CPK's National Pizza Day

California Pizza Kitchen is celebrating its National Pizza Day!

The Last Last Home Stand

Tuesday last week I got home late but still manage to make it in time for the much talked-about The Last Home Stand sponsored by PLDT, but then again upon browsing my Instagram, I came across a screenshot of Spin.Ph’s breaking headline stating that the Day 2 of Last Home Stand was cancelled and the night’s exhibition game will not push through due to internal problem. Apparently, the organizers were not able to secure permission with the NBA. I actually thought this was another of Social Media’s sensational satirical news and SpinPh got hacked so I immediately confirmed it by browsing through Twitter and Facebook accounts of reliable media outfits and to my surprise I saw that it was legit. BUT the question is WHY? Why must this happen during the last minute? 

Keep Calm and Watch Movies

When asked about my hobbies, I will always include watching movies to my list. I'm a cinephile. I appreciate most genres but being a female creature that I am, I have soft spot for rom-coms and such but I also dig animation/horror/suspense/thriller/sci-fi whenever the mood calls for it and when I'm in need of a movie fix. However, just a confession, I rarely go to the cinema. It was only late College when I enjoyed going to movie-house with my friends.

From then, I see to it that I get to watch the films I am looking forward to in the cinemas. That is, if the time and bills permit.

I must say that the 2013 movie adaptation, Warm Bodies, made me fall in love with watching movies since it was the first and the only movie I ever watched alone. It brought a liberating feeling. By watching it alone, it made me realize that watching movies is not just about having company. It is also not just a hobby being done to let time pass by. It is rather a moment of discovery.

When you're focused with the flow of the story and drawn to the emotions of the characters and the film, you discover lessons and you get to express yourself. Just like in this not-so-deep zombie movie, I felt love even if I was alone and I got to experience solidarity and got lost for a moment.

Warm Bodies (2013)

Summer Komikon 2014 Adventure

Picture a roomful of your favorite comic books and artists, that is what a comic-con looks like. 

Welcome to our Summer Komikon Adventure!

It was my first time to attend the komikon  a week ago. Thanks to my friend Azer whom I fondly call A, for she tagged me along with her cousin Annielle and friend Paula. I totally enjoyed their company and the event.

Happy tenth, UDD!

One of my favorite local bands, Up Dharma Down, just turned ten last March 9.

Screenshot from @armimillare's Instagram

I love this band so much. I've been raving about them since I fell in love with their songs "Oo" and "Tadhana."

Planet Ocean Exhibit

If you walk around Greenbelt lately, you probably have seen this exhibit. I was waiting for a friend and attended the mass last week when I saw these breathtaking photographs displayed. Most of which capture the beauty of our environment. I wanted to take several photos but I was in a hurry that time.

Walking man of Manila

Long before the “Damaso incident” at the Manila Cathedral, Carlos Celdran already made it in the news, not for any scandal but because he instills a different kind of entertainment on his Manila tours.

The many faces of Carlos Celdran (Photos by: Joanna Conde)

I almost lost hope when I woke up from a nap on the evening of September 30 as I found out that our interviewee, Carlos Celdran, was put to jail for offending the Church. A week before this incident, I already scheduled an interview with him. A day before he protested he even said he’ll meet us on that weekend that’s why I panicked and messaged the team about the incident immediately because everyone is excited about the interview only to find out that there’s a possibility that it will be postponed.

Maybe luck was on our side, after waiting for the court’s decision if he’ll be freed and praying that our interview will still push through, it paid off. He was freed on October 1.

On the day of the interview, I was not able to receive any message from him, he was also busy entertaining other interviews from big media outfits but we still tried our best to reach him on his tour on October 3. We were late for his morning tour but then we searched for him as hard as we can, we acted like stalkers hungry for his sight. We struggled searching for him in Intramuros. We went to the hotel where he was checked in, we called him, but we still got no response. We almost lost hope thinking that he might not grant our interview anymore because of the incident but then again hard work always pay off. By 2:30 pm that Sunday afternoon, we received a text message that he’ll be in Fort Santiago for his afternoon tour and he will meet us by then.

We were over-joyed, despite the hot temperature and the walks we endured, we will finally meet the man of the hour.

The moment we saw him walked out of his car, we were smitten for he was considered by many as heroic for what he did at the Manila Cathedral. I am not bothered about that since it was his choice and I am already looking up to him for a long time now.

At first, we were hesitant to approach him because he seems like a very intimidating person. Many people were asking for photo ops with him and when we finally had the chance to talk to him, to our surprise, he asked us to tag along on his tour and that was his treat. We felt really blessed as we enjoyed every minute of the tour because it’s not every day that we experience moments like this.

The man being criticized by many is not at all a bad man. There’s always another side of a story. And for this 37-year old tour guide, it is always about what you believed that you should stand up for.

Here are some tidbits of our interview with Carlos Celdran in which you’ll know his side of story and his thoughts about the Filipinos and Philippines.

Describe yourself in one word:

Chubby