PSE SUSPENDS TRADING

Signs of the times....

The Philippine Stock Exchange suspended trading for about fifteen minutes to calm investors. For the full story log on to:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/129593/Local-shares-temporarily-halt-trading-to-calm-market-players

Get to hang out with Up Dharma Down

Here's your chance to hang out with the band Up Dharma Down!

Mechanics:

1. All registered Spot.ph users are eligible to join the promo.

2. Promo participants must send in an entry answering the question "If you could have dinner with Up Dharma Down, what restaurant would you choose and why?"

3. Answers must not be less than 50 words.

4. Participants may email their answers to promos@spot.ph.

5. SPOT will be picking 1 winner (plus 1 friend) to have dinner with Updharmadown on November 6, Thursday.

6. Free dinner with the band at Mickey's Deli, one of their favorite hang-outs.

7. The winner will receive 2 signed copies of Up Dharma Down's new album Bipolar.

8. The winner will be announced on November 4, Tuesday.

9. The winner will be notified via SMS and email. The promo winner will also be announced in the SPOT Forums.

10. For more inquiries, please contact Karl Bustamante at promos@spot.ph or 09225584833

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS LIVE! MANILA 2008, October 24 to 26, 2008

Summit Live, the exhibitions arm of SUMMIT MEDIA invites you to CONSUMER ELECTRONICS LIVE! MANILA 2008.
Check out the latest gadgets and gizmos from October 24 to 26, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex.

WANT TO OPEN YOUR OWN COFFEE SHOP? KNOW HOW AT THE COFFEE BREAK FESTIVAL 2008 AT KAPE ISLA, SERENDRA FOR FREE!

from ECHOSTORE at SERENDRA:

We're building a sustainable lifestyle community! Join us this October to celebrate Coffee Month with the Philippine Coffee Board. Coffee Board members, coffee experts, and coffee farming advocates will treat you to a whole month of learning and doing this October!

Come to Kape Isla at Serendra and learn more about the world's most popular beverage, and the second most traded commodity in the world. From farming to brewing, the Coffee Board has concocted a seminar for every need, for every area of interest.

Seminar Schedules in Kape Isla, Home of Philippine Coffee


DESSERT COFFEE
October 15, Wednesday, 1 - 4 p.m.

Coffee is not just a a drink, but a dessert, too. Barista and dessert coffee expert Chris Domingo shows how coffee drinks can be desserts with the use of flavored syrups from Torani. Learn how to make espresso and brewed coffee as bases for real desserts! This course is great for home entertainers and restaurants and cafés wanting to offer more interesting drinks.


COFFEE FARMING
October 18, Saturday, 1 - 4 p.m.

For those interested in venturing into the business of coffee farming, Nestlé Philippines' Head of Argi-Services Glicerio Joel Lumagbas will speak about the history and background of coffee, as well as the processes involved in pre-planting, planting, and harvesting coffee.


COFFEE CUPPING
October 20, Monday, 2 - 5 p.m.

Coffee connoisseur Manny Torrejon will demonstrate cupping to teach guests how to "taste" coffee before even roasting a whole batch of green beans. Sampling coffee by "cupping" is the proper way of discerning the beans' qualities. Manny will be joined by food writer and critic LoriBaltazar, who will be launching her new website www.coffeecomesnext.com on the same session.


SPECIALTY COFFEE AT HOME
October 22, Wednesday, 1 - 4 p.m.

Bring the coffeehouse menu to your own home. You don't need an institutional espresso machine to enjoy great specialty coffee at home. Stovetop espresso makers can do the work of coffeehouse machines. Barista and coffee expert Chris Domingo will show you how to make "coffeehouse quality" specialty coffee using coffee paraphernalia designed for home use. Learn the basics of coffee brewing and impress your friends!


ORGANIC COFFEE FARMING
October 25, Saturday, 1 - 4 p.m.

The More Crops For More Cups Coffee and Organic Farming Seminar Series is conducted by the Figaro Foundation as a response to numerous requests by coffee enthusiasts nationwide for basic information on coffee farming. The seminar orients guests on the entire coffee production cycle—from seed propagation to planting, farm maintenance, harvesting, and post-harvest processing.


COFFEE 101
October 28/29, Tuesday/Wednesday, 2 - 5 p.m.

Coffee advocate Chit Juan will share the history of coffee and coffee information that every enthusiast wants to know. The course is an introduction to the wonderful world of coffee.


BARISTA 101
October 28/29, Tuesday/Wednesday, 2 - 5 p.m.

Perfect for the café operator or coffee aficionado who wants to learn how to "pull" an espresso and make espresso-based beverages like capuccino, mocha, and macchiato. The course also teaches guests the different ways of brewing coffee.


HOW TO PUT UP A COFFEE SHOP
October 30, Thursday, 2 - 5 p.m.

Coffee shop founder Chit Juan shares her secrets to how to make a business out of a café or small restaurant serving good coffee. How much capital do you need? Who studies the market? How profitable is a coffee shop business? Do you operate a franchise or set up your own?

*Kape Isla shares space with EchoStore Sustainable Lifestyle
Ground Floor, Serendra Piazza
Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Telephone: 901-3485


Call 901-3485 or call/SMS 0915-5767886 for reservations.
Seats are limited, so please hurry!
E-mail philcoffeeboard@gmail.com for inquiries.

turning on the water works at Book Sale

Just this afternoon, during my weekly trip to Book Sale's Rob Metro East branch, I made a total ass of myself.

While browsing through the racks, I came across this book - TO MY DAUGHTER WITH LOVE ON THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE. And as I turned the cover, there was this dedication:

Dearest...;
I wrote you a long letter before I went to the hospital. Then I saw this at the back hall at U.S.C. and it said everything I would like to tell you and teach you. I don't know why I can't say it in an acceptable way but you are my dearest darling, sunshine, delighted, delicious, and difficult to understand lovely girl. I will always love you and never regret the gift I was given in you. ILUMTL. [ I love you more than life.]

And then I couldn't fight the tears. They just came rushing down that I had to turn away from the door, away from every person in the room, and face a corner. There, facing the stacks of harlequin mills and boon novels, I wiped the tears of longing and sadness.

I miss my mother so much.
My heart is still hoping to see her come out of their bedroom, smile at me, and greet me with a kiss. Even when my mind keeps on drilling it in that she's gone forever.

As I walking to the mall, I kept on remembering the countless of times we've rummaged through sale racks for tops, watched lovers find each other in chick flicks, or daydream about how she'll babysit for me during the work week. I kept thinking that we'll never have that again. and all the more what-should've-beens.

My mum is gone. DEAD. GONE.

Then I came across this book.
I hope that it was her that sent me this. That somehow she sensed my sorrow.
And being the most loving mother, she wanted to remind me that she loved me very much.

RIHANNA AND CHRIS BROWN, LIVE IN TAGUIG ON NOVEMBER 16

FROM MTV:

14 October, 2008 - Witness the greatest collaboration the Philippines has ever seen as Globe and MTV Philippines bring you Rihanna and Chris Brown, back to back in the biggest concert of the year! Watch two of Hollywood’s greatest R&B artists as they bounce here at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field on November 16! Get two concerts for the price of one because things just keep getting better with our early bird rate! Avail of your tickets at a discounted price from October 15 to 31! Get your Platinum ticket for PhP 8,000; your Gold ticket for PhP 3,000; your Silver ticket for PhP 1,500 and your Bronze ticket for PhP 300! Regular price of PhP 10,000, 5,000, 3,000 and 600 will apply there after.

RIHANNA
Rihanna, a Multi-platinum MTV VMA, Grammy, American Music Award Winning Artist, MTV Video Music Awards Winner, R&B sensation and fashion Icon earned the coveted title of international superstar at the young age of 19. In just three years, Rihanna has helped define the path of popular music, accrued multiple #1 hits, two MTV Video Music Awards and three Billboard Awards under her belt. In addition to her mind blowing success, Rihanna created a charity organization for improverished children and has singed on to endorse a wide variety of multi-billion dollar companies.

CHRIS BROWN
Christopher Maurice Brown is a Grammy nominated American R&B and pop singer-songwriter, dancer, music video director and actor who released his Billboard Hot 100 number-one debut single "Run It!" in 2005. His self-titled debut album spawned four successful top ten and top twenty hits in the United States. To date, the album has sold three million copies worldwide and 1,920,665 copies in the United States.


We’ve got more of Rihanna and Chris Brown all on MTV! Catch Rihanna on Box-Set (at these dates: Wed, Oct 15 at 6pm; Tue, Oct 21 at 930am; Sat, Nov 1 at 8pm; Thu, Nov 6 at 10pm; Mon, Nov 10 at 6pm and Sun, Nov 16 at 12nn) and Making the Video (at these times: Sun, Oct 19 at 3pm; Fri, Oct 24 at 530pm; Mon, Oct 27 at 3pm; Sat, Nov 7 at 230pm and Wed, Nov 12 at 930am). Get a load of Chris Brown on Box-Set at this schedule: Fri, Oct 17 at 1030pm; Sun, Oct 26 at 6pm; Thu, Oct 30 at 330pm; Tue, Nov 4 at 8pm; Fri, Nov 14 at 830pm and Sun, Nov 16 at 1230pm.

Stand up and get loud for the hottest ticket in town! For reservation inquiries, log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999. For more information on this double header, keep tuning in to MTV Philippines on Sky Cable channel 57 or log on to www.mtvphil.com.

Globe and MTV Philippines bring you Rihanna and Chris Brown Live in Taguig! Co Presented by Mc Donald’s and Samsung; Official Media Partners are Business World, GMA, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, QTV and You Magazine. Official Radio Partners are Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, XFM 92.3, RX 93.1, Campus 99.5, 103.5 Max FM, Crossover 105.1, Dream 106.7 and Y101 Cebu.

own a condo unit and pay as low as P10K/ month

'MERLIN' never looked this cute!

Call me corny, but aside from CW's 90210 and Gossip Girl, here's another one of my guilty pleasures - BBC One's 'Merlin'.

Why a guilty pleasure, you might ask? It is because if you're a fan of the Arthurian legends, you would find this series a bit preposterous since everything seems to be out of whack.

Wikipedia explains it explicitly:

"Merlin arrives at the city of Camelot, where the king, Uther Pendragon, has outlawed magic and imprisoned the last dragon. Merlin, who was born with extraordinary magic powers, is taken as the apprentice of Gaius. Merlin later discovers, after being informed by the last dragon, who is held as a prisoner deep under the city, that he has an important destiny in protecting Uther's arrogant son, Arthur, so that he may grow up to found a great kingdom.

The era in which the series is set is ambiguous; traditionally the Arthurian legends are set in the dark ages , and the idea of King Uther reigning over a small kingdom (which is present in both traditional legend and the television series) sets it before the union of England in 1066. Despite this, the castle interiors are 15th century, making the series' setting entirely inconsistent with English history, and therefore should be treated purely as fantasy fiction. Britain is never mentioned; Uther's domain is referred to by the name Albion, the oldest known name for Great Britain."

But then again, it IS a fantasy. :-) And you have to applaud their 'color blind casting', with black actors portraying characters despite the legend. (Gwen is portrayed as a black servant girl.)

Despite the baffling setting, here are THE two reasons why i watch the show.

1. COLIN MORGAN as the young Merlin.

scifi.about.com

2. BRADLEY JAMES as the young Prince Arthur

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Merlin_characters#Prince_Arthur

With these two cuties on for most of the show, i dare say they're enough reason to sit down for 44 minutes.

whats in store at 'THE ELEVENTH HOUR'

Odd that the first episode of CBS' 'The Eleventh Hour', 'Resurrection', is about a billionaire wanting to clone his dead son.

[I may not be a billionaire (yet. hihihi.) but somewhat, I understand his grief. Its the first 'normal' weekend I'll be spending without my mother. May God be with me.]

Back to the show. There was this line that Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell) said that really got to me. "Even if he survived the genetic mutation, even he'd be perfect in every sense, this wouldn't be the boy you knew. this would've been some other... different child. Gabriel is not the product of his DNA, he is the sum of every day you've spent with him - every meal his mother cooked for him, every story you've read, every ball you've threw him to catch."

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

"ELEVENTH HOUR from acclaimed producer Jerry Bruckheimer follows Dr. Jacob Hood, a brilliant biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. His jurisdiction is absolute and Hood is dogged in his pursuit of those who would abuse and misuse scientific discoveries and breakthroughs for their own gain. His passion and crusade is to protect the substance of science from those with nefarious motives. He is called in at the eleventh hour and he represents the last line of defense. Special Agent Rachel Young is the decorated FBI protection officer assigned to watch Hood’s back. Based on the British miniseries by acclaimed writer Stephen Gallagher, the series is executive produced by Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Danny Cannon, Cyrus Voris, Ethan Reiff and Mick Davis for Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television."

STARRING: RUFUS SEWELL as Dr. Jacob Hood and MARLEY SHELTON as Special Agent Rachel Young

SOURCE: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/eleventh_hour/about/

MORE

I was leafing through the March 2008 issue of GQ UK (with Lewis Hamilton on the cover) when I stumbled upon this poem. It was featured in the details section under poetry.

MORE

by Tracey Emin

at first I wanted you

to fuck me

then I became greedy

I wanted you to

love me.

so I asked for more.

final twilight movie poster

While this poster doesn't really help me with my EQ,
I LOVE IT! I can actually see both their faces!

Kristen is soooooo pretty.
Robert doing his 'Edward smirk.' ( I think.)

Ohhhh.... and there are behind the scenes photos from the movie's official German site that made me swoon...


here they are:

My funny 'VALENTINE'

Finally, TV show that speaks to the very core of me.

A romantic's dream, CW's 'Valentine' is about how the 'Valentine family' - Aphrodite, Cupid, Hercules, and the Goddess of the Oracle of Delphi, are living amongst humans and helping bring soulmates together.

Unfortunately, the gods' matchmaking skills have become less and less effective for today's modern man (and woman.) And as they continue to fail and in effect become less relevant to man, they're becoming mortals who could and would eventually die.So Grace a.k.a. Aphrodite recruited romance novelist Kate Providence to help them up their skills for the 21st century.

With the fates giving out the Valentines' calling card and the Oracle of Delphi, now housed in a hot tub, the valentines are going to try to bring love back in people's lives.

I absolutely love this show.
The romantic in me is just tooo thrilled.
Can't wait for the next episode.

PS.
I LOVE how they depicted Aphrodite.
She may not be the blond goddess but she REALLY works for me.

PPS.
In the first episode, my crushie from the show 'quarter life' - the actor who played Eric, is on. :-) Weeeee!


image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Valentinetv_titlecard.jpg

cast your vote: T3 Reader's Choice Awards

NEWS FROM THE T3 GUYS. :-)

Hello Everyone,

Please tell all your gadget-loving friends to vote for the
2008 T3 Reader's Choice Awards.

This time around, T3 is giving everyone the power to pick and name
the best gadgets of the year.

Voting is easy. Just click the link below to start voting.

http://www.t3mag.com.ph/readerschoice/index.php

CAN YOU TAKE KITT? a reaction to the latest incarnation of the 'knight rider'

[okay, doing this is basically admitting that i am getting old-er. take note, old-er.]

during my formative years, David Hasselhoff is the epitome of the ideal man. He is tall, built, good-looking, can outwit even the most cunning criminal, hold his own during a fight, and of course, has the most dream-inducing car on the planet. (kitt trumped the white lamborghini on my brother's wall.)

kitt can leap into the air thanks to his turbo-boost. he is as reliable as a golden, and it'll help you make the most wrenching decisions, thanks to his AI. of course, it doesn't help that a sexy sliver of red light pulses at the front.

simply, kitt was it.

some twenty years later, micheal knight is back again. looking less like a rogue vigilante and more of a pretty boy. (and of course, he is built.) i don't know know about you, but i'd rather have david any day.



and there's kitt. okay, a mustang is not bad at all... but is it as defining of a time as the trans-am? and a kitt that transforms to a truck? this ain't the transformers! can we tone down the special effects?

one of the reasons why i loved the 'knight rider' was because even when they used special effects, they still did the stunts! there were awe-inspiring stunts! they actually did it! unlike now... where it seems like everything was done post-production. (goodness, you're killing the soul of the show!) and more stunts with the car, please! kitt was the one thing that distinguished the knight rider from other superhero/ vigilante.

while the many special effects may have been done to keep up with the sensibilities of the today's kids... maybe they should just keep it to a minimum and respect the original feel of the show.

image sources:

1. www.great-tv-shows.com/.http://goddess610.multiply.com/knightrider.jpg

2. http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/737/rimageej1.jpg

Going mental over 'THE MENTALIST'

While flipping through the Oct 08 issue of Vogue, I spotted the print ad of a show featuring Simon Baker of 'The Devil Wears Prada' fame. Since he was absolutely charming in the movie 'Something New', I just had to check out this show.

Its 02:55 in the morning and I've finished watching the first two episodes of CBS' 'The Mentalist.'. Its like CSI... but with less gore. (i think.) And by goodness, Simon baker shouldn't be allowed to talk. With that voice of his, he could ask a girl to commit murder and she'd gladly answer 'Who?'

And yes, I am still up and about at 02:58 in the morning. I can't sleep. it also doesn't help that its Thursday. Dear God.

Back to the show.
Here's what I've found on CBS' website - http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_mentalist/about/

"THE MENTALIST stars Golden Globe Award nominee Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation. Within the Bureau, Jane is notorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. Jane's role in cracking a series of tough high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents. However, no-nonsense Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon openly resists having Jane in her unit and alternates between reluctantly acknowledging Jane's usefulness and blasting him for his theatrics, narcissism and dangerous lack of boundaries. Lisbon's team includes agents Kimball Cho, Wayne Rigsby and rookie member Grace Van Pelt, who all think Jane's a loose cannon but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases."