Free Samples

What is the next happy thing to do when grocery shopping?

It's getting to try out the FREE SAMPLES!

Once we were in this big grocery one fine Sunday afternoon. A lot of the merchandises were being sampled off in those little sampling booths. We have not had lunch yet, but trying out the samples were enought to fill our tummies.

How effective are the free samples? I honestly do not know. From my perspective, people flock to them because, well, they're free! And free stuff gets people going.

Do their sales increase after a whole day of product sampling? Probably it helps as the shoppers are forced to notice the product.

A while ago while doing our groceries, a mayonnaise company was trying to get in the season by informing shoppers how to make the perfect macaroni salad for the holidays. There were recipe cards on her table. But I think the others were just interested in the free macaroni salad.

Me included. Oops. Haha.

Can't Fight This Feeling

I can't remove this song from my head. The title is so apt. I love Glee!!! Finn's rendition is the best!!!

And here's another favorite--a Finn and Rachel duo.

Why do the people I know not watch Glee?

When I am in school, sometimes I just imagine someone bursting into song and me completing it.

I was in Ateneo today for a special GBF-CSP Intro To China class. I was looking at the corriders and thought, now that is a perfect venue to simply burst into song.

SPACE Beyond Luxury

There is a new magazine in town, and it's called SPACE.

Check out their PREMIER issue with renowned hotelier Raffles on the cover. Chic and polished.

My byline is there too! Find out more @ http://www.spacebeyondluxury.com/.

The Alchemist & Veronika Decides To Die

First of all, "The Alchemist" is a very ok-ok-so-so book. I borrowed it from a friend who said "The Alchemist" is life-changing.

Did it change my life? Ummm...no. So probably that is why I felt it was ok-ok-so-so. In fairness, he was right when he leveled it with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famous novella "The Little Prince".

Like "The Alchemist", "Veronika Decides To Die" is a novel by Paulo Coelho. Both of the books have philosophical tones in them. So they were not the easiest books to read to say the least. The story is simple, yet the pages talk of hard stuff like paths and insanity.

Surprisingly though, I kind of related a bit to Veronika in the latter part of the book. Gasp. I must be insane too.

Seriously, "Veronika Decides To Die" is not really an isolated case of a woman who falls into depression. "Collected madness is sanity," the book says. And I could not agree more.

Have you thought that maybe what you are seeing is not really what other people are seeing? Or are we in some collected hallucination of some sorts?

Metropost: Elizabeth Saddi

Elizabeth Saddi is one hot (and very down-to-earth!) designer--adjectives that do not seem to go together but actually give a clear picture of who Elizabeth Saddi is.

I had the pleasure of interviewing her for Metropost's July-Sept 2009 issue.

[Looks at calendar.]

Oh, it's December already! But what the heck, her designs are timeless nevertheless.

Chinese Media Entranced By Beautiful Girl In Red And Black

Off-the-wall, “weird” news” keep popping up in the papers. Does this confirm the Chinese media lacking “in-depth” news due to them being politically sensitive?

A Review On The Movie "2012"

Now I really do not believe the critics. They said "2012" is not so good and full of nonsensical crap. Well, I beg to disagree, people.

"2012" is one of the movies that one should really watch on the big screen. If not, how else are you going to feel the "It's the end of the world! Repent! Repent!" and all that jazz? I can just imagine watching it on a puny laptop screen, and the ka-blooeys and ka-blams would not be as theatrically fantastic.

At first, I dreaded the movie. The whole story sounds so boring and out-of-this-world. [No pun intened there, seriously.] Actually, "2012" leans more on the over-the-top effects. But it is believable once you watch it in the cinemas.

There is a mixture of action, color splashes, and tear-jerking moments in the film. I love how the personal stories connect with one another. And the humor is not trying hard. Yup, there is still laughter even if the world is falling apart.

On the downside, I do not think I would have the same wow reaction if I watch "2012" the second time around. I now know how everything is going to end. The thrill would be gone by then. I admit, I held my breath a good majority of the running time. It was that adrenaline-pumping.

Lesson learned: Don't believe everything you hear. And John Cusack is really good in suspense films. Try "Identity".

On "Tribute To A Typewriter"

I just read Butch Dalisay's "Tribute To A Typewriter", and I just love it!

When did I really feel for an object like that? Probably what I have for my dear laptop right now. Or my old angel-bear notebook that Mum gave me when I was in early grade school. I practically begged her to buy me that notebook which I can not find now. Sad.

In it should have been the novel of the century.

Pacquaio Wins Versus Cotto (Thank Goodness!)

Pacman won! Yay!

On my part, it was kind of a relief. Because IF he had lost, it could be quite embarrassing. Having won successive games, it would be a shame if he lost to a Cotto (whom I heard is a really big guy).

After hearing that he won, my mum and I went grocery shopping. Guess when we arrived, everyone was glued to the television! As good citizens, we did not announce Pacman's victory of course. That's what happens with delayed telecasts.

Mum helped me with my Kris Kringle at school. She is the coolest and funniest mother! I can not wait to see the reaction of my "baby" when it comes to gift-opening time. Let's just say...ummm...the items are not your ordinary gifts. Hehehe...

They say when the Pacman is on a boxing match, the crime rate significantly lowers down. Well, that's the Pacman magic. Onli in da Philippines!

Patient X Is So Overrated

Patient X is a disappointment!!! A waste of our PhP22.00. Oh, well. With all due fairness to Yam, the cinematography and music is fantastic.


But the story lacks the remote X factor.

Richard plays Lucas, a doctor in a barrio who fights the crazy, typical vampires. You know, the one who huffs and puffs and the does the wacky shoulder ups and downs. [Channeling Dion Ignacio.]

Cristine is Patient X. [Duh.]

It was still fun watching the movie. Ok, I just laughed while the film was rolling. It is not at all scary!!!

The story is not so good. After Yam's "Sigaw", I expected a whole lot more. The only plus side probably is that (for red-blooded males) Cristine looked fresh (though not believable) as a vampire.

And they really had to expose her legs.

Seriously, everything about Patient X (the movie) is not believable. The hospital is run down. I personally would not want to be confined inside. The police were too sipsip.

What really bothered me was the story. It could have been better developed. And oh yeah, the insinuated attraction between Richard and Cristine? Ewww...

One, she is a monster.
Two, she is his nanny for goodness' sake.

Let's keep the distance, people.