Sparkling Pearly Whites

Everyone wants to achieve that "Close-Up Smile". Who wouldn't want to flash a nice set of teeth, right?

It was 2006 when I started wearing braces. There was really no problem with my teeth  except that my bite needed to be corrected. The problem was I had an open bite - the main reason why I had a hard time pronouncing "s" and at the same time, opening Cheese Curls - using my teeth. HAHAHA!

Most people think that wearing braces is just for "porma" purposes. Well I must say it's a commitment. Why? It's not easy. It is awfully painful at the beginning (so tight, you'll feel like you were punched on the teeth plus you'll get sores too!) Adjustments are done once a month by the way. You'll also have a hard time eating.

Below are my pictures then and now.

With Joan and Jai at the 24 Oras News Room some time in 2005

First day wearing braces

With retainers

Flashing a nice smile with Josh at the Bonifacio High Street ;)

I am perfectly happy with the results of wearing braces. It was all worth it!

S M I L E!!! ☺☺☺

PS: Retainers should be always next to braces. ;))

iPod Touch 4G: A Quick Glance

For a music lover like me, having a gadget you can bring anywhere and which let's you play and store music is a piece of cake. But having more than that, you'll simply have a true "State-of-the-Art" fun. That's what I have with my iPod Touch 4G.

The iPod Touch 4G

Here are just some of its features:

•  FaceTime - The "Skype" like feature of iPod which enables video calling with another iPod 4G or with an iPhone 4.
  
  

•  2 Cameras - Double the fun with 2 cameras located at the front and the back. Front camera for you and the back camera which focuses on what's in front of you. This let's you switch cameras anytime between video calls. You can also take pictures and capture scenes via video recording.
  
  
• Retina Display - The highest resolution among iPod screens ever. Images and texts are crisp and are stunningly sharp. You can watch your favorite movie from the 3.5 inch wide screen Retina Display.
  
  
• HD Video Recording and Editing - When you have your iPod touch with you, you're always ready to capture great moments and edit it right then and there.
  
  
• Game Center - This let's you play games with friends, compare scores and game rankings. It let's you expand your social gaming network.
  
  
• Safari Web Browser - Visit your favorite site. All you need is Wi-Fi and your IPod 4G.
  
  
• iBooks - Save good reads on your iPod and download books from iBookstore. Bookworms now becoming eBookworms.
  
  

This is one cool gadget you can give a loved-one or yourself for Christmas. =)

That Plastic Card

I got my  personal credit card this year and I can pretty much say that I am enjoying the benefits of it. Considering the fact that this is my first one, I  made sure I understand things I need to know more than that of just swiping. 

For a starter, I applied for a VISA HSBC Classic Card. There are so much things I considered before ending up with what type of card I will be getting and to what bank I will be applying. My sister is currently using a VISA Citibank Credit Card. Aside from finance charges, annual fees and so on,  she told me that I should be looking for one which I can use not just here but also abroad. There are so many banks which offer such, but I chose HSBC since it is a well-known worldwide bank which means it can be accepted internationally.

Some may be afraid of signing up or getting one because they don't want to be buried of debt because of fear of interests. But let me tell you this. That can never ever happen if you pay full, and ON (much better if before) TIME. And also, before you go on swiping, think. Do you need what you are buying? Can you afford to pay it? One must swipe WISELY.

Credit card before is only a "social status symbol". But as of today, I can say that it has evolved from that, to a necessity. Having one is  very convenient. Plus with your wise spending, you also get to enjoy perks from  your card issuer like free movie pass, pizza, a Starbucks drink or gift certificates and even 0% interest on some purchases.

Paying in full and on time means obtaining a good credit card history. This is what financial institutions use when for instance you will be applying for loans from banks. So we cannot take that for granted.

Having a credit card is a convenience and a curse. Convenience for responsible users and a curse for over spenders and late payers.

So....

And so I have not been updating this lately. I am preoccupied by so much things this past few weeks so when I have the luxury of time, I just surf the Internet for a while, chit-chat with mom, watch a little and hit the sack. How is that?

So what's up with me these days?

• Adjustment with my new work schedule
Yes, I have a new work schedule. From 10am-7pm with a Monday-Tuesday rest day, I have now been moved to 6am-3pm Saturday-Sunday rest days! Yihaaaaaaw! Its not easy waking up 3:30 in the morning everyday but this means more time with family and friends, especially on weekends.. =) I am enjoying and ADJUSTING to this schedule until we were informed yesterday that there will be another shift bidding. What? Did I hear it right? I haven't been through with the body clock adjustment curve and another adjustment is yet to come. Oh well...

• JD Power and Associates Week
Or should I say JD Power Associates month??? =) One week turned almost one month. Our center is being evaluated to gauge our customer service skills, client knowledge and courtesy to the customers. And in line with this, I am one of the priority representatives in attending to calls. Tell you, its not easy. On the brighter side, we passed the evaluation and if we pass the on site audit, this will be our account's 5th recognition in customer satisfaction excellence. This calls for a celebration! TEEEHEE! =)

• Gu Jun Pyo
I know I am a year late! Its only now that I watched this awesome Korean adaptation of the popular Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango, Boys Over Flowers. Better late than never. The entire cast is adorable. Locations and props and clothes used are superb that's why this series became a hit. And I am soooOOO digging Lee Min Ho. =) I am watching this at mysoju.com and I am about to finish. Yehey!!!

And you? What's new?  Keep me posted. =)

Health is Wealth

Working 5 days a week, lack of sleep and exercise plus eating unhealthy foods can cause major health problems. Our lifestyle also contributes a lot in the overall condition of our body. Our body needs vitamins which eating healthy foods may not be able to suffice.

Ascorbic acid is the generic name for Vitamin C. It is an essential nutrient which is an antioxidant and which also helps maintain healthy gums and prevent diseases like Scurvy.

Fern-C is my current vitamin. Unlike the ordinary Vitamin C which is acidic, Fern-C is alkaline based which means it can be easily absorbed by the body. The acid based ones cannot be taken with an empty stomach and is not advisable for persons with ulcer.

With how stressing life can be, nothing is more rewarding than being healthy. Vitamin C is essential, but I am not saying it is enough. We must eat healthy and of course live a healthy lifestyle.

Always keep in mind that our health is wealth. =)

Miracle of Giving Fool

Synopsis / Plot 

Ji-ho is a promising pianist, studying and playing abroad for years. But one night she had a stage fright and never recovers. In despair, Ji-ho comes home and meets her old classmate Sung-ryong.

Once a very bright boy, Sung-ryong had an accident and now he is in late 20's with the mind of a six year old. He is very forgetful, but he has never forgotten his first love Ji-ho. Other half of Sung-ryong's dumb mind is occupied with his only family, younger sister Jee-in. To take care of her, Sung-ryong sells toasts in front of Jee-in's school. But Jee-in is embarrassed of her idiotic brother and ignores him.

And Sang-soo is Sung-ryong's old friend who understands Sung-ryong's innocent mind. But he inevitably falls to the world of gangsters. Ji-ho is still in her slump, Jee-in falls sick and Sang-soo gets involved in a bloody dispute. But all of their agonies are miraculously saved by Sung-ryong in a way nobody has foreseen.

My verdict:

I love how romance, drama and a bit of comedy had been mixed into this 103 minute-movie. Unlike most  of Korean movies, this is fast paced. You'll never get bored with long dragging drama scenes. You'll be moved by many touching scenes showing how loving of a person Sung-ryong is.

Playing the challenging role of Sung-ryong, Cha Tae-hyeon showed his versatility as an actor . I have seen a couple of his movies and I can say, he portrays his role very well. By the way, he is also the guy who played Kyeon-woo in the movie "My Sassy Girl".

This is a must see. You'll laugh, cry and be touched by how Sung-ryong became a miracle...

You may visit www.asiatorrents.com to download the full movie.

Enjoy. =)

Soju Overload!

For the past few nights, I have been getting less than 6 hours of sleep. The culprit is Soju. Or should I say MySoju. No. I'm not referring to the Korean beverage. I mean MYSOJU.COM.

MYSOJU.COM is a website where you can find loads of old and new Korean dramas and films. This is where I currently watch Boys Before Flowers. Yes, it's only now that I get to watch this completely. And I regret it! So thanks to the website, I appreciate Gu Jun Peo, Geum Jan Di and the Korean version of  F4 so much more. Now I understand their phenomenon! HAHAHA! :))

If you're one of the many Korean drama and movie lovers like me, visiting the site will definitely be a treat. :)

Annyeong!

The Tragedy That Was ONDOY...

September 26, 2009 - Tomorrow marks the year after the tragic typhoon Ondoy.

I was going to work and everything seems to be normal that morning. It looked like any ordinary gloomy, rainy weather. Little did I  know that this rain could drown almost the entire Metro Manila (a month worth of rain poured that day according to PAG-ASA).

After the typhoon, seeing the news on TV, I was saddened by what had happened to many of our fellow Filipinos especially in the Marikina and the Rizal area. People lost their houses and hard-earned belongings. And the saddest is, some lost loved-ones. Many died.

Looking back,  I can't help but feel  the same sadness I felt last year. It is a traumatic memory. But more importantly, it is the lessons I (WE) have learned from it that really matters. As how the saying goes, "Stand up and pick up from where you fell down."

This has really been an eye-opener for all of us. Why? Ondoy is just one of the "signs". Our mother nature is taking its toll on us because we did not take care of her. We  now experience how abnormal our weather  and the calamities can be -- La Niña, El Niño, tsunami, earthquakes and hurricanes here and there. Let's protect nature as it has nourished us. It is not yet too late.

Secondly, this event has taught me to live simply. Whatever we have here on earth is temporary.  We can lose it at any time. Just a snap from God and all's gone - only He knows when. Life should not be dwelt on earthly things but must be focused on having a good spiritual and moral well being.

This is life. Let's all move on but let's not forget what this tragedy has taught us. Let's just be prepared for the things that are in store for us.

Ondoy leaves the Philippines

"There's a rainbow always after the rain... "

God bless the Philippines, God bless the world...