Month: March 2009

If you?re running in the 2010 elections & you?re not on Facebook, are you cool?

ajay Leave a comment

Sen. Mar Roxas is cool. Looks like he updates his Facebook status himself. And he added me as a friend, hehe. The better to be updated about this presidentiable’s activities.

Mar Roxas on FB

Whoa! Sen. Chiz Escudero has too many FB accounts, you’d never know which is which. I’ll go by the one where we have a lot of mutual friends :D

Chiz Escudero in FB

Not to be outdone is Among Ed Panlilio, the likeliest of the unlikely candidates.

Among Ed Panlilio

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is still quiet about his plans. But there’s nothing more telling than the phrase “My Vision for the Country.” Sounds like this line was written by a bored copywriter but yes, we hear you Sir :D

Gilbert Teodoro

Add Sen. Loren as a friend?

Loren Legarda

Vice President Noli de Castro is too busy for Facebook. But his supporters put him here anyway ;)

Noli de Castro in FB

Hmmm, whatever happened to Erap and Sen. Manny Villar?

True, the 2010 elections will be decided by the majority who, unfortunately, don’t have internet connection. But I just find it thrilling to have groovy candidates who are just a Twitter update away.

And pardon me as am obviously Facebook-spotting right about now ;)

Remembering Burma?s 21-year struggle for freedom

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By Tess Bacalla
VERA Files

RANGOON, Myanmar—Let it not be said that the month of March went by without the outside world taking a moment to remember Burma’s drawn-out struggle for freedom.

March marks the commemoration of resistance movements in Burma or, as its ruling junta wants it called, Myanmar. It was on March 13, 1988 when the pro-democracy movement in this country began. On that fateful day, two students from the Rangoon Institute of Technology, Phone Maw and Soe Naing, were killed following clashes with the police at the height of the anti-government demonstrations in this former capital of Burma. That movement, which culminated in the deaths of some 3,000 people in the weeks and months that followed, successfully toppled Ne Win from power, Burma’s then dictator who ruled from 1962 to 1988.

Fast forward two decades later and Burma remains in the throes of dictatorship. The violent crackdown of the military junta on anti-government protests in 2007 led by thousand of monks was reminiscent of what happened in 1988 and was yet another evidence of a government leery of any sign of opposition or attempts to destabilize the state.

Please click here (VERA Files) to read this article in full.

Wait, there’s more!: Buy her a gift this Valentines! or send her flowers!

Mountain Woods, Subic’s High-Up Haven

Enrico Dee Leave a comment

At the lush heart of the Subic Freeport, Mountain Woods Resort is where nature and high living meet for a relaxing experience above all others.

subic hotel

As a sanctuary for the soul amidst the rich greenery of Subic Bay, Mountain Woods Resort gives nature preservation new meaning. There is seamless collaboration between the hotel’s attentive service and its calming environment that grant visitors a refuge not too far from home, a two-hour drive from Manila sped up by the new SCTEX highway at once bringing the city-weary to a leisurely getaway.

As soon as you step into Mountain Woods’ charming lobby, Subic’s vibrant forest and the bay beyond is the backdrop to your stay. Nature abounds all throughout the premises, the chirping of birds providing sweet accompaniment in the morning, signaling you to rise from the country style comfort of your snug four-poster bed.

mountain woods hotel in subic

Step down to the hotel’s indoor and al fresco Le Jardin Restaurant and survey the arresting view of birds swooping by verdant mountains while a distinctive dining experience arrests your senses. With the calming sound of live piano playing from the lobby and water trickling from a fountain close by, the restaurant’s homemade bread and pastries, steaks, seafood, pizzas, and a host of local favorites make the restaurant an exquisite retreat for both your appetite and your soul. Especially since Le Jardin’s chefs grant a refreshing touch of health to your meal through the fresh herbs and vegetables they’ve picked from the restaurant’s garden below.

After an easy afternoon of strolling across the tree-lined grounds, reading a novel at the open-air pavilion, or sunbathing by the resort’s eternity pool, a candlelight dinner at Le Jardin is delightful punctuation to the day. And after that sumptuous plate of grilled prawns or ribeye steak, it’s almost too hard to resist a bottle of wine while lounging about the Tree Top View Deck, where you can sip a glass of vino under the stars. Of course, a retreat to your contemporary European room is always a treat. As with the pleasure you obtain from Mountain Woods’ outdoor domain, a cozy room with quite a view can be just as enticing.

subic hotel

Claim paradise at Entemedor St., West Kalayaan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBMA). For reservations and inquiries, please call Mountain Woods’ Manila office at 671-7349 or 671-1068. Or visit www.mountainwoods.com.ph

You like reading this blog post? You might also be interested in BYAHILO's other adventures at Sugarloaded!

Mountain Woods, Subic’s High-Up Haven

Peryodiko?s Self-Titled Album

Karla Redor Leave a comment

Peryodiko Album Art

Peryodiko held their album launch around 3 weeks ago at Eastwood Central Plaza. The first time I heard their song I heard “Sa Magkabilang Dulo” by Peryodiko, I knew that Peryodiko would rock the airwaves with their songs aside from the awesome line-up of Vin Dancel, Simon Tan, Kakoy Legaspi, and Abe Billano.

The album includes 11 tracks and costs 200 pesos each, a great deal for this wonderful album where all of the lyrics of the songs are written in Filipino. I haven’t seen bands would actually do an album that has songs that are all written in Filipino. In the business side of the recording industry, having the album to get international market (foreigners) would probably be hard since they would not understand the lyrics.

The Songs

The album opens with “Pikit”. It’s ironic that the eye-opener for this album is entitled “Pikit” (when taken literally). I then progresses to “Agawan Base” an up-beat song with a chorus that will make you sing with it even if it’s the first time you heard it. Kakoy did a great job with the lead guitar parts of this song. You’ll then mellow down with “Tayo”. In “Lihim” you’ll experience sadness even if the rhythm of the song does not suggest that it’s a sad song. “Huminga”, a more upbeat song that the former that I’d be definitely adding as a part of the soundtrack of my life. “Milenyo”, a name that has reminded me of the super typhoon “Milenyo”, is just amongst the songs in the album that has good play of words. “Piraso”, another upbeat song with a feel-good type of rhythm. “Paglaya” then starts off with a heavy guitar riff that will make you headbang. I vote this one as the next single after “Agawan Base”. You’ll then mellow down with “Kumapit ka tuwing Lunes” a song that will constantly remind you not to surrender because there’s hope. It then follows with “Bakasyon” another song that will make you sing with it as you listen. And for the last song “Walang Kapalit”, a very apt last song for the album. Just listen closely to the lyrics and you’ll find out why. :)

Overall, the songs are all noteworthy of your time and money. By the way, please do watch their gigs. :) They’re really great musicians. :)

Album Packaging

The album packaging design itself is indeed suitable since it’s their self-titled album. It’s as if a newspaper that where in some of lyrics of the songs were written. Props to Paulina Ortega for the album art.and to Francis Abraham for the photography included in the album.

For those who can’t go to the gigs to buy their CD, you can buy their album at PinoyTunes. By the way, you have to register in order to buy the songs. Each song costs at $0.75. Make sure if your total order will reach 2 dollars (minimum amount for checkout).