Thursday, April 29, 2010

Fast forward twenty years later: Meralco

If you recall the days when the government controlled the land’s utility companies, it was one of the toughest times. I remember how it was tough to get phones connected at our location or how hard it was to pay bills conveniently.

 

Not anymore to this day.

 

I took a picture of the Meralco payment center (electricity distributor), which were located minutes away where I live.  The utilities company, which was used to be controlled and managed by the Marcos Administration is operating far better now. Meralco is now run by the Lopezes who owns the biggest television network in the country, ABS-CBN. The Lopezes happen to be one of the staunchest enemies of the Marcoses. It’s a bitter-sweet justice for the Lopez family if you ask me.

 

They run the business professionally as you can see here in the pictures and accountability is realistic because complaints are heard and improvements are periodically done to ensure quality of services it offers.



Acknowledgement: (meralco building photo) http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=627616&page=37

Posted via email from Everything Customers

Simple instructions we can't even follow

 “Please park facing the wall.”


It’s clear right? The instructions were written for a good reason and these instructions were written at a posh parking lot underneath Serendra mall in Taguig City. But lo and behold, drivers don’t follow simple and clear instructions. If we want a better nation why not start following instructions. It goes well with respect.

Posted via email from Born 1973

Wow. The new Coke 'Litro' bottle?

Probably but it’s not. It’s the new Coca Cola 1-Liter bottle that Coke Philippines released recently. It’s the famous classic design that brings to mind the nostalgia that made the Coke bottle shape culturally popular.


If you’re a Coke aficionado, a collector, an interior designer who fancies retro design, then you can grab this Coke bottle from our store at The Cooling Station. It’s a great memento for those who appreciate this cultural icon.


Posted via email from Cooling Station Beverage Store

Why some people are voting for Noynoy

“Who are you going to vote on May 10?”

 

“Noynoy.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I don’t want to waste my vote.”

 

This is the common phrase I hear now. I dug deeper and got these answers (you are probably one of either two profiles): they have a “losing” candidate who never topped a survey or they don’t want Sen. Villar to win.

 

I wrote in earlier blogs that people seem to choose Noynoy because of he’s an “Aquino.” He is the son of the well-loved former president Cory Aquino and assassinated Sen. Ninoy Aquino. So what? We don’t seem to know the consequences of our actions? To many, it’s like a pageant where you bet for the more popular candidate. But will popularity put food on our table?

 

Others will vote “Aquino” because they don’t want Sen. Villar to win. The latter has unanswered allegations of corrupt practices reminiscent of President Marcos and President Arroyo.

 

Seriously, isn’t our family’s interest more important? Which of the nine candidates want a better health care system, or one who cares for the environment? Which of them wants to strengthen food security and promote free education?

 

Don’t vote for Sen. Villar – good! Why Sen. Aquino? What has he done as a senator? Check the Senate website and look for bills he authored. And people who will vote for him said they don’t want to waste their vote. It’s already wasted the moment they vote for him for the wrong reasons.

 

 

Sources

Sen. Aquino’s accomplishment record: http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/aquino_noynoy_bio.asp#iframe_height=300

His campaign platform of governance: http://www.noynoy.ph/v3/platform.php

 

Sen. Villar's accomplishment record: http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/villar_bio.asp

Sen. Villar’s unanswered allegations in congress: C-5 road scandal and Vista Land scandal

His campaign platform of governance: found on Philippine Online Chronicle, but not in his campaign website


Acknowledgement: Noynoy photo

Posted via email from Bad Politics

Sen. Aquino's senate biography sounds more like a PR piece

If you read Senator Aquino's biography, a good fifty percent talks about his parents, their legacy, and their vision. If you read Senator Aquino's biography, you will think that you're reading his campaign website - not his resume. Where's his accomplishments? I don't understand why this website's administrators allow this material to be published here in this context? (click link above to read his biography)

Posted via web from Bad Politics

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Showing you care for your child

"Obey, Kye." I made a boo-boo not understanding what Kye was saying after I took him to our bedroom and into his crib as I asked him to apologizes for his misbehavior...

Side note
Kye, in his very young age of one year and four months, understands relationships to a lot of things and how some things work. My wife and I demonstrate things we want him to understand almost everyday and he surprises us his keen understanding of so many things. This instance of not following my words is something that happened before and he immediately apologizes and/or nods or turns his head to things he agrees, disagrees, etc.

... No answer. He looks away from me and seems to ignore. This charade lasted for more than ten minutes until I asked my wife to take over as he cries and cries.

I realized later from my wife that he got poop in his diaper and he wanted it changed but his dad didn't understand what was going on.

In short he went to sleep upset so after he woke up with me staring at him with regret and apology - he started to cry.

I had to make him understand that I'm sorry and with his mom's suggestion to play with his favorite toy - our red 2005 Kia Picanto - he obliged immediately and clung to me wearing only his diapers. (See pictures)

It was a hard lesson for me to understand with what my son was trying to say but like a child's heart - he forgave me - not because of favorite red car toy - but because he was willing to let go of what's hindering us and find a common ground to enjoy the time and bond all the more for the interest of this family relationship. It was a good day like any other day.

Posted via email from Born 1973

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Who I am voting for this election: Neptali Gonzales II

Of all the candidates I was screening for this coming elections, I had to think twice and research about Neptali Gonzales II - our congressman in the lone district of the city of Mandaluyong.

I almost didn't choose him because of his affiliation with the current administration and because he seems to be a "Yes, ma'm (or man)" to whatever the current person in power asked him to do. Congressman Gonzales is running unopposed in the City of Mandaluyong. Most of the time, I even wondered if he was thinking about me and his constituents. I find it silly that he co-authored resolutions and bills against "Desperate Housewives" producers (HB00267) and against verified complaints about the President (HR00892) in the ZTE scandal.

But I finally decided to vote for him because...

  1. His accomplishments for the city of Mandaluyong and co-authoring bills that vastly opened my eyes for the accomplishment of the congress he is currently a member of.
  2. His bills reflect what's best for the students of Mandaluyong.
  3. He cares about women, children, the judicial system (adding more courts). 
With all due respect to him, I now think he's really thinking but I do hope that he fights more for what is right and not what is politically convenient. He's holding a national office and chairing important positions in the House of Representatives. I expect more of him in the coming new congress and I'm voting for him not because of his affiliation with Noynoy Aquino. I'm voting for him to give him another chance to do with is right - not in my own eyes or the eyes of politics and affiliations but in the eyes of God.

To know more about him, visit the House of Representatives' website of Rep. Neptali M. Gonzales II.

Congressman Gonzales you have my vote this time.

Posted via email from Mabuhay

Who I am voting for this election: Neptali Gonzales II

Of all the candidates I was screening for this coming elections, I had to think twice and research about Neptali Gonzales II - our congressman in the lone district of the city of Mandaluyong.

I almost didn't choose him because of his affiliation with the current administration and because he seems to be a "Yes, ma'm (or man)" to whatever the current person in power asked him to do. Congressman Gonzales is running unopposed in the City of Mandaluyong. Most of the time, I even wondered if he was thinking about me and his constituents. I find it silly that he co-authored resolutions and bills against "Desperate Housewives" producers (HB00267) and against verified complaints about the President (HR00892) in the ZTE scandal.

But I finally decided to vote for him because...

  1. His accomplishments for the city of Mandaluyong and co-authoring bills that vastly opened my eyes for the accomplishment of the congress he is currently a member of.
  2. His bills reflect what's best for the students of Mandaluyong.
  3. He cares about women, children, the judicial system (adding more courts). 
With all due respect to him, I now think he's really thinking but I do hope that he fights more for what is right and not what is politically convenient. He's holding a national office and chairing important positions in the House of Representatives. I expect more of him in the coming new congress and I'm voting for him not because of his affiliation with Noynoy Aquino. I'm voting for him to give him another chance to do with is right - not in my own eyes or the eyes of politics and affiliations but in the eyes of God.

To know more about him, visit the House of Representatives' website of Rep. Neptali M. Gonzales II.

Congressman Gonzales you have my vote this time.

Posted via email from Mabuhay

Spread the word about Ladies Choice new products

Are you tired of spreading the same old tuna, chicken, bacon, and others sandwich spread products out there? Ladies Choice just introduced its new offering after some two decades of supposedly researching and giving the sandwich loving market new products to enjoy the mundane and boring bread loafs in the groceries. If you like the ol'chicken spread, Unilever (makers of Ladies Choice), now introduced Chicken BBQ along with Bacon Mushroom and Roast Beef. Sounds exciting right? I got excited as well and bought one 80mL packs each just to try it out.

My wife had me try the Roast Beef one and I have to give it a thumbs down sign. It's just too sour and I didn't even taste the beef. I tried it again two days later and prepared the sandwich myself. I saw the beef bits but the taste is still the same. Nothing to celebrate about. I got skeptical with the other two, all of a sudden. But I will still try em and give my feedback here. I looked back and compared the new offering and the previous ones and I must say that the old flavors still rocks. Unilever hasn't released any commercial about these new products but they need to do something about it now. I beat em to the punch.

Posted via email from Everything Customers

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Modern day kindness

What would you do to help out people stranded in countries because of a natural disaster? Use the web. CNN published this story, "Web links strangers helping travelers," today and instead of highlighting the benefits of the web and how it helped people. I wanted to highlight the kindness of perfect strangers helping out others going through the same crisis.

It is not about technology that makes this story remarkable for the web, twitter, or Facebook are just tools. It is the kindness in this modern age that makes this significant. Man and Women extending kindness to perfect strangers takes a lot of trust in an age of distrust. And we learn to extend goodness from a source other than teachers, friends, and family members. For they only learned it from somebody else too. Kindness is learned from the God and you can learn more from Him through the bible.

This is what I learned from God in teaching the Israelites about kindness:
"'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.'" Ref: Leviticus 25:35-38 (NIV)

Posted via web from Born 1973

Modern day kindness

What would you do to help out people stranded in countries because of a natural disaster? Use the web. CNN published this story, "Web links strangers helping travelers," today and instead of highlighting the benefits of the web and how it helped people. I wanted to highlight the kindness of perfect strangers helping out others going through the same crisis.

It is not about technology that makes this story remarkable for the web, twitter, or Facebook are just tools. It is the kindness in this modern age that makes this significant. Man and Women extending kindness to perfect strangers takes a lot of trust in an age of distrust. And we learn to extend goodness from a source other than teachers, friends, and family members. For they only learned it from somebody else too. Kindness is learned from the God and you can learn more from Him through the bible.

This is what I learned from God in teaching the Israelites about kindness:
"'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.'" Ref: Leviticus 25:35-38 (NIV)

Posted via web from Born 1973

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Sign language for your kid

Last week, I relented to suggestions made by friends, family members, and books I read that I communicate with my Kye using sign language. I saw this site through google and it helps me teach my kid how to say "Good morning," "Good night," "Thank you," and so many other phrases you can make sure that - through actions - you communicate with your child.

Posted via web from Born 1973

Kopiko introduces Brown

If you like instant coffee but prefer brown sugar for your hot beverage, you might like Kopiko's new product called Brown Coffee.

I tried it this morning and it tastes a lot better than it's original Kopiko instant coffee (black packaging).I bet it tastes a lot better when you put ice in it to make your own Ice Coffee. Just an idea.

We're introducing this new product at Cooling Station next week. We'll retail this coffee for Php7.00, a peso higher than the original.

Posted via web from Cooling Station Beverage Store

Monday, April 19, 2010

Golfer admired for his honesty cost his win

What do you when winning a game is yours for the taking only to call a violation to yourself that cost your victory? This is what happened to a golfer who cost his victory but came out on top of his game. He deserves a Mabuhay shout out. Congratulations for your honesty, Mr. Brian Davis. (For the story of what happened, click on the link by the image)

Posted via web from Mabuhay

CHOWKING ORANGE CHICKEN - AwwwwwsoBAD!

Chowking didn't live up to its hype.

My family dropped by Chowking at The Fort to grub after watching "Up with People" tribute show at The Resortworld in Newport City, Pasay on the evening of April 19th.

I ordered Chowking's Orange Chicken after hearing from my friend blogger that it was good and that I should try it. Chowking invited bloggers to "spread the word" and tell their network how good it was. The chicken, the way Chowking marinated it, the spicy tangy sauce, and the Mandarin lobes that provided that additional feel that this is the legitimate deal. We went to the same place where Chowking management launched their product and I thought it would be good to try it in the place where it all started.

Was I wrong. No Mandarin lobes. Nothing spectacular and the was their actor endorser, Jericho Rosales, expressed it - it was NOOOOT AWWWWWESOME AT ALL. It was nowhere near Panda Express' Orange Chicken back in San Francisco and like I've always said about Chinese Fastfood - you taste one - you tasted them all. And this one didn't live up to its hype.

I pity the bloggers who were invited to get a free dinner. Now, whoever, promoted it will get a dent in their words because Chowking provided the bloggers a different product, other than the one they served the cyber writer.

Boo Chowking.

Posted via email from Everything Customers

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Foreign investors like Sen. Aquino to be president BUT...

I'm not a seer but I think everything will now go Sen. Aquino's way. I'm saying this because this news translates that this election is all about "good vs. evil" - sadly, again.

The epic battle between the good forces and the bad is dictating the way this Philippine election is shaping up. I will be hard pressed to say that the spirit of EDSA Revolution is upon this nation once again when all we think about is how good good is and bad is just bad. I lament how we cannot think further than that. I don't like the bad forces too but it seems like foreign investors like Noynoy because he is the preferred choice of the majority and if he wins there is peace. If there is peace there is unity and unity dictates how the people will go about their tranquil lives.

However, that will not be the case because Noynoy and his Liberal Party members do not have a platform to speak of. Sen. Villar's assessment was true when he said that a lot of shady Arroyo characters (describing Pres. Arroyo's men suspected of corrupt characters) are moving into Noynoy's camp but so is Villar's camp. They're both full of shady characters.

That's doubly bad. Shady characters plus questionable platform of governance equals questionable future. Just look at his website and see if his platform speaks of specifics. You will see that its full of nice words and promises - that's it. It's just sad to see that people will be voting for Noynoy because he is Pres. Arroyo's direct opposite - period.

Now, reading back the Philippine Star article further said that foreign investors want the future president to put a premium on "...policy programs on economy, education and trade relations." Huh?

If Sen. Aquino does not have a platform to begin with then who will do it? The Liberal Party's shenanigans? If so, one placed into power, they will start a "plotform" that may put this nation further to nowhere.

I don't question Sen. Aquino's ability but I question his capability to steer this country to the right direction.

Posted via email from Mabuhay

Friday, April 16, 2010

What was Pepsi thinking?


Coke is number one. I think that is established. Pepsi? It wants to be number one but what is it trying to do by changing it's logo for the nth time? It seems like Pepsi doesn't know what branding is. Perhaps Pepsi thinks that by coming up with a "cool" logo that it could muster enough following. Perhaps it could be a way to maintain their number two status. If this is what Pepsi is doing then they're doing a good job.

To me, Pepsi is a good brand and it always has the chance to become number one. I think their Pepsi Max rocks. It's what I look for than buying their "Light" drinks or even Coke Light or Coke's Zero brand. I don't know why they didn't continue riding on that success formula. Basing from what I saw in the cafeteria's cooler, it does seem like a picture of confused individuals not knowing what should be done with their brand.

Pepsi forgot that building a brand starts from trust and by changing their logo, it tells me that they are confused and that cannot translate to trust.

Posted via email from Everything Customers

Signs of life


One of the biggest inventions introduced in the country is the waterless urinal systems that you see in almost all the malls in the metro. Imagine peeing and needing no water to drain out fluid wastes from our body and leaving no funky smell from the basins at all. I think this invention helped our country a big deal when it came to water conservation in the face of this El NiƱo phenomenon. The only question I have is how are malls disposing these water waste?

Posted via email from Mabuhay

Thursday, April 15, 2010

What the?! Masculine wash?

Do men really need to have a special wash? Apparently, somebody thought of it for those who are conscious about their smell. This came as a shocker because never in my imagination that we would need one. Even the purpose is skewed: Women have feminine wash to clean their privates to avoid getting infectious diseases but for men? What is it good for? Only one conclusion came about - vanity.

I browsed the web about this product and shoppers found them in female feminine wash section. Even shop attendants seem confused where to put this product.

What I'm looking for is a competitor to the pricey Axe Deo-cologne or an alternative to Rexona for men and not some useless wash. Soap is enough!

Posted via email from Everything Customers

Trashed around

If you wonder why Filipinos love to litter - it's because trash cans are scarce. You hardly see them in malls and you'll be thankful to find one, if ever you do. I wonder what the priorities are of mall managements in the country but it seems odd to say that we're going "green" and "environmentally friendly" when you can't provide the basic necessities of consumers.

If we're out to make more clean-conscious citizens, I think we should put more efforts making these bins available to mall hoppers.

Something's fishy: It's odd that consumers don't throw trash inside malls - you wonder what made that culture in the minds of shoppers. That may be a good thing but perhaps they're resigned to the fact, they can't find one when they go to malls. If shoppers keep trash inside malls, you now wonder again why they can't bring that culture outside the streets.  Any thoughts?

Posted via email from Everything Customers