Sunday, December 28, 2008
Cute Doggie Theif Snatches a Rawhide and Makes a Clean Getaway
Proves how animals can be so clever!!! haha!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
A Unique Treat : Mrs. Fields PH Holiday PROMO!

Buy any Mrs. Fields Baked products worth P120.00 and get a FREE Half Dozen assorted cookies on your 10th Stamp.
11th-15th STAMP
Buy any Mrs. Fields Holiday Beverage (Hot & Cold) and get a 12oz. Raspberry Maple Chiller for FREE on your 15th Stamp.
16th-20th STAMP
Buy any Mrs. Fields Regular Beverage and get a FREE Mrs. Fields Mug on your 20th Stamp!
Wait! there's a BONUS!
Upon completion of the 20 stamps, you are entitled to :
a. Become a Mrs. Fields Club Member! Simply register online!
b. Get your BONUS COUPON from their cookie experts (crew). An exciting adventure awaits us all! yippeee!
Hey, Its not about what you work hard for and get in the end as a reward, its all about the experience of being treated along the way and till the end!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Dreaming the Impossible Dream

I always feel very sad whenever I see the hungry and exhausted little four-legged furry fellas in the streets. I would also like to establish and lead an Animal Police Station. Lastly, I will submit a proposal to one of our congress people to make a law for animal rights - a law as strict and keen as the one that the United States have. Once I have the money to establish all these, I will start working on this project asap.
If this this dream comes true, I will forever be happy! =)
Animals have the right to live, dream, and experience better lives too.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
My New Addiction : The BLOG DRUG
Moving on...
All I need to do is turn on my JBL Ipod Speaker, install my Ipod, press the play button...and viola! The blogger drug would start running into my veins like.... like... like.....uhmm...a medicine? (LOL). My fingers would start typing and typing and typing (click! click! click! haha parang camera lang), and I can't even stop (except when my niece is around)! The Blogger Drug is a killer drug. It will bother you to death if you do not blog about your thoughts, experiences, and share cool stuff on the net that needs to be known!
Thanks Ms. Aileen Apolo for this free and over-the-table-inside-the-classroom-and sometimes-thru-the-Google Apps-addiction. =)
Good Day!
Blind Ambitions of New Graduates
Also posted in : Passion-ista
It has been a routine for almost every teen to start applying for a job before graduation. Some apply for more than 10 companies, while some settle for less. I have a couple of friends who are now working in different companies, from real estate firms to call centers. Although they work in different organizations now, they (or most of them) still have the a similarity ---- They have Blinded Ambitions.
I call it the Blind Ambition because blind means having no capability to see things either correctly, or totally, while ambition refers to a person's strong desire to achieve something that requires determination and hard work. For me, having a blinded ambition refers to the experience of desiring things without fully knowing the reality of things. This experience is something that teens in college have in common. Let me ask you, when filling up an application form, what do you write in the expected salary box?
Given that you are a fresh graduate of :
a. Business and Economics - How much do you price yourself for helping Commerce Firms?
b. Liberal Arts - How much for production, performance, editing, or publishing?
c. Computer Science and Engineering - How Much for the sake of all the technical stuff?
d. Science (Chemistry, Biology, etc.) Student - How much for the love of Science?
Some Business and Economics people write P25,000 for their starting salary. Some even place higher rates, some settle for the minimum, and some settle for the middle rates. I call this the blind ambition because what most teens do not realize is that, in REALITY, there are MANY THINGS to consider (and that includes what to settle for). For this example, the salary is an expense of the company, and salary is mostly based on experience.
Experience : this do not only include all the extra-curricular activities and achievements you have had in school. This also includes REAL LIFE job experiences. Nowadays, companies are looking for people who are honest, loyal, hard-working and the same time, multi-tasking, open-minded, and patient. Companies would prefer to hire someone who settles for a lower pay, who graduated from a not-so-known school, but would be more than willing to do multi-tasking work. I'm sharing this on the net because I had a lot of friends who had this blinded ambition. Once, I had a friend who graduated from the Liberal Arts, and was hired by a well-known company. Since he was only a fresh-graduate, the company made him an assistant marketing officer and was also assigned to do clerical works. He decided to quit after two weeks on the job. For the simple reason that, he had a different understanding of multi-tasking. He didn't want to include "clerical works" in his job profile. What he did not realize is that all the small works were part of his training on knowing the nitty gritty systems of the organization. He wanted a higher pay, and a higher position just because he came from a POPULAR SCHOOL.
But most of the times, especially now that we are in the realm of a financial crisis, being very IDEALISTIC and having a blind ambition without knowing the realities of life, lessens our chances to grab smaller opportunities that lead to sustainable and greater success. Companies would sometimes prefer to hire an undergraduate who has the strive to have a better life, than someone who has too much pride/confidence.
Let us not be blinded by our very idealistic ambitions. Let us also consider the side of organizations.
1. We are company expenses that become the best assets when performing well
2. How experienced are we (really) to be paid that much?
3. Success always start from the down below.
4. We have to know the realities of life and face them
5. Humility, Honesty, Loyalty, and "Diskarte" combined always leads to a better relationship
with the Boss.
6. When applying for a job and going to interviews, always be honest with yourself.
7. Lastly, never ever make sudden job-related decisions without taking into account the past (mistakes to learn from), present (what is needed now) , and the future ( how much sustainability, and security will this decision give me).
Hope this helps. =)
Related Links :
1. First Job Fantasy vs. Reality
2. Life is a series of Reality Checks
3. Filipino Success Stories
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
A Squirrel at my Window!!!
Finally!!!
I am able to prove that SQUIRRELS do exist here in Makati City.
It eats the berries the tree grows. Sometimes, they come in twos.
Sometimes, its on its own.
Well...the moment has come! haha. Here are the pictures!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sa Age mo Ngayon, How much do you still trust our media?
*sigh*
Sorry ha, haha, I had no one to talk to so I just posted this thoughts here sa blog. I have my own opinion about this matter.. but I'll keep it to myeslf nalang... haha. =)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Practicing my Comm Skills : Feeling ko graduate na ako haha
It's all about the concept that you are communicating to the people, and making that concept understandable in a second is really hard...yet Fun!!! It's a good thing that I was able to enroll in FOTSHOP, WEBGIFS, TRAINER, and ISSUMAN (electives offered to Organizational Communication peeps). The moment I started with my first ever super-this-is-it project, I was able to apply Fotshop. Fotshop is an elective that will teach you how to use Adobe Photoshop. With the help of Sir Mike Juat, our teacher and our "Fru Fru" Icon Director, (he showed us his work in class and super galing ng production!) I was able to develop my Photoshop skills!
Yay! First project...Done! and on time! =) but this was not the best part haha. The best part that was worth celebrating was...dendenenen!!! 8 out of my 9 deisngs were approved!
I see this as a big big BIG achivement because the designs I made suited the concept, the idea, and the image of the company. Creating different designs within the context of the company image is part of being orgcom and comm, and I'm glad that I am able to formally practice my course successfully!
More projects to come! =)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Discrimination in the Seminary
If God loves everyone, and does not choose from his children who is deserving of his love, then why should priests and seminaries choose? What right do they have? ---- Anonymous.
On one hand, It is clear that the Christian community of priests are just doing what is best so that people would not judge them and further destroy their reputation due to the past issues of homosexual priests. "We are just aiming to produce good priests" - interviewee. On the other hand, members of the Filipino community are criticizing the priest's actions and judgements. They are saying that the priests are being very ironic and are not following their own teachings --- "everyone is equal, everyone is loved by God".
I honestly think that everyone who would like to enter the seminary should be given a chance to change because seminaries also represent the Church, and in the church, everyone is welcome. However, for control purposes, if they see that the person is not COMMITTED to change for the better and if the person is not following the vow of obedience, then they should re-consider. It is good that PROBE was able to make a documentary about this issue because Filipinos nowadays think that the church and its teachings is less credible than before due to political involvements and other image destroying issues.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
On Pinoy Gender Issues PART 3 : The Working Mom

A situation referring to the heavy workload of women and the many, overlapping tasks involved, which if computed in terms of hours would total more than 24 hours. This workload consists of unpaid reproductive work, paid productive work, community management, and all other work necessary for the survival of the family
Woman's traditional role, especially if she is a wife and mother, is to stay home, manage the household and take care of the family. However, because of economic realities, more and more women have joined the labor force. Yet, even as they spend essentially the same working hours as the men outside the home, housework and child care are still primarily women's concern. As a result, women carry a double burden in terms of longer hours and a wider scope of responsibility.
They are also expected to participate in sociocultural activities such as in church and civic organizations, and other community involvement. Women's work in the home, in the labor force and in the community is a multiple burden that is not experienced by men. (from : http://www.ncrfw.gov.ph/inside_pages/gender_mainstreaming/gender_101.html)
Have you ever experienced being friends with a working Mom?
Well...I have. Having the chance to work with someone who has more experience in life was a good opportunity for me to learn more about the different gender issues. Being a working mother is not a joke. I had a friend in highschool (not from my school), and she was a teacher. A teacher who was in her early 30's and has 3 children, and a stay home husband. Being a teacher is pretty hard since most teachers in highschools only get paid with a minimum to a little above minimum salary. Technically, she was the breadwinner. Imagine, she was working as a teacher, supporting three children, one in college, the other in higschool, and the youngest in pre-school.
I really felt bad for her because she experienced a lot of discriminations at work. People judged her as someone incapable of providing well for her family because there were times when she did not have enough time to spend with her kids. Since she was a family friend, my parents and I decided to help her family financially because we were so worried about her youngest child. I can still remember, she would always tell me that from the very beginning (first day of work) her co-teachers has been giving her the "kaya mo ba" look. They kept asking about her family and it made her feel so uncomfortable to work with them. Most of her co-teachers were young and single, or happily married.
Fast forward....
After a few years of having no contact, we just learned that the school where she was working decided to let her go, and their reason was that she was not performing well because she had too much responsibilities at home. No word from her since that. I felt so sad because I know that she's a very hardworking person.
I find it very unfair that organizations judge people immediately based on their family background and gender. In some cases, the men are the ones whose problems are same with my friend's but people do not judge them. If the husband was the only one providing for the family, and given the fact that he does not have enough time for his family, people would understand --- "kasi lalake eh, dapat talaga mag trabaho, kaya nga yung babae ang taga alaga ng mga anak". Generally, men are seen as more responsible and capable in terms of providing for the family. Sometimes, others get so amazed whenever they see a single mom and realize that she was the only one who raised her kids. ---"wow grabe tatag naman niyang babae na yan..parang hindi ko kaya yan..." All these gender issues are definitely here to stay, unless someone who can use his/her influence is courageous enough to change everything for the better and tolerate every ridicule and criticism.
That's why I always tell my friends who experience gender discrimination at work to ignore the bad things they hear. I tell them that if they pay attention to the discriminative comments they hear from their co-workers, they will not succeed, because success comes from inner strength and commitment. I also tell them to think about this statement -- "you exist, i exist, lets just co-exist. So lets just mind our own beezwax".
One of my favorite principles : Never let your gender dictate what you can and can't do.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
On Pinoy Gender Issues PART 2 : A Student's Flowery Tale
The Ultimate Question
My Highschool Life
My highschool was a very strict school. It was ran by Agustinian Recollect sisters and my goodness, we were literally forbidden from going outside the campus unless it was dismissal time. Well, it has its security advantages but we were like prisoners in that school. All students saw themselves as future nuns. LOL. It is an exclusive school for girls and the practices inside the school are very typical. We were required to pray the rosary before and after every class, recess, and lunch break, we were required to have Monday worships on the auditorium, class worships on other weekdays, write reflections everyday, and a lot lot more. I honestly don't have much complaints about the practices because somehow we were trained to be very patient ladies.
What I wished was taught to Us
Since my high school is very strict, and the Nuns there see Men as "aliens" (Their eyes literally expand up to 2 inches wider in radius as if they have seen a human PEST in the campus), soirees, interactions, and guy visitors were not allowed. THESE WERE ALL FORBIDDEN, well during my time. Anyway, since "pahirapan bago kami maka-experience ng interaction with another exclusive school for boys", we lack the exposure on how to deal, interact, or socialize with the opposite sex, which became a total weakness and disadvantage for most of my batch mates. How we all wished that they gave the chance to be more exposed to socializing do's and dont's. These kind of things can help us be more prepared for college and so we won't end up being the quiet introvert in the block who's allergic to other kinds of humans and sexes.
They said we were Planted Roses
Ever since nursery, they have been reciting to us, over and over again, what the school philosophy is, what the goals were, what the mission and visions were, and what was to be seen as our sole symbols. They said, that we were like Planted Roses. I forgot the whole story. The only thing stuck in my mind is that we symbolized roses and every characteristic of it. For me, though this is part of our school culture and values, it still gave us no direction in life. It did not even give is a good standing of what we can be in the future, aside from being servants of God. In my opinion, anybody can be a servant of God, whether that person is a priest, a nun, or a simple civilian. I think that with the use of these philosophies, mission, visions, and other symbolic stories that were instilled in our minds, we were only brought up to be very feminine, and conservative ladies.
When I was in college, I have realized that knowing I was like a planted rose won't contribute to any part of my life as a teenager who will graduate soon and compete with other people of different sexes for a stable job. Being compared to a rose did not give me a strong foundation of what I can be as a woman, except for being tied to the ground -- being a humble person.
How I wish I can go back to my high school life and try to change everything. I wish I can share with the A.R. sisters all my suggestions in making the school a better educational institution which prepares its students to be very aggressive, goal driven, physically active, and not too idealistic in life, because life is very tough. By simply knowing that they are roses won't make them any stronger. It just makes them more naive about the cruelty of the real world. It also makes them more blind from the reality that 50% of the cruelty they will encounter has something to do with their sex and gender.
Its a wild wild jungle out here and this world is not a place for roses. Its a good thing my siblings and parents taught me how to deal with all the cruelty.
On Pinoy Gender Issues PART 1 : A Funny Paradox on Activists
Usually, during rally demonstrations, whenever women protesters are asked what they are fighting for,

2. Human Characteristic Focused : Physical Capabilities and the Right to Respect of women vs. Men's
Same scenario for this one. Some would even perform the "kapit-bisig" while walking towards their destination. While the men are doing the "kapit-bisig" with their female co-protesters (i.e. wives, lovers, group mates, colleague, party-list co-member), they ignore the idea or fact that the women can also get hurt when things become very wild and violent. They also ignore that fact that the woman who can get hurt can be their loved ones, or close friends, They even encourage one another in pushing through with the "Sugod Mga Kapatid" mission. Then the protest becomes wild and violent. Some women are bleeding, some are injured, and some are even unconscious and are rushed to the hospital. Now here comes the "right-on-time" media. When the media asks the men what happened, they will simply say that there has been some police brutality. They were just practicing their freedom of expression and right to information. In addition, they would complain that the police has no respect and "awa" on the women because so many women got hurt. In this scenario, it is the men, who are using the idea of the "woman's femininity and weakness" as a justification and a reason to blame everything on the riot control policemen for everything that has been done to the women which are out of the blue, considered as "unacceptable", regardless of the truth about who started the violence.
2. Human Characteristic Focused : Physical Capabilities and the Right to Respect of women vs. Men's
(PHOTO FROM : Inquirer.net)
I am not sure whether this is a clear picture of the fact that majority of Filipinos still find themselves caught up in the confusion tunnel of gender sensitivity and equality. In some situations, people still tend to forget what they really believe in because the values they acquire from their organizations, are different from their own. My point is that no matter who we are and how we were brought up, organizations where we practice our talents, where we find our passion and ideals, and where we start achieving goals and get a feeling of satisfaction, create large impacts on what we believe in.
Why do you think most protesters say the same things over and over again when their rallies become wild jungle fights with riot policemen? The reason is not about how they practiced their lines in case they will be interviewed by the media. It is all about the shared values and beliefs about gender issues that they have in their organizations which they sometimes forget to question if those values can bring them any good.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Be Careful of Greenbelt 3 Cinema Restroom Maintenance Crew

Incident
Cellphone almost got stolen by Greenbelt 3 (Cinema) Restroom Maintenance Crew
I was at Greenbelt 3 with my boyfriend because we were supposed to meet with my mom to buy some things together. I told my mom that we will just wait for her at Timezone, GB3. While I was playing deal or no deal (which by the way is a very addicting game), my mom texted me that she was on her way up to Timezone. So i decided to go to the ladies room (upstairs) first before meeting her.
In the Restroom
Note : I was the only customer in the Ladies Room
After using the restroom, I fixed my things and went outside of the cubicle. I walked towards the mirror and faucet to fix myself. As soon as i got out of the cubicle, the Janitress went inside the cubicle which I used. It did not take very long before she finished cleaning that cubicle. She was inside the cubicle for about 10 seconds. She immediately returned her mop inside the cleaning materials cabinet and walked very fast towards the restroom door and went out. Her actions got my attention because all of a sudden she was in a hurry. I immediately checked my belongings and kaboom...my cellphone was missing. That cellphone was my boyfriend's valentines gift to me and he'd be very disappointed If I misplace it.
I ran towards the door of the restroom and my chaperon was there. I told her, "Elaine! sundan mo yung Janitress kung san pupunta, tignan mo kung ano mga hawak na gamit!" So Elaine ran and followed the janitress towards the employee's area beside the Mens Room. I ran back to the ladies room and search the cubicles one by one. My cellphone wasn't there. I was certain that I placed my phone on the wooden table above the toilet bowl, but it wasn't there. So I ran back to Elaine and asked where the janitress went. As soon as I saw the janitress,
I shouted, "Miss!, asan ang cellphone ko? Nilinis mo yung cubicle pagkatapos ko mag-cr. Ako lang ang tao sa cr kanina and sure akong naiwan ko sa ibabaw ng toilet bowl yung cellphone ko."
Janitress : Mam? wala po akong nakita
Me : sigurado ka? eh sinong nagligpit or kumuha, si casper???
Janitress : mam wala po talaga akong nakitang cellphone.
Boyfriend: runnning from store downstairs... ano yan? ano meron?
Me : eh eto ayaw umamin na kinuha ang cellphone ko eh. Uulitin ko ha. Pag ka pasok ko, may nililinis ka na cubicle diba.
Janitress : opo yata mam
Me : oh tapos, yung nilinis mo na cubicle ang ginamit ko. pagkatapos ko gamitin, nilinis mo ulit. anong masasabi mo dun ha? eh pagkatapos mo naman linisin yung cubicle na gagamitin ko dapat eh wala namang ibang cellphone dun.
Janitress : wala nga po. wala naman po talaga akong nakita na cellphone. Saka mam tatlo po kayo sa cr kanina.
Me : aaaauy..pinaglololoko mo na ako nyan eh
Elaine : ano ka?!? eh nakabantay ako sa pinto eh. kayong dalawa lang nasa loob!
Boyfriend: halika, dalhin na natin sa police toh, matigas ulo eh. ayaw umamin. (BLUFFING)
Me : oo nga eh. bago natin dalhin sa pulis, Elaine, paakyatin mo muna dito si Sgt. Reyes(Bluffing. There is no such person haha)
Janitress: ay sir, mam, wag naman po. check ko nalang po baka po naitago ko
Me : kunin mo
Janitress: mam naitago ko pa yata kasi di ko po sure kung kanino eh.. mam di ko po sure. check ko nalang po kasi hindi ko po maalala kung kanino po yun eh dalwa po kayo sa cr kanina
Me : basta kunin mo nalang. niloloko mo pako. kanina sabi mo tatlo kami ngayon naman dalawa nalang kami
Janitress: sir kasi po hindi lang naman po si mam ang tao kanina sa CR
Boyfriend: basta't kunin mo nalang
Me : sinungaling ka pa
As soon as we were inside the restroom (boyfriend was waiting outside the ladies room). She walked towards the cleaning materials cabinet, and TADAAA!! my phone was there...inside her make-up pouch.
Me :sinungaling ka talga. pasalamat ka hindi ako scandalosa. kung hindi kanina pa kita
pinahiya dito. magnanakaw ka.
Janitress : mam hindi naman po, gusto ko lang po muna itago para isubmit nalang sa office
mamaya.
Me : eh bakit kanina ayaw mo pa umamin na may cellphone?! and bakit hindi mo
manlang ako tinanong kung may nawawala akong cellphone habang pareho pa tayong nasa CR??? at sana manlang nag verify ka sakin and sana tinanong mo ako kung ano ichura ng cellphone ko para na verify mo kung akin un! and wag mo akong lokohin! ako lang ang tao sa CR kanina. tanungin mo pa tong si elaine, nakabantay sha sa CR na pinto kanina. Anong
pangalan mo?!
Janitress : Rose po
Me : tingin ng ID mo. irereport kita sa boss mo. (walk out)
take note guys, while we were walking towards the restroom with the janitress, sobrang relaxed pa ng lakad niya tapos ang galing pa niya tumingin sa mata ko while she was telling me nung una na there was no cellphone.
MY OPINION
Normally, employees (i.e. sales ladies in department stores, maintenance, etc.) are not allowed to bring at work any of their personal belongings except for their wallets and phones, given that these are recorded in the employee personal belongings declaration by the admin officer. Since things like these happen in restrooms, Greenbelt 3's administration officer should inform the people they hire that they are very KEEN and STRICT with honesty issues. Maybe, their policies and punishments are not very strict that is why maintenance employees are willing to take the risk and steal any personal items left by mall customers.
Aside from not being strict with dishonest employees, the admin office of GB3 does not train their employees very well when it comes to finding lost items. What should be the proper procedure? Should they verify with the customer first? Should they immediately call their boss and report a lost item? What is the proper way of approaching and talking to mall customers who claim to have lost their belongings? What should be done?
I will not let this pass.
I will write a formal letter of complaint about what happened and submit it to Greenbelt 3's administration officer. I will do this so that they will be more strict with their people in order to avoid such things from happening again.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Knowing more about my school. What does the color GREEN really mean?

I just woke up this morning asking myself the following questions : Why am I in La Salle? Does it have something to do with what I am? Or what kind environment I want to be in? or.. What I want to become? I cant really remember why I chose La Salle. As soon as I remember the real reason, I'll post it here.
As part of my mission in life which is to know more about the meanings of the things, symbols, and other "stuff" I see in school, here's a start :
The trademark color of my University, is GREEN. What does the color green mean anyway?
Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world that is an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.
The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology. However, there is an "institutional" side to green, associated with illness or Government-issued that conjure up negative emotions as do the "slimy" or bilious greens.
How the color green effects us physically and mentally
* Soothing
* Relaxing mentally as well as physically
* Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety
* Offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony
Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect and well being. Green is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony. Green is a safe color, if you don't know what color to use anywhere use green.
Green is favored by well balanced people. Green symbolizes the master healer and the life force. It often symbolizes money. It was believed green was healing for the eyes. Egyptians wore green eyeliner. Green eyeshades are still used. You should eat raw green foods for good health. Friday is the day of green. Green jade is a sacred stone of Asia.
Green Energy
Green contains the powerful energies of nature, growth, desire to expand or increase. Balance and a sense of order are found in the color green. Change and transformation is necessary for growth, and so this ability to sustain changes is also a part of the energy of green.
Put some green in your life when you want:
- a new state of balance
- feel a need for change or growth
- freedom to pursue new ideas
- protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others
results from :
from : http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert
http://crystal-cure.com/green.htmlFriday, October 31, 2008
The New Makati Medical Center : Better and Faster Results. I'm Excited! ;)
Do you know what an Aerocom Pneumatic Tube System is?
To explain how it works in simpler terms, it a system, composed of tubes, where documents, lab

Have you visited the new Makati Med? Not yet? You should check it out.
That hospital has been the "family hospital" eversince. We (my brothers and sisters) all had our confinements there. Our mom gave birth to us in that hospital, she used to work for the accounting department of Makati Med and was crowned as Ms. Dietary because she also used to work for the dietary department (where meals for patients are prepared). My sister also gave birth in that hospital. Makait Med has been a very special hospital to us. It makes me very happy, as a loyal client that they are doing their best to offer better services.

I spent the night with my mom at Makati Med yesterday. My mom had her general check up. It was only last night when I noticed that they have installed the Aerocom tube system. There were signs hanged on the ceilings where the tube system is installed. It says something like : "The Aerocom Pneumatic Tube System, a system for Makati Medical Center doctors and personnel to serve patients better and faster"
My Comment : Announcing new systems for better serives to clients is one of the old and best ways to earn their loyalty.
Eve's Drop Moment :
"Aba dapat lang ayusin na nila yan noh, patients deserve better facilities. Susmaryosep, eh nasa Makati pa man din ito tapos ito pa ang panget and bulok" --- from a patient in the elevator
I have to admit, she has a point. The hospital has been there for ages and there has been zero renovations. I''m not sure when the whole reconstruction will end and honestly, I'm so excited and I can't wait to see the whole new look of our family hospital! haha.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The True Meaning of Beauty.
Two thirds of women around the world,
from fifteen-year-olds to sixty-year-olds, avoid basic activities of life because they feel badly about the way they look. It’s time we changed their minds -Dove Campaign
I can't help but admit that I hate all commercials which wrongfully DICTATE what beauty is and what kind of life it can give you. It takes young ladies away from their path to having normal and happy lives.
I can't help but admit that tears fall from my Owl-ish eyes whenever I would see girls in the comfort room, staring at other girls, or older women whom they think are prettier, sexier, and more presentable than them.
I can't help but admit that whenever I have friends who ask me the ultimate question ---"Kailan ba ako gaganda?", I get so depressed and I just wanna hug that person and whisper that she IS beautiful and there's nothing to change because we are all pretty and lovely in different ways.
I can't help but admit that I am the kind of person who sometimes choses to sacrifice her own time, and happiness for someone who needs a helping hand, a listener, and a friend who can share her love and care.
Beauty is not just about our our physical looks. Beauty as they say is also about the love we get form our families and friends. It also covers aspects of our self-esteem which is about the way we recognize and take pride in our strengths, talents, and natural beauty. The Dove Self Esteem Fund, a well-researched, well planned, and well implemented CSR (corporate social responsibility) is not just like any other project we have encountered. Unlike other organizational projects which are focused only on the idea that everyone is naturally beautiful, Dove gives importance to the wrong understanding and definition of beauty and envisions to uplift the self-esteem of every girl, lady, woman that are deeply affected, and are vulnerable to the terrible beauty trends and lifestyles of this distorted planet.
"Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does..."-Dove Campaign
It really is about time to make some changes. Though this Dove campaign brought about certain issues such as being accused of using this kind of campaign just to increase their sales, and that the organization has a sister company which sells cosmetics (this I am not sure of, I just read it form a comment in youtube), Dove was still able to get the support of the many. It made such a big impact on people, especially women, because it is an issue that every woman is having and is embarrassed to share with others, fearing that she may be seen as someone who is not very confident about herself.
I guess being supportive and helping people with their problems is really an effective way of being a part of their lives. Dove has probably been a part of almost every woman's life since the Self Esteem Campaign. Proceeds of the sales go to the project's funds. I love the way Dove introduced its campaign to the people. Not only that their ads are very touching, they also sounded very credible because captions in between pictures of girls are about researched information. I will continuously support this project as I have since its launch because I know that somehow, somewhere in this cruel world, a part the money I contributed by buying their products has helped a young or old lady with a distorted thinking of beauty
Positive Self Esteem is about being able to celebrate differences - Dove Campaign
DOVE SELF ESTEEM CHECK (Take the test)
Do you have a positive body image? Does your self-esteem need a tune-up? Find out through these interactive quizzes.
Nag Pa-Cheeseburger Ka na Ba?
"Hey there! Bagong visitor ka ba ng First Ever Formal blog ko? Hhmm... sabi na nga ba eh! Pa-cheeseburger ka naman! BURGER! BURGER! BURGER!"

McDonald's newest series of commercials is one of the most talked about "stuff" this part of the year.
Some people saw it as a desperate way of getting the attention of "all publics". Some said that its also a desperate way of making people buy Mcdo's cheeseburgers. While some, saw it as a good marketing strategy because it targeted a wide range of publics in this Pinoy Land. Most people even had that "pa cheeseburger ka naman" joke as part of their lifestyle. The theme of the burger commercial says something like "kahit anong dahilan nalang, matikaman lang ang cheeseburger ng Mcdonalds". During the peak of the commercial series, hearing different groups of employees, couples, and teens say "Pa Cheeseburger ka naman" was like a part of my daily/ weekly adventure. Geeez, it was like the latest fashion trend! In La Salle alone, from ENG gate to Miguel Building, there are about 1 to 2 hirits in a week. Nag-hit siya sa mga Pinoy dahil tayong mga Pilipino ay madaling patawanin, mababaw sa mga jokes, at mahilig magbiro, tapos hihirit ng Libre. Lifestyle kasi natin yan. - from a friend.
My cousins even joke about it with their families almost every single day.
They would tease each other whenever someone just woke up ---
"Uuuyyy Bagong Gising, Pa Cheese Burger ka naman!"
Whenever somone just got home
"Uuuyy, he brought home the bacon! Pa Cheeseburger ka naman!".
For me, that is actually one of the most effective comm strategies in my generation. I think Mcdo wanted to give everyone the idea that their Cheeseburger can be everyone's snack anytime of the day. Like when we Pinoys think of LIBRE, instead of just thinking about Pizza, Chicken, etc. we can also think of Mcdo's cheeseburger. "Uso kasi sa mga office dito sa atin ang mga pakain. Uso din kasi sa atin ang maging IN sa panahon kapag kaya natin sabihin ang latest na expression o kaya latest na hirit-- from a friend."
Kamusta naman yon diba?? (hmmm... I'm pretty sure that almost everyone is guilty of copying Mariel Rodriguez' favorite expression )
The "Pa Cheeseburger ka naman" idea worked well because people talk about it everyday. But being talked about is different from being successfull in terms of profit. I have no idea if their sales went up because of this TV ad series. Whatever the result is in terms of the sales, I sitll think that the idea was halfway successful and effective because it targeted a part of Most Filipino's lifestyles --- pa-libre, pa-kain, atnd making things become such a big deal which results to a....
"Pa cheeseburger ka naman! BURGER! BURGER! BURGER!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Its GAMING, not Gambling.

Casinos in general, are seen by many as bad places. I guess its time to prove them wrong. PAGCOR has been changing its image since 2000, and is very successful in it. First, they stopped using the term "gambling", and they now call it "gaming".
They say, that when you go to a casino, you do not really "gamble", instead, you are just playing different kinds of games. For something to be termed as gambling, it does not mean that is has something to do with money ONLY. Secondly, they launched projects such as The Wanders, which is a show for families. Now you can see families, children, and teens in the casino, lining up inside, just to watch the show. Going back to the gambling vs. gaming issue...
"I told them, we should stop calling it gambling. In order to have a successful and effective change in image, we have to start with the basics and we have to start now. You should start by using the term gaming and if someone tells you that gambling is bad, you tell them this :
Gambling is not bad and is not a SIN. Everyone gambles every single day. For example,
We gamble with our futures when we go to work everyday and decide whether to do good or not. If we do good BASED on the judgment of our bosses, well then we WIN. Otherwise, we lose.
We gamble with our relationships when we spend to marry someone and say "I Do" in front of the altar, because WE CAN NEVER KNOW if that marriage will last or not. If the marriage stays strong, then lucky you because your spendings are worth it. Otherwise, your wife or family leaves you, she may keep the house or not and she may get some shares or not, still, you lose.
We gamble our image and reputation every single time we post blogs, pictures, and other things which people can see in the internet and use to judge you. If people see you as someone conservative, good, a person with a stable life, and a kind-hearted one, well, you win their hearts. Otherwise, you lose a part of your network, thus, you do not win."
You see, "gambling" is not just about casinos, and that term brings so much bad image to anything. That is why they call it gaming. You play with machines, and you win or lose. Like in arcades, you pay for the credits, you play, then you win or lose. Everybody gambles all the time. May this gamble be a choice to work or be a bum, to call someone for something important or not, or simply a choice for something that gives you no assurance of the outcome.
He also said :
" Its Something or anything that gives you zero certainty.
Given the statement that everyone gambles everyday, and given all these examples, would you still say that "gambling", as you call it, is a sin? or in lighter terms, a bad thing? If you still see it as a sin, or as a bad thing, well then my friend, that makes you no different than any other sinner in this world. "
To be honest, I agree with this. We gamble with our lives everyday. The only reason why we give that word such bad impression is because the media has filtered the information for us. When they say gambling, they only show casinos, or lottos. Its too bad that people do not realize that "lahat ng tao sumusugal sa araw-araw". Its sad that whenever they are in the middle of a dillemma, and is not sure of the result of either decision, they do not see it as something that is "gambling with their lives, relationships, image, families", and everything else that can be involved in those kind of situations.
In casinos, you play games, though there is no certainty that you will win or lose, still, playing games should not be seen as a sin, or a bad thing.
P.S. I go to Timezone every weekends, and spend so much on games like deal or no deal, stack up, and the like. Does that make me a bad bad person? and by the way, I'm also a devout Christian.
oh, and diba nga they say, "life is a gamble".
My Favorite Nescafe Classic Poster

Don't you just love it?
Though it only consists of the colors brown, yellow, and off white, it is still very meaningful, artististic, unique, and...oh so coffee craving!
Whenever I look at this poster, I feel like I can smell the coffee aroma too. I am so amazed how the aroma was directly connected with the human nose by using the "coffee smoke" concept for shaping the nose.
Cheers to the person responsible for this incredible work of art! =)
I wonder : What came to the artist's mind that made him/her think of this concept? I adore the idea. I really do!