Author Archives: Arbet Bernardo

14
May

Star Trek 2009 impressions

Posted by | Categories Life | Tagged , ,

I was looking forward to watching the new Star Trek movie ever since rumors of a new movie (and a reboot) surfaced three years ago. I am not the in-the-details fan (though I like details), but enough of a fan to be worried about diverting from the established canon. I was following the news (via TrekMovie.com), from the official announcement by Paramount, to the introduction of the cast and creative team, to the release of the official trailer. I was glad when they casted Leonard Nimoy, and saddened that William Shatner was not in the movie.

So, seating at the third row from the back of San Miguel – Coca Cola iMax Theater at SM Mall of Asia last Monday with silent anticipation, I was wondering about what would I see. When I saw the stars of the Paramount logo, I sat back, relaxed and prepared myself for surprises.

They said that it is not your father’s Star Trek. And indeed it is not.

I was staring at the screen, my brain embroiled in conflicting thoughts. A part of me winced for every fabric of Star Trek becoming alien to me; a part was awed by the beauty of what I saw; a part was annoyed by what I thought was unnecessary lens flares; a part was laughing at the jokes; and a part was relieved that the movie was glorious.

Relief: that was the emotion that I had felt when the end credits began. The use of Alexander Courage’s Star Trek theme at the end credits, I think, is testament to the creative team’s effort to honor what has been done. Yet, the reboot was nicely done, and I am sure those new to the franchise would appreciate the movie without getting turned off by technobabble. Only the die-hard, strict-stickler-to-canon Trekkers would diss the movie. In the end, I thought that the movie should be judged by itself, without the baggage of canon. Besides, it was an exciting and exhilarating adventure.

But still, it would take time to get used to the changes. The Apple-store like bridge, for example. And the engineering section looked like it was in the building basement, not in a starship. Also, I found the uniforms in Starfleet Academy more cool than those worn in a starship. Some of the changes were radical, what we have now is a revolution, the Star Trek world topsy-turvy.

I find the antagonist to be weak. Eric Bana’s acting was so low-key, you would have thought he was not the villain. He should have brought more anger even if in a subdued way. The character was just not angry enough. The fact is that I find the villain’s motive to be kinda lame (and it was already done before – Khan Noonian Singh, is that you?).

Michael Giacchino’s score was glorious. I am not familiar with his music, and when he was announced as the one who’d score the movie, I was ambivalent. Sure, he did Ratatouille and some TV shows, but for me, an epic score is a John Williams, a Jerry Goldsmith, a Hans Zimmer. Well, I was proven wrong, and now I am looking for the OST. I was used to hearing a strain of Courage or Goldsmith’s theme at the start of a Star Trek movie, and when the new movie started, I was a bit disappointed and thought that it was really a hard reboot. The music at the end credits, like the movie itself assuaged this thought.

I find the reboot clever. Lest I spoil the movie for you, I think the idea for the plot was a win-win idea from JJ Abrams and the writers. If the story line bombed (but not that much), they could always explain it away and then make another one that is more in line with the canon.

To conclude, Star Trek is a thoroughly enjoyable film, which old fans and those new to the franchise can appreciate. Go see it. And if you can, watch it on iMax.

12
May

A very brief hands-on with Samsung Omnia HD

Posted by | Categories Byte | Tagged , , ,

Thanks to Jayvee Fernandez, I got a very brief hands-on with the Samsung Omnia HD (which Samsung will release in some markets as i8910 HD). It shares the same OS as that of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The one that I held was not the final product, and it showed. The response to the touch input was sluggish.

The screen, however, was a big wow. The AMOLED screen was a joy to look at. The image above (sorry, I used an Olympus E-420 DSLR in taking that picture – you don’t take a picture using a DSLR one-handed) does not do justice to the impressive screen.

If you have used a Nokia 5800, the interface of this Samsung phone is the same. For the home screen, Samsung plastered its TouchWiz UI, so that you can add widgets to your home screen. Also, to go to the main menu, you can slide the home screen to the left.

I tried composing a text message using the fullscreen QWERTY input, and the characters have small spaces in between, unlike in Nokia 5800. The text entry experience is the same, though. At least there was no lag.

The unit is definitely larger and wider than Nokia 5800, but thinner. It was nice in the hands, not too heavy, and the built is solid (no creaking parts).

I think this is a nice phone, and I am sure it will be priced at the Php40k-upwards range when it is released here.

(Some more pictures here.)

11
May

At iBlog5

Posted by | Categories Journal | Tagged ,

Last year, I said I was lost at iBlog 4. For this year, I was not lost – I was just a bit preoccupied.

You see, I’ve found a rather-perfect companion. So perfect, in fact, that I live an autistic life when I am with my companion. We shared good times, bad times, sunny days, rainy nights, bright halls and dark auditorium. We enjoyed daylight, but struggled in dark places.

OK, here’s me with my companion.

Anyway, after a year, nothing much has changed. While there were new faces at iBlog 5 (and many familiar faces*), I did not get to know new bloggers. Again. I know I am a bit anti-social, but this is too much for my own good. Though this year, I found myself having two unofficial duties.

Not a few bloggers called me the “official” photographer, due to the number of pictures that I had uploaded (you can see the iBlog5 photoset on Ovi), and the fact that I was nonchalantly taking photos in front. Well, there was no official photographer. As I had said to a few, makapal lang mukha ko. (evil grin) Also, I was lazy to select photos upload, that is why I uploaded almost all of them. :-p

I was also made the pendot guy (Fritz’s term) by accident when the remote control thingie failed; this happened during the photoblogging session. So I was in front, taking pictures; then a vacant chair in front of a laptop invited me to sit down, not knowing that this laptop contained the presentation being used by the resource persons. So I made pendot-pendot the entire morning session.

After lunch, some friends invited me to Chocolate Kiss. Since some people swear on a stack of laptops that the said place is good, I took the opportunity to check it out. It was a good way off from Malcolm Hall, so we took the Ikot jeep, and got off at Ang Bahay ng Alumni. ChocKiss (as locals call it) is a small restaurant, and we had to wait for a table.

Freak weather – the rains decided to be partypoopers, forcing us to skip the “boring” part of iBlog5. Well, it meant extended laugh-a-minute time, with many jokes-at-the-expense-of-x-and-y thrown left and right. I was afraid for the Cebuano blogger who was with us. I hope he got home with his innocence untouched.

We walked back to Malcolm. I had decided to just take more pictures, observe the people, and went at the back. It was a different world out there, a perspective diverging from what’s happening in front. And on some points of someone’s presentation, I could not help but giggle a bit.

I was glad to have another iBlog shirt. I was actually I’d go empty-handed; I was never lucky at raffles and contests, and I still am. The shirt was black, this time.

The problem with having a camera is that most of the time, you are not in the picture. It happens most of the time. It happened this time around. This is the first time I was not in the group picture.

Speaking of pictures, take a look at Nina’s Flickr photoset. She takes better photos than I do. Sana sya na lang official photographer he he.

Skipped this year’s afterparty. I know my being anti-social will do me no good.

—

Congratulations to the organizers of iBlog – UP ISP (led by JJ Disini) and Janette Toral.

—

* Familiar faces include:
– Aaron
– AJ
– Allan
– Benj
– Brian
– DJB
– Dhon Jason
– Eric
– Fritz
– Jayvee
– Jeric
– JP
– Juned
– Marc
– Mica
– Nina
– Poyt
– Winston

11
May

A blogging community

Posted by | Categories Pixel | Tagged , ,

iBlog 5

If this picture is posted at Facebook, would you tag all? 😛

If you find yourself in this picture, say holla at the comments. It won’t hurt if you tell us where you are in this image. Obviously I am not in it.

(More pictures at the iBlog 5 photoset at Ovi.)

10
May

Anung uri ng manunyut ka?

Posted by | Categories Byte | Tagged

photographer

Do you know what type of photographer you are? Read on!

(Taken from BNCXE.)

Anung uri ng manunyut ka???

1. MAKALIKOT

Ito ang uri ng photographer na naka-pose na ang modelo pero bago pindutin ang shutter button ay kung anu-anong settings pa ang pinaglalalagay sa camera n’ya: mula shutter speed hanggang sa lens length, kahit prime na ‘yung lens n’ya at sakto na, papalitan n’ya pa rin kasi pakiramdam n’ya parang may mali. Nagbo-bokeh pa para lang makuha ‘yung gustong effect! Ang resulta? Hayun, ngawit ang model.
Kalupitan level: 1/5

2. MAUTOS

Madalas ito sa mga may model shoot. Uutusan nila ang model: nguso, liyad, tuwad, higa, hubad – makuha lang yung perfect angle. Ang resulta? Ang model ay parang clay – kung anu-anong posture ang gagawin. Kaso ‘di puedeng umangal ‘yung model. Papasikatan s’ya nung photographer tapos ‘pag tinanong ng model kung tapos na ba yung pose, hindi pa. Makikita mong gumugulong-gulong din ‘yung photographer para daw perfect lighting ‘yung kuha n’ya.
Kalupitan level: 3/5

3. HUMAN GORILLAPOD

Uncommon ito pero ‘pag naka-encounter ka, luluwa mata mo! Opposite ito ni MAUTOS. Imbes na utusan ang model, ang photographer mismo ang nagbe-bend, lumiliyad, humihiga, tumutuwad. Kulang na lang maging gorillapod dahil sa pagiging flexible sa pagkuha. Ayaw n’yang utusan ang model dahil baka tumanggi na ‘yun sa next photoshoot eh. Makikita mo lahat ng kasama n’ya imbes na sa model na maganda nakatingin, sa photographer. Biruin mo, human gorillapod flexibility eh. ‘di mo s’ya masisisi: perfect lighting ang habol n’ya. It’s all about the lighting ‘ika nga ‘di ba? And, his/her shots will justify it. Pero pagkatapos ng shoot at nakauwi na ang lahat, dederetso ‘yan sa botika para bumili ng pain reliever.
Kalupitan Level: 6/5

4. MAPINDOT

Makita lang ‘yung shutter button – ‘yung bilog na kulay abo na makintab – talagang naglalaway na, at gagawin ang lahat para lang mapindot. Nanghihina s’ya sa tuwing maririnig ang tunog ng shutter release. “chukah chukah chukah” Kung maaari lang na gawing ringtone sa cellphone, ginawa na n’ya.
Kalupitan level: 2/5

5. MAPILI

Marami nito sa event shoots lalo sa cosplay shoots. Basta makita n’yang maganda, shoot! pero ‘pag nakita n’yang parang di pasok sa panlasa n’ya, di n’ya kukunan kahit marami na’ng photographer ang kumukuha. Kapag sinabi n’yang ayaw, kahit umiyak ka ng dugo para kunan n’ya, ayaw talaga.
Kalupitan level: 3/5

6. AUTISTIC/TUOD

Oo meron n’yan! Yung tipong kailangan mo i-reboot yung tao. Aakalain mong di gumagalaw, pero pag nakapose na ang model, parang robot yang itataas nya ang kamay na may camera papunta sa kanyang mata. Alam nyo yung pag-arte ni Arnold Schwarzenegger sa Terminator? Ganon sya: cold. Makikita mo yan nakatayo lang sa isang tabi tapos hindi kikibo. Kapag lalapitan mo, blank. Magugulat ka na lang may reset button na umiilaw. Pentium Poor ang processor nya. Pero wag mo s’yang pagtawanan, magaganda ang mga shots nya. Kelangan lang nya mag-upgrade ng processor.
Kalupitan level: 7/5

7. MA-ZOOM

Ito yung mga may paparazzi tendencies. Makikita mo sa lens lineup nya: may wide, tele, hanggang dun sa mga naglalakihang zoom lens gaya ng 70-200mm, 80-400mm, etc… merun sya! Iyan yung mga tatawagan mo sa gabi, sasabihin nagna-night shoot daw. Night shoot nga kaso ang kapitbahay na nagbibihis ang subject.
Kalupitan level: 4/5

8. MA-MACRO

Kabaliktaran ito ni MA-ZOOM. Lahat ng maliliit na bagay, gustong up-close at malaki: magmula sa langaw, bangaw, tipaklong, gagamba, langgam, sperm cell at kung anu-ano pang gumagapang at gumagalaw. Lens lineup? Ayaw bitiwan ang kit lens nya kase may macro capabilities yun. Madali mo silang mapupuna kasi kahit walang camera, makikita mong uupo, dadapa, tutuwad o gagapang ng malapitan sa isang subject at iisipin “ima-macro kitaaahhh… hintayin mo, mamamacro din kitaaahhh… bwahahaha…”
Kalupitan level: 3/5

9. TRIGGER-HAPPY

Pagsamahin mo yung characteristics nila MAPINDOT at MA-ZOOM para maabot ang status na to. Lahat kinukunan. Lahat at kahit anong bagay: electric fan, bumbilya, lababo, agiw, o alikabok; pati pulubi, taxi driver, katrabaho, kapitbahay, tindera, bata, matanda o tulog, gising, patay, gumagalaw o hindi. Basta parang lulong na palaging may bumubulong na “ito, kunan mo, kunan mooohhh!!!”
Kalupitan level: 5/5

10. MAGALA / PALABOY / LAGALAG

Ito yung photographer na gala. May hampered characteristics ito ni TRIGGER-HAPPY. Lalabas ito ng bahay sa umaga, bitbit ang camera. Mula Manila City Hall, mapapadpad yan ng Caloocan. Uuwi ng hapon na punong-puno ng RAW at JPEG files ang memory cards nya. Wag nyo syang sisihin, marami syang pera!!!
Kalupitan level: 4/5

11. TAMAD

Ito yung mga taong may characteristics ni TRIGGER-HAPPY pero tinatamad pagdating sa post-processing. Bihira mag-shoot sa RAW, JPEG na lang. Makikita mong nabubulok na ng isang dekada yung mga kuha nya. Di nya pino-post process. Yung multiply nya? Di updated kahit online sya. Dahilan nya? Katamad eh…
Kalupitan level: 6/5

12. POST-PROCESSING BUFF

Ito ang pinakametikuloso pagdating sa post-processing. Lahat ng options kinakalikot: white balance, tone, color, contrast, dimension at file format. Lahat. Basta makuha nya yung pinakamagandang kuha. Wag ka, Lahat ng post-processing tools, apps at plugins meron sa PC nya – the ultimate darkroom man. Pero pag nakita mo pics nya, mapapakamot ka ng singit sa ganda!
Kalupitan level: 5/5

13. MA-WATERMARK

Ito ang mga photographers na sobrang laki ng watermark. Parang watermark ang tinubuan ng picture. Tipong minumura ka sa laki! Pero magtataka ka, elaborate yung design ng watermark: maraming burloloy gaya ng dahon, kahoy, kamay, paa, at ilong. Di lang yan, mayroon ding tatadtarin ng iba’t ibang styles ng watermark yung picture: paiba-ibang kulay, paiba-iba ng fonts at fontsize, di lang isa minsan parang mga kabute kapag malakas ang kidlat! Masyado nilang pinagmamalaki ang kanilang watermark este, pictures pala.
Kalupitan level: 4/5

14. MODEL+PHOTOGRAPHER COMBINATION

Gulat ka ano? Uso yan ngayon! Yan yung mga magagandang babae at lalaking photographers…. yung tipong pag may shoot kayo at walang model, magpopose yan sa isang tabi tapos kunwari hindi wari na kinukunan sya ng iba. Makikita mo na lang yan mamaya na nakasandal sa pader, nakahiga sa damuhan, nakaupo sa sahig, tumatawa, umiiyak, gumagawa ng sariling moment. Pero, pero dead-ma pa rin! Yung iba talagang ka-career-in tong status na to… ayos eh! Malalaman mo na lang na gina-grab nya ang mga kuha mo sa kanya tapos sasabihin nya “Sh*t kailan to? Hindi ko to alam ah! Ikaw talaga? Guapo/ganda ko pala!”
Kalupitan level: 4/5

15. BOYSCOUT

Alam nyo naman siguro ang motto ng isang boyscout: laging handa! Yan yung makikita mo na may dalang malaking backpack. Yung tipong dala nya yung studio nya sa bag. Pag binuksan mo, (kumikinang pa) at biglang magtratransform khokhokhokhokhok! pooft! instant studio! Lahat ng kakailanganin mo nanduon: softbox, umbrella, tripod, costumes at makeup. Ito na siguro yung magaling magsiksik ng gamit sa bag… yan yung biglang sasabihan ka “Tara shoot tayo, dala ko studio ko sa bag.” Mapapaisip ka sa una at pag nakita mo laman ng bag nya, mapapanganga ka at tutulo pa laway mo!
Kalupitan level: 7/5

16. STALKER

Ito na siguro ang ultimate mamaw photographer. Ito ang supling nila MAPINDOT MAPILI, MA-ZOOM at TRIGGER HAPPY. Karamihan ng mga ganitong photographers ay nagsisimula sa mga events na may makikitang magagandang babae at lalaki, tapos babanatan sya ng zoom range nya mula sa kanyang lens lineup. Makikita mong naka-mount sa camera nya yung mga mahahabang range ang zoom. Dadasalan nyang kuhanan yung natipuhan nyang subject habang bumubulong ng “maging akin kaaahhh. maging akin kaaahhh…” habang hanggang tainga ang ngiti. Mapapansin mo na kapag nakatingin sa kanya ang subject, biglang itututok nya sa iba ang camera para hindi mahalata nung subject na sya talaga ang kinukuhaan nya. Makikita mo sya sa susunod na event shoot na kinukuhanan pa rin ang subject na trip nya pero kit lens na ima-mount nya para malapitan nyang kukunan yung subject… style lang nya yun. Malalaman mo na lang na hiningi na nya yung YM, Multiply, Deviantart, cellphone number, email address, birthday at first love ng subject nya.

—

I think I’m number 11 he he. :-p What are you?

(Image by Ice Basit)

4
May

A night at a jail

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

It was a small room at the mezzanine. Without an aircon unit, a stand fan was laboring hard to bring comfort to the occupants of that room. There were two office tables – one was facing the door, which was never closed; and the other facing a wall – typical office setup. There were two backless, low-arm rest sofa at opposite sides of the wall. A computer, turned off, was at the back of the table facing the door. There was laughter among the four men and two nuns inside the room, but the man in black had a look of apprehension and worry in his eyes.

For Jun Lozada, it was his first night in that room – for all purposes, his temporary jail cell.

This worry was just one out of 16 cases that he is facing, only that this one was the first to mature, so to speak. But it is indeed worrisome. The prospect is bleak. Tomorrow, a judge will issue a commitment order for him to be transferred to Manila City Jail. His tormentor, together with the tormentor’s family, just flew off to the United States to watch the Pacquiao-Hatton boxing match. Lozada is the defendant in this case; Mike Defensor wants to clear his name. This is the Philippine justice system at work.

Outside, there were around 20 protesters carrying signs. They were dispersed by unusual summer rains. Some of the people in the area thought it was a sign. They could not agree on what the rains imply.

Friends and supporters started coming in right after the arrest. Some brought food. Policemen were feasting on pancit while watching the news. Speaking of news, that night, a reporter got his names mixed up, mistaking a supporter for a former mayor of Pasig. The TV at the mezzanine can only show GMA 7 shows. Paging ABS-CBN.

Lozada was free to watch the news. He got the night’s headlines, and footage of his arrest was looping while newscasters drone on.

“It must be surreal seeing yourself on TV,” I quipped, without knowing that Lozada was at my back.

“It really does,” he said, laughing.

The news immediately shifted to Pacquiao and Hatton. The nuns were saying the results of the Pacquiao fight would bury all other news. That’s how it goes, I thought, the vicious cycle of our short memories.

News reporters were barred from entering the holding area, but there were those intrepid enough to go in and get comments from Lozada. One even got a video using a camera phone. Note to news reporters: get a decent camera phone.

The life of a news reporter and his crew is hard. You need to hassle a lot; cameramen need to move a lot, and in a hurry most of the time. When I got in the police headquarters, they were posted in several locations within a compound. The two big networks were set up at the flagpole facing the building. After the primetime newscasts, they moved in the lobby, waiting for news and personalities. When three of the convenors of Black and White Movement went out of the holding area, the reporters and cameramen rushed for comments. They immediately set up outside the lobby area.

After the interview, the reporters and cameramen went back to the lobby. When a leading opposition figure arrived, the newspeople rushed to the mezzanine and staked out the glass door.

At the end of the hallway of the holding area was a real holding cell – real as in steel bars instead of wood as walls for the cell. There was a man in the holding cell, looking curiously at the goings-on outside. He must be feeling lonely at the time.

I took my leave, giving Lozada a cheerful goodbye (by saying something stupid). As I start to leave the place, more people are trickling in, with food and thin mattress in tow. The peril is just about to come.

28
Apr

Villar’s karma

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

I cannot help but note the irony in Senator Manny Villar’s current situation.

Villar was a recent victim of a Senate coup, a coup never been seen in the Senate since Cory Aquino’s term. This dethronement, so to speak, was just preparatory to his current situation.

The senator is currently subject of the Senate Ethics Committee’s investigation of alleged double insertion in the budget for the extension of C-5. The insertion was allegedly made by Villar, and his real estate company allegedly benefited from the insertion. Senator Jamby Madrigal then made a privileged speech, which was then referred to the Ethics Committee for investigation. Nothing happened to it until the recent reorganization.

Too bad for Villar, it was Ping Lacson who became chair of the committee after the coup.

Now, Villar is crying foul, saying that the committee is biased against him, the committee having as its members some senators with presidential ambitions. In a privilege speech, he assailed the committee members without naming them. He is basically planting a poisonous seed that will bloom poisonous fruit – if the decision of the committee is detrimental for him, he can always say that the decision was politically motivated.

History has a nasty habit of parlaying karma.

Villar should be cautioned to go slowly and rationally. Of all people, he should know that all actions of a political body are politically-motivated. He should know.

He should remember what he did back when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives. That day, everyone was expecting a long day debating on the impeachment of then president Joseph Estrada. And what did Villar do? In lieu of the prayer, he transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate, . What he did was not against the rules, but it was a shortcut. And it was politically motivated. Well, he did lose the speaker’s chair afterwards, but for those who supported Erap’s impeachment, he was a hero. At a terrible cost, as we all know.

His pa-martir shtick won’t work. By throwing mud against some members of the committee, he is actually telling the people that he does not believe in due process, and that he does not want the facts to be brought out.

In order for his pa-martir act to succeed, what Villar should do is to submit himself to the committee’s scrutiny. If he is really innocent, he can always prove it in the proper forum. He should have said instead the following:

“Alam ko pong may bias laban sa akin ang ilang miyembro ng komite, ngunit ako ay naniniwalang wala akong ginawang mali. Ako ay naniniwala sa integridad ng komite at due process. Pumapayag ako na sumailalim sa imbestigasyon, bagamat alam kong magiging masama para sa akin ang magiging hatol ng komite, dahil alam kong isa ito sa tamang paraan upang ipaalam ang katotohanan.”

With the facts that absolves him in the open, any adverse decision against him by the ethics committee will actually win him more sympathy from the people. Saka lang siya magiging martir.

Karma is a difficult enemy, Senator Villar. Good luck.

(Photo from the Manny Villar Web site.)

26
Apr

PlurkLakbayan 09 – The Paranacue Tour

Posted by | Categories Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

It’s been a running joke. That Plurkfiestas always happen at northern Metro Manila, to the consternation and detriment of plurkers based down south. (For this post’s purpose, south refers to southern Metro Manila area that can be reached by the South Luzon Expressway or SLEX).  But it cannot be helped. Traffic at SLEX is just horrible, even on weekends. So some plurkers have been planning of going south. Actually, there was a PlurkLakbayan Alabang edition last December 2008, but no plurker from the south joined the trip, so another one is needed.

Taking advantage of a needed business meeting in Alabang, Gareon invited plurkers Jenijenjen, Juned, and me to Alabang and Parañaque for some food trip. This time, we made sure that a south-based plurker will join us, and Jayvee consented to be our tour guide of sorts he he.

Two hours late, no thanks to the infamous SLEX traffic, Jayvee met us at Cafe Año for a very late lunch (at around 2:30 pm). We wanted to try Kanin Club (which we had tried last December at Sta. Rosa), but they close at 2PM, so no dice. Anyway, food at Cafe Año is good, though they can be a bit pricey. I got their Pork Belly Adobo for Php 385. The pork was cooked adobo-style then fried. It was served with rice, achara, and a slice of tomato (which I gave to Jen). I was afraid that the pork was tough, since most fried pork tend to be tough; I was surprised it was very tender. Since this is pork belly, those who watch their blood pressure should probably avoid this dish. Though I can’t blame you if you order this one – it is sinfully delicious.

Anyway, Gareon got lengua (delicious – I took a bite); Juned got a bowlful of callos; Jen got a pasta with a big green pepper (the kind that you put in sinigang) above the past; Jayvee got the beef salpicao, which Juned graciously devoured since Jayvee couldn’t finish it. We had chorizos and a cheese platter for appetizers. The blue cheese is scary, and it has a nasty aftertaste.

Gareon went off to his meeting, so the remaining plurkers decided to wait at BoNa Coffee Company. There, we found Seav waiting for us.

This sign was appropriate, specially for Juned.

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Anyway, this was not the first time we went to BoNa – the PlurkLakbayan Alabang edition started at BoNa. For the second time, the item I ordered wasn’t available (Vanilla Bean Smoothie). The barista instead recommended hazelnut smoothie. I kinda missed the bubblegum smoothie, though.

We sat outside, talking about anything. Juned was thinking of recording a podcast, but the ambiance was not perfect – there was construction going on, and then it was raining. The rain was a good excuse to go inside. Jayvee then suggested to Jen to install Games of the Generals for iPod touch (I had the misfortune of leaving my iPod touch at home, but I had the headphone in my bag, boo). So the two played via Wi-Fi, with Eugene advising Jen. Guess who lost.

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Gareon’s meeting over, we moved to the second leg of the tour. We had dinner at Twentyone Plates at BF, Parañaque. The restaurant was so named because they have 21 dishes to offer. The place was a house converted into a restaurant. The garage was converted into an al fresco style dining area, and some of the rooms inside were converted into private dining rooms, sort of like function rooms. We got assigned in the so-called Library room, so named because one of the walls have bookshelves. I’d rather call it the cellar, because there were more beer/wine bottles than books.

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For appetizers, Jayvee ordered this kimchi roll, which I had wisely avoided, since it’s kimchi (read: it’s spicy hot). For whatever reason, Gareon kept on breaking the rolls that he got using chopsticks, while the others did not. All of them liked these kimchi rolls; they are weird people, like all others who like spicy food.

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The next appetizer was this feta cheese, which was fried in olive oil, and four bread pieces. (Yes, there are four, but someone got hungry and took one; guess who?) I took a small bite of the cheese. Nothing extraordinary.

027-Plurklakbayan09-Paranacue-Tour - Share on Ovi

I ordered this callos for Php 265. Cheap, only that it was bland; Gareon said it had no taste. Pity. Also, at this point my stomach chose to grumble and rumble. The toilet for men was somehow broken, and I was rather shy of using the facilities for women, so there.

031-Plurklakbayan09-Paranacue-Tour - Share on Ovi

Jen got this spicy chicken thingie. Spicy. End of story.

Seav got this pasta dish, which he said was OK. The others got steak. What could go wrong with steak, specially if it’s very affordable (at Php 5++)? Well, Gareon and Juned ordered their steak rare, but only a small portion of their steaks were rare. Well, it’s still steak, so I am sure it’s delicious. For drinks, we got their bottomless iced tea. It was a mystery for us. The taste got better during the second pitcher. No explanation was offered.

Across the street, Gareon was curious about the Miracle Spa (who wouldn’t). Seriously. That got everyone interested in getting a massage, and I was the only holdout. I had to be taken with arms flailing and legs kicking, and I found myself at the dim lobby of Wensai Spa (don’t ask me how we got there and not Miracle Spa). Anyway, as compromise, I had a foot spa instead of a massage. It was my first time, and I found it calming. The masseur (the only one who was available at the moment, which says a lot about the popularity of the place) was courteous; he even asked me to tell him if I feel any discomfort. I think he knew it ws my first time, as he guided my feet into that tub. I almost fell asleep, but I was busy plurking.

Also, I took the opportunity to use their toilet (hihihi).

On our way to Twentyone Plates, we noticed that spa places were like sari-sari stores; there are plenty of them along that main road. The area must be the spa capital of Parañaque. Business must be good. Also, many of them cater to Koreans, evidenced by billboards in Korean.

Gareon got hungry after the massage, so off we went to Cafe Francais. The place was quaint; the building was concrete, but the table and chairs were old, antique-looking (but definitely not antique). Funny thing is, the non-smoking area was at the inner-most area; Gareon says this is expected, since the owner is a French man.

I was not in the mood to eat (what with the toilet episodes earlier), so I got an iced tea shake (at Php 145 pesos, not cheap); besides, it was almost 1AM. Jen got coffee, Jayvee fries and San Mig Light, Juned sausages and Cerveza Negra, and Gareon spaghetti with meatballs. Everyone expressed satisfaction with their food; Gareon said the spaghetti was good (count how many time the word “good” was used in this post).

The tour ended with us departing back to the north. Our thanks to Jayvee for playing gracious and very patient host. There will be a next time, I guess.

The trip home (and the trip going south) was laughter galore, with entertainment provided by Juned, with his interpretation of music blaring in the car. Jen had contributed to the laugh trip. Unfortunately, everything is off the record. Sorry.

Now the only remaining place to visit is the east Metro Manila.

PS: My only regret is that we haven’t tried Elfav. Maybe next time.

(All photos taken using Olympus E-420. All the pictures are posted at PlurkLakbayan 09 – The Paranacue Tour album over at Ovi.)

14
Apr

Nikon D5000 DSLR now official

Posted by | Categories Byte | Tagged , , ,

Nikon has just announced the D5000, an entry-level DSLR camera with an articulated (ie, swivel) display.

Main features include:
* 12.3-megapixel DX-format sensor, the same sensor in D90
* maximum ISO speed at 3200, can be expanded to Hi 1 setting of ISO 6400
* 11-point auto focus with 3D focus tracking
* 4 Live View autofocus modes
* 19 scene modes
* D-movie mode – shoot 1280×720 video at 24 frames per second
* 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor

The suggested retail price for body + AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization kit lens is US$849; US$729 for body only.

Read the Nikon press release here.

14
Apr

KO laughter with K.O.3an guo

Posted by | Categories Life | Tagged , , ,

I rarely watch TV. Those rare moments are usually limited to the news or some good movies, with some bits of Iron Chef America and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I got tired of ICA, and EMHE dulled me with replays, so that’s less time with the TV.

And you will never see me watch those imported, Tagalog-dubbed shows, whether eastern or western fare.

But some of you knows that I like playing Dynasty Warriors, which is loosely based on Sanguo yanyi (aka Romance of the Three Kingdoms). The games led me to read RoTK online (the complete volume is expensive and is not available locally. I like it eversince.

Which led me to watch this new Taiwanese TV show called K.O.3an guo.

I cannot remember how I found out about this show, but I have been watching it online for the past weeks. Most online descriptions say the show is a spoof of Sanguo yanyi, but I prefer the phrase “inspired by.” What hooked on this show is the way it took inspiration from Sanguo yanyi. The show is funny, sometimes just plain weird, and most of the time some plot points are lost on the way. I like the cartoonish effects; they remind me of that old Batman series.

So Guan Yu and Zhang Fei got expelled from their 24th school because they got into trouble all the time. Then they saw shrewd Liu Bei being harassed by some people, and the two went to his rescue. Upon learning of their predicament, Liu Bei decided to be sworn brother with them so that they could enroll at a royal school (Liu Bei being of royal blood), on the condition that they pay his tuition.

Off they go to a temple for the famous oath at the peach garden. Meanwhile, some people from another dimension (Iron) visited the Silver (local dimension), and a single misstep caused some changes in the dimension, causing one of the dimension travelers to switch persons with Liu Bei. And from there the story shifts to the school, where students defend their school against other schools.

Too bad the show appeals to womenfolk more, what with all those good loooking men. There are two token women for the menfolk – not surprising, since Sanguo yanyi is not replete with women characters. Setting aside that slight, this is a good show to watch – it’s funny, and references to Sanguo yanyi are cool. It’s currently being shown in Taiwan, and there’s an English-subbed version somewhere on the Internet. You know how to google.