i took tons of pics that filled up my 4GB memory card. kelangan ko pang ayusin, that's my next personal project. i also plan to take up formal photography classes, if you know of some, share naman kayo!

also, congrats to Mimi and Karl, who are tying the knot this year in Boracay :)

w@w supplier of the year!

there's a whole lotta love in this post!

apologies for the multiple edits, something's not right with my multiply.

let's get into the new wave of hair fashion!!

ahahaha! kaloka :D straight from the 80s!

may isang commercial pa to e, yung may fairy pa na cartoon! can anyone relate? LOL!

i've been staring at this ring the whole day today. it's so different and the fact that it's shaped as the infinity symbol makes it a perfect wedding ring :)

the inscription reads: "Quietly now, the dreams are sleeping now it is time to live." -Montana Wojczuk. (Ring from Jeanine Payne)

i never wear any rings except for my engagement and wedding rings but i'd make an exception for this one :) i'd have it done in white gold too to match our wedding rings.

then i went over to mimi and karl's blog and saw their shot of jay and gracious' wedding bands. the couple's bands had the infinity symbol in between their initials :)

*sigh* to infinity and beyond indeed!

as rick astley sang before...together forever and never to part (LOL! panira ng mood!!)

go to google, type in "find chuck norris" then click on the "im feeling lucky" button.

try nyo ha? ha??

have a relaxing weekend everyone!

The news embargo was already broken by the international herald tribune, here are the details from Ding Gagelonia at his site: http://www.filipinovoices.com/the-abduction-of-ces-orena-drilon.

Ces Drilon and her two-member news crew went missing Saturday, June 7 but our sources confirmed they had actually been “abducted” after ABS-CBN network receIved the ransom demand. The story was also broken to media by the ARMM police chief Joel Goltiao. A text message is making the rounds quoting a ransom price considerably higher than that being reported by the Daily Tribune.

It remains unclear but it is reported that a certain Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo was in touch or was travelling with the ABS-CBN team of Ces. My sources tell me Ces herself decuded last Saturday to go on the coverage based on the tip that an unnamed ASG personality was “going to surrender.”

From the media reports now emerging, on Sunday morning Dinampo picked them up from the Mindanao State University hostel, and armed men identified as being under a certain ASG commander Albader Parad intercepted them as their vehicle passed through Kulasi village, ARMM police chief Joel Goltiao said.

The Maimbung police chief reported sightings in the Kulasi area and of people with a video camera inside a vehicle.

The Daily Tribune report written by its editor in chief, the feisty Ninez Cacho Olivares says the newspaper’s “intelligence sorce Drilon and her group “were last tracked somewhere at the foothills of Mt. Tumatangis, Indanan Sulu.

“We convened the provincial crisis management committee to send feelers to negotiate with the abductors, but the abductors have not yet said anything,” ARMM police chief Goltiao said by telephone, according to an AP wire story.

The report gives this further background: “Abu Sayyaf is estimated to have 380 fighters, down from more than 1,000 eight years ago. It has been weakened by U.S.-backed military offensives that have led to the killing and capture of many of its leaders and members.”

“But police said the militants have continued to plot attacks, including against U.S. soldiers who have been providing counter-terrorism training to Filipino troops in Jolo and nearby provinces.

Washington has blacklisted Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings, such as the 2001 abduction from a resort island of 21 people who included three Americans.

Philippine military and police officials say the group — which seeks a separate state for the country’s Muslim minority — has received training and funds from al-Qaida militants in the past.”

My own sources from at least two other major publications confirm the other details while ABS-CBN is set to issue an official statement on this breaking news within the day.

This writer knows Ces personally, having worked with her at the government-run Maharlike Broadcasting System, now NBN Channel 4, before EDSA 1. She is married to painter Rock Drilon, a nephew of former senate president Franklin Drilon.

This turn of events adds a disturbing dimension to the vents in Mindanao, coming as it does after the spate of bombings in Zamboanga and the Lanao provinces, and the skirmishes in Basilan involving either MILF, MNLF or Abu Sayyaf elements.

Whether authorities call these incidents terrorist attacks or banditry, the aspect of even working journalists being dragged into the fray despite their being civilian ‘non-combatants’ speaks volumes about the volatility of the situation and the lack of control government has in the troubled South.

We are sure the official line is that government will never negotiate with kidnappers, but the reality is different with conduits and back channels always the alternatives.

The foremost consideration always is the safe recovery of the victims.

ABS-CBN's official statement

whew! now i know!!  thanks god for teh interweb!

pics are from the book "Safe Baby Handling Tips" by David and Kelly Sopp

PEP (www.pep.ph) created these digital baby pics since people are speculating that vic sotto and pia guanio are going to marry soon.

eto sila:

pero nagulat ako when i started clicking the "next" link :(

syempre may girl din

                                       anubayan! i can't put my finger on it pero ang creepy lang talaga :(

conan o'brien's if they mated is funnier:

optimus prime + lord voldemort

=

bow!

More "If They Mated" pics here: If They Mated Archives

ron burgundy auditioning for ESPN's sportscenter  may your weekend be what you planned it to be

hehe funny little kid but she makes a lotta sense :D happy friday everyone! enjoy your weekends :D

(break muna from uploading all those wedding photos...di pa yun tapos! haha!)

I'm not going to say or post anything else about that $70,000 blog which has not been said or expressed by everyone and their lola. I will however post this article by Gibbs Cadiz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://gibbscadiz.multiply.com). His article, which is an observation on how everyone (and their lola) reacted to the blog,  absolutely hits the proverbial nail on the head. 

All together now: SCHA.DEN.FREU.DE!

“The hottest blog in the Net [today has been] variously described by Netizens as 'addicting,' 'engrossing' and 'revolutionary.' (Huh?)... Naming (big pop society) names and tagging them as cocaine users, freeloaders and wild clubbers, it makes Gossip Girl look like a Disney musical.

“The cyber sensation, which logged over 40,000 hits in its first four days, chronicles alleged shenanigans of local sosi peeps... The Third-World socialites are being accused of every crime and misdemeanor in the book--from grand larceny to substance abuse, from widely flaunted infidelities to poor personal hygiene. Makes show biz vixens look like vestal virgins.”

-- “Naming names: Online 'telenovela' indicts RP 'high' society”

Avenue Q defined schadenfreude as “Happiness at the misfortune of others.”

Dictionaries notwithstanding, I think a crucial element is lacking in that definition. There is nothing special about happiness at the misfortune of the sick, the poor, the weak and the helpless. That's just being mean and cruel.

But happiness at the misfortunes of the high and mighty, those that lord it over us in terms of wealth, influence, looks, exposure--now that's schadenfreude. Applied to this class of people, the German word just gleams with gloating, evil laftir, comeuppance.

Well, well, well, as Mcvie would say (kopita in between fingers a la Celia Rodriguez). Now that my own newspaper has picked it up: The hottest open secret in town these days is the mass schadenfreude being generated by this blog, which has replaced the late and much-lamented Soozyhopper as the source of all things vile and dirty about our so-called high-society set.

I plead prudence in not naming who these people are, because most of them are working as “columnists” in another paper. The charges, though, are pretty shocking: fraud, embezzlement, infidelity, incest, drug abuse, criminal cover-up--not to mention the more egregious sin that these pampered, privileged folks can commit: crassness, of the sort they'd consider most jologs in the rest of us.

The swarm of anonymous comments in the blog has pretty much gotten out of hand, with everyone dumping his or her vitriol on these society mainstays. Do they deserve it? The character assassinations, no. However, that's the price, I suppose, for consciously and actively hogging the spotlight. Especially in a country like ours, where the spotlight needs to shine on more urgent matters.

You preen like a sham potentate before a country so poor it has to send millions of its citizens to work in other lands, expect to be jeered out of town, whether out of envy or plain outrage at your insensitivity. The parvenus, arrivistes and nouveau riche of this country--they do deserve to be knocked down a perch or two, not only for their arrogance but also for their supreme bad taste.

No use entertaining illusions, though, that this new-found revulsion among many towards the excesses of our supposed Gilded Crowd will last. Like all controversies, this will prove to be a hiccup, a blip, a momentary jolt of excitement in our humdrum lives.

A country that allows the likes of Imelda Marcos to waltz away from her crimes--in fact, lionizes her presence and drools over her jewelry--is a country that deserves its Gucci Gang. Perfumed lowlifes know they can get away with most anything here; they may be alleged cokeheads and scammers, but they're good History students. They know us too well.

The vicious schadenfreude on display in that blog is the spasm of the helpless. Deep down, those anonymous hecklers know that nothing will change. High Society will continue to both dazzle and repulse, and the masa will continue to watch Wowowee.

But for now, with a crack in the fortress allowing us a peek at the sordid lives and soiled linens of the royal class, dirt will be lobbed, invective will fly and all that pent-up resentment will rule.

What's schadenfreude again? It's “Happiness at the misfortune of others.”

Or, as one commenter (anonymous, of course) harrumphed: “It makes me realize that though I'm not as rich as these people, I AM SO MUCH A BETTER PERSON THAN ALL OF THEM. I may not be able to buy a Gucci Bag, go to Philips Exeter Academy or go to Friday's for lunch everyday but I know how to live life in the most possible real sense.”

Hexactly. Yun 'yon.

Yun na talaga yun!

Before we go to Laiya...I leave you with Ken Lee...

Happy Weekend!!!

...and she won bb.pilipinas world! hahaha! thanks steph for sharing this!

Di ko to kinaya!! Hahahaha!!!

ang suh-rap suh-rap!

found via chuvaness

Mandi is Anna's younger sister and she's launched Match More as part of her school project.  They're clothes that you can use and abuse without breaking your pretty pearlized pink piggy bank!

I love how the clothes are multi-functional like this reversible little black dress. This can take you from afternoon brunch to cocktails or cocktails to afternoon brunch hehe.

The interchangeable straps of the Mandi turns the empire cut blouse into a spaghetti strap, tube or halter style top. I love the purple but I'm partial to the navy blue.

I've ordered the Chen from Amanda, a cutesy reversible blouse that you can wear as a baby dress or as a belted blouse. I ordered the one below, the reverse side of which is a rich chocolate brown (yum!)

Visit their site, matchmore for more styles and info. They also deliver!

Taken from Ayen, Ben and EJ. I don’t usually answer surveys because it takes a certain level of self-awareness which I unfortunately I don’t possess haha. I decided to give this a try though. Year-end naman and it’s a quick way of summing up the year that was. Here’s my first attempt.

==============================================================

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Migraines :( Epic migraines.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

All the purchases and downpayments for the wedding and for our life thereafter :D

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

EJ!  His path to self-discovery was very inspiring.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Wala, may disappointments lang but I’ve learned to let go (thanks Mads for hearing me out hahaha!...ergo kilala mo sino ang mga tinutukoy ko hahaha!)

14. Where did most of your money go?

Sa kasal-kasalan churva-churvahan!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Booking our mini-honeymoon! Opening the confirmation e-mail made my week last week :D May nakalagay pang “*honeymooners” beside our names! Whee!!
 
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Umbrella-ela-ela-ey-ey-ey

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? happier.

ii. thinner or fatter? pareho lang, unhealthy pa rin, haha!

iii. richer or poorer? richer! i gained new friends and a new family!! (haller Santoses, Tensuans and Mendozas!)
 
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

I wish I could’ve slept more. Eye cream can only do so much hahaha!

 19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Less worrying and stressing, less working din (I worked my @ss of this year)

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Family + Dan + mom’s cooking = happiness

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Lagi akong in love….madami kasi akong crush! Hahaha!

22. How many one-night stands?

Wala....pa!! hahaha!

23. What was your favourite TV program?

Ay madami e! The Office, 30 Rock, Man Vs. Wild, America’s Next Top Model (forever!)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Wala naman. Kung sino pa rin kainis last year eh ganun pa rin naman. Consistent sila in fairness. Fodder for inane talk na lang for me and friends hahaha!

25. What was the best book you read?

Mga Kwentong Parlor ni Wanda Ilusyonada. Oo libro yan!! Must read!!!

 26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Feist! I heart her! Bakit bakit wala yung CD nya sa Music One?!

27. What did you want and get?

I got a new cameraaaah! Tenchu Mom and Dad!!

28. What did you want and not get?

Wala naman. I usually don’t ask for anything anyway. Ay hinde! Di ako nilibre ni EJ ng Ben and Jerry’s kagabi!!! Hoy EJ!!

29. favorite film of this year?

Naku, toss up among Transformers, MI:III and Superbad!

 30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

29.  Two days before my birthday yung proposal then on my bday, I stayed home and had a nice dinner with Dan, my family and the Paranaque Arboledas. I also got a nice cake from Fleur De Lis (naalala ko pa rin ang kanyang sarap!)

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Would have? I wish I took time to take care of myself more.
 
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

T-shirts + skinny jeans + flats = Neva 2007 (actually 2006 pa yan! hahaha)
 
33. What kept you sane?

Who = Family, friends, Dan

What= online shopping, wedding planning, treating myself to sweets

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Susme, Jonathan Rhys Meyers sino paaaa??? Ay Clive Owen pwede na rin hahaha!

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Executive pardon ni Erap. May God have mercy on us Filipinos. More recently, Benazir Bhutto's assassination. I felt for the Pakistanis who wailed the loss of their nation's only hope for true democracy.

36. Who did you miss?

Chris and Pam in the US :(
 
37. Who was the best new person you met?

Si Johann Funtanilla! New bouncy baby trumps ebribadee!!

 38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

Whatever will be, will be…(the future’s not ours to see…que sera sera)

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your  year:

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know
That you control where you go
You can steer

-Steer, Missy Higgins

And syempre,

I won’t worry my life away.

-The Remedy, Jason Mraz

============================================================

Happy new year everyone! May 2008 bring you all your heart's desires

*image credit: blog.webshots.com

Ever!!!

Tutututut! Tututututut! Turututurututuuruutuuut!!

thanks bles for the link :)

 

Muntik ng di ma-gets ng girl because she was so starstruck by Gaiman, buti na lang Gaiman was game :D

If you were to propose and have a celebrity do it for you? Who would you choose?

If I were to do the proposing, I would probably have Dirk Nowitzki propose to Dan hehe Dan shouldn't get JRM to propose to me, I might say yes to JRM and not to Dan! (yun e kung makasagot ako in the first place!)

i do..hahaha!