iBlog Mini @ CEL

I”ve successfully registered to the upcoming Mini Blog Summit happening on November 15, 2009 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The event to be hosted by Janet Toral is targeted for new bloggers.  Topics include the following

1:00 – 1:15 Welcome Remarks (JJ Disini – http://disini.i.ph)
1:20 – 1:40 Blogging 101 (Micaela Rodriguez – http://www.micamyx.com)
1:50 – 2:10 Photo/Video Blogging 101 (Aileen Apolo – http://aileenapolo.blogspot.com)
2:20 – 2:40 Mobile Blogging 101 (AJ Matela – http://www.baklaako.com)
2:50 – 3:10: Blog Promotion & Traffic Generation Strategies 101 (Noemi Lardizabal Dado – http://www.aboutmyrecovery.com)
3:20 – 3:40 Blogging to the Next Level (Anton Diaz –http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com)
3:40 – onwards Raffle and group picture

I’m attending this one to learn more about blogging from the pros.

Scare-givers! We’re the spookiest!

It’s Halloween time again!

Our team joined this year’s Spooktacular 2009 floor decoratng contest in the office and we decided to go for Ju-on (The Grudge) as our theme.  It’s actually a joint effort of the Chairman’s Office and our team, the Communications Dept. since we’re both housed in the same floor.

It’s actually my first to time to wear a costume or wear a spooky make-up for that matter.  I missed last year’s coz I was on maternity leave.  The floor was filled with excitement as in between our scaring stints, I’d be working on my task for the day.  We’ve done quite a scary job as the kids went out from our “horror house” screaming and crying, even the nannies and parents were spooked. Poor kids, they’re now traumatised.  Our horror house even got visits from our colleagues from other departments.  What scared the trick or treaters were our crawling tactics,  (Bad, bad, bad!)  accompanied by a crying sound effect, and a super scary Ju-on pic projected on the screen.  We even had an import – “Toshio” and Sadako who crossed over our party.

See for yourself.

Free engine oil change from Shell

Here’s Shell’s good news to our fellow countrymen whose vehicles were affected by Typhoon Ondoy.  Aside from its cash donation to the National Disaster Coordinating Council and relief efforts of its staff volunteers, Shell is extending its assistance to motorists or to those whose cars were submerged and will need restoration assistance.

Shell is offering free services on oil change which includes the following services: draining and replacement of transmission fluid; draining and replacement of brake and clutch fluid; and draining and replacement of radiator fluid.  This free service is being offered for the whole month of October.

Also, an Php 8 discount per litre can be availed for the following lubricants: Helix, Rimula and Advance; Spirax A 140 and Spirax G 90; Donax TM and ATF III G; and Brake and Catch Fluid, Coolguard OAT and Flushing Oil.

What’s more, the Shell Helix Service Centre is extending its Php 888 budget oil change until October 31, 2009.

By the way, labor is free of charge.

Ways to help Ondoy victims

Rescue efforts are being mobilised, relief from local and foreign agencies are also pouring in for victims of tropical storm Ondoy that hit Metro Manila and Luzon on Saturday.  I have gathered important hotlines and donation points for those who wish to extend assistance to our countrymen devastated by the recent extensive inundation that beset the country.

All Shell Retail stations in Metro Manila, those not affected by the heavy flooding, are already accepting donations. I’ll post an update on specific retail station sites once available.

For cash or in-kind donations, you may call the Philippine National Red Cross Hotline at 143 or 527.0000 or visit their website for ways to help the our fellow countrymen in dire need of the following.

List of Most Urgent Needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Those who wish to extend their assistance may also contact

ABS-CBN HOTLINE
416-36-41

SAGIP KAPAMILYA
413-2667 / 416-0387
No 13 Examiner Street, Quezon City, Look for Ms Girlie Aragon

Bank: Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111

Routing code for international cash donations
BNORPHMM ABS-CBN Branch

ABS-CBN Foundation US Office Toll-Free 1-800-527-2820

Here are emergency numbers shared by GMANews.tv

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120

Red Cross: 143, 527-0000

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): 136

Philippine Coast Guard: 527-6136

Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (045) 9634376

Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT

Ondoy turns Metro Manila into waterworld

My heart goes out to the hundreds of thousands of Filipino families displaced, people killed and others missing, and a lot of stranded countrymen – after the onslaught of tropical storm Ondoy that left Metro Manila submerged in water after 6 hours of continuous downpour, literally turning it into waterworld.  The heavy rains brought heartbreaking aftermath and devastation not only to Metro Manila but also to some parts of Luzon.

We were fortunate in our village in Las Pinas that it only reached gutter-deep water level but a few meters down the road, my friends’ house near the creek, was soaked in thigh-high water level. Fortunately, the only problem to be managed in our home was the mid-calf deep water in our laundry area. My hubby scooped bucket fulls of water to prevent it from entering our kitchen area.  Our house is located in an elevated level of the subdivision, quite far from the creek that fortunately unscathed us from the devastating rains of Ondoy.

Unfortunately, i heard news that some of my office colleagues’ house in Pasig, Q.C., and Paranaque were submerged in 2-storey high and chest-deep water.  Even our relatives’ house in San Mateo, Rizal were not spared from the flooding as the water level also rose chest-high.  We can’t contact them still and I really hope and pray that they are okay.

PhotoWorld Asia 2010

In case you haven’t seen or read this invite yet, here’s sharing with you details of the upcoming annual photo trade show and convention.

The Trade Show will be held on January 28 to February 3, 2010 at Glorietta Activity Center and Glorietta 5, Makati City while the Convention will be held on January 9-February 1, 2010 at the AIM Conference Center Manila located at Cor. Benavidez and Trasierra Sts., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Seminar fee is at Php 5,000.  An early bird discount at Php4,000 can be availed until November 30, 2009.

For more details on Photoworld Asia 2010, check out FPPF’s website.

It’s official: Ellen Degeneres is the new ‘Idol’ judge

“I am gonna be the new judge on American Idol.”

Ellen Degeneres announced on her show that she’ll be the fourth judge in the popular tv show American Idol, officially replacing the post vacated by Paula Abdul.

The announcement made during the Ellen Degeneres Show was well received by her fans with a loud applause and a standing ovation.

“It’s so exciting for me and we’ve been dealing this for a couple of weeks and I have been dying to tell you and it’s been so hard to keep it a secret and we just finally got the okay,” she said.  “Im so excited and this will be so much fun.”

A devout American Idol fan, she revealed that she “had never missed a single episode.” Ellen said that she’ll be the “people’s point of view” as she will be judging not “on a technical and critical way” but will represent the voice of the millions of fans who sit at home and watch the tv show. “I’m just like you and just watch it. I’m not looking at it from a producer’s mind, I’m looking at it as a person who’s going to buy the music. So hopefully, I’m gonna be the voice of what we’re all doing at home.

On the future of her talk show, Ellen revealed that she’ll continue to do the popular daytime show.

Ellen will be joining American Idol judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi in the Fox’s new season premiere in January 2010.

Do you think the popular host is a good choice to replace Paula Abdul in American Idol?

Thumbs up for JBL On Stage 200ID

My hubby Itchy recently purchased a JBL On Stage™ 200ID for his 2nd generation iPod Touch.

The high-performance loudspeaker dock for iPod and iPhone is a complete sound system made for iPod (including nano G3, iPod classic, iPod touch and iPhone), MP3 and CD players, and desktop and laptop computers (all platforms).

Aside from its sleek design, what he loves about this new entertainment piece is the clear and powerful sound as well as its remarkable bass.  It is a complete audio system with no extra wires running across the table.  It also comes with a remote control for full control of music and easy navigation experience.

Its price tag is at Php 5,999.00 – actually half the price of another brand that he originally intends to buy.

I hugged the biggest bell in Asia

My side trip to Capiz from Iloilo City led me and my office colleagues (Ai and Sankie) to see and know more about a National Historical landmark – the Sta. Monica Church in Panay, Capiz, the 2nd settlement of the Spaniards after Cebu.

The Sta. Monica Church

The Sta. Monica Church is located at the Calle Revolucion in Poblacion Ilaya, Panay, Capiz.  Its grand structure is made from coral stone, shaped in the form of a Latin cross.

Getting there

From Roxas City, getting to Panay was just a 20-minute ride via a rented Capiz Cab with a flag down rate similar to Manila which is Php 30.

Biggest in Asia

Isidro Bandejas, the church bell ringer fortunately spotted us as we stepped out of our rented vehicle.  He rushed us to get to the five-storey bellfry of the Sta. Monica church since a funeral mass was about to start – that means he had some work to do.  He eagerly led us to a door which leads to the steps of the belltower.  Before reaching the bellfry of the churh, we hurdled a total of 64 steps.  We were in awe as we saw a total of eight bells with the biggest hanging in the center (pictured here).  We also enjoyed the panoramic view of Panay town and the mountain range that can be seen from the tower. The earliest bell was made in 1822 and is still in perfect pitch, actually all 8 are still in use depending on the the occassion and the kind of mass celebration.

About the Bell (Facts)

The big bell of Panay is about 7 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter.  It took 70 sacks of coins to complete the bell in 1878.  It weighs 10.4 tons, reputed as the biggest in Asia and the third biggest bell in the world – the biggest freely swinging bell is the 24-ton St. Petersglocke (Bell of St. Peter) in Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

A Spanish inscription on the bell was translated to English by Msgr. Vicente F. Hilata as “I am God’s voice which I shall echo and praise from one end to the other of the town of Panay, so that the faithful followers of Christ may come to this house of God to receive the heavenly graces.”

We had several photos taken inside, beside and around the bell.  We also heard its booming sound as it was rung three times.  Since we were standing 3 feet away from the bell, we have to cover our ears as the gigantic bell was sounded off.  We learned that its sound can be heard 8 kilometers away.  That’s really one loud bell, covering our ears wasn’t enough to mum its sound.  It was a nice experience though, hearing it up close, very thunderous indeed!

Nokia’s laptop to launch soon

Will the Nokia Booklet 3G hit mainstream success?

Finnish company Nokia is set to launch its version of a laptop that promises full mobility – its Nokia Booklet 3G at the Nokia World ’09 in Messe, Stuttgart.

A close look at its multitude of features tells me that the Nokia Booklet 3G is very promising and may be more expensive.

Here’s a close look at its features:

• powered by Intel Atom processor
• Microsoft Windows based netbook
• up to 12 hours of battery life
• features an ultra-portable aluminum chassis
• only 1.2 kgs
• 10-inch screen
• 2 cm thin
• boasts of different connectivity options: 3G/HSPA and wi-fi for high speecd access to the internet
• with Nokia’s OVI services
• has a HDMI port for HD video out (HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface-an interface standard used for audiovisual equipment)
• camera for video calling
• with integrated bluetooth and built-in navigation GPS

And its price?  Nokia is set to reveal its price at the upcoming Nokia World ’09 slated on September 2, 2009.  So watch for it.