Another year older...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me...

(It's my 21st)

Heath Ledger, Dead at 28

This is tragic.

"Brokeback Mountain" star Heath Ledger, was found dead today, January 22, in a Manhattan apartment, facedown at the foot of his bed. There were prescription sleeping pills nearby, police said, but no obvious indication that the Australian-born Ledger had committed suicide.


The 28-year-old award winning actor was admirable for choosing his roles carefully rather than cashing in on big-money parts. His performance as a gay cowboy in the controversial film "Bokeback Mountain" earned him an Oscar nomination. During filming, he met Michelle Williams, who played his wife in the film. The two had a daughter, now 2-year-old Matilda, and lived together in Brooklyn until they split up last year.

The untimely death of a laudable celebrity that is Ledger brings back memories of one of our own's. Popular local matinee idol Rico Yan peacefully died in his sleep of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis leading to cardiac arrest while vacationing at the then newly-reopened Dos Palmas Arreceffie Island Resort in Palawan March 29 2002, Good Friday.

This is a shocking and unforeseen conclusion for one of Hollywood's bright young stars.

=(

Sinulog 2008

SINULOG 2008!!!!
T'was a spectacular event... I didn't get sleep from last night's toil, but I couldn't care less. After work, I, along with my friends, immediately proceeded to the streets where streetdancers will be donning their vibrant costumes and laying out their groovy moves ( it was just meters outside our apartment).

Festival Queen

She epitomizes beauty and grace. She inevitably becomes the apple-of-the-eye of every photographer and watchers alike.

Indeed, her qualified physical attributes have found their way to everyone’s hearts. Hers is the charm of an elegant maiden. Hers is the resemblance of a natural queen; the Festival Queen.

The delusional scribe

The Sinulog fever got me sooooooooo hungry, I decided to indulge in some vendor's Ngo Hiong!

Credits: Angel Cuevas, Flickr Photos

Call Center Life

DISCLAIMER: You MIGHT find yourself unable to relate to this post (Like my roommate who's very concerned to the point that he seems to be wanting to re-write this whole article himself! Hahahaha. We always beat the crap out of each other, that's why...). That's OK. This post SHOULDN'T be universal at all. If it hurts your ego in any way, because you spent a lifetime in a call center and feel like you got belittled by the title just because the content doesn't deserve it because it doesn't even come close to YOUR "Life" there (that's a lot of becauses), then... you're a loser. This is MY story. Write about yours instead.

Pulling up my tools from the computer screen while overhearing my mentors' threatening remarks ("Faster, faster." "Go on avail."), I felt coerced. What did I get myself into this time? Slouching on the chair, staying calm, I was in self-denial. My tummy then was in some sort of turmoil; my heart was racing; my soul, damned. It was a familiar feeling -- I was NERVOUS.

December 2nd. It was a feverish day for me especially that it marked my first day in Nesting Bay. I tried to fool myself: You're just going to rekindle your Transition days, Amiel, that's all . But as soon as I heard the invisible woman's sweet voice say " Third floor," and the polished metal wall in front of me split-up, I became sober as the crucified criminal who humbly asked for Jesus to remember him. The hard truth, that this was at a totally different level now, struck me (at last). Unlike in Transition, we took calls for more or less eight hours amidst tenured bankers. Nervous excitement.

The following days hence, I learned to psyche myself up about the gravity of the career I chose so as not to disappoint my superiors (and my peers) and especially myself. I dutifully browse through my steno notepad at home since then, which I never did before except during Basics Training & Client Specifics Training assessments ( Honest! ), to refresh my crumbly memory or double-check information. And the "manual" that I wilfully neglected has become a very good friend on the floor (no thanks to the times when I needed answers and my mentors were not available!). I did not anymore have the luxury to abuse my dear mentors Mamar and Nice, and trainer Gen (during Transition, after a call that I had a hard time understanding, I would let one of them explain... At the end of the day, as a result, I would barely hit the desired handle time and the set number of calls. But hey I'm after quality, not quantity.).

Training can only do so much. It can never fully prepare you for the real thing. Skills will be nurtured by first-hand experience; and confidence will be formed from there. We will certainly be beset with difficulties, but if there is one thing I deeply learned from taking live calls -- Transition to Nesting -- it is determination. Striving to overcome hardships, striving for excellence. As one Chinese proverb puts it, "The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man perfected without trials."

Right now, I'm finding myself always looking forward to my breaks (thinking about it even before I take the first call), lunch and rest days! I hope this is normal though.


12.18.2007

CHARICE PEMPENGCO: YOUTUBE/ INTERNATIONAL SENSATION

I can't help it... I just NEED to post about this hometown pride, CHARICE PEMPENGCO.

She's gone a long way.

Really.

She started as a contestant at a local talent/singing show called Little Big Star. She made it to the finals, unfortunately, she lost to Sam Concepcion. Here's a video of her, after learning she didn't get the title, singing Tamia's If I Were You (I don't know if it's just me, but I think the judges wanted to revoke their decision at this point!)



She's impressive isn't she? She maintained her emotions while belting that out.

Her friend posted her Little Big Star videos on YouTube. Surprisingly, they became a big hit on the website. Some of the most viewed. This was Charice's claim to fame. It paved the way for the right exposure. The world noticed her and quickly became a global sensation. She got a record deal with a reputable international company. She was invited to Korea's Super Junior where her fame was even more solidified -- from there, she got featured on E!'s Daily 10 TWICE.



She is best known for her rendition of Jennifer Holiday's And I'm Telling You...





And now, she's had her first American TV appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show on the 19th of December by request of Ellen DeGeneres herself! Watch as Charice wows the audience...



She's just awesomely talented. She deserves all this. She makes me proud.

============================================

Read through what people has to say about Charice after watching her on Ellen's show...

[from ellentv.com]

"I watched this live just now. Charice showed her sweet personality all throughout. Right after this song, it was so touching. Her tears starting coming out and so as her mom. I guess from all their struggles to the culmination of this one great moment on Ellen." "She cried even more when Ellen gave her as a gift an ipod touch after this song (she lost hers on the 13 hrs. flight). She did sing another song at the end of the show - "I Will Always Love You." I tell ya, it was the most beautiful rendition yet from her of this song. Hope someone can post it here soon."
-sushforever

"OMG, what an incredible voice, not only did I get goosebumps, she actually made me cry! What an amazing young talent. It is so refreshing to see a young person channel energy into something positive! I am sure this talented young lady will go far, thanks Ellen for sharing her with us. You Rock!!!!" -- Cindy Kolze

Ellen,
I'm shocked! Where do you find these amazing kids. That's definately a gift from God! When she sang "you're the best Mom I ever had ", I just started balling. My 13 yr old daughter was having a rough night last night. She told me she would be completely lost without me and all I could think of was my daughter the whole time she was singing. I'm still crying! Thankyou for sharing this amazing girl with all of us.
Merry Christmas!!!" - Dorothy :)

"Well...looks like the audience already looked convinced...saw a lot of them doing this (:-O)
Thank you very much Ellen for giving the kid a well deserved break in the US scene.... I'm speechless after that performance, that kid is incredible. I'm lost for words, how can anyone sing like that? It's not my favorite genre of music but that lil girl almost made me cry." -- John

"Ellen, Thank you for bringing this wonderful young lady into our homes and lives, I can't wait to see her career take off. She will go far with that voice, she is blessed in so many ways and to know that you had a hand in giving her this opportunity has to feel pretty good." - Diane Turner

"I thought Clarice was incredible and I am so excited for her and the endless possiblities she has going for her. It actually reminded me of watching Barbra Streisand when she was starting out. I actually had chills watching this faboulous performance. Ellen, you are so wonderful for helping talented kids get a chance to show their talent. I love you and your show." -- Margie Silver

"what a great performance.
She has a voice of a professional singer or shall i say better than some professional singers. I really do hope and pray that she gets her break.God bless you and may you have all the success that life can bring to you. YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY!!! GOOD LUCK!!! YOU DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE YOU ALREADY GOT IT!" -- Carmela Simmons

"Ellen what an amazing singer Charice is. I had goose bumps and put tears to my eyes. She really deserved the standing O'S." -- Ruthanne Goodwin

"oh my God!!!!!! i was stunned, I'm speechless with this kid, she is one of the best singers I've ever ever heard, i can't believe it that she can sing like that.. i mean who ever knows that this girl could sing a very high pitch song with a unbelievable sining signature, it was one of the most watchable talent i guess, one of the best I've ever seen seriously, this kid can do great in the music scene.. and I'm telling you she can do better in the future.. " -- knighty

"Whoa!!!
how could a voice like that coming out from a 15 year old girl??? she is soo... terrific! now, that's an amazing talent from this innocent girl. i had goosebumps... ellen, i think you just become part of her great start. a record deal is imminent!!! Ellen, i admire your ability to see and recognize a GENUINE talent. BRAVO!!! more power to you and your show." -- Edith Bertz

(Credits: luckycura85, falsevoice, coolsmurf, paulytek)

Favorite Movie

Have you watched the movie "Ladder 49" starring Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta?

If you hadn't, then you missed your chance of viewing a great movie!

This is a story of our world's unsung, unnoticed heroes---the firefighters! This movie just organically portrays the human side of an elusive ideal, heroism. It is a tearjerker as it is action-packed. Phoenix and Travolta gave performances worthy of awards!

"What does it take for a man to run into a burning building when everybody else is running out?" -- a line from the movie. HEROIC.

This is one "heart-wrenching and utterly inspiring" movie.

I highly recommend it!