Photographs by the Shore

I actually can't think of anything to write today since it's almost midnight and I'm a little sleepy but still have to work on my Farmville on Facebook (laughs). So I just thought of posting some of my photographs during my vacation in Boracay.

I miss the smell of the beach and the shore especially the white sand. I definitely would want to spend my vacation in Bora again and hopefully a little longer because our 4 days of stay for me was not enough. Now I understand why tourists especially foreigners are dying to see the 4-Kilometer beach.

Keeping the Faith Strong

Phones and the internet at home have been busy the past few days after the tragic typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana that took away hundreds of lives and homeless thousands in the Philippines especially in Manila. Friends and relatives from all over still keep on calling us to offer help or at least hear updates.

A lot of good souls actually have joined their hands in helping out families who were affected by the catastrophe. I was on a newhampshire chat yesterday because of my cousin who asked me to go online to ask for details on how he can donate. Some relatives also extended their help by donating through remote charitable institutions located around the world.

We are all saddened about this tragedy and I feel so fortunate that none of us in the family were harmed. What the rest of us can do right now is to continue to pray for strength and guidance so we can get over this nature's challenge to us.

Secrets to Successful Blogging

Google recently updated and as you can see, there have been a lot of changes on website's page rank. I am just so happy that I got back my ranking (PR3) and to those of you who are not aware to the wonders of blogging, having a high ranking means getting big bucks ($$). From the time that I started blogging, I have always done studies and research on how I can improve my site's performance particularly on making it SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly.

There are a lot of secrets on how to optimize your site and make it more appealing to readers and search engines. The most common SEO tip is by building backlinks. The more you spread your link all over the web means the more chances of it getting noticed and therefore, more traffic will hit you back. I was reading tips and advices on webmaster resources and article directory at Zeronese and I learned a lot of advices on how to increase website hits.

Backlinks are the most essential part of your website since they are the primary source of traffic. So if you want your page to get back on track, work on it through linking.

You Against Your Giants in Life

A photo I took when I was still in Manila, reviewing in preparation for the board exam. We were on the 5th floor and together with me in the apartment were my college friends. I was reviewing outside then suddenly got bored and photographed this bus as if it was held by a gigantic hand.

Life is full of surprises. You don't have to be afraid of the challenges in life because these trials will help in shaping the better you. Just like the diamond that was formed from carbon out of intense pressure. You are an ugly duckling that will soon become the beautiful swan. Life is wonderful and precious.

Captured using my old Nokia 7610.

Customizing One's Self through Surgery

Being in the world of show business, one has to invest on physical look to outshine and get noticed as what most celebrities do right now. Since cosmetic surgery is getting popular these days, it is not impossible anymore to look your best. But also, we have to bear in mind that some surgeons are not reliable when it comes to the quality of their services. You may not see it's implications after it was done because it will usually take effect years after the operation. One particular case is the singer actress Selena Sevilla who undergone butt augmentation and gave her problems after 10 years that almost risked her life.

Rhinoplasty is also a popular surgery job that most Filipino celebrities invest on themselves. A lot in the country have been offering this operation but there are also a numerous reliable surgeons abroad with a way cheaper nose job cost. Central Europe for example has a lot of clinics and surgical experts in Rhinoplasty. You can check on the site I provided the different prices of nose job of different surgeons so you can do a price comparison. You might want to check on it if you are thinking of getting your nose done.

Chance or Choice?

"When you meet the right person to love, at the right place, at the right time. That's chance. When you meet someone you're attracted to, that's a chance too. Being caught that there are many people out there who are more attractive, smarter, richer than your partner, and yet you decided to love your partner just the same.. That's a choice. Attraction comes to us by chance, but true love that lasts is truly a choice.

In life and love, never welcome something that you cannot entertain. Never open your doors if your heart means to close. Never accept love if you cannot give yourself in return. Never start a relationship you know you would want to end.

Two of the shortest words in the english language are 'yes' and 'no' and yet they are often the ones that require the most thinking before they are spoken."

Hewlett Packard Gadget Madness

HP has been in the gadgets industry for years and they continue to produce one-of-a-kind and the most coveted computers and laptops. I personally like HPs more than the other leading brands like Dell and Acer because I think not only do they make gadgets for the techy but they also incorporate their products with fashion and style. They have the most beautifully designed laptops in terms of the physical attributes. One portable netbook that I like is the HP mini note 2140 that has this metallic silver mat finish making it look sturdy and appealing.



The 2140 mini note actually ranges from PhP22,000-24,000 (about US$440-500) and the unit is also available via the Web if you prefer online shopping. I think I would also consider shopping through the internet because you can easily check on different stores and even do a price comparison to determine where you can save the most.

I found one of the cheapest prices of the 2140 unit at Plaza101. You can also view comments and product reviews of the product to know more about the specification. You can also check on other stuff and gadget that you are thinking of buying. Love the site!

Reminiscing My iQor Days

Here's a photo of me and Princess when I was still working in iQor, Clark. Princess and I went in the company together. We were interviewed and hired on the same day making her the first person in the company who became close to me. Our tandem was one-of-a-kind and we used to go out together after work with friends. Her pseudo was Daniella David and mine was David Daniels. Cool huh? I totally miss working with her and I really miss my friends especially the "Petiks" team.

When I resigned on August 2008, I heard that the account we were in to was dissolved and they were transferred to a different one. Soon after that, Princess took her resignation too.

Hey guys! When are we going out again?

And the Search Continues

On my recent post, I bragged about a certain bed design from a local store which I am eager to buy. Too bad I wasn't able to get a reservation because they already ran out of stock. I wasn't really disappointed although I really loved that particular model.

Anyway, I will just be looking again online for other stores that offer modern bedroom furniture. And this time, I won't let it fly away. I really need to have my bed replaced before it breaks down. I just hope that I will be able to get a new one before the year ends so I can start the year 2010 with a good sleep and good mornings.

Who Will Be Villain on 2011 Spider-Man 4 Movie?

Spidey fans like me sure are excited on the 4th installment of the Spiderman movie series. To hit the big screen tentatively on May 6th 2011, a lot of twists will be expected in the movie which will make it unique from the comic series. Many fans are still left puzzled on who's going to be Parker's antagonist as director Sam Raimi stated that they are still in the process of deciding who the villain's going to be. He even confidently said that people will surely appreciate their choice and will definitely be a big part of New York.

Some thinks The Lizard would be the villain as it has been mentioned in the past movies as Parker's teacher in the human identity of Dr. Curt Connors. One choice could also be the vampire character of Morbius and is rumored to be Raimi's top choice. As to whether who the villain is or how it will differ from the marvel comics, I hope it would be better than the 3rd. Columbia pictures said that there may be one villain but the maximum will be two as the Spiderman 3 seemed inappropriate and weak having many villains.

Who do you think will it be after Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Sand Man?

Ultimate Halloween Experience

October is fast approaching and it's the time of the year where the color orange is so cool along with jack 'o lanterns and the trick or treat. Every year, I am always looking forward to Halloween because we always have a midnight costume party in my friend's house. Last year, I came in with the all-time famous Dracula costume with blood effects of course. Would you believe I was even awarded as the best costume design of the night? Too bad I wasn't able to show my pictures because I forgot to bring a camera then. But I promise I will take a lot of photos this year so you can take a look at our scary yet happy party.

While I was conceptualizing today on what good costume to wear this year, I stumbled upon Jack's Quest, a contest that is open to everyone of legal age. Join by submitting a video, image or a story of your greatest Halloween adventure. In fact, I just joined the contest and hoping that my entry will be chosen. The lucky one who will be selected as winner gets to have a shopping discount plus other prizes.

Sounds cool huh? Don't be left behind and buy Halloween costumes online or in a Halloween store near you. Go!

Here Comes Goliath, The Giant Pill

Can you imagine taking a health supplement capsule as big as this? I kind of freaked out when I first saw this Amino 2222 pill that I need to take in as a protein supplement since I recently got involved in the gym fad. The first time I took one of these was a nightmare. It got stuck in my throat that all I did was get a big bite of bread, swallow it big time and drink a lot of water.

Goodness it was successful. Another dilemma I have to face every night before I go to sleep. (laughs!)

Please Leave Our House Alone!

Termites are starting to dominate our house and I am getting a little worried that they might munch up everything and lose our home. Argh, I am already paranoid. I can't help it because I always see trails of them. I did some research and found out that the sand-like thing that they produce is some kind of subterranean termite droppings which I learned from a termites guide. Now I'm even studying them!

Nothing to Worry Cuz, We're Safe

I just had a short chat with my cousin who’s living in Chicago. She was kind of worried when she found out that a strong typhoon devastated a lot of homes and establishments in the northern part of the country. I told her that there's nothing to worry about because our town is not badly affected by the bad weather though it reached storm signal 2. That's when she felt calm and assured that we are safe.

By the way, thanks to the free Illinois chat lines that catered our conversation.

She's Six and She Loves to Pose

I have here some photos of my cute niece, Denise Julia. She loves to perform on school presentations and she's ranked first in her class. She likes High School Musical, Hannah Montana and has her own set of make-up. Lady-like huh. :)

My sister Donna and her husband Jonathan with their kids John Daniel and Denise Julia.

Excited for Christmas - Promotional Giveaways Search

The Christmas holiday is just a few days away and I sure am excited for our yearly family reunion plus the exchange gifts, parlor games and a lot of food. Every year, we usually hold family gatherings at grandma's house. I remember last year, I, along with two of my cousins were tasked to decorate the whole house. We arranged the tables and gave them a touch of the season like glitters and colored papers. We also put up a small stage for those who prepared some intermission number.

And also, apart from performances, the highlight of our Christmas reunion is the presentation of gifts. Since we draw lots few days before the party, it always surprises each and everyone as to who will give who. I really can't keep my excitement that is why as early as now, I am already looking for some presents to give away during the party. I am actually searching for promotional giveaways online so I can maximize the number of items that I can buy at the same time, save a lot of money. I have found a lot of great products (check on the link) that I am sure my nephews and nieces will love.

Yuletide season is a time for family and a time of sharing. Though there will be some who are not fortunate enough to even at least have some food on their tables this Christmas, let’s just pray for them that they may find happiness and contentment to what they have. I hope each of us gets to celebrate a good and memorable holiday. And let us not forget to be thankful to the main reason of this celebration for giving us a good life and that we may be blessed with many more fruitful and happy years.

You and Me Together Forever

Just posting some of my photographs that I took when we were in Boracay Island, Philippines.

The Power of Consistency

Last week, I was watching this local TV series about a story where the two main characters portrays as lawyers who are falling in love with each other. But here is the twist: by coincidence, they got involved in the same case, however defending the two sides of the party- one fighting for the defendant and the other for the accused. I kind of realized how difficult it would be for them to handle such case because they will be professionally battling against each other to defend their clients. I wonder how they would deal with each other as normal persons when not in the court room.

Speaking of lawyers and attorneys in the United States, I have known for quite a while Feldman Shepherd law firm that is famous because of their lawyers with astounding expertise and skills in winning cases. The firm itself caters and specializes into all types of areas and scenario from the common to the unusual.

At one point in my life, I also dreamt of becoming a lawyer and in fact, I even got engaged into some debate contests in school. I have high regards to lawyers and I consider them as intellectual individuals. Being a lawyer is really a challenge because you need to have that instant reasoning and ability to defend what you are fighting for.

Stay Fit While Eating Sweets

Staying fit and healthy is not as hard now as compared before in which you need to monitor and limit every food that we eat. We are now in a generation where we can accomplish the things that we long for without sacrificing a little of what we love to do. Now, achieving a slim and slender body does not mean that you can no longer eat chocolates and sweets.

Meal replacement bars that are low in carbohydrates and fats are the answer to you guilt pleasure cravings so that the next time you hit the gym, you get to enjoy eating chocolates as well while running the treadmill.

Ayala's MarQuee Mall Grand Opening Day, Angeles City

The first Ayala Mall in Central Luzon had its grand opening on September 23, 2009. And of course, the JAYtography team was there to witness and critique it as well. As you enter the mall, you can quickly tell the difference of Ayala Malls as compared to any other shopping centers. Ayala never fails to establish magnificently designed malls and definitely are unique-looking from each other. MarQuee's architecture depicts contemporary modern and first-class sculpture. It has these structures as if you are in an architectural arts exhibit because of the unusual slants and curves combined and implemented on its frame and construction. Indeed, a shopping center inside an artwork.

The mall gets a good rating for me and I am sure it will be the newest hub for Kapampangans. I also noticed that it has more signature apparel stores and some are even first here in Pampanga. Shopaholics without a doubt will drool for it as it offers more than 300 stores of the most popular clothing lines, restaurants and recreational spots both serving local and imported services.

I sure am happy for Pampanga because of its booming tourism. I can't imagine that such province can successfully sustain a lot of big malls. Actually, to date, it already has 5 of the 3 most locally popular malls in the Philippines (SM, Robinson's and Ayala): SM Pampanga, Robinson's Starmills, SM Clark, Robinsons Balibago and Ayala's MarQuee Mall. Not to mention other second-rate malls. No doubt the province will be called the "NCR of Central Luzon". It's a "WOW!" Pampanga, I must say.

I have taken some photos inside the mall:

It has a wide area for the event center.

Cinemas are on the 3rd floor.

MarQuee has 3 storeys unlike SM Clark and SM Pampanga.

I love these artistic benches in the waiting areas.

Preparing the Wedding Invites

As with most wedding celebrations, it wouldn't be complete without wedding shower invitations. Having to be well known in the family as the one with the artistic eye, they always request for my second opinion every time someone in our family gets married. However, in today’s technology, it is no longer that hard to get an invitation design as most offers pre-designed and customizable templates online.

One of which I am referring to is 123Print that offers not only the most elegant wedding invites, but also many other special occasion invitation. Let 123Print do the thinking for you to save time and energy.

Photography: This is How I Tell My Story

Photography is my passion and it has been one of my powerful tools I use ing creating my own world and telling my own story. This inspiration comes from taking shots at everything that I see and experience as I go to the journey of life. I always want to capture every wonderful moments in my life so when the time comes that I will just be sitting on my rocking chair, at least I have something to look on and reminisce: the good old days.

I started to engage in this addiction late last year when I bought my Sony Ericsson K810i. Of course, DSLR's are one of my dream cameras and since I'm on a tight budget, I'll stick first on a 3.2MP digicam.

Here are some of my shots from my K810i phone. Hope you'll like them.

Cool Flash Clocks and Calendar Add-ons

Managing a blog is just fun for me because maintaining it feels like I am designing my house or my own room. From the time I started blogging, I have always done improvements and modifications to my blog layout and that included adding widgets and add-ons to my page to make it look more appealing to my readers. Blogger has a lot of gadgets to put on that will represent your blog theme or even your personality.

Some examples of the add-ons that I am referring to are the Flash clocks/calender widgets that come in different themes and designs. What I like about it are the animated images that come along with the clocks and calendars making it lively and attractive. You need not to worry about mismatching it to the theme of your blog because with the 1000 different clocks and calendars available, I am sure you will get that one striking flash design that fits your layout just perfect.

My blog is undergoing yet again another redesigning process. And as soon as I am done with the blog layout, I will surely get one of these flash gadgets for my side bar so I will always be reminded of the time and will not be late on appointments and deadlines.

A Taste of Cafe Mesa at Mimosa, Clark Pampanga

Relish the much-loved, all-time favorite coffee in an elegant European-inspired garden set. Cafe Mesa, with its quiet setting and peaceful ambience, this European style coffee house has really one of the best frappes and desserts here in Pampanga. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate at Clark Freeport zone overlooking Stotsenberg Park and occupies one of the most old barn houses that have been skillfully refurbished with luxurious European furnishings and design. During the night, you can either have a hot coffee or enjoy their best varied cocktails like beer and wine. They also offer weighty meals if you want to fill up.

Considering the elite reflection of the place, the food is not that expensive as compared to other restaurants in Clark. In fact, my Choco Frost frappe costs only PhP 180 (approx. US$ 3.70) plus tax. Adding up to the relaxing ambience is the soulful music that is being played all over the place. So, if you are looking for a spot to chill out for a quiet talk with some friends or a romantic date with someone, this surely is the best place for you. And since it is a WiFi hot zone, you can set up business meetings or group events here while enjoying free wireless internet access.

Cafe mesa is open everyday from as early as 7am to as late as midnight. So if by chance you get to drop by at Mimosa, Cafe Mesa is a must-try.

Cafe Mesa Coffee House
Address: Building 2078, Cardinal Santos Avenue,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines.
Phone Number: (045)499-0694
Email: cafemesa123@yahoo.com.ph
Open from 7AM to 12 midnight (daily)

Choco Frost, Iced Mocha and Black Forest frappes

Steff really loving the photoshoot :D

Steff with Emeelou

An Easy Way to Prepare Muffins

My sister loves to bake cupcakes and muffins and at times I help her in preparing the stuffs she needs. One of her favorites and I must say her specialty is muffins. She makes sure she serves some during dinner on weekends for our family to enjoy. And in fact, just last week, she prepared some chocolate muffins which I loved so much that I even kept some and munched them during my midnight snack. I remember way back then, my sister taught me how to prepare muffins but now, I almost could not recall how to do it step by step.

As I was doing searches online regarding different muffin preparations, I saw Dr. Oetker Shaker easy to prepare baking mix. I have seen on the instructions that all you need to prepare it is milk, water and some shaking. My sister will surely love this new product that I discovered. Actually, I have already sent her the site so she can drool over those tiny and yummy cakes.

With the advancement in Technology and Science today, things are just becoming so easy. With products like these where you can instantly prepare and bake cakes, I am sure, moms will no longer have a hard time dealing with surprise visits from relatives especially if they are bringing their kids with them.

A Wine Treat for Aficionados

Is it your anniversary, wedding, or your birthday and you happen to arrange a special candle light dinner? There is nothing like occasions like these to please your partner and impress not only with our culinary skills, but your sense of organization in every single detail.

And one of things to master is to know what wine to choose that will perfectly go with the dinner you plan to prepare. Well, it all starts with what type of wine are you going serve. The wines, as we know, are not equal and there are some perfect kinds that pairs well (a way of saying it has to look good with a meal, or fit well) with the dishes served.

"When you hurt your leg, you go to the hospital, not a circus." Then when you want to buy wine, then go to a winery or wine by the case. Today there are many choices in your vicinity and due to the popularity of wine, house cellars are sprouting everywhere.

What should we look for when doing a wine test either from the restaurants or from a wine cellar?

Well, this is a protocol that one must always observe as it is not just about the taste, but finding out whether the wine has an unpleasant or too sour/bitter. Nothing more than that. It is a question of feeling that sensation when we drink the wine.

Cheap and Reliable Web Hosting Service

Whether you are an individual that maintains a blog or an entrepreneur that uses a website to market or promote your products or services, it is very important to be educated with SEO or Search Engine Optimization. Everybody is aware of the fact that one of the best ways to advertise is through the Internet.

Depending on your needs and qualifications, there are many different kinds of web hosting available for you. All you have to do is to make an assessment on what really is the section you want to prioritize. Factors like the amount of web space you need, the number of email addresses, the bandwidth required or any specific feature or service you want to have are some of the common things to consider in the selection process.

It important to remember that consulting an expert's advice is another advantage as well. You can actually find a lot of websites that offer reviews and user feedback from different hosting providers.

North Philippines Fashion Week at SM Pampanga

Breathe fashion. This year, SM City Pampanga hosts the first ever North Philippines Fashion Week at its premium event area at The Newest Wing on September 27, 2009. This gathering of clothiers will be the first Fashion Week event outside of Metro Manila. 10 top designers from Manila and the Northern Philippines will converge for the ultimate showcase of arts and craftsmanship as supermodels sashay down the ramp in haute couture and fab street wear.

The show will feature Puey Quinones’ show stopping gowns in flowing organza, silk, and satin couture, clothier Levenson Rodriguez for Rodriguez de Alba Bespoke will highlight the Filipino man’s metro-sexual side with his clean yet funky apparel, Fashion Week regular Kenneth Chua will showcase femininity for his Spring Summer 2010 line, Tina Daniac with her signature funky rock and roll dresses, and Happy Andrada’s signature street wear.

Top billing the roster of local couturiers is Manny Ocampo, dubbed as the designers of the elite in Pampanga- will showcase different silhouettes with his fabric-play topped with his signature beadwork. Fashion Week veteran and high society couturier Manelle Munar-Chamian will feature spectacular gowns in the grandest scale. Homegrown talent and master designer par excellence Marlon Tuazon will showcase what he does best- flamboyant gowns in luxurious fabrics, while Angeles City based couturier Philip Dizon – Torres will step out of his atelier to exhibit his embroidery skills and artistry, as Rosette Biag will highlight the feminine form with her cuts and pattern skills.

Showcasing the best in retail, Mags will highlight their Holiday 2009 and Spring –Summer 2010 Collections. This year’s North Philippines Fashion Week will also be an assemblage of Pampanga’s upper crust, the stylistas, the region’s upper echelons in business and retail and politics. The North Philippines Fashion Week at SM City Pampanga- hailed as the heart of fashion and the soul of style in the region, will definitely be a major event this side of the fashionable Luzon.

For special invites email pacheco.aldrin@gmail.com.