Thursday, December 27, 2012

Best Jump Shot Ever!

That's D4 and D2 clowning around on Christmas Day. My girls and I are keen on jump shots since you'll never know how a picture will turn out. D3, armed with her Canon something-something, took the shot!. Perfect! Even the facial expressions of the girls said a ton. Great shot D3!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 08:41:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Employment is still an issue all around the world. Yes, there are jobs available but compensation is not adequate. The number one thriving profession today is IT related. In some countries, world-class entertainers are in demand. The medical field seem to be steady but again, a doctor's earning is largely dependent on his practice. If you are looking for a good-paying job with the included perk of travel,  then you should consider
 cruiseline jobs here and now! A cruise ship takes a lot of people to "run". Exclusive of the actual running of a ship, a cruise ship needs people in the food, entertainment, health and fitness, counseling, business industries to operate. Check out the link
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 08:32:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Hubby's side of the family gathered on December 24 for an informal Christmas dinner. It was potluck with some not bothering to bring their share. Anyway,  my girls requested the date since we were homebound to Taytay the following day. I was supposed to post this picture in time for Christmas cheers but, I forgot! Anyway, here's hoping your Christmas was wonderful and meaningful.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 08:20:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
The goal of the Praise and Worship Team is to upgrade the microphones and speakers they use. The microphones all have the tendency to drop audio at the most inconvenient time. The head of the Worship Team said that the microphones are more than 5 years old while the speakers are close to 10 years old. Hello? The time is ripe for new audio aids! In connection,  I suggested that we should also get a
digital recorder. This will provide not only superior sound but a longer recording time. Audio file transfer to a PC or laptop through PC connection or USB is quick and file management highly convenient. The LCD screen is bigger with a longer-lasting battery life. Great!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 08:08:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Someone was nice enough to send me a box of luxury chocolate. I had no idea what a Patchi is until I received one. When D1 saw the box, she said that it's an expensive box of chocolate costing thousands of pesos. Well, hello? Now, I can't eat this chocolate! I'd be thinking how dear it is every time I take a bite.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 07:14:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
A cousin who has been living in San Francisco, California, decided to come back home to Manila for good. She and her hubby, packed and shipped all their belongings to Manila as they have bought  a condominium unit in the heart of Ortigas Center. They sold their condo located along 12 Street near a San Francisco drug treatment center . It was an easy decision to make as they don't have kids to consider. Cousin and her hubby are now quite occupied with the new condo unit. I think they'll be moving in their new "home" this January.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 07:04:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
The lobby of Makati Medical Center was akin to a 5-star hotel lobby. 
It was fully decked with glittering Christmas balls, twigs, stars and lighted paper chandelier.

Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 06:41:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
The best bed mattress is probably a memory foam mattress. Instead of an unyielding or soggy bed mattress, a memory foam mattress will mold to one's body contours for ultimate support. The only problem is that this type of mattress is quite expensive. A great alternative is a memory foam topper. This is a mattress topper that will mold to one's body contour for optimum neck, shoulders, back and leg support. The even distribution of weight on the mattress topper will eliminate pressure points for better circulation. It's very affordable too.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/27/2012 06:22:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Doesn't Tabby look like Dora? Hmm.... delicioso!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 11:54:00 PM 1 comment READ FULL POST
It took me a couple of minute to turn on the ACU in my bedroom. The remote control's two AA battery has run their course, so to speak. I had to take out the batteries, blow, shake and beg at them (for a last hurrah) before putting them back again in the remote control. It worked!  I have AAA rechargeable batteries, remnants of my son'd remote control car days. I think I need to get a best selection of powerex AA batteries for the house. Just a few minutes ago, Ethan was also in need of one AA battery for his alarm clock and I have nothing to give him.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 11:43:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Musical Chair With a Twist!                 





Hubby's family company held its annual Christmas party on December 21. My girls took care of all the details of the party.  They were the ones who bought gifts for game prizes. D2 was the emcee. She thought of doing musical chair where the participants jump into another person for chair. Fun!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 11:30:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
D4 has transferred company. She bid bye-bye to her old "employer" as she needs to "grow" in terms of experience and salary (but of course). Her new office is still located in the heart of Makati CBD. From her new office building, she can see  her old office building. I didn't even know that she was applying in another company. I came to know about her job hunting when she had to take an exam as part of a pre-employment screening protocol. Well, I sincerely hope that D4 will "grow" positively in all aspects in her new job.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 11:18:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
I was not very enthusiastic about Christmas shopping. Over the years, I've lost the energy and enthusiasm to shop. There's just too much people doing their last minute shopping. What do you know? SM Malls decided to extend their store hours to midnight. Great! Here I was at the parking lot at 12:05 a.m.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 11:02:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
My mother-in-law has been semi-confined to a wheel chair for quite sometime now. She undergoes physical therapy 3 times a week and I am confounded as to why she refuses to walk using a cane! She is gaining weight due to her immobility. I read that a roll about could aid her with walking. It's a sort of a one-leg scooter that could her get mobile. I think it's for rent for those with a temporary need for it. However, it is also for sale for those with a more permanent need for a knee walker. I wonder how much it costs.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 02:03:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST



Philippine Christmas celebration is steeped with traditions and one of these is the Simbang Gabi which literally means Night Church and is held from December 16 to 24. There are religious denominations that observe this tradition by holding church services at the crack of dawn, while there are other religious denominations that hold their church services at night. My church does the latter. For nine days different organizations in the church "host" the services. I brought Tabby along when the host was the church's mission extension. As the children sang, Tabby went up to them and observed them at close range.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 01:46:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Shopping  for hats is not an easy task. Ethan has a couple of short pit hats but refuses to wear one. He says it "gets in the way", whatever that means. My son has a handful of bonnets that I don't really like as wearing one reminds me of hip-hoppers that are too insensitive to Philippine heat even in the supposedly cooler month of December. . Shopping for a hat became mandatory as it was the "theme" for a Christmas exchange gift. The choices are quite limited but I was drawn to the Western Hats rack in the hat section. Not that I planned on buying one but those hats reminded me my son's 7th birthday. It was a cowboy themed party with my son in full cowboy regalia. Those were the days.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 01:27:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
My mother stayed with us for Christmas. She is nearing 80 but is still quite agile, thank God!. She is quite an accomplished cook and my kids just love her cooking. There's nothing more delicious than a meal cooked by grandma! She went with me to the grocery and bought the ingredients for her famous "lauya". It is a sort of a beef stew seasoned by star anise and cinnamon bark. It is not for every taste bud, but for my kids (and me and hubby), lauya is an unforgotten experience. 
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 01:18:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
I'd like to think that I'm quite creative in wrapping presents. I buy all types of  wrapping papers, bottles, jars, box, ribbons and whatnots for inexpensive, creative and nice gift presentations. This year, my daughters thought of gifting their friends and relatives with home made bath salts. For containers, we sourced for ceramic jars and bottles to contain the bath salts. It would have been great if we had the resources to attach name plates on each jar, but  since we can't,  we had to content ourselves with gift cards. Yes, we do accept customized orders!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 01:10:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Christmas time is always a "crazy" time for me. There's just too much to do! There's the usual everyday things that I do, plus additional time to spend on figuring out what to give who and who that "who" is! My gift list has certainly shrunk over the years. The little kids that used to populate my gift list are no longer "little". Some of the adults in my gift list do not figure in my life anymore. However, there are some people I added to my gift list. Figuring out  my budget is another thing. It is a good thing that most of my "giftees" believe that "It's the thought that counts and not the price."
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/26/2012 11:18:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

D3 and I were busy doing some shopping yesterday. I really had no intention of doing some rushed shopping but hey! The season sort of :"compels' one to shop! There's just no way going around that fact. D3 bought some cute ceramic jars which she intends on filling up with scrub salt. I bought some vacuum cups as gifts to coffee-drinking friends. I had to rummage through a pile of gift tags in search of the right ones. Where have all the gift tags gone? I might as well opted to print brochures from printingamerica.com in my failure to find Christmas tags!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/18/2012 02:38:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Sunday, December 16, 2012


Today is December 16. It is D2's birthday! It is also the 49th anniversary of Church by the Highway. It is also the start of the Philippine Christmas tradition of  Midnight church service, which is 9 nights or dawn church services. I am still awake as I've just finished preparing the food for the church lunch potluck. I am also waiting for D1 and D2 to get home for they each attended a Christmas party. Nine more days to Christmas! Remember.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Posted by desperateblogger On 12/16/2012 02:03:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
Considering my age, I am not actually vain with how I look. Though I don't have that supple and wrinkle-free complexion anymore, I don't obsess about it. I have a few facial creams and moisturizers that I use. Oh, they are not those uber expensive ones that promise a wrinkle-free face in two weeks. I just  use those very affordable creams that keep me wondering why I bear with them anyway.  

I 've been switching to organic products such as citronella to ward-off mosquitoes, shampoo and deodorant. I think I'd try and buy Dr Hauschka for quality organic skin products- day creams, toner, facial masks, moisturizers and even lip balms. Wish list?
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/16/2012 01:19:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
I knew I should have ordered those address labels! I have only a few left and I need a bunch right now! I don't actually use the labels for letters via slow mail.  I use them  to label my books! Clever, right?  I got this ideas years ago, when I had to manually write my children's name and addresses on each and every notebook and book. Gosh! That was a lot as I have five kids! Well, they are not little kids anymore but they still use address labels for their books. Oh well. I guess I just have to drop by the shop to order 50 pieces.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/16/2012 12:29:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST

Saturday, December 15, 2012

It's 9 days before Christmas and I have not done any Christmas shopping! The thing is, I really don't have the inclination to buy gifts! The kids are all grown up. I no longer have a long list of  nieces, nephews and godchildren to buy gifts for, though I have Ethan and Tabby to consider. Do I really need to buy gifts? Wouldn't it be better if I just say a prayer and release blessings on my friends and family. The truth is, I always include family and friends in my prayer. I also bless them in Jesus' name. It does not have to be Christmas to  for me to do this. As far as I know, it's Christmas everyday!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/15/2012 09:10:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
D3 needs to have her own dental clinic here in our city. She is handling numerous dental clinics but under a corporation. Being both a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist, she would thrive well on her own. She is currently sourcing for dental chairs and equipment. She has a list and it is quite extensive. She does not need lab ovens though. I wonder how much it will cost to out up a real nice dental clinic with state-of-the-art equipment.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/15/2012 09:02:00 PM 1 comment READ FULL POST
I helped D2 with some props she needed for a school musical. Ever the creative "genius", I took the task of making a "piano". Armed with a cutter and pencil, I decided to use a styrpore for the piano. I took to black latex paint instead of poster color to prevent possible fading. It's hard to cut-out a piano, more so if I have no pattern to follow. It's even harder to compress two octaves in my less than 2 feet in length piano. I wanted to print Technics or Yamaha in my piano but D2 said  "Mom! Really. No one would see the brand!" Here's me, "playing" my octave and a half styropore piano.

Posted by desperateblogger On 12/15/2012 08:16:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
My garden has not really recovered yet from the devastating floods that hit our place in August and September this year. The top soil has eroded. The grass are balding and not that green. The hasta plants need plenty of tender-loving-care. The vines on the mango trees look like they are hanging on for dear life! I had the inclination to do a bit of gardening this afternoon then stopped when I saw the sorrier state of the garden hose. It's all twisted and breaking into pieces. Seriously, could I possibly opt for a stainless steel flexible hose?
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/15/2012 08:04:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST


Manila (December, 2012) – An art exhibit and music fest fundraiser for Save Philippine Seas’ Pawikan Watchers program opens on January 19, 2013 at the Conspiracy Garden Café, Quezon City.

EndDanger, which features mixed media artworks from the group Artists for Nature and performances from Flying Ipis, Extrapolation, and Peso Movement, calls attention to the growing problem of animal endangerment in the Philippines and encourages the community to get involved in conservation and protection efforts.

Although gifted with a rich and biologically diverse ecosystem, from lush forests to a vibrant marine life, our country’s natural resources have significantly dwindled over time. Animal species, in particular, are under increasing threat from habitat destruction, pollution and commercial exploitation. Many are now in the verge of extinction.

The artists and organizers behind EndDanger seek to raise funds for the monitoring of one of the Philippines’ most threatened species, the pawikan. All proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will go to the Pawikan Watchers training program, which Save Philippine Seas (SPS)—an independent movement that fights abuse of our aquatic resources through legal discourse and social media—launched in cooperation with Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).

Pawikan Watchers aims to educate volunteers from different parts of the Philippines on the ecology and biology of, and PAWB-approved guidelines for, handling sea turtles. Apart from raising funds, Artists for Nature sees the exhibit as an opportunity to broaden public awareness of the urgent need to preserve our wildlife.

EndDanger is sponsored by Numa the Organic & Eco Baby Store, Ministry of Mushrooms, and Holy Carabao Holistic Farms, and is in partnership with WhenInManila.com, Clean Up Philippines, Eco-Sys Foundation, Green Fins, Society for Sustainable Tourism and Development, Inc., Sea News Network, Butanding Network, UP Green League and Earth UST.
The art exhibit runs up to February 8, 2013. Conspiracy Garden Café is located at 59 Visayas Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City.

For opening night tickets or more information, please contact Wendi Garcia at +639162742859 or artistsfornature@gmail.com. Like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/artistsfornature and follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/artists4nature for updates.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/15/2012 07:53:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Friday, December 14, 2012

Christmas lists are so overrated! As early as September, I have been aware of close friends and family making their lists (and probably checking them thrice!) Matter of fact, my FB page is flooded with "all I want for Christmas is ..." and so on. Even Ethan has his wish list. His number one wish is an X-box, followed by a more practical backpack for his school stuff. I'd probably  go for the more practical and affordable backpack. Me? Well, I definitely would not mind one of those uber nice michael kors watches.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/14/2012 07:20:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

That's me and Risa, laboring on "glittering" our Christmas angels. This year, the church decoration is simple. No more a thousand and one twinkling lights snaking through a thousand miles plastic pine leaves. Just two trumpeting styropore angels heralding the birth of Jesus Christ. The decoration is done. I'll take some pictures and post them here soon.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/11/2012 07:51:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Our church is in serious need of  portable multitrack recorder. Our old unit is not as effective anymore. The recording produced is not as clear. The children's choir recorded some Christmas songs. The live performance was quite impressive. However, the recorded songs were a bit scratchy, if you know what I mean.The person in charge of the audio-video booth is considering to replace the old multitrack recorder with a tascam dr680. This portable 8-track recorder is best since we could bring it on location. It's now pegged at $600. Not bad huh?

Posted by desperateblogger On 12/11/2012 07:33:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Christmas is just around the corner. There are those who are busy shopping for Christmas gifts. Most companies are  holding their Christmas parties. Students can't wait for the Christmas break. Children of all ages are excited to receive their Christmas presents. In the midst of all these seemingly stirring activities this Yuletide, let us not forget that there are people who are suffering. This Christmas, let us utter a prayer for those who are in need. God's favors and blessings on them. Amen!
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/11/2012 06:57:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Monday, December 10, 2012

Tabby will be a flower girl this coming January  to D4's former officemate.How excited are we? Very! We all have the inkling that this turbo of a toddler will run back and forth the aisle! The wedding's color motif is teal! Wow! Seriously, just what shade is teal? Is it blue that's a bit greener or green that's a bit bluer? What shoe color will Tabby wear? Silver? Anyway, D4 said she has seen the wedding ring sets and they are in silver. Yep! Better buy that sparkly silver shoes for Tabby girl.
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/10/2012 10:54:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
Pacquiao on the floor as Marquez looks on



Marquez KOs Pacquiao! That punch could very well be "the" punch of the year! Based on the judges' scoring, Pacquiao was ahead of Marquez in landing punches. However, close to the end of the 6th round, Pacquiao missed a right-hand punch which became Marquez's opening to land a solid wallop on Pacquiao's jaw. It was lights out for the Pinoy boxer amidst the roar of the pro-Marquez camp. The Filipinos were stunned! The undefeated champ was out cold. Manny Pacquiao lost!

There were Filipinos who made fun of Pacquiao's "planking" pose as he laid unconscious on the ring's floor. There were Filipinos who attributed Pacquiao's lost to his renewed relationship with Christ (thus Manny's doing away with his rosary and gesturing the sign of the cross). There were Filipinos who were angered by Pacquiao's lost as they themselves probably lost money on their bet.

How short is a Pinoy's memory? Very short. Have you (yes you!) forgotten the glory and honor that Manny Pacquiao brought to the Philippines? Have you forgotten the humanitarian deeds that Pacquiao has been doing? True, Manny is not perfect. He has erred countless times, just like you and me.  But he has been justified by Christ's death and is well on the path mandated  by God. 

 I am not a fan of Manny Pacquiao  in the strictest sense but I do respect and admire him,  more so when I read his biography. Who amongst you have rose from the slums of Sarangani and went on to be an 8-division world champion and the second highest paid athlete? Not me! Not you! How dare anyone who condemns Pacquiao for committing himself to Christ! I have news for you and your bigoted opinions. God has a perfect plan for Manny Pacquiao. If Pacquaio continues his journey with Christ, He will lead the way for Manny Pacquiao. God bless you Manny!

 (photo courtesy of Suntimes)
Posted by desperateblogger On 12/10/2012 10:21:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST

Friday, November 30, 2012

Did you know that cigars need to be stored in a box or room with constant humidity to keep its freshness? Yes, humidors for cigars is necessary to preserve the cigar's taste. In the days of old, humidors were cedar boxes as this particular wood absorbs more moisture. Modern desk humidors are still made from cedar wood and include a humidifier and hygrometer. Cool huh?
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/30/2012 04:36:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
D2's bestfriend finally tied the knot with her boyfriend of 7 years. She chose a Filipiniana theme and a beige color motif for the whole entourage.. She wore a beautiful  pina  gown in a modern Maria Clara style. The mother of the bride wore an ecru terno which  made her look regal. The wedding service was beautiful, made more so with the couple's vows. Congratulations and Best Wishes Janus and Welly!
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/30/2012 04:08:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
I have been so occupied with "life" for the past year that I have neglected my backyard garden. I took a good look at it the other day and I noticed that most of the plants are overgrown. The grass needs to be reseeded. The mango tree's top had to be cut. The climbers have "climbed" over the neighbor's roof and the small pond is filled with tadpoles! Can I possibly spruce up the garden before Christmas? And while I'm at it, would a thinking man statue near the pond bode well? Whatever, I seriously have to tend to my garden.
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/30/2012 03:40:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
I helped D2 with some props for the school's up and coming musical play. I was tasked to do a "piano". Equipped with a styropore board, a cutter, white glue, black latex paint and some barbecue sticks that I used as pegs, I made a one-and-a-half octave piano! Here's me, trying  the "piano" for size. Sounds a bit scratchy.
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/30/2012 03:27:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Friday, November 23, 2012

In view of our coming church anniversary and Yuletide Season, we have decided to spruce up the church by repainting its interior and exterior. The colors chosen were in shades of cream, sandy beige, mahogany brown and black. The church is now very much in order except for the table right up in front side aisle. This regular table holds the mixer, computers and monitors for the church's sound and video system. It certainly looks "sorry" enough that I have suggested that we need an omnirax force 12 workstation to hold all our video and sound system gadgets. I wonder how much it costs?
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/23/2012 11:22:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
A greater percentage of my father's siblings migrated to the USA in the late 60s and 70s. That was eon ago! Thanks to technology I was able to rekindle my relationship with some of my cousins based in California. Last week, I met up with a male cousin who I last saw way back in 1973. He was only 7 years old when he and his family trooped to the USA. With two of my girls and Tabby, we met up with Manny in GB5. I was able to recognize him at once when he went inside Chili's (thanks to FB).We had a two-hour non-stop talk and it was quite sad that he had to leave for home the following day. There was  lot of catching up to do and it made quite sad that it took me decades to reach out to my father's relatives.
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/23/2012 11:05:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Did you know that DNA testing for US immigrants is required now? Well, I didn't until a week ago. A friend's US petition finally came through and one of the requirements is a DNA test. The rationale is to prove the "blood" relationship between the beneficiary and the petitioner. I asked my friend where she plans to have her DNA tested and she said at an established DNA testing center in the US.  She said that at www.dnacenter.com all she has to do is send a copy of the USCIS/U.S. embassy paperwork and full or partial payment of the test for DDC to send the concerned US Embassy. The embassy will be the one to schedule the collection of specimen and its return to DDC for testing. The results will then be sent back to the embassy for consideration. Sounds easy to me.
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/22/2012 10:17:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The :LRT Santolan incident between a certain passenger named Paula Jamie Salvosa and  LRT lady guard Sharon Mae Casinas that occurred on November 13, 2012,  was partly captured on video by Gregory Paulo Llamoso. On the same day, Llamoso uploaded the video on Facebook and on YouTube (for his 15 seconds of fame and glory.)

The video went viral. It was trending in social networking sites more so in Twitter with the hashtag AMALAYER,  which was deduced from the way the lady passenger pronounced  "I'm a liar".  The media,  social networking sites and other microblogging sites had a field day, all at the expense of Paula Jaime Salvosa. She was finally pressured into defending herself  as she granted GMA News an interview. According to Miss Salvosa, it was the lady guard who first raised her voice and grabbed her arm. Salvosa claimed that she would not have acted that way if the lady guard was courteous to her in the first place. You can read the story and watch the video here.

My two cents?  The video taken by Llamoso did not show the whole incident though. The LRT admin should have watched the incident recorded through the LRT's CCTV system. . The lady guard's back faced the cellphone camera of Llamoso that it was impossible to hear what she was saying.  Paula Jamie Salvosa was quite articulate in expressing her thoughts. The video clearly showed that she was pissed by the action of the lady guard. True, she could have handled the situation in a more tacit manner but who am I to judge her actions?  I think I would definitely blow my top too if a guard grabs me or my personal stuff. Truth be told, there are plenty of guards in establishments in Manila who feel that they have the power over  lowly commuters (LRT & MRT) and consumers (SM & Puregold). I'm sure we have all had our less than stellar "episodes" with security guards. I am not irked with Miss Salvosa. She is actually a victim all because she was articulate enough to express her displeasure with the lady guard. The lady guard was also a victim for she took the ire of Salvosa. 

Why do Filipinos love to "judge" and express sympathy to someone based on a video that does not present all the facts? I think Paul Gregory Llmoso was irresponsible in uploading the video as it did not show the flow of the incident from start to finish. Because of his video upload, the safety of Puala Jaime Salvosa has been compromised. She said she is now scared of commuting via LRT as there might be some persons who feels compelled to hurt her. Both the lady guard and Ms. Salvosa have been humiliated by the video too. I would not be surprised if Salvosa files a case against Llmoso. 

Beware, people of the Philippines. Do not blow your top when in public places. Thanks to smug vigilants and technology, your tantrums could be caught on video then uploaded on the internet before you can say "yoralayer". Wait, ism't this a case of invasion of privacy?


Posted by desperateblogger On 11/20/2012 02:04:00 PM 2 comments READ FULL POST

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Calling all Frabelle food products consumers! Frabelle's 1st Foodie Chef  cooking contest is open to all! The mechanics is pretty simple. All you need to do is come up with an original recipe using any of the following Frabelle food products: hotdog, cheesedog, pork ham tocino, longganisa hamonado, honey ham and hickory smoked bacon.

The contest is from October 22 to November 30, 2012. Just click on the link for the mechanics of the contest. The price? It's 20,000 php plus a culinary class! 

I wonder if  I can I join.
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/08/2012 09:27:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Monday, November 5, 2012

Our church has a different kind of fellowship last Sunday. In preparation for the coming Advent season, we held a "work" fellowship. Everyone was invited to clean the church after the services. The day before, the church custodian already bought the cleaning products and supplies needed. I also gave a swatch of colors for gallons of paint. As I scanned over the list of things to buy, I was stumped with the item cross blocks. Now, why do we need cross blocks in cleaning and repainting the church? I asked the custodian and he laughed. His bad. The item was for his personal list of things to buy.
Posted by desperateblogger On 11/05/2012 07:09:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Semestral break is over. The last few days of the semestral break coincided with a a four-day weekend because of the Philippine All Saint's Day observance on November 1, which fell on a Thursday. Since November 2 is a Friday,  the government thought to make it a no-work holiday too! I woke up at 6:00  this morning. I was feeling lethargic and lazy but I had to wake up as Ethan has school already. I went to the kitchen to check on breakfast and Ethan's lunch pack. Breakfast wasn't ready! There was no packed lunch either! I was ready to explode when my daughter asked me what I was doing up so early.

"It's Ethan's first day of school after a 2-week hiatus!", I quipped. My daughter smiled like a Cheshire cat and told me that school starts on November 7 and not November 5. 

Oh!




Posted by desperateblogger On 11/05/2012 06:45:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Monday, October 22, 2012

 The Outer Banks is a 320-kilometer strip of  narrow barrier islands located  off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia.  The strip of islands is fondly called the OBX and is definitely a top tourist destination in the U.S.A. The temperate climate in OBX is ideal that the area has its share of  thriving  communities and towns up and down the coastline. I have always taken an interest in the Outer Banks as it was here that the Wright bothers first flight took off. Yup! - the town of Kitty Hawk. It is also the home of  the legendary (almost)  banker ponies. Are there homes for sale in Outer Banks NC? Of course! I wonder how much they cost.
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/22/2012 09:46:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
Cameron Mckintosh's Miss Saigon is set for another run in London's West End in 2013. And guess what? (What?!) Auditions in Manila is from November 19-22, 2012! Hello? Calling all Kims!

Leah Salonga was only 17-years old when she auditioned for the role of Kim for the world premiere of  Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's Miss Saigon. Leah's singing and acting career started when at the age of  7, she was casted as one of the children in Repertory  Philippine's production of The King and I. Her star shone a little bit brighter when she was chosen as the lead in the local production of the  musical Annie. Her career in the legitimate theater blossomed as she joined other Repertory productions. Leah was "seriously" talented. She recorded her first solo album at the age of 10 but from then on,  she spent the next 7 years doing B movies and TV shows. Her career in the legitimate stage was slowly (but surely) being forgotten.

Leah Salonga at her 1988 Miss Saigon auditions
In 1988, unable to find a London-based talent to play the role of Kim, the producers of Miss Saigon scoured Asia "in search"  of a "Kim". Leah Salonga auditioned for the role, and the rest was history!  

Before Miss Saigon's final curtain call in 1999 (West End) and  2001 (Broadway), there were other Filipinas who played the role of Kim. They were Monique Wilson, Jamie Rivera, Joanna Ampil and Ima Castro. Though these "Kims" were of international caliber, my opinion is that they all paled in comparison with Leah. No one was able to exude the youthful innocence and tragedy of Kim  as well as Leah. Voice-quality wise, Leah Salonga is still the best Kim.

Local contenders for the West End edition of Miss Saigon in 2013 are said to be Rachel Ann Go, Karylle, Angeline Quinto and Denise Laurel.. There are talks that Charice Pempengco and even Jessica Sanchez are being eyed to play Kim. Among these talents, Jessica Sanchez is the only teen at 17 years old. Charice is 20, Denise is 25, Rachel Ann is 26, Angeline is 23 while Karylle is 31!  Jessica has the pipes and the innocence but she does not look Asian and her voice is not really angelic. The rest are just too jaded and experienced to exude the innocence and fierceness of Kim!  Ummm.. I wonder who'll cut it as Kim. Wouldn't it be great if  some unknown stage wannabe makes it as Kim?


Posted by desperateblogger On 10/22/2012 09:25:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

My kids grew up eating one local hotdog brand which is peputedly said to be the Philippine's number 1 hotdog, I prefer the same hotdog brand and for close to 25 years, it was the only brand of local hotdog I served my family.

I came upon a new local brand of hotdog. Well, the brand Frabelle is not actually "new" as this company has been making waves in the fishing industry since the early 1960s. The company started out as a one-trawler fishing venture that eventually grew into a massive enterprise that supplies fresh and frozen seafood products in the local and international market,  real estate and processed food to name a few. In my supermarket trips I seen Frabelle processed fish products and even tried the Cream Dory. Yummy! Not bad at all! Would Frabelle's processes meat products have the same high quality? There's only one way to find out. I bought several kinds of Frabelle meat products for a taste test.

Frabelle's Longganiza
The first product that I panfried was Frabelle's Longganiza Recado. D4 was home for lunch that day and between the two of us, we almost finished the 500 g package. It was deliciously garlicky,  spicy and sweet! The consistency of the longganiza was "all meat".  I dipped mine in vinegar and my mouth almost exploded with flavor. Frabelle's :Longganiza Hamonado was also delicious with that distinctive smokey flavor.

The following day, my son was home early. Since I did not prepare anything for lunch, I decided to cook Frabelle's Pork Ham Tocino. I decided to pair the Tocino with sunny side egg and garlic fried rice. This is the first time that I opened up a pack of  Tocino sans the fat! The Tocino was all meat, tender tasty and perfect to the bite.
Frabelle's Pork Ham Tocino
 The following Saturday, I decided to cook carbonara for dinner. I decided to use Frabelle's Hickory Smoked Bacon. I sliced the bacon, fried them to a crisp then added the fettucini and carbonara sauce. After arranging the pasta in the serving dish I added parmesan and grated cheddar on the pasta. Was it good? Well,  I guess it was as there was nothing left of the pasta.  D3 said, the bacon bits was interesting as it added a smokey hickory flavor on the pasta dish. 

Frabelle's Hickory Smoked Bacon
The following day, I decided to cook some Frabelle Yummy Hotdog and Cheesedog for snacks. The kids were all home, so was Ethan. My grandson is what I'd call a hotdog connoisseur. He will not eat any hotdog that does not meet his standards and believe me when I say that. D2 and Ethan are such picky eaters that it irritates me to a point. The two won't eat any hotdog except for the leading brand. If these two will eat Frabelle's Yummy hotdog and Cheesedog, that would be an exceptional event. Let's see. 

Frabelle's Yummy Hotdog

Frabelle's Cheesedogs
I panfried the hotdog and cheesedog in a Teflon pan. I toasted some wheat bread to go with the hotdogs.  I called D2 and Ethan to eat the hotdogs without telling them that it's a different brand. Oh well, there was no need to tell them that it wasn't their favorite brand as they were able to tell right off the bat! Of course they refused to eat the hotdogs! I asked them ever so kindly to "please just taste the hotdog and cheesedog". D2 and Ethan grudgingly agreed. I had to cross my fingers for the tensed moment before and after the first bite. I was so relief when the two picky eaters actually loved Frabelle hotdog and cheesedog. D2 said the hotdog was meaty and has none of that funny consistency that other hotdogs have. She said it's not salty and has a slight smokey taste that she likes. Ethan said "It's delicious mom! I  love it!" Ever notice how hotdogs generally get wrinkled when exposed to air, well not Frabelle's hotdogs.


All of Frabelle's processed meat products are made from quality meat cuts, blended with just the right amount of spices, and cured and smoked with imported woodchips. All products are blast-frozen to keep the them fresh and preserve the taste.

At a price several notches below its competitors, Frabelle processed food products are a bargain. Need I say more? 
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/17/2012 02:04:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Located in one corner of the church are some amplifiers and speakers that are ready for the junk yard. I asked the church custodian why those broken amplifiers and speakers are still sitting near one of the church's entrances blocking traffic. He said one of the assistant pastors plan on working on them when he finds the time. Well, I don't think the assistant pastor will find the time to fix those amplifiers and speakers anytime soon as he is so loaded with work. Meanwhile, I suggested that it is time the church buy some amazing Amplifiers in time for the church anniversary.
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/13/2012 09:14:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
Rummaging through my bag after a delectable dinner, look what I found! A nerf gun bullet! My son and Ethan are nerf gun nemesis and on the weekends that these two meet, it's nerf gun battle. This lone bullet must have landed inside my bag during one of their encounters.
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/13/2012 09:07:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
Yamaha is a revered brand when it comes to musical instruments. Owning a "Yamaha" be it a grand or upright piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, cornet or trumpet, is a status symbol. It could mean that "you are a superb musician who can afford to buy a Yamaha!" True, a Yamaha is not exactly cheap but if you are a serious musician, Yamaha is a good brand choice. My son plays an Alto Sax. I bought it second hand from a musician. He said he wants to learn how to play a trumpet too as his teacher is able to play almost all kinds of brass and wind instrument. His teacher is a professional musician. His primary brass instrument is a trumpet and the one he uses for his gigs is from the Yamaha Professional series Xeno. Interested to see why this instrument is special? Check out a  Yamaha xeno trumpet at wwbw.
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/13/2012 12:21:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST
Tired baby girl after grocery shopping
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Posted by desperateblogger On 10/13/2012 12:00:00 AM No comments READ FULL POST

Friday, October 12, 2012

The price of diesel gas might be stable but it's still quite steep. At 43 Php per liter, it's 3 times the price 10 years ago. In the last 5 days, my total diesel gas bill is 1,800 Php. Now that's too much for me! It try to save on gas by filling the tank early in the morning and asking the gasoline boy to manually fill up the gas tank so as to avoid bubbles. I sometimes do away with air-conditioning when I'm driving alone. A lot of  motorists are opting to drive motorcycles and scooters this day. Hubby used to have a Harley and a BMW but he eventually sold them as it was hard to procure Motorcycle Accessories and parts. My father used to buy him parts in the U.S. It is now a lot easier to order parts online.If only hubby hang-on the bikes for a bit longer....
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/12/2012 11:30:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST
We watched The Phantom of the Opera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last week. D4 was actually the first one to see the musical and since she was all praises on the show, she took it upon herself to scour for  discounted tickets. The first time D4 watched Phantom, her ticket cost 7,500 php. The second time around, she was able to get 40%  off on the tickets as she bought them 2 days before the show. Yes! D2, D3, D4 and I felt good with our discounted tickets.

Was The Phantom of the Opera worth it? Oh definitely. The musicality of the cast, the superb orchestration and direction, the magnificent stage props and costumes all contributed to the excellence of the presentation. Bravo! Jonathan Roxmouth. 

See the pictures on the left? That's D4 in her "Phantom" mode.
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/12/2012 11:07:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

A cousin of mine is all praises for the wonderful 5-day vacation she and her whole family enjoyed in Holden Beach, North Carolina before school started. The vacation was "spur of the moment" as her hubby's business trip to Canada was indefinitely postponed. Since her kids are ages 14 and 16, a trip to the beach days before school starts was perfect!  What made this impromptu vacay at Holden beach special? For one, Holden Beach is not just a "beach" it's actually an island located off south of North Carolina. Life in the island is relaxed and still has a small-town appeal. My cousin and her hubby are considering purchasing a property in the island. They are pretty serious about it that as of last week, they have talked to several Holden Beach Real Estate agents about possible acquisition. 
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/09/2012 10:40:00 PM No comments READ FULL POST

Thursday, October 4, 2012

I have always been a fan of Nestle products. When I was a kid, delicious PX (post-exchange) chocolates were made by Nestle. My all-time Nestle chocolate is Butterfinger! I just can't seem to get enough of this delicious peanut/chocolate candy bar. I used to frequent the PX store at the corner of C.M. Recto and Ylaya Streets in Divisoria. At 30 centavos each back in the days, I was able to buy 3 bars of Butterfingers with a peso. Nestle, for me, is a trusted brand synonymous to quality, so when I received an invitation to attend a Nestle Wellness Event, I cannot (and will not) say no.

On September 26, 2012, 6:00 pm, "motivated" by the thought of an interactive cooking demonstration using Nestle products and the promise of a "sumptuous" dinner, I dropped by the Julius Maggi Kitchen at the Nestle Center in Rockwell, Makati. The thrust of the cooking demo was to prepare great-tasting, nutritious and healthy meals and snacks for the family. I have always been a low-fat milk drinker and the only way I "do" my Nestle low-fat milk is to pour it in a tall glass and chug it down. Well, not anymore. Here's one way of enjoying Nestle low-fat milk, thanks to the cooking demo.

 Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie 

Ingredients:
2 pieces ripe banana lacatan
2 T peanut butter
2 T sugar or to taste
1 cup Nestle Low Fat Milk
2 cups shaved ice

Procedure: Combine all ingredients in a blender jar. Blend for 30 seconds or until mixture is fully incorporated. Serve immediately. This is good for 1-2 servings. The recipe is so simple, even Ethan could do it.

The cooking demo was very enlightening. To cap the demo, a cooking book titled Celebrating 100 Years of Cooking with Nestle was given to each attendee. I have yet to sample the recipes but based on the pictures alone, they all look delicious! I am a passionate cook. This cookbook is precious!


Of course there's the usual raffle in the event. I am not really keen on raffles per se since I never seem to win. However, not this time as I won big time with this super duper  Nescafe Dolce Gusto! We tried it the other day and wow! Even Ethan loved the mocca coffee but, I had to modify the cream content so as to lessen the percentage of coffee in the mix.

The Nestle Wellness Event was relevant. In this day and age, consumers must be aware that there are plenty of junk food out there that are detrimental to our health. Processed food with high salt, sugar and fat content could very well contribute (or cause) to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and even obesity. Note that a lot of processed food are highly acidic which is not good for the body. In essence, Nestle is an advocate of healthy, nutritious, delicious and affordable food. Yey! Go Nestle!

                                                   and thank you for the 1,001 give-aways!
Posted by desperateblogger On 10/04/2012 09:33:00 PM 1 comment READ FULL POST
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