Charice Pempengco on Oprah

My friend pinged me this video -



Gave me the shivers... ang galeng galeng!

Check out her album here.

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Update: This video of Madonna Decena has been around for a few months now, but it brought tears to my eyes.

My Mom, the Adventurista

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I've learned so much from my Mom. Of course, she's my first teacher and I remember when I was a tiny kid she encouraged me to read and write a lot. She also did the same thing to Miguel since I left him with her during the day when I was in school and when I was already working. The summers that I spent playing with Lego also included dabbling on doing crafts. She would park me on the lawn in the afternoons on a banig with stuff to do - sewing dresses for my Barbie (it's still around somewhere), making pincushions which we sold in the parish bazaar, quilting or painting pots. She always kept me busy and I think that's why I can never sit still doing nothing.

I also think I got my adventurous, "lakwatsera" side from her. She started bringing me to the beach when I was just 8 months old and I we always had expeditions every year to Bicol with our neighbors. She's also into organizing events, especially fund raising activities (she still has that hatak). I don't really know how she does it, but everything she does is successful. She just does things to make it work. I don't think she'll blog though, she's not keen on writing (so that bit I got from my Dad), and you won't be able to get her to hold any high-ranking position in any organization, but she's an influencer nonetheless. She says she'd rather do things than lead. Oh and how can I forget how we both could magically make food appear on the table with our fingers. Her motto, "Let's your fingers do the walking!" (Ahhh that's probably why I dreamed of working for the yellow pages when I was a kid! And I did!).

Since most of the Mom bloggers were out of town last Friday for the Clara Ole event, I asked my Mom if she wanted to go with me and mentioned that she could bring her friends. I assumed she didn't want to go since she doesn't really like going to the mall and crowded places. I was really surprised when she asked me an hour before the event what time we should be there since she was going with her friends. Huwhaaaattt?!? LOL. She never fails to surprise me.

Always Game

So, off we went to Taste Asia for the Clara Ole event. I felt kinda pressured since I had my Mom and 3 Titas! So I felt like I had 4 moms yesterday since all of them have been my Mom's friends since I was a baby. Anyway, I was quite apprehensive since I didn't know how they'd react about the event. We first sat in the workshop on fashion. I know my Mom and my Titas weren't really into fixing themselves up, but I was again surprised when they were game about mixing and matching clothing.


Blessed

It's my Dad who's very lucky when it comes to raffle games. He always brings home the grand prize whenever he attends parties. Me and my Mom rarely win anything, but yesterday was a lucky, lucky day. The whole Sun Valley contingent (that's us) won several times in the raffle! One of my titas won thrice (a saucepan, a MNG cologne and a one-year magazine subscription). My Mom also won a MNG lotion which I promptly confiscated from her hehehe. [In the photo is my Mom with the event host, Dominic Ochoa (don't worry Dom I'm not going to blog about the stuff we chatted about!).] My Mom always reminds me to count my blessings and to thank God for it.

I had to leave my Mom and my Titas at Taste Asia since I had another appointment to attend. My apprehensions were actually shushed when my Tita said, "Huwag ka mag-alala okay kami dito kasi masaya!" My Mom reported during dinner last night that they actually finished the event (I was shocked!) since they had a grand time attending the stress management and make-over session. My Mom said that she even volunteered to be made-over (I'm having a heart-attack now...) and that they loved the food that was served and enjoyed the cooking demo.

I was really, really surprised my Mom finished the whole event and she said that my Titas want to attend more events of that kind. Thanks Clara Ole and SM!

Clara Ole

If you're wondering who Clara Ole is, you've probably encountered their products inserted as samples in some of the local women's magazines. I love eating salads and Clara Ole has a number of salad dressings available in supermarkets now. I love the honey mustard and asian dressing! I can imagine myself opening a can of tuna in brine and then tossing it with the Clara Ole salad dressing. Ulam na siya! Wasabi was quite interesting too. I can't wait to try out the loot my Mom managed to bring home. I was surprised to see a number of new stuff in the kitchen cabinet, including chocolate syrup! Ahhh... chocolate marble hotcakes for merienda!

Love you Mom. Mwah.

Me, Miguel and Lego

I got my first set of Lego when I was about 4 years old. That set is still alive and has been mixed up with Miguel's set. Being the youngest in the clan I spent countless summers playing with my Lego. I thought I'd become an architect because of the houses I used to build using Lego. But... but... my drawing skills have not grown beyond doodling apples, coconut trees and the Mayon Volcano. LOL.

I exposed Miguel to building things eversince he was a baby. When he was about 4 years old I got him 2 sets of Tamiya. I was forced to build it for him since the parts were very small. I must have done something wrong because it wouldn't budge. I tried dismantling the engine (you had to build it yourself) but it still wouldn't work. Miguel got impatient with me and fixed it by himself. He built the second Tamiya set and has since always asked for toys that he could build.

Miguel's a voracious reader, so he explores a lot of stuff online and has since wished for a number of Lego sets. He's so lucky since Lego nowadays is more than just "building blocks". Here's a video he took of his Lego Monster Dino -



Because of Lego, Miguel's been interested to do robotics. I'm not sure yet what course he'd want to take in college, but it's one of the many interests he has for now. I'm glad I finally found the place to pique his interest more. Saw the poster of the Lego Mindstorm Robotics Center at the SM Science and Discovery Center at the Mall of Asia. Below is Professor Rox Cosico who agreed to talk a little about the workshop for You Got Tech. He mentioned during our chat that the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Center is the second one in Asia and they underwent training in Singapore.



I'm really excited about Miguel's participation in the workshop since it's been hard to get him interested in the normal summer things. Well, nagmana lang sa nanay eh hehe.

May your tribe grow Rox! =)

Want to enroll?
Lego Mindstorms Robotics Center
SM Discovery Center, Mall of Asia
For inquiries, please call +632-556-0331 or 0661
Workshop fee is only PhP200

I also requested for some flyers, let me know if you want one.

Other reads:

Miguel's Journal
You Got Tech

Lea, My Life Onstage

I was about 5 years old when I first watched Lea Salonga play Annie onstage and soon after that she released her first album that included "Small Voice". As any jeprox kid my Mom made me sing it, but at that time I enjoyed dancing "Staying Alive" more... ha-ha-ha-ha staying alive, staying alive.


Anyway, I think that was the last time I watched her perform live but I followed her career eversince. I know I watched "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal" with my Dad. I vaguely remember me and my classmates singing songs from Miss Saigon during practical arts class in high school. Getting mad at my ex because he didn't want to accompany me to CCP to watch Miss Saigon. Crying over her wedding song ("I Do") while watching it on Youtube. Almost swooning when I met her husband, Rob, siyempre nakipa-autograph na rin ako ng CD through his staff. Hahaha.

So you can just imagine how excited I was when Cecile SMSed an invitation to attend a press conference (of course as a tag along to Sweetie). I've had the privilege of attending a number of music-related events and I must say that Lea is the biggest star of all. Her bearing says it all. Bow ka na lang sa galeng talaga.

From the event I gathered that she's celebrating 30 years in the business and will be holding a show entitled, "Lea, My Life Onstage". Together with brother, Gerard, she performed two songs, "Tomorrow" and "Journey" with the Filharmonika. I was just tulala the whole time she was singing, so Sweetie shot the video for the second song. The show will be held at the CCP on May 23 and 24. I want to waaaaatttchhh!!!

Here are the songs she performed live with a full orchestra at the press con.

Tomorrow



Journey



For more details about the show please visit Lea, My Life Onstage. For more news about Lea please visit Titikpilipino.com.

Other reads:

DJ Cherry's Coverage
ABS-CBN's News Coverage

Losers Party!

I was really baffled when I received the cutesy-cartooney "Who Says Losers Don't Get Invited to Parties?" invitation from GM since I had to ponder on the fact that I was invited to a party because I'm a loser. Huwwwwhaaaattt?!? I just found it weird. I've known that I'm different eversince I was a kid, so I thought this was normal hahaha. Anyway, my blogger-friend from Davao, Migs, was interested to go so I said I'd go with him (and dragged Miguel along hehehe).

The noisy, noisy man, Ade Magnaye, asked over Twitter how the event went and I said, "It was really fun and worth the hassle of going out." David & Goliath sure knows how to make parties fun. Here's why:

1. No boring t-shirt display.


2. I was early, so I got a caricature made (does she look like me? I was fidgeting while I was being drawn).


3. Cute-fab host, Gabe Mercado made sure everything was upbeat.


4. Games! First was charades. I know I should've gone and guessed the last "word". Na-shy kasi me eh. LOSER! LOL.


Losers Dating Game with Arthur (the chicken during the 88db.com Party) as the "searcher". It was really hilarious.


5. Freebies! Foto-loco and a loot bag with a magnet, stickers, GCs and a keychain. Also got additional GC coz we were first to arrive. Yay!

So what is David & Goliath? David & Goliath is an American clothing company founded in 2000 by Todd Goldman which was named after Todd's father (David) and dog (Goliath). The brand is known for printing slogans and quotes with images that are meant to make people laugh. The company that brought it to the Philippines is the same company that brought Havaianas and Terry S.A. The "Little Losers" collection is now available at David & Goliath stores located at Bonifacio High Street, Powerplant Mall, TriNoMa, Robinsons Place Manila Midtown, Greenbelt 5 and Rustan's Makati.

Some more photos from the event:



Other reads:

Migs
Noemi

World Pyrolymics 2008 and Something for Moms

I spent more than 12 hours at the Mall of Asia last Saturday. My friends from SM advised that we should get a reservation in one of the restos if we were going to watch the Pyrolympics. Woke up early on Saturday and headed to MOA before lunch. After checking out the restos at the second floor we decided to reserve at UCC Cafe (the barge is right in front of it).

Since we had a few hours to waste Sweetie, Miguel, Andrew, Migs and the Misis, and I decided to do our own MOA food tour. We hopped from one resto to another and this is probably why my face now resembles a plate. Huhuhu. No more food tours for me muna!

I was quite excited about the event since I've never been to one. I heard about the monstrous traffic jams it caused last year, so I thought it must be really good. I was also looking forward to using my new camera (and put it on fireworks mode! LOL).

Here's a short video about the Pyrolympics, clips taken by me and Miguel... watch out for the heart-shaped fireworks!



And here's a couple of medyo matinong photos I took:

My Tsamba Photo. Fireworks with lightning.

Flower arrangement. Well that's how it looks to me.

Sea urchin.

Happy love fireworks.


Onslaught of colours.

At some point I stopped taking photos since I just wanted to enjoy watching. Besides the boys were busy doing that already. Most of them missed seeing the heart-shaped fireworks because they were busy looking at their camera's LCD. Haha. Good thing Miguel managed to capture it on video.

EVENT FOR MOMS

There's a FREE event for Moms (and you can come too even if you're not a Mom) sponsored by Clara Ole:

What: Adventurista, a mother's day celebration
Where: Taste Asia, Mall of Asia
When: May 9, 2008, 2 to 4 p.m.
What's in store for you:
- Make-over session (I like! I like!)
- Personality development (wonder if they can stop me from giggling too much)
- Healthy meals cooking demo (ooohhh! this is what I really need!)

To join, just leave a comment below or email me at me @ aileenapolo.com with the following details: name, age, civil status, number of kids and their ages and your email address.

I heard there are a lot of giveaways and food! This event is open to Mommy/Women bloggers and non-bloggers basta may SM Advantage card. You can view the event flyer here.

I'm probably bringing my Mom along, may pag-asa pa siguro kami matuto magluto =)

CONTEST FOR MOMS

FilipinaMoms.com is hosting an essay writing contest for Moms and they'd love to get entries from the Philippines (they're based in the US). Kindly head over to FilipinaMoms.com for the contest details.

Hot Summer Bloggers Party

I was already dazed from the iBlog4 and a mini U.P. F.A.T. (food appreciation tour) and by the time I arrived at Katips I was already quite cross eyed and bangag (as usual!!!). I was also quite annoyed with myself since I wasn't able to put together an appropriate "apple" outfit. The previous days were just simply booked. If not for Sweetie, I would not have been able to find a shirt with an apple on it (which my friends from Davao said looked more like a cherry than an apple!)... waaaaahhh. Why is it when it comes to costume parties I always end up blah?

Anyway, I was quite surprised with the turn-out. I was feeling uberly nervous that there wouldn't be enough attendees (thus disappointing the sponsor). I'm glad I had a burrito before proceeding to Katips. It was a fun-filled night and I'd say the people from 88db.com certainly know how to entertain with all the games and smooth flowing program. It also helped that the host was very makulit!

You've probably heard about the beer drinking contest, the chicken, a batang yagit and a pinoy blogero invading the party, and the famous Lose Your Beer Belly band... watch this short vlog I made about the event and be inggit you didn't go!



Super duper thanks to 88db.com for sponsoring the party!