tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54251432024-03-24T02:28:20.539+08:00:::.. ~* lilacstardust *~ ..:::..::+ You Aren't the Magician, You Are the Magic.+::..~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.comBlogger459125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-8023273273366333382008-12-31T20:53:00.004+08:002008-12-31T22:28:48.172+08:00::. TOO OH OH EIGHT! .::<center><div><embed src="http://widget-f8.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564266374904&site=widget-f8.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564266374904&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f8.slide.com/p1/432345564266374904/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564266374904&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f8.slide.com/p2/432345564266374904/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564266374904&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f8.slide.com/p4/432345564266374904/bb_t047_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div></center><br /><br /><br />2008 -- OH WHAT A YEAR INDEED! I never really expected this much to come out of this year coz, although I didn't really believe in horoscopes and stuff, this was supposed to be a bad, bad year for the Horses. Thus, I did not really hold my breath for anything spectacular to happen.<br /><br />But hey, I think by far,<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> 2008 has been the year wherein I got to travel a lot</span>: I was lucky enough to travel outside the country around the time I just turned 30. We had a <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/05/ei-asean-conference-bintan-indonesia.html">conference at Bintan Lagoon Resort in Indonesia</a> (April) so I grabbed the opportunity to go on vacation at Singapore (April/May). Singapore was such a safe non-scary place so I was brave enough to go around the city mostly by myself after my officemates have long gone home to Manila. I was thrilled at the thought of being in another country by myself and it was such a great adventure to me. <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/05/singapore-travel-lah.html">I loved Singapore!</a> The cabs and food were damn expensive but I splurged on Charles & Keith shoes anyway. I went to <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/06/i-left-my-longganisa-in-vigan-journey.html">Vigan </a>(May) and <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/08/where-was-i-on-08-08-08.html">Boracay</a> (Aug) with my dear high school friends and I've been with my family in <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/06/june-family-outings.html">Morong, Bataan</a> (June), <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/06/june-family-outings.html">Laiya, Batangas </a>(June) and <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/53/._BOHOL_FAMILY_VACATION_.">Bohol</a> (Nov/Dec).<br /><br />But the most defining title of 2008 would of course be (hands down, duh!) <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">the year God blessed me with a boyfriend</span>. Not MU chenezes like the Canossa school syndrome ones. My boyfriend CJ. Really. Thirty friggin years, and technically, my first boyfriend! It's about time, God! And so I happily let go of the NBSB title :-) I met him while I was vacationing with friends in Vigan last May -- a trip that was supposed to be in Feb but was postponed to May. WhoWouldveThunk! Blessing in disguise indeedy...<br /><br />The most controversial personal happening of the year was probably the<a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/05/wtf-my-blog-post-was-plagiarized.html"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twinklekaka Scandal</span></a>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">The pathetic Multiply gal who plagiarized my blog post </span>about my Camiguin vacation last 2007. I hope she has learned how to blog her own thoughts by now :p<br /><br />I noticed that I have ceased to blog much in my <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/">Blogspot</a> this year. I have been too lazy to hypertype vacations and various musings in detail.<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> I've lost that blogging feeling</span>, I guess. Or maybe it's coz I'm not such a big drama queen anymore than I was in the previous years. And maybe I'm too busy with real world stuff that I don't have the energy and enough focus to weave kickass words. Hmm. I am actually deliberating if I'll just concentrate on my Multiply and let my Blogspot die a natural death. I have pretty much settled into posting photos in my <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos">Multiply</a> lately anyway. Plus, Abbie has introduced me to <a href="http://twitter.com/home">Twitter</a> this year so whenever I itched to share something, I just chirped away 140 characters that encapsulated my very thought at that very moment. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">I love Twitter!</span> It keeps me in touch with what's going on with my friends, even the most mundane things they do get some tweet press! I have long abandoned MySpace and I seldom log into my Friendster. My virtual world basically revolves around Twitter and Multiply. And yes,<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> I gave in to Facebook</span>. It's still a bit too cluttered for my taste but I'm beginning to get the hang of it. I'm still bugged about the deluge of Facebook app requests though<span style="font-style: italic;"> (stop sending me Lil Green Patch whathaveyous!!! hahaha!)</span>. I so wanna iggy everything!<br /><br />The pop icons that would probably best represent 2008 are <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">David Cook and Edward Cullen</span> -- or Jacob Black, fine, for the Team Jacobs out there! The PPG was so obsessed about American Idol season 7, such that we lived and breathed <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/05/david-cook-is-american-idol.html">Cookie</a> all the time we spent in Vigan! And I scavenged the net for everything Cookie I could ever find like his pre-Idol band recordings. And yey to Forces gals too, they influenced me to jump into the <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2008/10/ive-fallen-for-edward-cullen.html">Twilight</a> bandwagon. I have discovered <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">the awesomeness of listening to an audiobook</span> in my iPod and have in fact listened, not read, the first 3 books of the Twilight saga. To date, I have just started with an hour of <span style="font-style: italic;">Breaking Dawn.</span><br /><br />I just realized that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">I haven't bought any audio CD this year</span>. Yet, I have 3,799 songs according to my iTunes that could last me 10.7 days. Yey to free music :p I have shifted back to more R&B and a bit of alternative rock this year, thanks to CJ who's so into R&B, hiphop and those non-mainstream R&B jewels that Wave 89.1 plays.<br /><br />Alright. I guess that pretty much sums up my 2008! I don't wanna dwell on the shake ups that happened on the latter part of my year <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">(oh hey, I caught Dengue early this December and it was my first time ever to be confined in a hospital! Bummer.) </span>but I hope and pray that those won't happen again. I am praying for a rosier and happier 2009. May we be blessed with wonderful love, good health, prosperity, peace, understanding, trust, acceptance and open-heartedness this coming year and thereon... With God on my side and with hard work, I'm sure things will fall into place... the divine place it should be ;-) Thank you 2008 for the lessons, realizations, the significant other, steady friendships, better relationships, improved character, stronger faith... I am happy and I have found what I have been looking for ;-)~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-27048220787986324832008-10-14T23:22:00.005+08:002008-10-15T00:03:16.692+08:00::. I'VE FALLEN FOR EDWARD CULLEN .::Hmm. So I have been remiss with blogging for more than a month... What better way to make a comeback than blog about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Cullen_Twilight">Edward Cullen</a>? :p<br /><br />So I admit: I was so blah and indifferent at first when Abbie, Charo, Tin and Mitzi have been talking and raving about the <a href="http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html">Twilight </a><a href="http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html">saga </a> these past few months. It never really piqued my interest until I started "researching" quotes from the books for my little online business. I admit, after reading one quote after the other, I have fallen in love with Edward Cullen.<br /><br />But I didn't buy nor asked around to borrow the <a href="http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html">Twilight</a> book. I was too lazy to read and I just tend to fall asleep while doing so. Having heard that there was an audiobook available, I decided to try it out. It was quite a pain in the butt to download all the freakin' rar files, unzip them, consolidate the numerous mp3s and convert it to an iPod audiobook format. <span style="font-style: italic;">(Thanks to Mitzi for the conversion tips!)</span> But after all that tedious process, it was heaven to listen to an audiobook. It was my first audiobook experience and I loved it :-) It was so convenient! I listened to my iPod while I was falling in line at the terminal, while travelling to & from the office and even before dozing off to sleep... although I refrained as much as possible to listen to the audiobook when I know I'm already sleepy coz it was kinda hard to trace where I left off one time that I fell asleep and left my iPod playing :p<br /><br />I have just finished the Twilight audiobook this afternoon and I absolutely loved it! I am way too excited now to start listening to New Moon but as of this writing, I still have 32 minutes to go until I finish the entire download. Argh.<br /><br />I read somewhere online that in New Moon, one will fall in love with Jacob Black. Hmmm. I'm not sure how one can like Jacob more than Edward... Can't wait to find out why there are Team Jacob girls out there!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Twilight/twilight_movie_image_group_shot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Twilight/twilight_movie_image_group_shot.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm also anticipating the release of the <a href="http://www.twilightthemovie.com/">Twilight movie</a> come November. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!! Although Edward Cullen could have been played by a more handsome actor but hey, I found that Cedric guy cute when I saw him in Harry Potter. Oh well. Anyway, the first time I saw the trailer on youtube, I think I gushed & sighed at Edward's <span style="font-style: italic;">"You are my life now"</span> line. I loooove that line. I am a sucker for poetic mushy romantic quotes and Stephanie Meyer is sooo good in churning out <span style="font-style: italic;">*triple sigh*</span> lines for her Edward Cullen character.<br /><br />I'm very curious about <a href="http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html">Midnight Sun</a> though. I would have wanted to "read" it after Twilight rather than proceed with New Moon... Too bad Meyer isn't done with it yet :-(~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-24804036993321307832008-08-25T16:47:00.006+08:002008-08-25T17:23:30.213+08:00::. WHERE WAS I LAST 08-08-08? .::I spent the once in a lifetime 888 date with my friends Abbie, Charo, Tin and Jako at the sunny side of the Philippine Islands... in <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Boracay</span>! Thanks to Cebu Pacific's low rates <span style="font-style: italic;">(and Abbie's purchasing power!)</span>, we managed to book a roundtrip ticket to Caticlan for a little bit under Php2K. Thanks to Tin's connections, we managed to enjoy a nice room for a steal at <a href="http://serendipity-boracay.com/">Serendipity</a> which is conveniently located beside the D'Mall. Thanks to the coosome-twosome Jako and Charo's Holga for the nice lomo shots and the ever-reliable tripod of Jako that enabled us to jump to our heart's content (22 freakin' frames of chaotic jumping against the Bora sunset) and switch around four different digicams for the same group shot and angle hehe :p<br /><br />As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words... or maybe I'm just too lazy lately to blog and spew out nice profound flowery words hehe :p Just check out this slideshow ;-)<br /><br /><center><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-57.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564260938583&site=widget-57.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564260938583&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-57.slide.com/p1/432345564260938583/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564260938583&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-57.slide.com/p2/432345564260938583/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564260938583&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-57.slide.com/p4/432345564260938583/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /></center>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-1042532371949787882008-07-05T15:51:00.004+08:002008-12-10T08:11:49.317+08:00::. WANTED Kicks Ass! .::<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXQQ44htJhQQwrSHpD763gIHpQ6G3ZYshXAcsjhKRFW3epP2VsZIlqc8DBQWQUP1TYSMLuO-e3Jb9zshkoyUzW7eoLUO7jCWPJ_pkt4TBlFCbK6TEDN770i5UuQDsOJgrIB5eyg/s1600-h/wanted.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXQQ44htJhQQwrSHpD763gIHpQ6G3ZYshXAcsjhKRFW3epP2VsZIlqc8DBQWQUP1TYSMLuO-e3Jb9zshkoyUzW7eoLUO7jCWPJ_pkt4TBlFCbK6TEDN770i5UuQDsOJgrIB5eyg/s320/wanted.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219435501943289090" border="0" /></a>I'm not much into testosteroney action flicks and top of mind, I think the only favorite man-flick that's on my list is <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/">Fight Club</a>.<br /><br />My sister and I watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/">WANTED</a> last night. We missed like 10minutes of the movie's beginning so we decided to stay on and check out what we've missed. The movie's so good though that we decided to finish it the second time around.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Angelina Jolie</span> kicks major ass and I *heart* <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">James McAvoy</span>. I hope he does more action flicks... he reminds me of Ed Norton... you know, the man-boy appeal, kiddie looking and doesn't look like a big action star at all. This is only the 2nd movie of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/">James McAvoy</a> that I've seen. The first one being Narnia wherein I mistook him for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0479471/">Shia LaBeouf</a> whom I also have a crush on eversince I first watched him in Transformers. I think I'm gonna hunt now for a copy of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783233/">Atonement</a> to see James McAvoy's award-winning performance...<br /><br />Anyway, the movie is pretty bloody and violent. I cringed both the first and the second time when I heard the sickening thud of Wesley Gibson's body as he hit the concrete train tunnel. His comic lines makes him adorable in this movie. My favorite kick-ass scene is when Wesley Gibson shoots this dude from his limo's sun roof. Super<span style="font-style: italic;"> astig </span>action scenes... love love this movie. Don't watch it on pirated DVD, watch it on the big screen for maximum impact =)<br /><br />And coz I like spotting nice songs in movie soundtracks, here's one that I loved from the movie:<br /><a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/music/item/531/Because_WANTED_kicked_so_much_ass">http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/music/item/531/Because_WANTED_kicked_so_much_ass</a>...~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-89635451017784014732008-06-22T15:09:00.008+08:002008-12-10T08:11:49.517+08:00::. I'M A (SHAMELESS) LITTLE TWIT STAR .::<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHGbINCbmptGysQ3JMsGxU6Y2jK5OPE24wcT73W16cw_vR-6dr4icMr1iknVofgjk_lrrKseuII378Eb3odXpFKZnY13fytoE56IAkwXk9CtQqQRrMeap9818vu1xErl2MWdtCg/s1600-h/bivingstwit.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214613605326993970" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHGbINCbmptGysQ3JMsGxU6Y2jK5OPE24wcT73W16cw_vR-6dr4icMr1iknVofgjk_lrrKseuII378Eb3odXpFKZnY13fytoE56IAkwXk9CtQqQRrMeap9818vu1xErl2MWdtCg/s320/bivingstwit.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://abbieunreal.blogspot.com/">Abbie</a> gave me the heads up on this one last night... Apparently, one of my twits has been immortalized in The Bivings Report article about American Idol: <a href="http://www.bivingsreport.com/2008/using-tweets-and-impactwatch-tools-to-predict-american-idol/">Using Tweets and ImpactWatch Tools to Predict American Idol.</a><br /><br />It's quite funny though how Abbie discovered it... She was reading <a href="http://www.insidecrm.com/features/twitter-hall-of-shame-061908/">The Twitter Hall of Shame: 50 Tweets That Will Echo in History.</a> Under the <strong>"Pop Culture"</strong> heading, this article pointed to the Bivings Report, with a premise: <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">These tweets focus on shameful pop-culture conversations."</span></span><br /><br />Haha, yes, indeedy, I have participated in "shameful pop culture conversations" :p All for the love of American Idol Season 7!<br /><br />Are you on Twitter? <a href="http://twitter.com/lilacstardust">Follow me </a>there.~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-66312363151863504792008-06-22T10:28:00.013+08:002008-12-10T08:11:49.895+08:00::. JUNE FAMILY OUTINGS .::It's a stormy day today due to <a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/story/102538/At-least-17-killed-as-typhoon-Frank-sweeps-through-RP">typhoon Frank</a>. Boy, I am sure glad that we had a chance to go to the beach in the last coupla weeks!<br /><br />Spent the last two consecutive weekends with my daddyo & mommyo -- first was at <a href="http://www.bataanwhitecorals.com/">White Corals</a>, Morong, Bataan wherein my most fave part was when we visited the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Pawikan Conservation Center </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(so hard to find since there weren't really any signs pointing to where it was!). </span>The beach at White Corals wasn't exactly that inviting so I opted to float around at their salt water pool instead. It's the same beach feeling minus the pesky sand getting trapped inside your swimsuit :-) Their room was okay -- with aircon and tv -- though hooks/rails to hang your wet clothes or bath towel are lacking. The food was so-so and there were a LOT of pesky flies competing with you as you eat. That was my major peeve about the place.<br /><br />Coming from the Pawikan Conservation Center, we had a yummy lunch of pesto pasta and pizza at Xtremely Xpresso, Subic. We passed by Duty Free and then stopped over at the Lighthouse hotel to take its photos.<br /><br /><br />A week after, we went to <a href="http://www.laluzresort.com/">La Luz</a>, Laiya, Batangas. I liked the beach at La Luz :-) There weren't much sand coz it was practically tiny beach stones/corals everywhere... what's great about it is that you won't find any sand trapped inside your board shorts hehe :p The water was pretty deep even if you're just a few feet from the shoreline. The waves were a bit strong. It's high tide in the morning and low tide in the afternoon. When it's high tide, the water swallows most of the huge rock by the right-most (far) end of the beach. I went to that part of the beach to snorkel during the early morning (before 9am) and it was awesome! I saw lotsa fishes going about their own business, not minding me at all. They swam through the deep crevices of the stones -- black & white striped cichlids, yellow and black striped ones, deep blue ones with yellow and green streaks, tiny dilis looking ones.... gaah, i don't know what kind of fishes they were but anyway, they're all so wonderful to watch =) In the afternoon when it was low tide, we climbed the same huge rock and snapped away with our digicams. No sunset though at that part of Batangas :( We woke up early for the sunrise but it's not entirely visible as we would have wanted... we still managed to get some good sunrise shots though =)<br /><br />I liked our room at La Luz, I think ours was one of the premier rooms. What's great about it is that it had separated the toilet, sink and shower so it's ideal for sharing with roomies. There's aircon and a ceiling fan; the only bummer was there was no tv. Good thing my dad brought his portable dvd player and I had my trusty iPod nano :-) Guests aren't allowed to bring in food and it is compulsary to pay for the Php950 buffet meals which include lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and breakfast the next day. Food was fine but I think my mom's cooking is way more delicious than that! ;-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC-ikSPx0WdzChfXDfDs_HM4456DyM8eUjYNepSc9bfrMvEU7WV2O0X2GYhK1Mzwhkhw-1QYlCczXwetLuT4KCyrzcggv2KJGXd7Hof85yDQcTXojx9aXDvgNjdMLob_wPoyL_A/s1600-h/morongbataan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC-ikSPx0WdzChfXDfDs_HM4456DyM8eUjYNepSc9bfrMvEU7WV2O0X2GYhK1Mzwhkhw-1QYlCczXwetLuT4KCyrzcggv2KJGXd7Hof85yDQcTXojx9aXDvgNjdMLob_wPoyL_A/s400/morongbataan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214533645123890866" border="0" /></a><br />more bataan (and subic) photos at my<a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/43/._MORONG_BATAAN_-_THE_LIGHTHOUSE_SUBIC."> multiply...</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcrlAWIC4qJVtEfNf6p63MAljPlTc8OP926YQ3hhfc-SYUcFQLVyMCmpBRKBglCd91XeVa1L6yXY7FEah-rBIrepxm_G3oI4eWbvwSdN9luv9yWmhM1cndhFYqp5I7eVOHLEHLA/s1600-h/laluz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcrlAWIC4qJVtEfNf6p63MAljPlTc8OP926YQ3hhfc-SYUcFQLVyMCmpBRKBglCd91XeVa1L6yXY7FEah-rBIrepxm_G3oI4eWbvwSdN9luv9yWmhM1cndhFYqp5I7eVOHLEHLA/s400/laluz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214533645880939346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I enjoyed Photoshop'ing some of the artsy fartsy photos I took...<br /><center><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-4a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564258853962&site=widget-4a.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258853962&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-4a.slide.com/p1/432345564258853962/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258853962&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-4a.slide.com/p2/432345564258853962/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258853962&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-4a.slide.com/p4/432345564258853962/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br /></center><br /><br />more la luz photos at my <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/47">multiply...</a>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-50812961267668663812008-06-14T17:07:00.005+08:002008-06-14T17:37:24.363+08:00::. I LEFT MY LONGGANISA IN VIGAN: THE JOURNEY .::They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I say, I am just too lazy to churn out words to narrate my Vigan experience last May with my friends <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Abbie, Tin, Charo & Jako.</span><br /><br />We left Manila via the 11:30PM Partas bus trip last May 15. Arrived at Vigan 9 hours after on May 16 and immediately checked in at the oh-so-vintage <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Grandpa's Inn</span>. Went to Chavit's <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Baluarte</span>, ate the overrated bagnet at<span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);"> Cafe Leona,</span> rode the charming calesa to the famous <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Bantay Bell Tower</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(which we climbed)</span> at <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">St. Augustine Church</span>, dropped by <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Villa Angela</span>, checked out <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Hidden Garden</span>, ate dinner at<span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);"> Cafe Uno </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(yummy chicharon dipped in dinuguan!)</span>, had a night stroll through <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Calle Crisologo</span>, chilled out at <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Sitio Bar</span>, ate Vigan longganisa for breakfast at Grandpa's Inn, went to the<span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);"> Syquia Mansion</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(I'll never forget you lolo tarush!),</span> ate Vigan empanada at the town plaza, shopped for souvenirs at Calle Crisologo, visited the <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">Vigan Cathedral,</span> bought Vigan longganisa at the palengke, tripped out on this el cheapo jukebox at the carinderia beside Partas bus station. Took the 9pm Partas bus out of Vigan on May 17. Got stranded somewhere in uhh I don't know where <span style="font-style: italic;">(pangasinan? tarlac? who knows where the hell we were?! it was pitch black outside... no electricity!) </span>due to the <a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/story/96127/State-of-calamity-up-over-3-Luzon-provinces">terrible typhoon Cosme</a>. Got to Manila around 2:30pm of May 18 after 17 freaking hours of stop and go travel. Ate a super late lunch at Yoshinoya Park Square Makati. Rode yet another bus<span style="font-style: italic;"> (at that point, we HATED being inside buses)</span> to San Pedro. Got home around 5ish pm.<br /><br />Such a swell time. Long live the PPG! I love you gang! That was quite an adventure for the books! The forces of nature jinx is still alive hehe :p<br /><br />Here are the visuals to tell the story of our trip...<br /><center><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-73.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564258430579&site=widget-73.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258430579&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-73.slide.com/p1/432345564258430579/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258430579&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-73.slide.com/p2/432345564258430579/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258430579&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-73.slide.com/p4/432345564258430579/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-50.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564258431568&site=widget-50.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258431568&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-50.slide.com/p1/432345564258431568/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258431568&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-50.slide.com/p2/432345564258431568/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258431568&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-50.slide.com/p4/432345564258431568/bb_t014_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-a9.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564258432169&site=widget-a9.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258432169&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-a9.slide.com/p1/432345564258432169/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258432169&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-a9.slide.com/p2/432345564258432169/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258432169&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-a9.slide.com/p4/432345564258432169/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-5b.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=432345564258434139&site=widget-5b.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258434139&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-5b.slide.com/p1/432345564258434139/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258434139&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-5b.slide.com/p2/432345564258434139/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=432345564258434139&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-5b.slide.com/p4/432345564258434139/bb_t024_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div></center>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-56147976862060466592008-05-22T22:08:00.009+08:002008-12-10T08:11:50.737+08:00::. DAVID COOK IS THE AMERICAN IDOL! .::<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WHaLNK56NtK8WWmT47BmHvs5-pbYons-JhdVEroJTNrpEFf_Nv4hxCwb8XFz92adJwJZ1_i-il1adaryrAwXBlWKsscGZOgmsm2KkKcm-ppRP5SS_uji-wx585ehBlVwvgpHQA/s1600-h/capt_e9e9ecef90e34815aa1ca39858a2deb0_american_idol_finale_cadc157.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203213016556096066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WHaLNK56NtK8WWmT47BmHvs5-pbYons-JhdVEroJTNrpEFf_Nv4hxCwb8XFz92adJwJZ1_i-il1adaryrAwXBlWKsscGZOgmsm2KkKcm-ppRP5SS_uji-wx585ehBlVwvgpHQA/s320/capt_e9e9ecef90e34815aa1ca39858a2deb0_american_idol_finale_cadc157.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff66;">DAVID COOK WINS AMERICAN IDOL! WOOHOO!</span></em><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzx3MKZfDfHN21wopgTOhhMwjC5vwGr0R0i_95WhDXBRqzo5CyB0uV8NGBoHOAhiB82R-6VbXlLLXgWoIMWrUmPy8gM6JESbrjrFvjV0RM-plVlIlHBgwj7n-FzxQM3Sq3KfvyQ/s1600-h/capt_451cdf4997e4467f91afb09ce4bd10ff_american_idol_finale_cadc229.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203213029440997986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzx3MKZfDfHN21wopgTOhhMwjC5vwGr0R0i_95WhDXBRqzo5CyB0uV8NGBoHOAhiB82R-6VbXlLLXgWoIMWrUmPy8gM6JESbrjrFvjV0RM-plVlIlHBgwj7n-FzxQM3Sq3KfvyQ/s320/capt_451cdf4997e4467f91afb09ce4bd10ff_american_idol_finale_cadc229.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffff66;">gang sign for the cookies!</span><br /></span></em><br /><div align="left">I was so ecstatic when I heard the news via text messages and phone calls! My bet, the rocker hottie <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">David Cook is THE American Idol of Season 7</span></strong>! I just watched the re-run of the finale over at Star World and I swear I cried as I felt Cookie's emotional man-sob <em>(don't you just want to hug him when he cries like that? awwww...) </em>as his name was announced as THE winner of the season. He cried in all his <em>guyliner</em> glory. He soooo deserves it as he is a true artist who never compromised his individuality with his song choices and such. And since I have heard his pre-Idol album <strong>Analog Heart</strong> already, I could definitely say that he's got an awesome talent.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R3EayrunsVAJYmQ60preumqiY-15OzSydaPXVoUG2Q9O4k8C7wfCjL10iGcVez_wyi70kja5Q-agCV6q3vz7fU9XTESQTbYk_-u97iz0KWBblnPQh_6QOeIuVnK7CHvC5H5S4g/s1600-h/capt_0c8f668063564e3398e1c3feaefe5276_american_idol_finale_cadc220.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203213025146030674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R3EayrunsVAJYmQ60preumqiY-15OzSydaPXVoUG2Q9O4k8C7wfCjL10iGcVez_wyi70kja5Q-agCV6q3vz7fU9XTESQTbYk_-u97iz0KWBblnPQh_6QOeIuVnK7CHvC5H5S4g/s320/capt_0c8f668063564e3398e1c3feaefe5276_american_idol_finale_cadc220.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff66;"> don't you just wanna hug cookie? awww...</span></em><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx9y1dZVmNNAJ8rIPIizKt3YqWLT2XOZWSY2WEmuW_lkg_fGm4eKaSx4GWcg1CN_pdTNSDvnVS0Z3Tql0nCPtSsxOuMdTa7SlIAtQGS5lAhpoAznrcMc4SR80SH1gRUPXQN3ocA/s1600-h/capt_ab9239c40c4044ca82787f0d1bd95daa_american_idol_finale_cadc193.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203213046620867202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx9y1dZVmNNAJ8rIPIizKt3YqWLT2XOZWSY2WEmuW_lkg_fGm4eKaSx4GWcg1CN_pdTNSDvnVS0Z3Tql0nCPtSsxOuMdTa7SlIAtQGS5lAhpoAznrcMc4SR80SH1gRUPXQN3ocA/s320/capt_ab9239c40c4044ca82787f0d1bd95daa_american_idol_finale_cadc193.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff66;">i would have rooted for Archuleta if he wasn't facing off against Cook...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff66;">Little David's a good kid -- if only his father Jeff didn't get such bad press...</span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="left">After Simon Cowell's declaration of a knockout last night, I was prepared for the worst -- <strong>David Archuleta</strong> winning and all. Not that I don't want Archu to win per se... the charming kid's got awesome power ballad talent and his brilliant voice also makes him deserving of the spot. If it were a Syesha-Archuleta finale, I would have rooted for Archuleta. But hey, the Cookie's got my heart <em>(and the rest of the poopoo gang's hearts as well! *gang sign*)</em>. He had me at <em>"Hello"</em> ;-) I have played his versions of <em>Hello, Billie Jean, Always Be My Baby, Don't Wanna Miss a Thing</em>, etc. so many times that the people in the office must be so tired of hearing my iTunes on Idol Cookie mode these past few weeks :p</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">I'm so glad that Cook did not "suffer" the same fate of <strong>Chris Daughtry</strong> in AI. But hey, isn't it a bit weird that in the mini-montage in the Boxing match episode featured Daughtry instead of Taylor Hicks?! Just goes to prove that indeed Daughtry has enjoyed more success than his fellow Idolmates<strong> McPhee</strong> and <strong>Hicks</strong>.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Anyway, about tonights finale... I loved the <strong>Brian Adams</strong> number, <strong>Jason Castro</strong>'s <em>Hallelujah</em> <em>(whoa, for a while there I was scared he would miss the same final note he messed up the last time!),</em> <strong>Mike Myers</strong> and <strong>Jimmy Kimmel</strong> segments... and the <strong>ZZ Top-Cook</strong> number if only to see Cookie do that leg dance thing again. The <strong>OneRepublic-Archuleta</strong> number of <em>"Apologize"</em> would have been nice if only OneRepublic didn't crack on his vocals. I say, Little David sang <em>Apologize</em> better than the original artist! :p</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTMmMiHIcCesna28A7iazm4O5wYwl56ZC7ZIVqH2VSRwTT61_q3iBNKXqb5aet4IMdpx1mdPeHf4LYVKJ-vqKBSCBO1r1PGnTCa0EM2BRvTaOkeDgM4DsvHiq2UEsQwz7irAmww/s1600-h/capt_0f88c9509f564f6dbf9e59f28ce9f8a6_american_idol_finale_cadc213.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203213033735965298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTMmMiHIcCesna28A7iazm4O5wYwl56ZC7ZIVqH2VSRwTT61_q3iBNKXqb5aet4IMdpx1mdPeHf4LYVKJ-vqKBSCBO1r1PGnTCa0EM2BRvTaOkeDgM4DsvHiq2UEsQwz7irAmww/s320/capt_0f88c9509f564f6dbf9e59f28ce9f8a6_american_idol_finale_cadc213.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff66;">the best AI season I've ever watched! :-) </span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffff66;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">My season faves are: Cook, Castro and Archuleta.</span></em><br /></span><br /><br /></div><div align="left">I'll sleep happily tonight. All that <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">"DAVID COOK FTMFW!"</span></strong> has finally materialized! =) Congratulations Team Cookies! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;">photos grabbed from </span><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/American-Idol/ss/events/en/081902americanidol/s:/ap/20080522/ap_on_en_tv/tv_american_idol_61;_ylt=ArmY0AZcdEH69tHxIUKTX1.2GL8C"><span style="font-size:78%;">yahoo news</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span><br /></div><div align="center"></div>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-28162149265255911722008-05-19T19:56:00.003+08:002008-12-10T08:11:50.894+08:00::. I LEFT MY LONGGANISA IN VIGAN .::<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiZeVeG9qvU-kZ1DvPF5IUb0MXVHnbA0R1l6MxhDJVRA6oc1aZ9bFmzxSPLHDkUayYh26iKWGbsL3lPkrFxF4CIYM2GU9um516NY-FbXi-i48GhBTbGgX6na2vU_1mgxW_QvCzw/s1600-h/100_3317.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202057588436556322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiZeVeG9qvU-kZ1DvPF5IUb0MXVHnbA0R1l6MxhDJVRA6oc1aZ9bFmzxSPLHDkUayYh26iKWGbsL3lPkrFxF4CIYM2GU9um516NY-FbXi-i48GhBTbGgX6na2vU_1mgxW_QvCzw/s320/100_3317.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My friends <em>(Tin& Abbie and the coosome-twosome Charo & Jako)</em> and I just came from a memorable vacation in <strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">Vigan, Ilocos Sur</span></strong> last May 16-17. I'll post more details/photos once I've gathered all my thoughts and have collected all the photos from the digicams of Jako & Charo, Tin and Abbie ;-)<br /><div></div>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-35449027183701331042008-05-14T21:56:00.004+08:002008-05-14T22:25:02.059+08:00::. DON'T WANNA MISS THIS COOKIE! .::<center><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1uCJz1yYlQU&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1uCJz1yYlQU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /></center><p align="center"><br />As <a href="http://www.rickey.org/?p=7901">rickey.org</a> states:<em> OMG — Are they testing out the waters for a CORONATION SONG? *gasp* </em></p><p><br /><br />As I heard the first few notes of the violin, I got goosebumps... in the same vein as his live performance of <em>"Always be my Baby",</em> the violin accompaniment totally added an extra dose of <span style="font-size:130%;">awesomeness</span> <em>(Barney HIMYM talking!) </em>to <strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">David Cook</span></strong>'s performance of <strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing".</span></strong> I actually liked this better than his <em>"Dare You to Move"</em> number (which I felt was a bit <em>bitin</em>). I do hope iTunes would have the full version of both Aerosmith and Switchfoot covers (is that too much to ask?!). His <em>"First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"</em> performance proves that he can still do mellow numbers as good as his rock-out performances. </p><p>So okay, 'gotta admit that <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">David Archuleta</span></strong> -- even if he seemed to be out of breath while trying to do the R&B dance while singing -- was cute when he did Chris Brown's "<em>With You"</em>. At least he tried to sing something more pop than his usual power ballads...</p><p>Simon says: <strong><em>David Cook wins the night!<br /></em></strong>I say: <strong><em>DAVID COOK is THE American Idol of Season 7!!! </em></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffff00;">DAVID COOK FTMFW!!!</span></strong></p><p></p>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-13628745765079390192008-05-12T21:19:00.019+08:002008-12-10T08:11:51.974+08:00::. WTF?! MY BLOG POST WAS PLAGIARIZED! .::<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRNF-WCmh6gPY0l41bdi9TEywVa9d7jaDzy6qQx9UVwpfcE9NOq8plrIQrsK44Qed_lYKlhJJI-45qBpWevjP-uyCKoUvCSOpKe_eYoy92pNtQK88VGPHAsLJl_MHG6MLl4ooRg/s1600-h/wantedposter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199499213857282514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRNF-WCmh6gPY0l41bdi9TEywVa9d7jaDzy6qQx9UVwpfcE9NOq8plrIQrsK44Qed_lYKlhJJI-45qBpWevjP-uyCKoUvCSOpKe_eYoy92pNtQK88VGPHAsLJl_MHG6MLl4ooRg/s400/wantedposter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />First off, let's define plagiarism:<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,255,255)">According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means</span><br /><br />1. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own</span><br />2. to use (another's production) without crediting the source<br />3. to commit literary theft<br />4.<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)"> to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.</span><br /><br />In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,255,255)">But can words and ideas really be stolen?</span><br /><br />According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).<br />All of the following are considered plagiarism:<br /><br />* turning in someone else's work as your own<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">* copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit</span><br />* failing to put a quotation in quotation marks<br />* giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">* changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit</span> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">* copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html">http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html</a></span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,255,255)">If I change the words, do I still have to cite the source?</span><br /><br />Changing only the words of an original source is NOT sufficient to prevent plagiarism. You must cite a source whenever you borrow ideas as well as words.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/plagiarism_faq.html">http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/plagiarism_faq.html</a><br /></span><br /><br />So anyway, I just got this comment from <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2007/07/island-hopping-in-camiguin.html#comments">my post re: my Mantigue Island/Camiguin trip </a>last year. The anonymous poster asked if <a href="http://twinklelala.multiply.com/photos/album/118/Mantigue_Island_Camiguin">this</a> was my multiply account. When I checked the link he/she gave, I realized why he/she thought it was my multiply. I read familiar words! The pathetic literary-retard/plagiarist blogger has copied virtually everything from my post! The nerve!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMDe1m3ZJsoXR2b3QVxGKvADUKAxD2pHtDxVB0Q_pd8NPJjpaslpIFb0L2GzOiyYy3ncebnKC3Hr9z4i1ywvtuucjzIwDU87jfPBrNZdsWRCihcI9-gMRiij-VxvRCIGGHaaG8g/s1600-h/plagiarist1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199489971087661442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMDe1m3ZJsoXR2b3QVxGKvADUKAxD2pHtDxVB0Q_pd8NPJjpaslpIFb0L2GzOiyYy3ncebnKC3Hr9z4i1ywvtuucjzIwDU87jfPBrNZdsWRCihcI9-gMRiij-VxvRCIGGHaaG8g/s320/plagiarist1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxG4Wxgj4j_essf5WiGB5_QPtyyjQhU9zq7sPnVdKr8C_-PO5MQMlxQD5h4LFpDkn0FkSufLOlrPB0gvKdoUJmD-mUCtwhcPUPyc0UYOL109FWWXfALg5r9qZaKbhqB7Wqd9KmQ/s1600-h/plagiarist2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199512193248451074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxG4Wxgj4j_essf5WiGB5_QPtyyjQhU9zq7sPnVdKr8C_-PO5MQMlxQD5h4LFpDkn0FkSufLOlrPB0gvKdoUJmD-mUCtwhcPUPyc0UYOL109FWWXfALg5r9qZaKbhqB7Wqd9KmQ/s320/plagiarist2.JPG" border="0" /></a> Click on the photos to see what Lala the Blog Plagiarist posted on her site... I screencapped it just in case she restricts viewing rights/deletes her multiply post in this URL: <p></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://twinklelala.multiply.com/photos/album/118/Mantigue_Island_Camiguin">http://twinklelala.multiply.com/photos/album/118/Mantigue_Island_Camiguin</a></span><br />And here are the screencaps of my blog post last year which she undeniably plagiarized: <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2007/07/island-hopping-in-camiguin.html#comments">http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2007/07/island-hopping-in-camiguin.html#comments</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GOfe69kWsx4MpwoUD1iOI8jYMIjjBJPohScxJC1QgXn0eCadStodbz0DZXnYrDjew6ca-U71fN6QIvoGgsgBM0JBYZhVHWwY2Y-tch8FPlyuBxr9Er7mTIpTQ9heYzeTcQQfEw/s1600-h/originalpost1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199491268167784866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GOfe69kWsx4MpwoUD1iOI8jYMIjjBJPohScxJC1QgXn0eCadStodbz0DZXnYrDjew6ca-U71fN6QIvoGgsgBM0JBYZhVHWwY2Y-tch8FPlyuBxr9Er7mTIpTQ9heYzeTcQQfEw/s320/originalpost1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5M-feSnBkTQFyXDeB8ueXks9XhGqQsg3OWAsCsinirauZHfTDDW1WOkTp9A98F4ccGQKLSCvISQkzlHAM9yom3SUdn6m55Ac8BC0Ewe9njAvl-wYBMsiSlZTEogoPlWlae1F7Q/s1600-h/originalpost2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199491272462752178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5M-feSnBkTQFyXDeB8ueXks9XhGqQsg3OWAsCsinirauZHfTDDW1WOkTp9A98F4ccGQKLSCvISQkzlHAM9yom3SUdn6m55Ac8BC0Ewe9njAvl-wYBMsiSlZTEogoPlWlae1F7Q/s320/originalpost2.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuXGtBN3oQgmucldZqU5887z0WVJ8Eq13Ps0fL9EQfjg2S-xzmTlBdkA2QmEjNUP0Z5muX65dyB5xIkqRKB47Y5dWA0liOnM3s5sFTmdDujMxMpMIhN7VaV_y_CtIG2a6f0x88g/s1600-h/originalpost3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199519297124358674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuXGtBN3oQgmucldZqU5887z0WVJ8Eq13Ps0fL9EQfjg2S-xzmTlBdkA2QmEjNUP0Z5muX65dyB5xIkqRKB47Y5dWA0liOnM3s5sFTmdDujMxMpMIhN7VaV_y_CtIG2a6f0x88g/s320/originalpost3.JPG" border="0" /></a> Why in the world would she plagiarize my post?<br />a) she is too much of a dimwit to put her own experiences into words <p></p><p>b) she graduated from plagiarism university and majored in copy-pasting<br /></p><p>c) she super-flunked all her English and Literature classes so she doesn't know how to construct words into this simple intelligible body of work called "blog"<br /></p><p>d) she thought it was a one in a million probability that I would find out that she ripped off my blog post</p><p>e) she is a massive disgrace to the blogosphere and she is too much of a dunce to actually know that</p><p>f) she is royally constipated coz her subject and verb disagreed with her.</p><p>Feel free to add more reasons.<br /></p>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-32262815876428835942008-05-05T18:22:00.023+08:002008-12-10T08:11:52.624+08:00::. SINGAPORE TRAVEL-LAH! .::<strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">APRIL 30:</span></strong><br /><br />After our conference in Indonesia, we stayed overnight at the <a href="http://www.carltonhotel.sg/">Carlton Hotel </a>in Singapore. We checked in and then went to the nearby <a href="http://www.rafflescity.com/about.php">Raffles City </a>mall. The peculiar thing I noticed in Singapore was that sunset came around 7:30PM. Anyway, around 8PM, Ed's former colleague in Kodak Singapore brought us at the East Coast Parkway for a sumptuous dinner feast of black pepper crab, chili crab, prawns and fish at the <a href="http://www.redhouseseafood.com/">Red House </a>seafood restaurant. After dinner, we had a joyride into the city and passed by Clarke Quay, the Merlion Park, CHIJMES, one of the routes for the upcoming <a href="http://www.singaporegp.sg/">F1 Grand Prix</a> on Sept, etc.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#66ffff;">MAY 1:</span></strong><br /><br />We went to <a href="http://www.ikea.com.sg/homepage/home_livingroom.asp">Ikea </a>and shopped for home stuff. I wish I could furnish my bedroom and office space with Ikea stuff... their items are nice :)<br /><br /><br />After Ikea, we went back to the hotel and checked out. The others prepared for their flight back home while Vic and I proceeded to <a href="http://www.hotelroyal.com.sg/main.htm">Hotel Royal</a> at Newton Street to check in for an overnight stay. Our former officemate Melis who had just relocated to Singapore with her family met us for lunch. We ate lunch at Doc Green's at <a href="http://www.vivocity.com.sg/aboutvivo.html">VivoCity</a>. Shopped around and bought a pair of white sandals at <a href="http://www.charleskeith.com/">Charles and Keith</a> and a black Bossini top for office wear. We then ate an early dinner at the Food Republic atop VivoCity, where the wading pools were and where one could see the entrance to Sentosa.<br /><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDTlpMLDvid7su-5QR2qd4vIs2ttny07gaWYlXlVcVBptGjyj94mlN0z8sHWgTQu6iKHHHVsLDWLzGdci7zAIk8G9ivICmJvpLpgI_UcGNyWe1TARwv9tR3lCoWYb-CR9WDrMyQ/s1600-h/vivocity+sentosa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196845602813745314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDTlpMLDvid7su-5QR2qd4vIs2ttny07gaWYlXlVcVBptGjyj94mlN0z8sHWgTQu6iKHHHVsLDWLzGdci7zAIk8G9ivICmJvpLpgI_UcGNyWe1TARwv9tR3lCoWYb-CR9WDrMyQ/s320/vivocity+sentosa.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"><em>see the yellow sentosa express train behind me?</em></span> </p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsxYf08Jy7l4t3awqfqRGk9DkCoTMlqYqWHV79Hc5X9K1UMUkmJSlgrPIqJe1dp51aGi58e2v3DCOuvORYrFRq0CHMqNd6q8_sa81harpLrImxgV7pOJNCxj9iP_ncSWL8b3aHQ/s1600-h/vivocitygroup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196845602813745330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsxYf08Jy7l4t3awqfqRGk9DkCoTMlqYqWHV79Hc5X9K1UMUkmJSlgrPIqJe1dp51aGi58e2v3DCOuvORYrFRq0CHMqNd6q8_sa81harpLrImxgV7pOJNCxj9iP_ncSWL8b3aHQ/s320/vivocitygroup.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">with vic and melis (see the cable cars to sentosa behind us)</span></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyK-6Sue6ttooskqXxdzgylrvUDqJqUiopwx_Z0f9cQbaw7loHwSZqby2Iwn0PJfTPzOjGGqUX1PmrKqgIs1AOi6w2Bpp05hBGiI1DyEwskgTvqb46S4jo3d7BuN4UxAeKV2_-vA/s1600-h/vivocity+wading+pool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196845607108712642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyK-6Sue6ttooskqXxdzgylrvUDqJqUiopwx_Z0f9cQbaw7loHwSZqby2Iwn0PJfTPzOjGGqUX1PmrKqgIs1AOi6w2Bpp05hBGiI1DyEwskgTvqb46S4jo3d7BuN4UxAeKV2_-vA/s320/vivocity+wading+pool.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#ffff33;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">wading pools full of children behind me...</span></em> </span></p><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span><span style="color:#ffff33;"><p><br /></p></span>Took some photos and then had my first MRT ride to Lavender station where we walked a bit to get to Melis' condo. Hung out there, had some beer/coffee and waited til her hubby and son arrived. Their smart and creative son Tod (aka Todzilla!) showed us his Paintbrush masterpieces of a variety of Godzilla stuff. Vic and I asked him to make us a Viczilla and Aileenzilla version <em>(I told him to make mine colored violet and cute).</em> We also took the opportunity to use the net for our KrisFlyer internet check-in (coz internet isn't free in the hotel!). Melis took us to the poolside and the rooftop... their place was sooo nice :)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">MAY 2:</span></strong><br /></span><br />Vic had her scheduled flight back home in the afternoon so we split for the day... She went to Sentosa while I went to the <a href="http://www.zoo.com.sg/">Singapore Zoo</a>. I took an adventure and rode the MRT to the <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Ang Mo Kio MRT station</span></strong> to catch the Bus #138 to the zoo. I had no problem finding the <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Novena MRT</span></strong> station near our hotel. I just counted how many stops until the Ang Mo Kio station just to be sure I didn't miss it. What I had some trouble finding was the damned bus stop for Bus#138! I went outside the MRT station/mall at Ang Mo Kio and checked out 3 different Bus stops nearby and I didn't see the number 138 on all those bus stops. After about 25 minutes of walking around the area, I decided to go back inside the MRT station. Somehow, I found my way into an indoor bus station which was inside the same building where I got off the MRT and magically found the stop for Bus#138. I was able to use the same card I used for the MRT... so efficient! It was a long bus ride -- about an hour. I arrived at 9am at the Singapore Zoo and availed of my unlimited tram ride -- one of the <a href="http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/promo/boardingpass/index.jsp">Singapore Airlines boarding pass privileges </a>that saved me SGD5/ride. And believe me, with the area size of the Singapore Zoo, you would want to hop on the tram once in awhile or you'd be so tired from walking!<br /><br />I super enjoyed the Singapore Zoo coz it had an <a href="http://www.zoo.com.sg/about/openconcept.htm">"open zoo" concept</a>. Such an awesome experience for animal lovers (or even just plain animal-curious!). I specifically wanted to see the Singapore-born <a href="http://www.zoo.com.sg/spotlight/polarbear.htm">polar bear </a><a href="http://www.zoo.com.sg/whatsnew/awec.htm">Inuka</a> coz where else can you find a polar bear in tropical Asia?!? The second animal in my must-see list were the <a href="http://www.zoo.com.sg/spotlight/whitetiger.htm">white tigers</a>. I wandered around and took photos in the zoo for about 3.5hours.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/37/600x600/21/100_2961.JPG?et=xLwioxsKt0VqxQnPt7qOxg&nmid=94519387" width="320" /><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/6/photos/37/600x600/5/100_2917.JPG?et=X6M6825mMwgflE0%2BQu1TDQ&nmid=94519387" width="320" /><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/37/600x600/47/100_3023.JPG?et=ZTA2LlnVFXcEKESRb4aNCQ&nmid=94519387" width="320" /><br /></center><br /><br />See more of my <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Singapore Zoo</span></strong> photos<a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/37/._A_DAY_AT_THE_SINGAPORE_ZOO_.#"> here</a>...<br />View videos of <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Inuka </span></strong>the (son of Sheeba) polar bear eating <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/video/item/18/Inuka_having_a_refreshing_watermelon_snack">his favorite watermelon treat</a> and <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/video/item/17/Inuka_the_polar_bear_swimming_around">swimming around</a>; <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/video/item/16/Sheeba_the_Polar_Bear_waving_to_the_crowd_"><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Sheeba</span></strong> the momma polar bear waving</a> to everyone...<br /><br />After eating lunch in one of the zoo's restaurant, I took a cab <em>(faster travel time, just 30minutes)</em> back to Hotel Royal to check out and then proceeded to my next hotel (a cheaper one since I had no one to share rooms with anymore) -- <a href="http://www.seahotel.com.sg/">South East Asia Hotel</a>. It was just beside the famous <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Kwan Im Chinese Temple</span></strong> and very near to the <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Sri Krishnan Hindu Temple</span></strong>. After resting my feet for a few minutes, I proceeded for gadget accessories shopping at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sim_Lim_Square">Sim Lim Square</a> -- the famous electronics mecca of Singapore. Six storeys worth of gadgets and accessories! Shopped for my dad's <em>bilins</em>: digicam batteries for his Canon DSLR and mom's Kodak digicam. Checked out the price of a certain Canon lens that my dad wanted. Went to the upper floors and bought laptop sleeves <em>(only SGD21!)</em>, laptop vacuum cleaner <em>(only SGD9!),</em> 2GB Kingston SD card <em>(only SGD15!)</em> and some iPod accessories.<br /><br />After a tiring shopping spree at Sim Lim Square, I dropped off my best buys at the hotel, rested a bit and then proceeded to the <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Bugis MRT station</span></strong>. Alighted at the <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">City Hall MRT</span></strong> station to get to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CityLink_Mall">CityLink Mall</a> where I ate dinner at O'Brien's cafe. Got mom a watch in one of the stores and then proceeded to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suntec_City_Mall">Suntec City Mall</a>. I intended to take a photo of the famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Wealth">Fountain of Wealth </a>at Suntec but I got umm, "sidetracked" and ended up buying 3 pairs of sandals at <a href="http://www.charleskeith.com/">Charles & Keith</a> as the store was about to close. By the time I was done shopping, the sales lady said the Fountain of Wealth was already turned off :(<br /><br />Using the map, I successfully found my way to the durian-shaped <a href="http://www.esplanade.com/">Esplanade Theatres</a> and the <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/about_singapore/the_merlion.html">Merlion</a> park. Had no problem having my picture taken in those famous landmarks since there were always Filipino tourists around ;-) After traversing the long bridge from the Esplanade to the Merlion Park, I proceeded to walk towards Victoria Theatre where a <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_see/landmarks_and_memorials/statues_of_sir_stamford.html">statue of Sir Stamford Raffles </a>(Singapore's founder) stood. At almost midnight, I was too tired to walk further on but regretted that I missed a spectacular photogenic sight of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Andrew">St. Andrew's Cathedral </a>which I saw as my cab drove off a few meters away from Victoria Theatre. Anyway, I got back at the hotel around 1am, so thirsty and hungry. I went to a nearby 7-11 and an Indian-owned convenience store to buy bottled water and some food. They say that Singapore's tap water is potable but I was too squeamish to drink straight from the faucet. Made sure I filled up the <a href="http://www.customs.gov.sg/leftNav/trav/Tourist+Refund+Scheme.htm">GST refund </a>vouchers before I went to sleep! <em>(Needed to claim the refund at the airport before I check in...)</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/2/photos/38/600x600/9/100_3047.JPG?et=FSyvnY%2CsksqE3acnIOrkmg&nmid=94549783" /><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/2/photos/38/600x600/15/100_3074.JPG?et=umvV2havIRoNOaEvMHuhTg&nmid=94549783" /></center><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">MAY 3:</span></strong><br /><br />Woke up late coz I was so tired from the previous all-day all-night walkathon across the city. I wanted to catch a quick ride to the City Hall MRT station to take a photo of St. Andrew's Cathedral but I thought I would run out of time. Anyway, I just refunded the remaining value on my MRT/bus card. So I decided to explore <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugis_Junction">Bugis Junction </a>instead. Managed to buy another office top from there. On my way back to the hotel, I checked out the street vendors at Bugis Street. I spent my last few Singapore dollars on this cool vintage-look shirt with a camera print. At 11:30AM, I got back at the hotel, quickly took a bath and checked out. Sally, my colleague in Singapore, picked me up at the hotel and brought me to <a href="http://www.changi.airport.com.sg/">Changi Airport</a>. She showed me around at the new Terminal 3. She treated me to lunch in one of the cafes at the 3-Top <em>(I tasted the </em><a href="http://visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/about_singapore/fun_stuff/recipes/Laksa.html"><em>laksa</em></a><em> she ordered... twas too spicy for me!)</em>. She then dropped me off at Terminal 2 so I could claim my GST refund, check-in and do some last-minute shopping.<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/3/photos/38/600x600/27/100_3114.JPG?et=bUL51mMg1rJYEplL1VxCEA&nmid=94549783" /> </center><center><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff00;">at the 3-Top at Terminal 3...</span></em></center><br /><br />I explored the <a href="http://www.changiairport.com/changi/en/airport_guide/exp_changi/nature_trail/sunflower_garden.html">Sunflower Garden</a> and <a href="http://www.changiairport.com/changi/en/airport_guide/exp_changi/nature_trail/koi_pond.html?__locale=en">Koi Pond</a>, rested at the <a href="http://www.changiairport.com/changi/en/airport_guide/exp_changi/entertainment/entertainment_deck.html">entertainment deck </a>for awhile and then went shopping for some chocolates for my nephew, <a href="http://www.charleskeith.com/">Charles and Keith</a> bag for my sis and sunglasses for me :)<br /><br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/3/photos/38/600x600/35/100_3125.JPG?et=tk%2COayfFOEmNRHSnonVYYA&nmid=94549783" width="320" /> </center><center><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff00;">at the sunflower garden atop Terminal 2</span></em></center><center><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/2/photos/38/600x600/38/100_3140.JPG?et=ljyHAx8SeaPTe%2Bj99i2c7Q&nmid=94549783" /></center><center><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff00;"><em>by the koi pond at Terminal 2... i love my cheap vintage style shirt!</em></span></center><br /><br />More <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Uniquely Singapore</span></strong> sights <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/38">here</a>...<br /><br />Yeah. Suffice it to say that I'll be out of moolah for the next coupla weeks after this Singapore vacation! :p~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-79956475569416080772008-05-05T15:09:00.017+08:002008-12-10T08:11:53.752+08:00::. EI ASEAN CONFERENCE @ BINTAN, INDONESIA .::<div align="left">Flew off to Singapore last April 27 (Sunday) on the first flight SQ915 at 8:20AM. Didn't have to line up for check-in coz I already printed my boarding pass and chose my seat via KrisFlyer's internet check-in :)<br /><br />From Singapore's Changi Airport, we proceeded to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to catch the 2pm ferry to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bintan">Bintan Island </a>in Indonesia. The ferry ride was horrible! The floating platform at the boarding area was so wobbly that we got a bit dizzy already... and we're not even IN the boat yet! I had to make a little jump at the cue ("go!") of the crew who were holding us as we jumped into the ferry. {On our ferry back to Singapore, as I was jumping off the boat, I probably looked nervous coz the crew member who was assisting me said<em> "Don't worry, Miss." </em>} You know that lurching feeling inside your stomach when you ride <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r32SUR9vdKs&feature=related">Anchors Away </a>at Enchanted Kingdom? Imagine feeling that for an hour and a half! Yeah, riding the Arung Mendara ferry to Bintan was THAT bad. But thanks to Pfizer's <a href="http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20(General%20Monographs-%20B)/BONAMINE.html">Bonamine</a>, I did not have to use the blue motion sickness bag:) My officemates Jane, Vic and Bianx all had motion sickness and Ed had to attend to Jane & Bianx while I attended to Vic. We weren't able to eat lunch before we rode the ferry so we were so famished by the time we got to Bintan. By the way, Indonesia was 1 hour behind Phils./S'pore time.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lilwd0Z36ciuDNtNXm3AUdOmcXBTiKuZUaGW4BF42bRSzHfgHCWQYj7VKCrbs4xG06goPMUCRivennP-o_34hZ4YQ9oBa2gTD__uXBDMhHl0cjdvtER6OwA9QmzM8boSlSwXhg/s1600-h/bintanlagoonresort.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196805062617438274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lilwd0Z36ciuDNtNXm3AUdOmcXBTiKuZUaGW4BF42bRSzHfgHCWQYj7VKCrbs4xG06goPMUCRivennP-o_34hZ4YQ9oBa2gTD__uXBDMhHl0cjdvtER6OwA9QmzM8boSlSwXhg/s640/bintanlagoonresort.jpg" width="500" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">the hotel lobby and the fish faucet that fascinated me...</span></em> </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEOWAfRbSjdR6E5LmRz__po4cZTuSFCdfPP-DPzPiXuXa1lXMjJv-d3x0jPOTZvMlP0r__jf3Ag9OYiegSQxj3L_25hIHWaFybEbcx_8_05hitHp-IjYR7C_9nejFbbmMTBl_Ew/s3200-h/bintandolls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196805058322470962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEOWAfRbSjdR6E5LmRz__po4cZTuSFCdfPP-DPzPiXuXa1lXMjJv-d3x0jPOTZvMlP0r__jf3Ag9OYiegSQxj3L_25hIHWaFybEbcx_8_05hitHp-IjYR7C_9nejFbbmMTBl_Ew/s640/bintandolls.jpg" border="0" /> </a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">beautifully crafted indonesian dolls/puppets for sale at the hotel shop...</span></em> <p></p><p><br />Upon arrival at <a href="http://web.bintanlagoon.com/index.htm">Bintan Lagoon Resort</a>, the first few things we saw in our room was a can of Baygon spray and packs of a local insect repellent. Hmm. That didn't offer a comforting thought. I guess we were in the company of a variety of island bugs, yikes! True enough, our al fresco welcome dinner by the beach was occasionally marked with a small insect drowning on the strawberry syrup for the dessert cakes and some big bugs flying over our starry starry night sky.<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6-ZenejOA7jlBrjApTz18gKce7aPN_22-gbQuQ4DU9WSOVeUrcPB0xc7J4PiVllDMZfP2dAaztc0F22UG0tDuLvhrv3K2fj_k8BX_R_X9041P1iftfRZ5lLLVQ8kRQoafFgVpQ/s1600-h/insect+repellent.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196803787012151330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6-ZenejOA7jlBrjApTz18gKce7aPN_22-gbQuQ4DU9WSOVeUrcPB0xc7J4PiVllDMZfP2dAaztc0F22UG0tDuLvhrv3K2fj_k8BX_R_X9041P1iftfRZ5lLLVQ8kRQoafFgVpQ/s320/insect+repellent.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">tourists beware... arm thyself with this!</span></em><br /></p><br /><br />We were basically cooped up in our conference room from April 28 to 29 as we listened to everyone's presentations regarding marketing/sales strategies, a Fuji vs. HD vs. Kodak case study and an interesting Digital (HD) vs. Film presentation from a guest cinematographer from Singapore. The team went to the hotel's videoke after dinner on the 28th but I wasn't able to get a chance to enjoy it coz I, along with two of my Singaporean colleagues in charge of inventory had to access our ERP system that night... had to do some urgent work done coz we were having an inventory discrepancy back in the Philippines <em>(ugh! I didn't even get to drink the margarita I ordered at the videoke bar!)</em><br /><br />We had a free night to ourselves on the 29th so Vic and I joined our Thai colleagues for a night out of the hotel. Upon our local contact's recommendation, we went to this tourist plaza called <strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Pasar Oleh Oleh</span></strong>. Not much, really. Just some restaurants serving local food and a number of shops selling expensive (rip-off!) tourist souvenirs. I was liking this small wooden jar <em>(about the size of a Clinique All About Eyes jar)</em> with a bright intricately painted design but it costed around Php500. No way! So anyway, we ate our dinner at <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Cafe Helo Helo</span></strong> wherein we ordered garlic fried Shrimp, Tom Yam soup, grilled fish and fried cuttlefish. Twas a good meal for about SGD 16.50/head (about Php511).<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY9Iw5e8oGt0CatQ67nD2HBYQQV4B3PfdJ7TACoGG011KyW41q28Kr9IMOx_35HcTUg1zGN0PN1QUrY-KpqOaQVzwSg_DvzbHnjnKjx3KZT72hRAlgamV4JkW_BZfDokbtICgug/s1600-h/pasaroleholeh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196805066912405586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY9Iw5e8oGt0CatQ67nD2HBYQQV4B3PfdJ7TACoGG011KyW41q28Kr9IMOx_35HcTUg1zGN0PN1QUrY-KpqOaQVzwSg_DvzbHnjnKjx3KZT72hRAlgamV4JkW_BZfDokbtICgug/s320/pasaroleholeh.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">the entrance to pasar oleh oleh</span></em></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4v6TbPhVtB0A3eC5Ni4mJha9QPr8Wh_kVO73SJVCFELQ5PfGYqO0YWdqnu2w1ZEpapD0K80S1F3txuFKsywB_ri161oL07NTS5n3zuuTp420vWwp0vlsqM__s-e_rMQ73uffq5A/s1600-h/cafehelohelo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196806028985079922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4v6TbPhVtB0A3eC5Ni4mJha9QPr8Wh_kVO73SJVCFELQ5PfGYqO0YWdqnu2w1ZEpapD0K80S1F3txuFKsywB_ri161oL07NTS5n3zuuTp420vWwp0vlsqM__s-e_rMQ73uffq5A/s320/cafehelohelo.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"> the facade of cafe helo helo</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"></span></em></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pp-MjlFdkU8uE_M2IC_JHQeRlMWXVS-IaMwwWwCvzFdWe8HyGfP4Rg2CrwS1arRtHZSaWTYN-2l0IBXR5-SY_2zkoWCp_Btgxr5Fi3DEKKPPg723xfMcZ6Oer2_mut3dfIBcDg/s1600-h/bintangbeer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196806037575014530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pp-MjlFdkU8uE_M2IC_JHQeRlMWXVS-IaMwwWwCvzFdWe8HyGfP4Rg2CrwS1arRtHZSaWTYN-2l0IBXR5-SY_2zkoWCp_Btgxr5Fi3DEKKPPg723xfMcZ6Oer2_mut3dfIBcDg/s320/bintangbeer.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"> bintang beer served on a heineken mug, hehe...</span></em></p><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"></span></em><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1xaanoW1U8eZgHpYU2rBQomIRhAckPUbgH8ZfP4LzE9Fw9hr7UfvNSVLzbRX3wyKtC6_020eI_lAkFPRqqNGA6J7V5V8pf2dq2aZospGdSVOlUvKQ8g0LHCdJ471SM7W0tH2GQ/s1600-h/bintanhut.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196806037575014546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1xaanoW1U8eZgHpYU2rBQomIRhAckPUbgH8ZfP4LzE9Fw9hr7UfvNSVLzbRX3wyKtC6_020eI_lAkFPRqqNGA6J7V5V8pf2dq2aZospGdSVOlUvKQ8g0LHCdJ471SM7W0tH2GQ/s320/bintanhut.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">a traditional hut at the middle of the plaza</span></em> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIj3uNumaPiI4YSjJBZlUW11iJKFdq6Wuq_jOkPGUtZdlT3uG7S4bVEIlTkd6G9D-fuh6Z0o5DFEjGnDlsB034Jc_CQzzxUu6gkZ8g2heJkQiWuJ8o-3bnK0GNAqCi7jQAYlA7Gg/s1600-h/pasaroleholeh+group.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196805066912405602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIj3uNumaPiI4YSjJBZlUW11iJKFdq6Wuq_jOkPGUtZdlT3uG7S4bVEIlTkd6G9D-fuh6Z0o5DFEjGnDlsB034Jc_CQzzxUu6gkZ8g2heJkQiWuJ8o-3bnK0GNAqCi7jQAYlA7Gg/s640/pasaroleholeh+group.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;"> group picture at the entrance</span></em> </p><p></p><p>On April 30, we had a team building at the Adventure Training Centre, conducted by <a href="http://www.focusadventure.com/">Focus Adventure</a>. Man, I am so not outdoorsy but I had fun doing the giant seesaw thing :) Didn't have as much fun though on the wooden skis thing coz it was so exhausting to pull the ropes up -- I had chafed my palms red in the process :( Had to hold ice cubes on my hand to relieve the redness. BUt anyway, overall, the team building day was fun. But come night time when we were already in Singapore, I felt my upper thighs ache from all that effort I don't normally exert everyday.</p><p><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/36/600x600/6/DSC07224.jpg?et=25VQpar32loGLqOSRK1agg&nmid=94481923" /> </center><center><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">go team goooo!</span></em><br /><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/36/600x600/9/DSC07262.jpg?et=JoEyX%2BcbJuz50iGsfv9hFw&nmid=94481923" /> </center><center><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">the giant seesaw: a balancing act<br /></span></em><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/7/photos/36/600x600/15/DSC07337.jpg?et=UwRef3M5SYoQezSgWHRKPw&nmid=94481923" /> </center><center><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">the wooden skis: super effort walking and picking up of balls</span></em><br /><br />More photos of our team building <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/36#">here</a>...<br /></center>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-41945098104671609942008-04-20T14:42:00.003+08:002008-04-20T14:58:49.781+08:00::. DAVID COOK ROCKS! .::<center><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a8j0_qfxL-0&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a8j0_qfxL-0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></center><p><br /><br />Okay, so that awesome <strong><span style="color:#66ffff;">'Always be my Baby'</span></strong> number that <a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/david_cook/"><strong>David Cook</strong> </a>did in the recent Mariah Carey week in American Idol totally blew me away. I was half-sleeping as I was watching the re-run around 11:30PM last Wed and I literally rose from my lazy sleepy mode to a full-attention indian sit close to my TV. Mind-blowingly f'n awesome rocked-out version of one of my favorite Mariah hits! I loooove it! So now I officially have a crush on the word nerd. He actually looks better now after that haircut/makeover that took away my attention from his huge forehead. He does look arrogant sometimes but hey, he's got talent! His AI performances Hello and Billie Jean are on my iPod. And now I have both the studio and AI live version of Always be my baby.<br /><br />I do hope he wins!!! David C. vs. David A.! I hope he doesn't become like <span style="color:#ffff66;">Chris Daughtry </span>who got eliminated in AI two seasons ago(?). </p><p> </p><a href="http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/04/large_idol7-cook.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/04/large_idol7-cook.jpg" border="0" /></a>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-29134495703337603172008-03-30T17:18:00.006+08:002008-12-10T08:11:53.951+08:00::. I LOVE MY CROCS! .::Okay. So I am now a <a href="http://www.crocs.com/">Crocs</a> convert. I used to not understand the concept of why people were wearing those funny looking McDonald-ish shoes. But eversince Crocs came out with narrower shoes that have almost the same width as regular shoes, I slowly accepted the possibility of wearing a Crocs. My pair of old flat casual sandals were literally destroyed while I was walking one time near the SM Makati MRT station so I was hunting for comfy flat casuals to replace it. I eventually stumbled upon a pair of cute Crocs at the SM Department store but they did not have my size. Went to Rustans but I had no luck either. Got the phone numbers of the Crocs in Trinoma, Serendra, ATC and MOA and after making some phone calls, I was lucky to find my coveted pair on stock at MOA. So on my lunch break last Friday, I made a quick trip to MOA to purchase my first pair of Crocs --a <a href="http://shop.crocs.com/pc-825-4-malindi.aspx?reqid=825&reqProdTypeId=41p&subsectionname=footwear&section=products">Malindi</a> in Cotton Candy. I actually thought of buying the color Turquoise but I thought it was harder to pair it off with an outfit... light pink was easier to be worn with whatever color. As an afterthought, I also bought a pair of skulls<a href="http://shop.crocs.com/jibbitz.aspx?From=jibbitz&reqid=1007&reqProdTypeId=4&subsectionname=footwear&section=products"> jibbitz</a> to make my shoes funkier. Those freaking jibbitz are such a rip-off though. Php150 for one piece?!? Crazy! I will look for knock-off jibbitz the next time around... I'm sure they abound somewhere...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3of6FzWs1rUa44eLezJhkCD_OdbFGjkZMUGnTvQYs0rjFbv7nN-CliD7g68D-EsfDhZrTknE7RcJBV2g4tyC9pfQKnb_qhSVX03ta3C32ori7A8_ll4VdXlEreqs8HZ3d2cl-w/s1600-h/crocs+malindi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183465114754564386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3of6FzWs1rUa44eLezJhkCD_OdbFGjkZMUGnTvQYs0rjFbv7nN-CliD7g68D-EsfDhZrTknE7RcJBV2g4tyC9pfQKnb_qhSVX03ta3C32ori7A8_ll4VdXlEreqs8HZ3d2cl-w/s320/crocs+malindi.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I totally love how my Crocs feel. It's soooo soft I wanna wear it at the office everyday! I'll save up for more pairs in the future... perhaps a Ruby Red/Chocolate/Black <a href="http://shop.crocs.com/pc-454-4-sueded-alice.aspx?reqid=454&reqProdTypeId=41p&subsectionname=footwear&section=products">Sueded Alice </a>or a Chocolate/Cotton Candy<a href="http://shop.crocs.com/pc-1174-4-cyprus.aspx?reqid=1174&reqProdTypeId=41p&subsectionname=footwear&section=products"> Cyprus </a>(I haven't seen this model though locally).~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-20402521510760173202008-03-30T15:50:00.009+08:002008-12-10T08:11:54.081+08:00::. KOTA KELUARGA .::<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP4FNRf-_UvCT6nrYJk64QlEU118UPxkghywH9qCho2xk6UAdkHEN_HlY3Nc9slhyphenhyphenZhLO5Ox1GaeWBAGZaazaNsBRhfRmqJBxsrTX-aRTX0vGn5mgZfHo4j3ET50WyAZOipD2tA/s1600-h/sunrise.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183442789514559730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP4FNRf-_UvCT6nrYJk64QlEU118UPxkghywH9qCho2xk6UAdkHEN_HlY3Nc9slhyphenhyphenZhLO5Ox1GaeWBAGZaazaNsBRhfRmqJBxsrTX-aRTX0vGn5mgZfHo4j3ET50WyAZOipD2tA/s320/sunrise.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Spent the whole Saturday at <a href="http://www.kotakeluarga.com/home.htm"><strong>Kota Keluarga</strong> </a>in San Juan, Batangas with my cousins for some summer sun at the beach. Got a henna tattoo on my right ankle, ate lunch while I waited for the henna to dry and then headed to the beach! <center><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/?action=view&current=hennatattoo.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/hennatattoo.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></a></center><br /><br />It was only my second time to snorkel so my cousin's family friend whom they call Lolo Tisoy taught me some basics of snorkeling. I was having a hard time shifting directions while wearing fins so I swallowed salt water twice while I struggled with my snorkel. I probably need a lot of getting used to swimming with fins... I manage to float just wearing fins<em> (no lifevest)</em> but I just can't do a good turn while wearing them. I was first "trained" at the shallow part of the water and then our party of 5 <em>(my cousins have started scuba diving a few months ago...)</em> headed to the deeper part of the beach. I ditched the fins coz it would only make my life difficult. Just wore a lifevest instead. I think we were snorkling for a good 30 minutes or probably more... I dunno what the salt water fishes are called but anyway, they were like black angel fishes, some black & white striped cichlid-looking fishes, some yellow fishes... Nothing as breathtaking as the underwater life I saw at Mantigue Island (Camiguin) though...</div><br /><center><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/?action=view&current=snorkeling.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/snorkeling.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/?action=view&current=underwater.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/underwater.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/?action=view&current=kotakeluarga.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/kotakeluarga.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br /><br /><div>After taking a bath in the late afternoon, my cousin and I trekked towards the stony right side of the cove. Did some picture-taking over there...</div><br /><center><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/?action=view&current=peekaboo.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/peekaboo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/?action=view&current=memaan.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/meyj/kota%20keluarga/memaan.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br /><br />More photos at my <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/35">multiply</a>...~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-7187445360530283602008-03-22T13:10:00.004+08:002008-12-10T08:11:54.202+08:00::. VISITA IGLESIA 2008 .::<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNNpfpkZm2O59xonxApF3Uj8QgX_sPu0pIJzlSaplRbkQ2v9JIGfYWtsmKbTffrDo7agpGglmQV75koDAHHP-vJgLwCLxczKrcYasRcpihV0dUW1Z4cahXTaUfMEE0j_0mQvXZA/s1600-h/visitaiglesia2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180437575127744738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNNpfpkZm2O59xonxApF3Uj8QgX_sPu0pIJzlSaplRbkQ2v9JIGfYWtsmKbTffrDo7agpGglmQV75koDAHHP-vJgLwCLxczKrcYasRcpihV0dUW1Z4cahXTaUfMEE0j_0mQvXZA/s400/visitaiglesia2008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <center><em><span style="font-size:85%;">more photos at </span></em><a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/34"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">multiply</span></em></a> </center><br /><br /><div>Our family had our annual Visita Iglesia last Maundy Thursday. We prayed the Stations of the Cross in the following churches:<br /><br /><br /><ol><br /><li><strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Sto. Rosario Parish</span></strong> - Pacita Complex I, San Pedro, Laguna</li><br /><li><strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">St. Peregrine Parish</span></strong> - Tunasan, Muntinlupa <em>(where a piece of rib from <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=237">St. Peregrine Laziosi</a>'s incorruptible body is enshrined)</em></li><br /><li><strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Sto. Nino de Cebu Parish</span></strong> - Binan, Laguna</li><br /><li><strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Our Lady of Candelaria Church</span></strong> - Silang, Cavite</li><br /><li><a href="http://www.inangpag-asa.com/inp/shrines/shrine1.htm"><strong>National Shrine of Our Lady of La Sallete</strong> </a>- Silang, Cavite</li><br /><li><strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Parish of St. Joseph</span></strong> - Las Pinas (home of the famous <a href="http://bambooorgan.org/the_instrument.htm">bamboo organ</a>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew_Parish_Church"><strong>Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew</strong></a> - Paranaque</li></ol></div>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-19360597731997804172008-03-08T22:40:00.014+08:002008-12-10T08:11:54.402+08:00::. THE CARNAGE .::<center><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tWr_LAiOhAA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tWr_LAiOhAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriRQio0yiY-hOjbG-cJGNlUUxYnpYetW3izbZuhT6wiCejjGnyC2Aj5oaNTnqhCGdwxRLXrcXb1wNL4-umstDO4O4tktOsLZ0Zxir_SXKjkjEmFti2mNO8QnXvNi2tQy2wIu16g/s1600-h/otbdec42004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175382395115482898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriRQio0yiY-hOjbG-cJGNlUUxYnpYetW3izbZuhT6wiCejjGnyC2Aj5oaNTnqhCGdwxRLXrcXb1wNL4-umstDO4O4tktOsLZ0Zxir_SXKjkjEmFti2mNO8QnXvNi2tQy2wIu16g/s320/otbdec42004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well Kanye West says that <strong>"now that don't kill me can only make me stronger."</strong> Sure. Let me save that mental thought for inspiration.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">Goodbye to you...</span></strong><br />I received the bad news on March 6. Feb 7, 2009. Wow. Save the date everyone.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Goodbye to you</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Goodbye to everything I thought I knew</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">You were the one I loved</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The one thing that I tried to hold on to</span></em><br /><br />Carnage. Total carnage. My heart bled into a million pieces. I was devastated. Massive heart attack. I thought I was gonna shit in my pants and vomit at the same time. I suddenly had an upset stomach, cold hands and a burning feeling on my neck amidst my palpitating heart. Now I'm currently having emotional stress-induced asthma symptoms.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">What hurts the most...</span></strong><br />It was a horrible feeling to have every memory rush back in my mind at lightning speed. And even in random unguarded moments, a snippet of memory cruelly sneaks into my thoughts. That's torture. I wish I could have something like that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacunar_amnesia">lacunar amnesia </a>thing in the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">What hurts the most<br />Was being so close<br />And having so much to say<br />And watching you walk away<br />And never knowing<br />What could have been</span></em><br /><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;"><strong>Much has been said...</strong><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Why did it have to be harder than it had to be? </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>It wasn't supposed to end with us just walking away </em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Can't describe the way it felt<br />When you left said you goodbyes<br />It just seems crazy for me to think<br />That i found love the same time<br />But we all know <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2006/10/animosity-i-write-sins-not-tragedies.html">how it all wraps up in the end</a></em></span><a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2006/10/animosity-i-write-sins-not-tragedies.html"> </a><br /><br />You know that terrible feeling when it suddenly dawns on you that you have been abandoned and you have been waiting for three months for nothing? I can't see why I put my hopes up and led myself to believe that he will be different that time when I knew full well that <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2006/10/burning-streets-of-love-and-hate.html">he will always be who he was.</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;"><strong>Light years away...</strong><br /></span><em><span style="font-size:85%;">It's almost like you had it planned<br />It's like you smiled and shook my hand and said<br />"Hey, I'm about to screw you over, big time" </span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">It's how you wanted it to be<br />It's like you played a joke on me<br />And I lost a friend<br />In the end</span></em><br /><br />We've never been lovers now we're not even friends. Such a shame. He would have been a nice friend to keep.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">You won't see me crying...<br /></span></strong>This will always be a tainted song. There will never be a time that I will not remember when I hear this song.<br /><br />Duets suck.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Tell me it's not over now, will you?<br />So I won't be hangin' around<br />And you won't see me crying</span></em><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Sorry...</span><br /></strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I just poured my heart out<br />there's bits of it on the floor<br />And I take what's left of it and rinse it under cold water<br />And call him up for more</span></em><br /><br />Crumbs. <a href="http://lilacstardust.blogspot.com/2006/05/leftovers.html">I felt like I was eating crumbs </a>he throws my way whenever he felt like it. Oh what a lovely feeling, isn't it?<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;"><strong>Tomorrow...</strong><br /></span><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I dont know how I'll feel tomorrow<br />I dont know what to say tomorrow<br />Tomorrow is a different day<br />And I know I'm not ready</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Maybe tomorrow</span></em><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">Crazy love...<br /></span></strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Tonight I'm gonna break away<br />Just you wait and see<br />I've never been imprisoned by<br />A faded memory</span></em><br /><br />Must. Stop. Being. Stupid. I know that.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">No ordinary morning...</span><br /></strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">If there was nothing that I could say<br />Turned your back and you just walked away<br />Leaves me numb inside I think of you<br />Together is all I knew<br /><br />We moved too fast but I had no sign<br />I would try to turn the hands of time<br />Then look to you for the reason why<br />The love we had passed me by<br /><br />In the darkness that surrounds me now<br />there is no peace of mind<br />Your careless words undo me,<br />leave the thought of us behind<br /></span></em>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-71988001606082096062008-03-08T20:26:00.006+08:002008-12-10T08:11:54.485+08:00::. DANNY NORIEGA OFF AI - T.M.T.H.! .::<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_wC82aBeDDmIUqCIEzJar1wBPerGWrLGB3-Iomt7zGgIeDJY8TI-gRo4MXHugQGWPZfUTACUx2jXsKyuId3luc9JxAhvYhl336_A6_Z0_hf3bqhLDfDWFvmT2x7fCxMciIhB9A/s1600-h/dannynoriega.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175357041923534594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_wC82aBeDDmIUqCIEzJar1wBPerGWrLGB3-Iomt7zGgIeDJY8TI-gRo4MXHugQGWPZfUTACUx2jXsKyuId3luc9JxAhvYhl336_A6_Z0_hf3bqhLDfDWFvmT2x7fCxMciIhB9A/s320/dannynoriega.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>Among all <em>other </em>things that made me sad this week was the fact that my favorite gay guy on tv got booted out of American Idol :-(<br /><br />I sure liked watching Danny Noriega on AI. As someone's comment on <a href="http://www.rickey.org/?p=7233#more-7233">http://www.rickey.org/?p=7233#more-7233</a> states: <span style="color:#00cccc;"><strong><em>"...he may not be the best singer.. but my goodness, he is really entertaining!"</em><br /></strong></span><br />I'm gonna miss the double head snaps, ish and T.M.T.H. <em>Awww.<br /></em><br />Well, lots of press coverage going on about Danny... there's the <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/video/item/12">infamous old Christmas video</a>... there's this <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/05/a-i-contestants-at-risk-past/">news about him attending an "at-risk" high school</a>. </div><div></div><div>Sigh. AI will be a little less fun to watch now that he/she is gone :(</div>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-76650667700890396262008-02-29T22:06:00.008+08:002008-02-29T23:31:13.986+08:00::. AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 7 MUSINGS .::<img src="http://www.americanidol.com/media/contestants/season7/thumbs/david_a.jpg" align="left" /> <strong>DAVID ARCHULETA</strong> - this adorable kid is my #1 bet for this season. He does sound too nasal at times but nevertheless, he definitely has the talent & charisma to make it to the final 3. He seems very humble and he's totally adorable when he chuckles over compliments thrown at him. Sooo cute. As Paula said, you just want to squish him and dangle him from your rear view mirror (or something to that effect.)<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.americanidol.com/media/contestants/season7/thumbs/danny.jpg" align="left" /> <strong>DANNY NORIEGA</strong> - he (she?) is a good performer... not a super good singer but I love watching him (her?) He is as entertaining as <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/4/bios/index.php?cat=designer&p=christian">Christian Siriano of Project Runway</a>... I like his snappy/sassy exchanges with Simon. Double snaps! Saw his early teenage photos shown during his profile? He makes a pretty girl. I envy his nicely shaped eyebrows! So chic!<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.americanidol.com/media/contestants/season7/thumbs/jason_c.jpg" align="left" /> <strong>JASON CASTRO</strong> - quite a cool dude with dreadlocks :) His guitar playing makes him an interesting performer. I actually liked his modern rendition of the Beegees song.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.americanidol.com/media/contestants/season7/thumbs/david_c.jpg" align="left" /> <strong>DAVID COOK</strong> - Ahh, the rockin' self-proclaimed word nerd. Geek is the new chic. I like his rocker voice. He pulls off the rocker appeal better as compared to (now eliminated) Robbie Carrico.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/luke_menard/">LUKE MENARD </a>- Orlando Bloom, is that you? He is good looking but I smell a hint of gay. Especially after I saw him dance at the background while someone else was performing on stage. Got a Kenny Loggins voice but his theatrical performance sometimes doesn't do it for me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/david_hernandez/">DAVID HERNANDEZ </a>- Ahh, if there were nude photos of Antonella Barba last season... well this season's hot gossip is that <a href="http://votefortheworst.com/20080223/david_hernandez_gay_stripper">he is gay and he used to work in a gay night club.</a> He can sing well but I don't exactly like his performances so far.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/jason_yeager/">JASON YEAGER </a>- He's been eliminated and it's okay with me. I am quite annoyed at how he sings and smiles at the same time. I can't stand it. He can sing but his constant smiling while singing really peeves me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/michael_johns/">MICHAEL JOHNS</a> - Nothing really memorable. I think he's kinda good looking. I don't remember any of his performances at all.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/chikezie/">CHIKEZIE EZE</a> - I actually liked him during his audition. He's got the soul/r&b voice going. I love saying his name chikezie eze... easy breezy.<br /><br />I am not as enthusiastic in watching the girls' performances though so I have no female favorites really. Well <a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/ramiele_malubay/">RAMIELE MALUBAY</a> is a Filipina, so GOOO PINOY!!! She reminds me of Lilo (<em>Disney's Lilo & Stitch</em>). Her first performance of <em>You Don't Have to Say You Love me</em> is such a trademark Pinoy videoke number.<br /><br />I don't really care much as to which of the girls leave but please, I just wish <a href="http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season7/amanda_overmyer/">AMANDA OVERMYER </a>gets eliminated next week. I just simply can't stand watching her. Literally. I switch channels. It's probably the big Cruella De Vil - Simba hybrid hair that puts me off. And probably because she also reminds me of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilana">Dilana </a>of RockStar Supernova. It's like she's in the wrong reality show. Oh well.~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-37530304192430277282008-02-25T15:13:00.005+08:002008-02-25T15:37:28.436+08:00::. DEMAND FOR JOSIAH LEMING IN MANILA .::There's a "Demand It" button over at Josiah Leming's MySpace... yeehaa!<br /><center><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://eventful.com/demand/D0-001-001466579-7/sticker.js?layout=large&theme=western"></script><br /><br /></center>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-70444207499736253902008-02-24T18:18:00.004+08:002008-03-30T16:30:18.710+08:00::. MY COUSIN'S WEDDING .::My cousin Cholo flew in from the US to have his wedding here in the Philippines. His wife Vanessa, his brother Nino & wife Marjorie, along with my tito and tita also flew in for the momentous family event. The wedding ceremony was at the grand Manila Cathedral and reception dinner was held at Manila Diamond Hotel.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/2/photos/33/600x600/30/100_2667.JPG?et=vLHn9JiRUfkOFwHR2mvR9w&nmid=83420848" width="250" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">more photos at </span><a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/33/._MY_COUSINS_WEDDING_.#30"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/33/._MY_COUSINS_WEDDING_.#30</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></center>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-447091158038236632008-02-24T16:38:00.008+08:002008-12-10T08:11:55.038+08:00::. ROBBERY INSIDE PINK SISTER'S TAGAYTAY .::<center><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ObMu2Y4zGgdHOlFdoIagdojTSkOb7IvGZkXTw1M1hq9914HWPO_RdA3x3QMMylJhu6i9AmqykZurQYQ4rLJeMR3s4Av8YrY2PlxhCjl9OGV2M4kMcifq_8QDDuIM_KDFe71RTA/s1600-h/Image000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170471187052963890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ObMu2Y4zGgdHOlFdoIagdojTSkOb7IvGZkXTw1M1hq9914HWPO_RdA3x3QMMylJhu6i9AmqykZurQYQ4rLJeMR3s4Av8YrY2PlxhCjl9OGV2M4kMcifq_8QDDuIM_KDFe71RTA/s320/Image000.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ffff;">the neatly cut glass left on the floor at the back seat</span></em> </div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oWmiCh7T06zrPekRKEc1sUQFPJskYrJXc3R3r3V07AQxLD-lO0X5-if8cFB4gx3DzVgZtB1zUUgVTY9H0UCRuBPg65u0nNeb40pfB9Am7NrhWXqiWvg_fqPkzXofKbTGmyCWOg/s1600-h/100_2600a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170471028139173922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oWmiCh7T06zrPekRKEc1sUQFPJskYrJXc3R3r3V07AQxLD-lO0X5-if8cFB4gx3DzVgZtB1zUUgVTY9H0UCRuBPg65u0nNeb40pfB9Am7NrhWXqiWvg_fqPkzXofKbTGmyCWOg/s320/100_2600a.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ffff;">the entire back window gone!</span></em></center><br /><br />On our way back to Manila after our planning session at Tagaytay Highlands last Feb 22, we stopped by <strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Pink Sisters</span></strong> for a quick visit. We were originally intending to buy some tarts at Angel Hills but it was on a "by order" basis so we just decided to drop by Pink Sisters to pray in the convent's church. We parked on the new parking lot across the church. We came in two vehicles: I rode with my officemate in her Toyota Vios while my other two colleagues were in a Kia Sorento. My officemate parked her car on the left side, probably like the 5th parking slot or so. Our other officemate parked on the right side just near the parking entrance, could be the 1st or 2nd parking slot. Anyway, we were only gone for abot 15 minutes to pray inside the church. When we went back to the car, I was stunned to see my officemate's car window at the back passenger side totally gone! I immediately told her that her window was broken and at first, I thought it was hit by a stone or something and then the next second, I realized it was a robbery! Her [company-issued] laptop and hand bag with some cash & digicam were stolen from the back seat! It could clearly be seen that her window was NOT simply smashed but it was cut (by a diamond cutter perhaps) in two strategic directions and then probably pushed to totally give. She also left her celfone charging on the dashboard slot but it was not stolen coz the thief/thieves were probably in a hurry. Our overnight bags inside the trunk were untouched. I did not lose anything coz I always brought my handbag with me wherever I go.<br /><br />Horrible, horrible! The lone security guard who was posted right by the door of the church said he did not see anything and he said he has gone to eat his lunch <em>(which I doubt, that in a span of 15mins he left his post coz when I went out of the church to take its picture after being inside for abt 5 mins, the guard was still there. I went inside again and a few minutes after, me and my officemates went out and hung out by the garden right in front of the church as we waited for our other officemate to finish praying inside. I clearly remember the guard still seated there on his post.) </em>The only suspect was this espasol vendor who was there at the parking lot when we left our car. Veggie vendors who had a good view of the entire parking lot from the perimeter fence of the convent said they saw nothing/no one except for the espasol vendor. From where the guard was stationed, the area where we parked cannot be fully seen. What can be seen from there was just the tops of the parked cars.<br /><br />We don't know who did this. The espasol guy may or may not be involved. For all we know, there might have been a vehicle who just parked beside my officemate's car and could have quickly done the crime in less than 5 minutes and left the church without raising any suspicion. Who knows, really?! The police said it was the first time for something like this to happen inside the Pink Sisters convent. There were reported <em>bukas-kotse</em> incidents in Tagaytay restuarant/fast food areas but not at the church.<br /><br />It's still unbelievable how something like this could happen inside a quiet and holy area like Pink Sisters. It feels kinda surreal for me when I clearly remember that second in my mind when I saw the broken window. Horrible, horrible.~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-46768221416807428642008-02-24T15:17:00.004+08:002008-02-24T16:06:47.136+08:00::. PLANNING SESSION @ TAGAYTAY .::<center><img height="250" src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/32/600x600/1/100_2544.JPG?et=R1m808XxKKT7VBSWN3XrwQ&nmid=83400680" /><img height="250" src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/32/600x600/8/100_2556.JPG?et=kPI2alai8JYkiDMrn69hHg&nmid=83400680" /> </center><center><span style="color:#ffff33;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">foggy tagaytay highlands</span><br /></em></span></center><br /><br />Me and my officemates held our annual planning session at<a href="http://www.tagaytayhighlands.com/"> Tagaytay Highlands </a>wherein we were cooped up at the Texas room of Highlander Steakhouse the entire day of Feb 21 and the morning of Feb 22. It was cold weather to begin with in Tagaytay and way up at Highlands, it was super super windy, foggy and cold. I remembered Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day! Sulit the jacket and the muffler I was wearing but I did wish I wore rubber shoes with warm socks instead of sandals. I was like <em>"oh gee, watch my toe nails turn pale purple in the cold!"...</em><br /><em></em><br />We had a hearty lunch of a 10 oz. rib eye steak which is so so huge that I only managed to eat 3/4 of it and I lessened my intake of baked potato and veggie sidings to accommodate more steak since it's such a waste not to finish the juicy yummy steak.<br /><br />After the day's meeting, we proceeded to <a href="http://www.theboutiquebnb.com/index.html">The Boutique Bed and Breakfast </a>near Day's Inn. The four of us split into two rooms: <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">I Escape</span></strong> and <strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">I Dream</span></strong>. It is more oriented towards couples hieing off to Tagaytay for a getaway -- this we realized after having a long laugh over discovering that our room's had umm sexy CRs. Our room, <strong>I Dream</strong> <em>(its immaculate white bed pictured below),</em> had a completely see-through glass panel beside the shower wherein one can be seen in all his/her bathing glory from the private terrace and also by the rest of the Taal people down below. I called it "The Pornstar CR"! The other room,<strong> I Escape</strong>, had a see through glass panel with a view of the garden and also a glass door for the CR such that one can see you doing number one or two on the toilet seat! Not a comforting thought! And so they had the glass door covered with a piece of cloth. Actually, I Dream's CR had a piece of cloth as well which you can hang like a curtain on hooks installed on the glass panel's frame.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/32/600x600/13/100_2564.JPG?et=CvHuAEqGH9%2CpY4nW2a964A&nmid=83400680" width="200" /></center><center><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffff33;">our pornstar toilet & bath :)</span></em></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/32/600x600/12/100_2563.JPG?et=2PiJOtpg%2BrAhXPyYmCAwrw&nmid=83400680" width="200" align="left" />The hotel's room rate includes a complimentary 10-min. cold stone facial massage, choice of bath soap, shampoo & conditioner <em>(I loved the Lavender scents we chose!)</em> and room scent, and hot chocolate & churros served before you go to sleep. The hotel had an in-house Hawaiian restaurant. We just had salad & spicy chicken wings for dinner since we were still full from the steak we had during lunch. I had swedish massage in our room using a Jasmine Rose scented oil. It was a little bit hard to fall asleep though coz it was very windy outside and I could hear the terrace glass door vibrating and whathaveyous banging around due to the strong winds.<br /><br />more pictures at: <a href="http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/32">http://lilacstardust.multiply.com/photos/album/32</a>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5425143.post-88342189014635544902008-02-24T15:09:00.002+08:002008-02-24T15:17:06.152+08:00::. DINNER WITH MY MIRANDA COUSINS .::<center><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/5/photos/31/600x600/1/100_2533.JPG?et=V25KOTtRWCApeSxhtWen0g&nmid=83397798" /><br /><br /><img src="http://images.lilacstardust.multiply.com/image/4/photos/31/600x600/2/100_2534.JPG?et=Ek90KyDQMCGcCUkeP0oPgw&nmid=83397798" /><br /></center><p><br /><br />My cousin Cholo who resides in US is here in the Philippines for his wedding with Vanessa (who is also fr the US). His brother Nino and wife Marjorie also flew in from the States for the big family event. Being so, us Miranda cousins had a dinner get-together at <strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">Sentro </span></strong>(Greenbelt) last Tuesday Feb 19 :-) Missing in action were: Kuya Bernie, Kuya Arnold (who's in uhhh I forgot which Arab country he's in now...), Che Che, Maricar (uber busy with taking up Med at UST), Harmon & Jay. In attendance were: Me and my Ate Chinkee, Ate Christine, sisters Rin Rin & Maan, brothers Nino & Cholo with their wives Marjorie & Vanessa respectively. </p><p>Sentro's famous<strong><span style="color:#66ffff;"> sinigang na corned beef</span></strong> disappointed me this time. I first got to taste it back in, hmm, 2005 I think... and that was super good. However, last Tuesday's sinigang na corned beef was blah. The sizzling tofu appetizer was delicious though.</p><p>Ate Christine and I went home ahead of the rest after dinner. The rest of my cousins went to a comedy bar in QC to cap the night.</p>~*lilacstardust*~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777545382413453425noreply@blogger.com0