Breaking Dawn Part I: A Review

I have read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series from the first book up to the last one (Breaking Dawn). Watching the movies and comparing them to the book was what I was doing eversince I first laid my eyes on them. Yesterday was the first day of that movie here in the Philippines so I bought myself a ticket not only because I loved the story of the last book but also, excited as I was, I wanted to know how Bella and Edward look on their wedding day. The trailer added my excitement for that movie:

I've watched the 8PM show. It ran for less than 2 hours and I shall say it was so far the most improved Twilight series movie because the effects were great. Among the things I loved were:

1) Bella Swan's wedding dress, if I would be marrying someone, I might pattern my dress to hers

2) the wedding setting, it was "magically amazing"

3) Bella's transformation into a vampire, how Edwards venom traveled into her system and transformed every piece of her into an immortal is impressive

4) Bella's Dad, his emotions is what every dad should feel on his daughter's big day. It was touching.

5) Jacob Black's act when he thought Bella died upon conceiving the baby

6) Isle Esme, the best rest house I've seen so far. I wanna go there!

7) The wolf transformation. Haha. It's cute.

Still, between the book and the movie, I vote for the book. People should read it before or after watching it so they can appreciate the real whole story. Some of the best parts were shortened and omitted in the movie. Hmm.. I think, Robert Pattinson should have given more emotions to Edward's reaction to Bella's pregnancy. I rate his acting as 6 out of 10. Bella, on the other hand, should have had a happier and excited reaction despite the fact that she should be a nervous-bride-walking-down-the-aisle. 

Who has a face like that on her wedding day?

The wedding gown would have been more gorgeous if she had a better aura. I love the dress but I think I love the wedding nightmare she had the night before their wedding more than the wedding day itself. Her reaction was really off. Their vows and how the director filmed it -- one of the best wedding vids I've watched (although I know it was just a movie).  I won't spoil the movie further. I can't wait for the second part!

PisoBid is definitely not a scam.

PisoBid is an online auction and is not for minors (18 years old and below). I got curious on how the site works so I registered. Like other new users, I intend to search on the feedbacks of people on that website - if it is a scam of not. I have read the blogs and comments from TechnoKyle and StrawHatJP and concluded that PisoBid is not a scam. All the bidders need is a strategic mind to win the bidding.

I actually salute the people behind the website. Their minds in coming up with this idea, a penny auction site (as they call it), are brilliant! Again, PisoBid isn't a scam. Here's a brief summary of some items won by the bidders (refer o the table below) or you may want to check out this link to view the recent winners.

Bids	Estimated Cost	Highest Bid
₱1000 Cellphone Load	₱1000	₱2.43
₱5000 Zara Gift Card	₱5000	₱4.94
Apple iPod Shuffle worth ₱2800	₱2800	₱2.60
₱500 Starbucks Gift Card	₱500	₱2.19
Apple iPod Nano 8GB	₱7200	₱19.31
Samsung Digital Camera SH100	₱10990	₱9.41

Bidders should remember that 1bid is NOT equal to ₱1 but at most ₱16.67, that is, if you have purchased 12 bids for ₱200.

BID PACK PRICES
Bids	Price	Actual Money You’re Spending
12	₱200	₱16.67/bid
35	₱500	₱14.29/bid
100	₱1000	₱10/bid
350	₱3000	₱8.57/bid
650	₱5000	₱7.69/bid
1400	₱10000	₱7.14/bid

If you won e.g. ₱5000 Zara Gift Card at a bid of ₱4.94, the site would earn as much as ₱8234.98 from the people who participated in the bidding, but highest bidder will only shed out ₱4.94~₱5.
To sum it all up:

Bids	Estimated Cost	Highest Bid	Number of Bids	PisoBid Earned (1bid=₱16.67)
₱1000 Cellphone Load	₱1000	₱2.43	243	₱4050.81
₱5000 Zara Gift Card	₱5000	₱4.94	494	₱8234.98
Apple iPod Shuffle worth ₱2800	₱2800	₱2.60	260	₱4334.20
₱500 Starbucks Gift Card	₱500	₱2.19	219	₱3650.73
Apple iPod Nano 8GB	₱7200	₱19.31	1931	₱32189.77
Samsung Digital Camera SH100	₱10990	₱9.41	941	₱15686.47

I repeat, in my opinion PisoBid is not a scam but just another product of great entrepreneurial mind. In order to not feel cheated, we should spend our bids wisely. I haven't tried bidding yet. I still have 5 free bids on my account. I have thought of a strategy, which I choose not to disclose in this entry. Happy reading! JJJ

'No Other Woman' Night Out

I went to Glorietta 4 to meet my high school friends and classmates, Ivy and Jecy, to watch the most talked about movie, No Other Woman staring Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay, and Christine Reyes.

Since we will be meeting at around 7PM, I stayed late in the office to finish my reports and other stuff. I got there at a quarter before 7PM to meet Ivy who bought our movie tickets already since had the nearest office among us three (Jecy in BGC, me in Shaw). Jecy came minutes before the movie started.
The movie house was full so Ivy wasn't able to choose three adjacent seats for us. Jecy and I sat in the same row but we eventually sat together since the guy and I exchange seats while Ivy was two rows ahead of us. The movie wasn't heavy as other movies on adultery. The movie was rated R but sure has a lot of lessons to learn. Here's a list of my favorite lines:
1) Ang mundo ay isang malaking Quiapo, madaming snatcher, maagawan ka.
2) You will only be called a mistress when there’s an emotional attachment. I’m not a mistress.
3) You can call me whatever you want,SNAKE, BITCH or OTHER WOMAN, but I promise you, I will never be a PATHETIC and BORING housewife.
4) Sabi nila, a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Sa ganda mong yan, siguro madami kang alam na shortcuts.
5) Alam mo kasi ang marriage parang exclusive village. Kailangan mong bantayan para hindi makapasok ang mga squatters.
6) Kapag ang lalaki, maya't maya nagpalit ng babae, OK lang yun! Basta sayo umuuwi. Pero pag ang lalaki may suki nangkapit, dun ka na lumaban!

7) Pare-parehong puta lang yun! Ang mayaman bumibili ng hermes sa mall, ang mahirap bumibili ng hermes sa greenhills.

Actually, most of my favorite lines were the ones delivered by Carmi Martin. She was totally hilarious! 

Hmmm... Overall, the movie is really good! Anne Curtis, I can't believe she will be good in acting (as compared to her Chubi Del Rosario love team moments acting. LOL). Her acting scenes which I really love are: (a)when she went after Derek Ramsay and beg for him to not leave her; (b) when she had a catfight with Christine Reyes but she just let her spank her selflessly. I really took pity on her but she deserves it for having a relationship and falling in love with a married man. About Christine Reyes' acting, she is also good, except for the most dramatic part, when she told her husband that Anne told her they are having an affair, which turned out to be a laughing stock in the movie house because her voice is so deep like it underwent a vocoder editing or something. Haha. And compared to Anne's english, hers was not that ok, especially when she said this (refer to the italicized phrase):

       Charmaine: Why don’t you have dinner with us tonight, pa thank you ko na rin dahil 
                         kinuha mo ang asawa ko.

      Kara: I’m sorry?

      Charmaine: Bilang supplier ng furniture para sa resort niyo.

I think it would be better if she said it in Filipino because there's something wrong with the delivery of words. Haha. But still, I love that movie. Nice bods, nice lines, great story. I just hope the writer could have not only focused on the adultery case but also to Derek's relation with his father which was left hanging.

After the movie, we headed to Starbucks to catch up on each other's lives. I missed them. I just hope our friends who were supposed to be with us that night should have told us they weren't coming but we still had fun though. 

Our only picture. Blurred pa!

Next movie project: Private Benjamin! Haha

Header At Last

I opt to keep a minimal design on my site since an overdecorated blog is such an eyesore to me. Well, I never think that way before but I got so fed up in changing my site's design that I ended up having borders and some two to three colors in it (which I then loved, by the way). So, since I am having more time in doing  nonsensical things, I tried making my own personal header. But before I came up to this: 

I, at first, had this:

but it was soooo plain. so I added the definition of my site's title. There's not much difference, isn't it? By the way, the "nomenclature" (I suddenly missed science because of that word) of the word is discussed in the About Malaisms page. 

I don't know if people find the header cute, but their opinion would not make me change it. I like the simplicity of it. :)

The New Page

 I added another page on this blog- the Food Trip page! Yeay! :) I have been plannning to make a separate site for that, which I may do just in case I still don't know how to add entries on a separate page. I'm actually having a hard time in knowing how to do that. Help.
I made my first food trip entry for this blog. You may wanna check out this link

http://madashlai.blogspot.com/p/food-trips.html

Ungrateful Person!!

I felt sad upon reading this. If this article's not a fiction, I would want to curse this person! Did he not learn about respecting his own parents?! How he treated his mom is unforgivable. May his conscience kill him slowly.

From Hiphop Abs To Yoga

I have never been conscious about my tummy. I had a 23 waist line before I entered college. It turned 24, which was and still the perfect waist line for every lady. Then now, it is 28 inches and counting. How will I not have that waist line if all I do in the office is eat and work (so that means sitting in front of a laptop or reading books and manuals while sitting).

I eat a lot of carbs. I love rice, I think I can't live without it. But I never gained too much weight for I used to walk around the campus or engage myself into sports like basketball or even just jog around the oval of the campus'  Freedom Park. Now that I am not the athletic me, all that burned-not fats just go to my tummy. Haha.
Ranting about this may offend some people. Maybe some will say, "Shut up! I have a waist line of more than 30 inches whatever whatever.." but I, having a petite body type and a more than 27-inch waist line, should think of cutting it down to at most 26 inches. I tried playing basketball near the garage of my boarding house but if the son of the landlady won't be playing, I hesitate to borrow his ball so I usually end up lying on my bed and watching movies before and after eating my heavy dinner.

So, to end this dilemma, I downloaded HipHop Abs and Yoga lessons so assist me in achieving the body I want. I know this may take a lot of effort in practicing self-discipline but I thought about it thoroughly. 

If you wanna join me in my Yoga and Abs project, check out these links and download them using Mu Torrent:

(1) HipHop Abs

(2) Yoga 1

(3)Sara Ivanhoe's Yoga for Dummies

(4) Yoga Breath and Movement

The Random Shop of Random Thoughts

Last Saturday, since there's a sale at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall, we went there to look for the things we need to buy. This isn't about blogging what we bought but about a shop which happened to be an art exhibit. People were hesitant to not enter the said shop. Curious as we were, we dared to go in and asked the lady what that shop is about because if they really are selling two couches with pins and vandals, i don't think people will not be interested to buy them. *wink*

When we got inside, it was like a warp zone of self-expression. Like the place is a whole sketch pad where you can put anything you wanna draw and write. I'm not into art but I appreciate how the place is made. There was a box with a face drawing, a plastic mache, two vandalized couch with pins, a chip wrapper with erased letter, and more vandalized paintings and wall. Disclaimer: This entry isn't about me-interpreting-what-the-artist-had-done but me-narrating-and-posting-what-I've-seen. Haha.

The chip that says MOB not MOBY. This wall is like the one from a horror train station. :)

I find this drawing scary,actually.

It's a perverted funny drawing but since we're in an "art shop", it's a work of art.

This is a plastic mache of someone who hangs himself maybe because he has genital warts. eww.

The filthy couch with some wet paint.

I believe this is what the artists used.

The box, the drawing and the curious Asian. :)

I don't know what their art really is about. Though I signed in their visitor's book and put my blog address so that maybe if the artists happen to drop by, they would maybe explain it here. :)

Missing Micro Lab Work

Although my work is Microbiology-related, I haven't done much lab work that is why I quite miss it. Though choosing a marketing microbiology work is a personal choice, I am lucky that somehow I can experience a lab-related tasks whenever I miss it.

We visited the lab of a client which I would not name.  We were required to wear what's available in the closet like this big lab clean laboratory gown, a mask, a hairnet and a big Crocs. I know my feet are small so I didn't seem to choose a size that fits me. Oh well, what matters is we were completely sanitized so as not to contaminate their lab. I wouldn't mention all the things we did there but to name a few, I just did micro stuffs and at the same time, we taught them how to do it. 

I miss doing these things but what I don't like about it is the routine work that I beg to not be engaged to. Haha. I don't wanna stay in the laboratory all the time. So I guess I am really lucky to be having a work which fits my personality. :)

From Thai To Phil

I haven't encountered stress at work. These past few days were spend in going to different places. Of course, we did work-related stuffs at the same time, I get to enjoy the trip. I get to go to places I haven't been before, know and eat their delicacies, know road shortcuts, listen to radio stations (as tuned by our driver) that I never listened to ever and get to be given pasalubong by loyal clients. This week, we got two pasalubong from Thailand given by a boss and a client.  

They said that this is called Loc Chop.

This one is called Loc Chop according to our Thai client. But this was given by our boss who recently went to Thailand for business trip. He didn't know the name of this food so we asked our Thai client. This one tastes good. The outer mass has a gel-like consistency with a soft mashed something inside it which tastes I couldn't figure out.

The Thai client gave us the Mango Sheet. If your thinking it tastes like Dried Mangoes, well, I don't think it did. It is as sour as tamarind. Although it is mango, it tastes like tamarind candies. What I love about it is how thin every piece is. I don't wanna eat more of it but I just can't stop munching it.

First Christmas Song I've Heard This Year

Katy Perry's appearance on The Simpsons was unexpected. I love it. I just saw the commercial of the episode on Jack TV while watching Family Guy this morning. This news was so yesterday but I still love their spoof of 12 Days of Christmas, 39 Days of Christmas, because of the "something something". Since I am not an avid viewer of the said cartoon, funny and loser as it seems, I found the episode amusing. I've been so busy  that I haven't even have the time to sit on a comfy couch to watch any TV shows these past few weeks. And seeing Katy Perry and the rest of The Simpsons gang singing the first Christmas song I've ever heard this year made me feel excited for this coming Christmas season.

127 hours: Morbidity In Its Truest Sense

As I was browsing the movie list, I got curious about 127 hours which was directed by Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire. I never heard of it nor seen its trailer so I thought it was about rock climbing adventure. Adventurer as I am, I watched it in the hope of learning some rock climbing techniques. While watching it, I envied the scene wherein he with the two ladies let go between the rocks of Grand Canyon and ended up diving on a hidden oasis at the under  the two high rise boulders. I really wish I could go to that place and experience the thrill. However, as the movie progressed and the lead actor got his right arm stuck between the rocks, I had second thoughts of experiencing his adventure. Well, to cut the movie short, he decided to cut his stuck arm after a couple of days. [If I were him], I wouldn't wait that long specially if I know that I'm in the middle of nowhere and I wouldn't get help from anyone. 

Islam vs. Catholic Beliefs

Sunday. June 5, 2011. 

6pm Mass. At a small church in Imus, Cavite.

Lately, I felt really lazy to go to church. Not that I don't have the faith anymore but I don't think priests nowadays are the best instrument to disseminate God's words.

The reproductive health bill (RHB) which is a rampant topic in print media and televisions are also part of the Sunday's homily in a church near my tita's house where I am staying right now. For me, every people is entitled to their own opinion and not all Catholics attending the mass are anti-RHB so priests should also respect that and not let us [pro-RHB] feel that we don't deserve to be there since we are against them.

So this week, I decided to let alone pray instead of attend the mass. But then, my aunts asked me to come with them and since I have no choice but to follow, I attended the mass thinking that maybe the priest will be different and the homily is not about politics.  When the homily started, I was readying myself for the same RHB homily that the same priest always delivers. Thankfully, that didn't happen. But he lectured us on the faith of Muslims to Allah as compared to Catholics on God. He said, 99% of the total population in Malaysia are Muslims. Their dedication to their religion is incomparable to us.  They wake up at as early as 5am to say their prayers. They carry big handkerchiefs which are not used for their sweat but for worship. When I was taking up History 2 at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, I came to appreciate the Muslim culture since my professor, Ms. Pena who was taking up Islamic Studies at UP Diliman that time was telling us some things which made us understand that religion. And because of this very few knowledge on Islam culture, I was disappointed at the officiating priest, Fr. Erwin dela Cruz (if I'm not mistaken) when he chanted the Muslim prayer as "Allalalalalah bili-bili na kayo balut penoy" for the morning prayer and "Allalalalla taho taho" for the noon prayer. I almost walked out of the church for hearing such mockery against other religion. Take note: it was from a priest - a known person who disseminate the goodness of the Lord. For him-to-make-fun-of-other-people's-religion is not a good example to the kids who are listening to his words. What did the others do upon hearing that? They laughed with him - the priest! If a Muslim heard that, they will surely get mad at him. Having a priest like that should make a Catholic think twice if this is the appropriate religion for him/her... just like what I am feeling right now.

I don't know if praising their virtues and gestures towards their religion after the mockery would make me feel good about his sermon. Even though he gave those uplifting words towards Muslims while scolding at us, Catholics, which he quoted as not-Catholic-enough and not-Catholic-by-heart for lacking the commitment to be one, I still see him as someone who don't deserve to lecture us on goodness for he is not the right example for that. 

We might have different religions, call God in different names such as Jesus, Buddha, Allah, but still I think we are just worshiping the same person. So, who are we to mock other religion?

West Visayas Adventure (Day2)

Day 2 is for Camp Kasal. It was so far the most unique wedding I've ever attended. Well, I wasn't surprised since Kei and Wilson really have creative minds and great ideas. We woke up early that day. We were so busy setting ourselves up (since we are part of the entourage). Everybody complied with the theme, Chucks and Corduroy, of course. We stayed at Buenos Aires Mountain Resort but the wedding was conducted at Lunao Springs in Maao, Bago City, a private mountain refuge of Kei's mom, Tita Tess, which is around 15 minutes away from where we stayed.

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort

While waiting for the sugar cane truck.

Ride to the wedding.

 The mountain wedding was so unique and solemn. It was done at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon. A lot of people came eventhough the place was remote. I was one of the people who wouldn't miss this momentous event. I witnessed how they love each other over the years that I've known them. We weren't suppose to shed a tear during the entourage but we did. The moment Kei walked down the aisle, I felt really happy for them. I thought I was the only one crying, but then again, when I turned to my former mousemates, they were also crying. haha! It was bad to cry when you'll know that you will ruin your make up and worse if you even forgot to bring tissue or hanky with you. Haha.

The cute scouts for the wedding.

we are the groomsman and bridesmaid aka junior scouts.

The wedding kiss <3

This is our group picture. Most people on the left side are the Baguio
friends and on the right are the Elbi friends.

Our chucks.

I just love this picture.

After the ceremony, we indulged in their breakfast buffet. I particularly love the dried tapa with pinakurat and lechon Bacolod that I barely ate other food. As we were eating, we were serenaded by the Edralins. They sang classic pop music. Their Beatles-inspired look and great music are the best. Check them out here and their music here.

The Edralins

 There are different stations in the wedding, I particularly enjoyed the DIY (Do It Yourself) and Snap Station. The DIY is where we made our own souvenirs of our choice based on wooden beads and other materials available. We took a picture of us in the snap station, I think the newly weds will  collect the photos as their souvenirs as well. We went back to the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort in the afternoon to prepare for the night's event.

Cameraaaaas! *_*

I enjoyed this station so much.

 The night of the wedding was the bonding time for the visitors. We spend the night jamming, getting to know each other, sharing stories, taking pictures, requesting songs, drinking... and more drinking. Thanks to San Miguel for the drinks.

Bon Fire

This is how to end a great celebration.

Congratulations Kei and Wilson! We wish you all the best. We love you! :)

The W+K Camp Kasal was also featured in Rock n Roll Bride and in the Manila Bulletin. Check out this link.

West Visayas Adventure (Day1)

We were looking forward to this year's summer, not only for the exciting trip that awaits us but also to witness my former mousemate's (Kei Mamangun), wedding to her long time boyfriend, Wilson Sison. We've been waiting for promo ticket sales of different airlines, been busy saving up money for the event, and been readying ourselves for the most-awaited event of our summer 2011.

We left for Bacolod at 2:45 in the afternoon and arrived about an hour after the leaving Manila. So because of the Zest Air promo fare, I only spent around Php. 900.00 for my round trip ticket (Manila - Bacolod Silay Airport, vv) plus 400 airport tax (200 one way). 

Upon arrival at Silay Airport

This was taken while we were looking for the W+K bus.

 A bus waiting for us [Camp Kasal people] at the airport parking lot took us to Buenos Aires Mountain Resort where we checked in for the anticipated wedding. We had two long hours of tiring trip to Bago City because of the heavy traffic caused by the road construction. Unlike in Manila, most vehicles I saw were sugar cane trucks. I really felt that I was really in Negros since on our way were lots of sugar cane fields and we saw typical movie-like farmers manually carrying sugar canes to train carts. Also, this bus sign paved away my exhaustion.

Dinner was served when we got there. They called it "Welcome to Negros" dinner since dishes served were Negros delicacies like batchoy (noodle soup), kadios (black beans soup), apan-apan (veggie dish) and the famous inasal (grilled chicken). All dishes were delicious but I was really hooked at eating the batchoy and inasal. Yum! I slept really full that night. I forgot to take pictures of the food because of hunger. :))