So, whatever caused me to prep and head off to the mall as soon as my mum got home that day, still remains a mystery. I did it with a sense of purpose and certainty that you’d think I’ve been planning it for weeks. Then again, I have thought about it — been telling my friends I want to get a new phone and even talked about narrowed down options with my bestfriend — without setting a definite time, though. I knew I’d get to it eventually.

A couple of hours later, I was tinkering with MrBob, a BlackBerry Bold 9900.

In the age of snazzy touch screen mobile phones (esp at the eve of the iPhone 4s release in the country), some have wondered why I had opted to get a BlackBerry. Answer is simple. I don’t know. I’ve always preferred a ‘real’ QWERTY keyboard on my mobile phone, reflected on my previous choices: MrE, a Nokia E71 and Barry, a BlackBerry Bold 9000. Besides, I’ve got MrTots, an iPod Touch, to satisfy my Apple cravings (so to speak) and everything, Touch-related-ish inclinations.

When I first held it in my hands, I was immediately reminded of Barry. The general shape and width are so similar. However, MrBob is definitely slimmer. It’s the slimmest BlackBerry phone to date. Bad remake, it’s not.

Topping the new sleek look was the very bit that had me bowled over when I experienced it, MrBob is both Touch and Type. Yes, touch display combined with a QWERTY keyboard (graphics ain’t bad to boot) — I was truly impressed when I got to try it out. Totally awesome thing in a phone, I tell ‘ya.

Of course, it comes with BlackBerry 7 which has new features like voice-activated universal search, and Near Field Communication (NFC). I’m back to enjoying BBM (For old contacts, time to update my PIN on your contact list! For new ones, care to exchange PINs?) and push email on EDGE again, haha. Oh, yea — I’ve got BB Maps and a friggin’ digital compass, too. Yea, I go crazy with these things, haha!

MrBob and I are still in the early stages of our relationship, aka honeymoon phase. I’m still exploring and experimenting. It IS a crying shame that app selections available in BB App World are so limited and most of the decent ones are too price-y. I’ll tell you more about it sometime.

Ah, December. It’s my birthday month once again and I’m starting things off with one of them sporadic gadget geekery bursts as I gift myself early with such tech artistry in a mobile phone.

Aren’t you feeling the festive atmosphere that this month usually brings?

Images from blackberry.com

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I call her Gigi and she goes real well with MrBoo’s looks, wouldn’t you agree?

It’s funny how things have changed as a read that post over again. From using my brother’s 17″ HP Pavilion dv9000 (March 2008) to my own 15″ Macbook Pro called MrBoo (April 2010). From a Canon 400D called MrX (February 2007) to a Canon 60D called MrSixty (January 2011). The Pav’s dead and MrX is up for sale. Teri’s still very much alive and kicking and I now have Gigi since she’s portable and will come handy to transport digital stash and what nots.

Good thing that Teri is compatible with the Mac OSx, which made the transition easy. Gigi is, too. But let me give you a quick run down on the 411: Western Digital My Passport Essential 500GB/Go Portable Hard Drive with USB 3.0.

What’s in the box: Portable hard drive, USB cable, WD SmartWare software, Quick install guide

Compatibility: Requires reformatting for Mac OS Leopard or Snow Leopard; Formatted NTFS for Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and OS)

Damage: Php 3,640.00

I also got me one of those cases esp for portable EHDs from Case Logic which made a dent of Php 899.00. And, while we’re on the subject of cases, my bestfriend Mel and I finally got one of those affordable Halo gadget cases for our mobile gadgets. MrE (a Nokia e71) and MrTots (an Apple iPod Touch 4) are now roomies in a canvas case which only costs Php 175.00 (compared to the one at Case Logic which was 300% more expensive than that!).

I got Gigi at a nearby PC Express store while I was at my bestfriend’s house procuring my dose of digital stash. I had Teri with me but somehow was a bit of a snob and wouldn’t let her be touched by anyone else. LOL. I knew I had plans on buying a portable hard drive but I wasn’t planning on getting it that day. Plans change according to needs, I guess. Why is it that these two EHD I bought sits too close to my bestfriend’s influence? Well, I do rely on her technical expertise like when I recently had to buy a new router whom I call MrLink.

MrLink is a Cisco Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router WRT320N, Wireless Productivity. I wanted to get the one with a media server but twas way over my budget. I settled for a damage of Php 4,400.00.

Speaking of my bestfriend, I’ve “officially” started one of my pet projects. Er, well.. I invested a fairly good amount of moolah on it and the only person I told it to is her since she, well, used to be big at doing stuff like this project. It was one of those trips to Santana Grove (ah, my second home!) and popping into National Book Store.

I’m quite excited (like how I feel about new hobby-esque projects I’d start to do) about it. She’s given me tips on tools and things that I should remember to use. I took mental notes. What is the pet project, you ask? Well, I think it’s better if I’ve got visuals ready to show you folks to make telling it all the more entertainingly interesting. For now, I’m trying to put most of my work out of the way so I’ll have time to spend offline.

What about you folks? Added any new gadgets to your tech arsenal? How about new projects?

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Yes, say hello to MrSixty. He’s a Canon EOS 60D that comes with an EF-S 18-135mm IS lens as a kit. Yea, it’s my other new toy apart from MrPoPo the Polaroid PoGo.

After 4 eventful and memorable years, he replaces MrX in my life. Wow, it seems only yesterday when I came home from Hidalgo lugging my first-ever digital camera. MrX, a Canon 400D or Digital Rebel XTi, proved to be a fantastic companion as I ventured into learning photography. With every light captured and pixel processed, he and I laboured on getting better at the craft. But as seasons change and circumstances requires room to accommodate changes, I bid the latter goodbye. I’m still learning and growing as a photography hobbyist. Though the machine will never define me as a photographer, I needed to address the technical and creative needs that surfaced.

It was a Saturday of January when MrSixty came into my life. Like the first time, there was an incredible rush of excitement as I held him in my hands. It felt both surreal and familiar at the same time. The experience captured what I’ve only heard of before; when it’s right, you’ll know. [MrSixty's birthday: 08 January 2011]

Was it the 18 MP resolution, the 3″ vari-angle LCD with over a million MP VGA resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio, the full HD movie capture, the 5.3 fps shooting or the maximum shutter 1/8000 sec, the DIGIC 4, the Flash sync 1/250 sec, the integrated Speedlite transmitter, or the in-camera RAW processing?

Frankly, I wasn’t entirely listening during the required demo nor did I really consider a particular feature. I knew that I’ll get to learn what I need to learn about the camera (which makes it a fantastic match for me and my needs) while I’m using it. Though it’s true that the features ought to be considered but most of them (save from the changes in the body) are present in MrX. It’s just that MrSixty boasts of carrying a higher number on each. Know what I mean? I guess, this is one of the times when you’ll see that I’m not much of a techie or a geek about gadgets. Choices, for me, are highly relative plus over-all experience matters and not just what’s listed on the tech spec sheet.

Yes, when it comes to photography. I really don’t like talking about the technical stuff. I guess, the most I can offer you would be the reason why I opted for the current kit lens I got with MrSixty. Though I’m a 50mm prime girl, I wanted a more flexible walk-around lens. That’s it.

Some sample photos taken using MrSixty:

Oh, yea. Here’s a sample video I did for the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful post on Style Manila.

Not bad, eh? Yes, I used MrSixty to shoot the video and the iMovie on MrBoo, to edit.

Like every relationship, each offers new things and experiences. A slight shift in perspective, a different inspiration, and a countless source of frustration. These come as both adjust until rhythm is established. It’s good that this switch happened at this time. I started the new year with a fresh pair of eyes as I get into the groove of getting to know my new companion while I do my traversing around the world (figuratively, of course!). The journey ahead will be captured using MrSixty — the people whose paths I’ll cross, the place where my feet will lead me to and the emotion and memory captured in every photograph. I’m taking each step with eyes wide open, an engaged mind and an inflamed heart.

Other accessories that I got along with the new camera are the following:

• Tamrac camera bag 6X
• Canon Remote Control
• Pop-up Flash Diffuser
• Lens hood, Petal (Generic)

* the Transcend 8GB SD HC already came with the camera

How about you? What sort of camera do you use now? Do share because I’d really love to know!

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When I bought the PS3 back in early 2008, I was hooked on Guitar Hero III and Assassin’s Creed but the latter proved to be the sort of game that I can see myself playing more of. I still can’t believe that I actually played it non-stop, hence, finishing it in 4 consecutive days (took breaks for food, sleep and trips to the loo. LOL). So, during a quick trip to the mall on errand day, I popped in at one of those game shops and gave in to buying the 2nd installment of the said Ubisoft game: Assassin’s Creed II Complete Edition for PS3.

Image: playnewera.com

I’m not the sort who’d shell out a considerable amount on a game but I did. I find that this game’s worth it. The story’s brilliant, game features are fantastic and yes, awesome graphics to boot. I had raved about it then and I’m still raving about it now. Still haven’t played it yet but I’ll get around to doing that real soon!

Image: eatsleepgeek.com

Image: fastdls.com

Image: gamingmojo.com

On the fly (esp during days wherein I can’t spend too much time in front of the PS3), I like playing mobile and computer games (Bejeweled, anyone? or perhaps a game of Text Twist?) and social games (Fashion World, Cafe World, Farmville, It Girl, Backyard Monsters, etc) on Facebook. But one particular game captured the heart of this quasi-gamer: Angry Birds!

Image: rovio.com

First seen on the iPad and finished the free version on an iTouch, it’s a game that almost drove me to buy an iPad or iTouch. My nephew C and I would pore over it while we’re in the car stuck in traffic en route to some place during the holidays.

I never meant to buy the full version for MAC but my curiosity over the App Store icon included in a recent MAC software update lead me to charging $4.99 on my credit card. LOL.

Image: enoda.co.uk

Yes, the dock on MrBoo now has an icon with that Angry little Bird on it! And I actually finished the 21 levels on the 1st episode in one sitting. Hahaha!

Image: osxdaily.com

It’s not as easy as it seems but with a little knowledge of physics and putting in a little effort understanding the strengths of the Angry Birds then you’ll have the green pigs sweating like, er, pigs. Hehe.

Image: fareaststreet.com

It’s a great game that both kids and adults will enjoy. I’ve seen parents play the game with their kids so that’s a fantastic thing, yes? Entertainment value is 5 out of 5 stars!

How about you folks? Do you consider yourself a gamer? What sort of games do you usually play?

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It took me a while — and several million of pixels too! — before I realised that it’s something that I truly wanted to do. It’s just one of the things I grew into but there’s always something about passion that leaves a mark on anything we do which, I reckon, made all the difference. Most of my close friends know how I started out, borrowing various kinds of digital cameras and fiddling with phone cams and had used 2MP P&S cams. When I did consider buying my own, I was at the stage wherein only an SLR would satisfy me, therefore, ending up with a Canon 400D aka MrX as my first-ever camera. It was a whirlwind of photos since then.

That was 4 years ago. Again, I can’t believe that it’s been that long. I’ve been using that camera as I learned more about photography, constantly pushing myself to learn and master the machine. The experience can be likened to a rollercoaster ride. Days of frustration, an occasional lull and moments of immense satisfaction. I can be too intense sometimes, you see. That’s why I keep reminding myself to loosen up a bit and to have fun. Never take the fun out of anything I do. That’s why, after months and months of mulling over, I had decided that I needed something to bring a little kick to my hobby. I scrapped the idea of getting the rangefinder and a Diana F+ camera (at least for the time being) and focused my energy on getting me one of my life-long dream camera buy, a Polaroid.

Culled from a number of great camera options, my heart skipped a beat when I found an adorable piece of technology, the Polaroid PoGo.

It’s not the sort of Polaroid camera that I really want but it combines my want of instant photography and the digital. I had considered getting the classic instant camera (still am actually!) but the practicality of the PoGo won. It’s both an instant and a digital camera you see. I have the freedom to take as much photos as the SD card will take and choose which one to print out. Yes, I can even process (not too much though) the photos if I want. I love the idea that I can easily share the photos (without the need of a scanner) online and print them out, too!

Now, it’s my go-to camera for the I’m-too-lazy-to-lug-the-big-ass-camera days or practically everyday for that matter. I am aware that it doesn’t produce the same sort of photos as my DSLR and I’m totally fine with it. What is the point of having two cameras that can produce the same sort of photos anyway?

The Polaroid PoGo, which I fondly call MrPoPo (originally twas MrPoo, hehe), is a great source of new photo ideas. It’s bringing me to a different place, photography-wise. It’s been a nifty companion during the holidays, allowing me to take as much photos as I can to document the special occasion.

Some of the photos I took proved to be too precious and priceless, which made buying MrPoPo absolutely worthwhile.

After looking at the photos and spending lots of time on photography nowadays, I’m lemming for a new one. Again. I need to get a grip and probably find some form of compromise to save my wallet from going to rack and ruin. Gah.

Ah, photography. It truly is an expensive hobby. And I haven’t even told you about the other camera. If I wasn’t too ecstatic about my new toys, I’d probably go ballistic with all the spending.

If you were to name one hobby that you’re nuts about, which one will it be? How much of your budget do you normally allot to your hobby? Come, let’s have fun talking about our hobbies today!

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But even sharing has its limits.

I just came home (tired and without sleep) from the hospital and had finally gotten around to checking my mail when I received a couple of emails but both pertaining to one alarming matter: intellectual property rights and trademark of my long time fashion blog, StyleManila.com; sent to two email addresses I set up for the same brand: advertising@stylemanila.com and fashion@stylemanila.com. The emails came from a certain Angela Zhang who apparently works for some Chinese company called yg-network.cn who shares the same business address with CNNetwork.org btw.

For clarity, let me quote the email in verbatim:

Dear Manager,

We are a Network Service Company which is the domain name registration center in Shanghai, China. On July,7th,2010, We received HUATAI Company’s application that they are registering the name “stylemanila” as their Internet Trademark and “stylemanila.cn”,”stylemanila.com.cn” ,”stylemanila.asia”domain names etc.,It is China and ASIA domain names.But after auditing we found the brand name been used by your company. As the domain name registrar in China, it is our duty to notice you, so I am sending you this Email to check.According to the principle in China,your company is the owner of the trademark,In our auditing time we can keep the domain names safe for you firstly, but our audit period is limited, if you object the third party application these domain names and need to protect the brand in china and Asia by yourself, please let the responsible officer contact us as soon as possible. Thank you!

Kind regards
Angela Zhang

Angela Zhang
Registration Department Manager
3002, Nanhai Building 854.Nandan Road
Xuhui District, Shanghai
Office: +86 216296 2950
Fax: +86 216296 1557
Email: info@ygnetwork.cn
web: http://ygnetwork.cn
web: http://www.ygnetwork.cn

After reading it, my gut was telling me that the email’s pretty dodgy. Having been exposed to this industry this long, I can spot a spam mailer, comment, etc from a mile away plus the fact that I know of China’s highly questionable reputation when it comes to online activities. But due to my limited knowledge on property rights on the internet, I was, admittedly, also a bit apprehensive. Call me greedy but I really wouldn’t want to share the brand I’ve worked hard on building, would you? People who think they can ride the train of the brand are (and will always be, unfortunately) spineless followers. I decided that I needed to do what I usually do when faced with this sort of situation — I’ve got the skills and the mind to get and process the information I need (helps that I can always count on Atty. R.M. to watch my back, hehe) in order to effectuate the intended results.

Folks, say hello to the Trademark and Domain Name Scam from China.

Apparently, this sort of tactic has been going on for quite sometime now and the agenda is to get you to register the said domains “before the other company does”. Creating the sense of urgency is a great selling tactic. Most sales people will agree with me that this strategy, more often than not, plays a major part in closing that sale. Targeting folks who are somewhat established (but not necessarily technically adept) online is brilliant simply because these people fit the right demographic that if you’ve managed to relay the message at the right time, with the given material, you just might be able to make that conversion. But we all know that these folks from yg-network.cn simply ushered their ‘victims’ into falsely thinking that they’re in danger of losing their trademark, brand or domain name and they’re the messiah of trademark security and domain registry, hence, rightfully calling it a scam. Heh.

Anyway, this is my way of getting the word out and, hopefully, warn you folks regarding the matter.

Suggested reads:
Domain Name Scams
Trademark and Domain Name Scams from China
Domain Name Renewal Scam From China?
Owner Beware: Chinese Domain Name Fraud

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If there’s one place I’d recommend you folks see at least once before you die, Mt Pinatubo is one of the better choices. Just 3 hours away from Manila to the take-off point, another couple of hours (give or take) of rough, mountainous terrain then an approximately 45-minute uphill trek (depends on your pace, of course) and finally, upon reaching the ridge, your eyes will feast on this majestic view —

You will forget that you’re soaking wet in your own sweat and that your muscles are sore cuz you simply can’t shake off the feeling that you’ve stumbled upon a gem in a country you thought you already knew. Personally, it took my breath away. I knew I was in the presence of a masterpiece of some sort. It’s like seeing the Chocolate Hills in Bohol for the first time multiplied 10 times over. It was truly a humbling experience.

The trip reminded me of the reasons why I love traveling. Partly the same reasons that caused me to start blogging and taking photos.

I’m leaving you folks with the product of my very first try in filming and editing. Equipment used was a Flip Ultra courtesy of DOVE Philippines (chose me as one of their Ambassadors, god knows why) and one of the iLife apps in MrBoo, iMovie.

Hi to all my co-trekkers: Penny, Jeff, Madel, Jen, Yoshi, Angel and Arnold, The UBER Trekker (just because he had a gazillion of gadgets and trinkets esp made/used for, er, hiking..? Whatever.) LOL.

Any of you folks been to Mt Pinatubo? Any plans of going? Perhaps you know of an awesome eco-tourism destination that you’d like to share? Please do! I’d love to explore options, esp now that I’ve tested the waters (sort of) and found I can take it. Hahaha. Don’t you love traveling?

Sharing video clips I made for the DOVE 7-Day No Mirror Challenge:

DOVE 7-Day No Mirror Challenge: Day 1 and 2
DOVE 7-Day No Mirror Challenge: Day 3 and 4
DOVE 7-Day No Mirror Challenge: Day 5, 6 and 7
Dove 7-Day No Mirror Challenge: The Mirror Days (An Epilogue)

I hope you enjoy them!

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If you know me, I’m in no way a geek. I reckon I simply grew to acknowledge and embrace my inner geek as I entered the virtual realm more than half a decade ago, which most now call, Internet. I can still remember my sis asking me to go online more often: email, personal portals (sis, remember “thes**project” on port5?), and online diaries (now called ‘blogs’). However, twas only in 2003 that I did embrace the idea fully. No stranger to the computer but a real n00b in the internet, seeing any use for the latter was beyond me. Twas this brilliant idea that J had to set me up a Friendster account. Hello social web. From one email address and one social network account, my relationship with the ‘net grew to 7 years worth of data contribution. Oh, don’t ask how many email addresses and social web accounts I have now. They’re just too many! LOL.

Connect
I’m not sure if you folks will agree with me but I find joy in connecting with people. I reckon that’s why I’ve learned to appreciate all the gadgets that make it easier for me to do just that. Probably why I love micro blogs like Twitter and social networking sites like Facebook. My blogs are great avenues for all the stories and random thoughts I’d often like to share like stuff on Manila fashion, beauty, shopping and style, global fashion and trends, my love of photography, and The Parody of my person. I talk a lot and I’ve got a gazillion of opinions and I can’t seem to stay awake if I’m not in front of a computer, a book, a pen and paper or a mobile phone. Yes, my head is filled with a lot of things that I’d often resort to distracting myself with books or films so I’d have someone else in my head. Did I make sense?

Anyway.

Apple and Berry

Y’all met MrBoo, the Apple of my eye (pardon the pun), but I believe I haven’t introduced the latest gadget that has fallen in my hands, Barry the BlackBerry. Hehe. These two are the culprits. They’re guilty of making me lose sleep and of inducing stress. And, unfortunately, I’ve allowed myself to fall victim to the allure of 24/7 connected status that these data mining bugs have dangled in front of me. I have, however, started reading up on ways to salvage whatever privacy left for me. And I’m also working on establishing some form of work-life balance (hint, hint).

On a lighter note, I am enjoying the technology — push email on EDGE! — something that made the brand a household name, plus apps special to BlackBerry such as: BlackBerry Messenger; IM clients and social web apps like Yahoo, Windows Live, Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare. I know these are just few of the things I can do on a BB (loving the fact that Bold 9000 has WiFi), so if you folks have recommendations, feel free to let me know!

And for the purpose of connecting, add me? Hehe. Esp on BB Messenger!

If you’re a full-pledged social web commoner like I am, you’ll understand the general direction where things are going. But that’s a whole different story. Let me know if it’s something you want me to talk about. I’d gladly oblige as soon as I find the time.

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Growing Up with My Parents
Growing up, my parents have created an environment wherein we, their children, work for the things we want, save for the things we want. From a simple trip to the mall with friends to new shoes or toys, we needed to show them we earned it; may it be doing extra chores around the house to getting the agreed on marks on our school card. We needed to barter our way to getting what we want.

Personally, I had, sometimes, resented it. I would find myself comparing myself with friends or classmates who seemed to have had it easy (pains of going to a semi-expensive private school). Cool clothes and things, freedom to hang out with friends outside school — whereas I had to settle for hand-me-downs and that occasional, close-to-trendy, things. As a kid, I was pathetically retarded like that.

But sitting here, writing this post, I can remember this thing that my mum had said and it was along the lines of, “One of my dreams was to buy a brand new car. I worked hard and I eventually did. I wouldn’t want to take away that opportunity to do something like that for yourself from you.” I don’t know if any of my siblings can recall her ever saying it but it had caused an imprint and had stayed with me.

This next bit is cliche but it’s true and worth celebrating, parents preaching about how we should live life and other stuff we thought unnecessary as a child proved to be valuable as we grew up. It’s only now that I have learned to appreciate how my parents brought me up: work for the things you want, be grateful for the opportunities given, never be satisfied with mediocre, and it’s good to have dreams in life.

All Grown Up.. Now What?
September of last year, I had decided to take on a ‘day job’ since we all know we need to be practical during these trying days. I have to tell you that it was a difficult decision to make since it felt like I’m giving up my passions. Having a day job would mean less time to write and blog, to travel and take photos. And though it did sort of turned out that way, other doors had opened up.

I’m also a Marketer, you see. Probably why the social web had been easy for me to embrace. It had merged my love for writing and interaction. It helped me grow and broaden my skills. The past five years had helped sustain my love for that field and cultivate something in me, fruits of which I’m now beginning to see.

Recently, after months of hard work, I’ve officially taken on the role of Marketing Manager for a popular brand of video game who had recently put up a Philippine-based office. What I love about my work is that every day is a constant challenge of pushing an immovable mountain. Fast-paced, industry-driven, dynamic and best of all, it’s online marketing.

Folks have been constantly asking me why I never chose to work for a magazine (been there, done that) or a PR firm and I would always say it’ll be tagged as ‘conflict of interest’. I don’t want to compromise the independent status of Style Manila. And I’ve been itching to do reports again — real and stuffy looking reports. Crazy but true. I guess being out of the corporate circulation for more than 4 years have caused me to digress and crave for the things ‘normal’ people do at work.

Finding this work opportunity was a dream. Though never would’ve been coined a geek, much less a gamer, working for a company known to have marketed its way to achieving a brand status like none of its counterparts ever could (so far) is quite a privilege. It helps that I’m still working in the field that I’ve been exposed to for the past 4 years — something that I had put a lot of weight on when I was mulling things over. Knowing that I’m capable of learning had helped me overcome the initial feeling of intimidation.

This dream had led to another dream getting fulfilled — my first laptop buy, a MacBook Pro, fondly called MrBoo. If you’ve read that post, you’ll see just how much I gushed over the whole incident. Hahaha.

Another dream I’m currently working hard to get takes the form of one of my prime projects for the company which is building a community through a little gamer community site that we had recently launched. Getting that email from the DEV team had truly caused my heart to jump — FINALLY, we’re live!

Big Dreams, Small Dreams
These things are small compared to the bigger dream that we all have. The important thing is that we are aware of them, big or small, in order that we don’t get lost in the trivialities of life. Problems come, people go but so long as you hold on to the things that matter like the values your parents have impressed on you and integrity, what people think or say will cease to matter. Remember to celebrate your everyday successes. It’s good to have dreams, the sort that keeps you going, enduring and fighting.

Thanks mum for not taking away the opportunity to do it for myself. The things I’ve achieved would’ve lost its lustre and my enjoyment, pale.

What about you folks? What sort of things have your parents taught you that you now value most? Any dreams fulfilled recently? Come, it’s your turn to share.

Photo was taken by a colleague using my camera with me sitting at my old desk in the office; January 2010.

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I have to admit that I’ve considered that option — not blogging anymore. Yes, after 6 years of doing it, I was thinking of completely dropping it. What a sad, sad, thought. Then I knew I just can’t do it. Not just yet perhaps. I couldn’t really imagine myself saying good-bye to my personal blog The-Parody.com, my very first fashion blog Tops II Bottoms, my photo journal SashaManuel.com, and my local fashion & beauty blog Style Manila. Can you?

Writing has played a huge role in my life. I refuse to accept the idea of giving it up for the world. Stumbling upon the social web a good decade ago had been an important turning point, wisdom only came as I began to see the path that I had chosen to take a whole lot clearer. The opportunities that I had chosen to grab had been influenced by these passions, those and my fascination with technology , both software and hardware. From a computer and internet n00b to a full-pledged social web person, throw in the bit on web planning and design. Believe me, it’s been quite a ride.

Making that decision to maintain a work-life balance, never forgetting what had caused me to prod on, what sustained me and helped me stay afloat, what inspired me — I knew I needed to make things happen instead of simply waiting around for things to change. Taking and managing risks will leave a promise of better things, greater opportunities.

I’ve marked this major decision by welcoming the very first laptop I’ve ever bought. Yes, at age 32, I’ve finally made one of my dreams come true. Which dream (since I’ve got many on my list)? Twas to get myself a MacBook Pro; that I now fondly call MrBoo. Twas a Thursday, 08 April, when MrBoo and I officially met. The 15.4″ gorgeous hardware had me intimidated but no one and nothing could ever wipe off the widest grin on my face, dim the brightest sparkle in my eyes nor keep me from skipping all the way back to my office. The experience was surreal.

Beauty runs deeper still. Since we’re talking about work-life balance, let’s highlight that MrBoo’s equipped with iWork and Aperture on top of the standard software. Balanced, indeed.

Keeping MrBoo company is Magic, the Magic Mouse that’s made of awesomeness.

Was never considered to be the geeky type but I’m finding that I don’t mind fitting into the mold. Esp since the primary medium which I utilise involves a lot of gadgets and mastery requires a bit of that nature so I can thoroughly exercise my passions.

Eve has definitely bitten into the apple. It’s a whole new chapter now. So, folks, how’re things? Found new ways to motivate yourselves? Also, I’d love it if you’d say hallo.

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