When I saw last season's Paul Pott's first take on the X-factor stage singing Nessun Dorma, I knew he is more likely to win the competition. Now this kid is Antony, straight from the streets, and prefers you to call him "Tight-O."



I think this kid will win the competition this season.

I don't know what's up with street totes these days, they are so in. It kind of started when Marc Jacobs did the braided leather street-bag and his self-praising canvas tote saying "Jacobs by Marc Jacobs, for Marc by Marc Jacobs, in collaboration with Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs." Umm...

Anyway here's the thing. Click thumbnail for full size.

Bossafied!

In Brazil, to do something with Bossa is to do it with particular charm and natural flair. The term eventually evolved to refer to a growing musical style favored by the artistic beach culture of Rio de Janeiro - Bossa Nova.

In celebration of Bossa Nova and the laid-back beach culture of Brazil, Warner Music Philippines, the pioneering record label behind pop-Bossa, teams up with renowned Brazilian flip-flops brand Havaianas, to create a one-of-a-kind campaign for the city’s growing number of Bossa fans – Bossafied!

Bossafied! gathers a collection of albums that feature timeless hits from your favorite artists rendered in that unique Bossa flair. Collectors of Bossafied! albums get a chance to bring home a special Havaianas key chain or a limited edition Havaianas tote bag if they are lucky enough to spot the Havaianas flip-flop sticker inside the albums they bought.

Among the albums included in the Bossafied! collection are the highly successful Rio series --- “Bossa N’ Stones” and “Bossa N’ Marley” which features the electro-bossa songbook of the legendary Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones.

Classics from all-time favorites Bread and Chicago are also “bossafied” in albums “Bossa N’ Bread” and “Bossa N’ Chicago” while hit-makers D’Sound and Everything But the Girl each take a bossa spin in “Bossa N’ Girl” and “Bossa N’ D Sound”.

Bossa-meets-New Wave in two back-to-back albums (Nouvelle Vague and Bande A Part) of chic French group Nouvelle Vague, featuring their sexy bossa versions of 80s punk/new wave hits, among them the favorite 80s classic “I Melt With You” which was used in the infamous “Brangelina” movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Sitti, the country’s reigning Queen of Bossa, is also very much part of the collection with her best-selling albums Café Bossa, Sitti Live and the new album My Bossa Nova featuring the latest single “My Ever Changing Moods”.

Enjoy the music of Brazil and take a little part of it with you when you buy any Bossafied! album from the participating outlets - Music One Greenbelt, Music One Glorietta, Music One Alabang Town Center, O Rockwell, Fully Booked Greenhills and Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street and get a chance to bring home a special gift from Havaianas. Promo runs from September 8 to November 30, 2007.

See posters and counter standees in All Flip-Flops and Moana stores for more details.

Note: Limited edition Havaianas tote bag is not for sale.

Isn't that tote lovely? It's unfair though it's very girly.

I don't know.. if a senator doesn't know what Broadband is, what is he doing in the senate? His work involves a lot things about making our future better, 'tas hindi niya alam kung ano ang broadband? At least man'lang nagresearch na siya nung mainit na ang issue ng ZTE. Panginoon ko!

At the Senate hearing into the ZTE broadband deal, Senator Nene Pimentel asked this question: “Ano ba ang broadband? Can somebody explain this in layman’s terms?”

Help our politicians join the 21st century.

I always felt there's something different with him. Hahaha

If you are conservative/sensitive/easily offended, then do not click these links...

Miss Oscar 1
Miss Oscar 2
Miss Oscar 3
Miss Oscar 4
Miss Oscar 5
Miss Oscar 6

Take a closer look on his legs on that first picture, many girls will loathe him for his legs, you will think it's Photoshopped in which his upper torso were pasted on a women's lower torso, wow. Hahaha! Crazy crazy!

I've been video blogging for quite sometime now, but it's previously exclusive on my Multiply account. Now you can see the links to my videos on the right hand-side navigation menu at the bottom.

These videos are more fun than sensible, some snippets from my travel (ex: being lost, discovering new things, lacking money, meeting new people), activities (ex: official travels, awarding ceremonies, scavenger hunts, NGO work), vacations (ex: escapades with friends, cruises, excurtions, biketour), parties (ex: almost x-rated stuffs hahaha, truth or dare games, concerts) and personal life (ex: being a dog bite dummy).

Click click click them!

The highest-serving position needs to decide on smallest of things...

Here's a little snippet from Tita Chuva's blog:

I had such a nasty experience today that the only good thing is it gives me material to blog about.

My classmate from Parsons decided to move out here. He got his own place at Salcedo Village and is setting up businesses. (Girls, he is 34 years old and single. The nicest guy on the planet. My mission is to find him a date.)

Since my friend doesn’t have an office, he took a membership in this place next door we shall call Club Chuchu.

I am not a corporate type and have never heard of this pretentious "power club."
Let’s just say the membership fee is mahalia jackson (about ten pairs of LV shoes).

My friend just signed up yesterday and wanted to show me the place. He called me this morning, so I dropped everything to come to Makati by 4 pm.

Before we go on, allow me to extol the virtues and convenience of wearing sneakers.
Ever since I came back from New York where people walk all the time, I've gotten used to wearing sneakers/trainers/rubber shoes depending on how you wanna call it, because I’m constantly running around the place, getting a story, running a house, store and errands, with three boys to take care of.

My favorite sneaker happens to be Louis Vuitton. First of all, I’m not athletic. Second, I’m no longer a teenager. The Nike swoosh or Adidas stripes don’t exactly do anything for me at the moment.



What I love about Louis Vuitton sneakers—besides the fact that they have Marc Jacobs' seal of approval—is that they are stylish and can be worn from day to night. I wear these almost everyday with jeans or even a long skirt.



I do have more formal shoes for nights and events. But four-inch wedges are not for running around in the daytime.

Going back to Club Chuchu, my friend took me there with the intention of having someone show me the facilities while he had his meeting.

He introduced me to this staff/person/it called Chit wearing polyester/black uniform and (Parisian/Syvels?) pumps.
Right away she gave me this head-to-toe look and zeroed in on my shoes. (Think Julia Roberts entering that Rodeo Drive store in Pretty Woman—"Big mistake...huge mistake.")
Chit immediately made it known that I didn't belong there. I felt so offended and small, like a leper. I wanted to disappear, but I didn't want to make a scene.

My blood started boiling. Chit disappeared for a while, came back and started whispering to my friend. From the looks of her, I felt there was a problem. I thought she would say she couldn't tour me because the board rooms were occupied.

Finally she spoke up and said there was a problem with my shoes.

I seriously could not believe it. I didn't know such a place existed in Metro Manila.

"Sneakers are not allowed in here," she said.
"That's OK," I got it right away and looked at my friend. "I'm just gonna go."
I went towards the exit.
"Ma'am...Uh, could you please wait, I can talk to the chairman about this and ask him about the sneakers..."
"No," I said calmly. "I don't have to be here. I don't want to be here..." (and take crap like this. I can enter the White House in sneakers, but the Club Chuchu, no. Maybe you prefer Parisian by SM?)

I pressed the elevator button.
"Ma'am, let me talk to the chairman...I don't want to offend you," she said.
"You offend me. You gave me a dirty look. I saw you. You were staring at my shoes. My shoes cost a lot of money."

She probably thought I got them in the tiangge.
I couldn't believe how spontaneous that was. It was a Famas moment. Think Cherie Gil against Sharon Cuneta. I'm sorry if that sounds patronizing but I had to defend my fucken shoes.

"Sorry about this," I told my friend. "I'll be at Starbucks and I'll see you after the meeting. Bye."
The elevator door closed and I walked out of there, never to come back.

The club didn't even look special. I only saw as far as the lobby and these member meeting rooms, but I wasn't impressed. Malayo kay Philippe Starck. But even I can enter a Philippe Starck hotel with my sneaks.

Isn't that pathetic? You know the club is cheap when the front-desk have to talk to the chairman about the sneakers! Duh.

I'm on the same situation, duties of finalizing resolutions were suddenly made a responsibility of the one who loathes me.

Anyhow back to the topic. I rarely wear shoes at all, I even wear Havaianas at work and on business meetings and presentations, I'm haggard like that. I never felt discriminated because of my choice as of yet, but I would definitely understand if ever that happens, I mean these are flip-flops, the simplest possible footwear a human being could wear.

The problem here in the Philippines, hypocrisy. It's too darn hot here and the least you could do to your poor body is give it air to breathe. You see, shorts and easy-flowing collared shirts are considered decent and if I'm not mistaken, formal in Hawaii and other tropical countries.

Anyway speaking of shoes, I will need to get my hands on one of this before Christmas, my last sneakers was bought two years ago, and that's just because I'm in Ontario and my aunt will foot the bill.



1) LV Bastia Sneaker in Canvas and Calf leather. GBP 220 (P20,400)
2) LV Gypse Mule in Monogram Denim and Calf Leather. GBP 275 (P25,500)
3) LV Zephyr Sneaker in Calf leather. GBP 275 (P25,500)
4) LV Speeding Sneaker in Damier Geant Canvas. GBP 225 (P20,800)

This is funny, remember my post entitled DHL and Prada Function?



Well here you go, the $400 Zac Posen tote specially made for teachers DHL packages.

This Season, Teachers Count

At DHL, we understand the importance of fostering a society where teachers are valued and admired. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Zac Posen to create “Tote for Teachers.”

For every one of these limited-edition Zac Posen totes sold, DHL will donate 100% of the proceeds to TeachersCount, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a permanent culture of teacher appreciation.

This striking Zac Posen bag is made from all natural Italian leather. Lined in cotton twill, the bag's expandable interior allows room for magazines, a cell phone, a digital camera and other daily necessities. Fun, feminine, easily accessible and just a little sporty, this messenger-sized tote bag in DHL’s vibrant colors is a powerful reminder of how teachers help us to expand our minds and our horizons.

Left: Zac Posen. Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullen. Visit www.toteforteachers.org to purchase.

Ano kaya magiging hatol? Malalaman natin today.

I don't think there are enough geeks in my network for me to explain by detail and ramble about how big of a fan I am of this two. So I won't elaborate further.

Josh Groban will be performing for 2 nights and only October 18th will be open to the public. October 17th will be a by-invitation-only event. Only 3,000 tickets will be sold (Translation: ticket prices will be sold above-the-roof).



Even if I have pledged to all the angels and saints that I will see Josh if ever he hold his concert here, it's just an impossibility to do so. Workload and travel cannot be rescheduled! I rarely watch concerts, the only concerts I've attended is that of Andrea Bocelli's (Manila 2004) and Elton John's (San Francisco 2006). Aside from those, I am forced to watch other concerts locally just because I organized it.

Anyhow, second person to watch out for...

L’acteur hispannique Gael Garcia Bernal sera la star du prochain film de Lukas Moodysson (Together), Mammoth. Bernal y incarnera un homme d’affaires New Yorkais qui décide de changer radicalement de vie en emmenant sa femme et sa fille en Thaïlande. Le tournage débutera en novembre prochain entre la Thaïlande, New York, la Suède et les Philippines.

I am so not sure if my friend's French is credible but here's a translation:

Hispanic actor Gael Garcia Bernal will be the star of Lukas Moodysson's next film, Mammoth. Bernal will play the role of a businessman from New York who decides to radically change his life by taking along his wife and his daughter to Thailand. Taping will begin next November between Thailand, New York, Sweden and the Philippines.

Oh and I got a complimentary ticket for Keane's Concert, I wonder who is this guy? From US daw. Anyway I gave it to my younger brother.

This is a pretty late notice, my project Young MDG is finalist for this year's Global Junior Challenge in Rome, Italy.

The Global Junior Challenge is a global award promoted by the Digital World Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by the Municipality of Rome and six major ICT companies. The intention of the award, dedicated to young people and to schools, is to identify and reward best practices on the use of new technologies in education and training of youngsters. An international jury selects the finalists and the winners are announced during the award ceremony that takes place in Rome, at the Campidoglio City Hall.



The Global Junior Challenge is in line whit the E-Learning Program threw from the European Commission during the summit of Lisbona. The goal of this program is the spread of the digital culture between the teachers and the young.







The Global Junior Challenge is dedicated to all young people, from school children to teenagers and youth taking their first steps on the job market. It concerns cities, institutions, local authorities, businesses, NGOs, communities and individual citizens. The Global Junior Challenge concerns all those who are interested or involved in child and youth education and training, and more broadly, in helping in the construction of a more inclusive society.

See the complete list of finalists here: Finalists.

We all know Angelina Jolie loves her Valentino Braided Leather Shoulder Bag. Not only does Angie love it, but now Zahara does also. Isn't that cute?



Megs spoke with her SA at Valentino in Bal Harbour and she informed me it was specially made for Zahara!

Buy the ‘large’ version at Neiman Marcus for $1695.

Our Meralco bill for the month of July reached a record high.



Some of you are aware that I, together with my colleagues from YAFE are currently working on a book about Sustainable Consumption called the YouthXchange Guide to Sustainable Lifestyle. It tackles pressing issues of ethical consumerism and highlights the world's current situation (ex: 20% of the world's richest consumes 75% of the world's natural resources).

It will also feature Philippine-friendly tips on saving as much resources as possible and as appropriate, one of which is lighting and power, which brings us to a related work.

Below are the three options we will be using for a national energy-saving campaign. I was in-charged of designing these 3x3.5" ad to be put on your next month's (or October) official Meralco Bill receipt/notice.







This -Meralco Reciept- campaign is spearheaded by The Philippine Efficient Lighting Market Transformation Project (PELMATP). A Project of The Department of Energy (DOE), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). I will soon be posting a more detailed information on light and energy saving concerns.