10 Kiddie Snacks We Can’t Forget

10 Kiddie Snacks We Can’t Forget

Haw FlakesWhat it is: Those yummy tart discs of a Chinese fruit called hawthorn. It comes in rolls of seventeen discs.Why we loved it: We used to play first communion with them with everyone taking turns being the "priest" and receiver of the haw flakes. And it was impossible to just have one.
Bazooka JoeWhat it is: Pink bubble gum that comes in waxed paper with a complimentary comic strip about Bazooka Joe, a kid who wears a baseball cap and, for reasons unknown, a black eye patch. The ridges on the gum made it look like a pink bar of laundry soap.Why we loved it: We collected those comic strips-and hoped that each chew was a different story about "Bazooka Joe and His Gang." If it wasn’t, we’d trade strips with friends.
TarzanWhat it is: The tougher-than-usual bubblegum wrapped in differently-colored wrappers (not according to flavor at all).Why we loved it: Although it was tough to chew-your jaw would, more often than not, end up aching-the gum tasted really sweet and the flavor lasted a lot longer. It also produced stronger bubbles (less mess in your hair, which, admit it, happened to you at least once if you’re a girl).
White RabbitWhat it is: Creamy, white, chewy candy that’s wrapped in what looks like waxed paper (it’s really an edible thin strip of "paper" made from sticky rice).Why we loved it: It was always a thrill to be able to eat the "paper" along with the candy. The wrapper didn’t really taste like anything, but eating it made us feel like rebels so we ate it anyway.
Iced GemsWhat it is: Bite-sized biscuits with differently colored icing on top. Each piece looked like a cute, mini masterpiece.Why we loved it: It’s one of those classic baon foods that you and your friends would share. Some people liked eating the biscuit first and saving the icing for later (some ate it by color, too!). What was your Iced Gem eating style?
Peter’s Butter BallWhat it is: Buttery balls of sweet caramel goodness. It comes individually wrapped for easy popping right into your mouth.Why we loved it: For the price, you got good quality candy that tasted almost like butterscotch. It was the next best thing to getting those decadent squares of pure, soft caramel.
Orange SwitsWhat it is: Orange jelly candies covered in sugar. They’re quite orange and very "swit," indeed.Why we loved it: It was probably the closest thing we had to gummy bears. It comes in packs of four so there’s just enough for you-and your friends, if you’re feeling generous.
Tootsie RollWhat it is: A log of chocolate candy that’s rolled in waxed paper.Why we loved it: All together now, "Let me see that Tootsie Roll!" We could spend all day just licking that Tootsie Roll, occasionally stopping to have lunch or dinner. But we always, always came back to the Tootsie Roll.
PeeWeeWhat it is: Crunchy barbecue-flavored chips that we’d snack on until the powdered flavoring finally accumulated on our fingertips.Why we loved it: The best part about eating chips like this? The moment when you tilt your head back and chuck all the small bits left over into your happy mouth. Mmm!
HorlicksWhat it is: Small, tablet-like candies made from malt and chocolate that most likely inspired the creation of Ovalteenies.Why we loved it: You know how-when no one was looking-you used to like eating Milo chocolate powder straight from the tin? That’s what eating Horlicks was like.

The Top Ten Kontrabida Quotes

We all have our personal kontrabidas in our lives, but some are universal. They’re deliciously villainous. And who knows? Maybe we’re kontrabidas in someone else’s life. So I guess it’s all good.
December 11, 2008 → The Top Ten Kontrabida Quotes
1. L.A. Blue - "What’s that? Do you hear that? Oh, it’s the sound of me not caring…"
2. Mara - "You think you’re good enough? Think again."
3. No name - "Ipinanganak ako para guluhin ang buhay mo!"
4. Tani - "What a coincidence…UGLY starts with ‘U’."
5. E-M - "Ang ganda ng babaeng ipinalit mo sa akin…mula ulo, mukhang paa!"
6. Totski - "Mabilis ba mabuntis ang mga bobo? Bakit ang dami niyo?"
7. Raymond - "Malakas ka pala kumain…halatang galing sa hirap."
8. SC - When you see an ugly baby: "Magtanim na tayo ng maraming damo, kasi dumadami din ang mga mukhang kabayo."
9. Merrique - When officemate called me fat, I said: "Kaming mga matataba, puwedeng pumayat. Eh kayong mga pangit?"
10. Dopey - "Siguro taga-Marakina ka, kasi mukha kang takong!"
11. D’brain - From a former teacher: "I won’t pass you. I want to see you suffer."
12. No name - "Karma’s a bitch, and so are you."
13. No name - From Iisa Pa Lamang. Claudine to Angelica: "Gusto mo maglaro tayo? Agawan ng mana."
14. Dyosaimma - "Are you having a freak show that I’m not aware of?"
15. Sutil - One friend hardly drinks but eats tons of pulutan. She’s fat, and not very pretty. During one inuman, we saw the plate of chicharon empty after just a few minutes. Another friend addressed her: "Huy, bawal yan, cannibalism!"
16. Ysa - Overheard, a girl talking to another girl: "Shucks, it’s so hard to be pretty noh? Ay sori, you wouldn’t know nga pala."
17. Bombai - "Pag tinititigan kita, naniniwala na ako na ang tao galing sa unggoy."
18. Frederique - "Wag ka mag-alala, malapit nang mawala sa uso ang skinny jeans."
19. No name - "Everyone’s entitled to be stupid, but you’re abusing the privilege!"
20. HB - "Mabuti ka pa, mayaman ako. Samantalang ako, mahirap ka. Anong palagay mo sa akin, tanga ka?"
21. No name - From Iisa Pa Lamang. Claudine: "Gusto ko pag pasok ko, ipagtitimpla mo agad ako ng kape. Yung dark, very dark. Kasing pait ng buhay na ipatitikim ko sa ‘yo!"
22. Bennett - "Whatever look you were aiming for? You missed."
23. Devil_laugh - "Kailangan na natin ng bagong biktima. Hindi na humihingi ng awa ang isang ito."
24. Dark Choco Boi - From Iisa Pa Lamang. Cherry Pie Picache after she lost her fortune: "Ganito pala ang feeling ng hampaslupa! Kaloka!"
25. Erwination - "Giniginaw ako. Magsunog ng alipin!"

The Top Ten Signs That Someone Is A Social Climber

Yeah, I guess it’s a pet peeve. For me the worst kinds of social climbers are the ones who actually don’t need to anymore, because they’re sosy, they’re rich, they’re decent-looking, yet they feel the need to raise their status by hooking up with people even higher than them in the social pecking order. And name droppers. It’s okay to name drop if it’s relevant to the conversation. But sometimes, it’s like, "Yeah, I love hotdogs! I used to eat nga hotdogs at the house of the Zobels in Alabang…" Ugh.
November 20, 2008 → The Top Ten Signs That Someone Is A Social Climber
1. Bellamarie - My mom was in the house of her beauty queen/actress friend. Mom: "Wow, I love the ambience ha!" Beauty Queen/Actress: "Naku asawa ko nag-ayos ng bahay eh, kaya hindi ko alam kung saan niya nabili yun…"
2. No name - My brother was in an FX when a pa-sosyal lady beside him said, "NO LIKE THAT-an!" ("walang ganyanan" in Tagalog) to someone she’s talking to on the phone. And what was her phone? A Bayantel wireless landline!
3. Nixon - Friend: "Starbucks nanaman? I’m so sawa na, I’m always here eh!" Me: "What do you usually order ba?" Friend: "Uhm…kape?"
4. Bajoink - In Sbarro, a feeling sosy Pinay with a foreigner boyfriend was asked: "What sauce would you like on your pasta?" The Pinay haughtily answered: "Ketchap."
5. Louise Lane - I work for an expensive Japanese resto in a 5-star hotel. When I told a couple that we only had plain iced tea, the lady exclaimed: "Anong klaseng restawran to, wala man lang RED iced tea!" Eh ang nagse-serve lang naman ng RED iced tea at the time was Tokyo Tokyo!
6. Mary - An officemate always wears MANGO, pero nangungutang ng P50 pang McDo tapos hindi nagbabayad.
7. Lingere - If you say stuff like: "I wanna work in a bank. Nandun ang pera."
8. Dru - Kung naka-iPhone nga, prepaid naman, tapos wala pang load.
9. His cuteness - A friend was asked what his dad did for a livin. He answered: "Cardiologist." (taga-ayos ng radio sa car)
10. Lingerer - When I ran into a friend at a mall parking lot, I asked, "O, anong ginagawa mo dito?" He answered: "I have a car!"
11. Jarod - When we were in Kenneth Cole, a lady in her 30’s asked the saleslady: "Miss, diba kapatid ni Kenneth Cole si Cole Haan?"
12. No name - A pa-sosy date ordered steak, and she added: "Medium rare, please!" Pagdating ng steak, she goes: "Yak, may dugo! Hilaw pa!"
13. Meatball - Friend: "Yah were always in Baguio, in Camp John Wayne!"
14. No name - Cousin: "I don’t eat regular grapes, excuse me! I only eat the boneless!"
15. Carla - In New Jersey, the waitress asked ow we wanted our eggs. Me: "Poached please." Cousin: "Scrambled for me." Her friend: "Me sunny outside."
16. Frederique - When we saw Carmi Martin in the mall, I shouted: "Hi Carmi!" She smiled and waved back. My friend asked kung kilala ko siya. I answered: "Aba siyempre naman, kilala ko siya! Pero ako, hindi niya kilala…"
17. Geyp - If you shorten the brand names to, "LV, Havs, and D&G", not because you’re a suki, but because you can’t pronounce the long versions.
18. No name - I heard 2 girls in our school talking. Girl 1: "Oh my gawd, I looove Linea Italia!" Girl 2: "Oh my gawd, me too! I looove their pasta!"

The Top Ten Worst Lies You’ve Ever Told

Here's another interesting top 10 feature from Chico and Delamar

Weird that I should be posting a Top Ten about lies during Black Saturday. Anyway, this is the time for some reflection, right? Also, starting with this post, I’m using "name withheld", as opposed to "no name", when the sender actually sent his or her name but requested that we don’t it on air. Wala lang, just to distinguish between the 2.
September 18, 2008 → The Top Ten Worst Lies You’ve Ever Told
1. Name withheld - Sometimes I tell my special someone that I enjoy sex. Sometimes it’s pleasurable, but often it’s simply painful. I tell him, "Kulang lang ako sa practice…"
2. Cheodosche - My mom found condoms in my brother’s bag. When she confronted him, he said: "Pinamigay sa school, sample."
3. Name withheld - I once texted my crush pretending to be a different person. He ended up falling in love with this person I invented.
4. Nika Canton - I was running late when my boss called me and asked where I was. Even though I was still at home, I said I was already on EDSA. Then the neighbor’s rooster crowed. My boss said, "May manok na pala sa EDSA…"
5. Cutie Girl - I’ve lied so often about my age, that sometimes, even when I don’t mean to, I give my age as 26, even if I’m already 32.
6. Estong Cruz - One time I went to Tia Maria’s in Katipunan with a half-eaten siopao. When the waiter said there’s corkage fee for the siopao, without thinking, I shove the remaining siopao in my mouth and mumbled, "FIOFAO, anong FIOFAO? Walang FIOFAO?!?"
7. Syvels - I used to take money from my dad’s wallet all the time. One time, I took 20 pesos. Later, my dad angrily asked, "Sinong kumuha ng 50 pesos sa wallet ko?" I protested, "Bente lang kaya!" Huli.
8. Jelolaine - Every time I have sex with a guy, I tell him, "Pangalawa ka pa lang." The truth is, I’ve had sex with 18 guys and counting.
9. Bilog - When my sister/dentist texted me where I was because I was late for my appointment, I said I was waiting for a taxi. She texted back, "Paano ka nag-aabang ng taxi eh online pa ang YM mo?"
10. No name - One time I made my dad sign a letter that said I was going to Batangas for a retreat but I was actually going to Tagaytay with my boyfriend. While in Tagaytay, my dad caught me with my boyfriend. BUT, I also caught him with his mistress, so quits lang kami.
11. Bob - One time tinawagan ako ng girlfriend ko asking who I was with. I told her I was with Mark. She said, "Kelan pa naging Mark si Karen? Lumingon ka sa likod mo." There she was behind us, behind me and Karen, her best friend.
12. SC - Back in college, my sked was Tues-Thur, but I told my parents it was Mon-Fri para mas malaki ang baon.
13. Migz with a Z - My mom would always ask why I’m not texting back. I always tell her I’m just too busy studying. Truth is, i lost my phone months back.
14. No name - I told my then husband that he was the father of my child. I’m now with the real father, but I still haven’t told my daughter the truth that the man I’m with is her real father.
15. Urduja - My worst lies were the lies I told during confession! It was my first confession and I didn’t have any mortal sins, so I made up some.
16. Chinese Cowboy - My boss called and asked where I was. I was in a mall, but I told him that I was in my area. He said, "Good, I’m in your area, meet me in 10 minutes." It was impossible because I was at least 30 minutes away from my area.
17. Specialist - Late for an exam, I wanted to tell my prof that it was because of a leaky faucet. I ended up saying, "Inasikaso ko pa yung tulo ko."
18. Yñaki - When 4 classmates were late, they said the jeepney they were riding had a flat tire. He separated the 4 and asked them to write on a piece of paper the answer to this question: "Tell me, which tire was flat?"
19. SC - Student: "Na-holdap po ako!" Teacher: "Naku, anong nakuha sa ‘yo?" Student: "Homework ko po…"
20.No name - I told my classmates that I was still a virgin, when in fact I’ve appeared in 2 local gay porn films. My lie was exposed when 2 gay classmates recognized me.
21. Chloe - After coming home with bruises and a black eye, I tld my parents I took up boxing. Truth is, I was beaten up by my abusive boyfriend.
22. Specialist - I once told a crush that I saw her boyfriend with another girl. Ayun, nag-break after a week.
23. Gossipboy - That I’m a straight guy who’s grossed out by the gay lifestyle.
24. No name - Nahuli ako ng pinsan ko nang bigla siyang pumasok sa kwarto ko at kasalukuyan kong "pinapaligaya" ang isang brod ko sa frat. Ang sabi ko, nasugatan ang brod ko sa putots kaya sinisipsip ko lang yung dugo. Tumango lang ang pinsan ko at sinara ang pinto.

Dell Pasay badged site sold to Teleperformance

I was so shocked when I learned the news from 2 of my friends. I have heard of that rumor since last year, while I was still connected with the company. But, majority of us brushed the rumor aside, because it is impossible that an outsourced provider would buy a giant like Dell. But, the impossible just happened last Friday, when it was announced to the whole Dell community that Teleperformance is buying Dell Pasay to the tune of PHP200 million++. Paltry change compared to the annual earnings of Dell, which amounts to billions of dollars in revenue. Friday is always a good and bad day for Dell peeps, primarily because the pro: we get out paychecks every other Friday and the con: big, surprising announcements are usually done on Fridays. Alot has happened to Dell Pasay over the last 3 years, since it was established in 2006. I joined the company in January 2007, at that time it was such a big deal for me because I was offered the biggest paycheck I have ever received since I started working, and having the honor and privilege to work in one of the world's top companies. I met my now lifelong friends in Dell. I had the luxury of living just 5-10 minutes away from Mall of Asia (where Dell Pasay is). So many memories. I am happy to know that Dell QC (where most of my friends are now) is not included in the sale. I guess I'm lucky I'm no longer with the company when this happened, because for me, if I was still there, it's a big slap in the ass. I feel sorry for those who are still there, because this is like a shock and awe to the employees of Dell Pasay. The good thing is that, Teleperformance will still retain the employees of Dell Pasay, but was gracious enough to offer pay (half a month's basic salary for every year of tenure with the company) for the ones who wish to leave. This economic crisis that the world is experiencing definitely is a bitch. In hindsight, I feel blessed that I am no longer in Dell Pasay when this happened, but I will not forget the memories Dell Pasay gave me. So long, Dell Pasay, thanks for the memories.

Margarita Fores on Good Pasta

I love to cook, and one of my favorite dishes are pasta dishes like spaghetti, fettucine, carbonara, puttanesca, among others. One of my favorite chefs, the legendary Margarita Fores of Cibo, shared insights on how to cook and make good pasta dishes. Here's an article lifted from the Philippine Daily Inquirer website:

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Margarita Fores on good pasta

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:25:00 03/11/2009

Filed Under: Food, Lifestyle & Leisure

IT was an afternoon of lively demonstration, discovery and great-tasting pasta with chef and restaurateur Margarita Fores in the recent Café Scientifique at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig.

She demonstrated how science is involved in every aspect of pasta cooking, from the right boiling temperature of water when cooking the pasta to correct preparation of basil leaves for basic pesto sauce.

She also dispelled myths and misconceptions, such as throwing pasta against the wall to know if it is al dente or not, and the adding of oil to boiling pasta.

Providing scientific explanations was Maribel Garcia, curator of the soon-to-rise Mind Museum at Bonifacio Global City. Hosting the forum was Mitzi Borromeo, coordinator of Café Scientifique for the Philippines.

Fores recalled how, as a child, she was interested in biology and science experiments in school, but how it was only recently that she began to understand the science behind cooking, mainly through personal research and a visit to one of Italy’s largest pasta factories.

“After working with food for more than 20 years, it is only now that I am learning the science behind it. In a way, it is like learning in reverse,” she said.

Details

Unknown to many, cooking great pasta depends on seemingly inconsequential details, such as the boiling of pasta.

“Water must be boiling vigorously,” said Fores. If temperature drops when you put the pasta, cover the lid. When it briskly boils again, uncover it. “Don’t disturb the cooking of pasta,” she quoted the Italians. Meaning, do not stir. Let it boil and keep on tasting until you approach the time indicated on packaging.

Al dente is “to the tooth.” There is a white dot in the middle of the pasta when you bite into it.

Why add salt to water?

“The salt adds flavor to the water, and that makes the pasta tasty. No matter how much sauce you add to the pasta, if it is cooked without salt, it will be bland,” Fores explained.

Water with salt added should taste like seawater. When pasta is boiled, some flavor of the pasta is left in the water. This pasta water can then be used for thinning cold pasta sauce, or to boil another serving of pasta.

Another popular myth Fores dispelled was that of adding oil while cooking pasta. “Some people do this to prevent the pasta from sticking together. But I found out in Italy that you are not supposed to do that because this will make the pasta oily and prevent the sauce from coating it properly. The result will be flavorless pasta.”

Instead, for the pasta not to stick together, it should not be left to cool. Your sauce or ingredients should be ready while the pasta is boiling. Even draining the pasta right after boiling should not take long.

Leaving some of the pasta water dripping from the strainer, toss the pasta immediately to the sauce and mix using wooden fork or thongs.

Fores gave generous servings of Cibo’s bestsellers: Pesto Genovese (classic basil pesto from Genova), a special concoction which was a hit among the audience; the Farfalle alla Genovese (ribbon-shaped pasta with sauteed mushroom, Pesto Genovese and cream); Spaghettini al Pomodoro Crudo (spaghettini in raw marinated tomatoes with garlic and sweet basil); and the Fettucine al Bolognese.

With each dish, Fores talked about ingredients, from pasta to cheese, good local and foreign brands of pasta and cream, the difference between fresh and dry pasta and how to cook them, the authentic Italian way of preparing sauces and mixing them with pasta, and how to garnish pasta dishes.

Informal gathering

Café Scientifique is an informal gathering in bars, pubs and cafés between the science community and the public. Scientists and science writers are invited to share knowledge and insights on a topic to get the discussions going.

Since it started in the UK 10 years ago, it has spread to as far as Japan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Singapore. The movement is now in Manila and has been going around establishments.

What's Up, Nicole?

I'm sorry, I am so not getting this girl. She accuses an American soldier for rape, the GI was convicted, and now she's recanting her statement and she's now claiming that she may have consented to have sex with the poor soldier. Oh well, she has already created a stir with her sensational rape case, and now she wants to steer clear of the issue. May God have mercy on her confused soul. Article lifted from the Philstar.com website


'My conscience bothered me' By Edu Punay Updated March 18, 2009 12:00 AM
Photo taken Dec. 4, 2006 shows Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith being escorted to a Makati court for the ruling on his rape case.
MANILA, Philippines - The Filipina who had accused a US Marine of raping her and had at one time become the rallying point in the effort to abrogate the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement is now singing a different tune.
Saying she was bothered by her conscience, Nicole recanted her testimony and signed a sworn affidavit that she wasn’t sure if she was indeed raped by the accused.
Smith’s lawyer, Jose Justianiano, submitted the affidavit dated March 12 to the Court of Appeals. He said his client has satisfied the civil aspect of his conviction and indemnified Nicole.
“My conscience continues to bother me realizing that I may have in fact been so friendly and intimate with Daniel Smith at the Neptune Club that he was led to believe that I was amenable to having sex or that we simply just got carried away. I would rather risk public outrage than do nothing to help in ensuring that justice is served,” she said in her five-page affidavit.
Nicole said she wondered how she could recall her testimony that Smith kissed her lips and neck and held her breast inside the van, when witnesses told the court that she passed out and looked unconscious when he took her to the van.
“How could I have resisted his advances given this condition? Daniel Smith and I were alone on the third row of the van, which had limited space and I do not recall anyone inside the van who held my hand or any part of my body. What I can recall is that there was very loud music and shouting inside the van,” she explained.
“With the events at the Neptune Club in mind, I keep asking myself, if Daniel Smith wanted to rape me, why would he carry me out of the Neptune Club using the main entrance in full view of the security guard and the other customers. Why would the van park right in front of Neptune Club? Why would Daniel Smith and his companions bring me to the sea wall of Alaba Pier and casually leave this area that was well-lighted and with many people roaming around?” she added.
The victim, who reportedly flew to the US after receiving P100,000 for damages from Smith and terminating the services of her lawyer, also believes that if she was really raped by Smith, “he and his companions would have dumped me instead in a dimly lit area along the highway going to Alaba Pier to avoid detection.”
Officials said they weren’t sure if Nicole’s recantation would be given weight in the pending appeal of Smith at the CA.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales said yesterday Smith’s lawyer can ask the CA to declare a mistrial and the fiscal can move for the dismissal of the case on the ground that the evidence is weak.
He clarified, however, that he is not aware of Nicole’s recant and will study it once he gets hold of a copy.
Her statement was reportedly added to Smith’s appeal, which was already submitted for resolution.
This development came after the reported phone call of US President Barrack Obama to President Arroyo over the weekend where the two leaders assured continuation of their partnerships – specifically the Visiting Forces Agreement.
Smith, a participant in the RP-US Balikatan military exercise, was found guilty of raping Nicole on Nov. 1, 2005 and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment by Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 139 presiding judge Benjamin Pozo.
The US soldier has filed a petition before the CA seeking the reversal of the lower court’s decision.
The appellate court has yet to issue a decision on Smith’s appeal after three justices inhibited themselves from handling the case for various reasons.
Last month, the Supreme Court ordered that Smith be placed under Philippine custody while the governments of the Philippines and the US renegotiate the terms of the Marine’s detention, which should be “under Philippine authorities.”
Malacañang has already reportedly declared that Smith could remain in the US embassy pending finality of his rape conviction.

My Top 10 needs (according to Google; just type your name + needs. Ex: Toshi Needs)

These are my top 10 needs according to Google:

1. needs to give more for their customer's money

2. needs anymore hype (?)

3. needs more screen time (as if I've always been infront of the camera)

4. needs to do something with my life before I call it quits with music (hahaha)

5. needs to teach someone in Seattle how to make fried rice like he does (who am I, Nobu? Hehehe)

6. needs the recipe for the directions to bake the cake (now I wanna be either Rachael Ray, Nigella, Martha or Barefoot Contessa)

7. need to be able to control his breath throughout a song to avoid losing it halfway through a song (yup, I know, right?

8. to study for the long exam in Filipino and BioLab (I'm over and done with college, 5 years ago today if I'm not mistaken)

9. needs and desrves to be the winner (of? American Idol? Miss Universe? Deal or No Deal? Pinoy Big Brother? hahaha!)

10. needs to be back in the show (Hhmm, paging ABS-CBN? hahaha!)

Good Love Gone Bad (The Rihanna-Chris Brown teleserye)

Looks like we will never hear the end of Rihanna & Chris Brown's tumultuous love affair. Their story is like a teleserye unravelling the twists and turns of it's plot. I just hope that this issue gets resolved, and Rihanna should've learned her lesson by now: Since she's older than Chris, she should be the one to "take a bow" from their relationship, like her famous hit song.

Rihanna's hell ride through Hollywood began when she intercepted a booty call to her boyfriend from a rival.

"A three page text message" from a woman Chris Brown had "a previous sexual relationship with" popped up on his cell phone as the singer drove home with Rihanna by his side from a pre-Grammy Awards party.

"A verbal argument ensued" that quickly escalated out of control, with Brown delivering a brutal and bloody beatdown of Rihanna as they hurtled through L.A. in a silver Lamborghini, according to a shocking affidavit.

"Now I'm really going to kill you," Brown screamed as he socked the sultry, 21-year-old singer with his right hand while he kept his left hand on the wheel, prosecutors allege.

"The assault caused [Rihanna's] mouth to fill with blood and blood to spatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle," the papers state.

When Rihanna tried to use his phone to call for help, Brown pulled over and put her in a headlock "and she began to lose consciousness," the court affidavit filed yesterday states.

Desperate to survive, Rihanna fought back and she "began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself."

Brown was quicker.

"Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her," the papers state. "While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placing her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away."

Rihanna's ordeal didn't end until she "began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle" in the city's tony Hancock Park neighborhood.

By then, Rihanna's face was covered with bruises that would shock and sicken her fans when the police photo leaked out. And the reputation of Brown, a 19-year-old pretty boy crooner, was about to be ruined.

Brown's fists began flying just after 12:25 a.m. on Feb. 8, when Rihanna spotted the flirty text message on Brown's cell from a woman prosecutors did not I.D.

R&B royalty, they were dressed to the nines - he in black leather, she in a strapless gown - and they were heading back from music mogul Clive Davis' bash.

Angry accusations turned into shouts and then screams until Brown had enough and pulled over and tried to kick Rihanna out of the car.

Rihanna was wearing a seat belt, so Brown "shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle causing an approximate one inch raised circular contusion," the papers say.

Then it got really ugly.

Rihanna, who court papers identified as Robyn F. - her real name is Robyn Fenty - "turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand.

"I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home," Brown screamed. "You wait and see!"

But he didn't wait to get home and rained down blows on the Barbados-born beauty as he drove.

Trapped, Rihanna grabbed her cell phone and called her personal assistant Jennifer Rosales for help.

"Rosales did not answer the telephone but while her voicemail greeting was playing" Rihanna pretended she was on the line, the affidavit states.

"I'm on my way home," Rihanna said. "Make sure the cops are there when I get there."

Those words were like pouring gasoline on a fire.

"You just did the stupidist thing ever!" Brown exploded. "Now I'm really going to kill you."

Brown, the papers state, "resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face."

Still driving, Brown delivered a "barrage of punches" that bruised her arms.

When Rihanna tried to text message another assistant, Melissa Forde, Brown grabbed her cell phone and "threw it out of the window onto an unknown street."

Rihanna then spied Brown's cell phone "sitting in his lap."

"She picked up the cellular phone" but Brown again was quicker.

"Before she could make a call he placed her in a headlock with his right hand," the papers revealed. "Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on the left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away."

Suddenly, Brown stopped the Lamborghini, turned off the engine, "removed the key from the ignition and sat on it," the papers state. "He then placed her in a headlock positioning the front of her throat between his biceps and forearm."

Then, Brown "began applying pressure."

The alleged attack lasted just minutes and by 12:55 a.m., police - alerted by neighbors who heard her screams - were questioning Rihanna.

Forde told cops that Brown called her at 1 a.m. "as if nothing had happened." She said he hung up after she told him that Rihanna was talking to cops.

Eighteen hours later, Brown finally surrendered.

Chico and Delamar's Daily Top 10: August 26, 2008 → The Top Ten Traffic Moments

Here's another interesting Top 10 topic from Chico and Delamar:


Traffic is the bane of every driver in Metro Manila. From my end of the city, it’s now C5 at any time of the day. The thingamajig they’re constructing at the Kalayaan intersection is driving every driver nuts! And we don’t even know if that monstrosity will even help the traffic situation when it finally gets built. I’ve always said I hated driving. But I guess upon closer inspection, it’s really the traffic that I hate.
August 26, 2008 → The Top Ten Traffic Moments
1. Homer - My lolo was one lucky person. He was stuck in traffic in the northbound lane on the SLEX. Right next to the airport, an airplane overshot the runway and settled on the highway. He was the last car missed by the plane.
2. Kirei - During traffic along EDSA, my best friend and I found ourselves behind a military truck. I waved at the soldiers, smiled, and blew them a kiss. A couple of soldiers waved back while the others smiled. Sobrang hiya ng best friend ko. So I told her, kahit sa ganung paraan man lang, mapabaunan ko sila ng konting saya bago sila sumabak sa digmaan.
3. Specialist - I was along c5 on my way to the office. After the Katipunan flyover, I saw a plastic bag thrown from the shanties. It almost hit the car in front of me. It splattered and I saw that it was filled with human poop.
4. Riverbanks - Our car and the car in front of us were flagged down by an MMDA person each. The car in front sped off after talking to the MMDA, then that guy talked to our MMDA. Apparently, the girl in front was Kris Aquino, and she told the MMDA that we were with her. If that was really her, then thanks, Ms. Kris!
5. Dru - I was listening to my ipod as I crossed the street. Then this truck almost ran me over. When I looked up, it was a truck of condoms!
6. XtraRice - As I was making sabit sa likod ng jeep (I’m a girl), the car right behind me started honking. When I looked, who should it be? My crush.
7. SC - I was stuck in trafic 0n a jeep somewhere in Blumentritt, when a w0man suddenly screamed, her ear bleeding. Apparently may humabl0t ng earrings niya, a guy 0n a bike.
8. Astroboy - I saw this car sticker on a car in fr0nt of me in traffic: "WARNING: children playng outside the car can cause accidents and adults playing inside the car can cause children!"
9. Carlo - When we were stuck in traffic in Cavite, we decided to ask a jeepney driver what was causing the congestion. The driver replied,"Kasi may umano sa ano diyan sa may ano eh."
10. Marcus - One rainy August afternoon in 1998, I left the office in Pasig at 4:30pm and reached Alabang at 5am the next. We spent the whole night crawling in traffic along SLEX.
11. Racer - An MMDA flagged down a friend who was on a motorcycle. My friend said, "Ano pong violation?" The MMDA answered, "Wala naman, pa-angkas lang. Trafik eh."
12. SC - While stuck in traffic in a taxi who happened to be listening to RX, I texted you guys to tell manong driver na pakilakasan ang aircon kasi nagmamantika na ko sa likod. Without talking, he did.
13. SPY Shadow - Our military vicar was apprehended by a highway patrol for beating the red light. But the officer, who was a Catholic, let him go when he recognized the priest, and said "Father, ingat na lang kayo doon sa next intersection kasi hindi po mga Katoliko ang mga assigned doon!"
14. Astroboy - One night, my sister had to take a taxi h0me. Nung malapit na siya, she tapped the driver’s sh0ulder then he screamed! He said after, "Pasensiya na po, 25 years kasi ak0ng driver sa punerarya. Di ako sanay na kinakalabit ng pasahero."
15. Na name - While stuck in traffic on a bridge, may dad suddenly screamed, "May tumalon!" Apparently a lady committed suicide by jumping off.
16. Sayuri - We were not moving along Roxas blvd, when suddenly a motorcade on the other lane stopped right alongside of us. My son rolled down his window to see the commotion, then the limo that the police were escorting rolled down the windows, and who should peek out - Michael Jackson! He handed his sampaguita necklace to my son.
17. Jose de vengenge - One time in a bus, the conductor shouted, "O sige, pasok lang, maluwag yan kasi laging ginagamit!"

Fans stunned by Rihanna-Chris Brown reconciliation

By ReutersFebruary 28, 2009 1:00 PM PST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fans of singers Chris Brown and Rihanna expressed dismay on Saturday at reports the couple had reunited just three weeks after Brown was alleged to have assaulted her.

Celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly said that the R&B stars were spending time together at the Miami home of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs -- and that Rihanna 's father was supporting her decision.

"I love my daughter with whatever road she takes. I'm behind her win or lose. I will be supportive. If that's the road she wants to choose, I'm behind her," Rihanna 's dad Ronald Fenty told Us Weekly from his Barbados home.

Fans could scarcely believe the news that came a week after a picture, showing the 21-year-old "Umbrella" singer with bruises to her face and swollen lips, was leaked on the Internet.

"All the abusive men are celebrating," Highroller33138 wrote in a posting on the MTV.com website. "It sets a terrible example for women everywhere. Rihanna really disappointed me."

"Stupid, really stupid. ... I hate women like this," wrote ladyofthelake in a posting on TVGuide.com.

On Friday People quoted an unidentified source saying the couple, who had been dating for about a year, were back together.

"They care for each other. While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves," the source told People.

Representatives of Brown, 19, a clean-cut teen idol whose hits include "Run It!", declined comment on the reports. Rihanna 's publicist did not return calls seeking comment.

Los Angeles prosecutors have yet to decide whether to file charges against Brown after his arrest on February 8 on suspicion of making criminal threats against a woman.

The alleged assault on the eve of the Grammy Awards caused both stars to cancel their scheduled appearances. Brown issued a statement a week after the incident saying he was "sorry and saddened" and seeking counseling.

Hooray for Kate Winslet!

The Top Ten Church Moments Or Quotes (from Chico and Delamar's Daily Top 10)

I love Chico and Delamar! My mornings are not complete if I don't get to listen to their morning radio show Morning Rush on RX93.1. I would like to share with you the best of their Daily top 10, which they always do every morning. Catch Chico and Del every morning 6-10am on RX93.1

The Top Ten Church Moments Or Quotes
1. Em-em Unggoy - A small girl felt sick during mass and felt like throwing up. Her mom told her to go outside. She did and was back feeling better. Mom asked: "Saan ka sumuka?" Girl: "Dun sa gilid, sa box na nakalagay ‘For The Sick’."

2 Ian024 - We had a company anniversary mass. My officemate called me to go down and see the mass because there was an attendance sheet. I got offended by it and stayed in the office.

3. Marcus - Man was praying in church for God to give him P1000. The town mayor who was also in church overheard him and was so moved with pity that he gave the man P500 only which was all he had in his pocket. When the mayor left the man went back to praying: "Lord Salamat po. Pero next time pag bibigyan niyo ko ng pera, wag niyo na po padaanin kay Mayor."

4. Daryl - One time our priest was giving a passionate serm0n about how God doesn’t appr0ve of gays and cohab. Tinginan kami ng mga kabarkada ko (we’re 4 gays and 1 lesbo).

5. Maynman - One time when I was a kid, I insisted on eating candy during mass despite my parents telling me not to. The homily’s message was fittingly about obeying one’s parents. The candy got stuck in my throat and I began to choke. We had to go to the hospital and never finished the mass. Needless to say, I learned my lesson.

6. Astroboy - I read this in our church prayer b0x: "Dear G0d, thanks for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy."

7. Lara - During consecration, when all was quiet after the bell was rang, my 2-year-old sister said loudly, "Hello?"

8. Astroboy - During Sunday school, the kids were asked if there’s a c0mmandment that teaches how to treat their siblings. A little girl answered, "Th0u shall n0t kill?"

9. Dru - When it stopped raining as they left church, my inaanak said, "Naubusan ng tubig si Jesus…"

10. Padpaper - One time the priest made everyone jump in their seats when he said, "Ano ba nangyayari sa society ngayon, puro na lang SECTS, SECTS, SECTS!"

11. Nikki - My dad was in our parish when he noticed an elderly lay minister praying the Stations of the Cross backwards, i.e., from 14th Station to the 1st. My dad said: "Brod, mukhang paatras po ang dasal natin ah?" The lay minister said: "Ay sus! Kaya pala palakas ng palakas si Kristo!"

12. Strangelybeauty - When I was small, I was wondering why a lot of people get sleepy in church. My yaya said that whenever we go to church, there are small devils that pull on our eyelashes.

13. Jose de vengenge - Our pastor said in a sermon that the Olympics sign is satanic & that Christians should not join or even watch it. I walked out.

14. YñaKi- A reminder posted in a church said: "Please don’t leave your valuables unattended. The ones who find it might think its the answer to their prayers!"

15. Astroboy - During a church event, a sign was put near the basket of apples: "1 per person only. God is watching." Someone posted another sign near the basket of pears: "Get as much as you want. God is watching the apples."

16. Alle - At the end of his sermon, our pastor said in closing: "Let us all CLOSE our eyes, and sing the song, ‘OPEN MY EYES LORD’."

17. RhachaeL_Leigh - During the homily, the priest said: "Sige nga, sino dito ang wlang kagalit?" Obviously, everyone kept their hands down except for a 95-year-old lady, who raised her hand. The priest said, "Aba! Gayahin niyo si lola, siya lang ang walang kagalit. Lola, sabihin niyo sa lahat kung bakit wala kayong kagalit?" The lola answered: "Patay na kasi ang mga walanghiya!"

A Stirring Viewpoint on the current economic crisis (taken from Chris Tiu's blog)

One of the few celebrity blogsites I never fail to visit is that of Chris Tiu. Oh boy, the guy can write! I love it when he posts his daily activities, how his day or week went and how appreciative he is of the adulation and the fame that precedes him, and the way he's taking all of that. I also like the fact that he also gives his two cents worth on certain issues, and he also posts very significant articles in his blogs. I really admire Chris because aside from having the 4 B's (brains, beauty, body, breeding) and the money, he is a very down to earth, boy-next-door kind of guy. I would like to share with you his blog post, something that is very significant, especially in today's trying times. Please do visit http://chris-tiu.blogspot.com to read Chris' blogs.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Lee Wei Ling's Thoughts on the current crisis

Here is an article written by Lee Wei Ling, daughter of Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew, in the Sunday Times in Singapore. Some beautiful insights about the economic crisis and giving it a different perspective. I totally agree with her sentiments.

In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the National Neuroscience
Institute, I wrote: 'Whilst boom time in the public sector is never as
booming as in the private sector, let us not forget that boom time is
eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the public sector is always
less painful compared to the private sector.'

Slump time has arrived with a bang.

While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit hard, perhaps
this recession has come at an opportune time for many of us. It will give us
an incentive to reconsider our priorities in life.

Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy especially, but also
the middle class in Singapore, have had it so good for so long, what they
once considered luxuries, they now think of as necessities.

A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who you are, not just
a piece of equipment for communication. Hence many people buy the latest
model though their existing mobile phones are still in perfect working
order.

A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol. For millionaires
who wish to show the world they have taste, a Ferrari or a Porsche is deemed
more appropriate. The same attitude influences the choice of attire and accessories. I still
find it hard to believe that there are people carrying handbags that cost
more than thrice the monthly income of a bus driver, and many more times
that of the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun, risking his life to
construct luxury condominiums he will never have a chance to live in.
The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious consumption. Perhaps it
is good to encourage people to spend more because this will prevent the
recession from getting worse. I am not an economist, but wasn't that the
root cause of the current crisis - Americans spending more than they could
afford to?

I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don't believe in the
supernatural and I don't think I have a soul that will survive my death. But
as I view the crass materialism around me, I am reminded of what my mother
once told me: 'Suffering and deprivation is good for the soul.'

My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be frugal. My parents
and I live in the same house that my paternal grandparents and their
children moved into after World War II in 1945. It is a big house by today's
standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the point of being shabby.
Those who see it for the first time are astonished that Minister Mentor Lee
Kuan Yew's home is so humble. But it is a comfortable house, a home we have
got used to. Though it does look shabby compared to the new mansions on our
street, we are not bothered by the comparison.

Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the economic downturn.
We have been told to tighten our belts. There will undoubtedly be suffering,
which we must try our best to ameliorate.

But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for many
Singaporeans, especially those born after 1970 who have never lived through
difficult times.
No matter how poor you are in Singapore , the authorities and social groups
do try to ensure you have shelter and food. Nobody starves in Singapore .
Many of those who are currently living in mansions and enjoying a luxurious
lifestyle will probably still be able to do so, even if they might have to
downgrade from wines costing $20,000 a bottle to $10,000 a bottle. They
would hardly notice the difference.
Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market economy.
Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour is one's prerogative and I have no
right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously.
But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end to wanting and
hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An Aston Martin? After the Hermes
Birkin handbag, what can one upgrade to?

Neither an Aston Martin nor an Hermes Birkin can make us truly happy or
contented. They are like dust, a fog obscuring the true meaning of life, and
can be blown away in the twinkling of an eye.
When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will we regret the
latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did not acquire? Or would we
prefer to die at peace with ourselves, knowing that we have lived lives
filled with love, friendship and goodwill, that we have helped some of our
fellow voyagers along the way and that we have tried our best to leave this
world a slightly better place than how we found it?
We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our power to make
that choice.

In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of the year that has
just ended, let us again try to choose wisely.
To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own control, and we
should not follow the herd blindly.

Frugalista

The global financial crisis is definitely in our midst. Each and every newscast and news articles there is available have nothing to tell us but news about downsizing of companies left and right, mass layoffs happening in every corner of the world, even our own OFW's being sent home from their jobs abroad because of the current crisis. I am so happy that even before the crisis started late last year, I was able to get back into the corporate world (Thank God!) without any hitch, that way I was able to beat the crisis. I was reading the January-February 2009 issue of Preview magazine and it's editor-in-chief Pauline Suaco-Juan discussed about being fashion forward eventhough there is a crisis, and she used the word "frugalista". A frugalista, according to the New York Times, is defined as “a person who lives a frugal lifestyle but stays fashionable and healthy by swapping clothes, buying secondhand, growing own produce, etc.”. And, this term has been certified and is already included in the newer editions of the 2009 Oxford American Dictionary. Wow! A new word to describe people who are still fasyon during times of crisis. I think I should adapt the attitude of being a frugalista. It is an irony for me who loves shopping for clothes, but since we are experiencing uncertain times, I have to tighten my belt a bit. I have been trying, for the longest time, to scour ukay-ukay stores around our dear Metro Manila, but I haven't found the time to go to one. This year will just be the perfect time for me to hit the ukay ukay stores, since I know there are alot of hiden fashion treasures available for me there, all I need is patience and a sense of intuition. I would so love to grow my own veggies and fruits, but the place I live in doesn't give me the luxury of having a lawn for me to do so. In place of that, I'll include vegetables in my daily diet. Frugalista is such a positive word! I do not find the word offensive or something, and I think it's just best that we have to be frugal (after all, it is the root word of frugalista) during these trying times. I encourage everyone to live a frugalista lifestyle! There are just a lot of ways to become one, and we have to start TODAY!

UP janitor gets 92-cent retirement pay - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Link

UP janitor gets 92-cent retirement pay - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Link

New Year, New Beginnings

It's been barely more than 12 hours since we parted with 2008 and welcomed 2009, but I still can't help but look back at all the things that happened to me in 2008. I will never, ever forget 2008 because I felt that it was a year of self discovery, of growing up, of meeting new friends, of tragedy. In a nutshell, as I mentioned in my previous blog, it was a circus for me. Since we are already in the New Year, it is time to turn a new page in our book of life and start with a clean slate. I am never good in making New Year's Resolutions, for the simple fact that I tend to break them or not adhere to them as I go along the year. My bad, hehehe. But, I will try to make some of them and hopefully, have the guts not to break them and adhere to them.

1. Try to lose a bit of weight: I have been on the heavy side for the last 4 years, and hopefully this year I am now able to fulfill a promise to lose a bit of weight. I will try to find a perfect workout plan for myself, and have my physical therapist friend take a look at the program, ask her opinion if it's feasible and then give it a go if it is. I want to find a gym that will not let me waste money on some stupid plan that won't work.

2. Stay more on top of my finances: Handling money is my Waterloo. I have always admitted that I am not good with handling money and my finances. This year, I will try my very best to save money and at the same time, spend wisely. I wanna try (the operative word is TRY) to cut down on my shopping (which is my only vice aside from food hehehe). Payback the people I owed money in the last quarter of 2008 so that at least I am debt free by the end of the 1st half of 2009.

3. Watch more plays, attend more events and concerts: in 2008, I was able to attend 5 concerts, namely Martin Nievera's 25th anniversary concert, Divas4Divas and the Manila leg of the world tours of Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys and the Rihanna-Chris Brown double header. My biggest regret was not being able to watch Lea Salonga as Cinderella during it's Manila run last August. This year, I hope I'm able to attend more concerts and watch more stage plays and musicals. I wanna feed my cultural soul, and I hope this year will be a good year for that.

4. Be a person of action: Instead of complaining and whining on things that I have the capacity to act upon, I want to act on them quickly. Sometimes, I tend to complain first before doing a certain task. This year, I wanna make sure to act on them with positive results.

5.Buy more books: I love to read and I am a voracious reader, but it's a sad fact that I have more magazines than books at home. This year, I wanna buy at least one book a month and read them. I miss the times when I have nothing to do, I just pop in a good book and read.

6. Let common sense rule: Sometimes, I admit I do things on the basis of emotion, and not because of logic. At the end, I tend to regret my decisions I made because they were made hastily. I do not have to elaborate on this further, I think it says it all.

7. Learn a foreign language: I am half Japanese but I am not fluent with Nippongo because I never really took it seriously. I can understand but I cannot speak the language! This year, I want to learn Japanese, as well as the romantic languages of French and Spanish. I also want to learn Portuguese since I think it is an interesting language to learn. I also want to learn how to speak Mandarin and Fookien. If I am not able to go to a language school for it, there are audio books I can listen to.

8. Invest in techie stuff: I cannot consider myself a techie person, but I wanna have gadgets that would allow me to discover the techie in me. I wanna buy another digital camera, get a new desktop PC and get a new iPod. I am drooling over a Nintendo Wii so I really have to save up to buy those gadgets.

9. Invest in more formal clothes and tailored outfits: I am really a jeans and tshirt kind of guy and now that I have a new job that requires me to be in business casual clothes 4 days a week, I have to buy more corporate outfits and invest in tailored clothes. I honestly believe that one can never go wrong in tailored outfits, because the quality is good and it assures you of longevity. I want to have tailored pants and dress shirts, a formal jacket and maybe a nice suit. I also want to invest in leather shoes that are of good quality.

10. Meet more new people: It is always exciting to meet new people. I hope I get to do that again this year.

These are just some of them, I can actually go on and on and on but this is all for now. Happy New Year, Friends!