CONVERSE BLOCK PARTY Celebrates Individuality, Independence and Relates The Story of Being an Iconic Shoe Brand

MALL-GOERS ENJOYED AN ALL-DAY BASH at the Converse Block Party. The party, inspired by the Fourth of July block parties in the U.S. told the story of the iconic Converse shoe brand: the activities included street games, basketball-skateboard-and-dance exhibitions, graffiti art, spray-painting, musical performances and a raffle for fun and fabulous prizes.

“The Converse Block Party is a global activity. In fact, Singapore and Vietnam and Australia have already finished their block parties. The activities at our party were chosen as a way of telling the story of Converse. That’s why we have basketball, skating, music, dance and other street activities.

REEL DEAL Movies and Television: X-men First Class

X-MEN FIRST CLASS

The world of X-men is one of my favorite things I love even when I was still a kid. The vast number of characters and personalities that shroud each character makes is appealing to everyone. And with the x-men movie series, there are also high hopes to give justice to plot and the characters.Though some of you was very disappointed with X3: the last stand. X-men first class is the Marvel's redemption from it. 

X-men first class tells the story of the two most prominent and former best friends Charles Xavier (Professor X) played by James McAvoy and Erik Lensherr (Magneto) played by Michael Fassbender. And with the appearances of mutants like Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, Azazel, Banshee, Angel , and a young Mystique. But also be surprized for another cameo of a Marvel favorite in the film. I know this would be a spoiler but to save you the hassle of waiting until the final credits, that there is no easter egg at the end. However, the movie itself promises a sequel.

In the movie, the questions about their past and the history of the Xavier School is revealed with the first class facing a world wide crisis. The rise of the brotherhood of evil mutants, and change of affiliations and the evolution of the more mutants and their personalities. The scenes of family and memories are so touching that almost made me cry, a thing that action films tries but fail to present. As of the moment we hope to see a sequel rather than the rumored X4. As it also awaken the mutant in each one of us, it was able to capture our imagination and our hearts.

  

Deliberation time kids!

Movie summary in 3 lines: MUTANT AND PROUD

Technical Effects: 3 out of 5 stars (though the timeline is set in the 70's, some of the effects seems vintage too)

Plot 4 out of 5 stars (answers all questions about their past and their present)

Popcornmeter (the rating if this movie would make you hungrier while watching) 3 out of 5 (i hope your stomach does not mutate, lol)

Acting and Actors 4 out of 5 stars (James McAvoy, though not bald is perfect for professor X!)

DVD worthiness 5 out of 5 stars (But must be separate from the other X-men trilogy)

Sequel worthiness 5 out of 5 stars (X-men Business Class perhaps?)

Overall Rating 4 out of 5 stars (the x-men movie so far!)

DAYS OF LITERATURE: Rizal sa Call Center (Part 2)

Part 2

Natapos na ang interbyu. Tulad ng dati, lagpak. Ang sabi nila sa akin marami daw akong dapat pagbutihin at ayusin,tulad ng pagbigkas ko, halata daw na bisayan aksent ko. Pati daw grammar ko, mailito daw ang kustomer. At isa pa daw ang sagot ko sa ilan tanong ay sabog sabog. Sus Ginuo! Ano ba yang pamantayan nila! Hindi naman ako perpektong tao! Bakit ba kailangan ng ganung mga pamantayan, eh sasagot kalamangng tawag, di ba? Kung may pera lang kami, sana ay nag-aaral pa ako hangang ngayon. Pero hindi eh, mahirap lang kami, ito ang katotohanan.

At bakit ba dito (Call Center)? Kasi "sabi" sa akin ito ang usong trabaho at hindi na kailangan na makatapos ka ng kulehiyo. Di naman ako mapili sa trabaho, lalo na kailangan namin ng pera. Kung iniisip niyo kungbait ayaw ko ng service krew sa fastfood ay dahil nabaon kami sa utang sa pagbabayad ng nawalang pera sa kahera na duda ko yung manigir ko ang kumuha. Dahil dito, hindi ko na napagpatuloy ang kurso kong narsing. Naisip ko ring mag-care giver, pero wala na kaming pera para sa pagte-training ko at placement fee. Sabi ng mga kaibigan ko na pumasok na lamang dito kasi, yun nga. Tapos di ko na kailangan na umalis ng bansa. Makakahalubilo daw ako ng mga mayayaman ay sosyal na tao, yun nga lang hindi rin ako ganun. Sabi rin nila na kapag nakapasok ako dito, matututo ako sa kultura ng mga Amerikano. Kaya nga nung mga unang araw ng pag-aaplay ko ay bumili pa si Nanay ng mga DVD na Inglis para matuto daw ako, kaso nga lang hindi ako natuto, dumugo lang ang ilong ko.

Parehong bisaya ang mga magulang ko. Kapwa taga Cebu, na lumuwas ng Maynila upang makipagsapalaran. Hindi kami pinalaki sa pagsaslita ng Inglis kundi bisaya. At ano ba ang makukuha namin kapag nagsasalita kami nun, wala di ba?

Hirap pa rin ako makaintindi lalo na kapag Inglis ang usapan. At batid ko na hindi talaga ako matuto kapag wala akong kausap ng diretsong Inglis? Magulang ko? Mga Kapatid ko? Kaibigan? Maging gf ko nga hindi ko kinakausap ng Inglis, sa tixt lang siguro..

Pero ang mahalaga ay ang makakuha ako ng anumang trabaho, 'wag lang yun nabangit ko. Malapit na kaming putulan ng kuryinte at tubig. Maging an g renta sa bahay ay pinagbantaan na kami na umalis kaagad kung hindi kami makakbayad.

Kung pwede lang magmakaawa, sana ginawa ko na sa interbyu, matangap lamang ako. Pero wala talaga akong magawa kundi ang magbuntong-hiniga. At magdasal na sana ay may milagrong magyari sa akin, makapulot man ng limpak na salapi, o tumama sa lotto.

Isang araw habang patungo ako sa department store ng isang mall upang maghanap ng trabaho, ito man ay maging saleman o tindero, Ok lang sa akin. malayo pa lamang ay nagdadasal na ko na mayroong bakante sa kanilang bulletin board. Ngunit habang palapet na ako sa department store ay mayroon akong nakitang pamelyar na mukha. Tila naklala ko na siya noon, pero di ko maalala. Teka... Oo nga! Siya yung nag-interbyu sa akn noong isang araw sa isang call center na malapit lamang. Nang makita niya ako, kaagad niya akong nakilala, di ko alam kung bakit sa lahat ng mga taong tinatanong niya nalala niya ako.

"O, musta? di ba ikaw yung nag apply ka sa amin noong isang araw di ba? Nakahanap ka na ba ng trabaho?" sa kanyangpagbigkas ng Tagalog natuwa ako at hindi ako duduguin sa pagsagot sa Inglis. "Di pa po eh. Eto nga po eh, naghahanap po ako ng dito sa mall, nagbabakasakali na may trabaho akong makuha dito" may pakiramdam akong sana ay matulungan niya ako sa pag-bukas muli ng kaso ko sa kanila. "Talaga?, well di kta matutulungan dahil hindi ka nga pumasa sa interview namain" sa pagbangt niya nito, gumuo na ang panibagong pag-asa ko ngunit may humabol na pasalta, " Pero kung gusto mo talaga ng trabaho, marami kaming kailangan sa maintainace namin... dun sigurado matutulungan kita, yun ay kung hindi ka mapili...

"TRABAHO?"... napaisip ako kaagad... deal or no deal? Tila nagbago ang kapalaran ko, nilalapitan na ako ng pagkakataon, magulo ang isip ko, hindi ko alam kung sasagot ako agad o mag-iisip ng matagal. "OK lang po hindi naman po ako mapili"

itutuloy...

Shop Digitally With Multiply.com!

Safe, convenient and hassle-free, Multiply connects virtual shoppers to 88,000 online stores

With 88,000 shops accessible with just a click, Multiply has officially become the country’s largest digital mall that offers everything from today’s hottest fashion finds, gadgets, mobile phones to the latest in beauty, mommy and baby products.

What began primarily as a social networking site where millions of people went to share photos and videos, Multiply has evolved to become a fully functioning e-commerce site that not only connects shopping success for virtual shoppers but also real-life business success for its merchants.

“When Multiply made the shift into becoming an e-commerce site, one of the first things we wanted to accomplish was to be able to offer more than convenience and variety to the Multiply shopper,” said Jack Madrid, country manager of Multiply Philippines. “We also wanted to create an e-commerce platform that was reliable and secure that will be able to connect entrepreneurs to their market,” he added.

Be The First Karakoke World Championships Philippines Champion!

The Philippines has Charice, Billy Crawford and Arnold Pineda as world class Filipinos in the music industry today and recognized all over the world. Now its your chance to be one of them! Join the KWC Philippines which is happening from May 30 to July 23, 2011. The winner of the  National Finals will represent for the Philippines for first time since KWC started in 2003. The 2011 KWC world finals will be held from September 8-10 in Killarney, Ireland.


KWC stands for Karaoke World Championships. The sole aim of the KWC is to annually produce a male and female karaoke World Champion in a highly competitive but entertaining manner while respecting copyright laws and the rights of songwriters.

Started in 2003 by Oy KWC Organization, Ltd., Finland (the owner of the event license), KWC has been held annually ever since. It brings together singers from more than 30 countries, regardless of race, nation or religion. It provides amateur singers the opportunity to showcase their amazing talents to the world, at the same time fostering camaraderie and goodwill among participating countries.

Participants to the KWC must go through a national trials series within their own country. Country trials are strictly governed by event rules mandated by Oy KWC Organization, Ltd., Finland. Country champions are then flown to the KWC event host country to compete in the world finals. World event finalists are given the opportunity to perform in front of an international audience and judges.

Currently participated in by more than thirty (30) countries, KWC has become the world’s biggest and possibly the most respected karaoke event.

This year, 2011,it will be the first time for the Philippines to send its very own male and female karaoke country champions to this world event. KWC Philippines also hopes that we would have our representative each year and also obtain the championship in both male and female divisions and finally that the KWC world finals will also be held here in the country in the future. And I have no doubt and with full support to those who will be chosen to be the first KWC Philippines Champion because we are a nation of singers and talented artists. So, if you are the one, go and audition now!


 For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/kwcphilippines.

DAYS OF LITERATURE: Rizal sa Call Center (Part 1)

"Hello, haw kan I help you?" hindi ko alam kung ako nga ang may problema o mali lang ang narinig nila. Isa pa. "Hi Good Day to you all, haw kan I help you?" Maayos naman hindi ba?

tinignan ko ang orasan... putik! malalate na ako sa interbyu ko! Ano ba yan! baka hindi na naman ako matangap! ang layo pa nang pupuntahan ko. Trapik pa. Diyos ko, ano bang nangyayari sa buhay ko, akit palagi na lang ganito.

Sa pagsakay ko ng jeep patungo ng alabang, nakasalubong ako ng matinding trapik. Sheet naman! palagi na lang ganito, kaya siguro di ako matangap-tangap sa trabaho. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko, minsan inisip ko na sana tumalon na lang ako at lumipad papunta sa inaaplayan ko. 10 minuto pa, sa lagay ng trapik may uusad naman medyo matagal nga lang. napabuntonghininga na lang ako. Pero, himala umusad ang mga sasakyan. At unti-unti bumalik ang pag-asa sa aking puso, may oras pa, maychance pa ako, sige lang, wala na sanang trapik.

Yes,dininig yung dasal ko. Isang minuto na lang late na sana ako. Yun nga lang hingal nahingal pa ako pagdatig ko sa receptionist ng kompanya. "Umm...hhhhuhhi I'm here for da interbiew, here is my resumé". "Okay, please just wait until your name is called" pangiting sinabi ng babae sa akin. Napatungo na lang ako sa pagsang-ayon. Napaupo na lang ako sa hilera ng mga upuan , kasama ang ilan sa mga aplikante na katulad ko.

May oras na ako upang huminga, pero bibilis ulit ito sa pagsalang ko na sa intebyu. Hay naku. Bigla naman bumagal ang oras para sa akin sa paghihintay. Bakit ganun? bakit kung kailangan ko ng oras laban sa trapik parang ang bilis ng oras. Isa pa hindi pa nagtetext yung gf ko. Akala ko full support siya sa akin, ang tinext lang niya sa akin yung mga quotes na "God Bless", "Have a nice morning", at "Mwah". Oo nga nagtetext siya pero lalo lang yata akong kinabahan, ewan ko, basta bahala na...

Lumabas ang isang babae na may dalangmaraming papel, "Attention, people please proceed to the interview room over there. Okay, let's start...Marcus, uhmm... De Escueta, Padilla, Saliente,..."

Sapat na sa akin na marinig ang Saliente, hindi ko na iintindihin ang pangalan ng iba pa, lalo lang akong kinakabahan. Kahi man sa pangngalan mas nais kong tawagin sa aking apelyido, Saliente, magaling. Hindi kasi ako naging magaling sa anuman, sa pag-aaral, sa sports, wala nga akong talento na maipagmamalaki. Buti na lang may babae pang nagmahal sa akin, hindi ko nga lang alam kung mahgal niya ako sa aking buong pagkatao o mahal lang niya ako dahil naawa siya sa akin. Sa pagbangit ng babae ng pangngalan ko buti hindi niya ako tinawag sa aking unang pangngalan, baka lingunin nila ako. Pero kahit anuman ang gawin ko, hindi ko pa rin maikakalila ang aking tunay na katauhan...

"Please sit down. Now please introduce yourself one by one, then describe someting about yourself. Is that okay?" Wika ng interviewer na kamukha ni Jessica Soho, pero may boses ni Sharon Cuneta. Sino ba ang una... teka ako yun ah!? Bad trip! Ayoko ko ngang mauna, parangnagpakamatay ako, lalo na wala akong magaya ng style sa pagpapakilala. Bigla na lang nagalanko ang utak ko. Pero kailangan kong sumagot, kung gusto ko ng trabahong ito, bahala na si Batman.

"Hi, Hello... My Name is Rizalino Salinete, you could call me Rizal for short..." Matapos nun hindi ko na maalala ang nasabi ko nung oras na iyon. Nalaman ko na lang ang realidad ay nang makaupo na ako. No Saliente

Itutuloy...

DAYS OF LITERATURE: Rizal City (except from 2XXX)

As a tribute to Dr. Jose Rizal, Manual to Lyf will be featuring some of my writing inspired by his life and his works. Most of them are work in progress while some ar archived from past years of writing radomly but still have this Jose Rizal feel. And I will be doing this the whole month as my contribution for the 150th birth anniversary of our National Hero. MABUHAY SI DR. JOSE RIZAL!

Rizal City

(excerpt from my "upcoming" novel 2XXX)

The lights from the Manila Tower illuminates the district together with the old Neon and LED lights of the new Vegas of the East, along with Macau and Sentosa, Rizal City is both exemplifies and denounce the teachings and values of the hero the city was named after. In the middle of man-made reclaimed island city is the controversial monument of Dr. Jose Rizal which  rivaled the original Rizal Park, or Luneta. The monument though bigger than the other is surrounded by places of sin. A Casino on the East, a floating hotel in the south which is rumored to be the haven of forbidden lovers and prostitutes. And at the west where Rizal is facing is a glass pyramid like in Louvre, which is also a controversial structure which led to a lot of conspiracy theories connecting to groups such as the masons. And finally in the north is Manila's finest sightseeing spot that is the Manila tower. Rizal City is indeed a image of a progressive as there is no sight of poverty or discrimination. Though seen as the dream city detached from Metro Manila but connected by the Great Maynilad Bridge and the LRT 8 Underwater Train. 

Originally planned to be just a simple artificial island city but investors demanded more. Skyscrapers, shopping malls such as SM Rizal City and Robinsons Nueva Intramuros, and a theme park called Manila Star Park. Air traffic is still remains at NAIA but thanks to the LRT 6 connected to LRT 8 provides easy access.

The statue of Rizal posing facing west and trying to face eastward like his stance when he was shot XXX years ago, but not a face of anger but with a odd combination of confusion and eureka. The artist defended that his work reflects Rizal when he is thinking. And unlike in Luneta, the statue stands alone and is illuminated by spotlights at night and a fountain around him. The almost extinct Rizalista group would revere the monument as a mecca and sometime perform baptism rituals on the fountain and thus forcing to impose tighter security for the park and the whole city.

Philip and Anderson drove into the elite city which requires an exclusive access using the National ID system. Philip just only got his first at age 16 and quite hesitant that it would not be accepted. 

"To get in Rizal City is a rite of passage here? "Asked Anderson while driving through Quirino Avenue to Roxas Boulevard. "Yes it is, and even with an ID, there is no assurance that we can get in, I just got this last year" Philip replied "But how can you get in? You're an American, and getting a expat ID takes time". 

"Trust me, you don't know how influential ANIMA is, and  how far we can go for the vision" Anderson proudly said. Arriving now at the access road to the Great Maynilad Bridge to the city. Coming across the checkpoint for identification and car X ray, Anderson stick out his head out the window and exclaimed "Boss, ANIMA RIZAL" The guard seems to know what Anderson mean and pulled a pen which have a scanner. Anderson then put out his palm to be scanned and it was clear and before continuing the drive he whispered something to the guard which was replied with a nod and a smile. Philip then was puzzled what Anderson said to the guard which 

made him grin. Also the fact that they were not asked any ID which is a strict requirement inside the city.

"Can you tell me what is the password?" he asked.

"It was not a password, I just told him that he is doing a great job" Anderson replied

"You're lying, it so obvious but I also can't believe that they let us in without asking for our IDs... I 

mean, none of my friends has been here because of the security but you just showed you hand ans whispered something and thats it?"he questioned.

"Well, even I am an American we look up to Rizal as one of the best intellectuals of all time along with the Greek philosphers Plato, Aristotle .... and great leaders like Gandhi and Obama,"he explained and continued to drive into the heart of the city and passed by the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal.

*2XXX is a novel by FPJ Jr about a college student and a secret agent  looking for the answers about his past and his abilities. Set in the future Philippines, showcases the changes and innovation the world has become after undetermined years.*