Day: February 11, 2012

It’s a quiet Saturday and I was wondering why there were searches for Nancy Castiglione in this blog. All I remember was taking a picture of her with her son in the 2010 Pampers Babylimpics.I thought she did well making her son eat a fruit like that.

Suddenly, I felt the need to Google her and it looks like there’s a brewing issue with no less than the Philippines’ foremost celebrity doctor, Vicki Belo, tweeting this. She sounded jealous.

It turns out there were reports of Castiglione and Belo’s controversial fiance Hayden Kho kissing in some establishment in the Fort.

*sigh. Hayden Kho again. Sometimes I think he wants to be in the news just so he can sell those perfumes.

Following the incident, Hayden had to make a public declaration of love to @vicky_belo. But I must say: your actions speak louder than words dude

It seems Cristalle Belo & the Azkals’ Jason Sabio are better off. They look so happy -

It was stylish Sasha who alerted me to this new social photo sharing site called Pinspire. She told me to try and take a look as it was like Tumblr. Problem is, I never tried Tumblr, being stuck (and staying loyal) to older blogging platforms like WordPress. I get to ask: what else is there to try..it looks like they’re all the same banana yadda yadda yadda

But I have to give my curiosity a try. Did I ever tell you this is what happens when you attempt to make a living out of internet surfing? LOL. I just noticed that my blogger-friends are the ones who are always up-to-date about the latest developments in social media. I figure that this has something to do with our fear of extinction. You go with the tide or risk being run over with what’s hot in digital innovations. Just saying

The first step in discovering Pinspire is to create an account (obviously, hehe). And I was immediately greeted with all those alluring photos on the dashboard: cupcakes, cocktail dresses, pink rooms, lipsticks and other interesting things. Highly recommended if you’re into photography or just like ogling at photos taken by other people.

The purpose of sites like Pinspire is to achieve interaction. As in Facebook, if you like something, just go ahead and pin it! Or make a comment if something really catches your fancy. Who knows you might just get the followers you need, or more blog readers.

What I did was create a collection revolving around certain themes. So I went ahead and titled it Fave Food Photos, Travel Memories etc. In Fave Food Photos, for example, I included here photos from other people’s albums in the Pinspire site that I like or the ones from my collection. My stock photos of food are simply ginormous. I just realized it now as I look through my files…I’ve taken more photos of food than I have of my children (tsk). The hard part is remembering which meal in what restaurant it happened

For someone who takes lots of photos with her trusty digicam (it’s only a point and shoot, mind you), I am beginning to like Pinspire and what it does. My Flickr is now a big jumble of (sometimes) irrelevant photos. I like the fact that I can better organize my fave photos now with specific themes and collections under Pinspire. I also hope to make some followers and friends. How cool is that? Try it too @ Pinspire Philippines

Ninety six kilometers south of Muntinlupa, Tiaong in Quezon Province is the quintessential “old hometown” that’s been coming into its own and positioning itself among the many steadily modernizing towns in the country.

It holds bittersweet memories among its locals who have left its hills and lakes and the watchful presence of Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal for the big cities here and abroad. Hence, the publication of the new coffeetable book called Tiaong: Coming Into Its Own is very timely.

The book was launched recently at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Nielson Tower in Ayala Avenue, Makati City.Published by the Tiaong Lubid-Lubid Foundation, Inc. under the helm of its president Cris Aquino, the book is written by journalist Abe Florendo, with archival research done by Dulce Festin-Baybay and Dr. Luis Camara Dery, images by Donald Tapan and Ramon Jeffrey Florendo, and book design by Teody Hidalgo.

The book revives Tiaong’s illustrious place in history since its establishment as a visita then as encomienda of Nayum in the early 1600s: its important role in the coconut economy and political expansion during the Spanish colonial times, its contributions to the independence efforts during the war, the inspiring heroism and nationalism of its sons and daughters, among them, Claro M. Recto and the “Anak ng Tiaong” who was sent by his father to study in China and went on to become the distinguished commander of Mao Tse Tung’s People’s Liberation Army, Gen. Ye Fei.

Tiaong’s changing skyline and landscapes beautifully captured in photographs are positive indications of its determined thrust toward progress and modernity.

Through the photographs, readers will be acquainted with the beauty and bounties of Tiaong’s placid coconut plantations and rice fields, the majesty of Lake Tikub, the allures of its hot water springs and resorts.

Tiaong: Coming Into Its Own is a book essentially of Tiaongins, who belong to the old families: the Rectos, Umalis, Castillos, Robleses, Punzalans, Escuetas. Here also are the prominent people that define what Tiaong is today: the entrepreneurs, businessmen, artists, forward-looking politicians, and many other other notable personalities

Cris Aquino founded the Lubid-Lubid Festival that set the pattern and direction for a more meaningful celebration of Tiaong’s fiesta and was the mind and muscle behind this book.

People who may not be from Tiaong will find the book interesting and compelling to read as well, with its insights into the nature, character and vision of this Little Town that Could.

The publisher said the book is not meant to be an “annual report” of sorts of the present administration, although some people may think it is so. The latter chapters provide a straightforward description of Tiaong’s ‘real-time’ infrastructures and urbanization, tourism attractions and business thrusts, while making out a case for increased developments in these and other areas.

The book has also gone to great lengths to dig up the authentic historical origins of Tiaong, from the gray dawn of colonial times to the turbulent eras of revolutions and democratizations.