Actually, it is only this week that I’ve found time to watch a movie or two. I’ve seen two movies this week alone, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and W.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of the very few films that made me cry. I cried, really. Watching this film wasn’t really part of my plan until I’ve heard and read a lot of positive reviews about it. Well, I don’t regret watching the film. In fact, I loved it. Although the movie is a bit long than any other full-length film, this one didn’t bore me. The clock maker’s story at the beginning of the movie touched and moved me. Gateau, the clockmaker made a clock that intentionally runs backward in the hopes that it would bring back those who died (including his son) in World War I. If only we could turn back time.

The special effects used in the film were great especially the transition of Benjamin from being a baby boy with an appearance that of an 86 year old man to being an adult and back to being a baby. It is also fascinating that the story is being told in Benjamin’s point of view. In this way, the inner thoughts of the main character is also narrated and relayed to the audience. As with the cast, I can’t say anything but praises for they did a wonderful job in portraying their respective roles.

W.
W, on the other hand is fun movie to watch. No, it’s not a comedy film. It’s a film about the 43rd President of the United States of America, George W. Bush. The film showed how Bush goes from being an alcoholic bum to being the most powerful figure in the world. A friend was talking about this film a couple of nights ago. I was curious and decided to give this movie a shot. The movie didn’t disappoint at all. Why is it fun to watch? The cast is outstanding, really! Josh Brolin’s (the one who played the role of George W. Bush) performance is the bomb! It was like Tina Fey portraying Sarah Palin. There are many instances in the film that it felt like I’m watching the real George W. Bush, the real Condoleezza Rice, and others. I don’t know if this film would have a theatrical release here in the Philippines. But if you really want to watch the movie, I know you that you know where to score a copy (wink, wink). It is also in this film that you’ll learn where George W. Bush’s nickname, “Dubya” originated.

And those are the two films I’ve seen for this week. After writing this post, I think I need to go back and attend to the things I need to do (school-related or not). Finals would be on the last week of February so there are just too many things to submit in the coming days. But I can’t really focus on school stuff right for the news about Ugly Betty getting shelved is really bothering me. Why Ugly Betty? It’s the only show I watch on ABC aside from Grey’s Anatomy. Ugly Betty has been interrupted many times in the past. Please, please shelve / pre-empt any other show but Ugly Betty.

That’s all I’ve got for now. Stick around

The year 2008 has been a wonderful and great year for me. It feels so good having accomplished almost all the goals I listed for 2008. In a few hours, we would be welcoming a new year. Despite the loud firecrackers being lit by my neighbors, let me pause for a while and thank God for this great year.

Thank you for I was able to accomplish the goals I have listed for 2008. I know that these goals aren’t big as compared to what others listed, but I am thankful for I know I can’t accomplish these things without you.

Thank you for my mom, my sisters and I spent more time together this year. It feels so good dining out together, doing the grocery together, chitchatting over a cup of coffee, and spending weekends or holidays out of town. I am thankful for the times where we would just seat on our small living room and catch up with each other until the wee hours of the day.

Thank you for I was able to meet great and wonderful people through blogging and through Plurk.  I was able to meet people whom I can now consider as my friends. Although we aren’t of the same age group, I am happy being with these wonderful people.

Thank you because my podcast, Brink Notes Podcast was a finalist for the Best Videocast/Podcast Category of the Philippine Blog Awards 2008. While my blog, My Boring Life… Now A Blog was nominated in two categories — Personal Category and Blogger’s Choice. Although I didn’t win any awards, it feels good that other people recognize your efforts.

Thank you for the people around me who I can turn to whenever I feel sad and happy. Thank you for they still listen to me although I’m just ranting about the pettiest thing in this world.

Thank you for the cute and simple things that make me happy.

Thank you because I am really happy with where I am right now. I’ve never been this happy before. I am happy with the things going on with my life. I am happy with I am doing. And I am happy for I feel so blessed right now with all the love coming from my friends, my family and everyone out there who supports me with everything I do.

Thank you because finally I feel contented with my life. Although I wish I could have done something more to reach out to others. I am happy. I am contented.

With everything that is happening with my life, I thank you. And someday I will understand why.

1. March on March 2008 – Thank God I graduated from high school last March 2008. And yes, with flying colors!  I graduated second honors with two medals (Excellence in ICT and Loyalty Award). I was even part of the Top 50 of the graduating batch. The years have now paid off.
2. Enroll on a decent college / university – Who would have thought that a Jeric Peña would study at the University of the Philippines? I never imagined myself studying at the national university of the Philippines. Good thing my mom encouraged me to take the UPCAT (UP College Admission Test) even though there’s a slim chance of passing. Although people find it weird that I’m studing via distance education, I’m still proud that I’m a student from University of the Philippines, Open University taking up the program that I really wanted.
3. Attend the World Youth Day 2008 in Australia – The only goal that I didn’t accomplish this year. I felt really bad that I wasn’t been able to attend the World Youth Day 2008 in Australia. But who knows? I might be a part of the World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain!
4. Join a Blog Network - Aside from the multiple blogs I maintain, I also write for Chikadora and TechBlog.ph.
5. Set-up new niche blogs, improve current blog and earn more through blogging – This year, I opened a couple of blogs such as Kim Chiu Fan, Distance Education in the Philippines, Jeric on the Tube, and So Sick of Taxi. I also revamped the Toni Gonzaga blog I maintain while My Boring Life… Now A Blog gets a face-lift this year.
6. Buy a new gadget for myself - I was only aiming for one gadget but thank God for I was able to buy myself three gadgets. Although I already gave the two other gadgets I bought this year to my mom and my sister, it feels so good that I can buy things that I want with my own hard-earned money.
7. Nourish my spiritual side and Be closer to God – Only God knows if I accomplished this one. But this year, I’ve been more contented with my life. My ‘materialistic side’ has softened down. I stopped asking for this and that. In fact, this Christmas I have one wish and I hope that it would come true.

Wow, it really feels good to having accomplished almost 86% of my goals for this year. With the things I’ve done this year, I have no regrets. I am happy right now and looking forward to a brand new year full of joy and love. I won’t stop thanking God for the great things that happened this year. I feel great right now realizing how God has given me everything I needed and wanted. Happy New Year!

PS: Looking back at “My Goals for 2008″ post, I realized how awful my grammar and spelling before (well, up to now). It only shows that I’m truly dyslexic. Huhuhu. Where did the internal editor in me go?

“When deciding where to go on a night out, people now consider the diversity of activities they can do in one place. This is why we constantly expand our offerings. We want to give the market all the fun they want without going through the hassle of moving from one place to another,” said Paolo del Rosario, Marketing Director of Red Box.

Enjoy the company of your family and friends while singing karaoke, playing Wii, playing a game of pool, battling on the poker table, binging on delicious food or just by lounging in the karaoke bar’s comfy sofa — all of these you could do at Red Box.

Experience a different level of karaoke high only at Red Box. Red Box has branches in Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma. For more information and inquiries, please call 757-6188 or visit www.redbox.com.ph.

I am not a very vain person who goes to the dermatologist for weekly check-up, facial, and whatnots. Even though skin clinics are present here in our neighborhood, I never had the chance to step inside them and have my face treated. I don’t put moisturizers and other facial creams on my face except for the thing that treats my acne.

We often hear celebrities and other famous people thanking Dr. Vicki Belo in different TV shows. When you hear the name Vicky Belo, what comes in your mind?

Liposuction, breast augmentation, botox, nose lift, face-lift and other surgical services. But did you know that almost 80% of the services offered by the Belo Medical Group are non-surgical? Yes. Dr. Vicky Belo herself confirmed this during a Belo Open House for Bloggers at their Tomas Morato branch last August 16, 2008. Since it’s non-surgical, pain won’t be as much as inserting a catheter. Dr. Hayden Kho Jr. was also present at the event and gave a talk about the different treatments that the Belo Medical Group is offering. One of the newest treatments being offered by the Belo Medical Group is called the Biosculpt.

Biosculpt is an ideal treatment for people who want to shape up without effort. It makes use of the B.E.A.M. technology (Bio Electrical Acceleration Management) to send customized electrical pulses to stimulate and activate specific muscles or muscle groups, increase blood circulation, improve, metabolism, and tone the body where you want it.

Bloggers were able to experience the different treatments such as Visia, Tenor, Inara, Powerpeel to name a few. I was able to try two treatments – the Inara and Power Peel. The Power Peel or microdermabrasion makes use of corundum oxide crystals to gently remove dead skin and a vacuum to stimulate the deeper layers. It is great for acne scars and fine lines. This treatment takes around 20 minutes and can be done once a week.

One of the interesting services they are offering is called Visia. VISIA Digital Skin Analysis is an exciting technological innovation that uses a multi-spectral imaging system to identify problem areas of your complexion, allowing for a customized skin treatment program that specifically targets these areas.

Moreover, The Belo Medical Group launches the Ike and Nena Belo Foundation, a non-profit corporate charity meant to shape lives, with education, surgical assistance and environmental protection as its advocacies.

Dr. Vicki Belo, medical director of the Belo Medical Group, put up the foundation in honor of her parents, lawyer Enrique Belo and wife Florencia, who instilled in her the value of charitable giving. The private foundation was created for the education of needy children, rehabilitation of burned victims, surgery of children with cleft palate and environmental awareness. The core advocacy is geared towards the physical, mental and social welfare of the beneficiaries. The launch of Ike and Nena Belo Foundation comes at an opportune time when the Belo Medical Group is celebrating its 18th anniversary as the country’s top name in the field of dermatology and cosmetic surgery.

You can visit the Belo Medical Group in Alabang, Greenhills, Makati, Rustan’s Makati, Subic, The Podium, Tomas Morato and Trinoma. You can call their hotline at 844-2939 for more information regarding their services. Check out their website at www.belomed.com. Belo Medical Group will be launching their new website some time in September.

More pictures from the event:
(Please click the thumbnail for full view.)

… because pictures (or videos ) paint a thousand words

The PONDS Taste of Beauty Event in a Nutshell

Poyt‘s Singing Career

That’s it for me, PONDS!

The Chowking Halo-halo is a best seller. In fact, 25% of Chowking’s sales came from the famous halo-halo. The halo-halo from Chowking may be quite pricey if compared to the ones bought in your “suking tindahan” but with Chowking’s Halo-halo you are assured that the ingredients used are clean and fresh. Chowking’s Halo-Halo is composed of 12 ingredients, which I won’t list anymore but the distinguishable ones are Jackfruit, Sweetened Banana, Ube and Leche Flan. In preparing the Halo-Halo, Chowking uses their very special “blended milk”, which complements the halo-halo very much. The Halo-halo was presented in a very creative way with powder-like ice. The vibrant colors of the ingredients and its taste makes you wanna crave for more. Just to add, I consumed the Fiesta Halo-halo (with two scoops of ice cream) in a flash!

The marketing people from Chowking are very much hands-on. They entertained questions coming from the bloggers present. They also did some table-hopping to check on the bloggers which I took advantage to complain about the Chowking branch nearby (as in a stone throw away from our house, literally). They also shared about the story behind their Halo-halo and how Halo-halo finds it way to Chowking’s regular menu.

You can enjoy Chowking’s Halo-halo anytime (rain or shine)! You could choose from three sizes which are Half Dozen, Petite and Fiesta. If you want to add a little more sweetness to your Halo-halo, then add a scoop or two of ice cream.

Please do watch out for the video blog I would be posting on Jeric On The Tube about the event.

Other blog post/s:

Dianne – Chowking’s Halo-Halo Experience

But I want to upload pictures from my iPhone. Is that even possible? Hmmmm… I’ll research about it.

Tips to maximize your Globe Platinum Cinema experience:

1. Bring as much popcorn and drinks you can inside the theater – The unlimited popcorn and drinks are placed on a bar, which is located at the lounge before you enter the theater. You don’t want to go out in the middle of the movie just to get refills. Don’t mind if people would stare at you. Don’t be shy! Remember, you paid P350 for that!
2. Watch by twos – The LA-Z-Boy™ seats are arranged by twos. A side table where you place your popcorn and drinks separates the two LA-Z-Boy™ Seats. You don’t want to seat beside a perfect stranger so be sure to tag along with a friend. Since we are only three who tried the Globe Platinum Cinema, my older sister, Dianne has to seat beside a stranger (sorry ate).
3. Buy your tickets early – Since there are only 40 seats available, be sure to buy your tickets in advance to get good seats. I suggest getting the seats on ROW D.
4. Bring a jacket / sweater – It is very cold inside the cinema. Better bring a jacket / sweater just to be sure.
5. Be early – Be in the cinema early so you’ll get a chance to see the trailers of upcoming movies. Being early also gives you the chance to try out their stylish restrooms, which has a powder and lotion available, which you can use. The restrooms get crowded before and after a movie.
6. Learn how to operate a LA-Z-Boy™ – Although the cinema crews are there to help you operate the LA-Z-Boy™, you don’t want to look like a dumb trying to figure out how to operate a LA-Z-Boy™. Good thing my uncle has one and I was able to try it.
7. Check the cinema schedule ahead – Before heading to Gateway Mall, be sure to check out the cinema schedule over the Internet (clickthecity.com).

I think that’s all! By the way, you could also rent the Globe Platinum Cinema for private screenings or functions. Yehey! I enjoyed the experience, really and the movie was GOOD (very)! This is NOT A SPONSORED POST.