Worth It at the Summit

We did a hike in the province of ZAMBALES a few years ago and I remember everything vividly. I was tired at that time because I went to the outskirts of Manila to party with my friends. I did not know I was in for something the next day. This was the time when we went to a place called ANAWANGIN. It’s a remote island cove that you can reach only in two ways either by boat or by hiking a mountain.





So we did it the hard way and hiked the mountain because as everyone had in mind it was only a fun climb. The thought of walking for 4 hours didn’t frighten me but little did I know we almost got there after 6-7 hours of hiking and trekking with boulders on the side. The views were indeed spectacular as I carried my own Marmot backpack and a walking stick. I was already tired and we were not even half way as the tour guide mentioned. Lucky me I wasn’t carrying too much. My friend who’s all in his new North Face backpack and jacket was treating it easy because he was one of the most experienced mountaineer among us. We were actually all alone when we went halfway the trail as the tour guide didn’t even bother to look back and went on his way to about ¾ the trek. I was panting hard and so were my other office mates but we still managed to get there. We even took pictures of our experience and the view on top of the mountain. The summit was worth it but there was another 3 hours of going down and it was almost dark. We did hurry up a bit so we can prepare dinner and once we are already there we can eat as fast as the night comes. We only had a few things, our Outdoor Gear and ourselves but we sure enjoyed every bit of it. It’s something big but I’m glad we accomplished something other people would only dream of.

American Idol Finalist Disqualified

Huli kang bata ka! Hahahah! Joke!

Here's another fiasco in the making of American Idol. A finalist that already passed the last 36 was disqualified because she was apparently not an amateur. Joanna Pacitti was said to have been singing professionally and unable to continue in the magic 36 semi finalists in American Idol. She was then replaced by a hopeful named Felicia Barton of Virginia Beach, Va. who is a a 26-year-old married mom. She already had a record deal before with Geffen Records and released an album in the year 2006. Billboard confirmed reports that it also sold more than 16,000 copies. The fourth "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi recognized Pacitti when she auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky and possibly was the one who asked her to be checked. Good thing she did that so the Mom could go in. Not only that but she starred the role of Annie in Broadway when she was a young girl. Just recently she also sang the soundtrack for the movies Legally Blonde starred by Reese Witherspoon and the colorful girlie cartoon Bratz. Britney Spears' sang Out From Under in her latest album, but little did everybody know that this was performed by Pacitti on the same Bratz soundtrack. Everybody wants to do everything for fame and fortune. It just happens that she got caught huh?! Hahah...

Paws for a Cause

I'm an animal lover and on times that I have nothing to do I even take care of the pets that some of my friends lend me. I don't oblige them to get me anything in return because the sheer enjoyment of unconditional love from these creatures is to die for. I'm also an animal rights advocate and I don't want to promote some Filipino rituals that came as far as killing these furry pets and have them be eaten together with local beers and toxic drinks in the Northern part of the Philippines.

Rumor also has it that some of our cats were even made into Chinese steamed buns. Now that is just appalling. This should never be practiced and we should always think about the welfare of these animals since some of us even treat them as part of our family. I also see some Hollywood celebrities going to their birthday suits instead of using fur in most of their clothes. There are people who already us foe fur in most of their fashionable clothes and that we should really be pro active in purchasing only clothes with the same material than those which are not. Some of the animals that they get this from are almost extinct so we should really care for them before it's too late. We need to do it so that our children and theirs would at least be able to see it. Sometimes it's impossible but we need to do our share to at least take the glam out of these naturally grown fibers and furs. They need protection now more than ever.

I've got pets too named after Barbie and Ken. They are prairie rabbits and they are both cute and cuddly. My wife also had them run around parks on some instances but I'm a little afraid that they might go astray. I need to keep them in cages like these so they'll be safe from harm. I plan to buy this for only $51 at http://www.petessentialsdepot.com and show them off to friends that taking care of pets is easy. Part of the sales they get will be given to animal rescue shelters all throughout the United States to help save homeless and lost animals in need. That's just so neat because they also have program called Dog Supplies for a Cause which can be supported by ordinary consumers like you and me. Get them and purchase these products so homeless pets can get a home of their own. Get them now!

Rollback 50 Cents or More in Fare

A huge Jeepney Group in Metro Manila is set to rollback 50 centavos off their fare according to LTFRB. They also will meet with the agency on Monday.

Efren de Luna of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO) said that they are ready to implement the 50 centavo rollback and their members are also rooting for this too. This is due to the low average of prices on diesel that ranges from 25 to 27 pesos per liter.

De Luna said that they are all for the 'provisional reduction' if Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approves this deal.

The group also mentioned that this fare rollback is an early valentines gift for their passengers. Valentines Day is a big day for Filipinos and they celebrate it bigger than the Americans do. Pasang-Masda another local group says that its ready to cut off their rates if the diesel prices average 26 pesos per liter of diesel in all gasoline stations. He added that not all gasoline stations implemented less prices for diesel fuel. LTFRB Chairman Alberto Suansing on the other hand said they will meet with bus and jeepney operators on Monday February 16 if it is possible for them to have the rollback be bigger.