~ DARE to BE DIFFERENT... but always BE YOURSELF! ~

Monday, December 26, 2011

The Power of Six


A Backgrounder on the first book, "I Am Number Four"
When the Mogadorians attacked planet Lorien, nine children were saved and brought to Earth for safety.  These are the nine Gardes tasked to save Lorien from extinction.  The Gardes scattered all throughout the Earth to escape the Mogadorians, their arch enemies determined to kill all of them.  Their only protection is the Lorien charm, which only allows them to be killed according to their number; and their legacies, supernatural abilities that each one possesses.


A sequel to "I Am Number Four", "The Power of Six" details the powers Six, the sixth of the Nine Gardes tasked to save planet Lorien from extinction.  She is faster than the speed of light, has the ability to control the weather, can manipulate water, and has the legacy of invisibility.  The way she was described in the book, she seems to be a very beautiful young lady with a toughness that can rival that of a man's.  Quite a bad-ass but cool lady, actually!
Spoiler:  The book also reveals the identity of a 10th Garde.

The story is action-packed with plenty of fully-loaded, heart-stopping fight scenes.  Actually, it's a book meant for teens but the young-at-hearts can enjoy as well.  Can't wait for the movie!   I hope they do much justice this time as I was a bit disappointed with the interpretation of the first book.  


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

JKS Official Youtube Channel


Finally, Jang Keun Suk opens his official Youtube channel.  Actually, his ever loyal and resourceful eels found out about it even before the official announcement.

His channel officially opened an hour ago, 14 Dec 2011 at 12:00 midnight (Korea time).



Click here to visit and subscribe to his channel.


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Jang Keun Suk Does It Again

photo credit: as tagged + aphrael77 + naesukkie



Though this is very late (4 days to be exact), it's a milestone worth posting.  Jang Keun Suk, whose popularity in Japan has been phenomenal, held a show at Tokyo Dome entitled "The Beginning" on November 26, with 45,000 eels (what he dearly calls his fans) in attendance.  For him, it is a dream come true and he is very grateful to his fans for making him realize this dream he had since middle school.  The show was so titled because to him, this is just the beginning of more things to come, more dreams to realize, and a tremendous amount of hard work on his part.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Addicted to JKS


I know this is slowly starting to become a blog for Jang Keun Suk.  Can't help it, I just love him!  And why (the hell) not?!  He's one of a kind and a helluva person, once you get to know more about him.

source: hot chili paper

I can't even begin to describe my craze over this guy.  Never in my wildest dreams have I ever imagined myself going "gaga" over someone I haven't even met.  Come to think of it, I have never been this crazy over a celebrity before!  No really, even I myself am surprised.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

My First (Ever) Fan-made Video of Asia Prince JKS

credit: as tagged


Well, the title says it all.  I just had to make a video of his priceless photos.

He is just totally, extraordinarily GORGEOUS!




Friday, November 18, 2011

10asia: JKS Interview

photos reposted from jangkeunsukforever.com
photo credit: 10.asiae.co.kr


Jang Keun Suk revealed more of himself, his plans, and dreams in a recent interview with 10asia.  He shared his thoughts no-holds-barred, answering each and every question honestly.  And once again, he exhibited a level of maturity way beyond his years.  

I stand by my opinion and observation that there's more to Sukkie than meets the eye.  He may be young and playful on the outside, but this guy has depth and substance. I admire him for his sincerity and for always being himself no matter how other people think of him.

Here's a link to the English translation of the article: Part 1 & Part 2

20111116151149_002002

For more pics ~

Monday, November 14, 2011

Jang Keun Suk closes Twitter Account

credit: AsiaPrince_JKS
source: aphrael77 + Sukbar


Today, Jang Keun Suk closes his Twitter account with this final message ~

"Tweet storm, bye cri … please don’t use my ID falsely. Goodbye, the banner is finally hung on my office building, dong dong!"

1538-01

On November 12, Sukkie announced that he will be closing his Twitter account ~   

"In the twitter world communicating with the world, I met many people. I felt a lot through them, but I don’t want to be misunderstood anymore .. from tomorrow midnight onwards, I’ll close Twitter.. if you want to play with me, come to JKS app .. ho, tweet storm gogo"

As to the reason why he is closing account, he tweeted this ~

"Many people ask.. why do I want to give up twitter.. don’t lose to the detractors .. fighting .. but really there are other reasons.. always low on battery… my mobile phone is hungry and so am I.."

JKS for hankooki.com and more

Reposted from jangkeunsukforever.com
credit: as tagged + tenshi_akuma


This guy never fails to amaze me - whether he is singing, acting, dancing, or simply posing for photos (formal or informal).  He just exudes a different kind of charm and aura that draws you to him.  And these here show exactly just what I mean...

1530-08
For more pics,

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Nate News feat. Jang Keun Suk

credit: as tagged


This is a rather late post but I still would like to do it as Sukkie's answers to the questions show how mature, sincere, and unpretentious he is as a person.


For Parts 2 & 3 ~

Nightcap at Starbucks



If there's one thing I'm addicted to, it's coffee.  And what perfect place to go for coffee in the middle of the night than Starbucks!  Compared to Gloria Jean's Coffee and Seattle's Best, Starbucks is way above them on my standards.  Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf?  Ah, that's a different story.

I just love the ambiance in Starbucks Coffee shops.  Although it is always packed with people any time of day that it's almost always impossible to get a good seat (love 'em couches!); and even if people's chatter mixed with the soothing aroma of coffee fills the air, I still find it very homey and quite relaxing.  A very nice place to hang around if you don't feel like going home just yet.

Love the caption: "When we're together, snowmen come to life!" >_<




Thursday, November 10, 2011

YMP Relationship Diagram

credit: as tagged

Hallyu star Jang Keun Suk stars in the movie "You're My Pet" (or YMP) as a cute and charming guy-pet to romantic comedy queen Kim Ha-neul.  It is now showing in theaters in Korea today, November 10th.  

Check out "You're My Pet" Official Website (no English translation though)





Oh My News Interview with Jang Keun Suk

source: shiro401 | credit: as tagged


Oh My News: JKS Talent Package Interview


For Parts 2 to 5,

Jang Keun Suk in Yonhap News

credit: sukiheather + shiro401  


Yonhap News interview with Jang Keun Suk


For Parts 2 & 3 ~

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Oh My Darling! by Jang Keun Suk


This song never fails to make me smile... 


Neojigeum museun saenggakhani?
Gwaenhi unneun geoni?
Daeche alsu eomneun gwiyeoun malseong kkureogi
Chonseuleoun maltu
Namja gateun neoe pyojeongdeul
Wae iri singihage boilkka?
Dont know why I pray for you
Geunyang jayeonseure neoman barabwa

Oh my darling, darling, darling
Neomu sarangseuleon nae geudaeyeo
Oneul bamdo nae kkumeul jikyeojwo
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
Kaendiboda dalkomhage
Naemameul nokyeojuneun geudaeyeo

Oneuleum eodilgani?
Tto museun sago chini?
Ije neoman bomyeon dugeundugeun michilgeot gata
Yeppeun yojosugnyeo
Modeungeol gajchun yeojal boado
Neo ttaeme mudeomdeomhal ppuniya
Dont know why I pray for you
Ireon naemmoseube naega deo nolrae

Oh my darling, darling, darling
Neomu sarangseuleon nae geudaeyeo
Oneul bamdo nae kkumeul jikyeojwo
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
Kaendiboda dalkomhage
Naemameul nokyeojuneun geudaeyeo

Put your hands up, put your hands up
Neoul soni naege daheulttae kkaji
Dugeundaeneun simjangsori
Geudaega gajyeogan
OH MY EVERYTHING!

Oh my darling, darling, darling
Neomu sarangseuleon nae geudaeyeo
Oneul bamdo nae kkumeul jikyeojwo
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
Kaendiboda dalkomhage
Naemameul nokyeojuneun geudaeyeo

Dugeundugeun
Nae sarang geudaeyeo



TRANSLATION:

What are you thinking right now?
Or are you laughing vaguely?
My irreplaceable cute troublemaker?
You talk inelegantly
You face expression is like that of a boy
Why do you look so strange?
Don’t know why I pray for you
Maybe i only look at you this naturally

Oh my darling, darling, darling
My very lovely girl
Tonight I dream of you again
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
You’re sweeter than candy
You melt my heart

Where are you going today?
Which troubles will you make?
Now just looking at you drives me crazy
Pure beauty
Even when I look at women who have everything
I ignore them just because of you
Don’t know why I pray for you
And my heart feeling like this, even surprises me myself

Oh my darling, darling, darling
My very lovely girl
Tonight I dream of you again
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
You’re sweeter than candy
You melt my heart

Put your hands up, put your hands up
Put your hands up to take mine
My heart is beating, beating
When you grasp my hand
OH MY EVERYTHING!

Oh my darling, darling, darling
My very lovely girl
Tonight I dream of you again
Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me
You’re sweeter than candy
You melt my heart
My heart is beating, beating
You are my love







Monday, September 26, 2011

I Will Promise You by Jang Keun Suk


A very heart-warming song...



Geogi anja ulji malgo nae soneul jababwayo
Dangshineui geu modeungeol jikyeojulgeyo
Oetori in chaero naebeoryeoduji anheulraeyo
Geudaeeui gaseume nae mami dahgo isseuniggayo
Geudae seulpeumeul ihaehago shipeoyo
Geuddasseuhameul jeonhaejugo shipeul bbun

Geogi anja ulji malgo nae nuneul barabwayo
Oraejeon gieokdeuldo da malhaebwayo
Ilheobeorin geotdeuleun ije da jiweobeoryeoyo
Eonjena geudaemaneul wihae yeogi seo isseulgeyo
Geudae seulpeumeul ihaehago shipeoyo
Geuddaseuhameul jeonhaejugo shipeul bbun

I Will Promise You
Ggok geudaeraseo na yaksok hal su ittjyo
Jikyeobwajulgeyo eonjena geudae nunape
Oh, naega isseoyo

Myeotbeonigo dashi shijakmyeon doeyo
Geu sojunghan ggumeul euishimhaji mayo

I Will Promise You
Ggok geudaeraseo na yaksok hal su ittjyo
Jikyeobwajulgeyo eonjena geudae mamsoke
Oh, naega isseoyo

Seulpeumeun modu itgo naesoneul jababwayo
Dangshineui geu modeungeol gamssajulgeyo
Oetori in chaero naebeoryeo duji anheulraeyo
Geudaeeui gaseume naemami dahgo isseuniggayo
 

I Will Promise You...


TRANSLATION:

Don’t sit there and cry, hold my hand
I will protect all of you
I won’t leave you alone, as an outsider
Because I have your heart in my heart
I want to understand your sadness
I just want to express the warmth

Don’t sit there and cry, look at my eyes
Tell me all your old memories
Erase everything that should be forgotten
I’ll always stand here for you
I want to understand your sadness
I just want to express the warmth

I will promise you
I will keep the promise because it’s you
I’ll protect you
I’m always in front of you
Oh, I’m here

No matter how many times,
It’s okay to restart
Don’t doubt that precious dream

I will promise you
I will keep the promise because it’s you
I’ll protect you
I’m always in your mind
Oh, I’m here

Forget all the sorrows and take my hand
I will protect all of you
I won’t leave you alone, as an outsider
Because I have your heart in my heart
I will promise you





Translation: Mai4Luv1 @ Youtube


Friday, September 23, 2011

Hello, Hello by Jang Keun-Suk


I so love this song...



Dapdaphan geori wireul seoseongideon naege
Seuchyeo deullineun mushimhan geu hanmadi
Hello hello jogeum natseoreodo
Eosaekhaji anhatdeon joheun neukkim
Neoege gidaeeodeo dweneungeolkka geokjeongseure
Mobshi gugyeojin jinshimeul pyeolchyeoboimyeo
Thank you thank you
Geujeu gomabdaneun soljikhami jeonhajigo isseo

Geuraeyo hello hello
Gwiyeon naeui cheonsayo
Eonjena naeui gyeoteul jigyeojweoyo
Geuraego thank you thank you
Neoege hagoshipeun hanmadi no no no no
Gomabdaneun geu mal ppunijyeo

Ilbureo tteulineungeswipjin anha geureolsurok
Gyeondyeo naeneunge huhweman dweltenikka
I know I know
Geujeo utgoinneun bbiaeroga joheuljido molla
Ttaemudji anheunchaero ireoseul su isseulkka
Tteoreo naebwado apeumeun ssahijiman
She knows she knows
Ije deoisangeun honjamaneui naeiri anya

Geuraeyo hello hello
Gwiyeon naeui cheonsayo
Eonjena naeui gyeoteul jigyeojweoyeo
Geuraego thank you thank you
Neoege hagoshipeun hanmadi no no no no
Gomabdaneun geu mal ppunijyeo

Su eopshi matdaewatdeon
Geumodeun sesangege
In sahaneun beobeul gareuchyeojun geudaejyeo
Naemame neomchyeonaneun
I meollidireul
Neowa hamkke jikkyeogalgeoya

Geuraeyo hello hello
Gwiyeon naeui cheonsayo
Eonjena naeui gyeoteul jigyeojweojyeo
Geurigoo thank you thank you
Neoege hagoshipeun hanmadi no no no no
Saranghandan gobaekhboda
Gomabdaneun geu hanmadiro
Nae modeun mameul... jeonhaeyo


TRANSLATION:

I was standing around on the narrow street
When those indifferent words grazed by me
Hello, hello
Unfamiliar but not awkward, it felt nice
Would it be okay to lean on you?
With concern, that wrinkled sincerity unfolds in front of me
Thank you, thank you
Conveying my simple, thankful honesty

That’s true
Hello, hello, my cute angel
Stay by my side always
Also
Thank you, thank you
That’s what I want to tell you
No no no no no
Just the words thank you

It’s not easy to be deliberately wrong
because the more you do, the more you’ll regret enduring it
I know, I know
Maybe it’s better for that smiling Pierrot
Would I be able to stand up without becoming dirtied?
Though I brush myself off, the pain builds
She knows, she knows
No longer is tomorrow only mine
 
That’s true
Hello, hello, my cute angel
Stay by my side always
Also
Thank you, thank you
That’s what I want to tell you
No no no no no
Just the word thank you

The world I’ve confronted so many times
You’ve taught me to greet it
My heart overflows with this melody
I’ll go on together with you

That’s true
Hello, hello, my cute angel
Stay by my side always
Also
Thank you, thank you
That’s what I want to tell you
No no no no no
Just the word thank you
More than a love confession
I just want to say thank you
From the bottom of my heart





Translation: Mai4Luv1 @ Youtube


Friday, September 9, 2011

Just BE...



Be a lot of things but always be yourself...


      Be BOLD                       Be THANKFUL                    Be QUIET        


                   Be ORIGINAL                    Be SPONTANEOUS             


        Be PUNCTUAL                      Be A STAR                             Be YOUNG          


             Be LOVING                 Be CRAZY                    Be LOUD



  Be RANDOM                      Be ADORABLE                   Be UNIQUE
                           

                           Be DARING                            Be OBNOXIOUS


                                                        Be YOURSELF!


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Pass the Biscuits


Something I got in the mail that's well worth reading and pondering on!


PASS THE BISCUITS… 

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his Biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your momma put in a long hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides... a burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people.. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

So...please pass me a biscuit. And yes, the burned one will do just fine! And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life... I just did!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets... Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.

ENJOY LIFE NOW - IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!

"No man is rich enough to buy back his past.”
- Oscar Wilde



Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Love is...




It’s but human instinct to protect and deeply care for the people most important in our lives.  We would rather be hurt than see them in pain.  I know hurt and pain are so much a part of life, but to see those whom we greatly treasure and care for struggle with it, is something we can never endure.  I guess, people who love will always be like this.  It doesn't matter if the one we love is the worst person on earth, in our eyes and hearts, he or she will always be "perfect"…  and would always complete us, don’t you think?


Monday, August 29, 2011

The JANG KEUN SUK Charm


Jang Keun-Suk (Jang Geun Seok) or JKS, more popularly known as Sukkie, is a Korean actor-singer-model I have come to admire recently.  Well, what can I say, he's exceptionally multi-talented and extremely gorgeous.  But I admire him more because of his wonderful personality and character.  


I first saw him in the drama "Marry Me, Mary!" (Mary Stayed Out All Night), which I gather was the most recent one he did... and I thought he was absolutely amazing in his portrayal!  He was also stunning in "You're Beautiful" (He's Beautiful), the other drama he did which gained some sort of cult following.  This guy really has extraordinary talent and is very versatile!  He owns each and every character he portrays and does so much justice to it!


Before this, I didn't know who he is, or that he is actually pretty famous (not so much in his native Korea, so he says, but in other Asian countries, specially Japan & China).  I looked him up to know more about him and surprisingly, there's quite a lot written of him and a tremendous amount of YouTube videos as well.  One thing very distinct about Jang Keun Suk is his fashion sense, which perfectly fits the carefree person he is.  He seems to have a thousand and one looks, and has a very charismatic smile.  He wears his hair long nowadays and it gives him the "pretty boy" appeal and makes him look more mature, as opposed to the short boy-next-door crop he used to have.


Well, he is an incredibly good-looking and charming young lad, with an amazing personality and charisma that just draws people to him.  He is cheerful and outspoken; so free-spirited yet so serious and passionate about his craft.  And what's most admirable about him is that amidst the success and fame, he still manages to find time for his studies.  He goes to Hanyang University and majors in Theater and Film.  Not a lot of actors can find that balance between their career and education. Kudos!!!


At such a young age (he's only 24 years old), Jang Keun Suk already has a lot of things going for him ~ he's got numerous movies and TV dramas, various product endorsements and commercials, not to mention several commercial jingles and songs for the Original Soundtrack (OST) albums of his dramas, and a Japanese album under his belt.  He's so much fun to watch and listen to, whether in a drama or not.  He's got a rich, soothing baritone voice and he sings "from the heart."  My favorites among his songs are "My Precious", "Hello, Hello" & "I Will Promise You" (from "Marry Me, Me"), and "Still", "Without Words" & "What Should I Do" (from "You're Beautiful/Handsome").  I've seen clips of his shows and I can say he is one total performer.



















It's definitely not surprising that he has become a household name all over Asia and some other parts of the world ~ he has the looks, the talent, the passion, sincerity, and an awesome personality.  And he also has a very good sense of humor... he sure knows how to have fun and make fun of himself.  Watching his interviews, I believe there's really more to Jang Keun Suk than meets the eye... he is a helluva person ~ the guy's got sense, substance, and character (which, to me, is the most important thing).


He is BEAUTIFUL, literally and figuratively, inside and out.  And he seems to be a genuinely unpretentious person which is why you can't help but really love and admire him. 

Follow him on Twitter:  @AsiaPrince_JKS
Know more about him from his websites (no English translation though):  www.jangkeunsuk.co.kr & www.cri-j.com




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What Love Means to 4 to 8 Year-Olds...


I just got this in my e-mail (like, 5 minutes ago).  It's actually a chain letter but this is one of the many chain letters I've received in the mail that is essentially worth reading so I decided to post it.


What Love means to a 4-8 year-old...



A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 

'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.  See what you think:




'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.  So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8


'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4


'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5


'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6


'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4


'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7


'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.  My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8


'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)


'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikkas on this planet)


'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7


'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6


'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.  He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8


'My mommy loves me more than anybody.
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6


'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5


'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7


'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4


'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4


'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7


'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6


'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
 
Jessica - age 8


And the final one...

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'


A Filipino Does It Again...


I know this is a very much delayed post, but still worth blogging about.

Yes, fifteen-year-old Eumir Marcial bagged the gold in the Light Bantamweight (52kg) Division of the recently concluded AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships held in Astana, Kazakstan.  He bested the contenders from Turkey (2nd Place, Silver), Korea and Belarus (tied at 3rd Place, Bronze), and he is the first Filipino to do so.

I was teary-eyed as I was watched the latter portion of the video below.  I felt so gallantly proud when the Philippine flag was raised (together with those of the other winners) as the Philippine National Anthem played.  I can't help but feel so damn proud!




PROUD TO BE PINOY!


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

My TOP 10 SONGS of All-Time


Truth is, I am an old soul...

And these are the songs of my life, my heart, and soul.

Old as some may be, but these are songs that mean the most to me.


Ngayon by Basil Valdez (an Original Pilipino Music - OPM), 1981



"Make each moment of your life worthwhile... Live life with no regrets."


Beauty and Madness by Fra Lippo Lippi, 1988



"The beauty of life lies not in what you have but who you're with to see it through."


Say that You Love Me by Martin Nievera (Original Pilipino Music), 1989



"Loving someone so much so that it hurts..."


Go the Distance by Michael Bolton (theme from the movie Hercules), 1997



"YOU are destined for GREATNESS..."


Amazed by Lonestar, 1999



"I love you... and that is what matters the most."


Flying Without Wings by Westlife, 1999



"Having the person you love beside you makes each day worth waking up to."


Today My Life Begins by Bruno Mars, 2010



"The failures of the past are over and done with... time to start anew."


God Gave Me You by Bryan White, 1999



"I thank God for the gift of YOU."


I'm Yours by The Script, 2008



"Yes, love can be so unconditional."


Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer, 2011



"Life's challenges & failures are there to help you learn so you can stand back up."


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

I Got THAI'd: A Photolog


My trip to Thailand, though short-lived, was quite an experience ~ great place, new culture, new language, different people (on second thought, not much, as we look somehow the same), and… food adventures.

Bits and pieces of Thailand in photos...

1.  The BTS or Skytrain



It's similar to the MRT in the Philippines, only more spacious and the seats more comfortable.  But the very big difference?... the people are way more disciplined (no offense meant there. just objective observation).


2.  MBK Center, Bangkok

The mall has an entrance connected to the BTS or Skytrain


Swensen's in MBK Mall

UCC Cafe at the basement level


Right at the heart of Bangkok and connected to the BTS is this shopping mall.  What else can I say... it's a shopping haven (one of the, actually).  It is the most visited mall in Bangkok because of the varied items and reasonable prices.


3.  Siam Ocean World in Siam Paragon, Bangkok



A Chevy Fish Tank (no less)!


One of Bangkok's famous attractions is this underground marine showcase.  Located at the basement of Siam Paragon, it has hundreds of marine life species on display in the largest tanks I've ever seen.  It is amazing how each and every fish tank in the whole Oceanarium re-creates the natural underwater sea conditions - water salinity, temperatures, and all.


4.  The Grand Palace


Wall murals, intricately & beautifully done


5.  The Vimanmek Mansion or Teak Palace


Chanced upon a Komodo Dragon in the palace grounds


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Why Google Plus is about to Change the Web as We Know It




( Re-blogged from techrepublic.com )


Takeaway: After a series of failed attempts at social networking, Google may have nailed it with Google+. See why and how it could have a major impact on the future of the Web.

This is the way Google always wanted social networking to work, and this time the company may have pulled it off.
Google’s previous social attempts have been unmitigated train wrecks, if we’re being completely honest. Open Social failed because Google couldn’t get Facebook and other social networks to buy into the idea of a shared social identity. Google Wave missed the target by not being useful enough to attract any users. Google Buzz freaked people out by naively overstepping its bounds on privacy.
So, when Google unveiled its latest social experiment last week — called Google+ — I was extremely skeptical. Still, Facebook is so malignant in terms of privacy and such a mess to use and configure that I was more than happy to give Google+ a try. I just expected that it would be a speed-dating relationship like most of my product reviews and destined to last no more than a few weeks at the most.
Damn, was I wrong. After almost a week, I fully expect this Google+ thing to turn into a long-term relationship. I mean, we’re not buying matching workout suits or anything yet, but this is definitely more than just a crush on the hot, new thing.
To start, Google+ is what Google calls a “field trial” — a fancy way to say that it’s still in beta. For now, it is open mostly to technology industry insiders and the press. Google reasoned that since reporters were going to be writing about Plus anyway, they might as well let them kick the tires. Wise move.
Vic Gundotra, Google’s SVP of Social and the head guy in charge of Plus, said, ”We chose the initial seed very carefully. We wanted a lot of diversity, so we have people that represent over 42 of the world’s languages… We’re trying to really test the product, make sure that we meet people’s privacy expectations, that the systems are working, [and] that we can scale. We’ll slowly grow that initial seed as we’re ready.”
The other Google executive running the Plus project, Bradley Horowitz, added, ”Field trial is the right term. That’s not a euphemism. There’s a lot of rough edges in there and a lot of learning we have to do. The feedback we got in the first 24 hours is tremendous.”
Even with its rough edges and without the masses of humanity having access to Google+, the core experience is pretty powerful, and it’s easy to see where Google is going with this.
As I wrote over the weekend while diving into Google+, the most attractive part is how easy it is to find, add, and organize your friends (I cited that as the main reason you won’t hate Google+). The friend issue is the heart of all social networks, although it’s so obvious that it’s often overlooked. In fact, Twitter still isn’t very good at it, Facebook is a little better, but both of them now look like neophytes compared to the way Google+ does it.
The friend feature on Google+ is called “Circles,” and it turns out to be an intuitive mashup of friending (from Facebook) and following (from Twitter). Circles are basically sets of friends that you can drag and drop into groups, mirroring your existing social circles — Family & Friends, Colleagues, Local Techies, etc. — rather than just the one big lump of friends you have on Facebook that can result in moments of “worlds colliding,” since you have to share all of your updates with all of your friends. On Google+, you can selectively send updates to different circles, and you can quickly click between the news streams of your different circles.
You can also make circles for people you don’t necessarily know but are interested in following their updates (e.g. Tech Journalists, Famous Engineers, Web Celebrities, etc.). This is where Google+ echoes Twitter, because people don’t have to follow you back in order for you to add them to one of your Circles. At that point, you’ll see all of their public updates, and most of these folks make the majority of their updates public in order to be seen by more people (it’s the whole social media narcissism meme, and it has already transplanted itself on Google Plus).
The real killer feature to Circles in Google+ is how easy it is to find and add friends. Everywhere you see a user’s name or avatar you can simply mouse over it, click “Add to Circles,” and then select which circle to add them to. On Twitter, it took me about three years to find about 200 really interesting people (mostly in technology and the media) worth following. It took me less than three days to find that many on Google Plus. Of course, most of them are the same people, so Google+ has the advantage of speed by letting us quickly re-coagulate our existing social graph on the new service.
I’m not predicting Google+ will replace Facebook and/or Twitter. This will definitely not be a zero sum game. Facebook has the most to lose from Google Plus, but it’s going to be years before Aunt Jenny and your plumber show up on Google+ the way they recently showed up on Facebook (and it’s possible they never will). All three of these social networks — Facebook, Google+, and Twitter — will still be going strong three years from now. People will gravitate to them for different reasons. They’ll go to Twitter for news and to cyber-stalk celebrities. They’ll go to Facebook for private networking, water cooler chats, and games.
So, where will that leave Google+?

Monday, July 25, 2011

Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend


Truth be told, basketball isn't really one of my passions... but boy, do I love the game!  And why the hell not?  It is one of the most celebrated sports in the Philippines.

Basketball, more specifically, the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend, is what kept me up, about, and glued to the television screen last Saturday and Sunday night.

Say we put NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul (CP3), Derek Fischer, Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Derrick Williams, Javale McGee in one team - and call it Smart All-Stars?  And then the PBA MVP's and Rookies led by James Yap, no less, in another team - and call it PBA All-Stars?  Plus, the Philippine National Basketball Team, Smart Gilas, in yet another?  It'd be a BLAST!


That is just what happened at the Araneta Coliseum this weekend.  It was a blast, a madhouse, and definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

Too bad I wasn't able to get tickets (they were freakin' sold out!). *sigh* :(  Thank God they had a live telecast of Saturday's game and a delayed telecast of Sunday's game.  


The Smart All-Stars won the game against the PBA All-Stars, 131-105 on Saturday.


And on Sunday, they also won versus the Smart Gilas, 98-89.


It was an amazing and intense two-day event, and the first ever, in the Philippines. You can feel the excitement and exhilaration of basketball fans from all over permeate through the TV screen.  It's contagious!  I, for one, was so happy and excited just watching the game on television. 

The NBA players were so cool!  Not only did they strut their stuff, with game faces on, on the court, they even threw out their autographed rubber shoes (OMG!) to the audience after the game on Sunday.  Those who caught them were really lucky dudes.  


It was an intense ALL-STAR weekend, indeed!

One that the Filipinos will never ever forget.

So Surreal.


NO to Plastic Bags: Going Green, One Step at a Time



The lush greens of Los Banos, Laguna
(photo source: lonjaurigue.wordpress.com)

I first encountered the plastic bag ban from where else but the suburban town of Los Banos in Laguna, Philippines.  We went there for a family leisure trip and I was surprised (and somehow inconvenienced at the time) to have to carry a big (used) box of goodies coming out of the supermarket.  For smaller items, they use the brown bag or for any number of items that can fit in their biggest bag.  It was the first time I experienced such.

Everything you buy in this town, whether it be groceries, school supplies, take-out food, hardware items, and what-not, the brown bag (or box) it is!... Or, you can bring your own bag.  Upon learning that it was an ordinance implemented by the local government, I can't help but feel utmost respect and admiration towards the government officials and the locals as well.  To be able to do that takes one hell of a lot of discipline, for people are not always amenable to changes in their ways.  Kudos to the people of Los Banos!  Since the implementation of this ordinance in Los Banos, I heard that 10 more municipalities and cities in the Philippines have passed the same ordinance.


I just realized that in the past, the Philippines have slowly been becoming eco-friendly.  I remembered first seeing the bio-degradable plastic bag way back... say, a few years ago.  I know the SM chain of stores started it, then National Bookstore, and some others followed suit.  I do not believe that plastic bags can ever be bio-degradable but I've personally seen that, through time, the bags become brittle, its components slowly disintegrate, and can be easily crushed much like burnt paper.  Now, I am a believer!  Hahaha!

(photo source: liljoshua.multiply.com)

And then there are those stores that assign a certain day or days in a week as "bring your own bag" day.  SM stores, for one, has the M.O.B. (My Own Bag) Day where customers who do not bring their own bag will have to pay P2.00 (I think) for each plastic bag used for their purchases.  A meager amount, I know, which is why I hope they would charge more to encourage people to bring they own bag.

(photo source: cosmomanilla.blogspot.com)

A lot of other stores, on the other hand, only use paper bags as their usual packaging ~ which is good!  At least they do not contribute to the tons of non-recyclable plastic bags that lay around garbage dumps for years and years.  Clothing and shoe stores are usually the ones that utilize the paper bag.  Top of mind would be Marks & Spencer, Zara, Girbaud, The Body Shop, Folded & Hung, Penshoppe, Bench, and a whole lot more.

(photo source: rackell24lumberio.blogspot.com, francesmahyeii.wordpress.com)



I wish someday the Philippines would become a plastic bag-free nation.

We'll get there... one small step at a time.
 
(photo source: edbiado.blogspot.com)


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