2012...The Year When...

A yearly tradition. The only blog post that I publish for the past 2 years. 
Patterned after my 2011,  2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 posts.

...I celebrated my fourth-year-anniversary at my current job
...I conquered the right leg split (almost 98%!!!)
...I did Wushu religiously three times a week (except when I travel)
...I joined Pinoy Travel Bloggers
...I cleaned out my closet. I realized I owned too much stuff.
...I tried sufring...and failed
...I tried to swim with the Butanding in Donsol, but didn't find any
...I conquered Korea
...I conquered Baguio with my Amigas! First out of town trip with my best friends.
...I conquered Iloilo and Guimaras
...I did Indochina (Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand) with my bestfriend!
...I explored Davao...solo!
...I became a maid-of-honor in my best friend's wedding!...I CONQUERED MY TEENAGE DREAM DESTINATION: JAPAN.

Compared to my 2011, 2012 has been relatively easy on work, finances, luck and life in general. Lots of "grown-up" realizations too.

2011...The Year When...

A yearly tradition. Patterned after my 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 posts...

...I had a new boss at work
...I celebrated my third-year-anniversary at my current job
...I took up Wushu lessons(Oh yeah!)
...I explored Mindoro
...I explored Biri Island
...I climbed Mount Pulag
...I explored Dumaguete
...I explored Siquijor
...I explored General Santos City
...I applied for a Visa
...I bawled by eyes out to my best friends
...I traveled alone
...I CONQUERED MY ULTIMATE DREAM DESTINATION: EUROPE
...I paid the highest credit card bill in my entire life
...We got two new "breeded" dogs - Polly and Moshi
...Got TBI 789
...I completed the Simbang Gabi - the madaling araw edition - again!


2011 has been a superb year! I am welcoming 2012 with uber enthusiasm! ROCK ON! More dreams to conquer!

2010...The Year When...

A yearly tradition. Patterned after my 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 posts...

...I bought an Ipod Docking Station with CD player. Hard to find in the Philippines. I had to order via Amazon.
...I bought an LCD TV - Samsung Series 3. 22"
...I celebrated my second-year-anniversary at my current job
...I had a technically new position/role at work
...I explored Anawangin
...I explored Singapore
...I explored Corregidor
...I explored Caramoan
...I explored Calaguas
...I explored Palaui
...I explored El Nido (dream destination)
...I explored Ilocos
...I conquered Sagada
...I conquered CDO and Camiguin - I tried white-water rafting!
...I joined a travel group as a solo traveller - and repeated that
...I got myself travel buddies for my ultimate dream destination - Europe
...I stopped going to the gym (blame it on the office benefits). Hence I gained weight. This is my fattest phase ever. I am hating myself in pictures. My ultimate goal this 2011 is weight loss!
...I got more interested in make-up.
...I attended weddings. I learned how stressful it can be
...I got an unwanted Inaanak. I hate it how people disregard the essence of being a Ninang and limits it to the "ability to give gifts" criteria.
...Tophermic died. A tragedy.
...Our cat, Moshi, died. Heartbreaking.
...I completed the Simbang Gabi - the madaling araw edition
...I started my 30 before 30 list (still stuck with #15)
...I started my travel blog.

Overall, 2010 has been a year of surprise challenges but everything turned out well. Cheers to 2011!

Credit Card Spending for 2010 Review

Patterned after my 2009 post.

As I sat and waited for 2011, I had this nerdy edge to do this CC Analysis again.

Credit Card: BPI Edge with E-Credit
Penalties Paid: Php 0
Annual Fee: 0. Easily reversed, no need to fight for it.
Period: January 2010 and December 2010 (12 months)

Percentage of Expenses swiped in CC: 37%. (Expenses is defined as Net Income less Savings/Investments).

Lowest amount swiped - Php 90++ for junk food
Hight amount swiped - Php 4,000+ only. My biggest purchase of the year - an LCD TV - was paid for in cash.

The 2010 CC Pie Chart

Necessary Stuff, 11%
Halved from 2009 - since I didn't buy a laptop this year. Still includes my eyewear, really-must-have books and magazines, haircut and music-related purchases.

Clothes, Shoes and Accessories, 21%
Up from 19% in 2009.I bought less shoes this year because I lack space and I diverted the fund to travelling. I got more interested in using make-up because of the four weddings I attended this 2010. Not bad. I am not out of control here.

Food- 27%
Up from 20% in 2009. Lots of family meals, friends meals and my office snacks. So that's where the pounds came from. (Grrrrrr)

Naki-Swipe - 13%
Almost the same rate as last year. I still volunteer my CC for swiping purposes. .

Gifts - 7%
Did I become more kuripot this 2010? Down from 9% in 2009.

Travel - 6%
Online ticket purchases, travel gears, travel stuff (sublock, food, etc.).Same rate as at year. And I thought I travelled more this year.

Donations - 7%
My sponsorships billed thru my credit card. I also signed up as a sponsor in WWF. Less hassle in paying. Nakatulong ka na,may points pa!

Whatever stuff - 6%
Doubled from last year. Looking at the breakdown, it really comprises of the "whatevers" - slippers, random stuff from National Bookstore, random stuff from Landmark. Gotta keep an eye on this on 2011.

Entertainment - 2%
Movie and concert tickets. Same rate as last year. A measly 2% for my share. I so love Ayala malls for accepting BPI CCs to buy movie ticketts.

Amount of Monthly CC Swiping:


Spikes:
Less spikes for 2010 compared to 2009.
May - bought CDO tix, Swiped for others more than usual.

That's it! No spikes even for December 2010. And all my gift purchases are already in my December billing statement.


Freebies analysis:
BPI promos sucked this year. Sucked big time. There were gap periods with their promos. They had this Timezone promo I completely ignored. I just claimed a total of 11 free items - with a retail price equivalent to approximately 1,000? Or less. I hated the Goldilocks promo too. I hope they offer better deals this 2011.

So all in all, my CC usage looks pretty good and almost boring for 2010. No major cc swipings done. No interests and penalties paid. Let's hope I can keep this up this 2011!

Hair History

Pretty much all my life, I have this fizzy unruly curly hair. I had my hair straightened at the neighborhood parlor when I was in high school; but it lasted for a week - I kept on tying my hair so the straight-ness did not last long. I never tried permanently straightening it again. Even when cellophane was big in high school and rebonding was a huge hit during college, it did not interest me. I always had this feeling that my hair would turn out like a walis-tambo when straightened. Eeeeeek.

I decided to lose the bangs when I entered college but the ponytail stayed. there was not much to do with it so I had always had it trimmed in the neighborhood parlor - Php 50 back then, now 70. Then came the era of Reyes Haircutters where I could have a shampoo + haircut + blowdry for Php 50.

I decided to do something during my 4th year in college - I cut my hair short. I had long hair since the 4th grade so it was a serious decision. Since it was a big step, I decided I would do this right and I would have my hair cut in Ricky Reyes in SM North. The price of a haircut was steep for a student's budget - Php 180. I braved to go inside the salon and had my hair cut short. I planned to go back to the Reyes Haircutters when I had to trim it but my mom really liked my haircut - so she offered to sponsor my quarterly haircuts in Ricky Reyes.

The hairdressers/haircutters just love upselling stuff to me. They always suggest that I SHOULD color my hair and I SHOULD have my hair rebonded. Then they move to suggesting that I SHOULD let them trim my eyebrows. I never took any of their suggestions. First, it was an unnecessary expense. Second, I actually like my curly hair. The white streaked curly hair is a family trait that I actually like. So back off. There were times that I found their upselling so darn irritating and borderline rude that I start to ignore them and pray they don't do anything weird during the haircut.

I soon outgrew my short hair and returned to having a long hair in a ponytail when I started working.I decided to try out David's Salon with Sarah. I paid Php 295 for a haircut. It was okay - well, that's because you can't really do anything with my hair. When I changed employers, I learned that there were expensive haircuts *gulp*. You could say that some of my officemates had a taste for the salon of expensive haircuts and I was swayed to try some of them out.

I tried Regine's in The Link - Php 300. The salon was the most upscale I've been in so I felt so VIP during my two haircuts there. Cuts were nice but of course, my hair was blah as usual.

I decided to bring the bangs back and I wanted to do it big time. I saved up for a Tony and Guy haircut. The women's haircut of a senior stylist there costs a raging Php 750. Of course I did my research and learned that the customers still tip the hairstylist and the assistants (but I didn't do that because I am just kuripot). I printed out pics of haircuts with side-swept bangs and requested for such. But the hairstylist did not agree with me - he said my hair is not amendable with that type of hairstyle. I was given bangs of some kind but not the kind that I want. But *ding ding ding*, I liked the layered cut he did to my hair. My curls looked...soft yet still curled.

But I had not given up my desire to have bangs again. So I frequently read forums and learned about Piandre. I had my hair cut for Php 380 - still pricey but it was relatively inexpensive. Still no bangs. I decided to try out Park Jun - which cost Php 800/ haircut from a senior stylist. The stylist said that if he gives me bangs, i had to blow dry everyday. I lied and I said yes, I can do that. teeee heeee. He cut me side-swept bangs but it was still not the style I wanted. *sigh*

Yesterday, after five months of no haircut, I just felt the need to get my locks trimmed. I decided to go back to Tony & Guy but I opted for a junior hairstylist this time - Php 650/haircut. I reiterated my want for bangs - she said okay - but she did not do it. MEH. I kinda gave up on it on the end and I didn't bother reminding her. But I like the waves of my curls now.

Maybe there is this placebo effect ongoing when I get an expensive haircut. It provides this boost of self-confidence. I feel like my locks are more manageable and the curls are well-defined. I get compliments and I've been asked many times where I had my perm done. :P I feel like it moves more nicely. My sisters still tell me that is really no difference but I feel otherwise. Also, the upscale salons do not hardsell any of their services. All of them still offered to rebond my hair at the start. But when I decline, they leave it at that. No more pangungulit. It makes the salon experience more enjoyable.

Nope, I don't remember all the names of the hairdressers. But getting a haircut has become quite an adventure over the years. I just feel like writing about it tonight.

And I still love my white-hair streaked curly hair!

What To Do With Old Starbucks Planners

'Tis the season to be jolly...Falalalala-lala-lala....

It is the season of Christmas Carols, midnight sales, empty envelopes and sticker collection. I collected every Starbucks Planner ever since I joined the working force (2007-2010).

I only used the 2007 planner for 3 or 4 months. Then I found it too bulky to carry around.

2007 planner still in use. I didn't use it as a planner. I used it to list all my expenses. Each peso was crucial to an auditor with a measly salary. :P













So I didn't want to throw them away and no one would use an old planner right? So I just used them as a ...scrapbook of sorts.

I pasted Movie Tickets in the pages of the 2007 Planner.





















I pasted movie presskits and memorabilia in the 2008 planner.















I need upcoming projects for the Starbucks 2009 and 2010 Planner, the This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life Planner, and the 2008 UP Centennial Planner.

So I'm off to spend and gulp down more calories for the 2011 Planner.

Credit Card Spending for 2009 Review

Why am doing this? Blame it on being an accountant coupled with my fear of being wrongly billed or overspending. But I do want to check how having a CC affected my spending habits.I got my credit card last December 2008.

Credit Card: BPI Edge with E-Credit
Penalties Paid: Php 0
Annual Fee: Free for the first year, reversed for the next 6 months
Period: December 2008 - December 2009 (13 months)

Percentage of Expenses swiped in CC: 38%. (Expenses is defined as Net Income less Savings/Investments)

Lowest amount swiped - Php 70++ for toiletries
Hight amount swiped - Php XX,XXX for laptop

100% Pie = CC usage.

Necessary Stuff, 22%
This one is quite misleading. It is 22% because I bought a laptop this year. So huge chunk of the 22% pertains to that purchase. This also includes my eyewear, really-must-have books and magazines, haircut and music-related purchases.

Clothes and Shoes, 19%
I buy cheap clothes. Thanks to Trinoma Landmark. Tutuban and 168 clothes are sold in Trinoma landmark anyway.I bought more expensive shoes this year. And this chunk excludes all of those I purchased online (which requires bank deposit).

Food- 20%
Comprises of my food intake paid thru CC, birthday meals, family treats, groceries and pasalubong. Groceries also include some bathroom items but that is very minimal so I didn't bother taking that out of this slice.

Naki-Swipe - 14%
When the group eats, I volunteer my credit card. For points of course. And I get freebies for the 1K above purchases. This slice comprises of those who pay me their share. So that's a win for me! Includes plane tickets bought online for others as well. I'm quite surprised it comprised 14% of my total CC amount.

Gifts - 9%
Gifts for family, friends, Christmas gifts, exchange gifts

Travel - 6%
Online ticket purchases, travel gears, travel stuff (sublock, food, etc.).Excludes the cash outlays related to travel. Now that's another story, and another project.

Donations - 5%
My sponsorship to World Vision is billed thru my credit card. Less hassle in paying. Nakatulong ka na,may points pa!

Whatever stuff - 3%
I'm so happy this is 3%! This comprises of my impulse buys of stuff. Prior to having a CC, I already have a impulse buying limit of Php 20/day. This means that my I can't purchase unplanned items above Php 20 - like CDs, books and stuff on sale. Since I had a CC, I was worried that this may balloon my purchases. Apparently, it did increase my impulse buying but the amount is just minimal. Really! I hope I can continue this level of spending in this category.

Entertainment - 2%
Ticket concerts. A measly 2% for my share. Those swiped for others are included in the "Naki-swipe" category.

Amount of Monthly CC Swiping:

I've also decided to make an analysis on the amount I swipe in my cc. Results are shown in the line graph below:

Spikes:
June - bought my laptop
August - birthmonth, lots of purchases and treats
October - SM Megamall Sale. Bought shoes for my Dad. Gosh, men's shoes are costly.
December - the Holidays of course

Overall, I think I've got my swiping under control.

Benefits of Using a Credit Card
- No need to carry cash all the time
- I get "praning" with overswiping that can lead me to financial ruin. Hence, I can still keep my spending at a minimum.
- Freebies!The table below reflects the number of freebies I claimed during this past year. BPI has really cool CC freebies!

That's a total of 44 free meal items! Assuming each items costs Php 50, that's a total of Php 2,200 free items. Of course, one should consider just to buy the item itself rather always try to spend Php 1,000 in one sitting.



So that's my credit card spending for 2009. I'm hoping for better CC deals this 2010. Cheers!

2009...The Year When...

Patterned after my 2008, 2007 and 2006 posts.

========================

...I bought a new laptop (after four years)
...I bought an underwater camera
...I celebrated my one-year-anniversary at my current job
...I started to sponsor a child
...I explored Coron, Palawan
...I explored Bolinao, Pangasinan
...I explored Batad, Ifugao
...I explored Bohol
...I explored Cebu (from Bantayan Island to Kawasan Falls)
...I explored Mount Pinatubo
...I got really interested in Traveling
...I spent more time (and more money) with my family
...I became proud again to be a FIlipino
...I became active in investing
...I took stock trading classes
...I started to go to the gym
...I started to relearn badminton
...I discovered that YouTube is a music haven (not just a video haven)
...I discovered the beauty of shopping online (Ebay, Multiply)
...I started to use my credit card for online transactions
...I got addicted with Plants vs. Zombies.
...I watched movies. Lots of movies.
...I started musing more seriously about the future (talk about quarter-life crisis)

Amen to 2009. I am very thankful to be alive. We had lots of deaths and tragedies last year (local and international).

I am uber-excited to explore 2010! Welcome 2010!

The Queen

Nine years

The worst thieves are not found in the streets.

I wonder how the history books will describe our country during her nine years of reign. What's the greatest achievement of this so-called government during all this time.

I wonder how her Wikipedia page will list all the scandals during her time.
I wonder how will the elementary history books describe her.
I wonder if her grandkids would be proud to have her as a Lola.
I wonder what will be written under 2001-2010 Philippine History. No, Pacman is not her achievement.

I bet all those so-called achievement will be blurred compared to all the scandals and shame that was brought to this country.I do hope those 57 lives won't be forgotten.

I wonder how she sleeps at night.
Probably because we let her sleep anyway.

Nine freaking years.

The worst thieves are not found in the streets.
They can steal all they want.
But that will not buy that entrance ticket to heaven.

An Open Letter to Philippine Skies,

Dear Skies of the Philippines,

This week, you may rain all you want. Anytime and anywhere. Kahit mabasa pa ang shoes ko. Kahit dyahe na mabasa ang outfit ko. Kahit pa mawalan ako ng poise. Oo, kahit pa naiwan ko ang payong ko. You can rain all you want this week.

Yes, I understand, the farmers need the raindrops for their crops (it rhymes!). I love to sleep in this weather (kaya nakaktamad eh). Tumataas ang benta ng mga payong at paracetamol. The kids are happy naman kung suspended ang classes.

Pero next week, can you please hold your raindrops muna? Dear Mr. Clouds, can you not make those raindrops fall down muna ha? Mr. Sun, please shine very brightly. Please shine. Please outshine Mr. Clouds. I will be on vacation kasi. Dyahe naman kung umuulan di ba? Ang KJ naman ng Skies of the Philippipnes sa lakad ko. Panget mag-picture taking. Wag naman kayo pasaway.

I love Mother Earth naman. So please consider my request.

Lovelots,
Melodymaker

Prayer for a Lost Pet

This is Moshi, our family cat.

With red eyes:













We got him in 2005. He was given to us by a neighbor. He was already named "Moshi" back then. Neighbor says someone gave his daughter a cat, but they have a lot of dogs in their house (but so did we) that a cat will just cause trouble. My youngest sister, being an animal lover, immediately loooooved him.


Moshi and his offering to his masters. Our house became mice-free ever since.












He is absolutely an amusing and charming pet. I realized that cats are pets that you have to serve - unlike dogs, who will serve you. Moshi will meow and meow to annoy you when you continuously ignore him. You have to pet and cuddle him. He is someone who doesn't like to be ignored - unless he is sleeping. Being a cat, he sleeps most of the time.

Sleeping on our sofa. Lagot kay Mama!



















A little visitor of ours got too amused:



















Initally, we fed him catfood. But then he started not eating it. So we had to feed him fish and milk. The cheapest fish of course, is tuyo and tinapa. We always have a stock of those in our ref. In those days that we do not, Moshi is luckily fed with sardines. Eventually, he started disliking tuyo and tinapa too. Maarteng pusa. So we had to feed him something else.

Moshi na nagbibinata.
Oh yeah.
He is doing "it" with a stuffed bear.














When he is not sleeping, eating or making lambing to us to pet him, he wanders around. I don't know how far he ventures out. But somethimes, it takes him days to comeback. Once, he was gone for four days and we were all worried about him.

Today, he has been gone for a week. We are all worried.
I know I shouldn't be expecting that he will still come back. But of course, the optimist in me wants to believe he will come back.

His disappearance has no closure. We don't know what happened to him. Was he killed because a neighbor was annoyed? (Sumpain ang walang pusong nilalang!) Was he stuck somewhere? Where does he stay when it has been raining nowadays? Was he cat-napped by a intrigued kid and then decided to keep Moshi in a cage? Did he eat something rotten and he died on the way back? These are the questions that will never be answered.

Dead or alive?















Somehow, I think it would be better if Moshi would die in our own house because of something. At least we know what happened and what is the cause. Unlike now, I don't know when to stop hoping. In 10 days? Two weeks? One month? Where is he?

With our dogs. The brown puppy in the picture is now a dog.The white dog already died =(











I hope you find your way home. Soon.
===========================

Prayer for a Lost Pet

Father
We ask you to help us find MOSHI,
our dear pet who is now lost.
We know that you placed animals on the earth
for many reasons, including companionship for man.
We therefore ask you to help us find our lost companion,
and pray that You will keep him (her) safe
and protect him (her) from harm until he (she) is found.
We join our prayers with St. Francis,
St. Anthony of Padua, and all the saints,
and pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Parking Woes No More

I bet you all experienced that weekend/holiday parking woe wherein you drive round and round in circles to find an available parking slot. And that was what we were encountering when we went to SM North Edsa today. But alas! They installed this "Parking-Availability-Lighting-System" in their parking area in Cyberzone. I don't think the Ayala malls have this yet.

Each parking slot is installed with a sensor-lighting system. The light is green when available, and red with the parking slot is already taken. You can easily see from afar which parking slots are vacant - if any.


































Now you just have to check where is the nearest parking slot with green light instead of driving round and round. Extreme COOLNESS!!! I find it so darn cool it totally made my day!

My sister (graduating Industrial Engineering this October) said that instead of using Green-Red lights, they could've opted to use Green-Lights-off. Mas tipid di ba? Oo nga naman.

Parking fee still remains at Php 40.00 flat rate.

Edsamail Eulogy

Updated post here:

http://adventureaccounting.blogspot.com/2013/08/edsamail-eulogy.html

Di Caprio iz Alive!

I wonder if this will be a cool but unforgettable action movie or be one of those in the likes of Iron Man, Spiderman and The Dark Knight.

===========================================================

Warner Bros. Pictures presents the teaser trailer for INCEPTION. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The film started its principal photography in July and will hit theaters July, 2010. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind.

Cheers for Credit Cards

I finally got my own personal credit card last year and whispered a prayer that I may use it wisely. So far, I am. Not to brag, but I haven't paid any penalty so far for late payments (okay, so maybe a little bragging). In fact, I just realized that I am spending less (really) when I got it. Not because of paranoia, but because it affected my budgeting habit.

See, for example, I budget my total weekly expenses to be Php 1,500 for food, transpo, entertainment, mini expenses. I allocate Php 500 of that for CC purchases. So I only withdraw Php 1,000 for my weekly cash. Then by Friday that week, I would realize that I haven't swiped my CC for the week, and there's still leftover from my Php 1,000. Then I would miraculously survive a weekend gimik with that leftover. Now there's that excess Php 500 budgeted left unspent. Around Php 300 unspent if I swipe for coffee. With that set-up, I was saving unconsciously.

A sign in Bench Trinoma:


Moreover, I've been swiping petty expenses lately. Swiping earns you points. I recently bought toothpaste and tissue paper amounting to Php 70+-ish and presented my CC - just to test if they would accept. Hoorah! They accepted it! I am more confident now in using my CC even for cheap purchases. Who cares anyway if they think I don't have the cash? Bwaharhar.

And the freebies are simply love. With BPI, you can enjoy a multitude of snacks from using your BPI CC. Jollibee, Chowking, Goldilocks and back to Jollibee again. I even save more money since my merienda is also free. I do hope I can continue my no-late-payment record til eternity. Teeeheeehee.

Shop! Spend! Wisely.
Cheers!

Tying a Yellow Ribbon

This will be just one of the many blog entries in the internet paying tribute to Tita Cory Aquino.

We are not related, we are not close. But I call her "Tita Cory". And she also allows the rest of the world to call her such.

I was 19 months when the EDSA revolution took place in 1986. I was too young to recall any memories. I appreciate the freedom of speech in this country. But I cannot compare the difference between living during and after Martial Law. I can only rely on the stories of those who lived and appreciated the EDSA 1986. I remember Cory in the history textbooks. I remember that she revised the law where the default is a marriage of absolute instead of conjugal property. That's it.

I did not know she was a housewife before she became president. I did not know she majored in French. I did not know she has five kids. I did not know she was featured in TIME three times. I did not know that the 1986 EDSA Revolution inspired countries like China, Germany and East Timor. And I did not know that she helped and touched a lot of people. That much. A LOT. That crowd in her funeral speaks for itself.

Cory also speaks good English. Classy English. Unlike all the other presidents.

Some random thoughts on the Cory events:
-I got goosebumps watching that Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo. I got tears watching APO singing the Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo during the final service.
- Bong Bong Marcos looks like his dad. Should he run for president, people will remember his dad.
- Imee Marcos looks like she feels she can be shot anytime when she was at Manila Cathedral.
- Manila Cathedral is a very pretty church. Parang nasa ibang bansa yung ibang shots.
- Marcos children paying their respect to Cory was chilling, in a good way.
- I never saw James give Kris a hug or comforting pat during the entire time.
- That ABS-CBS thanks Cory commercial was overcooked. Bad acting involved.
- Semi-stalked the profiles of the Cory Apos in Facebook and Friendster (Yes, I opened my Friendster account)
- Kaloka: Ted Failon asked Jiggy Cruz: Napakilala mo ba sa Lola mo girlfriend mo? Answer: Yes po, yung una kong girlfriend
- Kaloka ulet: asked Jiggy Cruz: So, Jiggy, do you have any plans of having your own family na? Answer: No, not soon. Personal questions to the grandkids ha.
- Watch those YouTube videos on 1986 EDSA. Feel the passion. Appreciate the freedom. And laugh at the hairstyles.
- The Kris Aquino interviews made me cry. Really. And I wasn't expecting to shed tears.
- Lea Salonga singing Bayan Ko was eerie, in a good way.

GMA cut short her USA trip and hopped into a plane to go back in time for Cory's funeral. She spent 10 minutes in Manila Cathedral. She went out of her way to go somewhere where clearly, she was not welcome. And she can't even brag her accomplishments in USA.

The internet world is also grieving: Find the yellow ribbons.








With too much ugly politics in our country, it is good to be reminded that there were people who believed in our country. I hope something good and progressive comes out of this. I never thought that our country could grieve so much for a president.

Thanks to Tita Cory, we can blog freely.
I never felt more prouder being a Filipino.

Citiseconline

Since I started working, I've been self-educating myself about finances - earning, saving and growing money. I've basically gotten tips online: Blogs like Millionaire Acts and Ready to be Rich. proceeded to read on Pex's forums on Personal Investing and Money Management, and bought myself one of Colayco's books. So after three years of earning and saving (and spending of course), I finally got the time and courage to grow my savings.

For the past month, I spent a considerable amount of time online reading about the stock market and Citiseconline.

I've decided to take a moderate-aggressive risk strategy in growing my savings - time is on myside anyway. Goal is semi-long term in nature anyway. I've decided to take the risk and open an account with Citisec. They do free seminars to educate people regarding the stock market. I attended their half-day seminar last Tuesday and spent three amazing hours being educated on the topics I did study in college. But they make more sense now. A lot of sense. Even if you have no plans of playing the stock market, your time will be well spent. I love it coz it does not sell hard-core to open an account with them - unlike when thinking of getting an insurance.

Will be depositing my initial investment tomorrow. I'm ready to play!

100th Melody

I'm back. In Blogger. And this is my 100th post.

Looks at last post's date: January 1, 2009. Yikes.

The culprits:

1) Work. I soon realized that January is the peak time of the year in my new job. (Oh yeah, I'm a regular now). Added that I was doing the work of 2 positions at that time. Well, that era is over. And here I am.

2) Multiply. It is easier for me to update my life using my Multiply account. Let the pictures tell the story. It has its own limitations though.

3) Katamaran. This has various causes and has no definite cure. So it is cured now.

4) Laptop Failure. My 4-year-old Ultraelectromagnetic laptop failed me. It was so darn slow for youtube. Well that's my ex-laptop now. I'm using a new one. :P

No, I did not disappear from cyberspace.
I do have a Facebook account. I'm not a fan of the games though. No, I won't you add in *insert name of application here*
I wrote movie reviews in my Multiply account.
I uploaded outing pics in my Multiply account.
I'm plurking and twittering.
Yes, I am alive.

I've noted that since 2005, my blog posts per year decreased. And this is only my second post this 2009. Harharhar! I hope my fresh layout will keep me from the Katamaran attack. I am still to add a tagboard and recheck my links.

I'm back. I hope I remember that.

2008... The Year When...

Patterned after 2007 and 2006 posts.

===========================================================
... I passed the Certified Internal Auditor's exam (February 2008)
... I decided to look for another job
... I got the official letter from DOST that I am NOT their scholar
... I renewed my passport
... I bought a new camera (Canon Ixus 75)
... I queued for 3 freakin hours in line for 48 donuts
... I toured Macau
... I Skywalked in Macau Tower
... I toured Hongkong
... I went to HK Disneyland
... I went to job interviews
... I got promoted - the day after my final interview in my current company
... I tried the zip-for-life in Ecopark
... I resigned from SGV
... I have a new job
... I like my new job
... I toured Boracay
... I tried parasailing and helmet diving
... I got credit cards
... I started to update my Multiply account more often than my blog
... I went out more often with my amiga/s
... I was provided a Smart number
... I turned 24

Cheers to all my 2008 memories. Welcome 20098!

Silver Lining

Happy 25th Anniversary to my everdearest parents. Thanks for being an example of what a marriage should be.











BTW, Hallmark doesn't make Happy-Anniversary-to-my-parents-cards. They make Happy-Anniversary-my-spouse-from-spouse cards.

May we all find the love that you guys have. Cheers!