Woot! New Blogger Tag Award (Whatchamacallit???)

On April 30, 2009

I got this from Chax and David. Thank you so much, guys!

Now, the rules:

1. Take your award here
2. Put the logo on your post
3. Link the person who awarded you
4. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
5. Add links to those blogs on yours
6. Leave a messages for your nominees on their blog

Now I am passing this award to my lovely blogger friends who are in my links list!
Have a great day, everyone!

Iced Gems

Who wouldn't love these yummy treats? Iced Gems are mini biscuits with colorful icings that kids and kids at heart will surely enjoy! There's fun in every bite.

I think it was 1991 when I had my first taste of Iced Gems and I still enjoy these little sugar-dropped biscuits until now. The packaging says "Copyright 1985" so my guess is these guys have been around for a while even before I knew they existed. These has been a favorite and next are the animal crackers.

Packaging has changed, as well as the biscuits. As far as I can remember, in a batch of Iced Gems some of the old biscuits are a little toasted than the others, but not to the point that they taste burnt. I can remember that it always adds to the flavor, complimenting the sweet icing. Now, the batch I got are all baked the same which isn't a bad indicator at all.

The texture is always a plus. I love to crack the round biscuit first before I let the icing melt in my mouth. It takes me back to the days when all I cared about is how to get away when my Mom or Grandma will force me to an afternoon nap when all I wanted was to play outside!

A Book Launched for Responsible Pet Ownership

On April 27, 2009

Mr. Lumbao, believing in the power of education.

The launching of Mr. Onayd Lumbao's book "Nananaginip Ba Ang Aso" yesterday at Boni High Street was a success. He tackled some of the book's intriguing questions about our favorite household pet, and it brings so much delight for an advocate like me to hear it from the author himself.

Are there gay dogs? Can dogs count? Why does a dog roll on the floor after a bath? Can you really not teach old dogs new tricks? Are just some of the questions answered in the book based on factual, scientific, yet enjoyable and heartwarming approach.

Mr. Lumbao is also the author of the book "Mag Aso Ay 'Di Biro". He is a dog trainer and behaviorist for 14 years. Truly a "Dog Trainer for the Masses", focusing on educating Filipinos about the often neglected native dog, popularly known as "Bantay".

My autographed copy!

Buy a book and help educate people. Proceeds of this book will benefit the Animal Welfare Coalition of the Philippines.

Rohan Blood Feud Assassin

On April 23, 2009

Video provided by video.mmosite.com

Above is short video showing my character of choice in Rohan Philippines - a female assassin. Rohan Blood Feud is an online role playing game developed by YNK Korea, and published by Level Up Games here in the Philippines. I tried an Elf and then a Human in Silva server but now I'm currently developing an STR-based Assassin to be an Avenger by level 50. My friends and I are now in Akhma server since Silva is always full and most of the time, we can't get in! Unlike Perfect World, Rohan has very low server capacity hence having five different servers already after only a few weeks since open beta.

I chose and will stick to an STR Assassin. Have you seen the vid? Sleek, isn't it? Our female assassin friend started out silent, moved as sleek as possible, and finished it off as simple as that. Among all the characters I've tried in Rohan, I feel being an assassin a whole lot better and I don't get bored with its looks, moves, and skills.

Rohan gave birth to a new word "Systemholic" which refers to fun and original elements of the game that have been implemented in the system whereas players can commit and even take revenge on other users through the formation of inter-user relationships which reflects on real world elements to the game and thus creates more depth in the game than the common level-up games. (Definition from MMOsite.com)

How about you? If you could be a fantasy game character, what would you be and why? What skills would you like to possess? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Related post: "All Work No Play? No Way!"

Do Dogs Dream?

April is "Mixed Breed" month. Come and join us on Sunday (April 26, 2009) at Hobbes and Landes, Bonifacio High Street for the launch of Mr. Onayd Lumbao's Book entitled "Nananaginip ba ang Aso?" (Do Dogs Dream?) at 2:30 PM.

Get to meet and greet the author himself as he tackles issues and trivias about caring for your dogs. Then gear yourself up for another fun filled series of Pet Club's "World of Mixes" at 3 PM.

Mr. Onayd Lumbao, a dog behaviorist of 14 years is donating the proceeds of this book to Animal Kingdom Foundation with the hope of "…reaching out to more Filipinos and saving more dogs!".

See you there!

A Surprise Cupcake Party

On April 21, 2009

Last week was Ardel's birthday so my friends and I surprised him with "The Simpsons" cupcake party at work.

The fun part is the plan was successful! He didn't have a hint about any special gift from me or his teammates. These super moist and flavorful cupcakes were ordered from Thea and Melissa, they did a great job shaping white chocolate into Simpsons' family for toppers! Sooo yummy!

You may check out their online store themecupcakes.multiply.com, and also, here's their flickr page. There you'll see our Simpsons' cuppycakes better!

In Black and White

On April 20, 2009

Now this captured blog tag is special, from David Funk. Here is the rule in doing the tag:

Copy the quotes above from start to end.
Replace the photograph with your own or your loved ones' Black and White captured moments that you want to cherish for the rest of your life.

"A good snapshot stops a moment from running away."

"When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!" -Ted Grant

Now here's my black and white photo that I will surely treasure forever. With the real "Soulja Boys", my grandfathers Paquito, 85 years old (left) and Ricardo 80 years old (right).

Grandpa Paquito is a former Guerilla turned Philippine Army Soldier turned US Army soldier. A world war II veteran. He has a bullet in his left underarm which has been untouched because at the time, the doctors said he will risk a lot if they try to take the bullet off.

My Grandpa Ricardo used to run errands for the Japanese soldiers when he was only 7 years old. The Japanese were nice to him because they never harmed him. In return, they give him fruits and vegetables for helping them.

If there is one thing I enjoy the most when I was a child and until now, that is listening to my grandparents' stories of their lives. They take me back in time, the days I never saw. Their adventures during the second world war, how they studied while earning a living, how they met their lifetime partners, and how our family grew. The simplicity of their generation is always a refreshing reminder that life is beautiful. I'm so lucky to hear from them and I would love to have their stories with me forever.

And now, I am passing this activity to all of my friends in my friends' links! Have a great day!

More Blog Awards

From David Funk, Meryl, Josh, & Clarissa:

"Kawaii Blog Award" for having a cute blog spreading cuteness around!

"Queen Marie Antoinette Award" for being the epitome of a real, fun, fearless woman who is never afraid of getting what she wants.

"Best Blogger Award" for being one of the best there is!

These awards for the friendship this blog has to offer!

And the International Bloggers Community Award:

Now I'm passing this unto all of my blogger friends listed in my FRIEND'S LINKS!!! They are:

Now start working, folks!!! Wahahahaha!!!

The Warning

On April 15, 2009
This pink sign is a mimicry of the funny yet straightforward MMDA signage along EDSA (Philippines). It reads "Do not aggravate Stacey, it's deadly" from the original MMDA's "Do not cross, it's deadly" - or something to that effect.

Just a week ago, my friend was joking about my possibility of having hypertensive heart disease since I have some of the symptoms. She knows I've been experiencing fatigue, weakness, palpitation, and shortness of breath - especially under stressful circumstances. No normal person would like to think that he or she has a disease! I know I've just been too much stressed, that's it. I also don't have a high blood pressure and in fact, I often have low blood pressure so that's one key factor to prove I don't have a hypertensive heart.

So she jokes "You should have a warning sign somewhere, you know, like that of MMDA's. Then no one will stress you out." then we burst into laughter. So without really being serious, I placed this silly badge in my blog a week ago.

I didn't really expect that there are people who will be offended by this until yesterday, they see it as a harsh and nasty thing, which was taken against me. So it's kind of sad that just because of things like this, some will think of you negatively when you don't mean any harm to begin with. I hope you see now what it meant for me (and my funny friend).

If anyone thinks I can rip off someone's head, now that's even funnier. You're jumping into conclusions. My friend said being too much stressed maybe "deadly" for me and that's the point of this silly warning. I hope everything is cool.

Now on to our lives, ta-ta!

San Fabian Pangasinan's Boating World

On April 10, 2009

My family went to San Fabian Pangasinan's Amianan Boating World last April 9 for an overnight stay. Looking at the map, this body of water is the Lingayen Gulf extending to the South China Sea. This beach resort is a family-friendly place away from the city and being here during a Philippine holiday, I expected the resort to be seriously populated. However, it never seemed crowded in this stretch of the long shoreline.

Outside the house, there's a place for grilling and two swimming pools. By the beach you may rent a "banca", go for a banana boat ride, or jet ski. I'd like to share some of the pictures which I think I decently captured (except for the last photo) with only a small Canon Ixus70. The camera was set to vivid colors and aside from the watermark (for copyright purpose), I didn't have to retouch these photos in photoshop.

But oh, I don't think it's the camera. I think it simply is God's stunning work of art; nature's beauty that He gave us to cherish. Thanks be to God.

With my little sister.