Archive for June, 2009

Pop Icon Michael Jackson Dies At 50

This is the early morning news which shocked me. Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, a living legend in his generation just like Elvis Prestley, an icon. Does anybody doesn’t know Michael Jackson? I doubt.

He suffered a cardiac arrest and rushed to UCLA Hospital. Michael Jackson was 50 years old and pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. (2126 GMT, Los Angeles time), Thursday, June 25,2009. An autopsy was scheduled in Friday (tomorrow, Saturday, Philippine time) to know the cause of death.

I knew him when I was a kid. He was the only artist that I have to mangapitbahay (go to my neighbor/friend) just to watch Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video, the first MTV I watch as far as I remember. Hmmnn… that time it was in laser disc copy, I can’t barrow the disc because we don’t have a player.

Here’s his video from youtube when he had a concert here in Marina, Paranaque City, Philippines in 1996.

You will remain forever in our heart, God bless you.

I Won In Singing Bee TXT Promo!

Honestly, I don’t think that I’m lucky in any contests because I never won in any text promo contests before. That night last weekend, that was my first time to join and nakatuwaan ko lang talaga. I can’t find any interesting movies in cable that time, my kids are using the computer so I can’t blog.

I won! Actually, I always enjoy watching it but I’m not familiar with the TXT promo. Last Sunday, I didn’t expected that my name flashed on TV. I didn’t saw it because I am busy listening to my kids about the recent Men’s Health All Terrain Race, a classmate of my son asked him through SMS if I joined the promo. I quickly told my son, I did not join. And then, I remembered that I did sent a single SMS. Hehe… My son’s classmate wasn’t sure of the prize and if its me. If its true, my son was asking for a new bike jersey. Lambing lang nya yun.

Its not confirmed not until I received the call… and they did call this morning.  I won php 300 prepaid load (will be received within the week) and PHP 5,000. According to The Singing Bee staff, he will call again when the check is ready for pick up. The check can be claim within 45 working days. So, its true that I won in The Singing Bee TXT promo.

God moves in mysterious ways.

My Son Won 3rd Place At Men’s Health All-Terrain Race

Yep, I am indeed a proud mom. My 15 year old son won the 3rd place at yesterdays mountain bike race in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It was organized by Men’s Health Magazine tagged as “All Terrain Race, Pushed Your Limit”.

It was Father’s Day yesterday, my son told me that its another way of celebrating the day. It wasn’t like just an ordinary race because most participants brought their families. Yesterday, he made his dad proud for winning the race but he wasn’t able to get his trophy because they leave early. And he was not informed of his rank before they leave the trail in Sta. Rosa. He checked his rank online when he went home and it turned out that he was #40 overall and got the 3rd place for his age category.

On the contrary, there were regrets that they did not prepare the digital camera  and they leave early after the race. How he wish that he attended the awarding ceremony and get his 1st trophy.

And how I wish I could post his picture here.

Wedding In Time Of Global Recession

Many issues happened in the past few weeks, I almost forgot that the month of June is also the favorite wedding month in the Philippines. Since we are also terribly affected by global recession, many pinoys are having a second thought to get married or not this year or wait until recession is over.

My only brother who lives in Bicol with my mom, works as a waiter in luxury cruise company will be getting married on June 25, a Thursday. Their love story will surely touch your heart. To make story short, they are childhood sweethearts, a relationship started as best friends. They already have a 4 year old daughter and living together when she got pregnant. They want to get married years ago, I guess it will not be postponed again because everything was prepared already. They were my house guests last week. That’s why I seldom blog.

Their entourage consists of their daughter as the flower girl, a nephew as ring bearer, a maid of honor and best man (that are also for the cord, candle and veil).

There’s no invitation because guests only godparents, immediate families and close friends. The reception is for 50 persons only, the number of estimated guests. Printing jobs mostly accept a minimum of 100 invitations and since we don’t have that 100 guests, they decided not to make one.

Souvenir is for godparents only bought at regalong pambahay, wind chime in a see through sinamay/abaka box. We bought 16 pieces only, php 120 per piece and 30% discount on the 2nd item. Wind chime is also a unique giveaway, a lucky gift to the receiver and the giver.

The wedding will be held in a small chapel baroque style. According to my brother, the ambiance is like Ilocos (php 3,000). The souvenir box is also perfect for the occasion. The reception place is also Ilocos inspired although they are in Bicol, they will serve food at php 300 per head buffet style.

They were supposed to hire a wedding gown maker (mananahi) for php 10,000. Its cheap already and I suggested to try on ready made wedding gowns for as low as 2,500. They’re beautiful naman, I know there also cheaper for as low as php 1,000 in Divisoria. We end up for custom made wedding gown, also from my suki for only php 4,000 including veil, pillow, tiara, aras etc. Its cheap and she can choose the design she want, the gown will be ready in one week. We will be picking it up within the week.

My brother tried looking for a barong tagalog in a known shop in SM MOA, he was shocked when he was told that it costs php 14,000. To my suki, he got his piña barong (combined with other thread) for only 1,200, they normally offer it for 1,500-2,000.

The supposed to be budget of php 10,000 for the wedding gown only went to a complete set of wedding gown, groom’s barong, another 2 barong tagalog, kamisa tsino (barong tagalog’s undershirt), gown for flower girl and a dress for my mom.

We canvassed for wedding ring at known shops in SM MOA, a pair of wedding ring is php 10,000-15,000. That’s okay but when I asked the carat, its only 14K so I told my brother to go to mom’s suki. They choose 18K standard and costs 4,000, I made tawad and we get it for php 2,500 only, free engraving. Its a two tone white gold with 3 small stones. They use other money for the complete set of gold and pearl jewelries for the bride 1,000 from the original price of 2,500. 2 necklaces were also bought for php 1,000 each which they offer for php 2,000 each. FYI, when buying gold jewelries ask if its standard or commercial. If its commercial, the 18k is actually 16k only.

All of these can be found in Baclaran and my suki except for bride’s wedding shoes. I recommend Landmark, they have hard to find wedding shoes for the June brides and all of the pinay brides.

Barat ba ako? I’m just being reasonable for the worth of the items we bought. You can do that also. Best wishes.

1st A(H1N1) Community Outbreak Declared In Nueva Ecija

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque had declared in Sunday the first Community Level Outbreak in Hilera, Nueva Ecija after 11 cases were positive of A(H1N1) wherein 10 are students of Hilera Elementary School and another 4 year old girl. National Epidemiology Center confirmed the report.

Contact tracing of the 11 positive cases turned out that 92 contacts are showing symptoms of A(H1N1) virus. Local Health officers are monitoring 57 other students who also exhibited symptoms of the A(H1N1).

Class suspension is set for another 10 days. Since its the first community level outbreak, it would be better if everyone in the community should wear face masks.

Actually, I’m getting paranoid already of this influenza outbreak. As of this writing, the number of 111 had climbed again to 147 positive A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines.