Hello... Nicolas

Finally, Dark Curse by Christine Feehan was out this week. Bought one yesterday and can't put it down. (Only now since I wanted to blog.)

Nicolas De La Cruz, he is a different man. We have been introduced in Dark Secret but I never really knew his personality. That's because he didn't have any then. Now, he has because he just found his lifemate. Nicolas is the middle child of 5 brothers. He believes he is traditional just like Manolito (Dark Possession). He also believes he is sexual. Perhaps a bit like Rafael (Dark Curse) since he told Rafael to just do it with Colby, convert her and get over with it. "Her virginity belonged to you!"

But when he met Lara, his lifemate, he wanted to be all the man that he is. But nobody told Nicolas that keeping a lifemate was so overwhelming. Everything went flying out the window when he can't think of anything but to please her. He was never a gentleman but now he kept apologizing to Lara every turn.

As for the rest of the Carpathian Race, there is danger. The Dark Mage Xavier is on the loose and is carrying out his plot to destroy the Carpathians. He has introduced something tot he mineral rich soils, parasites. The target: women and children of the race.

Will Lara and the Carpathains save the race?

I don't know yet. I haven't finished the book.

Oh! Turbulent Sea is out in National Bookstore Just Today!

Word Camp 08

I'm glad Word Camp was a success. Congrats Kuya Bloggie and team!

Aki and I were there. Attended some talks and of course took turns manning the table we got for Talecraft.

Nine cards, five minutes, one tale.

Can you handle it?

Can you blog that fast? :-)

It brought back memories to be back in CSB. Some things never change. Like paperwork to get things like a tarp and laptop and camera in. IDs and long lines too. Oh yeah, not to mention roaming D.O.'s.

I did expect more people but the turnout was not disappointing. Most of my old classmetes form CSB used to keep blogs. Perhaps they just needed more advertisements. I didn't ahve a single batchmate in the WordCamp. Maybe next year would be better. No complains here. It was a feat to achieve. Just that, I wanted to share it with my friends.

Good Job Kuya.

Dark Curse

Dark Curse by Christine Feehan is out but not yet in this country.
This sucks! I wish they had the same release dates.

I found the Book Trailer.
I DO NOT like thier choice of actor for Nicholas. He has not an ounce of sexy SOuth American with Old World Elegance here.

Misconceptions in Full-Figure Dressing

Sometimes, people have these misconceptions on dressing. They want to hide their "fats." There is this mindset to hide the bulk. I'm not only talking about Plus-sized women. Most people think this. I use to work for two different people and they have similarities about what the plus-size market should be wearing. One is plus-sized herself.

Perhaps what they were thinking was true during the 80's but now, even the big girls want to stay trendy and hip. They need clothes that work and fit right.

Misconception #1: Hiding Bulk in More bulk.
I see many plus-sized women wear bulky clothing. Sometimes even over-sized men's shirt. Wearing these excess-sized clothes will only make you look even bigger.

What to wear: Shirt that fits. There are a lot of clothing brands emerging that are trendy. Expensive? Not anymore. Boys T-shirts has got to go. You're a woman. Feminine. Show those curves! Get jean that are either bootleg or skinny. Make sure the thighs are hugged. Hips must be the fittest part of that jeans. Look here: Denim pants or Twill jeans are tough materials. If there is excess space, air will fill it up, giving you MORE volume. We don't want to look bigger than we feel.

Misconception # 2: Stripes. More an more stripes
Not all stripes are friendly. Just because they make a vertical stripes doesn't mean they look good.

What to wear: It doesn't have to be the weave of the textile nor the print. Pleating or a folding can give a vertical lines. Remember, less is more. Smaller stripes, lesser space too. Diagonal is always safe.

Misconception #3: Long sleeves to hide those big arms.
Some people do have amazingly big arms. I saw a girl who was a SIZE 10-12 but her arms were like for size 18. She may be prone to heart attacks. How do you hide this? By showing it.
No kid.

Remember M#1? The more you hide, the more you show. There are ways to show but still hide these arms.

What to wear: Butterfly sleeves and cap sleeves. Trust me! Unless you have designer cut sleeves, no RTW has perfected anything that hides bulk in bulk yet.

Misconception # 4 Belt the tummy or belt under the breast.
Major no-no! Belt under the breast will give you the preggy look. Belt under the tummy emphasizes the upper and lower tummy.

What to wear: Want some baby doll blouses? Empires? Make sure they are cut HALFWAY BETWEEN under the breast line and belly button. You'll look longer and thinner. If you have a belt, think or thin, put it ABOVE your waist line. It makes the tummy disappear.

Misconception # 5 Long Blouse and capri pants.
Not for you, gal. The wrong cut is out of style. Get blouses that does NOT cut at the 2nd hips. That would be the fullest part of your buttocks. No! It will only make you look bigger. Cut at the first hip which is 4 inches below the belly button. Oh, by the way, for long blouses, make sure the waist is defined. If not, you will look short.

Capri may be great but not everyone is built for it. If the pants are cut at the fullest part of your calf, it will make you look bigger. Find something below or above it.

What to wear: Wear pedals or ankle length pants to be on the safe side.

* * *

Remember ladies: Hide what you can, flatter what you can't.

Filipino Comics

Your story. Your art.

http://www.komikasi.com/call.html

Komikasi Enterprise is now open for comic submissions! We're looking for fun, witty, engaging comics; comics that will leave us shouting for the next issue! If you have a comic series you'd like us to consider, send us a detailed summary of the series, and the first issue of your series.

Specifications

Size: 180 x 250 mm + 3 mm bleed; 150 x 220 mm drawing frameColors: Black and White; Screen-tonedNum of pages: 30-60 per issue, ideally. But we can go as low as 12Language: English or FilipinoTheme: Open; as long as it's interestingReaders: Young adult; no sex, please, and easy on the violence

When you send your first issue, save the pages in JPG format at 72 dpi. Since we're still evaluating, we don't need them hi-res yet. As for the detailed summary, keep it within 5 pages. Let us also know how many issues your story will be. If you don't have the exact number, an estimate will do. Save your summary in RTF format.
Send your summary and first issue, along with your name, age, contact number, favorite ice cream and any other information you'd like to share about yourself to feedback@komikasi.com. Deadline is on September 19, 2008.

Proffesional Gate Crashers

What do we know of such people?

We think they are people we know and we didn't bother to invite them then they just show up at your party/wedding.

Nope, there's really an art to it.

I went to a laureate for lunch. Sort of a family reunion with friends and relatives. There are over 200 guests and half of them don't know they are related. We attend this to know we are related. This family association can be dated back to our pre-colonial China days.

Anyways, there was this old lady in our table. She's wearing a dress like you buy it in a tiange and a suit jacket. When the food was being served one at a time, she started to horde the meat and canned soft drink.

Note: A table seat twelve and one dish is being served one at a time in a typical Laureate.

Alright, we though, bad table manners-much! She horded so much meat when we all took small quantities only. Then, she scooped them in plastic bag.

I hate to be related to this woman!

Then, when the last of the dessert came, she went off from table to table taking left-overs.

Normally, the managers don't mind. But you'd never know if food is the only thing she takes. What if she took your cellphone?

We later learned she is a pro-gate crasher. With more than 200 guests, its hard to spot them and they are not usually alone.

According to stories shared: a couple of pro gate crashers had IDs of Media on them. No kid! These are pros. They come to eat and take home some food.

The nerve!

Note: the host pays at least 1,000 pesos per person. Each guest is usually counted. Extra drinks have extra charge!

So, party hosts beware! Be aware of these people and see if you have these people in your party. They may dress the part but they don't have good table manners!

Busy, busy

Toycon last June was a success. I had a problem then, a great problem. Diki said it's a good problem, the type that you must always wish for if you ever had a problem: Running out of stocks.

Cool problem indeed!

So, I am now preparing to make more. Tons more. I'm gonna make a ton of things to sell. If they click, yey me! I want to have the same problems last time: Running out of stocks to sell.

I earned 900 pesos in terms of chockers alone. Then, Me, AKi and Diki ran out of hats to sell too. We didn't think they'd sell. So, I am tasked to make hundreds! In different colors this time!

See picture here:

Little Muning is keeping me company.

Actually, he's making gulo! He's after my ribbons. He's lying down on it too.

So now, I'm busy-busy. Making hats. Making bonnets. Chasing kitties.

Lover Enshrined

A Mansion full of emotional vampires!

The sixth book for JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series.

Phury has accepted to be Primale. Meaning: He has to ensure the race by impregnating 40 females form the Scribe Virgin's Chosen. Unfortunately, he's falling in love with one of them and he. Throughout the book, he battled drug and alcohol addiction and a strange inner voice pulling him to destruction.
In the mean time, the other brotherhood members have their own battles to fight. The Glymera is being massacred, Wrath is having problems ruling, Zsadist in fearful of Bella's pregnancy and John Mathews is not comfortable in his transition. Outside of the brotherhood, things are also chaotic. Rhevenge is being blackmailed. Haver's Clinic is hit by the Lessening Society.
Will they all pull through?

Who would have known emotional vampires could be fun and romantic? The main characters are given depth and each one is tested. Unfortunately, not all characters are featured. I felt there wasn't much on Butch, Vishious and Rhage. Guess, these three didn't have that much of an impact on Phury as Wrath, Zsadist and Rhevenge.
John's story is very much part of the problem. His friends are there to protect him and he is there for them. Slowly he grows up emotionally but it is in steps.
Ward's Series is a must collect. It's not-your-usual vampire series.

Waitng For Feehan

Today, I was in FullyBooked. No book yet. Christine Feehan's Turbulent Sea is not yet out in this country. Maybe August they said.
Isn't it August yet?
Can't wait to get her new Carpathian Book, Dark Curse. But it's still on September. But I think it's coming a month later here.

.....still waiting

Word Camp 2008

Why do I want to join the word camp?

I would really want to meet fellow bloggers and see their views, their everyday life through blogging.
I think blogging has become a way of life and how we are as a person is reflected in our blogs.
It is also a venue to interact with people who share the same hobby/pastime/interest.

• i.PH: the Domain for Individuals


• Free Online Flash Games


• Wazzup Manila Philippines


• Real Estate CRM


• Real Estate Website Designers


• Orange County Real Estate


• Auto Insurance Quotes


• Lane Systems Inc.


• RedMedia


• Orange County Business Lawyer


• Cebu Pacific Air

• Reality Wedding Videos
  
  

SONA Fashion Show

Instead of being a solemn occasion, the SONA '08 became a fashion show.

Is there anything worth addressing? The Text message to go down to fifty cents. So?
"Texting is a way of life." --PGMA.
So what? Rice is more important than Text. How much would rice be?

Things that have to be addressed are:

• Poverty
• Population Control
• Rice Crisis
• Gas Price Increase
• Corruption
• Red Taping and "Lagay" system
• The environment
• Efficient Transportation

So, instead of showing off those designer outfits, you should sell it and give the money to a legitimate NGO. 100,000.00 goes a long, long way. Even if the designer is your friend.
That red carpet show in the SONA was just disgusting. All those people showing-of should be ashamed of themselves.

While the country is in a crisis, these people parade around like clowns. Don’t they know where the money comes from?

(Sounds very Maria Antoinette-ish? Then, the crisis might explode and shake this country very soon.)

Hair Color

Hair Color Blue and Red!

Cost Cutting Much!

For those who have not been flying recently, here's the thing:

Read and read well.

As seen on papers, Cebu Pacific has been cutting price. Yey for us. Right?
Maybe.
Here's the catch:

• No food, no drinks, no blankets, no emergency oxygen.
• Food and drinks must be purchased. a C2 350ml for 50.00!!! 500ml for 100.00. Pack of peanuts or chips for 50.00. No kid! You can't bring drinks in the plane. Drink your own laway! You can bring your own food. Being your own blanket too. If you have heart/lung problems, you can't bring your own oxygen. Ride a boat if you dare!
• Small plane, squeeze much chairs.
• Oh yeah, best one yet: You don't go through the tube to get in the plane. You have to exit through the fire exit, go out in the heat/rain and run to the plane which is beside the tube. But they can't use it. One of the land stewardess said it cost 35,000.00 to just use the tube. Talk about cost cut much.
  

So, tips:

1. Eat ahead of time.
2. Bring your own blanket and knick knacks
3. wear comfy clothes and shoes. You can freshen up in the CR when you get down.
4. Oh, make sure you don't cry when your luggage gets battered. Or whatever is in there for that matter.

No kid! Witnessed it myself! They throw your luggage from the carty thing. If you have that fragile thing on your luggage, they will put it on top but that doesn't stop them from dropping it. These carriers won't care. Don't worry, I haven't lost the whole luggage but I've lost two wheels and the strolly thing at the back. Three luggages in a year!
I know you Cebu Pacific guys are cutting cost! But it doesn't take much to take care of the luggage. It won't cost anything!

Guess the Food!

Guess what these are:

Picture A. It's brown and sticky.
If you think this is Barbeque Spareribs or something like that...

Wrong! It's Biko! Behind it is not garlic chips but V-cut BBQ Chips.


Picture B. What does it look like?

Alien Planet?

Di ka taga-Dabaw! It's Marang. A bit half eaten. Yum!

Davao and Food... Again

I was in Davao the whole week!
Yup, the city where food is always good!
I've learned that Harana's prices went up. So, we went in front instead to Cubyertos, along Torres. Chicken Salad is a must! Can't get enough. Ate it twice and took out a third time.
Rising prices? In a budget?
Go eat Chinese! There's this place called Mandarin. Food=SULIT! Order anything. Eat everything!!!
Makes me fat. Food and lots of choices!

Yesterday, we went to Torril. Lechon on the road and picnic in Campo Agua. Picnics are good. You can't do that in polluted Manila. Air is still clean in Davao and food is still prepared with love.
:-)

Must eat snacks:

• Eclairs form Boulangerie, Victoria Plaza
• Merco Jelly Roll or Plain Chiffon Cake
• Chocolate Cake and Cathedral from Cecil's
• Chicharon with Pinakurat Vinegar
• Peanuts from the Streets
• Bola-Bola Siopao from Famous
• Durian Tarts/Candy/Pie

Princess of the Stars, Star of the Sea

Sulpicio's MV Princess of the Sea Sunk last Saturday. Who is to blame?

DOST slams Sulpicio for blaming Pagasa

Philippine Star - Sunday, June 29
The Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) lashed back at Sulpicio Lines for blaming the weather bureau
in the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars, saying that it was the company
that erred.
DOST Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Sulpicio should not pass
the buck to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (Pagasa) because the agency had issued ample warnings about
typhoon "Frank."
Pagasa is under the DOST.
Sulpicio lawyer Arthur Lim had
blamed Pagasa for inaccurate reporting on the typhoon causing the Princess of
the Stars to be caught in the eye of the storm last week.
Nestor Pontero,
Sulpicio's port officer in Cebu, claimed that the last message he received from
Princess of the Stars Capt. Florencio Marimon was "Buanga ning Pagasa, pataka
lang (Pagasa is crazy; it is only guessing)."
The last communication was
received at around 7 a.m. of June 21, just before the 23,000-ton passenger ferry
capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon.
Marimon is still
missing.
"Initially, they blamed the (Philippine) Coast Guard, but it turned
out that they were operating on an old guideline. After that, they said it was
an 'act of God.' And now they are blaming the Pagasa... We have full
documentation that complete bulletins (were issued)," Yumul told The STAR.
He
said Pagasa follows a "protocol" in which it submits warning bulletins to the
National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Philippines Coast Guard, which in
turn disseminate information on weather updates.
Aside from this, Pagasa also
maintains "voice services" where the public can get updates about the weather by
dialing 433. The weather bureau also regularly posts bulletins on its
website.
"And if they register on our website, they can receive weather
bulletins in their own email addresses," Yumul said.
Yumul stressed that on
top of individual media interviews, Pagasa had called for five press conferences
from June 20 to 22 to inform the public on changes in Frank's route.
"There
is really no reason for Sulpicio not to know about the developments in typhoons.
Pagasa has been doing its best to inform the public," he said.
Yumul
maintained that ship captains should be conscious not only about the weather in
their ports of origin but also in their ports of destination.
Manila was
reportedly under typhoon signal No. 1 when the Princess of the Stars sailed, but
signal No. 2 was already up in Romblon by the time the ship reached its
vicinity. - Sheila Crisostomo/Philstar

Six years ago, I visited Sibuyan Island. I don't remember if I rode a Sulpicio lines but I do remember my boat experience. It was something one cannot forget.

We boarded the boat at 12ish because we were to depart the port of Manila at 1pm bound for the Island of Romblon, Romblon. 3pm and we were told there was a delay due to engine trouble. 4pm, we were asked to move to the ship beside where we were. Our boat was never going to move. 5pm, the coast guard ok-ed the boat and we left for port. Where's our bed? by the time it was dinner, we were still standing in the hallway. One of us got sick. Our moderator of the Immersion program, went to fix things.

Later, she told us the surprise. We get to sleep in the hallway because there was a different set of passengers who booked the 5pm boat. All from the 1pm boat were to just stay in the hallway. Don't worry, the crew will still give us dinner. Did the coast guard know this? Apparently, after they checked the 5pm boat and saw the manifest, we were let in. Passenger and crew totaled 2,000. Boat capacity is only 800. Go do the math.

We arrived in Romblon at 5am. Now to catch the other boat to Sibuyan Island. Surprise again! We are not at Romblon, Romblon. We are at Tablas, Romblon.

Luckily, we were Assumptionistas and a priest gave us a lift to Romblon proper to take the next boat to Sibuyan.

So, toxic boxes int he hallway? Seen it! Bet you haven't seen animals there too! Sand, cement, marble, animals, people, stocks, food, they are all in the hallway.

700 people in MV Princess of the Stars? Was that the declared number? How many are undeclared? What about undeclared cargoes?

200,000 pesos per person. Is that the amount a life is worth? Things are getting expensive, people's lives are getting cheaper.

So, why did the search start 3 days after the boat sank? Passengers who were alive inside the ship died due to the cold and the toxic pesticides. They don't have P&I Insurance. This means they don't get money to do clean-ups. Sulpicio is the one who is shelling the money to do the search and rescue operations. But isn't the government doing that instead?

Ruckus Makes a Ruckus

Ruckus is a noisy cat who is mean and makes a lot of mess. We gave him a good home several streets away. Mean?
We are giving him a better home. He'll be loved and cherished and showered with attention there. He'll be an only child there!
I do hope he'll adapt.

Comicon2008

Sold out all my hats! Including the ones on our head! Yey!

Dark Symphony

Dark Symphony is one of my favorite books. It is a Carpathian Book by C. Feehan.
Antonietta Scarletti is a rich heiress but wealthy in her own right. She is a pianist and composer. Whatever businesses she touches, turns to gold. One thing though, she is lonely. The people in her life want only her money including her family.
There is murder, conspiracy and scandal in every step of a Scarletti life but she has to over come it.
For one thing, she is blind.
Another thing, she is psychic.
Not a bad combination.
Just Mix Byron Justicano into the equation.
Byron Justiccano is a Carpathian Artisan turned Hunter. The moment he heard Antonietta's Music, he vowed to court her and make her his lifemate. Now, to be able to keep her and protect her, he must face the same intrigues that plagues the Scarletti.

Saw the Book trailer. Here is it.



My personal comment: Get a real Pallazzo. Her music room is separate and it connects to Antonietta's bedroom. This music room is just a piano under the stairs!!!
Another thing is, GET A FASHION CONSULTANT! Hello! She is a rich heiress, designer clothes and all. He's Carpathian with a good body. Get some slim fits or flat fronts. Get a CRISPY shirt!

Girl, you need make-up. This is a shoot. A bit of fake-ness, needs dramatic eyes, lips and put a bit of blush. Get a hair dresser too. Your hair looks like Morticia Adam's wig.

Dancing, making out? This trailer needs more intrigue. The threat needs to be deadlier than just a the camera angles.

Dark Possession was a good trailer. Dark Destiny too. I liked how that was narrated while the action was taking place. I didn't like any of the rest.

Spec Fic Questions

1. If you were a Super Hero, what would your powers be? (Powers must not exist in any published works)

I'd sweat bullets. Literally.
My super special move is called the BasKill- As in basa kilikili (wet armpit). It's like a machine gun from my pits.

2. In the Year 2059, you are the top scientist of (whatever field you choose). The World Leaders ask you to implement a plan to control population growth. What's the plan?

As the leading pediatrician in the world, I'd put something on the OPLAN-Alis Disease drops given freely to children. This makes them barren. Only when they are able to support themselves comfortably will the Health Office give them another shot that would allow them to give birth to one healthy offspring. Each female will be given a maximum of three shots=3 babies only.
This will not only alleviate population overgrowth but also poverty and unwanted pregnancies.

Why is the choice given to females, because (this is based in my country only) right now, the lower class keeps saying they did not have a choice, that it was the man's choice. Then, now it will be their choice to get the shot that would give them a baby or not.
Women who have unwanted pregnancies live their whole lives trying to pay for their mistakes. Some who have no help from family spend everything they have for the children. Food, clothing and education. There is no more recreation and family life. At times, they go OFWs just to send money home.

3. If there was a point in History you can change, what would it be? What would the result of the change be today?

I'd make sure Miguel Lopez de Legaspi does not take Tondo.

I'm pretty sure soon, there would be other conquerors who would ravage the Philippines but at least the hold on Intramuros would not be as strong.

If I can't make that happen, I'd make sure Bonifacio survives. He will bide his time and groom his descendants to be good leaders, self-less leaders who would take over the government and turn it around.