Wednesday, December 29, 2010

* Starbucks Planner 2010


Finally I was able to get my Starbucks planner and claimed it last night December 29, 2010 at Starbucks Northgate Cyberzone, I picked the silver one because the brown one is not available anymore. I checked the planner and I liked it, what I don't like about this year is the planner doesn't have a pen/pencil.

Everytime the year ends I always make sure that I keep my Starbucks planner because it is also like a diary and it's nice to know and look back at the previous months and my activities during those days.

*Photo - Red is just the cover/box of the planner, Gray planner is inside :)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

* UFC 124: GSP vs Koschek II

Sorry for the late post!

Finally after the long wait and after the Finale of the recent Ultimate Fighter where GSP and Koschek was the coaches, GSP and Koschek finally meet in the octagon for the UFC Welterweight Belt. The event was held at Belle Centre in Montrel, Quebec in Canada. Koschek from the start is trash talking GSP and is telling he was a different fighter now than before but GSP proved him wrong and dominating Koschek for five rounds and with GSP's jabs and wrestling winning and defending the UFC Welterweight belt.

Preliminary card

Lightweight bout: Pat Audinwood vs. John Makdessi
Makdessi defeated Audinwood via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26).
Welterweight bout: TJ Grant vs. Ricardo Almeida
Almeida defeated Grant via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Welterweight bout: Matt Riddle vs. Sean Pierson
Pierson defeated Riddle via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Miller vs. Oliveira fight.
Middleweight bout: Jesse Bongfeldt vs. Rafael Natal
Bongfeldt and Natal fought to a majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-29).

Preliminary card (UFC.com live stream)

Lightweight bout: Mark Bocek vs. Dustin Hazelett
Bocek defeated Hazelett via submission (triangle choke) at 2:33 of round 1. This bout aired on the PPV broadcast following the Struve vs. McCorkle fight.
Middleweight bout: Joe Doerksen vs. Dan Miller
Miller defeated Doerksen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Main card

Welterweight bout: Thiago Alves vs. John Howard
Alves defeated Howard via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Lightweight bout: Joe Stevenson vs. Mac Danzig
Danzig defeated Stevenson via KO (punch) at 1:54 of round 1.
Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira
Miller defeated Oliveira via submission (kneebar) at 1:59 of round 1.
Heavyweight bout: Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle
Struve defeated McCorkle via TKO (punches) at 3:55 of round 1.
Welterweight Championship bout: Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Josh Koscheck
St-Pierre defeated Koscheck via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship.

Monday, December 20, 2010

* Starbucks Planner 2010

I started collecting and getting a Starbucks planner 2008 and since then I make it a habbit to get one every year. I started late this year in collecting stickers but I was able to fill my card December 17, 2010 at Starbucks Baguio. I didn't exchanged for a plannner yet and decided to think first about what color would I select.

I don't know what's with the Starbucks planner but it's a must to get for me every year, I can say that my planner is one things that I can't live without because I do right down my schedules and things to do there.

In the photo showing that I already completed the stickers that I need in exchange of the planner.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

* GEMSPI 2010 Annual Town Hall at Marriott Hotel

It's my third time to attend the GEMSPI Annual Town Hall (Christmas Party) and this time I was asked to be one of the official photographers for the event.

The party was held at Marriott Hotel Manila near NAIA Terminal, registration starts 4pm and after the registration giveaways was given to employees. Photo booths are also available for employees who wanted to have souvenirs for the event.

The theme this year was "Latino Nights" to be honest I don't know who suggested that theme but the party is more on dancing. In the past parties there is the Fashion Walk off where selected employees from GE would walk off the stage but this year they removed it and replaced it with "Represent" which is a dance competition event per Portfolio. Another event is also the yearly GEMSPI Idol which is of course a singing contest and this year Sir Ricardo from the Spanish/OVN Portfolio got the votes after singing a very nice Frank Sinatra song.

Food was okay, Beef, Pasta, Fish, Chicken but what I liked is the desserts. The cheesecakes that was served during the party was awesome. Fast service was also provided by the waiters.

* Baguio Trip 2010


Since I do travel and enjoys it, I wanted to do it and experience it with my family. I'm already planning and thinking about this way back but because of our schedules and of course budget I wasn't able to do my plans. Finally I told myself that December (2010) would be the best month for us to go. Around November I already filed my vacation leave for our Baguio trip which is our first family bonding outside the Metro. We left Manila Thursday morning around 12:30am and arrived around 6am at Baguio riding a Victory Liner bus.

It was really cold when we arrive at Baguio and one of our concerns is the hotel reservation. Since it's morning we have decided to walk around and we saw this unique Barrio Fiesta with statues of known persons like former presidents (GMA, FVR and Cory) so we didn't waste our time and took photos there with the statues.

Former President GMA :)

Next was we visit Baguio Cathedral, we prayed for a while. We felt hungry and decided to have breakfast at Zola Cafe located at Session Road, food are great and I've noticed that there's a lot of people drinking beer during that time and they are all working in the nearby call centers. Food was great but it's a Smoking area so that's what's bothering, another good thing is Zola has free WIFI access as well. My Mom and my brother (next to me) stayed at Zola for a bit while me and my youngest brother looked for a hotel. Most of the hotels are full and would cost us 4k-5k for an overnight stay for the family so I decided to check the hotel where I stayed in during the last time I visited Baguio, the hotel's name is Belfrant I guess and it's near University of Baguio and is a little bit far from SM and tourist spots. The room are okay and cost for staying is around 2.3k which is not bad plus free breakfast, so I called my Mom and told her we could stay in that hotel so we went back to Zola picked our stuff and walked to the said hotel but on our way to Bellfrant we saw this hotel at Session Road named "Prime Hotel" and we have decided to check it out and it's better than the one that we found accessible, quality and price wise plus the view was awesome because Session Road can be viewed in the balcony of our room. Good thing about Prime Hotel is we can stay right away and not wait for the check in time which is usually 12nn - 2pm so we are able to rest for a few hours and sleep.

Our first spot for the day was "The Mansion" next was "Wright Park" where there's a lot of vendors of sweet Orange from Sagada.

Mansion

Wright Park

after Wright Park we went to Minesview Park and checked out the view, foods and pasalubongs. We are able to have a photo with a Saint Bernard dog and of course it's not free. I missed the "Inihaw na Pusit" that were sold in Minesview. Our day ended having dinner at SM Baguio and it was so cold during that time. We also checked the night market near our hotel where the items are very cheap.


Day 2 (12.17.10)

We woke up early in the morning and had our breakfast, I can say that the food in the hotel is not that good but anyways our first destination is the Lourdes Grotto. As always it was a very tiring to go up but the view is worth it.

Next stop was Burnham Park where I took photos and we rented a boat. There's a lot of people in park and ukay ukay as well. After the boat ride we went to SM Baguio to have lunch.

Next destination is PMA. We had a lot of photos here and a lot of walking, We saw the new Cadettes who are running around the academy, the old tanks, helicopters and jet planes as well. There's a lot of pine trees and the Academy was really big and it's open for the public.

PMA

Around 5pm we went back to the hotel to eat then rest. Woke up around 8pm and went to SM to shop then had dinner. SM is on sale so there's a lot of people then dropped by to Starbucks and I completed my stickers but didn't redeemed my planner during that time. Went back to the hotel and I took a long exposure shot in the balcony of our hotel room which is the famous road in Baguio "Session Road".

Session Road

Day 13 (12.18.10)

We wake up early because it's our last day in Baguio and we are going home after lunch. We went to the famous strawberry farm and bought some pasalubongs and of course strawberries. Got back in our hotel around 10:30 rest and fixed our stuff then checked out by 12 noon. We had lunch at Chowking then went to the Victory Liner terminal. We are able to ride the bus around 2:30pm and arrived in Cubao around 8pm.

Friday, December 10, 2010

* Meeting Ellen Adarna again :)

After 2 years I was able to meet Ellen Adarna again, thanks to FHM. Ellen Adarna's meet and greet was held at Robinson's Place Galeria Movie World and it's been months or I can say years since I saw the line that long. Everyone wants to meet Ellen Adarna who was before an internet celebrity and now everyone has a chance to talk to her and have a photo with her.

Event should start by 6pm but it started around 6:40pm but it was ok and it's worth the wait, when Ellen came there are I think 6-8 guards and looks like in a police or marine uniform but the good thing is they are not strict this time.

Had my chance and had my latest FHM issue signed and showed Ellen our photo together way back 2008 at Ascend and she was surprised to see it. Thanks FHM and Ellen Adarna for ending my 2010 with a blast, more power and looking forward for your issues next year :)

Thursday, December 9, 2010

* Team Anj Year End Party

It's already December and of course Christmas is all in the mind of everyone. Our team (at work) recently decided to do an early Christmas team party at our friend's house at BF Paranaque. It was celebrated early because our boss is going to India with other supervisors from the company. Everyone is assigned to bring food and mine was pork barbecue.

Another nice about the party is most of my team mates just like me is into Korean music (K-pop) so we agreed to buy this shirt at Giordano with "Annyeong Haseyo" printed in the front of the shirt.

The party was suppose to start by 8:30am because my boss is leaving by 12pm, some of my team mates had a shift before the party so most of them are still sleepless. When I arrived everyone is preparing the food and gifts for the monito/monita are already ready as well. The first activity was the exchange gift, my gift are blank DVD's and I'm glad my team mate liked it. I got a Paolo Coehelo book and I was happy about it. After the exchange gift is a dance performance by the girls in our group (Spice Girls) then of course eating the food and last would be the games and drinking session.

Everyone had fun and some left early because they still have work at night.

* Bumper to Bumper VI

This would be my first time to attend a Bumper to Bumper event. Recently I am back again with events and conventions, especially car events. The venue for the current B2B event is at The Fort, I arrived around 3pm and there's a lot of modified cars in the area.

I waited for my friends and they arrived around 3:30pm and we started taking photos of the cars and the models. Almost 100+ cars are displayed and of course a lot of people taking photos and checking out the cars and the models.

Saw Mr. Paeng Nepumoceno (Legend in Bowling) as well in the event and had a photo with him. I wasn't able to wait for the "Search for Miss B2B" because I still have work at night so after taking photos I left right away.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

* FHM December 2010 with Ellen Adarna

It was an early Christmas gift for FHM fans for their current issue. Ellen Adarna is the cover girl for FHM this month with Xander Angeles for the photos.

Almost everyone knows Ellen Adarna from being an online celebrity through her friendster then to fame, her photos are all over the net and mobile phones. Ellen Adarna is now in showbiz appearing in different shows in GMA 7 including Bubble Gang. I was lucky to met her 2008 at an event held at Ascend and she was really nice.

The Latest FHM issue is very classy and surprises it's readers (as always) with it's contents, for the current issue they featured the Premiere Vixen winners Karen Bordador, Christine Marquez and Paulene So, they also featured the Eye Candies led by Nestle Garcia. Former Mocha member Grace Oracion is also featured and more.

FHM is getting better and better and looking forward for the next issue and of course the event for this month's issue.