel Cotto. He may have lost, but he did not go down easy. I watched their fight several times. Have you seen the crazy flurry and powerful hooks Pacman delivered? If it were some other opponent, he would have probably been knocked out or have given up in the early or middle rounds.

Miguel Cotto was different.

After his last match, he set out to prove something to himself and all the boxing fans. He may have gone down, but he did not go down easy. At certain points, he gave Pacman a run for his money.

Though knocked down twice and defeated in the end, he never gave up -- it was the ref who stopped the match, if you remember. But I imagine that Cotto could easily have gone the distance. To stand toe to toe with the PacMan in tweleve rounds is no easy feat. The guts that this guy has! Talk about intestinal fortitude.

We're so happy that Cotto gave his all for this fight and for giving PacMan the competition that he deserves. In this fight, he undoubtedly brought out the best in Pacquiao.

This is but a setback for Cotto. This is not the end of the line for him. We can and should expect more from him in the future. Go Cotto!


Worth every cent

With such a long, drawn-out battle, no one who watched the fight could say that they have been short-changed. After a long time, we see Pacquiao at his best, battling twelve rounds. Almost an entire hour filled with excitement.

No easy knockdowns. No easy fights. No instant victories. Just twelve rounds of pure boxing at its best!

I remember a friend saying that in Pacquiao's previous fight, he just went out to buy some cigarettes. When he returned, the match was over. Not the case here. :)

It was a great match that was great to watch over and over again. We never get tired of watching two fighters at their very best.


What's next
Everyone already knows the answer to that: Pacquiao vs Mayweather! Fans are saying it. Commentators are saying it. Even Roach is saying it. Everything has been building up to this dreammatch. The former Pound-for-Pound champion versus the current Pound-for-Pound Champion! Mayweather vs Pacquiao! Pacquiao vs Mayweather!

We'll see what they can cook up with next year.

Though I agree with Aling Dionisia (the Pacman's mother): he should stop and retire. If not now, very soon. Better to stop while you're ahead. Better to retire as a champion that to retire because you got old and was defeated by a younger, fresher boxer.

Anyway, he said he was boxing so that his family doesn't have to work hard anymore. I don't think that was ever the case eversince he became a star. In spite of the recent crisis, he and his family is set for life. No need to pound and get pounded to feed his family. He should have more than enough by this time.

Parkinson's disease (Mohammad Ali), post-concussion syndrome (Bret Hart), and other trauma-related conditions are very real threats to those in this line of business. It's only a matter of time before a bad luck -- in the form of a younger and better fighter or a small accident -- could unravel all that he has achieved. Though not necessarily true, this does make a lot of sense: "You're only as good as your last match." This is Pacman's best match so far... Connect the dots...

Provide financial support for his family. Check.
Bring pride, honor, and glory to Filipinos around the world. Check.
Be the first boxer to be champ in seven weight divisions. Check.
Do movies with beautiful ladies. Erm... Check. (more on that later LOL!)

Only other thing I could think of that he needs to cross out of his list is his fight with Mayweather. But after that, I think it's best for him to retire.

Oh well, enough about that.

Congratualations to Manny Pacman Pacquiao for the win. Kudos to Miguel Cotto for the fight that he brought with him. Good work Bob Arum and Top Rank for setting up a great match. ;)

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto - Tale of the Tape

This will be the fourth time I'm doing this so here goes.... our latest installment of the Pac-Man Tale of the Tape:

Manny Pacman Pacquiao	Tale of the Tape	Miguel Junito Cotto
30 yrs	Age	29 yrs
5'6 1/2"	Height	5'7"
67"	Reach	67"
Light Welterweight	Weight Class	Welterweight
Southpaw	Stance	Orthodox
54	Total Fights	35
49	Win	34
36	KO	27
3	Loss	1
2	Draw	0

If PacMan wins, he will not only capture the welterweight title, but also become the first boxer to ever hold titles on seven different weight divisions!

If Cotto wins, he will most undoubtedly be shot into stardom, being one of the few fighters ever to defeat the current Pound for Pound Champion!

Arroyo's excessive trips are for economic growth?

Just read the story here: Arroyo says her foreign trips keep RP afloat

Yeah right.

Basically, the news states that because of her trips to other countries, Philippines had an uninterrupted growth. That these trips resulted are supposed to fix the economy, protect overseas workers, and protect national security.

She's trying to divert the issue here. She keeps going back to the supposed economic growth of the country. That's not the issue here. Hell, she's the president, she MUST do that. The people expect nothing less. If it were even true, then good for her.

However, the issue here is her extragance and blatant display of wealth and power, while most of the Filipinos don't have much to live by. It's so insensitive. Assuming that her trips did result to the economic growth, does that mean she has the right to blatantly display her wealth? Enjoying the fruits of her labor, if you will... Like it's a reward that she deserves...

It's quite disgusting the way she tries to wriggle out of the issues. Not even a hint of apology. Oh well, I guess she got traumatized the last time she apologized a few years back during the Hello Garci scandal. (By the way, what happened? Anybody able to follow that story? It just disappeared without any heads rolling...)

Oh well, let's leave it at that I guess... Let's just keep an eye out for whatever else she's gonna do...

Cory Aquino's Last Procession

August 5, 2009 4:30 PM - Just woke up because I was on night shift. I arrived home earlier today around 9:00 AM and saw the last funeral service for Cory in Manila Cathedral. I knew it was impossible for me to be awake the entire time, but I just left the TV on while I drifted to sleep. At 4:30 PM, waking up, I'm surprised with what I saw on TV... the Sucat Road exit from highway is quite literally a sea of people. The only landmark you can see that isn't covered by people was the pedestrian overpass!

I confirmed from home (I just called my dad a few minutes earlier) that what I'm seeing from TFC was really a live-telecast. According to dad, Cory Aquino's funeral procession just passed by the Nichol's Exit along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). That's still quite a long way to go. Still several kilometers before Bicutan then the Sucat exit. Then from the Sucat exit, it's several more kilometers before Manila Memorial Park. The TFC news crew estimate that it would take around two more hours before it reaches the Memorial Park. Wish I could be with my dad and the rest of the family who would be going to Sucat later once the procession passes by...

I actually though that once the procession reached SLEX, it will go full speed ahead towards Sucat. Not the case this time. Anyway...

It's just jaw-dropping to see the literal sea of people showing their love for the former president. The great respect the Philippine's Icon of Democracy draws is just unparalleled. Amazing. I almost cried at the mere thought, much less the sight of it all...

Anyway, allow me my little indulgence. This song has been playing all the time, but I never knew the lyrics:

"Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo"

'Di na 'ko papayag mawala ka muli.
'Di na 'ko papayag na muli mabawi,
Ating kalayaan kay tagal natin mithi.
'Di na papayagang mabawi muli.

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao.
Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain.
Kelan man 'di na paalipin.

Ref:
Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo,
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat.

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan.
Nagkasama ng mahirap at mayaman.
Kapit-bisig madre, pari, at sundalo.
Naging Langit itong bahagi ng mundo.

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim.
Tinig ng bawat tao'y bigyan ng pansin.
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon.
Ito'y lagi nating tatandaan.
(repeat refrain two times)

Coda:
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan.
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat!

Cheers to "pilipinasmabuhay100" for the above video and lyrics.

Many events this Saturday!

This is a great day for me for many reasons.

First, it's my dad's birthday! He's ty-eight years old. (Hehehe. Guess how old he is? It's between twenty and sixty! :)) ) I called to greet him early this morning. :) They said the entire clan is going to Alabang to dinner to celebrate. Wish we could have been there, but... well.... that's how life is. I'm just glad that he would finally be getting out of Sucat for once. :)

Today is also the wedding day of our friends, Tin and Jason. Just too bad for me because I'm in the office. Tin and Jason. Congratulations! Have a great and meaningful married life!

This day also serves as a reunion of sorts. Neil, Cel and the family are here again after about three months vacation in the Philippines. Nice to see everyone here again.

Lastly, Che finally gave me my birthday gift. A brand new iPhone!!! Whoopeee! I'm having a blast right now. I'm just trying to download the free stuff from the App Store. I'm still thinking of the other apps which I may need for it. Any suggestions?

The only thing preventing me from fully enjoying this day? Well, work. :) Hehehe... Oh well. After today, I'm up for two night shifts... hopefully the iPhone can help me get through them just fine. :)

Watching over the 2010 Philippine Elections

Been watching the news today and it's amazing to see this year's turnout for all election-related activities. One year before the 2010 elections, it's soooo great to finally see the Filipino people finally starting to care about the upcoming elections. And not just the tradional way.

Pinoys -- especially young ones -- have always been techno-savvy. And it's finally great to see that the people are now using this technology not just for fun and entertainment but also for stuff that really matter. From high-calibre cellphones to the internet, hopefully this technology will finally ensure that we will have clean elections.

A foreigner once said to me that "the Filipinos are a good people, but they deserve better leaders." Over the years, after seeing how rampant election fraud is -- and seeing how the voters sell out the next six years of their lives for small quick cash usually not exceeding 1000 pesos -- I thought maybe Filipinos DO deserve the leaders that we're getting. Basic law of karma: you reap what you sow... You let bad people become leaders, then you get led by these bad people to God knows where. Your choice, your consequences, for better or worse.

The news mentioned that some citizens of Cebu -- the city which gave the current president the landslide victory during the last national elections -- felt guilty because they are the ones who basically gave power to the current administration -- the administration that is riddled with unending controversies of graft and corruption, unethical behavior, under-the-table arrangements, you name it. Whence before thou art proud for ensuring the success our current leaders, are thou now still proud knowing the shame these leaders hath brought forth to our nation?

Can't picture a better and more current example of a "double-edged sword". Goes both ways, the good and the bad. That just cuts right through you, doesn't it?

Anyway, point is, this one single city had a great influence over the outcome of the past election and, consequently the prsent situation of our nation. At least they made their solid choice heard. How about the other cities or the other people fior that matter? Why did they not show the same solidarity that Cebu has shown? Do they not care enough for their voices to be heard? Do they not care who leads them for the next six years? Don't we have the foresight to think of the future, not just the now?

Crap. Well, maybe they don't.

Maybe that's why Philippines, once one of the leading powers in Southeast Asia, has now taken a backseat and got overtaken by our neighbors.

We are left behind.

And we are left behind because of the leaders we chose to run our country.

It's our fault... now, let's fix it.

I hope that's the last time we, as a people, allow dirty elections. People always complain they want change. They want the Filipinos to have better lives. Well, in that case, shut up, stop whining your pants off, step up, and vote for leaders who can give you that.

We do deserve better. Let's work for it. 365 days to go before the 2010 elections. Let's start ensuring clean elections now.

Go go go! Register to vote now!!

Check out this site which promotes clean 2010 elections. It's got to be worth it.

My Birthday '09

I treated the guys for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Finally had a chance to try out the cam. :)

Pre-Dinner
Took some pictures around the Explanade-Marina Square area. Here are my favorites.



Dinner At Glutton's Bay
The main event. Good thing we were early! If we came 10 minutes later, we would not have any place to sit! Oh, and good bye diet!!! :)) Hahahaha!!!



"Dessert" at McCafe
It's a bit late but we aint done yet. Went to McCafe in Marina Square - thankfully open 24hours as my birthday draws to a close...

Manny Pacman Pacquiao vs Ricky Hitman Hatton - Tale of the Tape

Manny Pacman Pacquiao	Tale of the Tape	Ricky Hitman Hatton
30 yrs	Age	30 yrs
5'6 1/2"	Height	5'6"
23"	Arm Length	22"
138 lbs	Weight	140 lbs
53	Total Fights	46
48	Win	45
36	KO	32
3	Loss	1
2	Draw	0

Back in Manila March '09 - Day Eight - April Fools

April 1, 2009: Okay here goes. 9AM, I don't have much to do but to get to destination number 1: Glorietta in Makati, which will serve as my base of operations. Being April Fool's Day, I was hoping that nothing *ahem* foolish happens today. Can't afford to lose much time...

My first stop is supposed to be MRT Shaw Blvd station, to process some documents with our former agent. Why not take the car with me? First, that area is filled with buwayas. Second, traffic was probably bad in that area. I don't want to get stuck in traffic in a place I barely know anything about. When I made a follow-up call, though, they informed me that the papers are not yet ready until after lunch. So change of plans.

I proceeded with the processing of my clearance. Lots of legwork and paperwork to do. I had a bananaQ and Mountain Dew first since I did not eat breakfast earlier. I met my friend in the office and gave her my details to process the papers. Everything is in order except that it needed to be notarized. Don't know of any notary anywhere near the area. The nearest ones that I know of are the ones near the other office building where I worked before, about a half kilometer away. I went there on foot; just thought that I might come across some notaries along the way -- which I did by the way. It cost me around 100 pesos to get the docs signed, stamped, and notarized. I went back and submitted the papers and it's all set. One task down. Done by 12 noon.

I then went to a computer shop to get some more documents from my email and have it printed for task number 2 -- this is the one in Shaw Blvd. Coughing up 85 pesos for 30 minutes of PC rental and two printouts, it is a bit costly, but what choice did I have? I needed to get this done ASAP. After that, I went straight to the MRT for Shaw Blvd. It took a while to get there. After arriving at Shaw Blvd, I had to trek for about half a kilometer under the beating sun. I eventually got there, then it was a matter of simply getting the document. No fuss.

I made my way back to square 1 in glorietta. The trip is much much loinger and tiring than the actual task. I returned to Makati by 3:00PM. By this time, I'm not going anywhere without lunch. I went down to the SM Foodcourt. I was actually looking for that Korean stall, KIMCHI, the onw that is serving the spicy beef stew. No luck though. Quite delirious with hunger and no Kimchi in sight, I went for the default choice: Jollibee, C1 (1Pc Chicken Meal).

After getting my wits again after eating, I went to SPI in Paranaque to get some more papers. This time, I'm taking the car since I'm done in that part of the city. Unfortunately, the trip was anything but spectacular particularly the part of the trip in EDSA. The flyover from EDSA to the airport area in Pasay causes a chokepoint -- you woudn't believe the number of vehicles jamming up there -- the two lanes become three, taxis filling up in lines in a Caltex station just after flyover, and a well-known bus stop in Cabrera just about a hundred meters after that. Come to think about it, most of the vehicles jammed there are going to SM MOA, the sough via the Coastal Road, and to Manila via Roxas Blvd -- all of them must pass through the tiny chokepoint under the flyover.

Anyway, I had to go via the flyover (yey!) and escape the fray. After that, the trip was all... peachy... Still a little slow for my liking but still not that bad. After reaching SPI, it's only a matter of picking up the papers again and I'm done for the day! Again, the journey is the long and exhausting part. It's a few minutes before 5:00 PM.

Now is the part of the trip I'm dreading a bit -- Sucat road from SPI/Airport area to home a long stretch of road filled with malls, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and gas stations -- and it's almost rush hour. Surprisingly, though, it wasn't actually that bad. I was home before 6:00 PM. :)

I ate dinner by 7PM with dad. By 8PM, I was on my way to one additional stop I had to make: visit Mommy Cel and David and Baby Daniel in Las Pinas. (By this time, the drive through the West Service Road was a breeze.) It's nice to see them again. It's the first time I saw Daniel and was soundly asleep most of the time I was there. :)

I went home after the visit. And so ends Day Eight.