Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Beginner's Luck My B---!

When I was younger, I remember that I've always asked myself, "What's the big deal with gambling? Why are people so addicted to it?" I have always had this discomfort with spending money on odds, and then at the end getting nothing out of it. In other words, ayoko mag-tapon ng pera! I get nervous from even those small betting debacles with friends, example: 

FRIEND: Patay na si Alanis Morisette! 
ME: Ulol! No way!
FRIEND: Oo nga! Wanna bet?!
ME: Ahhhh... ayoko.

If you know me very well, then you'd be aware that I am the Ms. Kuripotest of them all. I mean, I can have a pa-kunatan showdown with all you kuripots out there. I swear. For instance, for me, shopping can only be done on SALE season. My favorite shop is a thrift-store here in BF, where they sell very good quality dresses at P100 a piece, jeans at P120, and tops at P50. Good deal, eh? I'll tell you where it is when you ask me, basta kailangan ma-tiyaga ka. Walk about 5 laps around the shop and I'm sure you'll find some good buys.


Anyhooo... the thing that triggered this post is my latest favorite activity. Christmas eve, (actually Christmas dawn at 12am) my bestfriend (Jen) texted me to tell me we're going to the Resort World Hotel Casino. I was like "Casino? Sige sama ako but I will not spend ANY MONEY. Manonood lang ako."


Lo and behold... when we got there I couldn't resist. The gambling energy was so damn infectious. Soooo... I bought P500 worth of chips, and we played this game called "Big and Small". It's basically a dice game and you bet on the numbers. Hirap explain dito, but the game's pretty easy to play even for beginners like me.



After about 30 minutes, naubos ang chips ko. Damn! I told myself... no more spending. P500 is enough. I wanted to drink instead but a bottle of beer costs about P190... RIP-OFF! Jen was on a roll (well, she spent P1000 on chips). I was inggit with all the energy so I told myself, okay... I'll buy another chip (lowest bet is P100. See? not that scary after all). So I had one chip worth P100 and I waited and waited for that magical moment when my heart would skip a beat and tell me, "Bet that chip, Kuripot!"


I put the chip down and bet, and cheered all the way until I won another chip. Then I bet again and won another chip. Long story short, out of spending P600, I got P2500 back! I felt like a teary-eyed contestant on Wowowee! By the end, I had to control myself and Jen had to pull me out of the casino.

Needless to say, I will be coming back. As they say, "Beginner's luck!". I say, "Luck exists in the leftovers!" (Uy, sumegue sa blog title ehehe)


Here is a picture of us after claiming our winnings. (Don't worry, hindi ako ma-adik dito. I am still a kuripot at heart)



Sunday, December 20, 2009

The New Year's Irresolution

Is it bad that I have had the same new year's resolution for three consecutive years now? My resolution: I resolve to quit smoking cigarettes... and for the past three years I have broken my promise and have fallen back into this nasty nicotine habit. What a shame.

So, the year is ending, and here I go again. The only difference now is that I am starting a little earlier this year. I've started cutting back on smoking around mid-december, so that hopefully I can quit by the 1st day of the year 2010. I've been resisting the urge to chain smoke, and at times that I really, really have to... I allow myself only one cig a day. Actually, the usual number of cigarettes I have in a day is around 7-10 sticks... and that is hardly what anyone would call chain smoking. Regardless, though... quitting smoking altogether is H-A-R-D. I know non-smokers don't get it and are probably thinking, "Dude, if you can cut back, then just quit already. How hard can it be?" Well, it's H-A-R-D. You should be in my head. All I keep thinking is "Iza, you need a cigarette. You haven't smoked today. You haven't smoked. YOU HAVEN'T SMOKED!" It can get a little crazy. Just take my word for it, and I am speaking on behalf of all fellow smokers out there.


Yesterday, unfortunately, my willpower failed me. I smoked about five cigarettes. Today, I've had two.


Still, I'm hopeful. Cutting back to five sticks in one day is not bad. So, maybe, quitting smoking altogether is actually... doable (GASP!). 2010, be good to me. You just might be THE year.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Downside of Aging

Okay, okay, okay... I'm exaggerating. This is hardly what you'd call aging. I only turned 27 this year. (Yes, I'm only 27... Shut up!)

Seriously, though... I'm getting older. One downside of aging, among many things, is the slowing down of one's metabolism, and therefore gaining weight that is just so freakin' hard to get rid of. I, for one, have been trying to deny that I am now a participant in the metabolism game... yesterday morning, however, I had a rude awakening. Let me break it down to you...


You know your ass is getting bigger, when your favorite pair of jeans (actually, the only pair that fits you nowadays) rips at the butt area when you sit down hurriedly because you are running late for work. 

Well, that's what happened to me. Note that it wasn't just a small rip that could easily be hidden under my long shirt (the kind of shirt that disguises a protruding beer gut). The rip starts from the right butt cheek right down to the "kuyukot"  (only a word as nasty as this can make me blush) - that area below the bum. The clincher? I didn't notice it at first, so I did my errands (passed by the bank and the drugstore), and walked the busy BF Paranaque street, clueless that everyone behind me would be enjoying a free peep show featuring my ass. The only time I noticed that my ass and my underwear was exposed to the world was when I finally felt the "air-cool" feeling. Needless to say, I had no choice but to go back home and change my pants.



You know that feeling when you come home and notice that your fly was open the whole time you were outside the house? Multiply that feeling by 50... and that's exactly how I felt.

On the upside, I finally have a legitimate reason to shop for new clothes. =)

Friday, December 11, 2009

These Are My Confessions...

Obviously, thanks to the title of this blog post, I have a few confessions to make. No, these are not the explosive and controversial types, so please lower your expectations my friend. If those are what you're looking for, then please, for your own benefit and mine, STOP READING.

Oh, you're still here? Well I guess I better start yapping. Here goes...


CONFESSION #1

This realization came about after seeing this website... and after reading this reply to that website.

I'm not very good with grammar. I mean I'm good, if what we mean by good is just knowing and having internalized the basic rules, e.g. tenses, subject-verb agreement, proper use of pronouns, etc. But... and this is kind of embarrassing, especially since I just recently spilled my guts about an impending career shift this January... I just think it's impossible (for me, at least) to be familiar with, let alone absorb all 10,000 of them grammar rules. Am I right or am I right?

However, to write something like that ad and upload it for everyone to see is just downright pretentious. I am totally with Zafra on this one, it's okay if you want to show the world how snooty you are... just make sure you are also perfect.

So, and it goes without saying, I am not perfect. I must admit though that there are some common grammatical, pronunciation, and diction errors that still manage to irk me quite a bit, such as... (ahem... bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan... mabubukulan)


"With regards to" - Ditch the s in regards and just say, "With regard to".


The common misuse or lack of apostrophes, like interchanging the words "you're" and "your", "they're" and "their", etc.:
1. "Your a douche!"
2. "Their coming!"

The mispronunciation of the words:
1. Due - Djoo ("Your past djoo bill" or the double whammy, "You're past djoo bill", please make your life easier by just saying "doo")
2. Menu - Me-nu (people, repeat after me: me-nyoo)
3. Verbatim - Verbahtim (read: ver-bay-tim)


There are many, many more, but of course I am unable to remember them all.


What was I saying about snootiness and perfection? Never mind. Let's just move on to...



CONFESSSION #2

"I like 'art films'."

Oh, god... I cringe every time I hear anyone say "art film".


As they say, every human being is innately creative, and art is a product of human creativity.  What's more, art is relative to the person creating it and the person appreciating it.  Yes, totally. What's art to me may be a piece of crap to you. On the contrary, what's art to you may be (insert politically correct remark with a somewhat negative connotation here) to me.


In the same argument, then what defines an "art film"? 

I say just stop calling them "art films", and call them simply, "films". Isn't film another form of art anyway? So, saying "art films" is exactly like saying "art paintings", or "art music", or "art literature". It's so redundundundant.


Anyway, hearing this just makes me assume that the person talking has never seen an "art film" (CRINGE!) in his lifetime. Next thing I know, the next twilight movie will be called an ART FILM. 

Know what, go ahead say it... Twilight is art... as I said, art is relative anyway. Just don't say ART FILMS. Goddammet.

***Just my two cents. Peace. Happy Holidays!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Dude, pare, it's like 20 days before Christmas, pare...



It's the most wonderful time of the year... with the kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheeeeeeeer... It's the most wonderful time of the yeaaaaarrrr!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Arigato, Mahalo, Salamat!

Americans and americanized friends, I know today is really your holiday... But, may I just borrow it for one blog post? Just one, I promise! Anyway, eating turkey is not really a pinoy thing and I don't think a "one whole lechon manok - chopped" from Andoks would look as regal as a 12 pound roasted bird at the center of the dinner table. So I guess one blog entry would suffice. (Or, maybe once a year? Let's nego.)

[Wait, break muna... Pinsan E, I distinctly remember your house in Merville where you had so many "yummy" farm animals (why do I sound like a carnivorous T-Rex all of a sudden?). Guys, i'm not kidding! They had pigs, chicken and their chicks, and TURKEYS in their own backyard. If I'm not mistaken, those were the only times I ate turkey and I remember liking it, although now I don't really remember what it actually tastes like 'cos that was like... 14 years ago? Damn!]


Ok, back to my trail of thought before I get lost from all the side stories.

Isn't Thanksgiving universal? Yes, for you Amerikanos, I know this is the holiday about the american indians (sharing a turkey with the cowboys, was it? I think I'm embarassing myself). Wait, what really happened?



On the other hand, what I would like to blog about is thanksgiving. The one that's more culture-flexible. The one that applies to every human being in this planet. In tagalog, "Pasasalamat" (root word: "Salamat" meaning "Thank you"). 

So yeah, we're down with "Pasasalamat". Here are a few pasasalamats of my own:



(To prove my point that thanksgiving is universal, I will now attempt to write in my native tongue 'til the end of this blog post)

Sa aking pamilya, sa walang-sawang suporta sa lahat ng daang itinahak ko sa aking buhay, Maraming Salamat!

Sa aking mga kaibigan, sa pagbibigay ng kaligayahan sa akin sa tuwing tayo'y nagkakasama. Kahit na ano pa ang aking pagdaanan, nakakalimutan ko sa tuwing humahalakhak na tayo dahil sa ating sari-saring mga kababawan. Maraming Salamat!

Sa aking mga ka-opisina, nararamdaman ko ang inyong paniniwala at suporta sa lahat ng aking desisyon at ginagawa sa trabaho. Maraming Salamat!

Sa aming kasambahay, Jecel, kahit na lagi akong nagkakamali sa ispeling ng pangalan mo (parating Giselle ang tawag ko sa kanya), sa patuloy mong pagtulong sa mga gawaing bahay at pagpapasensya sa minsang katarayan ko. Maraming Salamat!

Sa mga kinakainan ko araw-araw (mcdo, country style, mary joanne's kitchen, BYR, glorietta food court), dahil ako'y isang matakaw na tao na hindi marunong magbawas ng kinakain. Kahit na ako'y nananaba na at ang "holiday weight" (ipagpaumanhin, hindi ko talaga maisalin sa tagalog) ko noong nakaraang pasko ay hindi na nawala, tunay na lumiligaya ako kapag nakakakain ng masasarap na pagkaing handa ninyo. Maraming Salamat!

Sa milyon-milyong pinoy na may ginintuang puso, na sa kabila ng kahirapan at dagok ng buhay, nagsusumikap at nananatili parin kayong mapagmahal sa inyong kapwa. Maraming Salamat!

Sa milyon-milyong katauhan sa buong mundo, sa inyong paniniwala na ang lahing pinoy ay isang dakilang lahi. Sa inyong pagbibigay ng karangalan sa aming mga kababayang tunay na ipinagmamalaki ng aming bayan, kagaya nina Efren Penaflorida, Manny Pacquiao, atbp. Maraming Salamat!

At sa iyo, sa pagbabasa sa aking mga munting saloobin. Maraming Salamat!
     Ikaw, kanino mo nais magpasalamat?

    Monday, November 23, 2009

    Happy New Year, Happy New Career!

    Ok yeah it's a little bit too early for new year festivities. It's not even December yet.


    Oh come on, just let me let it out. I just can't hold it in anymore. Lately, my friends often catch me being a little too quiet one minute, then suddenly bursting with "I can't wait for this year to end!" the next minute. When asked why, I usually answer with "nothing!". 

    Well, obviously, this is not "nothing". This is definitely "something". For me, at least.


    Here's the reason for my recent mood swings: A big change concerning my career will come to pass this January 2010. So, will you, please, repeat after me: Happy New Year! Happy New Career!



    Thank you.

    The nature of both my current and future jobs does not allow me to reveal too many specifics, so forgive me if sometimes I sound a bit too cryptic in my blog posts. We're all very secretive in this industry. We even talk to each other in our own secret code language, e.g. "The eagle flies at midnight!", "The circus elephant is in the rabbit hole.", "Mr. L is in the building.". (To be honest, I kinda like it. Not that anyone cares that I have a secret or anything)

    So, these are the only things I can say for now:
    1. I will still work in the same industry.
    2. I will still work for the same company.
    3. I will finally walk the long, winding, and utterly fulfilling road to my dream career.


    I was not the type who always knew what I wanted to be when I grow up. At 7, i wanted to be a doctor. At 10, I wanted to be a scientist (really, until after a few years when I realized that to be a scientist you have to actually be good in science). So at 12, I wanted to be a lawyer, because everyone else wanted to be a lawyer. At 16, I wanted to be a fashion designer (from lawyer to fashion designer, where did that come from?). 

    Then, I graduated high school. Then, I was in college, that time in our lives when we're supposed to begin the long walk to our future careers. That was the time when we're supposed to be able to already envision ourselves doing whatever it is we were destined to do. So what about me? Doctor Iza? Scientist Iza? Atty. Iza? Fashion designer Iza?



    I was starting to get anxious. What am I supposed to do with my life???



    In the midst of all that soul-searching, I began to write. I wrote my thoughts, I wrote letters, I wrote stories, I wrote poetry. When I was happy, I wrote. When I was sad, I wrote. When I was pissed, damn it, I wrote! I wrote at night until I fell asleep. Next morning, I wake up still holding the pen I was writing with the night before (I kid you not, this happened A LOT). Every ounce of passion I had in me was dedicated to writing, and it was all I ever really enjoyed doing (aside from reading, for one cannot live without the other).



    That was how I finally discovered who I want to be. I don't know why it never occured to me before. It woke me up like ice-cold water thrown at my face (but in a good way). Eureka! I want to be a writer! I was probably about 20-21 y.o. when I discovered this... and unlike my childhood dream jobs, I haven't changed my mind since.


    Then I got into advertising. It's been a little over 2 years since I started working in this industry. I've done some creative writing tasks, here and there, but I have yet to call myself a copywriter. That was until just a few months ago, when I saw an opportunity... and damn it, I took it!

    Starting January 2010, I will fully enter the creative world. I am now being mentored by one of the most idolized and brilliant creative minds in Philippine Advertising. I am very lucky and grateful for this opportunity. It's overwhelming and terrifying at the same time. Kind of like the feeling of being in luuuuuurve.

    It's a risk, alright... but it's a good risk. What are we supposed to do with good risks? I say just close our eyes, let our instincts guide us, and take that proverbial leap!




    So here's to next year... and the next... and the next... and the next! Wish me luck, my friends!

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    On other news... 

    Congratulations to Mr. Efren Penaflorida, for being named 2009 CNN Hero Of The Year. Efren started a "pushcart classroom" to bring education to less-fortunate children in our country. 

    It's people like you, sir, that make me proud to be a Filipino. Mabuhay ka!

    "Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry," Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. "Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need."
    Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/11/16/cnnheroes.tribute.show/index.html

    Watch the video to see Efren accept this great honor.



    Thursday, November 12, 2009

    Iza is 87% addicted to facebook



    Oh Gaaaad... This is not a good sign. Actually, i'm a little suspicious. See, I don't play those super addictive games that require you to log-in and check your account once every hour. You know what I mean: that farmville thingy, that mafia nonsense, that restaurant city madness, not even that bejewelled hoo-ha (which BTW is becoming a cause of serious competition at work. I'm not kidding! everyone in our office plays this game but me and everyone is dead serious about being the "highest scorer"). The only game I ever was addicted to in facebook is that typing maniac thing, and the last time I played that was about a month ago (when I levelled up to "cyborg" status). Hey, no offense to those farmville maniacs, but think about it... If i'm 87% addicted now, then how addicted will I be when I start farming and taking care of those barn animals?


    You know those facebook quizzes everyone takes and posts on their walls? I seldom do that too (except for this how addicted to FB are you thing, anyway, it's not even a quiz... it's an app. I clicked the button and it mis calculated how "addicted" I am). I may have done one or two of those quizzes once or maybe twice in a month. Does that make me an addict? I don't think so... (Denial, stage 1)



    If you are my facebook friend (which you probably are, since most of you who read my blog are people I know personally anyway) and you happen to chance upon my wall, then you'd see what I really love doing when I'm logged in. I update my status once in a while, comment on my or my friends' wall posts, and post links or interesting photos. Such as these...
      

    I once read this article about how facebook promotes narcissism in Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers. Says it's a channel where narcissists can shamelessly self-promote themselves with their glamorous pictures, engaging personal profiles, and interesting wall posts. Now, like I said, what I love about facebook is how it allows me to interact with current, new, and old friends anytime (via the comments). Apparently, that makes me a facebook addict. Fine. (Acceptance - stage 2) BUT... Does being a facebook addict make me a narcissist? Nah, don't think so (back to stage 1).










    Don't we just love sharing interesting stuff we "stumble upon" in the www? Don't we just love interacting with people, making friends laugh, making "chismis" (in a good way if there is such a thing). If that makes us addicted to facebook, then I'm with Amy Winehouse on this one - "They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said NO, NO, NO..."


    At least these guys get it...


    Saturday, November 7, 2009

    HapPink Halloween!!!

    Just wanted to share some of our recent "Lezparteh!" moments with you guys.


    We had a Halloween Party! (Hurrah! The last halloween party I attended was I think, 2 years ago? LOSER). Hindi kami nagpapigil kay Typhoon Santi. (BTW, Kainis ka, Santi! I don't care kahit sosyal ang name mo, you're not invited! Ang hangin-hangin mo kasi!)


    Now you see I am in a barkada of about 5 or 6 girls and over 10 boys. So kahit na gaano kami ka-excited sa kakaisip  ng halloween costume, dahil boys sila and they're "too cool for costumes", hindi sila kakagat. Kasi, if they had a choice (my gut tells me this and i'm about 90% sure) they would rather spend a night drinking at some friend's house in their pambahay outfits: t-shirt, shorts, tsinelas, kahit na ano pa ang occasion (yung iba pa are not fond of showering... ay! ako din pala).

    This year though we were really pushing for a party. So what we did was compromise... Sige, ayaw niyo mag costume?! PWES! Mag-isip na lang tayo ng color theme! Lahat kailangan sumunod! No excuses!

    Hence, the HAPPINK HALLOWEEN PARTY! (organized by my friends martha and ej, plus yours truly)


     Excuse me, hindi ako nandaya (hello??? PINK SCARF!)... I also had PINK SHORTS on. 

    Ej - the hostess with the mostest


    Martha - the party organizer aka Little Girl, Big Voice aka Jasmine Trias


     
    Our makati-girlfriend Pam, and Ej's hubby, CP.





    This is my official "Drag Princess" look. (I'm not worthy to be called queen just yet)


    HapPink Hallow-Pink!

    Sunday, November 1, 2009

    Because In My Book, Every Weekend Is TV Weekend


    I predict that in about 15-20 years, today's local TV will be a thing of the past. Thanks to the highly intellectual noontime shows, the countless KAPAMUSO soaps (can you hear my eyes rolling?), the internet, and the pirates of the cawebbean.

    This must be one of those "signs of the times" everyone keeps talking about. Let me take a peek at the future: I see shows being cancelled... Advertisers no longer advertising on TV... Networks signing off... Hala! APOCALYPSE NOW.

    I'm kidding! No, I don't think that will happen. I hope not! Or i'm out of a job. (Now I'm talking about the death of TV, not the END of days 'cos no I'm not the devil)

    Admittedly, I spend almost every weekend in front of the TV, my ass glued to the couch. I've tried everything else, but I've come to the conclusion that there is no better way to spend my weekend (did I just admit that i'm boring??? forget that last statement). 
    My standard opening statement every Monday when talking to my co-workers:
    "Napanood mo yung (insert sunday chismis show here)? Graaaabeh!!! Naabutan mo yung interview ni (insert annoying lady host who cries all the time here) kay (insert random artista here). Intense!!!"

    So, one lazy yet peaceful Sunday morning, and after about 3 hours of channel-surfing, I've decided that it is time for another blog entry. And what else should I ramble ramble about but my weekend-bestfriend, the good old T to the V.

    As my own personal tribute to the boob tube, a.k.a. the TeleVizzle, the Thought Vacuum , the Idiot Box (looks like someone just paid a visit to the urban dictionary), and David Letterman (that perv)... Here are...



    (Drumroll please)


    The Top 10 Shows I Watch On TV Every Weekend (whether free TV or cable)


    10. Friends Re-runs (ETC)
    It's about 6 friends. Period. No explanation needed.

    It is just so simple, so truthful, and so effortless. This is one of those hit shows that made it so big that it owned an enitre era.

    Joey: Now listen, the last day of auditions is Thursday. Okay? So I gotta get in there by Thursday. Okay? Just remember Thursday. Thursday. Can you remember Thursday?
    Chandler: Yeah. So Tuesday? 
    Joey: Thursday! Look, if you need help remembering, think of it like this: the third day. All right? Monday, one day. Tuesday, two day. Wednesday, when? Huh? What day? Thursday! The third day! Okay? 
    Chandler: Thank you.


    9. Gene Simmons' Family Jewels (The Bio Channel / A&E)

    Who wouldn't love those extra long Simmons tongues and rockin' vibe!

    Its the Osbourne Show without the bat-eating father, the hag-looking mother, the pill popping, alcoholic spawn (s? spawnus?), and the british accent. 
    This family, IMO, is 150% more likeable than the Osbournes. They look healthier, do not cuss as much, and they do not eat flying rodents in their free time.
    OMG, Gene Simmons and his girlfriend (of 20 years?) had cosmetic surgery (botox and the whole shebang) on the same day?! Funnyyyyyyyyyy!
    OMG, Nick Simmons (Gene Simmons' son) cried tears of joy when his parents gave him not just 1 cat, but 2 kittens! (You're giving me 2 cats! I'm so happy! Huhuhuhuhu! ='() Funnyyyyyyyyyyy!


    8. The Millionaire Matchmaker (ETC / Bravo TV)
    Matchmaking millionaires for a living! Now that's good business!
    This is a reality show about Ms. Patti Stanger's matchmaking business. When it comes to choosing her clients, her two most important requirements are: 1) they must be rich (her services probably cost more than a leg and an arm) and 2) friendless (if they had friends they wouldn't need a matchmaker).

    Love and money! Who says you can't have it both?

     





    7. I Propose (ETC / The Style Network)

    If you see me glued to the TV set, hiding my bawling face with tears continuously running down my cheeks... well then yes! You've caught me watching another one of my favorite lame-o reality shows (I've just realized what a reality show freak I really am... I thought I hated them?).
    The show title is self-explanatory. Guy wants to pop the question but has no idea how to go about it, Guy calls the show to ask for help (because proposing while at a baseball game in front of thousands of people is too risky... what if she says no? Or worse, says yes but did not really mean it?), show helps Guy set it up in the cheesiest yet most effective way possible, Guy pops the question, Girl says "Yes!". (all together now... awwwwwww! tear!)

    I don't think I have ever watched an episode of this show and not cry. Well, whaddyaknow? I guess this means I am definitely a girl.

    Actually, I don't see this show anymore. I was such a (closet) fan that I memorized its airing schedule. I think ETC cancelled it (we don't have The Style Network).
    Note to ETC, from one overly loyal and devoted (closet) fan: Parang awa niyo na... ibalik niyo na yung I Propose. Peborit ko yan eh!



    6. The Ellen Degeneres Show (ETC 2nd Avenue / Warner Bros.)

    For her generosity, we shall now re-baptize her Ellen "The Generous". 
    I would love love love to be a guest on this show just to play the gold-digger game. Or the sumo-wrestler... or even the marshmallow on a string game. Who cares if I make a fool out of myself? Hello... big bucks! Instant stardom!

    I especially love the gold-digger game, because who wouldn't go crazy with a phone call from Ellen Degeneres? Plus she gives you a chance to win tons of money.



    Kudos to Ellen Degeneres and her enormously successful show! Here's hoping her star continues to shine for many, many years. It's really great how some people truly make it part of their jobs to give back to the world. 
    Here's a video I grabbed from youtube... watch it and be ellen-ified!

     


    5. TMZ (HBO, JackTV, ETC)

    Seriously, who doesn't love TMZ? Even some celebrities admit they're addicted to the show. But yes, sometimes i do feel bad for them especially on days they're caught not looking their best, or in a totally embarrassing situation (see video below). 
    But then, it's part of the job, Brad Pitt!




    4. Trust Me (ETC 2nd Ave.)

    The crazy life of working in an advertising agency. 
    Well, to quote one of this show's reviews, "I want to like this show, I really do!".

    My sentiments exactly. I am very interested in this show 'cos I work in the industry and it's interesting to see your "life" dramatized in some way (I wonder if real doctors watch "Grey's Anatomy?"). But weekend after weekend, 10 minutes into Eric Mccormack's (who plays the newly-promoted creative director) and Thomas Cavanaugh's (art director) work predicament and I find myself holding my eyelids up with my fingers. (snore!)

    For Christ's sake, the show is supposed to be about creativity, why is it not creative? (note to the writers, sometimes it's not about the story... it's about the storytelling! yikes ang feeling ko)

    (now it's interesting why I included this show in my top 10 list... the truth is I've ran out of shows to and this is one of those shows I "try" to watch)



    3. Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (JackTV, NBC)


    I've always, always been a Conan fan. Even on his Late Night days. His is the type of dark humor that almost makes me say "Oh no, he didn't!" but instead just makes me guffaw (note, not just laugh, GUFFAW).
    No offense to Leno fans, but IMO, the Tonight Show is now about 100 times better with Conan behind the desk.

    In "Late Night...", Conan used to bring out this lever he called "The Walker Texas Ranger Lever". This was after NBC bought out Universal Studios which then allowed Conan to show clips from shows owned by Universal anytime without paying them so much as a penny... thus, the Walker clips. Oh man... I'm laughing in the inside just thinking about it! Never thought something so stupid could be so AWESOME at the same time. 
    I hope they bring back that lever and use it on the tonight show! I miss yelling, "PULL THAT LEVER!!! PULL THAT FREAKIN' LEVER!!!".
    Watch the video for a "Walker Texas Ranger Lever" Mashup



    2. Project Runway Philippines Season 2 (ETC)

    Hi, my name is Elizabeth... and I am a Project Runway addict.
    I love the original US version (with the cute cute Heidi Klum's Auf Viedersen) and have been following the show season after season.
    The Filipino version, well... I regularly watch it too. Yes it is still totally addictive, especially the friendly "okrayan" between contestants. (I think now there are only 4 of them left)
    HOWEVER, (look... I'm just being my overly cynical self here) there are a few things I have noticed about the show. These are the following:
    THAT ANNOYINGLY "QUIRKY" SMALL GIRL CONTESTANT. - Only a few people can pull off the "quirky but cute" image. Sadly and honestly, my dear, you seem to fail so miserably at it (I just woke up so I am a little bitchy). One other thing, haven't we seen this character in season 1?

    The one on top is Ava from Season 1 (successfully mismatching pieces is a skill and clearly not everyone has it). The one at the bottom is Tracy from Season 2. See what I mean?










    THE WANNABE-HEIDI KLUM HOST - I'm sorry to those who love Tessa Herrera... I mean I think she's okay, until she started walking and talking like Heidi Klum.
    If Heidi Klum says "Auf Viedersen" to every eliminated contestant at the end of each show...
    Tessa Herrera says "Ingat!" or "Bye, baby!" (does she really need a Heidi Klum catchphrase?)
    In the end of the opening credits, if Heidi Klum poses with her hands on her hips...
    Tessa Herrera does the exact same pose in the opening credits of our local Project Runway.

    It's bad enough that they got another mestiza foreign-looking lady (who speaks with an accent you can't quite place) to host the show, but does she really need to host it exactly like Heidi Klum??? I mean I'm starting to despise the lady, but then I realized it could be the producers who are ordering her to act like that.
    Filipino people, we are a talented and excellent group! Be original!

    On a positive note, I like the contestants Cherry and Russell. I think both of them will be in the final three.


    1. The Buzz (ABS-CBN)

    Read: CHISMIS
    Honestly, the weekend feels so incomplete without my favorite local Sunday chismis talk show. If I miss this show on Sunday, expect me to have the Monday blues.

    As much as I hate to admit this, it is the Kris Aquino-Boy Abunda tandem that makes this show as successful as it is. Boy is okay, but Kris is another story... as they say, you either LOVE or HATE this hee-hawing lady... there is nothing in between.
    I don't think I have to explain much. "Do not explain, your friends do not need it, and your enemies will never believe you anyway."
    So that's it! End of story.


    (It took me three weeks to finish this blog post. See how commited I am to the subject? LONG LIVE TV! Yee-haw!)








    Sunday, October 25, 2009

    Ascof "Usapang Natural" TVC30s

    Below is our new TVC for Ascof Lagundi Cough Syrup entitled, "Usapang Natural". I am super proud of this. =)
    Kudos to direk Robbie Dinglasan for a job well done!

    Tuesday, October 13, 2009

    Well, hello there!

    Yes, I have decided that it is time to resurrect my blogspot account. I have a tumblr and was fine with it... until this morning.

    What, you might ask, was the problem?

    Well, nothing really... except that one of my tweeps, (that's twitter friends to you cavemen)
    @russsta tweeted this today:


    @j0ei @veagirl I agree. Pang-ganun nga ang Tumblr and for emo moments. I'm seeing a lot of emo images in diff Tumblr blogs.

    @j0ei I was thinking that more serious posts go to Blogger; serious + emo ones go to Tumblr. They're still different e

    Well, what can I say, after reading that medyo nahiya ako for having a tumblr (medyo lang naman). Although, it doesn't mean I'll stop using tumblr. Pero hindi ako emo ha... HINDE HINDE HINDE! (ang emo)



    So, there...  Blogspot or tumblr? I don't know yet, but in the meantime mamamangka muna ako sa dalawang ilog (or to be more timely and appropriate, mamamangka sa dalawang baha).



    I'm baaaaaaaack and I'll be baaaaaaack sooooooon!