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China’s largest online direct sales company, JD.com, is celebrating the November Singles Day Festival today. JD.com is like our local online shopping but they ship worldwide for FREE. Today (November 9, 2015) it will provide its customers with great savings and FREE-bies! They have Just 5 cents offers, Flash Sale, and Name brands with coupon codes to save up to $20.


Adding to this celebration, they are offering FREE $10 for every new member/customer who sign-up at JD.com using the code I7525G (copy-paste the code to the referrer box on the sign-up page). When you sign-up, use this code I7525G and you will get $10 coupon that can be used for your purchases. If you don't use that code, you will only get $5 free. If you want to purchase from their site, you only need to use the code to products which cost 5 cents more. That is, you only need to purchase at least $10.05 single item and it will be shipped to your location for FREE. You can use Paypal, GCASH Amex Card, SmartMoney Card or any VISA or Mastercard Card to pay for your goods.

Here's my checkout, I've used the $10 coupon already and have purchased this item worth $16.34:

I already received the item on December 29, 2015. The item was as described but with a bit of delay due to shipping.

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Finally, Smart Communications had updated their system when using their call promos. Life is more easier without the fuss of keying the different prefixes when calling while enrolled to a certain call promo. No need to get complicated and confused, simply hit the call button when calling the Smart/TNT/Sun number of your friend or family.


To use:
When a user is subscribed to a certain Smart/TNT call promo, he can directly dial the 11-digit Smart/TNT/Sun number (without the +63) of the person he wants to call and hit the call button.

Example: 
I am enrolled to the new Smart UCT50 (3 days unlimited call to TNT/Smart/Sun). I will just browse my phone book to look for my friend's number and press the call button (i.e. 0918-3214567 then press call button).

That's it.

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The Filipino group of shadow play performers, El Gamma Penumbra, was hailed as the first ever grand winner of Asia's Got Talent last night (May 14, 2015). The group won the title out of the eight finalists; this includes two other Filipino contestants such as Gerphil Flores, a classical singer from the University of the Philippines who bagged the third place.


The group received a $100,000 cash prize and another performance at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

El Gamma penumbra earned two golden buzzers during their stay in Asia's Got Talent and those buzzers sent them directly to compete in the semi-finals and the finals round. They received the first golden buzzer during their audition and the other one during their semi-final's performance.

The group's first shadow play showcased the different cultures in the world and their semi-final's performance depicted the lives of people who were affected by war (humanity). Their heart-warming final's performance paid tribute to Mother Earth with the "Colors of the Wind" song playing in the background.

El Gamma Penumbra's Finals performance. Screen-grabbed from Youtube.

Screen-grabbed from Youtube.

We could have expected their win as they received the golden buzzer twice. Their performances were really not just for show but it also calls for awareness and concern to what is happening around us.

Congratulations to El Gamma Penumbra and to Gerphil Flores for boosting the Filipino pride!

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Globe Telecommunications has announced yesterday that starting May 8, 2015, all prepaid users will be able to use mobile internet without manually configuring their phone's internet settings. Users can automatically go online; no more hassle of setting up their internet configuration. Just register to an internet promo, open your browser and enable data connection in your phone and whala, internet on the go!

They also let their subscribers to manage this automatic internet connection by turning on their FREE SurfAlert. It will put the user's browsing on hold when their device attempts to connect online and they are not registered to a certain surfing promo. This is similar to Smart and Sun's Load Protect which protect the load balance of users from accidental consumption because of sudden enabling of data connection. They will be redirected to a FREE site that informs them that they are not being charge for the internet access and they will be prompted to register to a promo first before connecting to the internet.


I presume this is another precautionary measure of Globe from unwanted internet access of users using apps or programs that bypass their system gain FREE access. This is like a checkpoint to those who are requesting access in their network but are not subscribed to a valid internet promo. This can save Globe's bandwidth demand but I doubt this attempt that it will totally eliminate ALL the "internet squatters". Ika nga nila, laging may butas jan, hanap-hanap lang! Globe can put barriers and set up walls but not a bugproof network.

For more info about SurfAlert, just dial *143# } My Account } Mobile Internet Usage (or directly dial *143*2*3#).

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Filipino figure skater, Christian Martinez, landed as the 19th best figure skater in men's division in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics as the free skate program ends. He was also in that same spot during the men's short program which selected the top 24 skaters to advance in the free skate program.

He totalled 184.25 points in the competition while the gold medalist, Yuzuru Hanyu, scored 280.09. Martinez performed his routine in the tune of Malaguena which lasted for almost 5 minutes.

After the event, he said that he will get better in preparation for the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeonchang, South Korea. As incentive, Manny Pangilinan awarded Martinez with $10,000 (~PhP 450,000) for his historical participation and for bringing pride to the Philippines.

Martinez is the lone representative of the Philippines in the Winter Olympics after 22 years of no representation. His participation in the Olympics had sparked some issues to government as his mother claims that her son lacks support from Pnoy's administration, which Malacanang later clarified.

Remember Juno, the movie? Ellen Page is the pregnant lead actress. I have watched it before and I can say that from that movie she obviously is a lesbian. I didn't even think that she is closeted. It didn't come as a shock to me when I read today her speech, "I’m here today because I am gay". Does anybody care if she's gay or not? For Alexander Skarsgård's hopefuls, maybe, it just confirms that they are not dating! Page is also a star in Whip It and Inception.

I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I’m standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain. I am young, yes, but what I have learned is that love, the beauty of it, the joy of it and yes, even the pain of it, is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being.

 You can watch her coming out speech:

Video credits to Youtube (NewsHD)

February marks the University of the Philippines - Diliman (UPD) month. Various musical and performing activities will be held in the campus every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Love Month, though the much-awaited UP Fair 2014 is held during weekdays. If you want to drop by the campus, make it in a day when there is a concert, play or show.  You can refer to the schedule below and start marking your planner!

OICA-Sponsored Activities - FREE Admission
February 1 (Sat) - 7:00 pm
The Legend of M, si Marya Makiling at ang mga Nuno sa Punso by College of Music (Abelardo Hall Auditorium) 

February 2 (Sun) - 5:00 pm
Camerata Jazz (Carillon Plaza)

February 7 (Fri) - 7:00 pm
UPLIFT: Handog Sining sa Bayan by UP Diliman Performing Groups (University Theater)*

February 9 (Sun) - 5:00 pm
UP Tugtugang Musika Asyatika (TUGMA) - Carillon Plaza

February 16 (Sun) - 5:00 pm
Maroon Bench Jam with UP-FM featured bands (Carillon Plaza)

February 17 (Mon) - 10:00 am
Sketching session with invited artists (Bulwagan ng Dangal, Gonzales Hall)

February 21 (Fri) - 7:00 pm
Serenades, Overtures and Lullabies by UP Arco and UP Orchestra with student guest artists Josher Peralta and Emil Silayan (University Theater)*

February 22 (Sat) - 7:00 pm
Street Fuzion 14: Journey by UP Streetdance Club (University Theater)

February 23 (Sun) - 5:00 pm
Ka-Fu (Katutubo Fusion) with Kontra-Gapi (Carillon Plaza)

February 28 (Fri) - 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Hagikhikan 2014: Ang Pagbabalik - the UP Diliman Faculty Follies (University Theater)**

February 28 (Fri) - 6:00 pm
Jeepney Orchestra Concert by UP CoNeMus (CS Amphitheater)


*Free tickets will be issued and in a First-Come First-Serve basis
**Ticket is worth PhP100 each and available in the UPD - Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA). 
For more info visit UPD-OICA.

UP Fair 2014
You can also top-up your campus visit by watching the country's local artists perform live in the #UPFair2014 on February 11-15,2014 at the UP Sunken Garden. These are night gigs so you can drop off after work. Ticket price is PhP120 each. If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day (February 14) at UP Fair, you can contact 09477245365 for tickets. Here is the artist/band line up for the week (I'll be updating it since I cannot find info on some dates):

February 11 (UP Fair: Ascend) - Ticket price PhP100.00
Wilabaliw
Curbside
Arcadia
Imbue No Kudos
Diachroma
Days of January
Faintlight
Lost Threads
Jejaview
Brick City
Sirens
Earthmover
Talata
April Morning Skies
Happy Hearts Club
Saiya
BlueBoyBitesBack
Embercore
Subculture
Til Kingdom Come
Now You Make Me Angry
Blunt Concept
Penguin
The Fridays
February 12 (Todo Combo sa UP Fair) - Sponsored by Redlines Entertainment Production
Sandwich
Chicosci
Moonstar88
Banda ni Kleggy
Pedicab
6cyclemind
Imago
Ney
Gracenote
ABRA
BBS
Dello
Autotelic
The Marty’s
UP Pep Squad
Callalily

Hosted by Ramon Bautista

February 13 (Roots 2014: Music Festival) - Sponsored by UP Economics Society and the UP Underground Music Community
Up Dharma Down
Urbandub
Spongecola
Itchyworms
Silent Sanctuary
Giniling Festival
Ciudad
Ang Bandang Shirley
Join the Club
Anton and the Salvadors
Ivan Theory
Ourselves The Elves
Extrapolation
With Fingers Crossed
Speterull
The Yeah Gos
Fiona
Contra Classic
Adriel
Hosted by Joyce Pring and Bogart the Explorer


February 14 (Kontra Kultura 3: Born for Love) - Sponsored by UP Students of Destiny
Yeng Constantino
Quest
Never the Strangers
Freestyle
Sabado Boys (Paolo Santos, Jimmy Bondoc, Luke Mejares, and DJ Myke)
Crossworld Band
Transition Band
Audiocity
D-Tribe
Destiny Dance Rage


Time to have some fun at UP Diliman this month!

The news about Vhong Navarro being tied and inhumanely beaten by a group of men last January 22 is now escalating to a teleserye plot. After Chito Rono's statement of the actor's case, GMA-7 had aired another side of the story. GMA had shown the public of a blotter report filed on January 23 identifying Vhong in an alleged rape case but the girl involved considered not to file charges. Rono, Vhong's manager, had spoken of the unavailability of that blotter report from the precinct the last time they tried to get hold of it.

Then yesterday, Vhong was finally interviewed by The Buzz and spoke his part. He said that he was threatened and beaten up and was ordered to go to the precinct to file the blotter charge against him. They even asked for an amount of PhP2 million as part of the threat. Vhong also named the girl in this case as Denise Millet Cornejo, a 22-year-old advertising model and a grand niece of GMA-7 President. She also goes by the name Deniece Milinette Cornejo. He also pointed to Cedric Lee as the leader of the group who attacked him. Lee is a businessman and the former husband of Vina Morales. Later that day, Lee had also responded to the issue through his twitter account of which he did not deny beating Vhong and accusing the actor of being a rapist.

So, who's telling the truth now? It's feels like the nation is watching a movie; there's the kontrabida and the naapi, the power of money and influence, and the actors playing their roles well! Adding to plot is the battle between the two big networks in the country.

The case is going viral not only in TV but also in the world wide web. There's a link circulating in the internet luring users to view a CCTV video of Vhong's attack but it proved to be just a spam to generate traffic. Even the netizens had expressed their views on this issue especially in FB and Twitter. You can see most of them are siding with Vhong's version of the story.

I am excited to see how this plot will turn and end for this will be another test of our justice system. 

Photo credits: Google

The news of a Filipina becoming the first winner of X-Factor Israel had hit the country like a storm. It sure made the Filipinos' pride bloom again for the nth time. Rosanna Fostanes, a 46-year-old OFW hailed in Taguig, works as a caregiver in Israel. She won the title singing Frank Sinatra's memorable My Way, breaking the Filipino belief that the song is cursed and whoever sings it (especially in videoke) will face death right after. But this is not the case for her, huh? The song made her gain the flags of admiration from the Filipinos worldwide after Manny Pacquiao's win in Shanghai, China last Novermber 2013.

As I read the news, I wonder how she was able to join the contest given she has a Filipino citizenship? And the problem now rise after this historical event. There was these issues of Israel not permitting her to work as a singer in their country and the Philippine's Bureau of Internal Revenue is also to tax her winnings. The BIR said that even though OFWs are exempted from tax, her winnings is not. It's like in Pacquiao's case, even if they had brought pride to the Philippines, they still have to abide with the laws governing their incomes. As with Israel, the country will not honor her caregiver visa to allow her to do paid recordings.

Well, I hope the best for her, these problems are workable and I am sure she can get out of it will soon enjoy the fame and the career that opened through the show. You can watch her winning performance below:


Video credits to Youtube (The X-Factor Israel)

As part of the Christmas celebration in the University of the Philippines - Diliman, it annually conducts the so-called Lantern Parade. This day marks the start of Christmas break in the university as well as the opportunity for the different colleges and organization in the campus to show-off their creativity skills and advocacy in a form of a lantern. They can promote their beliefs, their way of thinking, their mission, and even their call to some issues in the country. The event is usually held in the UP-Diliman Academic Oval during the second Friday of December. People from different places and various age brackets gather in this event to witness the beautiful, massive and colorful lanterns created by the UP students and faculty. The event starts at 4pm and usually end at around 10pm with a fireworks display.

I was able to witness the 2012 Lantern Parade in Diliman and I can say that after four years of being away from this university, the event is still well-participated and the quality of lanterns did not falter as compared to the past ones.

Here are some pictures:
College of Architecture

Manny Pacquiao arrived in the Philippines this Wednesday at five o'clock in the morning with his wife Jinkee Pacquiao at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. During an interview Pacman had given his words to his hopeful fans that the Filipinos will rise again and he will grab the opportunity to strengthen himself while he is still fit to do so. He won't retire after his second defeat in this year of his career.

Pacquiao fell in the sixth round during the Pacquiao-Marquez 4 match. His defeat from Juan Miguel Marquez through a shocking knockout will seem to be replayed over and over again in boxing's greatest hits. Surely it can't easily be forgotten.

Well, let's hope that he fulfill his promise.

Dear Justin Bieber, You mess with Pacman, You Mess with Filipinos! Juan for all, All for Juan. #RespectThePhilippinesBieber magladlad ka na!    

The pictures have given rise to the hash tag #RespectThePhilippinesBieber in Twitter. Many Filipinos had also called for #BlockBieber.

Though Pacquiao had lost, he still made history by being a ten-time world champ in boxing. Many Filipinos still believes in him even with the two successive loses incurred. Manny Pacquiao's loses signify that even great heroes fall.

I was also shocked with how he got knocked out. That was a terrifying moment. I thought I am not one of his fans, but I waited and watched all of his fights on TV and not depended on Youtube users for their uploads. Many had also posted shoutouts in Facebook that the lose is a call for him to retire, though some said that losing is just part of his career and more fights should be endured.

Here are the photos:

The latest was Alec Baldwin's (30 Rock) joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride. Senator Revilla threatened Baldwin that if he visits the Philippines he will surely meet mayhem. Revilla stated, given that he is a senator, that the country has a law AGAINST mail-order brides. But is Revilla sure that they are really implemented? We know that most illegal actions can always find its way around the law.

Candy Pangilinan was also banned by the Baguio community due to her joke on the Igorots. Her joke that she is human and not an Igorot pushed the province officials to finalize their decision that they will not air any movies with Candy Pangilinan as one of the actress in their cinemas. Even a ten times apology didn't rattle the firm decision. Of course, this will affect her career so much that producers will have second thoughts on having her in a film. I am sure this will also pass. Given enough time, the Baguio people will forgive her, it's in our nature.

A Hongkong magazine had published a racially biased article which calls the Philippines as "A nation of servants". This has caused the Filipino workers in Hongkong to show their protest by having the Red Shirt Day. An apology from Chip Tsao lifted his ban from the country. The growing number of domestic helpers in Hongkong can be attributed to this issue. Even though they are helpers, they are not to be treated as slaves.

Then there was the famous Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewife) on her insulting comment on the Filipino doctors. The quote was "Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Coz I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines." Of course, even if it's other countries, the remark is still insulting. Imagine calling your med school with no K.

All I can say is, be careful on your words. You cannot know how people will react.

Recently, the government has issued a statement that they will give 25 million pesos reward to whoever can provide information in the political killings in our country.

When I heard that, I told the radio (literally) that instead of giving away the 25 million as reward, why not the government spend it in the intelligence unit. Manage that unit to gather the information needed and tackle a way to know the people behind the killings. So, instead of waiting for people to provide information (which I am sure will depend if they are bogus or not), simulate movement. Isn't it their job?

Then the other day, Aling Sonia, a radio brodcaster, quoted Sen. Chiz Escudero that in order to solve the problem, use the amount to run the intelligence command. The intelligence command is reliable enough to gether information and strategize ways in battling the issue.

See, I should find my way to the government offices. Haha.

In my province, even if the 2010 election is making the headlines, the debates of the previous election is still not settled. We have the elected governor, Hon. Jesus Typoco, Jr., performing his duties already as the head of our province. With a slight difference in the number of votes, Hon. Egay Tallado, his opponent, has contested to the election results and demanded a recount. His request was approved and the ballot boxes were reopened and the votes recounted. The new result showed that Tallado indeed won the governor position instead of Typoco. The authorized office had declared it official and the stepping up of Tallado in office was authorized. A day before the proclamation, Typoco was able to acquire a restraining from the court, withholding the future position of his rival. Before the recount results was finalized and released, Typoco was able to submit a budget proposal for the maintenance and construction of the highways and roads in Camarines Norte and it amounted to 13 billion pesos. Does he intend to rake some fund before he abandon his post? The Vice-Governor, Hon. Roy Padilla, Jr. was wise enough to issue an open letter which informs the public that whatever pending proposals signed by Typoco will be recognized as invalid since his authority as governor is still questionable. But until now, Typoco is still holding the post.