Twilight Saga: Eclipse Philippine Movie Premiere

Yes, I have it! Or at least my dear friend Raunche have our tickets!!! He received the tickets just this morning via parcel and we are more than excited to be one of the first to catch a glimpse of this much-awaited installment of the Twilight saga!

Image by iluvtwilight.multiply.com

Quoting from this site:

This time Bella finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob –knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with most important decision of her life. More action, suspense and cutting edge special effects mark this must-see movie.

The Philippine Premiere will be on June 29, 2010, 8:00 p.m. at the SM Megamall Cinema's newly-renovated, state-of-the-art, all new Dolby Digital Surround sound cinema!

Now you also want this rare opportunity? Here's how:

Full colored tickets of “ECLIPSE” are now available at Astrovision SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia Branches. For sponsorship and tickets reservation, call 524-0175 or 728-9885

Contact person:
ROMIE BERONA
Phone: 0918 9590317, 524-2689
E-mail: wabyphilippines@hotmail.com
www.rigencourier.com
 

Max's Chicken-All-You-Can!

Sarap to the Bones! (Sarap = delicious)

Just got this from a friend in Facebook. I think this is a pretty good deal for June! I always love eating here, and I was NEVER disappointed.

MAX’S RESTAURANT is celebrating 65 years with the loudest bang as it launches the biggest chicken-all-you-can promotion this June. Customers can now enjoy as many of their favorite sarap-to-the-bones chicken, cooked to golden perfection - for only PhP165!

Max’s ultimate anniversary promo aims to reach out to as many Filipinos possible with
an affordable offering of PhP165. Starting June 17, Max’s Restaurants nationwide will be serving unlimited quarter-sliced chicken pieces to diners from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm daily. By adding PhP39, customers can
also avail of bottomless Pepsi products.

DEERS Enrollment - Can I enroll without my Spouse/Sponsor?

I was able to discuss from my previous post about enrolling as my spouse’s dependent and getting the DEERS ID card at the US Embassy, Manila after we got married. 

Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is a computerized database of military sponsors, families and others worldwide who are entitled under the US law to receive TRICARE benefits. So it is really important to register each family member as soon as possible to receive such benefits in a timely manner, even if the sponsor has already retired!

Active-duty and retired service members are automatically registered in DEERS, but they must take action to register their family members and ensure they're correctly entered into the database. In my case, since we got married, this was the first thing we did. Good thing, enrollment and ID capture facilities are readily available at the US Embassy, Manila.

I got a question that came from my formspring account and a fellow newlywed, with almost the same situation as I am, asked me this:

“hi..pede magtanong? im married to US army last May 28 and now he's in okinawa japan. sabi nya sken dalhin ko daw sa US embassy yung papers namen para mailagay ako sa DEERS at makakuha ng Military ID. Okay lang ba nawala sya at ako lang ang mag process nun?”

The sender was just asking if it’s okay for her to do the DEERS/Rapids ID enrollment even if the spouse is unable to accompany her. I was only able to cover previously how I was able to do it with my husband. 

The only reason why I had my spouse with me was because we both knew that there would be additional requirements, which I will discuss in a few. Aside from that, being with your spouse can make you avoid the VERY LONG LINE for Filipino applicants because there’s a separate lane for the US citizens, which is typically "just a few”. D and I were already 3rd in line when I would have been the 20th if we queued up on the other.

Now if you don’t have your spouse to accompany you to the embassy, there‘s no problem. You can still enter the embassy premises, but will have to be really early to get in line with the rest of the other people applying for visa as you CANNOT queue up to the American Citizen's lane, unless, of course, you’re an American Citizen. Falling in line early will give you peace of mind since you are required to be there before your scheduled appointment, and besides, you would only have to do this once!

Okay, enough with queuing up, on to more important things.

Yes, I just recently found out that an APPOINTMENT must be made via this website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhju18.html. You must arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment. One appointment is good for one family. Available slots would ONLY be 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month.

Here are the OTHER requirements if spouse or sponsors are unavailable:

The dependent (YOU) must bring along a DOD Form 1172 signed by the sponsor (your husband) and notarized from a DEERS/RAPIDS workstation validating you as a dependent, along with a valid national ID (such as a Philippine/U.S. Passport, driver's license, NBI report, voter's card, etc.)

- OR -

The dependent must bring along a valid Power of Attorney notarized by a US notary which gives her the power to act on the sponsor’s behalf, along with a valid national ID as stated above.

- OR -

If the sponsor is deceased, the un-remarried spouse or unmarried former spouse may act on their own behalf.

But to be more clear with the LATEST procedure, call Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) at 301-2000 Ext 6340.

June 12 Marks The Declaration of PH Independence

Yes, I know I should have posted this a week ago. This is what makes the site unique…it just doesn’t go with the flow. Haha! How convenient.

But then again, I truly believe that expressing loyalty to the republic and freedom of speech should be done in any point and time, any day of the year. It just so happened that June 12 was the most memorable for the Filipino nation.

This year, June 12 fell on a Saturday -- a perfect day to spend the holiday with the family since it was a long weekend for most of us, especially from the workforce. Those kids who went to school at an earlier date may get to extend their procrastination on their homework.

But first, a brief background:

The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite II el Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

The declaration, however, was neither recognized by the United States nor Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War. The United States finally recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 in the Treaty of Manila. July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until August 4, 1964 when, upon the advice of historians and the urging of nationalists, President Diosdado Macapagal signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the country's Independence Day. June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day and many government buildings are urged to display the Philippine Flag in their offices. (Thank you, ever-reliable WIKI).

True enough, I have seen residences and establishments proudly hoist the Philippine flag -- the symbol of freedom and of new hope -- pretty much applicable in our present situation as the new administration kicks in.

So on this special day, here were some noteworthy stuff observed:

1. Google page’s honoriffic homepage. Snaps for Google.

 2. Bing.com features the Coral Island (Palawan) on its homepage though I highly doubt it has anything to do with the holiday.

3. Congratulatory messages from foreign dignitaries and diplomats for (1) Philippine Independence; and (2) the proclamation of our new leaders of the country.

4. Hearing about this PHP10M parade featuring the outgoing administration’s accomplishments. (If you ask my opinion, I’d rather have the money geared towards addressing issues on population or education, don’t you think?). Both the President-elect and his running mate were absent from the festivities as they had to sponsor a wedding.

5. Free MRT ride I took advantage of (3PM-7PM only). Like what my mom said, we DID pay taxes for the entire year anyway, so it‘s really nothing to rave about. Well, can’t complain about the sardine cabins and funny smells. After all, it was free. Thank God I’d have to bear just one station. Nevertheless, thank you dear president for the free ride. :)

6. Most of all, mall-wide Independence Day specials. Megamall was packed! Buy 1, Take 1 on Triumph underwear! Kim Chiu promoting Smart Buddy. Jam-packed National Bookstore for the uber last minute shopping of school supplies. Chaos! Chaos! Chaos! Only in the Philippines.

Didn’t I mention that people are dead-crazy to have the scramble that they have to queue up for it?

And on this note, I would like to dedicate my all-time favorite “nationalistic” hymn. to us all Tayo ay may iisang dugo, isang lahi at musika (We have one blood, race and voice). Song was interpreted by the critically-acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

Writers, Facebook Needs YOU!

Are you one of those highly industrious writers who want to make it BIG on Facebook or even on blogosphere? Well, if posting status messages, joining groups or fan pages or even blogging, are not enough for you to gain exposure on this enormous social networking site, then you may be in for a little treat that Facebook developers are currently brewing (and testing). 

Facebook now opens its doors to us users to become Beta Testers for a new app that they'll be launching real soon. Be the first to try this "cool" feature even before others do! You will just have to pass their simple online exam, which is their only way to assess your writing abilities and proficiency on YOUR subject matter. 

You will only be asked to write down any 3 questions, answer them as detailed as you can -- and that's it! You can cite sources (if relevant) from Wiki, etc. Just make sure that you won't be copying anything off anywhere! Plagiarism is a big NO! If you qualify, then you will hear from the FB team within 24 hours.

What's the catch? 

-Your knowledge on your subject matter on certain topics can be seen by tens of millions of active FB users.

-Be one of the FIRST people to try out their product before it even reaches the general public.

-BEST beta testers will get the chance to visit FB headquarters to meet and greet the team! 

To apply as a beta tester, and to see the sample question you can ask, just click this link: http://www.facebook.com/product_application/

Or click on the link where you see the flask on the lower right part of the page, one that looks like this:

Did I Marry The Right Person?

I know I HAVE... =)

This is a very good article. Those who are still single may learn something from here...

Those who are already married or in a commitment may take it as a guideline to improve your marriage & relationship ...


During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question. She said, "How do I know if I married the right person?"

I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said, "It depends. Is that your husband?"

In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"

Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it's weighing on your mind.

Here's the answer.

EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse/partner. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked their idiosyncrasies (unconventional behavior/habit)..

Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience.

You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love... Because it's happening TO YOU.

People in love sometimes say, "I was swept of my feet." Think about the imagery of that __expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU.

Falling in love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience. But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria (excitement) of love fades. It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry the right person?"
And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else.

This is when marriages or relationship breakdown. People blame their spouse/partner for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage/relationship for fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious.

But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, excessive TV, or abusive substances.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it.

I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else.

You could.

And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIP IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it day in and day out. That's why we have the __expression "the labor of love." Because it takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly, it takes WISDOM. You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage/relationship work. Sure true love can only happen after you've fallen out of love. When you begin choosing to love, even if you don't feel like doing it ---- that's true love. And that's the foundation of a lasting and strong marriage.

Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships.

Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger.

It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable... you can "make"love.

Love is indeed a "decision"... Not just a feeling. You'll not just go away with your relationship just because the feeling is gone. In the Bible, love is a command. You make it happen.


Remember this always:

"God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."

9 Years of D & S

This is actually my first post about our anniversary as a couple since I only had the interest of blogging just about anything only a year ago. I was able to post some of the monthly anniversaries we shared even in the distance. Good thing technology was there to save us! Thank God!

I haven't even shared our love story before. It wasn't one of those overly dramatic ones seen in Koreanovelas. It wasn't also one of those mediocre stories as well, for I believe each love story is unique in its own way. You can read more on this as a featured love story in one of my friend's successful blogs. 

 http://lovingthedistance.com/2010/01/12/ldr-couples-dave-shelley/

For our 9th year as a couple, we are STILL in the long distance phase where we constantly long for each other, look and ask "when" we can finally be together. I would sometimes feel that I am not past this "newlywed" stage. Good thing, it won't be long before that finally happens, because it just did!

To celebrate our success as a couple, I have prepared a simple slideshow of the years we have spent so happily together. Pardon the video since I just learned how to tinker with Windows Movie Maker. Now this is my anniversary gift, long-distance style.

And to D, you already know how much :)

I will see you later.

Birthday. Booze. Tobacco. Memorial.

I didn’t know D’s birthday was THAT significant.

I mean, it already is for me and for his loved ones, likewise to his friends from old and new (thanks to facebook. lol).

I really wanted to spend this special day with him, but with the current long distance setup, it was close impossible since D still had to look for a place for us to crash in upon my move. Gladly enough, he had friends to go out with to enjoy his first taste of THE Patron on that memorial weekend.

And yes, he is not a fan of shots nor smokes, but neither was he a fan of partypoopers, so he tried at least a shot or two.

Nope, it didn’t bother me if he drinks around (on occasion) because he simply NEVER does unless peer pressure sets on his birthday (note: birthday ONLY). In fact, being able to mix drinks for him is one of those secret dreams I’d like to do one day.

Not only was it a long holiday for him, but also it was a day of celebration for two key international events -- US Memorial Day and World No Tobacco Day. Thus, more reason to celebrate, on the former at least!

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (in this case, May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I to honor dead Americans from all wars (thank you Wikipedia!).

I remember when I used to work for an American-based account, and we had to observe the holiday even if the firm itself was based in the PH. We would even have our team building activities or parties, even if we did not exactly know what we were celebrating for. Some people might even think that it's a day where specials (as in discounts) are being offered in some shops and stores. Some would think that it's time to take that leisurely break from the urban jungle. Fair enough.

But Memorial Day is a commemoration of those who served but didn't make it home. It is to honor and remember men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service. 

Being a spouse to a serviceman who may be put in the same circumstance brought my understanding of its importance to a more profound level. A big shoutout to all those still serving Uncle Sam!

On the other hand, World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. It is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco  consumption across the globe. The day is further intended to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to 5.4 million deaths worldwide annually. The member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) in 1987. In the past twenty years, the day has been met with both enthusiasm and resistance across the globe from governments, public health organizations, smokers, growers, and the tobacco industry. (Thanks again, wiki!).

The World Health Organization (WHO) selects "Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women" as the theme for the next World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on 31 May 2010.

 

Controlling the epidemic of tobacco among women is an important part of any comprehensive tobacco control strategy. World No Tobacco Day 2010 will draw particular attention to the need to protect women and girls from the harmful effects of tobacco marketing and smoke in accordance with WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Yes, it's an EPIDEMIC, mind you.

Let us endeavor to “Make every day World No-Tobacco Day.”

Research indicates that chemicals from tobacco smoke are transmitted via breast milk. So, stop smoking please, especially if you are pregnant or if you are JUST PLANNING to be pregnant! 

If you don’t even care about yourself, then don’t drag everyone else, especially your own kid for Christ! Respect for personal space too is indeed essential to those who are having a hard time quitting. You are also likewise affecting those who do not wish to be affected by your excessive smoking.

Smoking is dangerous to your health as we all know and everyone, even smokers, would have to agree. Quit smoking and live longer! It would be better to start early. I know for some, it’s not as easy as just being cold turkey. Try some alternatives here.Or find this article useful to you.