The internet has truly revolutionized the way people communicate with the world. It has opened a limitless channel of information and also a boundless avenue for self-expression. It's so powerful that an ordinary person can become a superstar overnight because of a viral video. Each one of us who has access to the internet has access to the world. This ability comes in such great power that a single tweet, picture, video, or post, can influence and change the world.



In this line, Tattoo launches Tatt Awards 2014 which aims to recognize the remarkable people who makes use of that power in a positive way -- those personalities that help the community through their activities online. Started in 2011, this annual event gives credit to the people who have lead a positive change to the community and continues to influence and give inspiration to everyone online.

July 1 marked the start of the nomination period for candidates of the Tatt Awards, and with that a launch party was held on that day at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5.

Standees of previous Tatt Awards Winners are in the event.

Media people and guests were treated with a scrumptious snacks and desserts.


The program was hosted by Bianca Valerio. (whom I also saw in this year's Nestea Beach press launch).


The Tatt Council, a group of people from different fields, will supervise the process of the selection of the nominees of the Tatt Awards. Some of them were present in the event and were introduced to the audience.

some of the Tatt Council members present in the event, with host Bianca (leftmost)

Bianca Gonzales and Jim Paredes for T@tt Awards 2014

At the event, I had the opportunity to spot celebrities, and that included Bianca Gonzales and Jim Paredes, which are both huge social media icons of today.

Aside from promoting the Tatt Awards, everyone was given an extra treat with a screening of "Channeling", a sci-fi film which depicts the very likely state of social media in the near future. It's a disturbing movie if you ask me, because it's highly possible for that EyeCast technology (with the tagline You're Only Live Once) to become a reality. It's just a few steps ahead from the Google Glass that we already have now.





Taking the initative from the event, I made my nomination for the T@tt awards.

guests doing their nominations during the launch party

Guess who I nominated? :D

Yup, he's "The One" for me! :)

All those who voted during the party were raffled off for a chance of winning a tablet, courtesy of Tattoo. I guess it was my lucky day, because I was the winner! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ I was so thrilled! I even got mentioned on this website.

I got a new toy! Yay! :D

Guys let's give back to the people online who inspired us and moved us in one way or another by nominating for them in the T@tt Awards! Head on to their website to nominate! Nominations are open until July 10, and voting starts on July 15.

Manila, Philippines --- 10 lucky shoppers will get to experience star-life condo living as the country’s largest chain of malls, launches their biggest and grandest promotion, the SM Supermalls Shop and Win an SMDC Condo Promo. The country’s largest shopping mall operator teamed-up with SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the leading real estate company in the Philippines, to give away 10 fully-furnished condominium units in prime locations.


To join, one need only to shop or dine for a minimum of P1,000 single or accumulated purchase in any of SM Supermalls’ 56 mall locations nationwide including SMDC Jazz and Sun Mall. Shoppers simply present their receipt/s along with their E-Plus Loyalty card, SM Advantage card, SM Prestige card or BDO Rewards card for an e-raffle entry. Double e-raffle entries will be given with the use of the E-Plus Loyalty card.

Every month, two condominium units from SMDC’s prime properties will be given away, strategically located in key areas across Metro Manila. These are Field Residences, M Place South Triangle, Light Residences, Sun Residences, Princeton Residences, Blue Residences, Grass Residences, Sea Residences and Jazz Residences and an 80-square meter penthouse at Mezza Residences.

Steven Tan, Senior Vice President for Operations of SM Supermalls said during the recent Shop and Win Promo launch last June 24, 2014 at the SMDC Grand Showroom, “SM will continue to provide not only affordable luxury and family fun mall experience but also a chance to experience the SMDC star-life condo living!”



The SM Supermalls Shop and Win Promo starts from June 22 up to November 22, 2014. Visit www.smshopandwin.com for more details. Like and follow SM Supermalls on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram (@smsupermalls) for regular updates.

Have you been in one of those days wherein you just feel soooo sad without having a hint why? Maybe it was because you got fed up with the demands of the world, or maybe it was just your hormones to blame. Even so, we all need something to serve as an outlet of all those unnecessary negative emotions.

For me, what I do is I listen to music. I won't be able to explain in words how music has helped me get through the roughest times in my life. When listening to music feels not enough, I create music myself.

That's what happened today. I've already did this in the past (even recorded some songs in the past) but this is the first time (in a long while) that I get to play and also sing along. I usually pre-record the piano parts and then place the vocals later. It was a great timing because my sister was out the whole weekend and I have the whole room for myself, and that's where I did all the recording.













Most of these are pieces I have learned playing years years back (mostly Vanessa Carlton tracks, I'm a big fan of her), and playing them again was like meeting an old friend again and reminiscing the great times of the past.

I still can't say I'm totally okay now, but I feel better. Maybe this is just a stage. I'll continue my quest of learning to play the piano (I still need a lot of practice). It's really a nice stress outlet, and you can express things with it that you will never say in words. :D

I took these photos early January this year. It was a clear night so I took advantage and grabbed the camera with the tripod.

There's the moon!

closeup shot

A crescent moon is my favorite. The camera was not able to capture the beauty of it because it was having difficulty capturing the faint light from the moon.

It's another thing for constellations. The picture below is captured in a different date, a moonless night.

I see Orion!

I've photographed Orion in the past and it's been a while.

Lepus gets captured too, apparently. Hover the image to see the constellation lines and labels.

I can't seem to locate the stars in Gemini though. We can see a glimpse of the Great Nebula in Orion too. Yay!

This is the largest number of constellations I have captured in one image. It would have been nicer to span the horizon to scope more stars. I would be needing another kind of camera (fisheye!) for that.

The rainy days have come so I guess I won't be having starry night sessions in a while.

It's always nice to experience something for the first time. There are lots of things learned and a new mindset is always created after the experience. This week was packed with a lot of these, and I am happy to have dared myself to do them.


Saw a Movie Alone
Whenever I hear friends say that they went to the cinema alone, I always felt dumbfounded. Seeing movies has always been a social thing to me. It's an activity best done with someone because surely after the end credits, you'll want someone to talk to and exchange opinions with about the film you have just watched.

Though slowly, I got acquainted with the idea, even got amused. Then I thought, why not try this myself? That's what I ended doing Monday night of the week.


The experience was not as bad as I imagined it to be. At first it was a bit awkward, because people in groups started to fill up the seats, and obviously I was just on my own because both sides of my seat were empty. No one cared really (just me haha) and soon enough, all the seats were filled. When the lights went out, it felt more natural, just like my every visit to the cinema. I felt more freedom in crying (I shed a lot of tears) and it was not surprising that I looked like a huge mess upon leaving the theater. I'm glad no one was with me so I cared less and just walked my way home.

Will I do this again? Yes, because the experience gave me the same feeling I get when traveling alone (which is something that I want to do also in the near future :D). Going to the cinemas is like doing a trip to the fantasy world. I think I just need to change the genre of the film I'm seeing next time. ;)


Donated Blood to Red Cross
I have been into lots of volunteer work recently (thanks to opportunities that my company provided), and donating blood has always been in my bucket list. The schedule of the blood donation was of perfect timing for me -- I was physically healthy (no colds or cough), had a complete night's sleep, and it's not my time of the month.

I was a bit nervous when I went to the blood donation site. Aside from worrying about the pain of the needle, I was more concerned on how my body would react. I have never bled before (except for the monthly ones) so I don't really know how I would feel after.

The moment of truth came. I was lying down their mattress and the Red Cross attendant was checking the pulse on my forearm. They even had to check both my arms because they said my veins were too thin. Fortunately, the attendant was skilled enough and she was able to locate the vein on my left forearm.The needle insertion did hurt but only for the first few seconds. They gave me a soft rubber ball to squeeze every five seconds. A colleague was with me during that time, and she described how red my blood looked as it flowed through the tube and into the bag.

After roughly 8 minutes, I was done! Apparently according to them, I have a healthy vein and was ideal for donating blood. The needle was then removed and I just lied down for another 15 minutes to rest. Actually I didn't feel any kind of weakness. I was listening to my body to feel how it would react with the loss of 450 cc of blood. I was feeling all okay as I stood up and left the site.



My first time to donate blood was a success! I got myself a Red Cross card and some freebies (pin and an eco bag), not to mention the huge sense of accomplishment. I am glad to know that I am healthy enough to donate blood. I have A+ blood type by the way.

Will I do this again? Of course! As long as I am healthy enough to do it, I will donate again. They say a blood bag can benefit four patients. It would be great to be able to help them. At least I can say I have contributed something to this world. Helping others really boosts one's self-worth. :p



Got Really Drunk (At Home)
It was my first time to drink with my sister. We were supposed to do it on her birthday but because I donated blood on that day and cannot drink alcohol after, we pushed the activity on Friday night. We bought the drinks in our room and watched the most depressing chic flick ever -- 500 Days of Summer.

It's been more than three months since I have laid eyes to the beauty of the beach paradise of Boracay. Up until now it feels like a dream. Everything went smoothly as planned. Together with my sis and mom, we relaxed for 3 days and 2 nights in the island.

Our Boracay getaway included a lot of first-time experience -- my first trip to Visayas, first time to ride a plane, and first trip with sis and mom. I guess what made this trip a lot special  is the fact that this is mine and my sister's way of treating our mom out. Mom has always been at home only and rarely goes out to chillax so this trip was our gift to her. :D

Aboard the plane! Ack, I was blinded by the light! This shot was hurriedly done before we went up the plane.

It was my first time to ride the plane! I was not really that hyped but I knew this was something to look forward to.

Luckily, I was seated by the window. ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ

Few minutes after we have seated, I heard the flight attendants tell us to be ready for flight. The plane began to move.

CLOUDS! (´ ▽｀).。ｏ♡

Land and sea transfers c/o Southwest Tours!

My view from the boat. I was at the side of the window again. xD

I felt the thirst for an adventure that made me join a photo contest at the office. I was serious about learning something new about the art of taking pictures. Good thing I have a buddy who felt the same. Together with Krishan (a colleague) with his friend Steve, we went to Lamesa Dam with the mission to capture the beauty of nature and show it to the world.

[UPDATED]

In my continuing quest of living a healthier lifestyle, I have tried new things to change some unhealthy habits that I have.

Because Yoga Failed Me
First off, I enrolled again to this yoga studio that I have tried before, this time for a month-long pass. It was during the month of April up until through May and I must say the sessions really made me improve my flexibility. Though after more than 10 sessions, the improvement on my physique was far from obvious. What's worse was that I gained an extra 2 pounds. (;¬_¬) My friends told me that this might be because I gained muscle mass because of all the stretching that I did. Besides, yoga is not really focused on burning fats but on improving flexibility. I was just a little bit disappointed so I decided to not continue my yoga sessions at the meantime and see if there are other ways that would work for me.

The Search for Other Weight-loss Options
Good thing most of my teammates are also in the same boat as me. We all want to lose weight. One lunch, we had this conversation about trying out famous diet programs like the South Beach Diet, to name a few. Until one colleague mentioned this meal program that he once tried wherein they would deliver to you your meals for the day that follow their daily calorie plan. This is how I discovered Diet Diva!



It's a complete meal service that is healthy, affordable, and convenient! It's a 5-day meal plan (yup, a complete set of breakfast, lunch, and dinner + snack!) with the food delivered right at your doorstep. Each week costs P1900, which means each meal amounts to ~P125 only! That's just about the same price that I spend when we do lunch outs (even more I think) that's why I find Diet Diva a smarter choice for my meals.

No More Cooking in the Morning!
I usually bring my own lunch at work and preparing them at home is a real sacrifice. I wake up extra early to have time to prepare them, and it's an extra effort given that my reporting time to work is early already. My meal almost always consists of rice + anything fried anyway so it's really not that healthy. Availing the service of Diet Diva removed a huge load off my chest. I can wake up 30 minutes later than my usual morning alarm call. I get to do some eye makeup (I'm trying to imitate CL's makeup during their AON concert here in Manila hehe) which takes up several minutes, but I still end up arriving at the office earlier than usual! I love it! （人´∀`*）


First Week: May 19-23



The start is always the hardest part. The meals that we had are well-proportioned which filled up my stomach just right. I am used to eating until I feel I'm full, so I definitely felt the change on the start of this diet. It felt sad and frustrating at first but patience helped me to get through. It's really best to have a support group doing the diet together. At the office, there were four of us who availed of the Diet Diva service. We just spent the first few days ranting (a little bit hehe) about the food with each other. But on the third day onwards, life got easier for us. We were satisfied with the food and actually loved the snacks! :D









Result: I lost around 2 pounds! I'm so happy! T^T I'm glad it turned out this way despite of not being able to stick that much with the diet plan. I invested more on drinking fluids (water, juice, tea) when I felt like I'm craving something. Also coffee is A MUST for me every morning so I just could not skip that off my meal. It seems like this diet program has a positive effect on my body so I decided to subscribe for another week!

Second Week: May 26-30



(I'll update on the results next week! *crossing fingers for more positive results* )

I am very sure Filipino Blackjacks had a blast on last Saturday night's concert! Korean girl group 2NE1 graced the stage of the Mall of Asia Arena on May 17, performing their top hits for their fans here in the Philippines.

I highly anticipated 2NE1's concert here because I really love their songs and their personalities on stage. They are the only kpop girl group that I follow that's why I was so hyped up when I heard the news that they were including Manila in their All or Nothing tour. :D


The concert was one hell of a party! It was oozing with girl power! Since most of the songs of 2NE1 are danceable, everyone was jumping up and down their seats!

2NE1's AON Manila Setlist

They performed a total of 21 songs in the concert (well played number =)) ). They did rock versions and unplugged variations of their hits.

Dara's abs was an eye-catcher. I mean she already had a perfect face but she also was able to sport a nice body! Talk about perfection! I loooove her!

Dara's abs!

I noticed that they didn't have their usual female backup dancers. They had handsome male dancers on stage instead. The Kwon twins catched the attention of a lot of the fans! Apparently these two are celebrated YG backup dancers. This was an extra treat for the fans! :D

One Kwon twin behind CL during the Baddest Female performance

CL really is the queen of kpop! She's full of swag singing and dancing to the music on stage. She's so pretty even if it was obvious that she was very uncomfortable with that fur dress that she wore on one number. My fangirling dreams have come true after being able to watch her perform live. :D

I love CL's makeup during the concert! The cat eyes and red lipstick did the trick!

Thanks to the huge efforts of the group's local fan club 2NE1PH, this concert became extra special to us. We can see that their clappers (which is part of their project) were all over the arena (though my sister and I didn't get one, perhaps because we arrived late, and uhm I think ours were taken by others already). Their fan projects (most of them) were a success!

the crowd at MOA Arena (just before the lights went out!)

Winner, a boyband group under YG, was also in the concert. They performed a handful of songs to the delight of their fans.

Winner on stage of MOA Arena

Some local actors also went up the stage as special guests during their 'I Love You' lap dance performance.

Dara's humility is very much heartfelt throughout her stay in the country to do promotions for the concert. She went to the Philippines a few days ahead of the other members to do guestings and appearances in local shows. She still was in touch with her Filipino celebrity friends and we saw their interactions on TV and on social media accounts online. It's really amazing that after achieving superstar status and worldwide fame, she still looks back to the place where all of it started. She still considers ABS-CBN (the local TV station where she became a talent) as her 'playground'.

I'm just a little disappointed with the concert because first, they didn't have solo stages (aside from CL). Second, they didn't actually stick to the intergalactic theme of their concert teasers. I was expecting to see references of this in their video presentations in-between performances but unfortunately, what they presented were random videos of the girls. What's worse was showing music videos of their songs! Hey I didn't go to their concert to just watch their Happy MV. Third, they didn't sing Falling in Love (well they did in the Charity Ball, but I didn't attend that)! But of course all in all, I enjoyed their stage. It's not everyday you'll see CL, Minzy, Bom and Dara perform live. :D

After the concert, I was yearning for more! If ever they return to the country, I want to get the best seats to see them rock the stage again. ;)

Check more photos from the concert below!

I am again at awe on how different people can be. I have experienced to be with different kinds of crowd, and I am thankful to have learned from them the lesson of passion, and the continuous willingness to be the best version of one's self by getting out of one's comfort zones.

I think I have already talked about something like this in the past and up to now it still gets me on how different people's choices can be based on their actions and in their views in life. We all have 24 hours to spare each day and true enough, success depends on how well we utilize those time.

I have very well proved by experience that challenging one's self by trying out something new outside the comfort zone makes us better people because we learn a lot of lessons from it. Overcoming an obstacle gives us this wonderful feeling of triumph and the thirst to achieve more.

There's a lot of people around me that makes me so inspired to get out of my shell and face the world (I'm on my way there!). There are also some people that I know who are at the opposite side of the road, who still needs some kind of encouragement to go on in life.

Recently, I have this colleague who was my teammate in my previous work. I have a lot of respect for this person (yup, he's included in this list!) He joined my current company, which means we're officemates again, and I never have gotten more happier ever since. I have learned a lot from him in the past, and I am still learning a lot of lessons from him now. He's very passionate in his field (aside from work, he has a lot of programming projects on the side!) and a very disciplined person. I'm so inspired by the accomplishments that he has already achieved given that he's still young and is just starting on his career. He's currently my source of inspiration at work. I want to have the same attitude as his for our chosen field.

There are also a lot of interesting personalities that I have met at work. I got the chance to work with this lady who quenches her unique thirst of adventure by travelling out of the country alone. She has gone to Japan on her own (oh how I wish I could do the same!). To think that I also know of a gal who has not gone out of the Philippines without her family with her. People are so different and this makes them kind of interesting,  from this fellow fangirl (that I mentioned here) who have reunited with her parents after almost 8 years during their recent US trip, to a teammate who have gone through lots of hardships to be with her current husband.

Each of them has their own different story, and in each of them I kind of pull out the strength and the inspiration to weave my own. I don't have a lot of story-worthy anecdotes, but I must say that it was a great path from the start of my life to the present. I love how different people makes me see the world in a different way. I am still young, and there's a whole lot of bunch of things to learn, and I am happy that I got to draw the inspiration from the set of people that I'm with everyday. I hope to continue learning from them, and maybe, share a few lessons for them from my own.

~o~

This post has been in draft for weeks and weeks and I seem to not have the motivation to finish it at all... until now. It's been weeks also that I haven been feeling constantly unhappy and depressed about life in general. I have experienced this kind of stage countless of times in the past, but I think this one is the worst. 

I have been constantly searching for the meaning in life. Though I am okay now, I haven't found the answer yet. What I know is that I am again curious with life and ready to move on again on this journey.