TV Series: Caroline longs for blood in Vampire Diaries (S2E2 A Brave New World)

In episode 2 of TVD's season 2, Caroline wakes up in her hospital bed after she was killed by Katherine by suffocating her. Recall that Caroline was given vampire blood by Damon to help her recover after the car crash during the Founder's Day (S1E22). Because of this, Caroline is already starting the phase of being a vampire. The last stage is drinking human blood. Upon discovering of her new power of influence over humans, Caroline fed on her nurse's blood and tells her nurse to forget what she did and never to tell anyone about what happened. 

Matt, on the other hand, notices the changes in Caroline. Caroline refuses to go out during the day and told him that she wants to be discharged from the hospital at night instead.

There is a carnival party in the Mystic Falls and almost everyone in town is there. Stefan and Damon are questioning the unbelievable strength and compulsiveness of the Lockwoods. Stefan challenged Tyler's uncle to an arm-wrestling and he cannot believe that he was beaten because of the Lockwood's uncanny strength.

Damon and Stefan set-up a guy to pick up a fight with Tyler and Stefan saw the superhuman abilities of the Lockwoods. Tyler saw his uncle's eyes turn to yellow and becomes baffled about this.

Caroline comes to the carnival and makes her first vampire kill. Elena, Damon and Stefan know already what has happened to Caroline and they have all agreed not to kill Caroline, even with strong opposition from Damon. Bonnie becomes upset that Caroline, one of her bestfriends, is now a vampire. She tries to kill Damon by setting him on fire but intercepted by Elena telling Bonnie that it was Katherine who turned Caroline and not Damon.

To watch the complete episode, click on the play button below:

Enjoy! :)

TV Series: Survivor Nicaragua opens with age rivalry

Survivor is on the running for its 21st season. With the new season, comes new challenges and survivors.

This season looks like an age rivalry wherein the young are pitted against the old. With this premise, this season sure promises a good mix of alliances, immunity challenges and reward games.

For episode 1 of season 21, you can watch it here:

Travel: KLM gives out FREE luggage tags

KLM, the Royal Dutch Airlines, is giving away thousands of bag tags for FREE!

All you have to do is create your personalized luggage tag here and have it shipped to your home or office address.

You can choose to upload your own picture or choose from KLM pictures that are provided in the registration site.

After you have successfully ordered, they will ship it to your doorstep in 3 weeks time.

This is one of the bag tags that I ordered for free.

I will update and blog again after they have shipped my bag tag orders at my doorstep. :)

TV Series: Vampire Diaries Season 2 Returns with Katherine on the Loose (S2E1 The Return)

After the much anticipated start of another season, Vampire Diaries S2 opens with Katherine returning to Mystic Falls. After being mistaken as Elena, Katherine is invited to the Gilbert's house and attempted to kill Elena's biological father, John Gilbert. Elena got in time to rush John to the hospital. Jeremy wakes up after trying to drug overdose himself in the hopes of turning himself a vampire after drinking Anna's blood in the Season 1-ender.

Caroline recovers from the car crash in Season 1 aftes she was given vampire blood by Damon. Not long enough, Damon and Stefan learned of Katherine's return and realized that Katherine is back to wreak havoc in Mystic Falls.

In Tyler's dad's funeral, Tyler's cousin, Mason, returns home. (Spoiler: I suspect that he is a werewolf as well and he knows it already.)

Bonnie comes face to face with Katherine and intercepts them when Stefan arrives in the funeral.

Katherine tells Stefan that she wants him back and ditches Damon over Stefan saying to Damon that she never really loved him even before. Katherine furthers says to Damon, "It is always Stefan." Damon goes to Elena's house to ask Elena if she feels anything for him but Elena stops him. Elena also says to Damon the same lines that Katherine said to him, "It is always Stefan." 

Feeling unwanted, Damon vents his frustration to Jeremy and snaps his neck. Luckily, Jeremy wears the immortality ring after this was given to him by John before John left town.

The episode ends with Katherine visiting Caroline in the hospital and asks her to send her a message to the Salvatore brothers. Katherine then suffocates Caroline with a pillow in her hospital bed until Caroline does not struggle anymore.

Watch it here:

My Take:

 

This series just gets better and better. With new characters and surprises, these will have everyone hooked again. With Katherine alive, she will slowly break the Salvatore brother's bond. Damon will hate Stefan more because Stefan gets all the girls while he gets nothing. I am looking forward to the Lockwood's storyline on how they became a family of werewolves and what role Jeremy will play in the entire scheme of things in Mystic Falls. I am also expecting Bonnie to develop more of her witch powers. I just hope that Caroline's character stays as she is a very endearing girl. Matt would be too unfortunate to lose her after losing her sister Vicky in season 1 and having a rift with her mom.

All in all, episode 1 is a promising start for season 2.

Movie Review: Letters to Juliet

I have always been fascinated with Italy. It seems a very romantic and adorable place. From what I see in movies, Italy has a certain charm that captivates almost everyone. With its country wine vineyards, cobblestone walkways, palatable dishes and beautiful language, who would not fall in love with it AND in it.

Shot in Verona, Italy, Letters to Juliet is as endearing as the country view of Italy. Starring Amanda Seyfried, of Mama Mia and Chloe, the movie tells of a story of finding your one true love and fulfilling the promise of a love once lost.

An article published in Manila Times, a Philippine broadsheet, aptly describes and sets the tone of what the movie is all about:

The One That Got Away
(Mark J. Macapagal, The Manila Times)

In your life, you’ll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special and ones who will always mean something. There’s the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you’re with…and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it’s that person with whom everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person nor flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn’t fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you’re not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn’t matter who you’re with, it just doesn’t work. Small problems become big; inconsequential become deal breakers simply because you’re not ready and it shows. It’s not that you and the person you’re with are no good; it’s just that it’s not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you’re ready. You really are. And when this happens you’ll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it’ll work because you’re ready. It’ll work because it’s the right time and you’ll make it work. And it’ll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you’re finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want and you’ve become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there’s no telling when this day will come. Hopefully, you’re single or be in a long-term relationship, or be married with three kids…it doesn’t matter. All you know is that you have changed. And for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You’ll think about them because you’ll wonder, “What if they were here today?” , “What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?” .The one that got away is– the biggest “What if?” you’ll have in your life.

If you’re married, you’ll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you’re mature enough to realize that you’re already with the one you’re with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you’ll think about him/her every so often, but it’s alright. It’s never nice to live with a “might have been,” but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who’s already married. In which case it’s the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you’re old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it’s different. What do you do if it’s not yet too late? Simple –find him or find her. The very existence of a “one that got away” means that you’ll always wonder…what if you got that one? Ask him out to coffee. Ask her out to a movie. It doesn’t matter if you’ve dropped in from out of nowhere. You’d be surprised, you just might be “the one that got away” as well for the person who is your “the one that got away.” You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won’t make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it’ll all just fall into place somehow. It would be a great feeling in the end, to be able to say to someone, “Hey you, you’re the one that almost got away.”

To watch the movie, click to play on the video below:

"'What' and ‘if’ are nonthreatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: ‘What if?' 

'What If?'

 What If I don't know how your story ended. But if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true, then it why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart.

 I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like. A love to leave loved ones for. A love to cross oceans for. But I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, I would have the courage to seize it. 

 And if you didn't, I hope one day that you will." 

- Letters to Juliet, 2010

SeatSale: AirPhilExpress 600PHP Seat Sale

Air Philippines Express, the budget wing of Philippines' flag carrier Philippine Airlines, is on a sale rampage. Set to conquer the budget airline industry, AirPhil Express has been very aggressive in its sales and marketing campaigns these past few months. Seat sale after seat sale, they are slowly eating up the market share of the budget airline industry that is currently dominated by Cebu Pacific Air.

And now, they are again on the surge of offering travelers budget airfares with their new seat sale promo.

AirPhilExpress' re-entry to the budget airline industry is advantageous to everyone, expecially to travel-holics. This will eventually pave way for more flights within the country, and possibly outside of the country, and offer Filipino and foreign tourists more domestic flights which will help boost the tourism industry of our country. Most important of all, AirPhilExpress' aggressive airfare promos and prices will help other competing budget airlines to do the same which will eventually help drive lower the cost of airplane travels. Thus, this will give more power to consumers to choose because of several options and air transportation monopoly will no longer be very evident in the Philippines.

TV Series: Glee Season 2 opens with Charice

For Filipino Gleeks (Glee addicts), this season will be definitely the most anticipated.

Charice Pempengco, more internationally known as 'Charice', is set to guest star in this Emmy-nominated series for its season 2 run. Charice will play Sunshine Corazon, a character who is an exchange student from the Philippines. She will become Rachel's rival in the episode. Charice's episode will be the pilot for season 2. Almost all Filipinos are excited for Charice since this is the second time only that a Filipino artist has guest-starred in a Hollywood TV series. The first Filipino artist who was able to do this was Lea Salonga in the ER TV series.

Other interesting episodes to catch in the season 2 are Britney Spears' appearance wherein she will be reprising some of her famous hits. Other actors that are said to guest star are John Stamos and Javier Bardem.

TechUpdate: IPhone 4.0, cheapest in Singapore and Hongkong

Ever since the IPhone was launched, everyone has been dying to get one. Now that the Iphone 4.0 is already out and will be released soon in the Philippines, more and more people are getting on the Iphone bandwagon.

With its 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, HD Video recording and editing, 3.5 inch widescreen multi-touch display features among others, this IPhone 4.0 has gotten all tech-savvies drooling for several months. And now, it has finally reached Asia Pacific.

Unfortunately, it hasn't been marketed yet in the Philippines. Singapore is the closest country to have launched the IPhone 4. The Iphone 4 is already available in Apple SG store and units are sold UNLOCKED. Yes, that's correct. Singapore laws prohibit the mobile manufacturers to lock their brands to particular telecom providers. Basically, it's all about freedom of choice. Same goes to Australia, New Zealand, and Hongkong (other countries that sell officially unlocked IPhone 4.0 units are listed here: Officially Unlocked iPhone 4 Countries List). It's different in the Philippines because IPhone units have been locked to Globe telecom, a local telecom provider. Not to mention, IPhone prices in the Philippines are really expensive which is 50-60% higher than when it's bought outside of the country.

According to several Iphone experts and blogsites, Singapore and Hongkong are the two countries that offer the cheapest price for officially unlocked IPhone 4.0 units. (Data retrieved in this site.)

I checked on the Apple SG site and true enough, they sell Iphone 4 units (16GB Black) for only 888 SGD (that's roughly 30,000 PHP converted using OANDA rates). The 32GB Iphone 4 is being sold at 1,048 SGD.

I also checked Apple HK's online store and their IPhone prices are also very cheap (comparing it to prices in other countries and considering that these units are officially unlocked IPhone 4s). Iphone 4 units (16GB Black) cost only 4988 HKD which is roughly 28000 - 29000 PHP. The 32GB Iphone 4 is being sold at 5888 HKD.

 

Now that the Iphone 4 is already out, everyone is scuttling to own it. Since Iphones generally cost a lot in the Philippines, a lot of Pinoys are getting their units in SG or HK. There are a lot of forum sites already that discuss how to order outside of SG and ship it to Manila. One common practice is to find someone (a friend) in SG whose address they can use in doing their online purchase for the Iphone 4 from the Apple SG online store. Apple accepts online purchase only so that they can track Iphone orders. In SG, there is also a maximum count of only 2 Iphone orders per person/credit card. That friend, then, can just send the Iphone via courier to Manila or hand-carry it when he/she comes back to Manila for vacation. 

So if you're one of those itching to own the new Iphone 4, one tip is to order from Apple SG online store and just use your friend's SG address in the purchase order. You can have the unit couriered to Manila. Last time I heard, LBC can do this at a minimal price. Or you can either personally go to SG to pick it up yourself. There's nothing more satisfying than  getting it personally, opening the box and sniffing the smell of a brand new gadget. You can also do some sidetrip in SG while you're there. ;)

If money is not an issue with you and feels hassled to do the purchase in SG while you are here in the Philippines, you can keep yourself in the loop for the IPhone 4 release in the Philippines by signing up in Globe telecom's Iphone 4 alerts.


P.S. For those planning to get their Iphone 4.0s in HK or SG, Citibank has a promo that will allow you to pay for your IPhone 4.0 in 12-month installment payments. :)

Book Review: Mockingjay

Finally after the long wait, I have now gotten Mockingjay. In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned that I pre-ordered the Mockingjay book in National Bookstore. The last book of the Hunger Games trilogy came into my knowledge because of an officemate's suggestion, Jam. She lent me the first book, Hunger Games, and the rest is history.

Following up on District 13's rise from oblivion in Catching Fire, the second book of the trilogy, Mockingjay details the elaborate plans of District 13 to sabotage and bring down the Capitol under President Snow. District 13 is being led by President Coin who wishes to take down the Capitol and take over the entire Panem. Peeta being captured by the Capitol at the end of the second book, is rescued by troops from District 13 as Katniss wishes to be with him. But even before Peeta is rescued, he is  tortured and injected by the Capitol with tracker jacker venom which alters his memory of Katniss and makes him delusional in killing Katniss. Upon knowing this, Katniss is heart-broken and asks to be involved in battle to topple down the Capitol. Together with Gale Hawthorne, Katniss' hunting partner, and other members of the District 13's Star Squad, they set out on a mission to seize control of the Capitol and capture President Snow. They were able to gain control over the Capitol and their revolution was a success. However this triumph costs Katniss the life of Prim, her younger sister, falling prey to the ill effects of bombs during wars. After the siege of the Capitol, Katniss is given the opportunity to kill President Snow herself. But then she learns of President Coin's real motives and kills her instead using her bow and arrow in the supposed to be public execution of Snow. President Snow is killed by a rampage of people after the incident. Katniss is pardoned by the new Capitol government and is ordered to return to District 12, her original home. She is accompanied by Haymitch, her Hunger Games mentor. Peeta soon follows to District 12 to be with Katniss after he recovers from his delusions. Gale Hawthorne, becomes a troop captain in District 2. Katniss and Peeta married after Katniss has fully recovered in her depression and anxiety attacks brought about by the death of her sister. Katniss and Peeta produced two kids and they remain in District 12 under Panem's new government.

The thing that I liked about the book is its concept of war and peace - how it is inseparable - and the repercussions and effects it brings to everyone - the society and its people. In reality, governments are either good or bad. How we define good or bad depends on how we perceive the government in doing its job. History dictates that the evolution of society is brought about by the concept of command and conquer. As depicted in early civilization and even in the modern world, every nation or country in the world has been conquered once in its history. War is not a loved idea in almost all societies but inevitable given its circumstances. Its opposite, the concept of peace, is also an idea that every civilized country tries to embrace but fails in its attempt to imbibe its ideal meaning.

For me, the story of the Hunger Games is a depiction of who and what we are. It is a mirror of the old and the new. Today, the concept of command and conquer still lingers and there will come a time when the concept of Hunger Games becomes inevitable.

Over all, the book is a good read and stays true to its fast-paced plot. I recommend this to everyone and it's definitely worth your time. ;)

"It feels impossible to take pleasure in anything because I'm afraid it could be taken away. That's when I make a list in my head of every act of goodness I've seen someone do. It's like a game. Repetitive." - Mockingjay,  Suzanne Collins , ©2010

Movie Review: Grownups

Reminiscing my earlier school years was what I found to do while watching Grownups. This 2010 movie, which stars Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, David Spade and Kevin James, gives each one of us a walk down memory lane and let us remember what we used to dream of back when we were still kids. In the movie, these five kids are what you would call as the 'next big things' after having won their basketball finals match in their middle school.  Fast forward 30 years after, these five used-to-be basketball champs now lead very different lives. Adam Sandler plays Lenny who is a very accomplished and famous Hollywood talent agent. Kevin James plays Eric who is recently laid-off from his work but hides this from his friends. Chris Rock plays Kurt who is a stay-at-home husband without any work. Rob Schneider plays Rob who is a three-time divorcee and married someone who is 30 years older than him. David Spade plays Marcus who is a single womanizer. After they have found out that their basketball coach before has died, they all decided to attend the funeral services together with their own families. It is in this rendezvous that they reconnect again and rekindle their friendship and bring their families closer to each other.

Even if Rotten Tomatoes rates the movie 10% only, I still find it entertaining complete with a moral lesson. Sometimes, we feel that life has it going for us already - nice career, nice job, fat bank account, famous friends. But we fail to look at the basic foundation of our lives - our family. We may be successful in our work and social life but if our personal family life is crumbling then everything that we have accomplished for ourselves would become useless. It is our family that molds us to who we are, inspires us to get to where we want to, rejoices with us in our triumphs AND cries with us when the whole world frowns at us.

Indeed, this movie is a nice watch and entertaining, as what we always expect from Sandler movies.

If you still haven't got the chance to catch this on the big screen, I'm giving you the treat of watching it here.

Enjoy! ;)

Air Asia's Mindblowing USD1 Seat Sale

Air Asia, known as the world's best low-cost airline of 2010 because of its budget-friendly rates, is again proving the world that they really deserve the top spot.

If you're planning on traveling to some of the best Asian destinations next year (April-August 11, 2011) and planning to do it with a tight airfare budget, then this seat sale is definitely for YOU.

Air Asia is offering a 16PHP one-way fare to almost all of the Asian countries. Air Asia docks in Clark Pampanga airport and travels straight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But even if you are thinking of going somewhere else other than KL, you need not fret. Air Asia services other flights from KL to Vietnam, Bangkok, Cambodia, Laos, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei and many others. So if you are thinking to have that great Asian backpacking trip alone or with your friends, then this is definitely a sign for you to GO for it.

Seat sale starts on August 10 and ends on August 15, 2010.

What are you waiting for? A promo like this is surely a travel addict's answered prayer. :)

As for me, I might just pursue that Asian backpacking trip suggestion. 

Hi-ho, hi-ho! Asia, here I go! ;)

Cebu Pacific launches another seat sale

Cebu Pacific, the number 1 low-cost airline in the Philippines, launches again another seat sale today. This is in celebration of Cebu Pacific Air's acquisition of new airbus carriers.

Seat sale starts on August 10 and ends on August 11, 2010. Seat sale travel period will be from October 1 - November 30, 2010.

For those travelholics, this is another chance for you to catch the next flight to your next adventure destination.

Hmmm... I'm thinking, where should I go next? :)

Music Review: David Guetta's One Love

Being a pseudo-dancer sometimes, I am always on the lookout for new dance beats and groovy soundtracks. When I first heard of  Kelly Rowland's smash hit 'When Love Takes Over', I instantly liked the song. When I knew that she collaborated with David Guetta for this song, I immediately googled who this guy is. I later found out that he is one of the best producers of house and dance songs today. He also collaborated with other artists for the popular songs 'I Gotta Feeling', 'Club Can't Handle Me',  'Commander' and 'Sexy Bitch'. 

I downloaded his entire 'One Love' album and started listening to all of the songs. I must say that this album totally rocks. I loved it! Every song has a certain vibe and groovy feel to it. They make you stand up and just gyrate and swivel from left to right. My personal favorites in the album are 'When Love Takes Over' with Kelly Rowland, 'Sexy Bitch' with Akon, 'Club Can't Handle Me' with Flo-rida, 'Gettin Over' with Chris Willis and 'Missing You' with Novel. The other songs are also too good for you to miss. Proof of my adddiction to Guetta's music is constantly playing the entire tracks in this album when I go to the gym and run the treadmill. It keeps me on the groove.

Just some of the music videos of David Guetta's songs:










As for me, I strongly recommend this album to everyone who likes to dance, party and groove even when you are inside your room, your car or your bathroom!

Get it now! ;)

TV Series: Feasting on Vampire Diaries

Ever since the advent of the Twilight series of Stephanie Meyer, a lot of vampire books and chronicles have started surfacing. Vampire fiction has long been here already but the vampire-human-werewolf saga of Meyer has fueled a new fascination for the modern-age treatment of vampires. My first vampire movie, as far as I can remember, was Interview with the Vampire which starred Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Kirsten Dunst. For books, my first vampire book read was the work of R.L. Stine which was heavily popular during my high school years. Today, not only do you have vampire saga in books but Hollywood has taken a lot of these books into the big screen. Talk about Vampire Mania!

I got to read the Twilight saga and also watched the Twilight sequels. But this is not about that. This post is about its predecessor, the Vampire Diaries. 

The Vampire Diaries are, originally, book series that were written by L.J. Smith.

Because of the tremendous money that Twilight raked in both for books and the silver screen, the Vampire Diaries screen franchise was brought to life. But this time, it was made for TV.

I haven't really read any of the Vampire Diaries books. I first heard of the Vampire Diaries TV series from a friend and read good reviews about it. The Vampire Diaries is always compared to Trueblood, which is also a vampire TV franchise. I was also hooked with the first season of Trueblood but later on got unhooked with its following seasons. So I decided to try the first season of Vampire Diaries without any expectation at all.

In a nutshell, the Vampire Diaries TV series is about the sibling rivalry of two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon. Back in 1864 in Mystic Falls, they both fell in love with the same vampire, Katherine. Because of both brother's love for Katherine, they agreed to be turned into vampires by Katherine. Upon knowledge of their father that Katherine is a vampire, the townspeople imprisoned Katherine and her other minions to be locked up in a tomb forever. Fast forward to 2010, Stefan finds out about Elena who is a carbon copy of Katherine. Elena is human and is an orphan with both her parents killed in a car accident. Stefan falls in love with Elena and Damon later on finds out about Elena and her stark similarities with Katherine. Stefan does not feed anymore on human blood and has already an 'animal-blood' diet because he does not want to be guilty of killing innocent people. Damon, on the other hand, is still remorseful about what happened to Katherine back in 1864 and vows to bring her back to life because of his undying love for her. Elena has two bestfriends who are Bonnie and Caroline. Bonnie is a witch while Caroline ends up with Elena's ex-boyfriend Matt. Matt is bestfriends with his football teammate Tyler, who is sort-of frenemy of Jeremy, Elena's brother.

The season evolves around the lives of these people and the Council of Mystic Falls whose members are descendants of the people who imprisoned the vampires back in 1864. As the season progresses, it is revealed that Katherine was not at all imprisoned in the tomb because she has escaped. Elena's biological mother is a vampire, Isobel, who later on had a plan to kill Stefan and Damon because she fears that they will turn Elena into a vampire too. She does not want Elena to suffer the consequences of having to live an 'undead' life forever and feeding on innocent people's blood. 

At the end of the first season, it was revealed that Katherine is already back in Mystic Falls. Her motives are not yet clear as to why she is back. Damon realizes, as well, that he has strong feelings for Elena even if he knows that Elena loves Stefan. Bonnie has fully developed her witchcraft skills and warns Stefan that they should not kill innocent people anymore, especially Damon. The season ends with Elena coming face to face with Katherine at their house.

Overall, I liked the first season so much. I wasn't expecting a lot in the storyline but I got what I could have expected. There was meat in almost all of the characters' personalities, which I think Twilight lacked. Among the two brothers, I empathize more for Damon. Sure he is a badass but the guy's got some heart, too. I like his sarcasm and quick humor. Seldom do you meet vampires that are like that. If I would be a vampire, I would definitely want to be like him. LOL! I also liked Elena because she is a feisty heroine. Unlike Bella who is a wimp, Elena is strong-willed and very independent. She carries herself well and has a positive disposition amidst her life's losses. I also liked Bonnie. I find her very gorgeous and sexy. She looks like Bangs Garcia, a Filipina actress, in some of her angles. 

Now that the season 1 has ended, I would definitely catch the second season of this series which will premiere on September 2010. I can't wait already. My personal wishlist for season 2 includes Damon to be still badass but more emphasis on his human side, more Damon and Elena love angle and Stefan to turn into the dark side. Now that would be a good twist.

As for my recommendation, this series is definitely a good watch especially for those vampire love story fanatics. 

For online streaming of season 1 episodes, you can go to the link below.

Watch Vampire Diaries Online

You can also follow some of the lead casts in Twitter: 

Nina Dobrev

Ian Somerhalder 

Katerina Graham

Zach Roerig

Michael Trevino

Book Rave and Mockingjay Pre-Order at National Bookstore

It was Friday night and I was supposed to meet Cay and Simi at Glorietta 3 Mall. But there was a change of plan and I decided to stroll alone instead at Glorietta 5. I was supposed to go to the Wade shoe store because I wanted to look at and try one of their shoe merchandise. However, I later found out that the Wade store is in Glorietta 3 and not in Glorietta 5. To cut my disappointment, I went inside the National Bookstore. I saw that they had this mega-sale on some of their hardbound books that only cost 99 PhP each. I looked at their book sale collection and found two interesting hardback fictions.

I was intrigued by the books' synopsis and, not to mention, the books were a little bit of delving on conspiracy theories about Jesus and his life. I liked Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code and it was purely fiction. This time around, the books mentioned that the authors had more than 30 years of research and study on Jesus' life based on excavated artifacts and scholars' accounts. So, I trust that these books will be rich in history and more credible in facts. I then decided to buy these two books. I should have gone out of the bookstore already but saw the Mockingjay pre-order sale that NBS has. 

I am a big fan of the two books of the trilogy, Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Without hesitation, I paid also for the 200PhP reservation fee for the book which will be out on August 25, two weeks from now. Aside from getting the book early, they will also give us a limited Mockingjay shirt for free and the hardbound book only costs 530 Php which already includes the 200 Php reservation fee. I can't wait already for August 25 and find out what will happen to Katniss, Peeta and the entire Panem. 

After some time, I am now going back to avid reading again. It took a while but I hope this will be a start of setting some time to read regularly. After all, if I am planning to go to grad school or law school soon, I better polish my reading habits starting right now. 

After I read the books, I will set some time to sit down and write my reviews here. :)

Google Dumps Wave

As per Google's latest news, they have decided to shelf their Google Wave project permanently. This is due to low percentage of user interest and not much buzz created in the technology world even if it has been launched already earlier this year. 





I am one of those people who signed up for the pilot use of the tool. I first found it quite interesting. However, it did not offer something much better in my opinion aside from the real-time text I/O between two or more Google wavers.

I hope that the technology that Google has invested and developed in this tool will be used in mobile technology instead. I think it will be more lucrative if the Wave concept is embedded in mobile phones. It would be very cool to see the real-time text inputs of your friend while you both are kilometers apart from each other. I would love to see it as one of the features of a Google phone or the IPhone 4 or any smartphone in the market. That would be too awesome, don't you think?

Read Google's pronouncement here: Update on Google Wave

Especially For You

Wherever you may be right now, thank you for being a part of my life. I may not able to tell you this personally but I hope that you feel my love for you. You told me once that you never wanted me to wait. But for me, even waiting for you is the closest thing to heaven. I love you and you will always be in my heart. I'll be waiting, even if it will take me forever.

Thoughts of Leaving

Last night, I dreamt of a movie ticket that was in my hand. As all dreams are, I don't have the slightest idea where that ticket came from. I never got to look around where I was in my dream. It was only the movie ticket that I paid attention to. Then I recall looking at it, then the scene became black and I was awake.

Baffled and wanting to find answers, I googled what this meant. This has been my habit everytime I remember my dreams and does not know its meaning. Often times, I really do not know what they mean. That's why I often look for its definition online.

According to the Dream Dictionary, to see a movie ticket in your dream signifies the start of a new endeavor. This means you have decided on your paths and goals in life. To dream a movie ticket represents your need to be more objective in your decisions and goals in life.

I tried to understand what this means and looked hard in where I am right now in my life. Being a year older than last year, I cannot help but re-assess where my life is right now and where I want it to go. Last night before I slept, I was loosely listing down all the things that I wanted to accomplish in the next 2 years. It includes what I wanted to buy, what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. It has something for myself and for my family. However after juxtaposing it with my current resources, it seems not doable. I need to have another job to help me fulfill those dreams and make them a reality. These dreams are not grand but they are not also cheap.

I then thought and asked myself, should I then leave? But leave and go where? I have a pending Canada application for Skilled Immigration already but decided to put it on hold for the meantime since I am still contented with what I have here in the Philippines. I have never thought of working back in Davao City. It's not that Davao is less metropolitan than Manila. It's just that I made a very conscious decision way back in college that after I graduate I will not be working in Davao City but in Manila or outside of the country. I have been in Davao for 20+ years of my life already and I would want to experience a new life outside of it. But one thing is for sure, Davao will be my haven when I retire. Singapore then? But I have second thoughts going there. It seems so near. If I should go out, I want it to be far far away from the Philippines.

Why then do I want to leave? 
Is it to earn more? Is it to see more? Or is it to forget more?
The answer probably is a mix of the three. 

So what then stops me from leaving?
My family. My mom asking me to stay first. My siblings. My dream of studying law and becoming a lawyer in the Philippines. My P&G career. The comforts of living in your country, wherever you are in it. My friends, wherever they are. My life in the Philippines.

If I am leaving the country, I want it for good and no turning back. If there is something that I am consistent, it is the courage to start anew even if it means strange and difficult.

When am I leaving the country then? 
I am giving myself another 2 years.
 

Transcript of PNoy's First State of the Nation Address

State of the Nation Address
of His Excellency
Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
to the Congress of the Philippines
Session Hall of the House of Representatives
July 26, 2010

AQUINO DELIVERS FIRST SONA

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;
Mga minamahal kong kababayan:
Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.
Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.
Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

GOV'T HAS LONG STRAYED TO THE CROOKED PATH
Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.
Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.

RP'S PROBLEMS WIDE-RANGING; TRUE STATE OF THE NATION KEPT SECRET FROM THE PUBLIC
Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.
PROBLEMA SA BUDGET

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.
Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.
Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.
Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

CALAMITY FUND
Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga po ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento na ang nagastos.
Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang.

ONE DISTRICT IN PAMPANGA GOT P105M; PANGASINAN ONLY GOT P5M FOR 2008 CALAMITY
Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.


FUNDS FOR PAMPANGA GIVEN ON ELECTION MONTH, 7 MOS. AFTER "ONDOY", "PEPENG"
Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.
MWSS

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.
Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta'y sais porsyento ang dagdag.
Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha. Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.
Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:
Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta'y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.
Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta'y otso mil.
Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa't kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.
Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.
Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo. Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira - sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

ROAD USERS' FUND
Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu't anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.
Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu't walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.
Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.
Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS
Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.
Walumpu't anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.
Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

NAPOCOR
Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.
Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.
Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.
Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana'y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahirapan.

MRT
Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.
Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.
Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

NFA
Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.
Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.
Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.
Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.
Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?
Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.
Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:
Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.
Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.
Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.
Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

ZERO BUDGET
Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.
Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan. Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.
Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.
Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

IMMEDIATE STEPS
TAX EVASION
Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.
Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu't anim na milyong piso ang halaga.
Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?
Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.

EXTRALEGAL KILLINGS
Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.
Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.
Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.

TRUTH COMMISSION
Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.
Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.
Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.
Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.
Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.
Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin ukol dito.
May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.
Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:
Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles ng baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu't dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni MacArthur.
May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.
Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.
Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.
Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba't ibang pangangailangan.
Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.
Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.
Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.
Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.
Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

STREAMLINING PROCESSES
Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.
Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.
May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:
Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.
Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu't anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.
Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.
Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan. Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa't isa.
Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

FREEING UP FUNDS
EDUCATION
Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.
Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.
Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.
Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.
Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

PHILHEALTH
Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.
Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu't pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta'y tres porsyento naman. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu't walong porsyento ang may coverage.
Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.
Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.
Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.
Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.
Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.
Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.
Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.
Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.
Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.
Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.
Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.
Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.
Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.
Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower's Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.
Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.
Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

PEACE PROCESS
Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.
Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.
Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.
Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.
Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.
Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?
Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Mag-usap tayo.
Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.
Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

PANAWAGAN
Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.
Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.
Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.
Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo. Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.
Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?
Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?
Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw-kung iisipin nating "Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa"-magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.
Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.
Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?
Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.
Maraming salamat po.