Jet Fire in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

I know a lot of people have been saying that they did not like the movie because of the bad storyline. It wasn't the best but I was surely entertained when I watched with my boys. I'm glad too that Sweetie served as my interpreter/Transformers historian since the only characters I remember from watching it when I was a kid were Optimus Prime and Megatron.

I think I want to watch the movie again because the elements were overwhelming. There was too much detail compared to the cartoons and I had a difficult time distinguishing one character from the other. I don't have that much knowledge about the Transformers so I guess that's why I appreciated the movie.

One character that definitely caught my attention was Jet Fire. I was giddy while watching the movie because I had gone to the Air & Space Museum with my Ate last time I was in the US and I took a number of photos of the Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird which posed as Jet Fire in the movie.

The Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird is an ominous presence at the Air & Space Museum and I got some photos of it while I was there. Here it is:

Now I know the reason why it felt like it was alive. LOL.

Farewell MJ

The very first casette tape I had my Dad buy me when I was a kid was Michael Jackson's Thriller album. Yup, I was only 7 years old that time and MJ was already my favorite.

Sweetie woke me up with an SMS about the passing of Michael Jackson. I couldn't believe it because I always thought he'd always be there since he is an artist who has transcended several genrations already. His music has also influenced many artists, especially locally (read more about that at Titikpilipino).

And his signature dance moves definitely got a lot of people dancing, including me when I was a kid. Remember this?

The death of Michael Jackson is truly a great loss for all of us. Thank you MJ for being part of my childhood. I have a lot of fond childhood memories because of your music. You will definitely be remembered. Rest in peace.

Unrequited Love, Ouch!

There are so many love songs that talk about this kind of love. I've had my fair share of it and it wasn't really a good feeling because you always feel as though you're going to burst with the feeling. You're anxious, hopeful, giddy, and excited all at the same time. That's a lot of stress I tell you.

It took me years to realize that unrequited love is something you can avoid. A lot of people would argue that love comes in the least expected time and that you cannot control it. That's true too. Eventually I realized though that it may be controllable if you realize who it is you've fallen for and why you should not pursue it. It's usually -

(1) your best friend

(2) your buddy guy/gal friend

(3) your close colleague/classmate

And you usually find yourself in this situation -

Paano na kaya, 'di sinasadya
'Di kayang magtapat ang puso ko
Bakit sa dinami-rami ng kaibigan ko ikaw pa
Paano na kaya 'di sinasadya
Ba't nahihiya ang puso ko
Hirap nang umibig sa isang kaibigan
'Di masabi ang nararamdaman
Paano na kaya

*Song by Bugoy Drilon

I found myself in that situation several times and I am just thankful that I managed to salvage most of those friendships. My stupidy wasn't worth ruining the friendship. And that's the key word, FRIENDSHIP.

When I started to have a small crush on Sweetie, I told myself that I shouldn't even think about it because we were best friends. I managed by seeing other people and by reminding myself that he liked someone else. And the theme song for that is "Kung Ako na Lang Sana". He did not have any inkling until the time he asked permission to court me. I told him then, "Let's skip that." Imagine his shock.

Falling for your friend puts a lot of strain on your friendship, especially when he doesn't have the same feelings for you. It's very hard not to hope since you tend to interpret his actions differently. Harshly put, he's just being himself and not really into you. So, wake up before it's too late!

Suggested readings:

How to Find Your One True Love, Bo Sanchez

He's Just Not Into You, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

The Rules, Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider

How to Get your Friendship Request Ignored on Facebook

I do try to review my friend requests on Facebook whenever I have the time and I'm happy whenever I see a request from a long-lost friend. It baffles me though why some people would add you even if you don't know them, like this guy who said -

"Hello Aileen, how's life? I've just started a facebook page. I was looking to find old and meet new friends then came into you profile so I have included in you in my list."

I'm sorry Sir, but I have never met you in my entire life and I do not wish to take part in your impending political campaign.

Daddy

I've always been a Daddy's little girl. When I was a kid my Dad would always bring me out on dates. We'd head to Luk Yuen at Quad (Glorietta wasn't around yet) and he'd always order noodles and siopao. During that time I only liked eating the siopao skin my Dad would peel off from the siopao. There would be days that we'd go to Dayrit's and I always ordered what I believed were giant cheeseburgers. At home my I only eat crab if my Dad opens it up for me and he'd put gata on my rice with a bit of calamansi. I remember those dates vividly to this day. Oh and he always bought me cotton candy.

My Dad's love for me is bottomless despite the fact that I have let him down countless of times. He was very strict and the only time I lost my curfew was when I got accepted in my current job (I was 30 already!). I thought it was really unfair and I rebelled many, many times, but my Dad has always been there for me and I'm really glad that he is my Dad. I would not have it any other way.

Here are some of the most important lessons I learned from him:

1. be service-oriented

2. be humble

3. live simply

4. Family first

5. always ask guidance from the Lord

I love you very much Dad. Happy Father's Day!

Happy father's day also to my Kuya, Kuya Johnny, Tito Deejay (my future father-in-law), my uncles, cousins and friends :)

Let's Talk about Donuts

Back in first grade I almost flunked a spelling test because I was one of the 100% who did not spell it right. My then English teacher was so giddy about it since no one spelled it right. She said it should be spelled -

D-O-U-G-H-N-U-T-S

Of course, everyone thought it was spelled donuts because of the only existing donut store back then (the one with the orange and pink logo).

I love donuts and I don't know anybody who doesn't like it. It was my sister who first brought home a box of honey-dipped flavored donuts when I was a kid. Eventually I ventured out and liked the bavarian flavor and later on it was my officemate, Fe, who influenced me to love choco-butternut. Uhhmmmm.

And then the donut revolution happened! There are now more donut brands, but there's one that I've been waiting to open here because of their almond topped donut. Hopefully soooooon!

I'm very picky though with the flavor I eat because my tonsils are very sensitive. One wrong bite and it could send me to tonsilitis hell. Anyway, I received a boxful of classic peanut butter & stripes from Krispy Kreme the other day. The smell was heavenly. And what great timing! I had tonsilitis! So you can just imagine my frustration.

The new flavor is for Father's Day and I ended up thinking about it the whole afternoon. I debated with myself whether or not I should taste it since the doctor repeatedly told me not to eat any sweets.

My Plurk friends know I lost coz I gave in and sampled a small piece. I was in donut heaven. I found a new favorite! The instant karma I got after eating was worth the donut. You absolutely have to try it!

Thanks KK!

*photo from GM

Tibay ng Pilipino

I think Filipinos are the most resilient people in the whole wide world. We always find a way out of difficult situations. We are flexible. We easily adjust to situations. We complain and rant, but we always find humor even in tragic situations.

I was born during the era of Martial Law. I remember my Dad was part of the fact-finding commission of Ninoy. I remember my Kuya spending his birthday in EDSA (I). I remember sending my birthday food to soldiers during the 1987 coup d' etat. I remember being a poll watcher for PPCRV. I remember my Mom being part of the secretariat of Sen. Jovito Salonga's presidential campaign. My first vote during the Sangguniang Kabataan elections. My first presidential vote. The lightning rally I joined in Quiapo. EDSA II.

And then my priorities changed. I couldn't spend as much time outside as I used to. Gone were the days that I could just up and join FGDs and attend rallies, but I realized that there are things I could do for my country in my own little way. And I think the most important thing I decided to do was STAY.

It's midnight and I know I'm rambling. But I guess I just want to celebrate all the good things we still have as Filipinos. We have love. We have our family. We have each other. And we have HOPE. We can do this!

And I would like to thank Google for our very first local doodle! Super duper hugz!

Mapping the Philippines

The only map that I can draw perfectly is the map to my home. I don't have a good sense of direction and more often than not I get lost. So that's one of the reasons why I don't drive. I'm also bad at understanding maps! Geeezzzz.

But! Since there's available information arleady in Google Maps and Google Mapmaker for the Philippines I can now easily get around with street and landmark information. Yay!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending (and fixing up a bit) the Google Mapmaker event which brought together mappers, developers, bloggers and even geologists! It was really exciting to see more updates from different parts of the country. Here are some -

Angeles City

Cagayan de Oro City

Dagupan City

Pangasinan City

More videos available on these Youtube channels: Mapmaker and GooglePhilippines.

It's quite easy to put together a mapping event, there's a lot of info on the Google Mapping Kit.

Here are some photos from the party -

Super duper thanks and hugs to everyone who came despite the rain and the tornado, especially to the all-star mappers - Leonel, Dante and Wayne. Do join them in the unofficial Google Mapmaker Philippines group and learn more about how to map your area (please do edits on Google Mapmaker so I won't get lost as often! LOL).

Read more about the event:

Filipino Voices

Pinoy Tech Podcast

Regnard Raquedan

Google Maps Twit
Out of Town

Wayne Manuel

Taho!

Taho is one of my favorite breakfast food. Taho is made of soft tofu with arnibal and pearl sago.

Ever since I can remember every morning the "Manong Taho" drives by on his pedicab and shouts out "Tahooooooooo!" When I was a kid I would run out to call him back to our house. I remember the first Manong Taho in our village was Manong Jabar. Unlike though the gigantic basketball player by that name, Manong Jabar was the complete opposite. Eventually when Manong Jabar grew too old to sell taho he passed on his territory to his son in law, our current Manong Taho (see pic).

Yesterday morning I was so envious of Miguel's tall glass of taho and I luckily woke up early today to get my fill. Here's how we buy taho right at our doorstep -

Jai Ho

A few weeks before the movie Slumdog Millionaire won an Oscar award for Best Picture, my video-s-to-watch supplier, Jerome, sent me a link to the song "Jai Ho". I just groaned then because he kept sending me videos of Susmita Sen that week. I thought I had more than enough Bollywood stuff for that week and was unwilling to watch any more videos. But Jerome insisted and ever the masunurin I obliged him. 

I found the song kinda weird at first but eventually got into the beat and liked it. Miguel kept asking me, "What's that? What's that?" because he got curious. We ended up playing the song over and over again that afternoon.

It's amazing how CPDRC manages to put together their dances and they've been at it for some time now (2 years?). And all their prisoners also look very fit! 

Here are Cebu prisoners doing a well-choreographed dance to the tune of Jai Ho -