High times

Here are some photos that I took at the Hot Air Balloon Festival last February in Clarkfield. The event was fun and a nice bonding time for our family. We didn't get to see the hot air balloons though since we came in late.

Merry Christmas Darling

Are you done with your holiday shopping? Well, you should be 'cause it's now time to open the presents...Merry Christmas everyone!

Here we go again

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. Every year I always look forward to it but lately I'm kind of feeling low. With so much going on in the past weeks, I can't help but feel tired and it dampens my holiday spirit! And lately at work, I feel like my brain is not working properly. (So much for holiday mood swings!)

On a positive note, I'm proud to announce that my driving skills and mileage have greatly improved. Yey! If before I drive like a grandma, I now drive like a confident woman (not arrogant, just confident) who isn't intimidated by nasty male drivers.

Another thing, I'm quite excited for January as our company is going to a quick vacay trip in Camiguin! Can't wait to go swimming even if its a little freezing in January.

(Photo from Google Images)

 

Why fix if it isn't broken?

DOT's new branding for the country's tourism industry 

The old one: the tried and tested Wow Philippines

The new campaign for the country's tourism branding is stirring a lot of reactions. A lot of negative reactions.


I'm not pretending to be an expert here, but as a full-time copywriter whose everyday job is to create catchy and compelling slogans and copies, I personally think that the campaign definitely lacks the oomph factor.


First of all, I don't think that there's a need to change the 'Wow Philippines' campaign as it is already okay. It may not be the best, but at least it has the wow factor and it perfectly delivers the message across. 

Second of all, if you're going to replace something that is already good, might as well replace it with something that is exceptionally good. If you can't, then at least try with something that is equally nice. 

And last of all, I disagree with the inclusion of the Tarsier in the new logo. Yes, we Filipinos are definitely proud of these cute little primates that are found only in the Philippines, but including it to our country's international branding might only lead to mockery. I'm pretty sure that the intention was good, but is it not that foreign racists call our race as brown monkeys? (Just saying..)

I believe that whoever created/promoted this idea of changing the country's branding can still come up with much better and more creative concepts. They can ask for some tips from our neighbor countries who are definitely way ahead than us. 

The government says that they are lacking in funds. Then instead of wasting so much money in creating a new one why not just enhance the existing one?   

Yay for early Christmas presents!

(Photo courtesy of google images)

Christmas starts early for me with my pink Nokia C3. :)

24 years

(Photo borrowed from my cousin Jack :D)

Here's to twenty-four years of laughter and tears..
Here's to twenty-four years of love, friendships and relationships..
Here's to twenty-four years of travel and adventures..
Here's to twenty-four years of ups and downs..


And finally, here's to 20, 30 and 40 more years of life.

Lol!

Bored? Then read this timely-relevant hilarious post at spot.ph:

Spot.PH | Top 10 Noli Me Tangere Characters and the People We'd Like to Play Them | NEWS+FEATURES TOP LIST

Enjoy! :D

More looks from looklet!

Can't hardly wait for October

October is an exciting month for me not just because it's my birth month but also because my siblings and I are going on a quick and little vacation trip. Yey! We've been planning this for months now and finally, it's coming near! Although the destination is not so grand, we're really looking forward to it. :)

looklet

Frustrated stylist? Or just want to play dress up games on real models? Why not try looklet.

Looklet is a digital styling studio that allows you to create looks on real models. It's fun, it's easy and it's full of designer clothers and accessories! Yay!

I swear, I'm already addicted to this site! *wink* Here are some of the looks that I styled: 

I'll definitely post more looks soon! :)

Let that which is unsaid be said

Ever have the feeling that you need to say something to someone yet, you don't know how to say it? Well, worry no more! You no longer have to say it straight on their faces instead, you can just email these customized fillable (is this a word?) forms:

If you want to say thank you

If you're safeguarding a secret

When delivering bad news

When professing your romantic feelings in a formal love letter

Or when you just want to air your complaint

You can find more of these cute and clever fill-in-the-blank stationeries at the Bureau of Communication.

License to drive

(Photo from Getty images)

The past few weeks feels like a roller coaster ride. I was busy with work deadlines left and right and affairs with family and friends. That's why it's nice to finally able to drive a couple of miles out of town and breathe fresh air. 


After years of not utilizing my driving capabilities, I finally was able to get my driver's license last March. Yay! But it was only late last week that I put it into good use.

Not that I'm bragging about it, but I drove 15kms (with stopovers of course) and already consider it a personal achievement. :)

MJ

I know it's a little late, but as they say, better late than never. ha! So here's my little animation tribute to the King of Pop. This was an animation project way back my college days so pardon the quality and the illustration. 

MJ forever!

Hello wedges!

Though summer's done and it is rainy season here in the tropical Philippines, I've been obsessing about a lot of wedges lately. And, here are some of them.

Independence

This month is probably one of the most significant months in Philippine history. For one, the country is celebrating its 112th year of independence. And of course, come the end of the month will be the inauguration of a new president and vice president. Hopefully these events would finally lead to a truly independent Philippines, where democracy is not just a word, but rather a state.

On the topic of democracy, I've stumbled upon RG Cruz' blog and read his commentary about democracy entitled "Democracy without ethics is dumb". The piece was very timely. Especially now that we, Filipinos, go overboad of how we define democracy.  

Snapshots part II

Fine white sands of Boracay

Chinese Temple, Cebu

Panglao beach, Bohol

Snapshots

Caleruega, the perfect place to get married

The Chinese Temple in Cebu

Going on a trip to Palawan

The absolute beauty of Coron

Sunrise at Mt. Tapyas in Coron

Hehe

No, this post isn't about the jejemon fad. It's actually my post birthday post for my most favorite dog in the world.

Meet Hehe. He just turned six last May 19. He's a mongrel dog aka 'aspin' (asong pinoy). Hehe may not be as sosyal as the other dogs, but he's definitely got a breed of his own. Often, we were asked why the name Hehe. It's actually my dad who gave it. He based it from a politician who has a weird name...Heherson. Since Heherson is a bit long for a dog's name, we decided to give him a nickname. Hence, the name Hehe.

So chica

My daily online reads wouldn't be complete without browsing through some of my favorite fashion blogs. Admittedly, I have bookmarked a lot that I am not able to read all of them. Though I am not that much type of person who lives for fashion, as a girl I love looking at someone else's style to get some tips. I also like how these bloggers actually add 'chica' to their daily wear. The perfect inspiration for days when you feel so lazy to dress up.

Sea of Shoes

What I Wore

Kendi Everyday

Clouds & Candy

Busyness

I just like to share with you a thought provoking article of writer Scott Berkun about the 'Cult of Busy'.

"This is the cult of busy. That simply by always seeming to have something to do, we all assume you must be important or successful.


People who are always busy are time poor. They have a time shortage. They have time debt. They are either trying to do too much, or they aren’t doing what they’re doing very well."

What keeps you awake?

Mine is being "facebook friends" with that special guy. :)

source: ads of the world

Good job!

Now that the elections are over, and the results have finally reflected the real voice of the people, I think it is only proper to commend the Filipino people for a job well done. Contrary to the naysayers, the glitches and the most dismal expectations, the country's first automated election turned out to be a success.

After months of criticisms and pessimisms thrown against the Comelec and Smartmatic, the guys have proven that they can live up to their promise to deliver a clean, honest and surprisingly quick nationwide automated poll. I believe its success restored Comelec's credibility.

Kudos also to the thousands of teachers, policemen and soldiers, and the many citizens' organizations who help made the election peaceful and orderly (on most parts of the country). They are the guardians of the electoral exercise who are surely worthy of the people's trust.

And finally, to the voting public who deserve a pat on the back. Even the scorching heat, long queues and many glitches did not deter the people from exercising their right to vote.

Even though my candidate did not win, I still want to commend Sen. Dick Gordon for authoring the nationwide poll automation. Certainly, this is the country's first step towards liberalization.

While there are still a lot of lessons to be learned, as a Filipino, I am keeping my hopes high that this will be the start of better and brighter Philippine society.

Not again!!

oil trails in the Gulf of Mexico(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Probably because of my fondness for beaches or just the little environmentalist in me, but I get so affected every time I hear news about oil spills in seas. It's sad to see nature being damage thanks to man's greediness and irresponsibility.

Back in 2006, an oil tanker carrying two million liters of bunker fuel sank at the Guimaras Strait in the Philippines, thus, causing millions of liters of oil to spill on the strait and damage its marine sanctuary. Due to the disaster's huge extent, the clean-up was said to last three years.

Although, the people of Guimaras survived the devastating oil spill, up to this day the Guimaras Oil Spill is still an on-going environmental disaster. And now comes another dilemma, this time in the Gulf of Mexico.

We, humans, keep on complaining about the adverse effects of climate change yet we're still being reckless on how we treat the world. When will we ever learn?

Mine is Gordon, who's yours?

Even if he's doing poor in presidential surveys...
Even if they say he doesn't stand a chance to win...
Even if the battle is dominated by the colors yellow and orange...

I will still vote for Dick Gordon because I vote with my mind and not with my emotions.

*If you're still undecided, this article from the Philippine Star might help.