Going to the Gym

I've never believed in going to the gym before. I didn't take my body seriously and I've always thought that I could get enough exercise through my daily activities and moderate eating.

I don't believe I'm fat but I admit I do have 'problem areas' where all the fats in my body seem to go first. So yeah, I'm okay but as I've mentioned in my previous post, I'm on my way to being hot. Yeboi!

Tonight, I'm going to hit the gym. It's not Fitness First or Gold's Gym or any of those high-end gyms. It's at the Summit Wellness Center in the Philippine Stock Exchange Bldg in Ortigas. They have a promo that waives memership fee of P1,500 if you enroll from Oct. 15-Oct. 30 2009. I took advantage of it!

I've taken a free trial before (they always have free trials) and overall, the facilities are okay. They also have different classes like dance and boxing classes. You get free services of a trainer, too, who will assist you on the proper routine for your workout goals.

The dressing room is also clean and decent. I've tried the sauna with my friends and that was also not bad.

I'm hitting this gym tonight and hopefully get the mojo of this. Ack! I forgot to charge my iPod.
Do you have suggestions on what should I put on my playlist for workout? Let me know!

Cat Emotions, Cat Drama

I found this really adorable video on Facebook.

At first, you could only think of how cute it is. But later, I thought of how amazing it is to really feel the cat's emotions. The tones go up and down like it's really talking. The gestures of the two cats are communicating.

Just amazing.

disclaimer: the video doesn't belong to me.

Eating Greens, Being Healthy

Today is the beginning of me, being serious about being healthy and losing weight. Not that I'm uber fat, just on my quest to get rid of the gut. Err... that doesn't sound too good.

Fine, let's just say, I'm on my way to being hot.

Part of my promise to finally work it out, I did not eat rice today nor I will for the next days and weeks. Wish me luck!

I had this salad from the grocery (my thoughtful girlfriend bought this for me) this evening:


It's called Chef Salad from the package. It has loads of lettuce, cheese, carrots, hard-boiled egg and ham. I'm not sure about the ham because I read before that frozen ham like this can be full of bacteria. It's meat so it attracts bacteria like salmonella, etc.

Anyway, it was good with the honey mustard dressing that came with the package. However, the lettuce was too much for the available dressing. The lettuce tasted bitter without the honey mustard. So... I had leftovers. :(

I'm going to start my gym membership tomorrow! Wee! I'm excited to start on Monday.

World Pyro Olympics 2009

I'm thrilled! This morning, I called to reserve 2 VIP tickets for me and my girlfriend for the World Pyro Olympics 2009.

This year's World Pyro Olympics will be held on 5 consecutive Saturdays from November 21 to December 19 at The Fort Open Grounds Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Philippines. For those who didn't know, the Pyro Olympics is a competition of elaborate fireworks display synchronized with music.

This year's participants are the following:

NOV 21 : Germany and China
NOV 28 : Japan and Australia
DEC 5 : Canada and Italy
DEC 12: South Korea, USA
DEC 19 : Fellowship of Fire and the Philippines

** World Pyro just called me for these changes in the schedule

Fireworks display starts at 6:30 but gates will open at 3pm. There will also be shows from 3-6:30pm

Tickets are as follows:
VIP (inclusive of dinner at Via Mare) : P1500

Special Viewing Area (SVA): P500

General Admission: P200

For reservations, call

(02) 5686908 and (02) 384-0239

Check out photos of World Pyro Olympics.
visit the World Pyro Olympics Facebook Fan Page for more details and updates.


My girlfriend loves watching fireworks display. I'm still keeping it a secret from her because I want it to be a special surprise. I just don't know if I'll be able to hold it much longer since I'm just so excited.

I wanted to go on the last day but because of the recent changes, we have to go on Dec. 12 because my girlfriend has a company Christmas party to attend on the 19th.

Can anyone tell me how did South Korea and US perform last year?


photo from http://www.worldpyroolympics.com/

Cola, Coke and other Softdrinks are UNHEALTHY: But we Want our Fizz!

I just read an online article yesterday titled 'Liquid candy': Unhealthy by Dr. Philip S. Chua. It's a pretty lengthy article with the bottom line: Softdrinks are unhealthy. They will give you all the possible illnesses in the world.

Okay, so that's an exaggeration.

However, the article shows results from various studies that link drinking cola, coke and other softdrinks to illnesses like diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, dental cavities and even DNA damage for kids! Whew!

And don't give the excuse that all you're drinking is Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi and other low to zero calorie soda. Apparently, calories are not the only problem in soda. The high acidic levels also contribute to the onset of illnesses.

According to experiments in the article, Seven Dangers of Coke and Pepsi (Softdrinks): Coke, Pepsi and other softdrinks are effective stain, rust and grease remover. Soda can dissolve a broken tooth (soaked in soda) in 10 days. As we all know, our teeth are supposedly one of the strongest bones in our body. A student died after drinking 8 bottles of coke on the spot. Too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen in the body did it.

Despite all the hazards, why do we love Coke and softdrinks?

Simply because it's refreshing.

The fizz is refreshing and is effective in quenching thirsts. The sweetness and flavor effectively washes out any food flavor; it's perfect combination with pizza (any greasy food) and spicy food, too.

HOW TO GET YOUR SODA FIX THE HEALTHY WAY

I found this review of Sodastream that can make regular water into sparkling water in 30 seconds in the comforts of your own home. With it, you can make your own carbonated drink. The package also comes with flavors that you can try.

One good thing about the Sodastream is that you can have your "fizz"-fix without all the chemicals added to the mixture of your commercial soda. No sugar, no caramel, no caffeine no anything except for H2O and carbon dioxide. Even the flavors are all-natural.

Yeah, yeah... you still have the problem of carbon dioxide in your body. But the good news with Sodastream is that you can adjust the amount of carbon dioxide in your drink. It's all under your control.

Check out this Sodastream review from THE ACTORS DIET food blog.

Just a quick note: The Actors Diet food blog is all about eating healthy. If they're recommending it, it's sure worth a try. Delicious plus healthy at its best!


photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_kittos/3665415733/

Boyzone, Stephen Gately dies at 33

Boyzone's Stephen Gately died at the young age of 33 on October 10, 2009 in Spain.

The cause of death is unknown although a family friend, Gerald Kean, told the news:

"There's no foul play involved, and it's not suicide. It's just a tragic accident is what we've been told, and we're happy that that is correct information," ... "There is nothing untoward. It's not drugs, we don't believe. It's not suicide. It's not murder. It's not a fight. That's what we've been told."

Boyzone members Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy were "completely devastated" and all rushed to Spain when they heard the news.

Remembering Boyzone and Stephen Gately:

No matter what they tell us
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach us
What we believe is true


No matter what they call us
However they attack
No matter where they take us
We'll find our own way back


I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know I'll love forever
I know, no matter what


If only tears were laughter
If only night was day
If only prayers were answered
Then we would hear God say


And I will keep you safe and strong
And shelter from the storm
No matter where it's barren
A dream is being born
No matter who they follow
No matter where they lead
No matter how they judge us
I'll be everyone you need
No matter if the sun don't shine
Or if the skies are blue
No matter what the end is
My life began with you


I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know, I know
I know this love's forever
That's all that matters now
No matter what

Other songs by Boyzone:

Words
When You Say Nothing at All
Better
Father and Son
All That I Need
Everyday I Love You
Baby Can I Hold You Tonight
Better
Picture of You

The Best 3 in One Instant Coffee

I am a fan of Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Seattle's Best. The play of flavors with coffee is stimulates my taste buds for coffee. They stimulate both senses and mind. All good.

But we have to admit, we cannot always grab a Starbucks every single time especially if you're an average worker like me, moreover if your budget is tight. (I'm sure that happens when payday is a week away, ne?)

I strongly recommend having KOPIKO 3 in ONE instant coffee. Yes, it's not the candy but the c-o-f-f-e-e.

3 Reasons why it's the best 3 in One instant coffee

1. It's cheap. One sachet only costs 5 pesos at your regular community store / sari-sari store and 6.50 pesos at 7-eleven. This is compared to 8 pesos to 14 pesos coffee per sachet with other brands.
2. It's aroma is heavenly. One thing that will definitely keep you awake and alert is the smell of coffee that comes with this inexpensive sachet. Unlike other instant coffee, you can really feel and smell the taste of coffee. Gives you a good drinking experience.
3. It's caffeine is sure to wake you up. I don't know why for some reason, KOPIKO's effect is better in keeping me awake than the other leading brands.

Sleepy? Try KOPIKO 3 in one coffee. It's cheap, it's delicious, it's coffee!

Power Outage in Parts of Manila and Rizal

I was alone again in the office tonight, finishing some tasks, when the power fluctuated. My heart skipped a beat since that was already around 9pm and I knew that there would be nobody on the floor.

Good thing that I heard the security guard, knocking on our office door, making his usual rounds at night. I asked him why the power fluctuated and if there will be a power outage. He just said, "not yet".

Alas, minutes later, the power outage began. It was lucky for me that the security guard was still outside our office and that there were 3 men in our other office. Looking outside the window, we saw that the whole Ortigas complex was dark while the street lamps were out. We camped outside the office, waiting for some news.

from Inquirer.net

A power outage hit parts of Metro Manila and Rizal Wednesday night when a transformer of a power distribution grid caught fire, a spokesman for the Manila Electric Co. said.

The transformer, one of four, belongs to the Dolores delivery point in Taytay, which is owned by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (formerly the National Transmission Corp. or Transco), Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco’s external communications manager, said over radio dzMM.

These are Marikina, Mandaluyong, Pasig, parts of Quezon City and San Juan; and in Antipolo, Binangonan, Cainta, and Taytay in Rizal.

Zaldarriaga said Meralco would try to shift the load of the source of power to its other sub-stations.

Abigail Kwok, Inquirer.net

I'm home working on my laptop with its remaining battery and wireless Sun broadband connection. I hope the power comes soon because it's so damn hot! I've been waiting all day to get a good night's sleep... T_T

Getting Cat Poop Out of Our Doorstep

Three days days in a row that we're having stray cat's poop just outside our apartment door. It's ceramic tiles and we're on the third floor. If I have to clean it, I have to bring the poop 3 floors down and by the time I get upstairs again, I'd smell of cat poop. Eww.

There were 2 poop spot outside our door this morning and the stink comes in up to our bedroom.

Good thing our landlady came in yesterday so she took care of yesterday and today's poop. With my best friend Google, I searched for ways on how to keep the cat from pooping on unwanted space.

There are two ways that sounds easy:

>>> dissolve pepper in some water and spray on the ground
>>> make the space smell like lemon or other citrus fruits

Apparently, cats hate the strong smell so lemon is good. Put lemon juice on the ground. I wonder if lemon-scented liquid soap will work? Some people in forums suggest to leave orange peels in the area. The smell of ammonia should work too.

I was just thinking, how can I keep the scent on ceramic tiles?

By the way, there is also a suggestion of a chemical that can stop cats from pooping wherever you don't want it to be. Check out stopcats.com

This is the reason why I don't like having pets. T_T


Any suggestions for this problem?