Just Jeric! | a personal blog

Taste Asia, SM Hypermarket and Coke really know how to treat bloggers. After the Coke Zero bloggers party last June 27, 2008, the same people organized another Coke bloggers party last August 8, 2008 where Buhay Coke Video Blog Contest winners were awarded. Since the party coincides with the opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, a live stream was shown on the big screen and LCD televisions within the venue.

Since the real cause of the event is to award the winners of the Buhay Coke Video Blog Contest, the live stream of the Beijing 2008 Olympics has been turned off. Azrael Coladilla won the first prize and took home the 32” Toshiba LCD TV. Here’s the list of the winners:

4th Place - dcoyexo
3rd Place - CokskiBlue
2nd Place - komikero
1st Place - popazrael

There were a lot of new faces that night that I almost failed to socialize. Good thing, I was avail to have small chitchats with the bloggers I know.

As usual, Taste Asia provided the bloggers with oh-so-great food. While Coke provided us with overflowing Coke, Coke Zero and their latest offering, the Minute Maid Orange Juice. One thing unique about Minute Maid is that there’s orange pulp within the juice. With the orange pulp on your juice, you are assured that the juice you’re drinking is made from real oranges. The taste is just right and won’t kill your throat. I remember drinking some orange juice that almost killed my throat. I needed to drink glasses of water just to get rid of the sweetness that got stuck in my throat.

More bloggers party to come!

Burger King has been famous for the tagline, “Have it your way” which simply means you have the right to have what you want, exactly when you want it. With almost 25 stores within Metro Manila and the nearby provinces, rest assured that the food and service by the stores are of high standards.

One of Burger King’s latest offerings is the Steak House Burger, which comes in two variants – the classic and overload. The new Steakhouse burger is packed with Angus beef, melted cheese, crispy onions, lettuce and tomatoes, all smothered with Burger King’s special steak sauce.

“Awesome Foursome” is Burger King’s latest promotion where in you will get four of your favorites (drink, burger, fries, and dessert) in one awesome meal.

One great thing about Burger King is that they offer free WiFi in their stores! So, the nearby coffee shop is too jam-packed you might want to transfer in Burger King and enjoy their burgers and free WiFi. If incase you laptop (or any WiFi capable device) runs out of battery, worry no more! You can plug-in your laptop on the wall outlets strategically place beside each table (at least on the Timog branch). You can also charge your cellphone and any other portable devices such as iPod, Nintendo DS, PSP and such on the charging stations. Just don’t leave them unattended!

Burger King is located in SM Southmall, Robinsons Place – Manila, SM City Manila, Marcos Highway, Alabang Town Center, Gateway Mall, Mabuhay Rotonda, Robinsons Galleria, SM City Fairview, SM City North EDSA, E. Rodriguez QC, Timog Avenue QC, SM Pampanga, SM San Lazaro, Glorietta, Shell NLT, SM City Marilao, SM Batangas, SM Fairview, National Highway Calamba, SM Bacoor, Robinsons Place Imus, and Kanlaon St. QC.

I first met Toni Gonzaga during a concert in our school when I was still in grade five (2002). From that day, I instantly became a fan because of her cheerful and lively attitude. I believe she has all the right to be called the “multimedia star” because she can sing, act, dance, host — name it she can do it! In fact, I decided to create a Toni Gonzaga fan blog to show my support and admiration. She is not only a star but also a great example to the youth of today.

This post is my entry to the Boratrip Take Two Contest of Pinoy Parazzi.

One of my goals for 2008 is to attend World Youth 2008. Despite the efforts I exerted to be able to attend WYD 2008, I failed. Maybe it’s God’s plan. Well, I’m only 17 years old and I’m not yet allowed to travel alone. In addition, traveling to Sydney is just plain expensive! I don’t want my family to be in great debt just to have one of my goals achieved.

So, I gave up. No World Youth 2008 for me. No Pope for me. No Sydney for me.

I was depressed. In fact whenever I would hear any news mentioning World Youth Day, I would feel sad and would change channels immediately. But I came back to my senses and started to watch EWTN’s coverage of the World Youth Day during the Final Mass celebrated by none other than Pope Benedict XVI. It is where he announced that the next World Youth Day would be in 2011 and would take place in Madrid, Spain.

This time, I promise to myself that I would make it! In fact, I’ll be coming up with my own WYD 2011 blog in a matter of days or weeks. I’ll be saving up and would be starting to look for sponsors this early!

Maybe that’s why I’ve been meaning to learn Spanish. Maybe it’s God’s plan. See, God moves in mysterious ways (or is it love?). He wanted me to learn Spanish to by that I would attend the WYD in Madrid I won’t feel alienated.

Hello, World Youth Day 2011! Hello, Pope! Hello, Madrid!

I’ve been a WordPress user since 2005, around 2 years after I started blogging. WordPress is really the CMS and the blogging software of my choice. In fact, I’ve been using WordPress on all the websites I maintain – from fansites to personal blogs to niche blogs. In fact, I professed my love for WordPress on my other blog post, entitled, “WordPress: Bloggers’ Best Bud!” WordPress has a vast collection of plugins and themes that will surely suit your needs. I designed a couple of WordPress themes in the past.

Good thing, Wordcamp is now here in the Philippines! WordCamp is the premier event for WordPress users and developers. I would really love to attend Wordcamp Philippines to socialize with WordPress users in the Philippines and to learn more about the blogging software. I would really love to create WordPress themes again but my creativity is failing on me! It would be very fun to learn new uses of WordPress too. Well, thanks to Wordcamp Philippines 2008, which is organized by the Mindanao Bloggers. Wordcamp Philippines 2008 wouldn’t be possible without the help of the following people:

• i.PH: the Domain for Individuals
• Free Online Flash Games
• Wazzup Manila Philippines
• Real Estate CRM
• Real Estate Website Designers
• Orange County Real Estate
• Auto Insurance Quotes
• Lane Systems Inc.
• RedMedia
• Orange County Business Lawyer
• Cebu Pacific Air
• Buddy Gancenia Reality TV
• SmartBro Wireless Broadband
• SPOT.ph
• Make Money with Performancing Ads

Hope to see all WordPress users at Wordcamp Philippines 2008 on September 6, 2008!

UPDATE SPONSORS LIST

Is listening to FM Radio too old-fashioned? I’m a fan of FM Radio during my younger years (10 to around 14 years old). I love listening to different FM Radio Stations – Wave, Magic, RT, Kool and Campus to name a few. In fact, there was a point in my life that I dreamt of being a radio DJ. I even operated my own Internet radio station before. I would call radio stations or drop a line on their messengers to request for songs and even greet my friends. Funny really! But in today’s context, do we still listen to FM Radio stations? I know that there are a lot of mp3 players and other portable media players available in the market today. Why bother wait for the DJ to play your requested song when you can just fiddle with your iPod and select the track you want? Why struggle to get into the busy lines of these radio stations just to request for a song? I know.

I was busy plurking and one of my plurk buddies is a DJ for a local radio station. I got curious and decided to listen to his radio show. His Plurk buddies would post requests and he would play the songs eventually. So, I did the same and lucky, he played the songs I requested. Right now I’m listening to his radio show and waiting for my third request this morning. I requested for Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. His show today plays the music of the past and the not-so distant past (mostly from the 90s and the early 2000s). Awhile ago, I also requested for a song by Westlife and S Club 7 and all of them where played. Hearing your name and your requested song makes me happy.

Sometimes, it’s great to go back down the memory lane and do things as it was just like listening to the radio. Being an FM Radio station fan when I was young, it was great listening to an FM radio station again. As I end this post, I’m now listening to my last request for today which Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. Thanks, Mr. DJ!

I don’t know when I first saw the trailer of Mamma Mia the Movie. Upon seeing that trailer, I was totally excited to see the film of the hit musical. I first saw Mamma in 2006, during our school’s English Festival wherein fourth year high school students are required to produce a musical. Since I saw the musical already, I have an idea on how would be the story like.

Just yesterday, Thursday, June 10, 2008, Mamma Mia the Movie was shown here in the Philippines. Since I’m free that day, I decided to watch the film on it’s first screening day. I was actually thinking on where to watch the movie. I then finally decided to treat myself into a great movie experience. I chose to watch the film at the Globe Platinum Cinema in Gateway Mall. The GPC wasn’t that full. In fact, I’m the only one seated on ROW B. Thanks to the unlimited popcorn and drinks!

I can’t help but praise Mamma Mia a lot of times. It’s the best movie of the season. In fact, I more enjoyed this film than Hairspray even though I watched the movie alone. I nearly stood up to sing and dance a long with the movie. It was fun singing along with the movie. Meryl Streep was so good on screen together with the other actors and actresses. The location is really breathtaking! It seems that everything about the movie is perfect.

If you’re looking for a movie to watch this weekend, try Mamma Mia!

EDIT: See how uninspired I am when I wrote that? After watching the movie alone, my mom and I ate at Bon Appetit in Rustan’s Gateway for my pasta fix. I ate the Pescadore which is their seafood pasta in aligue sauce. The taste is fine but I didn’t like the noodles they used which is the angel hair noodles.

I’ve been meaning to list my Ten Emerging Influential Blogs for quite some time now but I can’t think of ten blogs. Most of the blogs I visit have been in the blogosphere for more than a year now (including mine, hehehe). So anyway, here are my ten emerging and influential blogs for 2008.

1. Missing Carlo – Isn’t great to see how an older sister cares for her brother who has autism? In Missing Carlo, you’ll see how Mica cares and loves his brother even though they’re both separated from each other. This is the only blog I know (at least in the Philippine Blogosphere) that discusses autism freely without the fear of rejection.
2. Visit Sagada – Who doesn’t want to travel? I really love traveling but doesn’t have the resources to do so! Visit Sagada provides its visitor with the information and things you should know in visiting Sagada. The people behind Visit Sagada can even help you plan your trip.
3. Distance Education in the Philippines – Distance Education is quite new for some especially in the Philippines. In this blog, I write my experience as a distance education student in the Philippines. This blog also aims to promote and educate people in the Philippines about the existence of this “new” way of learning.
4. Filipino Voices – I am dumb about politics and reading Filipino Voices gives me a glimpse on what politics is. Filipino Voices is a collaborative blog focusing on politics, news and social commentary. If you always get confuse on the different issues then Filipino Voices can enlighten you.
5. Filipina Images – Looking on their site info page, FilipinaImages.com was created last August 8, 2007 meaning Filipina Images is still eligible for this year’s Ten Emerging Influential Blogs. Filipina Images aims to uplift and reshape the image of Filipinas online. The people behind it wanted to create a balance of the word “Filipina” on SERPs (Search Engine Results Page).
6. Bloggers Da Who – If you are bored and have nothing to do, why not spend your time reading Bloggers Da Who and have a good laugh.
7. You Got Tech – It is great to see a couple of people joining together to produce a video blog about technology. Aims to capture the non-techies, You Got Tech produces video covering product launches, gadget reviews, techie events and others.
8. Pass The Sauce – I’m a frustrated food blogger! I don’t know why I haven’t started my own food blog. Well, I don’t eat in expensive restaurants that much. Anyway, if you’re looking for new and good place to eat and hangout, Pass The Sauce got them covered. My favorite post at Pass The Sauce is the one entitled, “Spot the Difference: Pho 24 Manila and HCM city”.
9. Manila Foodistas – I just love food blogs! Manila Foodistas is a group blog providing its visitors with reviews of restaurants and other places to eat within the Metro. If you are that adventurous when it comes to food, you’ll definitely want to try to restaurants reviewed by the Manila Foodistas.
10. So Sick of Taxi – A blog that tackles about transportation, motion sickness, taxi stories and a whole lot more. A family of bloggers maintains this blog. By the way, you could contribute a post too!

And that completes the list for my Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008. Join the writing project too! More information here.

UPDATE: Since Filipina Images cannot be nominated for this year, I’m nominating Work With Ria instead.

Today, June 18, 2008, officially marks the 100th Foundation Day of the University of the Philippines. A lot of activities were lined up today. One of them is the flag ceremony at the Oblation Plaza. The night before, I decided that I would be attending the flag ceremony at Oblation Plaza around 8am. I even memorized the lyrics of UP Naming Mahal so that I could sing along with everyone. It’s a shame if I don’t know the lines of our Alma Mater Song.

I woke up at 5:30am and was thinking if I would still join the flag ceremony. There are a lot of things running on my mind. How will I go there? Traffic? Who will accompany me throughout the program? And a whole lot more. I even contacted some of my schoolmates hoping that they could accompany me. Unfortunately, I failed to contact them. We are not really close. We just know each other by face. In fact, I’m the only one studying in UP from our school that doesn’t belong to the cream class. After few minutes of contemplating, I decided to just stay at home. I think I’m the most kill joy student of UP who didn’t bother join any of the centennial activities.

I have a 1:00pm class today. So while bumming around the house, I waited for any announcements regarding the suspension of classes. Sad but true, class were not suspended. I normally leave our house at around 11:00am but for today, I left at 11:45am. I’m avoiding the Oblation Run because I know that the vicinity of the campus would be traffic by that time. I arrived in UP Diliman at around 12:45am and waited for a TOKI jeep. After a few minutes, I noticed that there were no TOKI jeeps at all. I found out that the Academic Oval was closed so the jeepney routes were changed. I decided to walk from University Avenue to Vanguard Building to make it to my 1:00pm class.

That was a pretty tiring walk! I went to our classroom and almost all my classmates were there except for my favorite classmate. ? Anyway, I’ve met Crystal a while ago. She is the one whom I discovered to be one of my classmates in PE 1 through Multiply. We didn’t talk that much but at least I gained a friend (or should I say an acquaintance). At around 1:45pm, everyone is already in the classroom except for our professor. A few moments after, one of my classes announced that our professor won’t make it. We all decided to leave the room and go wherever.

As we go out of Vanguard Building, it started drizzling. I waited at the nearby jeepney stop hoping to find a North Edsa jeep. I’m still cluecless at that time that the Academic Oval has been opened to traffic once again. A couple of jeepneys passed by and the rain started to get hard. It’s raining cats and dogs! It’s getting dark too! I thought I’ll be stranded on that jeepney stop forever. I decided to just ride the IKOT jeep. I later found out that the jeepney routes are back to normal. And the rain hasn’t stop!

Anyway, I found my way to University Avenue and waited for a North Edsa jeepney. Luckily, one passed by and had just enough space for me. And then, I finally arrived at SM North Edsa safe. I spent a couple of minutes there and decided to went home.

On my way home, one of my churchmates rode the same jeepney I’m riding. I smiled at her. And then she asked, “classmate ba kita?” And I said, “Hindi churchmate kita, diba?” Upon going down the jeepney, we chit-chat for a few moments while heading home.

That’s all.