This blog is about life. . . people. . .events. . . and all other interesting stuff. . .
while I continue to take small steps as I journey around this magical world of blogging.
Here's another laudable effort from the management and staff of Robinsons Place Gensan. Yes, kiddos! They're bringing in to Gensan the real Shrek and Dora with her friend Boots!
So let us all now get ready with our cams and warmest welcomes for these three adorable characters who will be showering our kids with endless excitement and happiness.
It's a date then! see you there. . .
(special thanks to Ms. Bing Velandria for the items used on this page)
(I am reposting this piece of one of the greatest bloggers of all times, Mr. Orman O. Manansala)
The SoCCSKSarGen Bloggers will host a Summer Safari for Davao and CDO Bloggers from May 29-30, 2010. Newest hotel in Gensan, Ice Castle Experience agreed to be the Official Hotel of the event and will house our guests for free for two days. Prior to dinner, Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao will serve aperitif drinks at the Pacman Sports Bar. Afterwards, Le Jardin Arnevel will sponsor the welcome dinner at their poolside on Saturday. Piyesta KTV Bar & Resto plays bartender right after dinner. Winding up the night at Coffee Club 101 will surely be a blast. Sunday’s breakfast will be at Dolores Garden Resort before proceeding to Lake Sebu for the great zipline adventure at Punta Isla, who incidentally will host our Tilapia Tanghali Fiesta. Just before going back to Gensan, Merl Garden Spring Resort will treat the group for merienda cena and a tour around their resort. For the final dinner in Gensan, Red Tent Steak House will be the host. Our coffee host for the second night will be Cafe Amoree. Honorable Mayor Jun Acharon, by the way, has provided the transportation needs for the Summer Safari. For the duration of the Summer Safari, Breads and pastries will come from Rollee’s Bakeshop and Bottled water are from Pacman Water. Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki committed to provide pasalubong for each blogger during the last day.
Kudos to the ever supportive Manansala brothers for this treat and BIG, BIG thanks to all the generous and kindhearted sponsors!
yes, dahlins! you heard it right! There's an ongoing sale at the Kamiseta store inside the KCC Mall of Gensan. It has been going on since Monday until this Friday. All, I mean ALL, items are up for grabs at 40% off their original price. This, surely, is a big relief for all shopaholics out there. Kamiseta items of all shapes, colors and sizes are available on sale. So what are you waiting for? Let's go and enjoy the big, big sale at Kamiseta! : -) am size L1, just in case. . . :-)
Receiving an invite for the PRESS LAUNCH of Robinsons Movieworld's 3D Cinema sent me to the seventh heaven for a moment. Having heard a lot about three dimensional films, the invitation got an instant affirmative response from me.
Yessireee, the experience was very well worth it! Nothing beats the excitement of watching a movie in a very comfy place with state of the art facilities. It's already here in Gensan, so Generals, what are you waiting for? Go na, now na! Experience the wonders of 3D film viewing with the whole family in Robinsons Place at a very affordable price.
Showing now at Robinsons Movieworld using the 3D system is the last and final part of the Shrek 4-part series. Again, the movie brought the best out of ogres. Shrek may have been duped but the lessons he learned out of the experience is PRICELESS. I love this movie because it is worth watching and retelling a million times to our young generation and other generations to come.
Special thanks to Robinsons Place management represented by Mall Operations Manager, Ms. Bing Velandria, and their dynamic support staff for the freebies and most of all, for the bloggers' awesome experience of watching Shrek Forever After via 3D technology. Madamo guid na salamat, pipol, you rock!
Movies to watch out for in Robinsons Place Gensan Movieworld 3D screen are: Avatar, Toy Story, Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and Despicable Me.
Mommy Dionesia Pacquiao's 61st Birthday Celebration May 15, 2010 KCC Mall Convention and Events Center General Santos City, Philippines
The celebrant with her sweetest smile after the traditional waltz and giving of 18 (?) roses
The night won't be complete without Mommy D showcasing her talent ( I admire her stamina and endurance - she had several dance numbers and yet you won't see her gasping for her breath! 'atta mom!)
Mommy D with loving son - Congressman elect Emmanuel Pacquiao and beautiful wife - Jinkee (the champ gifted his mom with a set of diamond jewelries - the scene sent everybody in awe!)
the author had the chance of posing beside Mom D's towering cake by Mix n Magic (magnificent!) This cake was prepared and displayed with the personal touch of beautiful sisters Mixie and Sunshine (It's a job well done, mesdames!)
My date, couz James Olaer, with equally handsome former Congressman Dennis Roldan
The author with blogger friends (Armando Nicolas, Avelman Mananasala and Marzz Bendol)
Sidelights:
- Mommy D's children were all present (Isidra, Liza, Bobby, Bgy. Capt. Ruel and the Pacman) - Mommy D had several costume changes ranging from yellow green to red, etc. . . - Mommy D's friends from all walks of life were present to celebrate with her - Also spotted were PCM candidates who all came in full force - Media swarmed the Congressman elect when he entered the convention center... while eating, they're all around him - Younger Pacquaio family members were part of the program hosted by ABS CBN's Joey C - There was enough food for everybody and the whole venue was bedecked with an assortment of flowers. . . I guess, almost a truckload of flowers. . . - Our tablemates, Mr. Mandi Nicolas and Ms. Marcia Gonzales together with Mommy D showed their dancing prowess on the dancefloor!
all in all, it was a celebration fit for a champ's mom!
BIG thanks to Mr. Armando PJ Nicolas for the pictures used in this post! tnx Mandi!
May 10, 2010 is a historic day for all Filipinos. Today we had our first taste of automated elections. Technology embracing us all as we choose our new leaders.
The day started early for me. Luckily, we lived near the precinct where we are casting our votes. After a two minute walk I am right there where I'm going to vote. If there's one word to describe the sight during that very moment, it would be CHAOTIC. I was in the midst of sea of people from all walks of life in a mad dash situation. A map with no clear directions, names printed in size 12 fonts and posted on classroom walls way above our eye levels, nosy election watchers, co voters with hardly any smiles on their faces, humid temperature, etc. . . I started to feel uncomfortable and wished that I could have said yes instead to an earlier invitation of a foreign correspondent friend to tag along with him as he covers the interesting battle the Pacman is waging on. I said no to the tempting invitation because I wanted very much to take part in our first ever automated elections.
Saving grace was the presence of a blogger friend, Sir Gilbert Tan. Talking with him was great, we both killed time and saved ourselves from boredom and stress. The only bad thing was he voted ahead of me since he belonged to the 2nd batch of voters in our precinct. So I was once again left amidst the throng of impatient voters. Nice thing, that the voting process was quite fast because several minutes later my number was called. I told myself, this is it!
So off I go inside the precinct and after having undergone the customary procedures I was given my ballot and a smartmatic pen to be used in shading the hugis itlog. Easy, it seemed like betting on my favorite numbers in the lotto. I already have the names of people to vote in my mind so shading came handy for me. Only to be faced with some sort of commotion after I finished the task. The voter ahead of me was already talking in a loud voice because the PCOS machine won't accept her ballot. BEIs assigned tried calming here by suggesting something. (I won't elaborate on this anymore because what they did, for me, is something contestable.) Different scenarios flashed in my mind as I waited for my turn to enter the ballot in the PCOS machine. What if the same thing's gonna happen to me? Surely, I won't follow BEIs instruction because I think it was not right. Fidgeting, I made my way to the PCOS and thanks Holy God - I had right away my Congratulations! Your vote has been registered!
It thought that was it - I made it to the long list of Filipinos able to exercise their rights of suffrage using new technology. Much to my horror, upon reaching home, I saw inside my hand bag the Smartmatic issued pentel pen used in shading the names of our preferred candidates. Confused on what to do with it, I posted my dilemma in my FB account and this is what I got: (please click on the link below)
The author contemplated on returning the pen to somehow cleanse her conscience. I was so ashamed/guilty of returning it with lots of people peeking behind classroom windows so I decided to just come back at night time so I could hand it directly to the BEIs and without the fanfare perhaps (LOL).
When the bell rang signaling the end of the voting session at around a little past 7 PM, I immediately dressed up and prepared to go back to my precinct to somehow do a good deed :-) Much to my chagrin, I was not allowed entry by the guards because there was a strict order from the principal not to allow the public to witness the proceedings inside the precincts right after voting time. Due to the stressful situation and disappointment - a spur of the moment decision came out of my mind. I e-mailed BMPM the situation in the school where I voted. I did not care anymore on what happened next because all I knew was people were already allowed to enter the school premises.
The pen? It's still in my possession and it will now form part of the mementos of the day that will be marked red in the pages of our history.
It's a doughnut. . . it's a cake. . . It is Chocolate Kreme Cake from
Yeah, for all sweet toothed creatures like me. . . this is for all of us!
A friend brought two boxes of these yummy treats from Krispy Kreme the other day. One contained KK's classic doughnuts and the other one's loaded with the heavenly stuff on the pic. Chocolate Kreme Cakes tasted fantastic. . . I couldn't help it but to crave for more :-) Too bad, there's no Krispy Kreme store yet here in Gensan. So the cravings has to be put aside and instead settle for our good old doughnuts here in the city.
I love my doughnuts to go with brewed coffee. How about you, guys?
My cousin, Atty. Rafael Olaer Montilla, is gearing for a city council seat. He's one brilliant lawyer with a heart for anybody who needs his help. I am supporting him because I know and I believe that he'll make a good councilor, I swear!
His platform of government is nestled on the acronym - PAENG OLAER!
P-romote transparency and accountability in local government transactions;
A- ddress fiscal and expenditure management and develop alternative revenue generating mechanisms at the local level;
E-ncourage the establishment of cooperatives;
N-urture the development of youth through the promotion of sports;
G-ive priority to poverty alleviation programs;
O-perationalize performance standards in local bureaucracy;
L-ead a simple and decent life;
A-dvocate transformational changes for the upliftment of the greater majority;
E-nhance wider citizen participation;
R-ecognize continual improvement to the delivery of basic services.
On May 10, 2010
Number 29 po sa inyong mga balota - Atty. Rafael "Paeng" Olaer Montilla
So let us all now get ready with our cams and warmest welcomes for these three adorable characters who will be showering our kids with endless excitement and happiness.
