Blue Christmas

It's December 1 -- the holiday season has officially started and I am feeling a bit gloomy today. The past couple of weeks has been a roller coaster ride for me and went through a series of ups and downs. I try not to be all negative since everyone is feeling festive nowadays but what can I do, my life can be a bit messy sometimes and the timing couldn't be more perfect.

Anyway, I just want to share with you my all-time favorite Christmas song by Mariah Carey: All I Want For Christmas Is You. I am not really a big Justin Bieber fan but I actually enjoyed this refreshing new version with Mariah. It suddenly made me feel festive for the first time this year.

And because I am feeling lonely once again, I would love it if you would share to me anything that you think can make me smile even for a little while.

Happy Holidays everyone. :)

My Top 10 Holiday Wishlist 2011

Time to go materialistic! Sure, I wish for peace, love and happiness too, but c'mon -- nothing wrong to want the things money CAN buy, right? :) Admittedly, I cannot afford some of the items listed here (kaya nga it's a wish eh, hehe) so I am sharing it to my loved ones (and strangers alike) for them to know what I've been really dying to have this Christmas. :)

So without further ado, I present to you my Top 10 Semi-Official Wish List:

1.) Blackberry Bold 9900

2.) My own .com domain

3.) Forever 21 gift card

4.) Samsung Galaxy S II

5.) Chanel Jumbo Flap White

6.) Hed Kandi Headphones

7.) Canon Powershot G12

8.) Technomarine Cruise Pink

9.) iMac

10.) Portable RF Machine

I am pretty sure my friends would laugh at my last wish! Hahaha!

So, will you be my fairy godmother or Santa Claus this year? Hit the comments below and tell me what you think! ;)

What's In My Bag? v.2

Because of extreme boredom, I decided to do another "What's In My Bag" post similar to what I've posted a year ago. Basically I just poured the contents of my current bag and share with you all my daily essentials. So sorry about the bad quality pics, I just used my phone to take them, hahaha. Anyway, here goes.

Presenting:
MY-I-WILL-DIE-WITHOUT-THEM-STUFF

Current bag: Tory Burch Nylon Tote Bag

My current favorite because it's very roomy. :) My netbook + all my basic essentials can fit in here. Oh and it's water-proof too! :)

Current scent: Jacque's M. Aurora perfume

Was persuaded by a salesman at ATC to buy this. My usual scent is the forever D&G Light Blue (since college!), and this one smells sooooo close to that! I don't like fruity/flowery scents, and this one is perfect bec it has a sporty/cool kind of scent. Not to mention it costs P1,000 less than Light Blue!

Absolute must-haves.

Don't ask me why I have three scrunchies, I don't know as well -- haha! I always always forget to bring one most of the time and I hate it when I can't tie my hair into a ponytail during bad hair days. So maybe for the past week I kept getting every scrunchie I found around my room and stuffed it in my bag. :) Alcohol -- for sanitation purposes, and comb obviously.

Basics.

Yep, I don't use a wallet. I used to have one but I am THAT lazy to put money in it that I always end up putting lose change in my bag pocket, my jeans or wherever. Took me a while to realize that my wallet just takes up space in my bag w/o any purpose in my daily rituals. So as you can see, my money is just stuffed inside my mirror pouch, lol. That gold little mirror is from my bestfriend, I think it's a freebie from a perfume she bought in France. And mints, because  I work graveyard and I NEED it.

Work ID.

I am so lucky to be part of this company because I work in a very laidback environment. My colleagues are superb too! Have you ever worked in a company where you instantly felt that you fit right in? :) Anyway, I changed the lanyard to a Blackberry one my ex-boyfriend gave me. Go Team Blackberry! :)

Make-up.

As you can see, I am not really into cosmetics. Just the basics: foundation and lipstick are all I need when I go to work. My gimik bag is way different though. :) Anyway, for foundation I have Chanel Luminous Creme Foundation in Wheat. I love that it evens out my tan and it's practically an all-day wear! Same goes with my MAC Lipstick in Captive, the color deposit is so generous that it lasts for a good 4-6 hours! So these two are a perfect combo for someone like me who isn't a fan of constant retouching. :) I also have Maybelline Lip Balm in Cherry which I rarely use (bec the MAC doesn't make my lips dry even though it's close to matte). I like Carmex lip balm better actually but I went on a night out recently and I left it in my other bag. Little trivia: I am allergic to lipsticks except for MAC, Maybelline and Avon.

Not-so must-haves.

I keep a second pair of glasses in my bag because in the event  that I left/lost the one I have on, I am at least assured that I wouldn't go partial blind when I am out somewhere. I started wearing glasses when I was 13, and my eye grade is now at 200/200. I have never gotten used to wearing contacts because they are so difficult to remove (or at least for me)! Haha. I only wear contacts when I go out on gimiks, bec who wants to look like some geek in a bar, right? I also have with me random cards (debit cards, school ID, SSS ID etc.), house keys and a phone bill (which reminds me, I've got to settle my bills asap! lol).

Mobile phone: Blackberry Bold 9700

Solid Blackberry user since early 2009. I started from Pearl Flip 8220, then Bold 9000 and now this. I already blogged about my love for Blackberry phones so I won't go into detail again, but I think the best thing about this phone is its amazing keypad and of course, BBM. :)

For my entertainment needs.

And finally, my ever reliable iPod Touch and Beats Solo HD headphones. I need to stay entertained all the time especially at work so I have to have these. There aren't much games on my iPod anymore (unlike before) because it's filled with educational apps for Baby Kiann (alphabet song, shapes, flash cards, etc). He is so addicted to using iPod that his old one broke already that's why whenever I am home this is technically his all-in-one toy.

So there you go! What about you, what's in your bag? :)

X.O.,
Kat :)

Come One, Come All!

I was invited by a new-found blogger friend Tom to join this year's Second Annual Community Network Meme 2011 and I am inviting you all to join too! I have heard of memes in the past but I always thought that they are for "professional bloggers" only. Anyway, I am so excited to join this year because it is the perfect chance for me to meet and get to know other bloggers!

The idea of a meme is to post a set of questions that many bloggers will answer and post it on their blog on the same day and time. After which, everyone will visit other bloggers, read their answers and comment on their responses. Here's how it works: (repost from Tom's site)

1. If you want to participate, send a message to Tom using his contact page and in turn he will email you a copy of the meme questions.

2. You will compose your answers in a post along with the Meme graphic (grab from above) and schedule the post for December 11th at 12.01 am based on your time zone. Last year everyone posted at 12.01 but with 24 time zones we spent a lot of time waiting for some blogs to get posted. This year all posts will be simultaneous (data to be posted at a later date) based on time zones and not clocks.

3. A master list of everyone participating will be generated and posted along with your answers in December so you will be able to pick whose blogs you would like to visit.

Community Network Rules of Participation:

- You must agree not to post your answers until everyone else does.
- You must agree that you will visit at least five blog links that you have never visited before and leave a comment on their responses.
- You must answer each of the twenty questions and do so with more than a simple yes or no response.
- You must post the entire Master Meme Blog List of blogs participating, regardless of how long the list may grow to be, below your answered questions.
- You must title your post the same as everyone else, “Community Network Meme 2011″.
- You must direct all interested parties to Morning Erection’s Contact Page to get the questions. You may not give them a copy of yours. Remember, we are trying to avoid Sunday Stealing from stealing and posting before December 11th.
- You must promote the Community Network Meme at least once on Facebook or some other form of social media, even if it is just your own blog to get more bloggers to participate. Provide the link back to your original post so they can post this in its entirety on their blogs, just like we did.
- If you would like to participate and write the post in your language and not English, feel free to translate it or you could post both translations.
- Make sure to either vote for or like the post appropriately if on the WordPress platform.

This is gonna be fun! See you! :)

The Pursuit of Internet Fame

Nowadays, there are only two reasons as to why people are into blogging business: FAME or MONEY. For money, it is kind of a long shot because to be able to attract sponsors for your blog, you have to have a decent number of unique hits. And if your content pretty much sucks and doesn't interest a majority of netizens, then you can kiss Internet fortune goodbye.

You can agree or disagree with me, but I really think that most bloggers blog in hopes of getting noticed. And at some point I think that that is okay. I mean why else are we on the Internet, seriously? What I don't like though are those who blog not because they have something to say or something to share, but because they want to be famous or because they want free shit.

I have to admit that I have attention-seeking tendencies. I think most bloggers do. Hell, I think most people do. But I can say with all honesty that I didn't start blogging to be famous, like so many people seem to be doing now. I have been blogging (privately) since 2005 and my love for writing led me to this. I started to blog back in college because I wanted to practice my writing skills and learn how to express my thoughts through written words (I used to not be very good at that). Later on, I continued to write because I realized that it is very fulfilling for me to see a documented journey of my life. It's fun to look back at older posts and see how much I've grown over time. Minsan natatawa nalang ako at how shallow my topics were way back 5 years ago!

Anyway, recently I have seen a spike in my blog hits with the post "On Loneliness" being the most viewed. I received personal emails from random people full of words of encouragement, telling me to not feel bad, that they feel the same way, or that things will get better. To be honest, it feels so good to know that these strangers take the extra time to write me a letter (effort!) w/o really expecting anything in return. I know that this might be very common for famous bloggers out there, but this is a first for me -- so I feel pressured because I felt like my blog has suddenly went public. I mean yeah, technically it is an open blog, but I always assume that only a handful of people read it. I never, never imagined that time will come that lots of people would actually be interested in it!

I think this level of pressure is harder for people who blog the way I blog, because I don’t have a skill or talent. I don’t post travel experiences, artwork, or photography; I don’t really do book and film reviews too. I just dump myself out there in word form, so I have nothing to hide behind. Anything goes. The hard part of this is when people start to notice you, they are not judging your work, they’re judging you. Thankfully I haven't encountered negative comments yet (considering my controversial RH Bill post), but I could only imagine myself when that time comes. Will I be affected? Will I just shrug it off? Depende siguro, hehe.

I guess for now I might have to be extra cautious about what I write. It is still gonna be me, but prolly less rants about how much my life sucks, lol (gotta save that for Twitter, eh?). And to those who just landed on my blog and don't know me personally, please be informed that my blog doesn't define who I am. I am much much more than this. :)

Good Enough to Stay or Bad Enough to Leave?

One of the most nerve-wracking stages in a relationship is knowing when to stay or when to cut ties and end things. For most of us, it is very confusing since every relationship goes through its ups and downs. I can't speak for everyone, but there are just some things that are sort of a deal-breaker for me. It's like, "you do this and we're done." I am not saying that I am a perfect partner, I am not. In fact, I am way imperfect that I sometimes feel I'm not even "datable." But the thing is, I am a very logic-oriented person, and I tend to mentally tally the pros and cons of my relationships, whether romantically or in friendships.

Most relationship experts agree that this not a very good approach in making a sound decision because there will always be pros and cons and determining which is "more heavier" is nearly impossible. A much better way is to look at the relationship through more realistic measures and decide from there. The problem with this approach though is how will you know which ones to measure? Might work for some, but not for me.

As this blog has constantly proven everybody, I have been in a series of failed relationships and I know I am not the perfect person to even discuss things like this. But even so, I do know that at some point in a relationship, sometimes the initial chemical infatuation you once felt will fade and resurface often. You're not going to have butterflies in your stomach every time your partner kisses you and sweet text messages will not be as kilig at all times.

The lines begin to blur when the relationship isn't awful, but not the way we want either. As Basha once said "What if we're not growing together anymore? What if nagttiyaga tayo sa ganito, sa safe, sa ok lang?" I am sure majority of us can relate right? So I ask you, what makes you hold on? What will make you leave?

I have listed down mine, but I think this is pretty universal. These are only some of the things I can think of now, so I can say that this is still incomplete (will try to update if I do remember more, lol). Bear in mind though that even if I think that this may apply to all, this is just my personal list and as I have said-- I can't speak for everyone. Read on:

I am staying if...

• I am happy majority of the time and always look forward to being with him. (Ummm, obviously)

I will give it a chance if...

• Something happened that made our relationship rocky, and compromise has been set. (Open communication is the key)
• Simple jealousy from either side and both are willing to talk it over.
• I or he is unhappy for several weeks due to boredom or dullness of the relationship. (Try to come up w/ something to make the relationship exciting)

I will seriously consider leaving if...

• Being with him just doesn't excite me anymore for more than a month already.
• I feel unloved or taken for granted and have addressed the issue but with no effort from him to make me feel better.
• Petty fights pretty much describes the 70% of the time I'm with him.

I will leave IMMEDIATELY if..:

• He physically or verbally abuses me. (No way in hell!)
• He cheats on me. (I will never tolerate infidelity)
• He threatens to commit suicide if I leave him.
• He's into drugs and is not doing anything to resolve it.
• He disrespects any of my family members and friends.
• My family/friends disapprove of him greatly and can list legitimate reasons why.
• Either of us cannot look past the mistakes for a reasonable amount of time. (Sumbatan all the time is a no-no.)
• He attempts to control my personal or religious beliefs.

How about you, what made you end your previous relationships? Have you ever been in an "okay lang" relationship? What is your limit on staying with someone and what is considered a non-negotiable boundary for you? Ang dami kong tanong, haha! Anyway, you get the idea. I am curious.

Thoughts?

On Gaining Weight

I have always been insecure of how I look. Maybe this is partly because I hang out a lot with friends who are models and stylists and I sometimes feel a little awkward when the topic is all about fashion and beauty. Because I was never that kind of girl. I always dress for comfort and rarely put makeup on, heck I even hate shopping -- it was just not my thing.

Anyway, over the past couple of months I have gotten used to people coming up to me and tell me how fat I've become. At first I really don't mind, because it is true. I really did gain a LOT of weight since 2009 and most people who knew me back in grade school and high school were surprised to see me because I used to be buto't balat before.

This is me back in 2006.

This is me now. August 2011.

However, gaining weight and telling me that I am close to obesity is a different story. Being insecure that I am, you can then imagine my reaction when someone commented on my Facebook photos and said that I am overly fat and that my older pics are better than the recent ones. I was never really that sensitive on things like that (because like I said, I really DID gain weight), but I guess it's a little sickening to hear it every now and then and I find it rude to sort of slap it to my face every chance they get.

I am "too fat?" Seriously?? I may not be skinny, yes, but I'm not fat either. The media may bombard us with Kim Chiu-thin bodies but I am not falling for that kind of craze. I have curves. And it is irritating to think that there are people out there who consider my fuller figure to be "too fat." I love to eat, and maybe if I lose the rice -- my waistline will go down to 26 instead of the current 29, but I am not OBSESSED to achieve that goal. Bottomline is, I am not in perfect shape, but I am not at my worst.

And as much as I wish I could rock today's fashion like a size 2 or size 3 model, I don't actually want to be skinny. I mean, do I look the way I want to look? No, I don't. But given this or my figure five years ago, I'd gladly refuse to turn back time. I may not have the ideal body that everyone drools over, but I am OKAY with it. So I don't get it why some people seem to have a problem with it.

That’s enough for me. I’ve spent too much of my life putting myself down. I’m not going to do it anymore.

To the Man of My Future

Here's my own version of "Letter to the Man I Will Love Someday."

Dear You,

When I think of you, I always get this mixed emotions. First, I feel really stupid for imagining someone that only exists inside my head. Then, it excites me because I know that someday my long-time search will eventually be finished and we can finally start living "the dream." But in the end, just like the rest of the girls who writes letters to "the man they will love someday," I also can't help but wonder if you really exist.

You see, I am not the easiest girl to date. I am way too far from being your ideal girl either. So unlike other girls who are confident enough that they will find someone, I fear that someone like you who will be attracted to someone like me don't exist. But then again, if a poor man can suddenly be a millionaire overnight by winning the lottery--it doesn't hurt to believe that someday I will hit the jackpot and be someone's princess too.

There are things you will not know about me in the beginning. Just like you, I will show you my best sides first and will be in my best behavior. But as early as now, I want to be honest and tell you that I did some things in the past that I am not proud of. There are secrets in my life and you may not like some of them. What I am hoping is that you, the man of my future, will still see me as a treasure despite all the junk that comes with the package.

Future man, I have met a lot of toads in the past so forgive me if I may be skeptical about you at first. There are things you will have to accept about me and the life I live and I would rather find out in the beginning if you are capable of trying. I ask that you will tell me early on before my heart gets too involved. Because to tell you frankly, I am not sure if I can afford another heartbreak. I know it seems a lot to ask but don't worry, I will give the same to you.

I ask too--that you do not expect me to change the traits that make me who I am. I am not perfect, nobody is. There will be times that I will be stubborn, lazy, or impatient. When that happens, I ask for your patience. One thing I can assure you though is that I will not ask you of anything more than you can give.

I am proud to tell you that I make a great friend, and I look forward to our long talks, may it be funny or meaningful ones. It may sound silly but I used to dream of us sitting outside Starbucks having coffee, while checking out awesome cars, pretty girls or cute guys that pass by. I imagine us hanging out in the living room eating popcorn, with you trying to steal the remote from me and changing the channel to ESPN. Or me trying to cook up a simple dinner for us on Valentines Day while you pretend to like it and tell me that it's delicious.

You will be the man of my future. That is the only thing I am sure of. I may know you already or have yet to meet you someday, either way I am just as thrilled. But even though I am excited to start my forever with you, you must know that I am not in a hurry to meet you. I don't want to rush things because I don't want us to be just like any other couples who easily give up when trials come their way. I want to know you at the time when we're both ready for each other. No matter how long it takes.

Please promise though, that you will never give up looking for me. Because even though I sometimes doubt your existence, I will never stop searching for you.

With hopes that I will be yours for always,
Kat

Remembering Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Much has already been said upon the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and until now I still feel sad about the passing of the greatest tech leader of our generation. Some may think I am stupid for being so busted up at the death of someone I never met, but I guess I look up to him so much that I feel sad because I wouldn't get to hear his amazing words of wisdom anymore.

I know that most people regard him as the man behind great products such as iPhone, iPad and all other Apple products, but Jobs is actually credited with a LOT of things in the world of computing. If not for him, personal computers might still be running in DOS-mode. Can you imagine a computer without a mouse and a graphical user interface? Jobs invented or co-invented a wide range of technologies, from actual computer and portable devices to keyboards, power adapters, staircases and speakers. His total patented technologies are over 300. Freakin' genious.

If I were to ask you, how will you remember Steve Jobs? By his revolutionary products such as iPhone and Mac? His trademark black turtleneck longsleeves and jeans attire? Through the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley?" There are sooooo many things that remind us of him, but among all that are his memorable quotes that tell us that Steve Jobs is one heck of a legend. Here are some of my favorite quotes by this creative genious:

"We made the buttons on the screen look so good you'll want to lick them." -- on Mac OS X's Aqua user interface (Fortune, Jan. 24, 2000)

"It's rare that you see an artist in his 30s or 40s able to really contribute something amazing."
-- At age 29, as quoted in Playboy (February 1985)

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?"
-- A comment he made in persuading John Sculley to become Apple's CEO.

"You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new."
-- Interview with Inc. Magazine for its "The Entrepreneur of the Decade Award" (April 1989)

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me ... Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful... that's what matters to me."
-- On the success of Bill Gates and Microsoft, The Wall Street Journal (Summer 1993)

"Apple has some tremendous assets, but I believe without some attention, the company could, could, could — I’m searching for the right word — could, could die."
-– TIME, 1997

"I was worth about over a million dollars when I was twenty-three and over ten million dollars when I was twenty-four, and over a hundred million dollars when I was twenty-five and it wasn't that important because I never did it for the money."
-- PBS documentary "Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires" (1996)

"Nobody has tried to swallow us since I've been here. I think they are afraid how we would taste."
-- At the annual Apple shareholder meeting (22 April 1998)



"We used to dream about this stuff. Now we get to build it. It's pretty great."
-- Keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (June 2004)

"Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. It's very fortunate if you can work on just one of these in your career." 
-- Announcing the introduction of the iPhone (9 January 2007)

"It’s not about pop culture, and it’s not about fooling people, and it’s not about convincing people that they want something they don’t. We figure out what we want. And I think we’re pretty good at having the right discipline to think through whether a lot of other people are going to want it, too. That’s what we get paid to do."
-- On Apple's connection with the consumer (Fortune, March 2008)

"I make 50 cents for showing up... and the other 50 cents is based on my performance."
-- On his famous $1 annual salary, at the annual Apple shareholder meeting in 2007

"Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."
-– Stanford University, 2005 Commencement Address



"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
-- Stanford University, 2005 Commencement Address

Whether you love or hate Apple, you gotta admit -- Steve Jobs indeed changed the world.

Thank you, Sir Steve.

Five Pinoy Films That Blew Me Away

I admit, I rarely watch local movies not because I'm too "Americanized" for my own good, but mainly because most of them share the same predictable plot line, generic characters and corny sense of humor. A romantic-comedy with the usual boy-meets-girl style, a horror that scares you using haunted houses and nightmares, and a drama with a storyline that is very unlikely to happen in real life.

However, we cannot deny that every once in a while, Philippine cinema produces a top-notch movie w/o the generic storyline we are all sick of. Here are my top 5 Pinoy films that are truly worth watching:

Got 2 Believe [2002]

Plot: Wedding coordinator Toni (Claudine Barretto), is a girl who believes in true love. At 25, she is considered to be an "old maid" by her married sisters, aunts, and friends. Always the bride's maid, never the bride, Toni has yet to find Mr. Right. On the other hand is Lorenz (Rico Yan), a wedding photographer who doesn't believe in happy endings. He always catches Toni unaware with her distinctly expressive yet embarrassing moments. To make matters worse, these photos were published, making Toni the renowned "perennial bridesmaid." Lorenzo's problems become worse when his cousin offers a boost in his career, so long as he makes a pictoral article on Toni. Toni, who protests against this idea at first finally agrees in exchange for Lorenzo finding her someone worth marrying. Lorenzo and Toni gradually being to fall in love in the process. Source: Wikipedia

What makes it good: I really like this movie because it's very colorful with a very light-but-not-corny storyline. Granted, it is the usual boy-meets-girl type, but this one stood out for me because Claudine and Rico's acting were exceptional. I am no expert in directing and filmmaking but I feel like this movie was creatively conceptualized, from the characters down to the props. One of the very few films na kinilig talaga ko. Very fun, youth-oriented, no cheesy lines. This is the only local movie na pinanood ko more than 5 times I think!

Watch/Download the movie here.

Feng Shui [2004]

Plot: Joy (Kris Aquino) found a bagua on a bus when its owner left it. Ever since she got the bagua, she became very lucky and prosperous. Joy becomes worried because ever since she found the bagua, mysterious deaths began happening around her. It is later found that whoever looks into the mirror of the bagua will die and the subsequent death will result from an animal in the Chinese calendar depending on what year the victim was born. Source: Wikipilipinas

What makes it good: I am not a fan of horror films, matatakutin kasi ako eh hehehe, but if I am to name the top two horror films that I wouldn't dare watch for the second time, it's gotta be SHUTTER and FENG SHUI. I mean sure, The Grudge, Paranormal Activity, and Shake, Rattle and Roll are scary, but I can watch them w/o giving me nightmares. Feng Shui blew me away because its mode of "pananakot" is very unique--the bagua in our front door still give me the creeps because of this movie! I dare you to watch this alone. :)

One More Chance [2007]

Plot: Popoy (John Lloyd Cruz) and Basha (Bea Alonzo) have been together all their lives. Both of their families approved of each other, they were part of the same cliques, and eventually worked in the same company. Time came when Basha felt the need to let go and live on her own without Popoy. Popoy was devastated upon learning of Basha's decision but soon learned to let go and managed to find a new love in the person of Trisha (Maja Salvador). Basha, on the other hand, managed to live her life alone, happy with her new career and environment. However, when Basha meets Popoy again after several months and realizes he is happy, she starts wondering if she really made the right move of leaving Popoy behind. This time again, Basha and Popoy go through another emotional rollercoaster ride that will end in either holding on or letting go. Source: Wikipilipinas

What makes it good: Well, who DOESN'T like it?! 90% of people I know in my generation have seen this movie and is a favorite of even the most conyo guys out there, with good reason. Why? For one, it's like a breath of fresh air for having characters that are neither abnormally whacky nor depressingly serious. They represent normal people who encounter conflicts that could happen to everyone. And do I even have to mention its quotable lines that each of us have used at some point in our love lives? Popoy and Basha are such iconic characters, they represent every person on the planet who has ever loved and lost.

Kimmy Dora: Kambal Sa Kiyeme [2009]

Plot: Kimmy and Dora (both Eugene Domingo) are identical twins with different personalities. Kimmy is the smart, dictatorial type while Dora is the slow, dumb-wit sister. Kimmy has always been jealous of her sister as Johnson (Dingdong Dantes), the man she really likes, only has eyes for Dora. All hell breaks loose when their father gets a heart attack and makes Dora the majority owner of their family conglomerate if in case he dies. Kimmy thinks this is unfair and gets the help of their lawyer Harry to take care of business. A misunderstanding brings forth a plan to kill Dora but they kidnap Kimmy instead. Now Kimmy must find a way to escape her captors while Dora must act as her tough sister and control their corporation in order to hide the truth from their sick father. Source: Wikipedia

What makes it good: Kimmy Dora is the best local comedy I have ever watched in my life. How many times have you seen a comedy film (local or foreign) that made you laugh HARD? I have never laughed so much in a movie before this! Who cares if the story is too shallow when you are having so much fun?? Eugene Domingo is one of a kind, she's such a natural in comedy. Super galing! :)

No Other Woman [2011]

Plot: The film is a tale of a man's journey towards building a career and a family that he can competently provide for, but along the way, his ambition and reputation are tarnished by a single adulterous act. Source: Wikipedia

What makes it good: This is the most recent local film I have watched and I am so happy that I was able to. Just like One More Chance, No Other Woman's storyline is something that happens in real life--a reason why this movie is such a huge hit. I won't go into details, but a good plot, realistic lines, every-guys-dream Anne Curtis and Cristine Reyes, every-girls-dream Derek Ramsay, plus steaming love scenes--all these are enough to make it to this list.

How about you, what are your top 5 Pinoy movies and why? :)

If I Could Talk To A 20-Year Old Me

Because I worked in the call center industry for 4 years before moving to IT, I am already used to friends and acquaintances randomly come up to me for suggestions on working/surviving in a call center. Two months ago, a friend's younger brother approached me asking for advice on which BPO company offers the best work environment and career growth.

He told me that he wants to start a career soon but doesn't know where to start. "I want to be a trainer in the long run, but I'm not sure which company to go."

He began asking one question after the next:

"What do you do in your job right now?"
"How did you jump from call center to IT?"
"Why did you do this? Why didn't you do that?"
"Are you happy with where you are now?"

We started talking pretty frequent and this question-and-answer portion went on on a regular basis. I answered his questions as best as I could, and tried to give decent advice based on what I have gone through in my career and life in general.

After a bit of thinking though, I realized that those conversations were actually quite nostalgic for me. He reminded me of myself five years ago. So I started thinking about his questions again, and I began imagining how someone would've told me the answers to those questions when I was starting out.

If only I could turn back time, here are the 11 things I wish someone taught me five years ago:

1. Find work you love doing. If I could offer my younger self some real career advice, I'd tell myself not to choose a course based on someone else's recommendations, or because it's popular or is said to make more money. I would tell myself that the right career choice is based on a single factor: Find work you love doing. It may sound such a cliche, but finding success through passion is realistic and attainable. Don't wait for 20 or 30 years waking up and regretting being in a career you don't enjoy doing. As Steve Jobs says: "Find the work that you love, and you will never have to work at all."

2. Take risks. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes. Mistakes teach us a lesson. I used to be afraid of taking risks in fear of making a mistake, and I still partly am until now. But I have come to accept that in life, it is not about getting a chance, but about taking a chance. I would advise the younger me that yes, doing something will not guarantee that it will work 100%, but you can be 100% sure that doing nothing won't work.

3. Accept that change is constant. What you have or do right now, no matter how good or bad it is, it will change. It's the reality of life, and I wish someone had told me that sooner. It took me a while to accept that changes happen for a reason, and it won't always come easy. But in the end, it will always be worth it.

4. Don't worry too much about what people think about you. For the most part, what other people think shouldn't matter. When I was 20, I was paranoid of what other people think of me. It even affected some of the major decisions I made in life. Sure, you have to behave in a certain way that is acceptable to the eyes of people you care about. But not to the point that it will compromise your ideas and goals. I used to be that person who let the opinion of others make or break me. Later on in life I realized that this is a foolish way to live. What other people say is not important, what matters is how you feel about it.

5. Decide fast, and act upon it. It is true, opportunities knock only once (or maybe twice if you are lucky), so seize them while it's there and take action. Nothing will happen if you sit and do nothing while everyone else is out to receive their grace. Bear in mind that there is a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it. Don't rave about that knowledge that you have because it is basically useless unless you use them.

6. Speak out. People are not mind readers. If you don't feel good about something, don't hesitate to speak up because people will never know how you feel unless you tell them. Your boss? Yeah he doesn't know that you want to move up the ladder because you never told him so. That pretty girl you like but too shy to ask? Well, you guessed it right, she will never go out with you because there is no question to answer "Yes" to. In work or in life, you have to work on your vocal cords if you want things to happen. Simple.

7. Talk to lots of people as early as now. Friends of friends. Professors. Colleagues. Bosses. A medical student friend. Old classmates. Practically everyone in your Facebook! Why? Professional networking. While it's still early, having so many people in your network is a huge advantage. Lucky for me I was able to build mine early on, and I was offered several career opportunities as a result of this. Always remember that when employers look for people to fill positions, the first they do is ask recommendations from people they trust. Overtime, your current network and the associated opportunities will be a snowball for the duration of your career.

8. Live with integrity. For a career-driven person, reputation matters. And to get the respect and trust of the people around you, you have to maintain a good reputation by living with integrity. Be honest to yourself because being honest creates peace of mind. And trust me, having peace of mind is oh-so priceless!

9. Respect other people and make them feel good. As they say, respect begets respect. Elders, minors, strangers, -- everyone deserve to be respected. One of life's greatest rewards is the ability to touch other people's lives in simple ways. It is such a humbling experience to make someone's day just because you did a small thing for them. Trust me, it will come back sooner than you think.

10. Excel at what you do. There's no point in doing something if you aren't gonna do it right. As soon as you found out who you were born to be, develop a reputation for excellence. Don't waste your life doing mediocre things, always challenge yourself to up the ante and be a better person, whether professionally or personally.

11. Stay hungry, stay foolish. I got to watch Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address early last year and it was the most eye-opening grad speeches I have heard in my life. His last line got stuck to me ever since: Stay hungry, stay foolish. And it made perfect sense. One of the greatest adventures in life is our ability to ask questions to people who've been there. I hope that everyone realize that everything that we want to know all boils down to asking the right questions, to the right people.

I have to admit, I have done a LOT of mistakes in the past, and there are some things I wish I hadn't done. If only someone had told me these things earlier, I would've lived a more meaningful life. But hey, who says it's too late already? :)

Life is too short. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change. Love deeply and forgive quickly. Take chances. Give everything and have no regrets. Life is too short to be unhappy. You have to take the good with the bad, smile when you should, love what you got and always remember what you had. Always forgive but never forget. Learn from your mistakes but never regret. People change and things go wrong. But always remember, life goes on. -Unknown

X.O.,
Kat :)

Social Media Etiquette

Social media interaction is in many ways a part of everyone's daily lives. And since it is a communication medium with every single person in your life, it is important that each one of us understand the proper ways to behave online.

Would you do the following in a face-to-face interaction?

* Acting all close and spilling your secrets to someone you barely know?
* Be self-absorbed and consistently talk about yourself w/o regard to everyone else around you?
* Randomly approach a friend and ask for favors -- repeatedly?
* Constantly announce to the world what you are doing (even the littlest things: I am walking, I am eating..etc)

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may want to visit a refresher course on social media etiquette specifically Facebook and Twitter. Just because you are behind a monitor in your room doesn't mean that you can do and say as you please -- no holds barred.

Facebook
1. Randomly add people just because you have more than 2 mutual friends.

Many users like to keep their Facebook to their circle of friends and family or at least to people they have acquainted to in the past. If you are looking to make friends, properly introduce yourself when adding them. Don't always assume they know you -- especially when they, well, don't.

2. Tagging individuals in items that you sell.

I am severely annoyed by this ever since online sellers started invading Facebook. I like online shopping A LOT but I really hate it when people tag me on pictures that are totally unrelated to me. If you are selling something, send a message with the link to your album rather than annoy your friends and flood their walls with weight loss products.

3. Publicizing private conversation on a wall post.

There is such a thing as too much information. Even though you know everyone on your Facebook, have a little sense of privacy and use the messages feature to discuss private matters.

4. Harassing people to "like" your post.

Facebook contests are used as a marketing strategy of some businesses to make their product known. In effect, "contestants" request their friends to "like" their entry for them to win the contest. This is really fine with me, but harassing your friends and constantly sending them messages for you to win is just plain rude. One simple request is enough, but please..for crying out loud, huwag pilitin ang ayaw!

5. Abusing application invites.

Some people are just not that into games. Personally this is really fine with me bec I do enjoy some Facebook games, but I have encountered some people who really force you to click the application invite just to increase their "neighbors." Again, stop harassing people for your own advantage.

6. Spamming.

Facebook spam and scams are consistently increasing mainly because some are too naive to understand that not all that they see on their friends' feeds are true. For the last time, there is no application that will allow you to know who viewed your profile, you will not win an iPad by clicking the damn smiley pic, and you will never see Justin Bieber nude. Get over it!

Twitter
1. Mundane tweeting.

Tweets such as "I'm sleepy!" "Eating breakfast.." "About to sleep, good night!" may be interesting to some, but 90% of your followers could care less about the fact that you are eating or that you want to sleep. As much as possible, kill non-sense tweeting and tweet with purpose. Maybe you would want to revise your tweets with: "Breakfast at Banapple. This Banoffee pie is amazing. A must-try!" Always consider what's in it for your followers -- give them a chance to react to your posts. After all, there's really nothing much to reply to "I'm sleepy," right? :)

2. Using Twitter feed as chatroom.

I used to do this actually, but ever since some famous people started following me, I am now conscious with what I tweet and I tell my friends to just BBM me. Generally, conversations that are exclusive in nature should be kept private using chat platforms. Twitter is a broadcast medium, and although it empowers you to use the @ symbol to directly talk to individuals, it doesn't mean that you and your friend can flood your mutual followers' Twitter feeds. Using @mentions to talk to someone is absolutely fine, but everything should be kept in moderation.

3. Constantly asking your followers to follow your friend.

"Guys, follow my friend @Twitternewbie! Thank you! Pls RT" -- I mean seriously, why should we? Unless your friend is someone famous or is tweeting VERY interesting stuff, then please save yourself some time and effort because no one will follow your friend back. Revise your tweets with: "To my UP Diliman MMA classmates, follow Prof @Twitternewbie!" or "My friend @Twitternewbie tweets the funniest stuff about cheesy pick-up lines, follow him he's hilarious!"

4. Avoid Internet drama.

Broadcasting your how stupid your boss is, how your ex cheated on you, or how your colleague is having an affair with someone from work is a risky risky business. Not only will it make you look pathetic, it will also make you look unprofessional.

5. Tweet nothing but RANTS.

Expressing disappointment or frustration over something is fine every once in a while. But as I have said, everything should be kept in moderation. I recently unfollowed someone because I got really annoyed of her constant negative tweeting. Who would want to constantly read stuff like "F*ck you! You ruined my day!" "You really think you are pretty?! Ew!" "Lecheng buhay to!" "I am a bitch and I have a right to because I am hot." Irritating right?? And seriously, BEING A BITCH IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF.

Personally for me , it all boils down to three basic rules:
1. Respect the community.
2. Listen to others.
3. Be accountable for your actions.

Always remember that social media communities are real relationships with real conversations among real people. As such, social media interaction should be treated with respect as your personality reflects on it. Is it really that much to ask for people to be a NICE person, whether face-to-face or virtually?

Pottermore: The Quest to Find the Magical Quill

I first heard about Pottermore last week but I haven't got the chance to join because I was too busy with school midterms until I totally forgot about it. Anyway, last night I finally got the chance to join and I am one of the lucky Muggles who are able to register early! Yey!

My username: NimbusPixie57

It's too bad that users cannot design their own usernames and can only choose from the five randomly selected names. I was so prepared pa naman to use "FiendfyreKat" hehehe. But still, being able to find the Magical Quill is so fulfilling that I am beyond happy for being one of the chosen few!

Potter-what?

To those who may have heard this just now, Pottermore is a website that offers the die-hard Harry Potter fan the opportunity to access the wizarding world digitally. Fans are divided if PotterMORE stands for a Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Experience or a Massive Online Reference Encyclopedia. Because I am a gamer, I prefer the first one -- but until I get my "welcome pack," I have yet to tell which is more appropriate (the Welcome email will not arrive until the Magical Quill challenge is over). The site will be open to the public in October but if you are a die-hard fan, I am sure you would want to get an early admission. :) The site was launched on the date of Harry's birthday, July 31 -- and will allow a rumored total of 1 million fans to get early access to the site by finding the magical quill on the site for seven days (until August 6).

According to J.K. Rowling, the site contains new material exploring and detailing the wizarding world. Rowling once said that her fans wanted way more backstory and details of her world than she could provide within the story. Interested in the finer rules of Quidditch? Require more wisdom when it comes to wands? Well, this apparently, is where answers may be found. Enough to get a fan excited right?! :)

Day 4 just ended last night so there are 3 days more to try to register to the site. Seven days is equivalent to seven books so the Day 5 clue will be about Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, and so forth.

Here are the previous clues that were taken from Books 1-4:

Day 1: How many breeds of owls were offered on the Eeylops Owl Emporium sign, then multiply this number by 49.

Day 2: What is the number of the chapter in which Professor McGonagall cancels the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff? Multiply this number by 42.

Day 3: In the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch Match, in Harry’s third year, how many points is Gryffindor leading by before Harry catches the Golden Snitch? Multiply this number by 35.

Day 4: How many students take part in the Triwizard Tournament during Harry’s fourth year? Multiply this number by 28.

Days 1-3 are harder than Days 4-7, but it is still best to have the appropriate book in handy when answering the clue. Once you solve the clue, add the answer at the end of the site: http://quill.pottermore.com/(answer) and you will be redirected to a page where the Magical Quill is hidden. Click the quill, and voila! The registration page will pop-up for you to enter your details. :)

Watch this video as J.K. Rowling announces Pottermore:



For help in finding the Magical Quill, click here.

Three more days to go! Goodluck!! :)

UPDATE:
Click here for additional info on validation emails and timings for the last two clues!

The Google+ Craze

At this point, most of you must already heard of  The Google+ Project and probably landed on my blog in hopes of getting an invite. But for some who are living under a rock, Google+ is the newest social networking platform that is believed to kill Facebook. As of this time of writing, it is currently under limited field trial and you can only get in if someone invites you to join their network via email.

Since its launching two weeks ago, Google+ has generated SO MUCH demand, with Google's social head Vic Gundotra even calling it "insane." People's interest spread like wildfire, forcing the company to close it's doors for new users periodically.

I gotta be honest, I also wanted to get an invite since day 1 so bad that I keep checking out technology blogs and trying to check if someone can score me one. It wasn't until last week when I finally got one from my previous boss and my smile was from ear to ear for hours! Haha. When I tweeted about it, boy I was bombarded with invite requests! Everyone wanted to join in on the bandwagon, some even told me "What's Google+? Add mo nga ko kung anuman yan." It made me laugh because why would someone want to be a part of something they don't even have an idea on what's it about.

I guess I just find it amusing that people normally aren't interested on being part of something new until they find out that not everybody can get in. It's like being in an elite group of people, the feeling of being special and having something that everybody is dying to have. I know this because when Google Wave was launched two years ago, it was immediately open to the public and nobody I personally know even signed up for it. A year after, it flopped.

Is this human nature? I honestly have no idea. I am a social media enthusiast for years now so I know that me wanting to be Google's beta tester is a given -- I just don't know about the others. But what I do know is that this marketing strategy made by the search engine giant is a very wise move indeed, well done Larry Page.

Okay fine, I know you are here for the invite. Please share this to your Facebook/Twitter then hit the comments below and leave your gmail address + your Facebook/Twitter profile link. Just don't forget to return the favor and add me to your circle okay? :)

Click here to add me on Google+.

Do You Think You're Pretty?

There is an unspoken rule that most girls abide by which I think was taught to us by jealous insecure bitches. It's known as the "Pretend You Don't Know You Are Pretty" rule and if you think otherwise then expect everyone to consider you conceited or "feelingera." So what's a girl to do who doesn't want to seem conceited while also not coming across as insecure?

CONFIDENCE. Everyone knows they should have it, but for some reason -- boys have it and most girls don't. If you are one of the many who don't have it, then let me inform you that most people who carry this trait have more friends than you, have better social life and have higher paying jobs.

Why is it that men were taught to carry this trait and should maintain a high opinion of themselves (sometimes a little too much--hello cocky guys!) whereas girls grew up knowing that they should never acknowledge their beauty out loud or else they are considered self-absorbed and egotistical? Think of the movie "Mean Girls" when the popular bitch Regina George makes Cady think that she is wrong for thinking that she is actually a pretty girl.

Personally, it annoys me whenever I compliment someone and they say things like "hindi kaya!" or "you think so?" and then goes on to complain about any unflattering thing that they have on their face or body. Same goes with people who are razor thin and sexy and then keeps telling everyone how FAT they are. Can you please just save that to the really -- I mean REALLY fat ones?

Most guys date you because they find you pretty and confident. But when they gave you a compliment stating that you are beautiful or gorgeous or really pretty you just shrug it off instead of saying thank you. There is nothing wrong with believing that you are a beautiful woman -- self-confidence and cockiness are two VERY different things. So the next time someone compliments you, smile and take it because there is nothing more unflattering than a girl who doesn't know her own worth.

So you agree? You think you're really pretty? Or do you shrug off a compliment in fear of being considered conceited?

Taking Personal Drama to the Internet

What is Internet Drama?

Internet drama, in my personal definition, refers to the irrational broadcasting of personal issues on the Interweb. Since the Internet has completely changed our modern life, our dependency with the web has impacted our ways to deal with personal issues. It doesn't matter if it's work, family or relationship problems -- as soon private grievances start to go public via Facebook or Twitter, things can automatically turn ugly in a snap.

Case in point: During a recent breakup, a distraught ex can do or say things on their Facebook walls that they'd never do face-to-face. They use harsh words, throw accusations out of misery, try to illicit jealousy, or seek revenge in a multitude of other ways. Mutual friends are abruptly excommunicated, and pictures are suddenly untagged from each other's albums. You might immediately change your relationship status to single and wait till your wall is bombarded with questions about the breakup -- aggravating the virtual salt that continue to rub into very real wounds.



While some people just can't help it, I think it's safe to say that most of us wants to avoid Internet drama and not stoop to online lows. If you are one of us, here are a few tips that may help whenever you're in the brink of announcing to the world that your ex is a pathetic psychopath:

1. Use the reverse psychology. If your ex just can't help it but publicize every little thing you guys went through, remember that there's no better comeback than a silent treatment. Let him talk, while you maintain your silence and continue to tweet positive things. Soon, your mutual friends will realize who is the biggest loser.

2. Take advantage of Facebook's security settings. It is there for a reason. Sick of someone who constantly complain about her misery? Hide their feeds so you won't see them anymore. Fighting with someone? Hide your wall or just completely block him/her. Do whatever it takes until you get that peace of mind you surely deserve.

3. Stop online stalking. This normally happens after a breakup, you track your ex's whereabouts, newly added friends, constant Twitter buddy, etc. You have to understand that stalking is a compulsive, unsatisfying behavior and will only leave you feeling emptier especially if your ex has clearly moved on before you. Instead of stalking, why not use your energy to reconnect with friends or find new hobbies and interests?

4. Resist publicizing EVERYTHING! Your closest friends already know who you're dating, your family is already aware of your financial issues, and your colleagues are very much aware how much your work sucks -- therefore, there's no need to trumpet them every chance you get. Just because you can share everything on Facebook and Twitter doesn't mean you should.

5. Have common sense. Facebook is a social networking tool, not an online diary. Therefore, being an open book to everyone and announcing to the world how much your ex-boyfriend hurt you is not gonna benefit anyone. Simple, vague comments are okay, but don't let the technology shadow your emotional intelligence. Online battles are for 3rd graders, and if your ex won't stop posting negative comments about you, simply unfriend him and pray that his sanity be restored soon.

Sharing too much information on the Internet can be messy and humiliating. No matter how bad the situation is, or no matter how much you want the other person to be humiliated, always remember that this public drama reflects poorly on you. Avoiding many of the soap operas that flare up on Facebook or Twitter does not only give you peace of mind, but will also project a sense of self-confidence and maturity that most Internet users lack.

Find What You Love

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better & better as the years roll on."
- Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc. and of Pixar Animation Studios

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a store cashier. I would turn our living room into a supermarket, put price tags on all our furniture, and my playmate (now my best friend) Kathy would be the pretend-customer. During grade school, I then shifted my interest into being a teacher. My younger brother and sister would be my students and I would "discuss" to them a literary text my teacher actually read to us in class.

As I grow older, I began to enjoy reading novels (from Sweet Valley in 6th grade to Harry Potter in high school) -- and so for the 3rd time I had a change of heart and wanted to become a writer/journalist. But, even though I enjoy writing so much, I did not believe that I should make a career out of it and so in college I took a managerial course instead. After college, I went on to become a technical professional for a large computer company, became a supervisor at 22 y/o, got bored and eventually left.

If I am gonna sum up my career goal into one word, it'll be CONFUSING. I mean, I knew that I want a career in IT and all things geek, I just can't point out what exactly it is. For several years I have this frustration of trying to place myself where I exactly fit in.

I know I am not the only one who had (or is having) this dilemma. Many college students graduating have NO idea what they want to do for living. They just went to college because, well it was the next logical thing to do after high school. Now that they graduated, the real world has shocked them. Their degree is no longer as valuable as they thought it was.

We've all heard it a million times in a million different ways.

"Discover what you love to do."

"Pursue your passion."

"Find work you enjoy doing."

And as cliche as all these sounds, it makes perfect sense. As Steve Jobs said, work makes up a majority of your life so it only makes sense to do the work you like doing and to get paid for doing it as well. One of the keys to happiness — is finding work that you’re passionate about. Work you want to do, instead of just have to do. Because if you really want to do it, it barely seems like work at all.

Thankfully, I’ve finally found that work. I don’t drag my feet to go to work anymore, instead I can’t wait to get up early and start working. I just wish I'd done it sooner, maybe at age 21 instead of 25.

I’m just one of many who’ve done that — there are people all over the world pursuing their dreams, working with passion, losing themselves in their work. Are you one of them? Do you want to be?

Seek what you love to do and be the best you can be at it. Don't settle.

BBM: It's Everything I Love

I don't care if I am already paulit-ulit, but I will say this again: I am a proud Blackberry user. And while I love everything about this phone all-in-one-tool, there is one thing that makes it *hands-down* the best mobile device there is. Two words: Blackberry Messenger (BBM).

According to Wikipedia,  BBM is a proprietary instant messaging application specifically made for Blackberry devices. For me though, BBM is simply "my daily essential." Now I am not gonna go all technical and tell you about the awesomeness of RIM's push technology (which, by the way IS revolutionary) -- but like what the video suggests, BBM is more than just an instant messaging tool.

Imagine you are in Web conference for a potential client: You are in Manila and your potential clients are in Sydney. Your main presenter is in Los Angeles and while listening to his presentation, you realize that he forgot to mention a very important keypoint. You pull out your Blackberry, go to BBM and remind the presenter of the forgotten keypoint. He responds quickly: "Got it." Message sent and received without the investors' knowledge, and the conference moves on to your company's advantage.

Or imagine running an errand for your mom at the mall. She asks you to get her a nice dinnerware set that she'll give as a wedding gift for a family friend. You get to the mall and there are dozens of designs to choose from. You snap a picture of some of the designs, send it to your mom via BBM, and let her decide which one you'll get.

BBM's functionality is for people from all walks of life: it doesn't matter if you are a student, a mother , or a businessman -- having BBM at your fingertips is definitely an asset. Even me, being the half-crazy girl that I am, have my own reasons for loving everything about BBM:

1. It's practical. With almost everyone in my social circle on BB, I rarely use SMS anymore. Also, I can keep typing and hitting send without worrying about being charged per message. Free real-time messaging to loved ones all over the world is now possible, thanks to BBM.

2. You gain friends. Over a year ago I created a Twitter account dedicated to helping people on their Blackberry dilemmas: @BlackberryPhils. With over 900 followers, I became close to a lot of people who share the same passion for Blackberry. So far, BlackberryPhils has 3 BBM groups who are composed of amazing people who help each other out whenever one of us is in BB trouble. :)

3. Reliable on emergencies. Happens to me all the time. I am stuck in the middle of nowhere, some friend or colleague of mine is waiting for me, and the unthinkable happens: Zero balance. Well with BBM, you can say that I don't fret about not being able to contact anyone anymore.

[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="Meeting is delayed bec of me, great!"][/caption]

4. It bridges the gap. My boyfriend and I only see each other once a week and BBM is our one and only tool in communicating everyday. And with that "sent" and "read" notification, I feel like I am talking to him face to face. Who says instant messaging have to be impersonal? :)

[caption id="attachment_477" align="aligncenter" width="346" caption="Yeah, my boyfriend's awesome like that. ;)"][/caption]

5. Finally & most importantly, everything is instant. Of all the instant messengers I have tried over the years, BBM is the ONLY thing that lives up to the word instant. We all live in a fast-paced environment (Hello Manila!) and being always on-the-go, BBM is a must for me (and everyone else) who needs to chat, send photos, audio files or documents instantly! I used to procrastinate all the time but BBM practically pushed me to become time-conscious.

[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Getting busy BBM-ing people. From L-R: Bold 9700; Bold 9000 & Pearl Flip 8220."][/caption]

My list can go on and on but I prefer you guys to go get one and see it for yourselves. Be part of Team Blackberry and discover how BBM can turn your mobile phone into a fail-proof communication device.

BBM: Communicating just got social & natural.

BBM -- you know I love you, xoxo. ;)

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