3.31.2009

The Bank Job (2008)

Could the story this film was based on true especially the hanky-pankies of certain individuals highlighted?

I've watched Jason Statham since Transporter 1. Meron syang angas na dating as exemplified again in this movie.

This is a great movie to watch!

3.29.2009

Apps That I Recommend

Here's a brief list of Win Apps that I've downloaded and used whether at home or at work. I hope you find these apps very useful as how I've found them to be for me.


1. utorrent. A compact-sized torrent-client that packs a big punch. What I like about it is its simplicity, with special options to auto-shutdown your PC/laptop if the downloads are complete, saving you time (and electricity).

2. KeepPass Password Safe. A nifty app for storing all your passwords/PINs and other delicate information.



3. LviewPro. I'm talking about the 1.D/32 older version since it uses only small memory space. This app is excellent for capturing screens for JPG/GIF use.

4. Super MP3 Editor. The ChicoDel MP3s that I download from the chicodel website is rather long. So, to go straight to the top10 laughs, I use this app to cut/delete unwanted portions of the mp3 for easier listening. This is also a handy tool for creating your own mp3 ringtones.


5. Google Chrome. I bet IE will be reformatted to imitate Chrome, similar to what it did with Firefox previously. Chrome is a good browser although some pages (like Blogger's layout page) load incompletely.


6. Allway Sync. If you have those portable hard-drives, this app is a good tool to use when you want to backup important office/home files just in case your PC breaks down.


7. CCProxy. A must, especially when the IT department cuts off your own internet access. You just load this app to your officemates computer, set his IP as your browser's proxy address, and, voila! You have Internet again!

3.28.2009

You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008)


Another classic Adam Sandler comedy. Nakakatawa although some scenes were just too graphic.

I don't mind seeing Emmanuelle Chriqui all the time (SIGH). I didn't know she was into film aside from her 3-season Entourage appearance. 

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3.24.2009

Condura Run: The Official Results are in...

There was a total of 1,792 runners for the 5K event which meant that I finished at the top 31% of the lot.

Not bad ey?

All race results can be found HERE.

3.22.2009

Running for Sharks


"Huy ano?! Sumali ka na!"

That was LA, my officemate who convinced me to join the Condura Run at the Fort scheduled earlier this morning. He's been joining fun runs(I wonder how they call it "fun" when it isn't ---unless you compare it to a half-marathon or marathon I guess) for sometime now but he doesn't look like it, thanks to endless drinking sessions with his buddies.
I've only joined a fun run once: a 5km run during Grade 5 or 6, I think. I don't even recall why I joined the thing but I remember at the last 1 or 2km stretch, I was already out of breath. It was a really difficult 1st-time run and, that was that. I haven't joined another fun run ever since.
It was last Monday when I thought, "Since I've been on and off the treadmill these past 2+ years, maybe I should give it (fun run) a shot? I've been running 3-4kms on the treadmill anyway so I think I could be conditioned for a 5k?"

The Condura Run registration deadline was on March20 (Friday) so I really had to give it enough thought if I'm really ready for this. It's not to win the race but my target was just to finish it at a respectable time.
Tuesday night. On the way home, I planned out a running course in our neighborhood. Since the car had an odometer, I reset TRIP A to 0-km and plotted out my running course: a total of 1.5km. So, if I were to run 5kms, I would have to run the course at least 3.5 times.

Thursday morning, 6:23am. It was a good time to sleep. Mind over matter, I woke up and tied my running shoes on and ran the course I made the other day. It was rather challenging to run the course since I had to avoid cars pass by (in inches) close to me. Another were the dogs at one of the streets which forced me to walk. I walked most of the time after 3-4kms.
The time? 40mins.
MP, another officemate who runs, posted 34mins on his last 5km run. So I guessed the 40mins that I recorded is respectable enough.
Until Friday morning I still haven't registered. It was already the last day to register. It was now or never. With the Condura Run registration form tacked on my office cubicle staring me at the face as if teasing me, I finally made my decision.
Friday, lunchtime. I proceeded to Nike Boni High Street for registratio. Paid the P300.00 fee and got my race-kit and t-shirt (nice, btw, but not for running). The race would start at 6am.
My cellphone alarmed at 5am, Sunday morning so I got up and made myself ready. Kissed the missus goodbye and proceeded to the refrigerator downstairs to get my banana which I bought after taking-out KFC for dinner Saturday night. A glass of water from the water dispenser and I was off to the Fort.
I walked to the starting line at about 5:40am. It was very crowded with all sorts of runners: newbies, amateurs, and pros. The latter have started running at 5:30am since they had to run 21kms (a half-marathon). By 5:50am the 10k runners (LA included) started and, by 6am, the 5km run began. It was the first time I saw soooo many ipod users in one small area.


I would've been mistaken for a Nike model since, by coincidence, I wore a cap, watch, shirt, shorts, and shoes showing the swoosh logo. Save, of course, for the Jansport beltbag that I had to wear since it contained my car keys, and cellphone which I've programmed to add my running songlist aptly entitled "Run!":

1. Enter Sandman - Metallica
2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
3. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
4. Insomnia - Craig David
5. Jump - Van Halen
6. Pretty Vegas - INXS
7. Seek and Destroy - Metallica
8. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns and Roses

I was afraid that wearing earphones might cause it to fall out every now and then so I used the missus' headphones to be sure.

I kept my jogging pace up to 2.5kms, overtaking most of the pack. I knew my exact distance since I stopped at the water station (stationed every 2.5kms). The road started its uphill climb after that. Like I car running in 4th gear reaching the bottom of a mountain, I switched to 1st, i.e. walked until I had passed Market2x.
It was then jog/walk/jog/walk/jog after that. The finish line was a bright sight to see, and, as I passed it, I clicked "STOP" on my watch-timer and recorded my unofficial time: 33mins, 29secs.


It was a great feat for me since my treadmill runs usually last 34mins for 4kms only. So the Condura Run I recorded was a personal first-time best.

So here I am, with my lower calf muscles aching from the race, looking at this website: the Men's Health Miracle 10km Run next Sunday. It's a major step from this morning's run so I think I will have to give this more thought.

Hmmmmmm, I wonder if I lost weight? We'll find out tomorrow morning. :)

3.21.2009

Fool's Gold (2008)


Cute film. 

Kate Hudson....SIGH.

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3.18.2009

Weight Loss Update: Slowly but surely

I was able to get the weekend pass by without too much over endulging on food, except for that Sunday merienda where I ate 3 slices of Yellow Cab pizza (but didn't had dinner). So, I'm STILL at 172.8lbs from Monday until this morning (tadaaaan!).



Hopefully tuloy tuloy na at wala nang relapse. Apr20, the end date of our little contest for that coveted Zoom Kobe IV, is a month away. So, whatever it is that I did to reach 172.8lbs, I should continue doing (and more!).

Here we go!

3.17.2009

Fracture (2007)

Galing! Anthony Hopkins' acting was superb as well as Ryan Gosling's.

A great thriller that'll keep you guessing 'til the end.


3.16.2009

Running: The Next Fad?



Badminton started its boom here in the Philippines about the year 2002. That's when we started seeing badminton courts mushrooming almost everywhere. With badminton newbies going to sports shops and buying their racquets and shuttles, it suddenly became everybody's sport.

Recently, I'm seeing my relatives and a lot of my officemates started joining 5k/10k fun runs. I'm seeing a lot of marathons/funruns being organized lately ---even our office organized one last year. Could it be that running is now the next fad after badminton? Versus the latter, the only basic investment that one needs to have is a good pair of running shoes versus the shoe+racquet gear for badminton.

We'll see in the next couple of months if the sport truly picks up.

3.15.2009

Air Jordan XI


In the twenty-over models of the Air Jordan shoe worn, of course, by Michael Jordan in the NBA, the one I like best was the Air Jordan XI. It just stands out.

Even sportswrap.berecruited.com voted it as the #1 Air Jordan shoe out of their Top 10 Air Jordan Shoe list. 

Hmmm, I hope Nike re-releases this shoe. Malapit na kase DBTI inter-batch tournament (next month).  Heehee.

3.14.2009

3.10.2009

Varicella Zoster Virus

This air-borne virus that causes chickenpox had unfortunately found itself two new hosts: the missus and Matteo. The missus' spots showed up last Friday and then Matteo's last Sunday.

Lucas, fortunately, wasn't infected (hopefully never) since he was given the anti-VZV vaccine when he turned 1 year old. I wasn't infected since I had already acquired chickenpox back when I was in college.

What bothers me is that why is chickenpox so common during summer? Can anyone help explain?

Anyway, I hope they both recover soon, especially Matteo who's only 2 months old.

3.08.2009

Every color...every hue...is represented by me and you...


From one Bosconian to another, thank you Francis M for your words and your music! You will truly be missed.

3.07.2009

Voltes V

Until I reached college, I never really had a barkada I could call my own. I was strictly raised as an eskwela-bahay son, with the daily reminder that finishing one's studies is more important than going out and play with the neighbors.

That all changed when I entered 3rd year college, particularly the laboratory subjects. The lab professor required all students to put themselves in groups of 5. This will become your permanent lab team for the rest of the semester. The opportunist in me sought immediately the nerds in class to hopefully get a slot with their group. This will mean smooth sailing until the final exam. Sadly, the nerd group was got filled up immediately. I think there were 2 nerd groups that time. Yup, a lotta nerds.

It was BN and me who went looking for a group. BN, who'd just transfered from PUP, was a tall quiet fellow who was a classmate since elementary and high school. We were about to end our search when RC, another DB Makati batchmate, signaled us to join his group of 3, together with RS and OH, both graduates of DB Manda high school.

We stuck together until the end of the semester. Surprisingly, the group jelled together wonderfully. We all passed. Succeedingly, we formed the same group until 5th year until we graduated. The other groups gave a neat label to us, Voltes V, since we'd always automatically "volt-in" when grouping time comes.

In between the lab projects and other group presentations/reports, that group had exposed me to more social events that I could imagine: soirees, meet-ups, being hosts to all-girl forums, dates, inuman, etc.

Needless to say, we became the best of friends.

That friendship went beyond college. Even when we all started working, we always took the time to meet up whenever we can. Miggys, Dencios, bike rides from Sucat to Bicutan, double dates, our own darts tournament, billiard tournaments, etc.

Even when 4 of us got married and had children, we all still keep in touch thru texts, emails, and chat.

That friendship is now 16yrs old.

BN is now based in the US with his family. RS is planning to migrate his family to New Zealand. OH is waiting for his petition results to the US. While RC and me may have decided to spend the rest of our lives here in Manila.

Last weekend, we all met at a resto in Bicutan to listen to some band called "Hebigats" whom RS seems to be fascinated with lately. In between the songs, we all tried to catch up and tell old stories but it wasn't enough. So, after the band's second set, we all hopped onto our cars and drove off to Figaro Sucat. But then, it was closed.

This didn't stop Voltes V from venturing on. With RC and me hopping onto RS family van, we managed to have coffee at Starbucks Alabang next to ATC. For about 1-2hrs, we all shared old stories and at the same time each one's hopes for his family (except for RC who's still single btw ---but dating. GO RC!).

I looked at my watch. 2AM. The missus could be worried by now. BN and his family will be flying back to the US the following Monday, RS could be going to NZ by December, and OH could be in the US by next year.

I asked the guys to wrap up, and, as we were all walking back to the car, I uttered to RS, "Malamang matagal-tagal bago tayo magkakasama uli ng kumpleto ano?"

RS and RC gave a nod. That's life I suppose.


3.03.2009

Biggest Loser Update

Every Monday the 5 "contenders" in our Biggest Loser contest is required to email the group their current weight. Seeing that PT had lost almost 2kg since Feb2 made me wonder if I could still win it at my current pace. Add to that the binging I do come Saturdays and Sundays since all that delicious home-cooked food and dinner-outs come into play.

This week, as usual, we all sent our kg-weights and EG, the author of this little contest, sent the spreadsheet to show the progress:

Surprisingly, PT has relapsed from his 1.66kg initial cumulative loss and is now dead last. RT is leading the pack with a cumulative 2.57kg loss since Feb2. Since the contest ends Apr20, I think I still have enough time to chase RT and win that precious (precious!) Zoom Kobe IV. I just have to kick my programme several notches (I'm currently looking into joining those 5KM fun-runs).

Let's see!

License To Wed (2007)


Ok ok lang!

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