Pol Medina Jr.’s 18th compilation of Pugad Baboy strips is now out!

Available at your favorite bookstore for only Php135.

After 7 months, Darna, the soap opera finally ends tonight.

My friend who used to religiously watch it, said it’s just as well — Darna was turning into a simpering fool. Interesting what a soap opera can do to a superhero.

I am not talking about the FM radio and the stations shuttle drivers prefer. What I mean here is that there are shuttle drivers who use radios to communicate with one another.

There are many shuttle routes that go into the residential areas and pass through some routes that regular public utility vehicles don’t take especially when there are floods, terrible traffic jams and all that. Those radios make the life of the drivers and commuters easier. Drivers can avoid traffic and the ire of his passengers who fear being late to work.

I guess I really appreciate that all the more because I got on a shuttle without one so he wasn’t able to avoid the traffic jam at one of the in-roads.

I saw a picture of a parol (also known as Lantern, in English that is) on from Jonas Diego’s blog entry. It’s plugging for the Paskong Pinoy event.

Details:
3 Dec 2005
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
Free and open to the public.

RSVP/inquiries: 4679397

In the forums I frequent, the US residents are excited about two things: the turkey dinner and Black Friday.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year. Many consider it the “official” beginning to the holiday season. The “black” in the name comes from the standard accounting practice of using red ink to denote negative values (losses) and black ink to denote positive values (profits). Black Friday is the day when retailers traditionally get back “in the black” after operating “in the red” for the previous months, often by cutting prices considerably. In addition, most retailers will open very early.

Definition courtesy of Wikipedia

I heard my sister-in-law talking to my sister about it, and she said people line up in front of the stores as early as 4am. She even said that you can even buy a TV for $20 (I didn’t heard what kind of TV it is though).

That got me thinking, what if we do something like a Black Friday or Boxing day ala Canada instead of having a “sale” every weekend?

I have been on an A & W Rootbeer drinking binge these days and I have noticed that in the three convenient stores I frequent, there are different prices of that particular product.

In Ministop, it’s Php 24.
In 7-11, it’s Php 23.
In WOW Convenience Store (Ayala MRT Station), it’s Php 22.50.

So what is the moral of the story? Get my supply from the convenience store in Ayala MRT Station.

Then again, there are products which are cheaper in Ministop but more expensive in 7-11 and are not available in WOW.

For example, the Summit Sparkling Water (I am addicted to the Strawberry-Watermelon flavor), it’s Php 16.50 in Ministop but it’s Php 17 in 7-11. My officemate told me about San Mig coffee being cheaper in 7-11 than in Ministop.

These convenience stores are making life of the office workers more interesting because sometimes we wonder if these shops talk about specializing in selling which products and so on just to have market share. *laughs* But then again, we doubt that it’s actually like that.

I have to admit that I only have a vague idea of what a “podcast” is, until today. I did, however, know it has to do with audiofiles.

Podcasting is a blanket term used to describe a collection of technologies for automatically distributing audio and video programs over the internet via a publish and subscribe model. It differs from earlier online collections of audio or video material in the use of automatic distribution, usually through RSS feeds. Podcasting enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated “radio shows,” and gives broadcast radio or television programs a new distribution method.

Read the complete Wikipedia entry on Podcasting

Recently, Microwarehouse, launch the Philippine Podcasts, with several channels to indulge yourself in.

Among the peronalities doing the podcasts are Twisted writer Jessica Zafra, photographer Dominique James, and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, Pam Pastor.

All available podcasts are available for download at http://www.microwarehouse.com.ph/podcast/podcast.php.

National Bookstore has now started carrying English versions of popular Japanese Mangas, as well as a number of American comics/graphics novels.

In the years before we had Powerbooks and Fully Booked, the only source of comics and manga is either Filbar’s, Comic Quest or Comic Alley.

I’ve recently come across a copy of the video of the “Biyahe Tayo” song, which was made in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Pfizer and 21 of the country’s top artists.

I’ve first seen the video at its launching last year, and until now, it still gives me goosebumps and my chest tightens just a bit (not sure of it’s because of me swelling with pride or because of the chicharon I ate hours ago).

There is now a new version with Regine singing the whole song, but the original version still have a bigger effect on me. I mean, c’mon, you have Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Freddie Aguilar, Rey Valera, Rico Puno, Joey Ayala, Apo Hiking Society, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Jolina Magdangal, April Boy Regino, Jessa Zaragoza, Paolo Santos, Nina and Rico Blanco of Rivermaya, John Lesaca, and Jong Cuenco collaborating in one song. Without any talent fee too.

Lyrics and downloads available at Lakbaypilipinas.com.

As the one responsible for the grocery shopping, I’ve learned the average costs per kilo of the vegetables I regularly buy, along with the prices of poultry, pork and beef.

My sister told me, that once a vegetable passed the Php50/kilo mark, skip buying it for the moment.

And so, I am deprived of my favorite red and green bell peppers. Can you believe they’re selling for Php200/kilo at SM Supermarket?!