A Night of *Goosebumps*

Photo from: Here

It was a night of goosebumps for me last night!

Ricky asked me to join him in his yearly pilgrimage to watch the Christmas special of The Philippine Madrigal Singers, and having missed last weekend's de-stressing (*I got sick*), I eagerly agreed.

Boy!! Was I in for a wonderful surprise!!

I already know I enjoy choral performances. I dated a tenor in of San Antonio De Padua: Chamber Choir and he and I watched the week-long 2009 MBC National Choral Competition. But as they say, UP Madz is the best in the field.

We were seated really, really close to the stage. There were just about 9 rows ahead of us in the spacious Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the CCP.

IKR!!!: Our tickets costs P1,500 each!!! Crazy!

The Stage!! Imposing, isn't it?

The singers came out from the backstage and the applause and catcalls from the audience hall were deafening. I didn't know that these guys had a fan-base! (*Geeks*)

The singers sat down in a U-formation and all of a sudden, the entire hall turned eerily silent!

Then... a soft chorus of voices started coming out of the group *goosebumps*. The screen at the top right corner of the hall flashed "Ave Maria" and I was lost in the beauty of the music.

With my mouth open, awe-struck with the regal quality of the group's voices, especially when the soprano suddenly reaches out a high note, I listened in to the group heralding the immaculate conception of Jesus as told in the bible.

Then came "De Profundis Magnificat" immediately followed by "Dormi Jesu" as penultimate to the birth celebrated by the song "Say Hey! It's Cristmas Day."

*goosebumps* *goosebumps* *goosebumps*

After that came the waves of hard-core ethnic songs of different countries for the singers to show that Christmas is celebrated all over the world!

The intermission came too fast for me as I was still enjoying the amazing blending of the group's voices (I swear! You could almost believe that the gods and goddesses are serenading you.)

The second part of the concert was a little lighter in the mood. How they sang "12 Days of Christmas" was hilarious! Some of their carols were also punctuated by little quirks that makes UP Madz a master of all genres.

The closing part was really emotional!

When the choir master sang "A Warrior is a Child" (*goosebumps*), I was floored. I wanted to cry out as I was able to really identify with the soloist. I kept on thinking.. "That's me who he is singing about!!! THAT'S ME!!!"

There were quite a few teary-eyes when "Isang Taong Lumipas" was played, and it was a surprise when some of the audience stood up and started singing as well.

It seemed like they invited alumni to join them in their concert so you have divine voices coming at you from several directions.

The encore song "Paskong Walang Hanggan" was doubly emotional (*goosebumps*) as even some of the singers were visibly crying. It seemed like no strict performance-professionalism could shield you from your own emotions when music is involved!

After the concert, it was time for the meet and greet. Here are just some of the pictures to tell you the rest of the story...

Ricky, Jori and Me with the Tenor of UP Madz.

Another tenor. Cute, isn't he? (LOL)

The UP Madz' Soprano. (*awe-struck ako!!*)
This little girl CAN SING!!

The equally-talented Alto of UP Madz.

Take me and Ricky out of the picture and you get a
lover's picture from Jori and one of the Tenors.

I would like to thank Ricky for infusing the much-needed cultural boost for me. I truly enjoyed the night!

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Promotions

Three of my agents just got promoted to Sr. Agents.

Kudos to...

Aran Domingcil

Maej Arce

Ryan Cascayan

Wow!! What a nice feeling to help others climb the corporate ladder.

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

In Memoriam: Teodoro Pinnitan Babulon

There's a certain novelty in watching a clock turn the other way when time flies by so fast. Just finished watching "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" on the eve of the All Soul's Day.

In a certain way, the movie will remind us that at some point in time, we ARE MEANT to lose the people we love. For how else would we know how important they are to us?

On this day, join me in celebrating the memory of our loved ones who passed away.

In memoriam

Teodoro Pinnitan Babulon

June 1947 - Nov 1986

It's sad that I didn't get to know him at all. :-(

Black Saturday Adventures

Mine went home after our Holy Friday trips and I am left without anything to do for Black Saturday. You might not have been aware yet but our plans of spending the holy week at Puerto Galera did not push through.

So, I made plans with Ricky to meet up at Greenbelt - Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (good thing the malls opened a day earlier than Easter Sunday).

Done with our chit-chat, Linjun followed and it was off to Libertad, Mandaluyong for some dinner. We didn't have that much money, so it was thrift carinderia that we visited.

It was during that dinner that Linjun's friend, Bruce, texted him saying that he'll be dipping into their condo's pool in a few minutes. So we didn't hesitate in inviting ourselves in that little soiree.

That is why after 15 minutes, we found ourselves in the beautiful pool of BGC's Bonifacio Ridge. Mind you, it was a hot summer day of Black Saturday and it was so refreshing to wash away the grimes of the day in the pristine waters of the pool, which we had for ourselves. During the swim, I kept on thinking that my next project, a condominium unit, should have a nice pool.

After that refreshing dip, we just walked around Bonifacio Global City. While we were strolling, here comes an amazing apparition coming our way... Akihiro Sato and the new model of SM Malls, Hideo Muraoka, walking their dogs.

Of course, there was no other option but to follow them and.... it was then that I found this amazing hang-out place. My new Central Park.

I'm not sure what it's called, probably Forbeswood Heights/Forbeswood Parklane. But one thing is for sure, this place is an up and coming socialite hang-out place for the rich and the famous.

There's a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) just around the corner and I am sure I have found my Zen place in the city

Will catch up with you later..

The Launch: AshamanLester's "Sarap ng Summer 2011"

YOSH!!! It was definitely a great start of the summer adventure. Last week, one of my new found friends just invited us, out of the blue, to go swimming.

Being a an avid fan of the water, I readily accepted the invitation (what I meant was that I played coy, as I just newly met him and he might think that I'm such a loser who has no plans 3-weeks in advance, and nonchalantly said "Sure, let me check my calendar and see if I'm free."). Fortunately, he made true to his promise. Hehe.

That's why yesterday, after meeting up with the Chupa-Chups gang for a long-delayed reunion at Shangrila-Ortigas, I then met up with my Ricky, Jun, new found friends Christian, Chris and Arvin (who I knew was my long-time colleague at work).

With my embarrassingly small car, we chugged down to the Clubhouse of Brgy. Villamor Airbase near NAIA 3 International Terminal and just had a good time.

The Pool.

From R-L: Xtian, Jun, Ricky, Me and Arvin (new found friend and long-time workmate)

New found friends: Chris and Xtian

Our Stuff

@Mcdo in front of Resorts World. Our thanks to Service Crew April (not in photo) for the invaluable service of taking this picture.

Me: "Exhausted after the swimming."

It was a great time to start 2011 summer adventure and a fitting launch for.....

BWAHAHAHA!!!

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

When you "Like"; You help.

It has been a while since I have posted here in my blog. Christmas, New Year, Valentines, Graduations and Araw ng Kagitingan has all passed by since you last saw my entry.

Photo from: here

I kept on pushing back my "RETURN" and waited for a very explosive, exclusive and juicy gossip about my life. Alas! nothing of that sort happened. My life = still boring.

But when I received a text message from someone, who has been a part of one of the stories that I have posted so far (click here), I felt that this event is enough for me to follow kick my lazy ass back to the PC and type an article.

Remember Reynan of Virlanie Foundation (read story here)? The kids needed our help again in a very simple manner. It won't even take you two minutes to lend a helping hand.

Want to know how? It's very simple...

(The following texts are copied from http://www.facebook.com/eastwoodcity)

Megaworld Lifestyle Centers celebrate the spirit of giving with The Easter Eggxhibit. Ten celebrities volunteered to design giant eggs and battle off for their chosen charity. Celebrities have varied charities to support. The efforts of whom will highlight the importance of social responsibility and how each one gives back as answer to all blessings bestowed upon them.

Megaworld Lifestyle Centers will donate to the corresponding charity winning Egg so be sure to check out all the eggs!

Online Voting Mechanics:
1. Go to www.facebook.com/eastwoodcity & www.facebook.com/newportcity
2. Like the page.
3. Check the Easter Eggxhibit Photo album and “Like” the most creative Easter Egg. 1 Like = 1 Vote
4. Each egg represents a celebrity’s chosen charity and the most number of combined likes from both pages plus votes during the launch will be considered the winner.
5. Online voting period is from April 11 to May 12. Winner will be announced on May 13.

The Easter Eggxhibit will be on display at Eastwood Mall Atrium from April 11 to April 17 then at Newport Plaza at Resorts World Manila from April 18 to May 12.

(End of copied text)

Again, the simplified steps are:

• Go to http://www.facebook.com/eastwoodcity
• "Like" the page.
• Go to the Photos section.
• Look for the album: The Easter EGGxhibit by Eastwood Mall and Newport Mall
• "Like" the 11th photo with the caption: Tim Yap - Virlanie Foundation

And simple as that, you just gave them 1 vote. To further add another vote in their name, go to www.facebook.com/newportcity and do the same steps as above. The photo with the most number of likes will reward the corresponding charity, 100K.

I have never campaigned for any of you, my friends, to like any page in FB, even though my friends kept asking me to campaign for their pages in their behalf. But for Virlanie Foundation, my time, effort and social responsibility will always be available.

Remember my story?

"A man was walking down the beach one day and, off in the distance, he could see someone dancing, running from the waves up onto the sand and back again. He had never seen anything more beautiful.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young boy and he wasn't dancing at all. He was picking up something and throwing it into the ocean over and over again.

He asked the boy what he was doing and the boy said he was saving the starfish. They had washed up on the beach and would die if he didn't throw them back in the water.

The man looked up and down the shoreline and saw thousands of starfish stranded in the sand. He told the boy that there was no way he could save all those starfish and the few he did save would make little difference.

The boy looked back at him and, holding up the starfish in his hands, said, "It will make all the difference to this one."

By voting for Virlanie Foundation, you just saved one starfish. YOU just saved one orphan/street-child. It might not save the thousands of other orphans/street-children in the country, but at least you made a HUGE difference to the betterment of a few.

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Chlorinated Brain goes to Court

You know that feeling, when you're watching a horror film, and the sexy actress is about to open "the door" and you know for sure that she is not supposed to do that if she still wants to live. In your mind, you shout at her to run as fast as she can to the other direction. "MOVE AWAY FROM THAT DOOR, DARN IT!!!"

Your heart is beating like crazy and it seemed like your heart is in your throat constricting it so that you could not breathe. So you hold the air in your lungs... waiting for the plunge!!!

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW!!!

Beside my laptop, while I am typing this article, is an unfinished book of Sabin Willet, entitled "The Deal". I had to stop reading just to write about how it feels to be leafing through the pages.

You might have guessed from my previous blogs that I devour books. Reading them is one of the few simple pleasures in life. I remember one time, when I came in at CBTL in Greenbelt 3 (my Central Perk) at 6pm and got too engrossed in a book only to be interrupted by the barista hours later because they're already closing. AT 2AM!!! Boy was that a major muscle sore from sitting for 8 hours straight. That's how deeply I can be immersed in a book.

What interested me to pick this book in the first place is the Chicago Tribune's description of the book that reads; "A worthy rival of Scott Turow and John Grisham." Now, I've read the books of the last two authors (I even blogged about one of them.. read it here) and it never failed to be a page-turner.

Courtroom drama has been one of the genres that I enjoy most in books. This book has everything in it.

The excitement starts at the picking of the jury. Oh, I know,some people would say that it actually starts with the crime itself, or to the legal wrangling of the defense to the prosecutor to provide the former with the latter's discovery, but I say it really starts on the picking of the jury.

This book would even explain the differences between different states with regards to jury selection. It relates that in California, the litigants would send a king's ransom to select a jury (kind of like what happened in The Runaway Jury by John Grisham) while in Texas, you can buy a juror's vote.

Once the jury is selected, then comes the prosecution's case. It tells the story of the crime. It would start with the general detail of the case, then going down further to the details. It will walk you through every second of the crime, before, during and after. Making sure that the trail of evidence is properly explained, to discount the possibility of tampering.

Everything is calculated. Nothing is missed. Did the victim eat? At what time? Where at? What did he eat? How many utensils did he use? How many bites?

It even comes with the forensics (are you thinking S.O.C.O?) wherein even the smallest fiber, a lint in the carpet, pebbles stuck in the car tires, fingerprints on the soap, etc., will be soberly, yet expertly tied up to the crime by experts/consultants hired at exorbitant fees.

When the government rests, the other party puts up it's defense, structurally knocking down every single evidence that the prosecutors have presented to try and put a reasonable doubt on the jury's mind.

Reasonable doubt! The defense only needs one juror to be given a reasonable doubt of the prosecution's charges against the defendant to set the man free.

It will parade it's own barrage of experts to refute and damage the credibility of the the other side. It will give alibis and will offer its own set of evidence to get their clients a Not Guilty verdict.

Within the hearing, you will experience a sudden surge of adrenalin while you accompany the lawyer of the defense shoot up in his legs and shout out it's objection to the callous way that the Assistant District Attorney (ADA) has maligned the defendant in the eyes of the jury. The prosecutors will try to test the boundaries in his line of questioning and put out insinuations that the defendant is guilty outside the permissible court standards, meaning without the backing of a solid evidence.

You will feel elation when the judge roars "Sustained" admonishing the litigator, or a slight disappointment when the judge decides the objection is "Overruled." You will wait with abated breath as the judge considers the merits of the objection and mentally consults the Rules of Court prior to ruling for or against either party.

So far, being nearly done with the book, I can say that the Chicago Tribune is correct in its description. My heart is pounding like a drumbeat. The steady and fast beat of the heart of someone anticipating the end of a story's climax.

It is now the moment of truth... The defense rests!!!

Next would come the closing arguments of both parties, the defense panel going first.

As the author writes the defense' closing arguments, I read it out loud. Picturing myself to be in the middle of the packed courtroom. The focus of every eye and ear. The courtroom is my stage and the people in it my adoring audience as I eloquently deliver the words that I hope would save my client (as I have long sided with the defense, duh!).

I am about to pick the book now and get back to where I stopped earlier prior to starting this article and I'm still feeling queasy. In a while, I will continue reading in a careful but steady rush towards the verdict.

I wait...

Together with the defendant...

For a guilty verdict, which would confine the accused to life imprisonment...

...or for an absolution!!!

Whatever it would be, another book would come to a close.

--THE END--

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Credit Card Debt-Free; And I'm lovin' it.

Yesterday, one MAJOR, MAJOR thing happened to me!!!

I am FINALLY free of credit card debt.

Yup... you read that right!!! I budgeted my 13th month pay and finally paid off the remaining balance of my credit cards.

And to temper the never-ending urge to swipe those plastic cards again, I took a big scissor and in front of my workmate, Hazel German, cut that dastardly piece of junk into pieces.

How about that for a statement, huh???

I know, I know. It's so much drama just to announce that I am credit-card debt free, but if you just knew how hard it was for me to do that, you'd be cheering me on right now!!! Hehehe.

I just think that this calls for a pat on the back for me (--grins--).

Wait, can someone pat me in the back?? Please??? (hehe)

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Starbucks 2011 Planner: THE FINALE!!!

Remember my blog last November, about the "Starbucks 2011 Planner"?

Well, great news (for me that is!!!) I just claimed my planner early this morning, after shift. Wooohooo!!!

It's so NEW!!

It's so FRESH!!

IT'S MINE!!!! Bwahahaha!!!

Anyway, enough gloating. I'm just excited that I have another notebook to write down my daily to-do list at work, because without it... I'm at a loss as to what tasks to deliver.

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

December: Oh the merry month.

December already started and just as I have predicted, it is going to be a month of parties and weekend activities. Busy, busy month it would be.

It all started yesterday when I got kicked out of my room because my cousin, Panget, wanted to use it to host a DVD marathon party for her friends. My room needed a good scrubbing to I went along with the ban. According to her, I should not be at home between 7am of Friday until Saturday afternoon.

What does a guy like me have to do to pass the time?

Well, I went to the gym first then caught a movie with my ex, (if you are planning to watch Skyline, better watch another movie).

Afterwards, I went to Ricky's house and hung out with the unruly group of residents at Citihomes Apartment (Jay, Urville, Ken and Linjun).

I finally had the time to sit back and watch "Notes of a Scandal" (I still have not figured out if the character of Judi Dench was gay) and "Book of Levi" and both had better storyline than "Skyline."

I have always enjoyed my visit to this apartment because it always ensues a good time of bonding with friends.

Saturday, early morning, Gab, Melvin and I headed to Kirby's (the ChupaChups Gang) house for our planned pig-out day. And boy, was it a feast!!!

We were at their backyard "kubo" overlooking Laguna De Bay, with the bay breeze streaming in our faces and the noonday sun in its most potent state grazing the scenery while we enjoyed a very hearty lunch.

I mean an unlimited choice of grilled tilapia, sinigang na baboy, grilled pork chop, bottomless iced tea, white rice and for desert, we had fruit salad.

With luncheon done, Kirby, being a good host that he is cooked some popcorn and popped in the CD "After Life" starring Cristina Ricci, Liam Neeson and Justin Long.

I was already drowsy from the big lunch and Kirby's bed was so inviting and lulling me to dreamland but the movie kept on jerking me awake.

Before the day ended, Gab tweeted that if this is how a day would look like when we are rooming with each other in an apartment, then she's all for it. Frankly, seeing how fun it was hanging out at Citihomes Apartment, I wouldn't mind having room mates either.

My weekend is actually not done until 10pm tonight and I still have our company's Christmas Party to attend to at SMX near Mall of Asia, but that is a blog on it's own so I'll give you guys an update by tomorrow how that went.

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

I "CAN" make a difference. (A story of a Convergys employee.)

I remember hearing a story once and it went like this:

"A man was walking down the beach one day and, off in the distance, he could see someone dancing, running from the waves up onto the sand and back again. He had never seen anything more beautiful.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young boy and he wasn't dancing at all. He was picking up something and throwing it into the ocean over and over again.

He asked the boy what he was doing and the boy said he was saving the starfish. They had washed up on the beach and would die if he didn't throw them back in the water.

The man looked up and down the shoreline and saw thousands of starfish stranded in the sand. He told the boy that there was no way he could save all those starfish and the few he did save would make little difference.

The boy looked back at him and, holding up the starfish in his hands, said, "It will make all the difference to this one."

I was remembering that story in my mind as I was holding on to Reynan while he was enjoying the program that we prepared.

Reynan's parents are both imprisoned for petty crimes, and could not get out due to lack of financial resources to go through our legal system. Reynan was suddenly left with no guardians and was picked up by Virlanie Foundation at one of DSWD's Action Centers where Reynan was brought by the police after scooping him up in the dangerous streets of Quiapo commercial district.

It was planned by our account to celebrate Thanksgiving Day by "paying it forward" to our less fortunate peers. We pooled some money together to buy things needed by Marco Polo House, one of the houses maintained by Virlanie Foundation, in its effort to reintegrate street children into the society by giving them a safe house to sleep in, allowing them to take part in our public education system and trying to help them get out of the uncertain life of being on the streets at an early age.

I kept on thinking that my workmates and I at Convergys, are making a difference in the individual lives of the 31 street children currently kept safe from the horrors of the streets by Virlanie Foundation.

Reynan's story is just one of the many tear-jerker stories that can be heard within the house. I thought of myself as a brave person before but after our visit, I can only say that an 8-year old kid has me beaten in that area. He is definitely braver than me.

Fortunately for these kids, they found Virlanie. When Reynan was asked what he would like to be when he grows up, he puffed his chest proudly and without hesitation, answered "I will be a soldier."

Deep inside, I cried my heart out for him, but all of sudden, I realized that I was taught a lesson by this kid. This time, he might be facing an insurmountable mountain in front of him, but nothing can prevent him from squaring his shoulders and barrel through that mountain to come out on the other side, stronger than ever in the future.

And when that time comes, I hope I can still see Reynan again and  when I do, I will give him my proudest salute, not only for the uniform that he will be wearing then but for something more...


... for the bravery that he has shown today!!!

Photo: Virlanie kids with Convergys employees and Jollibee and Hetty during our Thanksgiving Party at Marco Polo House last Nov. 21, 2010

To my workmates at Convergys, you've shown me that we CAN make a difference. I am so proud to be working with such generous people in a company that enshrines Corporate Social Responsibility in its employees through Convergys' Community Action Network.

To you who's reading this, go and pick up that starfish now and throw it back into the water. You may not be able to save them all, but at least, you saved one. That makes all the difference for that one person.

Will you let me know if you've found your Reynan? I will be delighted to hear your stories.

Photo: Our program head, Bad Dino, with her Reynan, Len-Len.

Photo: TL Carlo Gutierrez, dancing it out with the kids.

Photo: TL Chris Lim (gray shirt) supervising the distribution
of toys to the kids.

Photo: TL Jasper Cantimbuhan with Reynan.

From left: G-UNIT members Isa, Char and Makoy, Mariel A., program host Marose, Bogart and TL Chris.

From left: Claire, G-UNIT member Makoy, Mariel A., G-UNIT members Char & Gab, Connie with her kids, Kirby, program hosts Pam and Marose, Greg, Angel.

From left: Mariel Z, Melvin, Maricar and TL Chris.

From left: Claire, Amiel and Johann.

Visit Virlanie's website to know more about their work (http://www.virlanie.org)

NOTE: The Foundation encourages visitors wishing to share their blessings with Virlanie children to get in touch with Maren Avrille Pascual/ External Communications Officer. He will help planning a successful event. Virlanie children are happy to receive visitors in their Homes all year round; Maren will facilitate your outreach, whatever the time of year. Reach Maren via email virlanie.communication@gmail.com, or telephone: +632 895 3460.

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Dobby: "In Memoriam" (HP7 Spoiler Alert)

It's amazing that two weeks have passed before I can sit down and update my blog. My visits to the world-wide-web have been limited to Twitter and Zuckerberg's Facebook. (Shameless self promotion: Click on the links and feel free to follow me on the former, or add me up as a friend for the latter.)

It just seemed like the muse Calliope was too tired to give me inspiration. But I tell you, NOW she is back with a vengeance!!!

[1]

Anyhow, the day after my last post, I went clubbing with my friend Ricky Tio and met a new acquaintance, Marvic Quilet.

When the newest song of Katy Perry "Fireworks" was played by the DJ, my feet just "owned the night" "like the 4th of July." (Ngak.. parang cheesy yung line. Hehehe.)

I really don't know how to dance well but I figured, I wasn't planning on hooking up with anyone anyway so there was no need to impress. :-)

[2]

Ever since I saw the movie trailer of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I have been impatiently waiting for the opening of the film here in the Philippines.

I'm done reading book 1-6 after the movie installment #2 was released "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Book 7 was not yet released during that time, and ever since then, I could not truly appreciate the movies (movie installment 3-6) as much as I did the first two because I already knew what the story was.

Dobby: "In memoriam"

DEATHLY HALLOWS: The Wand, The Stone and the Invisibility Cloak

My favorite HP character: Bellatrix Lestrange

Above photos from: www.harrypotter.com

So when book 7 finally came out, I purposefully shunned reading it. I also veered away from friends' conversations that would spoil the last chapter for me.

Moving on, last week, I got tagged in a Facebook status update from Ricky,

Granted, I was the second pick, I didn't really care. I'm such a sucker for free stuff that I immediately said YES.

So yesterday, we finally saw the movie and I can tell you... IT WAS AWESOME!!!

When Voldemort raised that "Elder Wand" that signaled the end of the movie, I felt cheated. It just seemed like waiting for 1 more year just for me to finish the saga is cruel.

But what can I do? As much as I wish to get an advanced screening of Part II, I'm sure that copies of that film would be guarded by the most sophisticated levels of security that central banks would envy.

Poor porky.

Now, just to quench my cravings for fantasy-packed adventure, I still have Book 13 of the Wheel of Time Series "Towers of Midnight".

There is nothing better than a few moments spent in fantasy land to take your mind of the bites of reality.

Watch the movie and let me know about how you found it. :-)

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Malaysia anyone???

Malaysia... truly Asia.

So, is there anyone who is interested to go with me to Malaysia next year? Air Asia has a ZeroFare promo (terms and conditions apply) for travel between June to October 2011.

Tentative Date: Sometime in August, 2011.

Photo from: www.AirAsia.com

Just let me know if you are interested.

Follow the author on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AshamanLester

Author's Blogsite: http://ashamanlester.blogspot.com

Starbucks 2011 Planner

First off, I would just like to say that I am not riding on the Starbucks bandwagon. I can say that because I really their like the taste of their coffee (also the caffeine drinks of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf).

Anyone from my office would attest that I would not have a complete day without my usual fix every night.



More than than, I have been collecting the planners that the coffee shop gives out to their customers every Christmas season.

Photo from: Starbucks Philippines FB Page

I started doing it since 2006 and I've had good use of their planner at work (I usually write down my daily tasks that I cross out as I go along the day.) This way, I can organize my day and not forget important "deliverables".

So, last week, when I heard that Starbucks will start giving out stickers for their 2011 Planner on November 3, I already knew that I will treat myself with a cup of coffee on that day. The reason for this is that they usually give out a free sticker for the first 200 customers (according to Starbucks-People Support Makati barista).

Just to give you a gist of how to get a 2011 Starbucks planner, all you need to do is.

1. Buy a cup of coffee or any Starbucks beverage* (frappucino, hot or iced) in exchange of 1 sticker.
(*Except for bottled beverages, bottled water and fruit juice)

2. Complete 9 stickers for the holiday featured beverages and 8 Starbucks core beverages

3. Once 17 stickers are complete, you can exchange it for a Starbucks Planner. That EASY!!!

Be aware though that the stickers may only be obtained between November 3, 2010 to January 5, 2011 and the redemption of the planners is only between November 3, 2010 until March 6, 2011 only.

I'm sure you will read about the time when I have gotten my planner in my future blogs but in the meantime, just post a comment below once you get your own planner. It will motivate me to save up faster to get my copy. Hehehe.

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