MassKara Festival at its best! :)

MassKara Festival 
Photo courtesy of www.lakbaypilipinas.com

I've been hearing a lot of great adventures about MassKara Festival. Stories, pictures, news, coverage and blogs portrays how amazing this festival is. It is very popular. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this amazing event, that's me inlcuded and this year, I really want to be a part of the MassKara Festival. 

October might be famous for October fests and many beer festivals for years now. But let me say that the best festival during this month happens in  Bacolod, a small city in the central part of the Philippines. Happiness is the main theme and one only needs to wear a smile all throughout the celebration to enjoy. Just one smile to brighten up everyone's mood and day. It is a very memorable festival for everyone, something that one can cherish once he/she experience it, this is one of the many reasons why I want to experience it. Every year, MassKara festival is like history in the making, one shouldn't let it pass.

31 years ago, the festival was born during a period of crisis. Bacolod is the capital city of Negros Occidental, a province with Sugar as its main crop. In 1980, the price of sugar worldwide was at an all time low. The local industry was affected. Jobs were lost. Many sugar mills were forced to close down. In the same period, a local passenger ship ended in a tragedy, claiming 700 lives, mostly local residents. So the festival was some sort of a diversion to conceal, figuratively and literally the sadness of the people. The first festival became like a statement by the local people that “Kahit na anong mangyari, malalagpasan ng mga tiga Bacolod ang mga pagsubok na ito, babangon sila, idadaan sa ngiti ang lahat at ipagpapatuloy ang buhay dahil hindi sila pababayaan ng Panginoon."

MassKara Festival is now modern, well organized and well attended by both the locals and the tourists all over the globe. Perhaps this is one of the most colorful and happiest festivals in the Philippines. The highlight is the street dancing competition where various groups perform while wearing smiling masks. These are not ordinary masks. These are carefully crafted and well designed colorful masks that represent the local culture and ingenuity. Photographers and bloggers, like me for one, would surely love this festival. 

Masskara Festival is a an OctoberFest in itself. At night, parties are everywhere and streets are usually filled with the famous Bacolod chicken inasal (Chicken BBQ) my favorite! and of course, beer! Another perfect reason why I shouldn't miss this wonderful event. 

I can enumerate reasons why I want to be a part of MassKara Festival In Bacolod but the thing that really drives me to go here is the unforgetable experience that I can cherish for the rest of my life. Being there, seeing it in my naked eyes all the fabulous masks, the happiness of the people. the joyous feast, everything is worth being there. If I can really afford to be there every year why not? but it happens that my lack of budget hinders me from doing so, Bless Airphil Express "PICK A FEST" for having a contest like this. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be one of the lucky three. Hopefully. *wink*

"Experience MassKara Festival, Hermosa Festival and Lanzones Festival this October. Airphil Express flies daily to BACOLOD, ZAMBOANGA and CAGAYAN DE ORO from Cebu and Manila. Visit www.airphilexpress.com to book!

Blood Diamond (2007)

I watched this movie yesterday, and it broke my heart and made me think at the same time. Have you seen it yet? If you haven’t, I highly recommend you do, in fact, I wish that they’d show it in schools just to show todays youth what goes on in countries where conflict gems are sold for weapons to fund wars. It has really put that sort of thing into perspective for me, I mean think about it, what would you do if your family was torn apart and scattered across the country? Would you want your 10 year old son ripped away from your family and handed a gun and trained to kill people? What if you were forced to do something that helped fund a civil war, to gather these “Blood Diamonds” which are the cause of so much bloodshed. Would you buy a diamond knowing that a child had lost his arm or was shot for it? What if these things happened to you? I’ve realized a lot of things when I watched this movie and it also made me feel blessed that somehow, no matter how I complain that my life sucks at times, I don’t have the right to complain. Some had it worst.

This film, in my humble opinion, is truly extraordinary. I would never go as far to say any film is perfect, simply due to the fact that no film can incorporate everything and please everyone. So I am going to steal a phrase I remember someone using to describe one of  his all time favorite novels in his blog review, “near perfect”.

The story evolved on a fisherman, Solomon Vandy (Djimon Honsou) when he walks with his only son, Dia (Kagiso Kuypers) from school, he sees a bunch of soldiers from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) gunning down men, women and children in their village of Shenge. Solomon tries to save his family from the ongoing massacre, but he is captured while they escape. The reason behind the shooting is that the rebels don’t the people to vote to change the way things were. Solomon is sent as labor to mine diamonds. While at the mines, Solomon finds a 100 carat light pink diamond. He buries it, but it caught when the Sierra Leone troops attack rebels and captures alike. Shoot first, ask questions later. He is taken for being rebel in their eyes.

A Rhodesian diamond smuggler, Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) pretends to be with National Geographic to cross into Liberia with the conflict diamonds placed inside the necks of goats. He is doing this assignment for Colonel Coetzee (Arnold Vosloo) that is working the large diamond exporters, Rudolf Van De Kaap (Marius Weyers) and Rupert Simmons (Michael Sheen) to supply the money for the never-ending conflict. (Getting confusing for you. I should.)

Archer is promptly arrested and taken to the same prison with Solomon is held. The person that captured Solomon, Captain Poison (David Harewood) announces to everyone including Danny that he buried the diamond. Danny is bailed out by his friend, Nabil (Jimi Mistry) to convince Coetzee, Van De Kaap and Simmons to split the cost of the pink diamond Solomon has found.

At a local bar, Danny meets a journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly). She tries to get information about Van De Kaap. How are the diamonds being exported from Liberia where there are not diamond mines? She wants his help to expose Van De Kaap and Simmons for their wheeling and dealing; names, dates, and number accounts of buyers of the conflict diamonds to take them down.

When Solomon is bailed out, he tries to find his family at various refugee camps. They are nowhere to be found. Still on the run, another group of rebels have taken Dia from his family. He is beaten and brainwashed into being a part of the child soldiers by Captain Poison.

Danny tracks down Solomon to find the location of the diamond that he buried. Split the cost of the diamond fifty/fifty to help get Solomon his family back and Danny enough money to pay off Colonel. They enlist the help of Maddy to ensure that they succeed in finding his family and recovering the diamond.

Of course, I was totally dismayed that Danny died in this movie but anyway, I still love this movie. It has a heavy subject in it but really worth watching, it has raised issues before and DiCaprio was nominated for Oscars in this movie as well.  Again, if you haven’t watch this movie yet, do watch it. I have to rate this 9/10. Good Job! 

“Sometimes i wonder…Will God ever forgive us for what we’ve done to eachother?Then i look around and realise…God left this place a long time ago.” - Danny Archer

watch the trailer here:

Everything I love about Blackberry Bold 9780! :)

 Of all the videos containing my favorite feature on BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), 

this is the best for me :)

Ever since Blackberry phones hit the market and celebrities started using it, I was so green with envy that I really, really want to have one of my own but my financial stability wouldn't let me do so which is why here I am trying my luck to grab this one rare and once in a lifetime chance of winning this coolest among the cool smart phones this genre could ever have invented.

Why Blackberry Bold 9780? Well for one, Blackberry phone are very consistent. Voice quality and battery life are about the best you can get on the market. They're built well and are durable. Their new camera rocks. Messaging with the full QWERTY is addictive, and BlackBerry 6 is a significant improvement. It's hard to find such a well-rounded phone these days. 

The BlackBerry Bold 9780 represents cutting edge smartphone technology, it's also one hell of a powerful and reliable phone.

Get updates on BlackBerry.  like BlackBerry Pilipinas Facebook fan page. You can also visit www.unbox.ph for news and information about the promotions,

 latest reviews and latest cool gadgets. 

Don't be miss out on what's new especially at this fast paced genre that we have right now :) 

Daddy's Away...

Let's not forget that this coming Sunday is Father's Day and although we really don't get to celebrate it that much, I want to greet all those great father, grandfathers out there a Happy Father's Day. 

I used to be a Daddy's girl way back when I was still a kid. I would always ask my Dad to buy me new-cool toys that my Mom would never approve of. Being the only child, there are times I get what I want especially when I get to talk to My Dad. He works as a Chief cook at Dubai and will always be the greatest cook in my eyes. He cooks so well that even a King will bow to his excellence but mind you, he didn't get to study on culinary schools. Back in their days, experience is what taught them to be good on something. He didn't get to go to college since their parents can't afford to do so but he was smart in fact my Dad graduated with honors in high school. He was Valedictorian. I miss his cooking though. Ever since my Mom and Dad separated, I didn't get the chance to talk to him that much anymore. The truth is, It was just me and my Mom all this years. I'm thankful that God has plans and He has ways. We managed to push through with the help of our blessed relatives and all who supported us but nevertheless, I never hated my Dad for all the things that happened to us, I actually miss having a Dad around, someone who would assure that everything will be alright. 

But guess what, My Mom is also my Dad. She shouldered all the responsibilities of what a Father can do and she did it all with flying colors. That's how tough my Mom is and I am really blessed. Even though my Dad won't be able to read this because I really do not know where he is right now, there so much that has been said and done and if the time comes that I will ever to meet him again, I will just be glad to see him again. 

For those who have lost their fathers, I'm sure they've live a good life and they are now where they belong. Praying that you are always on the right track and even though he may not be around physically, he may be with you spiritually. 

For those who have experienced bad things about their father, who never treated them well or have experienced the worst and wished they never had a father to begin with..I am deeply sorry about it. I'm sure time will come that forgiveness will still be present, and regrets will no longer be uttered. There will come a time that they will also realize what they've done. 

I will also remember my grandfather who I is also a hero in my eyes. Hermogenes Dizon. He's in heaven right now and for sure he belongs there. He has lived a wonderful life and guided his children well. I felt sad that I didn't get that that much chance to hang out with him. I hope he'll have a wonderful Father's Day up there.

To all the Father's out there, Happy Father's Day. This is the special day to show your Dad that you are grateful for having him around so do it while there's still time. Every little time that we have with our parents matters. We should treasure it. If you want, you can dance with your Father too. :)

Luther Vandross - Dance with my Father 

Celine Dion Version - Dance with my Father

Green Lantern 2011 movie review

Thanks to OpenRice, I managed to get a Green Lantern passes and get to watch this cool movie although I was tempted to watch Super 8 but nevertheless, I enjoyed this movie.

The latest superhero reboot, Warner Bros.’ reinterpretation of the comic book character, stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard. Directed by Martin Campbell and honestly, at first I wasn’t that tempted to watch this movie because I’ve read bad reviews about it but I prove them wrong, it’s worth watching anyway.

At least for most of us especially for COMIC lovers, this movie will prompt another question to all of us, “how many MORE comic-based superhero with amazing powers and responsibility will hit the movie screens for the nest coming months?” Well, I for one really don’t mind, I am actually enjoying it 

Known to multiple generations of comic book fans through various incarnations that have sprung up since 1940, Green Lantern possesses powers that would be the envy of many another hero, including virtually infinite strength to unleash and ward off destruction, as well as the ability to propel himself quickly into the deep reaches of space and back. In the movie, they stressed that much that they will only be successful in doing their responsibility if they can overcome fear and stay focused on their will power. Obviously, Hal Jordan played by Ryan Reynolds can’t overcome the fear that he has within and all throughout the movie, he can never get over the fact that maybe, somehow, he was not the chosen one.  Hal, suffered a terrible tragedy in his youth; his beloved test pilot father went up in flames before his very eyes. Courting the same fate himself, little Hal Jordan also grew up to become a fearless airman, a mad daredevil whose abiding policy with both plane crashes and with women is to be able to walk away from them. He was a lady’s man, always toying with women and enjoys it. Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), a fellow flier and aviation heiress who nonetheless has eyes only for the reckless Hal have seen him grow and fears that she might lose him because of his recklessness.

The action begins when the real threat Parallax, who eventually attacks Earth in the visually disarming form of a scary, shape-changing, fire-breathing, octopus-like brown cloud. Faced with such an opponent, Hal packs away his misgivings once and for all to embrace his new powers and cleverly lure Parallax to the one place that might doom him. Fire or the Sun. SPOILER ALERT!!! 

Apparently, there’s a sequel on this movie and hopefully it will be more action packed. I like Blake Lively on this film. Not really a weakly when it comes to leading ladies of the superheroes. Just like Katie Holmes before. Blake Lively managed to push through and she is oozing with sex appeal.

I can rate this movie with 8 stars. Ryan Reynolds yes I am being bias but well, he is fit for Green Lantern. I can’t imagine any other hunk actor that could portray it with more justice. Now, let’s just wait for the sequel and of course the gross income of this movie soon.

watch the trailer here:

Selecta Gold Label Series: Caramel Cheesecake

Summer has just officially ended and too early in fact. There are times I can still feel the burn of the scorching sun. Because of this, I have succumbed to the calls of the ice cream calling me. Thanks to 7-11 for giving me this wonderful chance of trying out SELECTA' s newest ice cream flavor which is CARAMEL CHEESECAKE. It is still the season to give in to the call of ice cream and just forget about the diet. It is too hot nowadays so it is good to have a gallon, a cup or pint of ice cream.

Selecta has been in the business for a long, long time, and their ice creams have been around too. This flavor is actually a Gold Label created by  Manila’s finest chefs to satisfy discriminating palates without breaking one’s budget. The flavors are Vanilla Almond is the masterpiece of Chef Ariel Manuel of Lolo Dad’s Cafe, one of the country’s most awarded culinary experts. This mouthwatering vanilla ice cream is loaded with roasted whole almonds from California’s Great Valley and golden caramel fudge. Then there's Chocolate Truffles, Berry Strawberry, and Hazelnut Brownie. Chef Sau del Rosario used his childhood love for brownies to create Hazelnut Brownie, a mouthwatering mixture of ground hazelnut paste and rich chocolate ice cream laden with moist fudge brownies. Berry Strawberry was created by Chef J Gamboa, another Culinary Institute of America graduate and third generation restauranteur. By combining plump, sun-ripened strawberries with French vanilla ice cream, this is another heavenly treat. Chocolate truffles is created by Rolando Laudico, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, this creamy confection features bittersweet chocolate set against a milk chocolate base lashed with generous swirls of dark chocolate fudge.

I've been a great fan of Selecta products and I can say that I am really satisfied with their ice creams. 

The Caramel Cheesecake is also a must try, being the latest of the Gold label series, I actually love this another flavor. I love the creaminess of it and the caramel swirls which I liked because I could actually see the swirls and how thick they are. Compared to other ice creams, Selecta has a lot more fillings. I can taste the wholeness of the flavor which is Caramel and a tinge of cheesecake, it's like eating a cake as well. Not so sweet yet can be really addicting. Another premium ice cream that is worth buying for the price of P38.00 (100ml) cup. Annie Tanco, the  owner of Bizu Patisserie (which gets its name from the French word for kiss, bisou) created it, gave it a two thumbs up and is endorsing it as well. As you can see on the poster.

This is a nice treat for those who love not-so-sweet ice cream. So, what are waiting for? Check out the latest Gold label ice cream and don't let your mouth just water, you deserve a treat, only from Selecta. You can buy this at any 7-11 stores nationwide. 

C2: Nokia’s First Dual-SIM Phone

Some months ago, Nokia revealed that they are going to launch their  first ever “dual-SIM” named as C2. I think it has been launch here Manila and some cellphone stores are now selling it, not the China ones so you have to take note of it.

Sibling of C1, C2 is more upgrade than the first in terms of SIM functionality, C2 allows user to use both SIM simultaneously; meaning calls and text messages can be received to either number while the phone is on.

The SIM 1 is placed underneath the battery while the SIM 2 is hot-swappable, meaning SIM card 2 can be replaced while the phone is operating.

C2 is a wallet-friendly handset costing at around Php2,500 enough to have more features to enjoy for. It has FM radio and music player which can store up to 32gb micro SD cards for spacious music storage.

C2 units will also feature Nokia Ovi Life’s Tool covering information on healthcare, agriculture, education and entertainment.

For contacts-preferred individuals, it can store up to 1,000 entries in the phonebook. Not only that, it has a battery life span of about 16.5 days, standby mode.

Other features to include are VGA camera, Bluetooth and GPRS.

Available in grey, black, magenta, dark blue and white  So if you’re a fan of dual sim cellphone, grab this one now.

INCUBUS live in Manila 2011

On April 2, 2011, band manager Steve Rennie confirmed that the recent album has been titled, If Not Now, When?. It is scheduled for release on July 12, 2011. The album’s lead single is “Adolescents” and it was posted on the band’s website on April 4, 2011.

- via wikipedia.com

Ticket Prices: (courtesy of Ovation Production)
Patron Standing P6340
Patron Seated P6870
Lower Box Up P6870
Lower Box Regular P4760
Upper Box A P3170
Upper Box P 1590
General Admission P795

*Prices inclusive of 5.6% Ticketnet surcharge

My favorite Incubus song ever:

The 2011 French Film Festival

Opening Night: June 8, 6:30 p.m. at Shangri-La Plaza Mall
Manila: June 8-19 at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall
Cebu: June 23-25 at the Ayala Center Cebu
Quezon City: June 28- July 2 at the UP Film Institute

The much-awaited 16th French Film Festival returns to the Philippines this June, bringing to Filipino audiences a mix of some of the best and latest action, adventure, comedy, drama and documentary films from France today.

visit the website for more details:

http://www.ambafrance-ph.org/spip.php?article1776

Ang Binata sa Jeep...

Sanay na akong pumapasok ng maaga dahil na rin sa maaga gumising ang aking mommy. Pa minsan kung may time ay naglalakad-lakad pa ako sa aming lugar sa Antipolo at saka uuwi muli, maliligo at papasok na ng opisina. Hindi naiba ang umaga na iyon, halos pasado alas singko na ng hapon ng makasakay ako ng jeep, sa may terminal ng Antipolo-Cubao sa may Emraud Plaza. Wala pang pila dahil maaga pa. Diretso ako sakay sa jeep na konti pa lang ang laman. Sa aming helera ay anim pa lamang kami, karamihan sa mga jeep dito kundi onsehan ay dosehan ang laman. Sa tapat ko naman ay halos walo na ang nakaupo. Paminsan ay sinusulyapan ko ang laman ng jeep, karamihan mga estudyante, mga manggagawa din. Ngunit dahil na rin sa kaantukan ko ay hindi ko na din masyadong napansin ang mga sakay nuong araw na iyon. Napipikit na ako sa antok dahil na rin ng dvd marathon pa ako kagabi at puro horror pa ang napanuod ko. Unti-unti ng napupuno ang jeep at sumesenyas na ang barker na 2 na lang at aalis na ang jeep. Maya-maya pa ang umandar na nga ang jeep. 

Bago tuluyan makaidlip ay napatingin pa ako sa aking katapat, isa siyang binata. Naka polo shirt na puti, naka slacks na itim at naka balat na sapatos, siguro ay may bente anyos na ito. May kaputian at makapal ang buhok, may pagka singkit. Hinagilap ko ang aking isipan kung kilala ko ba ang binatang ito dahil may feeling ako na kilala ko siya ngunit hindi ko maisip. Tumango ako at pumikit at sinubukang makatulog, ngunit hindi rin ako makatulog dahil malikot ang katabi ko.Dalawang mama na may kalakihan ang katawan, may dala pang malaking bag. Napalingon ulit ako sa binata sa aking tapat at nakatitig siya sa akin. Kay lamig ng hangin sa may Sumulong highway at hindi ko alam kung yun ba ang dahilan ng aking panlalamig. 

Nakaidlip ako. Sa aking panaginip ay kinakausap ako ng binata sa aking tapat. "Grace..Grace, gumising ka.." Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Dinudukutan ka, Masasamang loob ang katabi mo." Ngunit walang tinig ang lumalabas sa kanyang mga labi. Nabasa ko lamang ito sa kanyang mga mata. Pag dilat ko ay naramdaman ko ang pagkislot sa aking bag. Pag tingin ko sa aking mga katabi ay masama ang tingin nito sa akin. Sumigaw ako agad, "Magnanakaw! Magnanakaw!" Nagising ang ibang mga sakay ng jeep, nagulat na lamang kami ng nagsipag talunan ang dalawa kong katabi na mama at pati ang barker ay walang nagawa. Tinignan ko agad ang aking bag at buti na lamang ay wala sila nakuha. Malakas pa rin ang kaba ko. Nang mapa dako ang aking tingin sa aking tapat ay wala na sa kinauupuan niya ang binata na kanila lamang ay nakatitig sa akin. Takang hinagilap ng aking mata ang buong jeep ngunit wala siya. Bumaling ako sa kundoktor. "Kuya, asan na yung nakaupo ditto kanina, ung binata na naka polo shirt na puti?" tanong ko. Sa gulat ko naman ay tinaasan pa ako ng kilay ng kundoktor, "Wala namang binatang naka polo shirt na nakaupo dyan, dalawa pa lang ang bumababa at yun yung 2 mandurukot kanina." Ang katapat ko naman ang binalingan ko, isang ale na naka pula. "Nay, kanina pa kayo nakaupo dyan?” tanong ko. “Tinatakot mo ba ko? Kanina pa ako nakaupo dito at wala naman akong ibang katabi kundi sila lang." At ang katabi nga niya ang dalawang babae na naka school uniform ng Fatima. Tuluyan na nga akong kinilabutan at binalot ng takot. Ngunit pasalamat pa din ako dahil tinulungan niya ako. Kung sino man siya.

Kinagabihan pag uwi ko sa bahay ay nadatnan ko ang aking tita at mommy na nagtitingin ng mga album. Tuwang tuwa sila habang nagtitingin sila ng mga pictures, ang pagbabalik tanaw gamit ang mga pictures sa mga lumang photo album ay nakaka aliw. Nagpalit ako agad ng damit upang samahan sila. Tumabi ako sa aking mommy na nakatunghay naman sa album na hawak niya, “Ang pogi ditto ni Eddie. Nagbibinata na siya dito.” Tinignan ko naman ang picture na tinutukoy niya at namamalikmata ba ako? “Si Tito Eddie yan?” garalgal na boses na tanong ko. “Oo. Nasa Cabanatuan sila ng mga panahon na yan.” Si Tito Eddie ang uncle ko na namayapa na kamakailan lamang dahil sa heart attack. Sa picture ay may isang binata na nakaupo sa may bukana ng jeep. Naka polo shirt na puti, naka slacks ng itim at balat na sapatos. Siyang siya ng nakita ko sa jeep. At tuluyan ko ng napagtanto na siya nga ang binata sa jeep. Ang binata tumulong sa akin at maagap na tumulong. Napangiti na lamang ako at kinalimutan na ang takot na namumuo sa aking dibdib.

*Ang iyong nabasang kwento ay fiction lamang at hindi hango sa totoong buhay. Kung ito man ay napareha sa mga naganap sa inyong buhay, maaaring ito ay nagkataon lamang. Ito ay hango sa malikhaing isip ng manunulat. *

Lesson learned...

credits to the notebook doodles  check the website here

The ultimate goal of any person is be independent, strong and full of enthusiasm of whatever endeavors they go about. The challenges are there regardless of how detailed you have anticipated possible scenarios and events that may come. Thus, failure at some point is something that is inevitable especially on endeavors that involves things done the first time.

There is a saying that we all should do things right the first time. This is ideal but not too realistic because of the word – “first”. Thus, we are given a second shot to make things work which is only possible if we get to apply whatever lessons learned from the first point of failure. Otherwise, you get a loop of failures.

At times, we let kids do mistakes and get hurt because we want them to learn from it and realize that if they do it again, they will get hurt. This is the same with work and with life. We manage because we do not want to have the same problems met prior. We plan things based of the anticipations  of failures. Thus, lessons learned are actually eye-openers that we should not ignore.

Success is the result of having to finally wake up and do something better after meeting series for failures. Without having to learn things, growth is not achieved. No victory is sweeter without having to work hard for it. Thus, success comes after failures at some point. This is true indeed unless you are Mr/Ms. Perfect.

Lessons learned are important! This is how life molds us. This is why I am going to make it sure that I’ll be tougher not only for myself but also for my love ones, if I made the right decision then good for me if not then shame on me but I have to learn from that. Cliche but yes, things happen for a reason and right now, I am taking it step by step. No need to hurry. God always aims for the best for all of us so…got to have your head up! not down 

Now in line with my post, I’m lovin’ this song..:)

Little Chief Honeybee's Latest Promo! :)

If you want to join Little Chief Honeybee's latest promo, go to her website now to know the details and don't forget to follow her blog as well! good luck!

click the link below:

http://honeybeeinthecity.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-giveaway-instax-wide-instant.html

cheers! :)