Global Financial Crisis, anyone?

I dread turning on the news everyday. All the talks about the global financial crisis leave me somewhat depressed and, frankly, concerned.

Who wouldn't be? Everyday, companies would announce cost-cutting measures to keep themselves afloat through these tough times. These range from withholding bonuses, salary ceilings to decreased work weeks and shutting down operations. The bottom line is that everyone needs to be on a tight budget until the global financial crisis blows over.

Just how do you make your budget work? Yes, it is living within your means, not spending more than what you make. I have lived 32 years with these little conveniences that I cannot just "undo" in a day. Sadly, some of the latte factors have to go. And they have to go -- pronto! But, people, it is easier said than done.

Let's translate this into more concrete terms:

- Forgo that cuppa joe every morning and try making your own coffee. Maybe this is the right time to invest in a sturdy coffee travel mug to take to work.

- Packed lunches are so hip! Did I mention that it can also save you a few bucks daily? As they say, even a penny may help.

- Eat at home more often. Family dinners can be a great bonding experience between parents and kids. It is definitely healthier and lighter on the pocket.

- Maybe forgo that professional mani-pedi and do it yourself for a change. They can cost an arm and a leg. Well, this may be too drastic... Maybe go to the salon once a month and DIY maintenance.

If anything, the global financial crisis is telling all of us to get back to the basics, live within our means and simplify. Who said that the old fashioned way of cooking at home and DIYs cannot be relearned? It is a hard lesson but the important ones are never easy.

A Bite Of Twilight

There is a very BIG buzz about the movie, Twilight, which is due in theaters in roughly a few hours. It is based on the book series by Stephenie Meyer who apparently was inspired to write after a vivid dream. Twilight is about the young but forbidden romance between Bella and Edward. Yes, forbidden because Edward is a vampire. This is the extent of my knowledge.

I don't know if I can get myself to start reading the saga. Vampires really freak me out. In college, Anne Rice was a favorite author among my classmates. I couldn't even pick up a copy of Interview With A Vampire and buy one! But I did watch the movie and fell asleep through most of it.

Actually a lot of things freak me out. The Sixth Sense didn't make me sleep for a whole week. After watching it I had to call my parents (they were out of town) at 2 am. My dad had a paperback of The Shining and I could even look at it because of the yellow eyes on the cover! After reading The Red Dragon, I walked flushed to the wall to make sure no one was behind me when I had to get out of bed in the middle of the night.

Or maybe I just have an overactive imagination.

But with all the hype with the Twilight movie showing and all maybe I can muster enough courage to watch it. Or I just may sink my teeth into reading the book. Who knows?

No More Janina

It's official: Controvertial beauty queen Janina San Miguel gave up her crown as the reigning Binibining Pilipinas World and her slot in the Miss World 2008 pageant. The Binibining Pilipinas Charities has confirmed that Janina resigned due to personal reasons and the death of her grandfather.

This gives 1st runner-up Danielle Castaño the opportunity to represent the country in Johannesburg this December. I certainly hope she's better than Janina at the Q&A portion.

Although I was sad for Janina when she became the country's laughingstock, I was shocked that she won a title at all. Yes, her answer was filled with lots of hahas and ahms, the P and F interchange was prominent, subject-verb agreement disagreed and, frankly, she didn't utter a single coherent sentence in English. Why did she win?

Why didn't she just request for an interpreter? European and Latin American candidates do it all the time. Although it might be weird to ask for a Filipino-English interpreter in your own country's pageant. Hmm...

Better still, she could've just the answered the question in Filipino. What's wrong with that?

Watching The Wanders

We had the opportunity to watch the Wanders at PACGOR Casino last Wednesday night. We didn't expect a lot of people for the show but a long queue had already formed by 8pm. All the seats were occupied and people were already sitting in the middle aisles just to watch. The show started promptly at 8:30.

Kuya and Kowi were excited to see acrobats. And they weren't disappointed. It was really a feast for the senses. Kowi fell asleep halfway through the program. But she got to see La Vie En Rose and loved it. Kuya was rolling with laughter at the Wander's rendition of Stomp. A bunch of guys in black and neon masks beating the drums under black light was his favorite part of the program.

Cameras aren't allowed inside the casino. So we had the official photographer take our picture as a souvenir. This was around 10 pm, after the show. My eyes look a bit puffy. It was almost past my bedtime, too.

You can still catch the Wanders every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the PAGCOR Grand Theater, Airport Casino. Apparently they'll be performing until the end of the year. Tickets are available at Ticket World.

This is not a sponsored post. Too bad. Haha. Hopefully, Hubby can watch this when he returns next month. His sister is an understudy for one of the singers. But she wasn't there last Wednesday.

iLASIK Is Life Changing

My family has a history of bad eyesight. Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism -- you name it and a family member has it. In fact, even Hubby had to wear corrective prescription eyeglasses at one point. Good thing he still got into the naval pilot training program.

I've heard about LASIK technology and how it has changed lives with its success. A good family friend recently had LASIK surgery and is raving about how he can now read the fine print each and every time. I was surprised to know that there is an upgrade to this procedure that now uses two lasers instead of one to treat vision problems.

When I read the modern LASIK information, it was comforting to know that approximately 32 million LASIK procedures have been performed to date with at least 95% of U.S military personnel achieving 20/20 vision. It is the most common elective vision procedure in the U.S. So it virtually proven to be effective and safe.

It works by first using a software to evaluate the vision imperfection, making an individual blueprint of what has to be done. Then the first laser creates a thin flap around the cornea. Using your individual blueprint, the second laser makes the correction to your cornea. The procedure only takes 10 minutes for each eye and is virtually painless.

As with any medical procedure, the modern LASIK treatment comes with a few risks. It is better to talk to a medical professional to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK technology.

Getting Ready For Halloween

Kuya wants to dress up as Ben 10 for Halloween this year. But finding a Ben 10 costume (white shirt with black lining) is proving to be difficult. I've been surfing the Cartoon Network sites. So far, all of them cost around $24++ online. Good thing my Dad will be going to the States this October. I might ask him buy a costume for Kuya.

Or I'm thinking we might just make this into a little project. Ben 10 is fairly easy to do on our own. A little plain white shirt and a black fabric pen just might do the trick. Kuya does have his own Omnitrix Deluxe. Brown cargo pants and rubber shoes should complete the ensemble.

Kowi wants to go as a fairy princess (again) this year. I'm trying to convince her to change it up. Oh well, she's pretty headstrong. Hopefully, she can go as Bubbles from the Flintstones. That would be cute. I'm already imagining that little bone on her hair.

Hmmm, maybe I should go to Tabora.

A Ben 10 Day

Kuya had it easy today. His school decided to give everyone a break by declaring it Achievement Holiday. After four days of exams, they deserve a little break.

Good thing that Kuya didn't have school so he can see Ben 10 a bit earlier than the other kids.

Kuya put on his Omnitrix and brought it to the show. What's a Ben 10 show without it?

We were seated at the front row, eager to watch Ben 10 live. The show started with a little bit of Ben 10 trivia and games. Kuya won three! It was a definite advantage to sit in front.

The show started with a backgrounder of how Ben got the Omnitrix. Then Wild Mutt and Four Arms appeared and did a couple of stunts while fighting off the alien bad guys.

There was a meet and greet Ben after. Kuya is all smiles in the pic and shows off his Omnitrix proudly. Too bad that Wild Mutt and Four Arms weren't there. That would've been cooler.

Ben 10 fans, you can still catch Ben 10, Wild Mutt and Four Arms live at Alabang Town Center tomorrow and Sunday. Kuya is asking if we could go again. We might. But I'm not too sure if Cartoon Network will allow him to participate in the games since he's won three times.

I Knew He Could Do It!

True to my word, I am doing another post on the Superfish, Michael Phelps.

Michael Phelps smashed records and collected his 8th gold.

He is now, officially, the first individual to collect 8 Olympic gold medals in the same Olympic games.

Go Phelps.

Just as I predicted.

Michael Phelps Does It Again

Michael Phelps has done it again. He has earned his 7th gold medal in the Beijing Olympics by swimming one-hundredth of a second faster than Serbia's Milorad Cavic in the 100m butterfly.

He and Mark Spitz are now tied in the records for winning 7 gold medals in one Olympic game. But Michael now holds the most Olympic gold medals ever won with 13.

Can he make his 8th Beijing gold medal?

I certainly hope so. I'm praying and rooting and jumping for him. Go Phelps!

This wil be my last Phelps post...unless he wins his 8th medal!

Can't Get Enough of Phelps

I'm writing a post about Michael Phelps--again. I just can't seem to get enough of him. Here are some facts about Michael Phelps, the Superfish.

- This swim sensation has just won his 11th Olympic gold medal, firmly placing him the history books.

- He was bullied as a kid.

- He swam a race with leaking goggles and won first place. not to mention making a world record.

- He was diagnosed with ADHD and placed on permanent medication.

- He asked his mom to stop his ADHD meds two years after the diagnosis and concentrated on swimming.

- He consumes 12,000 calories a day to fuel his punishing routine.

- He has size 14 feet aptly dubbed as flippers.

- His motto: If you sell yourself short, you'll never reach your full potential.

Inspiring words from an incredible, almost extraterrestial, Olympic champ.

The Michael Phelps Secret

Michael Phelps is the all over the news. With 5 gold medals and 5 world records in the Beijing Olympics, he is now considered to be the winningest Olympian.

He's vying for a historic 8-gold-medal feat that would beat the current record of swimmer Mark Spitz of 7 gold medals. But to get there Phelps has to swim 17 times over the course of nine days and win. His pace is really grueling.

What's his secret? Pizza and pasta. Yes, good ol' carbs.

I just got another reason to order pizza tonight!

Manila International Book Fair

The Manila International Book Fair will celebrate its 29th year of living in Words Without Borders. This 5-day event will happen on September 12-16, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, Bay Area, Pasay City. The MIBF is considered to be the longest running event of its kind in Asia.

The MIBF will showcase a variety of books across all genres and will include more than 50 exhibitors. The goal is to champion the best of what Philippine publishing has to offer by making books more accesible and more affordable.

Aside from book hunting, other activities are also lined up to cater to everyone of any age, any taste and any means. Storytelling, poetry reading, meet and greet the authors, adults and kids writing workshops are just some of the activities awaiting the participants.

If you're looking for that hard-to-find book or just want to have fun, visit the Manila International Book Fair. See you there.

Thanks Ivan Girl for the information.

What's on the Menu?

In preparation for the Olympics, China has officially released a list of suggested English translations for Chinese dishes for the hungry tourist. This master list aims to help restaurants translate their menu from the awkward, downright strange English to the more palatable translation.

But not everyone agrees. Some think this is robbing a few dishes of its cultural heritage by taking away its literal translation and unintended humor.

So, what’s on the menu? Below is a list of quirky translated Chinese dishes and their new English version.

红烧狮子头: Braised Lion’s Head. Now aptly names as Stewed Pork Ball in Brown Sauce.
清蒸童子鸡: Chicken Without a Sexual Life. Poor chicken. Its new name is Steamed Spring Chicken.
夫妻肺片: Husband and Wife Lung Slices is now Pork Lungs in Chili Sauce. I wouldn’t eat that if I saw the old translation on the menu.
蚂蚁上树: Ants Climb Up a Tree is appropriately called Sautéed Vermicelli with Spicy Minced Pork.
怪味鸡丝: Strange Flavored Shredded Chicken is renamed Special Flavored Shredded Chicken. Who would want to eat something strange?
口水鸡: Saliva Chicken or Chicken which Causes You to Salivate is now Steamed Chicken with Chili Sauce.

So, anybody hungry?

David Cook in Manila

It's official. David Cook will be holding a concert here in Manila on January 27, 2009. It's definitely great news for AI fans like me.

I wasn't really a Cook fan when AI 7 started. But I was converted when he sang You’ll Always Be My Baby and Billie Jean. He is certainly an original. Along with the millions of AI fans, I watched the epic Cookie versus Archie battle on TV. Not even Kowi's crying pulled me away. My eyes and ears were glued to the set.

I called Hubby just now to tell him we'll be watching David Cook's concert. Actually it was more of an order than a request. I also told Hubby that my eyes would only be on David when he performs here. LOL.

Now, I only have to wait six more months...

Reunited

Good news! Matthew is now safe and unharmed. He was found yesterday in Laguna by a security guard. He is now in the loving care of his family. Click here for more details.

Abduction in Festival Mall

As a parent who lives in the South, I find this very alarming. Festival Mall is very near our home. It's one of the places where I do the grocery, pay bills, dine, etc. Of course, my kids tag along, I don't have any outside help. And more often than not, they're difficult to manage when they're stimulated by sights and sounds. This is a reminder to hold them tight and never to take my eyes off them again.

As a matter of public service, I am reposting this in here. It might help save a life. Please click here for more details.

I pray that all goes well.

Scrapbook Day

To all scrapbook addicts out there, mark your calendars.

What: Scrapbook Day

When: July 26, Saturday, 8AM t 4PM

Where: Teacher's Village Basketball Court
Maginhawa Street, Teacher's Village
Diliman, Quezon City

Fees: Php 350, inclusive of scrapbooking kit, snacks and seminar

For more information, contact 799-2860 or email scrapbookmoments@gmail.com

Free Bazaar and Tiangge slots still available.

McDonald's Fun Day

For peeps who live South of the Metro like I do.

McDonald's SM Muntinlupa is having a Fun Day. A day of fun, arts and crafts for your kids. There might even be a meet and greet Ronald McDonald.

The fee is Php100.00 per child, which includes a Happy Meal.

It'll be on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at the SM Muntinlupa Activity Center from 3-5 pm.

Hope to see you there.