The Witty Planner 2013

diary do not read

"Don't panic!" screamed the February 13 page of my planner. "Valentine's Day na po bukas." And just like that, I panicked like all the men and women who promised themselves last year that they would finally be with someone come the Day of Hearts. I'm panicking for a different reason. After all, I'm in a happy relationship. But the big bold block letters reminded me that I still had not blogged about this planner despite promising myself to write a review in the first week of the new year. Well, it's the first week of the Chinese New Year. Ha! I know it's the middle of February. I know … [Read more...]

My Top 20 Most Played Songs of 2012

Some of my favorite singles and albums of 2012

Woohoo! It's the first day of the year and I'm doing two of my favorite things in the world --- blogging and sound tripping. While I appreciate all genres of music (yep, even Gospel despite my being atheist), there is a big hole in my heart that only good pop music can fill. And I'm not even ashamed of it. In fact, when I was in high school, I used to have a notebook on which I just list down my 20 most-liked songs of the week. It was like my version of Billboard Hot 100 except it was my own, personal singles chart and only I could read it. (And it is no secret that I love lists so much that I … [Read more...]

All Fired Up for iPhone 5!

globe iphone 5

My very first Apple gadget came in the form of an iPhone 3Gs, which I got as the free phone from my Globe Plan 3799. It happened in 2010. Three iPhone models later, my plan has now expired and once again, I am on the hunt for the best iPhone 5 postpaid plan. Of course, a lot has changed since 2010. For starters, Globe is not the only one offering iPhone plans now; Smart made its debut last year. Given how competitive these two telcos are, consumers are now on the winning end as these two giants fight for their affection by reducing the price of their plans or beefing them up with … [Read more...]

Beautiful Strangers: Southeast Asia Backpacking Edition

A bread puffs vendor at Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market

It's been seven months since I published this post, where I showcased the different types of pretty boys that I encountered while traveling in some parts of the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Well, due to insistent public demand, I am bringing it back with a wider scope. Actually, there is no public demand. The only demand was from the voices in my head insisting that I make this post in honor and celebration of the many forms of male beauty. #Charot Anyway, a few months ago, I went on a backpacking trip across the Southeast Asian peninsula. With my camera handy, whenever I spotted … [Read more...]

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles Trailer

tiktik aswang chronicles poster

Are you one of those people who enter the theater at least half hour before the movie starts so you could catch all the trailers? If so, welcome to the club! I'm exactly like that. There are times when the movie is so bad, I just console myself by thinking "At least you got to see the trailers." Haha. Last weekend, one trailer in particular caught my attention while I was waiting for the Bourne Legacy screening. It was the trailer of a local movie --- Tiktik. (No, this is not the movie version of the tabloid.) The full title of the film is Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles. Once in a … [Read more...]

Beautiful Strangers

I completely didn't care about all the rides at Disneyland Hong Kong when this guy appeared. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. So goodlooking.

"Keep the hat," suggested the Caucasian man standing next to me. I was looking at the mirror, trying to decide whether I should ditch the hat I was wearing that night. "You look great, don't worry," he complimented. It wasn't long until I noticed that he was handsome, sexy and --- wait for it --- shirtless. We were at the restroom of a bar in Boracay. Realizing how sleazy it appeared to have a conversation inside the restroom, I replied with a simple "Thank you" and walked away. On our way out he asked me where I was from and I answered. He said, "Well, I live in Manila, too. But I'm … [Read more...]

Media These Days and Christina Aguilera

Here's Us Weekly's misleading article.

Media these days. I don't understand the hate and shade that have been thrown by the entertainment press towards Christina Aguilera. I know that media thrives in controversies but I can't believe they will go this far or this low to spin stories or create something out of nothing. It is absolutely disgusting. Take a look at what DailyMail.co.uk just did. Spanish magazine DT decided to use an old photo of Christina Aguilera for the cover of their latest issue. This photo was shot for the promotion of Not Myself Tonight back in 2010. And YES, she was so skinny in 2010. But that's not the … [Read more...]

The Poser Phase

got 2 believe y tu mama tambien

Y Tu Mama Tambien. Everyone nodded in approval. I heard a couple of Wows and someone quipped “Great choice.” I was at a college organization’s Orientation of Applicants. I was an applicant, scared shitless. Y Tu Mama Tambien was what I blurted out when I realized it was my turn to share what my favorite movie was. I panicked. The truth is, at the time I had only seen that film once and I did not even like it. Later on, I would fall in love with it after a couple more viewing but I surely was not loving it the first time. Why I said it was my favorite film, I was not sure. No … [Read more...]

You Can’t Shoot What You Don’t See

MAGKARIBAL teleserye

I realized just how difficult it was to hold back a cringe when a cousin’s friend told me how she despised local films and television shows in general. I asked her why and all she could say was a very specific, “They’re just so bad.” I admit that many of our movies and TV shows are disappointing and some are downright disgusting. But I believe that we still have a lot of quality shows. I asked her which TV shows in particular she found unsatisfactory. She replied, “Our teleseryes are pretty bad.” “Which teleseryes?” I was curious. “Our teleseryes. All of it.” … [Read more...]

Bring Back the ’90s!

adele shamcey supsup

Pageant Play Pretend It's that time of the year again when the fleeting euphoria brought about by the Miss Universe pageant sweeps the nation. I'm not a big fan of beauty pageants but when I woke up this morning, the first thought that popped up in my head was: Miss Universe telecast, live, today. Thanks to the constant TV reminders the night before. Still, I resisted the temptation to turn the TV on, went on with my morning rituals, and headed straight to work. When I opened my laptop, Miss Universe updates flooded my News Feed --- to my delight. When Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup was … [Read more...]