It was just a century ago when the United States of America’s share of the global economy has started shrinking, leading to an equilibrium which has favored many of the newly industrialized countries such as Brazil, South Africa, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the Philippines. This, of course, is largely because of the emergence of various trade agreements which has made it easier for merchants to sell their products overseas. After the 2^nd World War, free trade was largely promoted. Tariffs have been either reduced; or eliminated, transportation costs were reduced; capital controls were also reduced; and more importantly, intellectual property was better protected through harmonization of laws and supranational recognition. Because of economic globalization, businesses are now able to market products and services all over the globe. It has also allowed them to develop partnerships and alliances throughout the world. These business practices allow the companies to save money, leading to larger returns and more affordable products.

Asia’s growth over the last half of the century has been dramatic and with this comes new challenges for us. The task of ending poverty is far from complete. Adequate energy supplies are also another concern. Energy efficient methods should be practiced. Also, there are still may developed countries that have protectionist laws that inhibit developing countries from exporting their goods. Although, because of the emergence of the Internet and e-trade, many merchants have found a way to work around those protectionist laws. Economic globalization is a regional effort and by working hand in hand with our ASEAN brothers we can bring more Filipino products into the global market.

Red Horse Beer Muziklaban, 10 years na! Ilabas na ang lupit nyo sa tugtugan! Catch the Muziklaban Mall Shows on the following dates and venues:

July 19

I've always been fascinated by foreign cultures and with that, foreign languages too. Learning about a country's language will teach you more about the culture that it stems from. Innovation stems from necessity, so the basic words that compromise a learned language are words that played a large role in their culture.

I came across the Transparent Language website and I was surprised at the range of Language software that they offer. They have products and free resources for over 105 languages with different levels of proficiency. Service seems quick too and the website is very easy to navigate. All products have very detailed descriptions which would make it easier for the customer to decide which program would benefit them most. They offer electronic download and boxed shipment which is both convenient for the buyer.

I checked the overview of the Language software they offer and it's not like most dictionary translation types that just give basic conversational pieces and translate it for you. Their software can actually teach you to understand the language and not just learn the words. It also has fun activities that makes learning seem like you're only playing. Some even include a system for pocket PC and PDA, and MP3 audio so you can still learn even when you're on the go. 

You can learn to speak Spanish with any of the 9 products they offer that cater to different people be it kids, businessmen or just plain enthusiasts. Most of my relatives are in Italy and most of them already have families there. Whenever they come home to visit it's always difficult to communicate with my Italian cousins because not all of them are good in English. With any of their 8 Italian programs, I can learn to speak Italian like a native. Then of course, there's French. I mean, who wouldn't want to learn to speak French? It's the language of food and love. The offer 9 programs that would teach you to speak French.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, a kid or an adult, an enthusiast or a businessman;  there is a Transparent Language product that would fit you.

Cinemalaya 2008 Philippine Independent Cinema Festival

11 to 20 July 2008 Cultural Center of the Philippines

OPENING NIGHT 11 July/Fri at 6:00PM at the CCP Main Theatre with the World Premiere Screening of ADELA by Adolf Alix Jr.

AWARDS NIGHT 20 July/Sun at 7:00PM at the CCP Main Theatre (both Opening Night and Awards Night are open to the public)

FILM CONGRESS Theme - "Spreading the News: Promoting, Distributing, and Exhibiting Indie Films" 15 & 16 July/Tue & Wed, from 8AM onwards at the CCP Little Theatre (kindly call CCP Media Arts for reservations - 8321125 local 1702, ask for Ms. Minda Casagan)

Summer is ending, I actually think it has already ended because of the frequent rain showers we're having, but eBay Philippines certainly thinks otherwise.

If you're already a registered eBay user, you can find out more by going to this page eBay Treasure Hunt. The treasure hunt looks easy because 4 people already won yesterday and today. I only found out about this contest today and when I got to the contest page, someone already found the treasure for today. I'll try my luck tomorrow.

8th SiNELAB WORKSHOP SERIES AS REQUESTED REGISTRATION ONGOING @ Quezon City

Workshop Outline : 8 Sessions

I. Alternative Material, Outline, Treatment and Script Development and Management (Narrative) ( 3 Sessions)

STEP ONE : THE VISION AND THE ARTISTIC MODEL Transforming the abstract into a working model

STEP TWO : FORMULATING AN IDEA An idea is a basic unit in constructing a working concept.

STEP THREE : BUILDING A CONCEPT The idea is the seed of the material while the concept is the cradle of the idea.

STEP FOUR : CONSTRUCTING THE PREMISE The premise has two components namely the character and the story. The said components operate within the structure of the premise. Often, the logline or pitching line comes from the premise. STEP FIVE : CONSTRUCTING THE OUTLINE The outline has 8 major parts called movements.

STEP SIX : THE SEQUENCE TREATMENT The sequence treatment bridges the outline and the script. The treatment determines how many sequences will it take to execute a movement.

I have been away from home for a couple of months so it was just a couple of weeks ago that I found out that my beloved city of Marikina has started collecting used cooking oil separately from all the garbage. I'm not sure just how often they do this though and I started wondering what they do with it. Possibly, they are just collecting it to be disposed off properly. Before, many households have a habit of throwing away used oil through canals. As we all know, pouring it down the drain might make the plumbing clogged when the oil solidifies so people tend to throw it outside of their homes directly into the sewage system. But this practice does come with its negative effects. Eventually, sewage water goes to our rivers and streams causing them to be polluted.

I wonder if the Waste Management Office recycles those rancid cooking oils. If they recycle those and turned them into biodiesel, they could use it to fuel the vehicles that the city government owns. Marikina has been known to invest in recycling machineries and has saved the city government a lot of money in the long run. A few months back the city government purchased a composting machine that turns the garbage collected from the market into compost.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and other media groups will celebrate World Press Freedom Day on May 3 by offering flowers at the National Shrine of Marcelo H. del Pilar in the morning and hosting a jamming session by members of media in the evening.

I've been trying out the Yahoo Messenger Beta 9.0 for a couple of months now but it was only yesterday that I found out that it is another of Microsoft's attempt at, for a lack of better word, depriving pirated Windows Users.

My brother, although Internet savvy and a very good graphic artist, isn't very good on hardware and software issues. After 18 months of using his Neo laptop, he finally had to have it reformatted. It was never reformatted ever since he got it and I was never able to use it so I had no idea what are it's specs and what came along with it. He got it "free" from our PLDT Mydsl subscription. Anyway, enough with the history.

Initially, we thought it didn't come bundled with an OS so he borrowed a pirated copy of WIndows XP Professional from a friend. I was able to reformat and install the pirated copy so all I had to do next is install the driver. I popped in the Neo CD that he gave me along with the other installers and I was surprised that it was an installer for Windows XP. I then checked the bottom of the laptop to see if there was a Windows sticker with the product code and I found it happily residing silently underneath. I copied the product code onto a piece of paper and immediately restarted and installed the Windows XP. Once I was done, I was again surprised to found out that the OS bundled with the laptop was Windows XP Starter Edition. >.< I didn't think that Starter Edition was made available in the Philippines.

I'm sure a lot of people would agree with me when I say that the movie spoof genre has become tasteless with movies like Epic Movie and Meet the Spartans. I was pretty excited when I first saw the trailer of Meet the Spartans on YouTube. I thought it was funny as hell. But when I got to watch the whole movie, I almost slept through it. It was worse than watching Goin' Bulilit.

When I saw the movie trailer of Superhero Movie, I had very high hopes for it because Drake Bell is in the lead role, I've been watching him on Nickelodeon for years and I lurve Drake Bell. Yeah I get it, he's cute. But he's also a very talented artist and comedian. I always look forward to seeing him as Kyle in Totally Kyle on the Amanda Show because his guitar riffs are really good.

Yesterday, my youngest sister Mimay and I were walking along Crest Street in our village. We were on our way to the dermatologist for her check up. While walking I was reviewing English words with her. Then she asked me, Ate ano sa english ang duhat?

I told her I didn't know so while waiting for our turn to see the doctor, I connected to google via gprs and did a search.

Java plum / Black plum

I guess not many people know it because a lot of people stare blankly at me whenever I tell them I can't eat shrimp because I'm allergic to something on it's shell so rather than risking gut wrenching pain, I'd rather not eat anything that has shrimp.

That's right, I have food allergies too. Aside from the common dust allergens that usually gets me itching and sneezing, I also can't eat juicy, scrumptious shrimp because I always end up getting stomachache. Yes, stomachache. Many people think that allergens can only cause symptoms that are seen like redness and itching. So there you go, I said it out loud.

CALL FOR AUDITIONS

The Recycling Waste Market will be back again in SM North starting March 1, 2008. The SM Supermalls' Recycle Market has finally come to SM North! Turn your trash into cash (or exchange them for something useful) every first Saturdays of the month, from 8AM to 12NN at the open parking next to the former Super Sale Club building. Bring along whatever trash you can find and sell them.

A 99 British Pound laptop is set to be released in the market on February 28. It's a new budget computer targeted for school children and teenagers. That's roughly $200 or P8000 based on the current exchange rates. It's certainly cheaper than most Cellphone models in the market today.

Called the One, it can be used as a traditional notebook computer or, with the screen detached from the keyboard, as a portable “tablet”. Wi-fi technology lets users access the internet or swap music (and homework) files between computers wirelessly.

On my first semestral break here in Iligan, I was excited to go home and bring pasalubong to my family in Manila. The problem was, what was I gonna bring. The only thing I can think of was Durian (which was cheap and available almost everywhere) and lanzones from Camiguin. It was lanzones season then so I didn't have any trouble finding good ones. When I brought it back home, everybody raved about the sweet yet cheap lanzones. I initially intended to bring mangosteen too, but I seem to have missed out on the mangosteen season. I was told that the next harvest would be sometime in December. I was disappointed of course, because my brother Chou loves mangosteen. I also bought pomelo which was also cheap here.

Durian costs around P35-50 per kilo. A medium sized durian costs roughly P150. That's already cheap considering small ones sell for as much as P200 in supermarkets in Manila. I bought the lanzones for only P20 per kilo. It was small, firm and ultimately sweet. The lanzones from Camiguin are very different from the usual ones in Manila that are harvested in Laguna. The pomelo costs P25 per kilo.

Another fruit that I found in abundance here was Marang. It's my first time to have seen one and also the first time I've tasted one. It costs P10 - 20 a piece. Basically, most of the fruits that are sold here are either grown in Marawi, Bukidnon, Davao or Camiguin. There are also those imported fruits from China like apples and ponkans. There really isn't much variety in fruits here. Probably because the people tend not to splurge on fruits.

Members of the CFC-Singles for Christ (San Mateo Chapter), a ministry of the Couples for Christ, working as volunteer-facilitators for the Child and Youth Development programs (SAGIP & SIGA) of Gawad Kalinga (GK). GK provides a support program for children of elementary age, from 7 to 12 years old through the program called SAGIP, which means “to save a life” in the Filipino language. The SIGA program, meanwhile, provides a strong youth rehabilitation program where juvenile delinquents are provided with a range of activities and counseling sessions to help them live productive lives without committing them to rehab institutions. SIGA in the Filipino language means “to light.”

I've recently read an article from the Inquirer about Pinakurat. You can find the article here.

When faced with the dilemma of pasalubong, I realized there aren't many food specialties here in Iligan. Food quality here is what I would rate as "average". I first saw Pinakurat in the grocery but I didn't bother buying one. I didn't find anything special with spiced cane vinegar. The only time I got to taste one was when our landlady bought a bottle to go with the fried fish we were having for lunch once.

What I tasted was not your ordinary vinegar with spices. The spices really blended well and enhanced the vinegar. It was just like what it's name implies. Pinakurat - with surprise. The taste was unexpected and catches first-time tasters off guard. It was good and complemented well, enhanced the ordinary fried fish.

When I went home that semestral break, I brought home a Pinakurat. It was just a small bottle that costs P25. When I got to Manila, I found a similar bottle in Robinson's Supermarket. It costs P65.

In our family, only my dad and I enjoy spiced foods. Siling labuyo and Tabasco is only a staple at home when my dad is there. Naturally, I was the only one who enjoyed having my daing na bangus dipped in Pinakurat. I've been wanting to send my dad a bottle but I forgot to bring a bottle home last Christmas. Besides, as expected, my uncle's baggage was wayyyyy over their limit.

Republic Act No. 9492

AN ACT RATIONALIZING THE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL HOLIDAYS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7, BOOK I OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987

2008 Holidays

Monday, February 25 EDSA Revolution Anniversary  - supposed long weekend

LONG LONG HOLY WEEKEND

Payperpost recently revised their TOS and now allows blogs of only 30 days to submit and be approved. This is certainly good news especially to new bloggers. I just resubmitted my main blog and I'm crossing my fingers right now. I really can't rely on ads to generate a substantial amount of money from this blog. Sponsored posts generate me more income. I haven't been receiving any offers from Smorty. As of now the only service that gives me writing jobs is SponsoredReviews. Some guy is offering me profit sharing to write for his website.

Oh well, at least I'm getting some right?

Blogger is now available in Filipino. Funny, I don't see anything special about it. Well except the recognition that Filipinos are a force to reckon with in the blogging community. People who generalize our countrymen as stupid should think twice because if our A-list bloggers become millionaires they'll replace GMA and make Philippines a very prrty country. lol. Anyway, here's the actual post. http://buzz.blogger.com/2008/02/blogger-now-in-filipino.html

After much delay, they are finally launching the follow up album to the highly successful Love and Devotion. Rock out with these guys on March 1, 2008 at Atchies Bar, El Pueblo in Ortigas Center. It's a few blocks away from Megamall and around 10 cartwheels away from Podium, a little way past St. Francis Square.

Other bands playing are

Imbuenokudos

Title: COSPLAY 1 on 1

After a number of rumors, I can finally confirm that 6Underground will have its rebirth at Pearl Plaza, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, in Pasig City (near Univ. of Asia & the Pacific). After much deliberation, we decided to reopen it due to a number of opportunities that presented themselves to us that will better promote indie and alternative artists and help our rock industry as a whole. We had often been challenging ourselves to better our features and not be limited to being a bar (2 albums, prepaid cards, mixed martial arts, media tie-ups, etc.). We will reveal our new offerings as time goes by. J

Now called 6UG Live & Raw (as a tribute to our live album under Warner Music), the bar will have its soft launch come this Thursday, Feb. 21 with Plastic Baloo, Publico, Jab, and my band The Amandas. Only 3-4 bands will play a night to give them much exposure. Beer will only be at P30. The rest of the sched this week is as follows:

Feb. 22, Fri: Imbuenokudos, Teenage Hero, & Subscapular

Feb. 23, Sat: Muziklaban Champs – Gayuma, Sunflower Daycamp, & 18^th Issue

If you are a fan of these bands, I suggest you come in your best rock attire and support them. I can only explain further once you visit the new venue.

Thanks and see you live and raw! :)

-From the 6UG Management

ENDO by Jade Castro

“For its revealing take on the lives of ’end of contract’ casual workers in the retail and service sector, and for its subtle and moving rendering of a love story amid an otherwise deprived social milieu, pitting romance against economics, drawing out both winners and losers, gainers and losers, hope and heartbreak.”

A separate congressional district is mulled for this premier industrial city in the south. The measure has already passed first reading at the House of Representatives late last year and is now subjected to a series of public hearings here and in seven towns of Lanao del Norte.

This is your chance to shine! Join the most exciting modeling search in the Philippines today and make your dreams come true. Glamourama! is the quest to discover top models that will be trained and

Found a more detailed report about the blast that happened in the Plaza last Sunday Night. I can't even ask the people here because most of the people hardly care about the news. They just go on with their meaningless lives. sheesh. Anyway, here's the article.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Be there. Get connected!