Love as I see it

Love can be defined in many ways, as for this picture, I chose Friendship as one of the many forms of how I SEE LOVE. A friend is someone that everyone needs, someone you tell EVERYTHING, someone that is always there, who will always listen to you, who will never leave you in the dust, who will help you and support you through thick and thin, who will stand by your side and will never let you down and lastly a friend is someone who will accept you for who you are and will bring out the best in you. 

We've been friends since college and I must say we've been through the happiest and toughest times. Up until now, we stay strong and we never lose contact with eahc other despite our hectic schedules. Time makes friendship stronger and that's how I see Love through our FRIENDSHIP. :)

This is my entry to “Love as I see it". A project of www.islandrose.net flowers Philippines.

Visit their website at http://www.islandrose.net/ and their facebook page as well. :)

Chow Time at Chowking

If there's a Chinese food restaurant that I can eat over and over again that I will not get tired of, it's got to be Chowking.  I like their simple menu that doesn't confuse the customers and the prices are very reasonable. Whatever food that I order in their menu, it's always bound to be a winner. I know that my tummy will get stuffed.

We ordered Chowfan with siomai which is my favorite together with the chili paste that they are famous of. For me their chili paste is the best sauce for siomai. 

Plus we also tried our their added star on the menu which is the Chinese style fried chicken. I have to admit I was a little too excited with the fried chicken and thankfully, I wasn't disappointed when I get to eat it. Their fried chicken is good. "Parang chicharon sa lutong!" Really crunchy and tasty and you don't even need the gravy because it has some distinct taste on it. 

Chowking gave a whole new meaning Chinese foods and I must admit, I will always enjoy eating here.

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: