Archive for August, 2008

Face painting at McDonalds


2008
08.31


I was able to squeeze in some time to be at Ryu’s birthday party in McDonalds SM Taytay more than a week ago. Ryu is Andrei’s son, and Andrei is my brother’s friend. The boy has just turned three.

During the party, I did face painting for kids and tried my glitter tattoo on adults. There were a dozen kids, including babies, who came in. It was fun, they loved their cheek arts and the adults their glitter tattoos.

Some mothers asked for my number. Come to think of it, this is a good source of extra income that could afford one to buy clothes, shoes, grocery supplies, a baby bedding or send kids to school. I mean that’s what most parents tell me when they admire the only visible talent I’ve got. One parent I met abroad told his husband to study the craft. Face painting is a lucrative business abroad at $3 to $5 per head. But here in Manila, I don’t charge that much.

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Pinoywriters workshops at Powerbooks


2008
08.27

Pinoywriters brings their own brand of creative writing series back to Powerbooks in September. Interested parties may drop a note at the comment box below and I’ll have Jude Cartalaba contact you for details. Or get those numbers at the poster above.

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Phelps Republic takes home eight golds


2008
08.26

 

Aqua Man

Aqua Man

Here’s the list of top 10 countries who raked gold medals in 2008 Beijing Olympics:

1. China – 51
2. United States – 36
3. Russia – 23
4. Great Britain – 19
5. Germany – 16
6. Australia – 14
7. South Korea – 13
8. Japan – 9
9. Italy – 8
10. France – 7
      Ukraine – 7

If the world’s greatest swimmer Michael Phelps were a country, he’ll be at Number 9 sharing the slot with Italy. He won eight gold medals - that’s more than what France, Ukraine and the rest of participating countries achieved at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

With eight golds, American swimmer Phelps surpassed and broke Olympic records set by Mark Spitz, a swimmer who recorded seven golds at the 1972 Olympics. Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won – six at Athens in 2004 and now eight at Beijing.

With this record, he surpassed Mark Spitz, who was also a swimmer and had held the previous gold medal total with the seven that he won at the 1972 Olympic Games. Phelps has won a total of 16 Olympic medals.

Phelps was born on June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was younger, Phelps was diagnosed with  Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

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Uncover the secrets of profitable writing


2008
08.21
Secret ingredient = talent + hardwork

Secret ingredient = talent + hardwork

When Po the Panda opened the mysterious dragon scroll, he didn’t find any creepy Confucian writing there that says “nirvana” or something that would show one the path to glory. The scroll Tai Lung obsessed with was nothing but a small empty piece of fabric that reflected the image of everyone who looks at it.

There is no secret ingredient, formula or trick. Your funny t shirts have nothing to do with it. There’s only YOU and the countless things you can do.

This year, Pinoywriters will tap into the creative souls of aspiring writers through a series of workshops at Powerbooks. These workshops are designed to help Filipino writers find fulfillment in their creative pursuits and profit from it. First in the series is a two-day weekend workshop on “Freelance Writing: Pursuing a Persistent, Profitable Passion” on September 20 and 21.

For more details, click here. Or simply drop a note at the comment box below.

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Travel Light goes to Cebu


2008
08.20
Maribago Beach Resort in Cebu

Maribago Beach Resort in Cebu

Travel Light goes to Cebu this September!

My friend, Mayan, invited me to her trip down south. I haven’t been to her native town in Naga City because I kept postponing the trip for last five years (I think). I guess changing the destination from Bicol to Cebu does wonders. Last week, she already booked my plane and accomodation for 3 days at Maribago Beach Resort in Cebu. I don’t know where that place is but I think it’s cozy, lovely and quiet just by looking at the blue-sky-coconut-trees shot above. It’s like having one of those Vegas vacations already except for the beach.

This is how MY itinerary would be like:

Day One

  • Departure at 7:30 a.m.
  • Breakfast on board Cebu Pacific (Magic Flakes for sure)
  • Arrival at 9:00 a.m.
  • Resort taxi service will pick us up at Mactan
  • Unpack
  • Set up Mayan’s laptop, check wi-fi
  • Lunch
  • Sleep
  • Merienda
  • See a trade show
  • Dinner
  • Back to resort
  • Read a book
  • Sleep

Day Two onwards

  • Internet
  • Breakfast
  • Leave resort
  • Explore the city
  • Lunch
  • Explore the city
  • Merienda
  • Back to resort
  • Maybe swim
  • Sleep

Aside from clothing, I’ll bring with me a good book, DVDs and my old reliable Sony digicam. Mayan is bringing her laptop which is excellent for my mental health. I might also drop by the cemetery to visit dad. I will need a good map, or maybe a guide.

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