Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
How MONOPOLY hit My Stomach
The first time I discovered the cafeteria of our school was during my freshman year at PWU-Taft. It was like a food court in a mall wherein there are different choices from beverages, dessert, lunch or snack foods or even those nibblers. The place is quite small to accommodate all the students in our school plus there is no proper ventilation inside but still, many students patronize its food outlets available because of what they call student-friendly services- cheap meals (student meal) unlike if you go to a fast food restaurant and you have to spent a hundred bucks just to eat foam and plastic. I could have 2 choices of "ulam", rice and a bottled water or iced tea for only 50 pesos-later the price rose to 55 pesos.
3 years have passed by and that cafeteria I have known during my novice year have already experienced a lot of changes in their setting - a couple of food outlet closed, some beverages were not available like the student-favorite C2 tea, and lately a renovation of the school canteen plus the exit of some the famous outlets like the Dolky's and that noted neighbor of Dolky's which I forgot the name. All these were not visible anymore in the canteen except for one outlet who started out in the school as a provider of beverages like iced tea and bottled water with a small cafe expansion in the second floor of the Nakpil wing who turned into the sole provider of beverages in the whole school due to the NESTLe lock-out. Now, that same outlet who once has been selling straw and sandwiches in the campus is the only food outlet you will see inside the campus.
I mean they sell almost everything - from beverages to sandwiches to a NESTLE subsidiary of snack foods, ice cream, baby cologne and even sanitary napkins for ladies. The school canteen who is once enjoying a healthy competition among those entrepreneurs of Manila is now a school canteen suffering from an old market situation called MONOPOLY.
Yeah right, there is monopoly in my simple school and we are the monopsony. We are just one chunk of market who cannot do anything but just patronize what is inside. I can't even call it as simple monopoly because I have known that it involves a million-peso agreement between food giant Nestle and PWU administrators.
I just hate that my stomach is being controlled by only one food class whenever I come inside that canteen. Yes, you can tell me why not try to eat outside like at PinkStar but what I'm trying to elucidate here is the market situation itself.
Yeap, if you go to PWU canteen right now you'll see all the improvements from the air-conditioning facility though the other half is still renovated up to the ceiling, floors which are newly painted plus a step-into-the-next-class food with free soup(the "servedora" told me it's "kalabasa") plus still the same price of 40 pesos per diet and a 15-peso allowance for drinks but damn, the taste is just worst. I had my beef with a young corn earlier this morning which when I close my eyes while eating it would be hard for me to distinguish if it is corn or "ampalaya" which I am eating because it is really bitter in taste-the whole food is bitter. The worse thing is the rice- yeah that Filipino-favorite rice looks like a model rice displayed in those mall food court. I don't really have any idea how they cooked their rice. It's 15 percent short of being "lugaw". I actually called it a "molded lugaw" early this afternoon.
I miss the old canteen- that 2 "ulam" which you can ask for a "dagdag"(extra) in your plate, that sweet, Filipino style spaghetti, the Maki which gave me a background to Japanese food and most of all are those customer-friendly people of Dolky's that despite the fact that they have already been earning a lot from those patrons(students) they still not suppress or cheat us in food items and services.
Briefly Noted
Those "servedor" and "servedora" in the new canteen looks like the characters who played in flicks like "Land of the Dead" and "The Hills have Eyes". They really have no difference. Creepy isn't it?
3 years have passed by and that cafeteria I have known during my novice year have already experienced a lot of changes in their setting - a couple of food outlet closed, some beverages were not available like the student-favorite C2 tea, and lately a renovation of the school canteen plus the exit of some the famous outlets like the Dolky's and that noted neighbor of Dolky's which I forgot the name. All these were not visible anymore in the canteen except for one outlet who started out in the school as a provider of beverages like iced tea and bottled water with a small cafe expansion in the second floor of the Nakpil wing who turned into the sole provider of beverages in the whole school due to the NESTLe lock-out. Now, that same outlet who once has been selling straw and sandwiches in the campus is the only food outlet you will see inside the campus.
I mean they sell almost everything - from beverages to sandwiches to a NESTLE subsidiary of snack foods, ice cream, baby cologne and even sanitary napkins for ladies. The school canteen who is once enjoying a healthy competition among those entrepreneurs of Manila is now a school canteen suffering from an old market situation called MONOPOLY.
Yeah right, there is monopoly in my simple school and we are the monopsony. We are just one chunk of market who cannot do anything but just patronize what is inside. I can't even call it as simple monopoly because I have known that it involves a million-peso agreement between food giant Nestle and PWU administrators.
I just hate that my stomach is being controlled by only one food class whenever I come inside that canteen. Yes, you can tell me why not try to eat outside like at PinkStar but what I'm trying to elucidate here is the market situation itself.
Yeap, if you go to PWU canteen right now you'll see all the improvements from the air-conditioning facility though the other half is still renovated up to the ceiling, floors which are newly painted plus a step-into-the-next-class food with free soup(the "servedora" told me it's "kalabasa") plus still the same price of 40 pesos per diet and a 15-peso allowance for drinks but damn, the taste is just worst. I had my beef with a young corn earlier this morning which when I close my eyes while eating it would be hard for me to distinguish if it is corn or "ampalaya" which I am eating because it is really bitter in taste-the whole food is bitter. The worse thing is the rice- yeah that Filipino-favorite rice looks like a model rice displayed in those mall food court. I don't really have any idea how they cooked their rice. It's 15 percent short of being "lugaw". I actually called it a "molded lugaw" early this afternoon.
I miss the old canteen- that 2 "ulam" which you can ask for a "dagdag"(extra) in your plate, that sweet, Filipino style spaghetti, the Maki which gave me a background to Japanese food and most of all are those customer-friendly people of Dolky's that despite the fact that they have already been earning a lot from those patrons(students) they still not suppress or cheat us in food items and services.
Briefly Noted
Those "servedor" and "servedora" in the new canteen looks like the characters who played in flicks like "Land of the Dead" and "The Hills have Eyes". They really have no difference. Creepy isn't it?
Hanna's Music
It's been a rainy Saturday so far and a tropical storm is said to be in the country this time that could last for about 2-3 days. So if you have no plans of going out this rainy weekends, why not just try to enjoy being at home or in a nearby internet cafe and listen to these songs I will suggest that are very appropriate for this rainy season-and it works if you're sentimental too.
My PeRsOnAL TOP 10 SONGS to LISTEN during RAINY DAYS
10. HATE THAT I LOVE YOU - Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo
The guitars used are awesome plus Ne-Yo and Rihanna has great chemistry.
9. CRAZY LOVE - Kim Chiu
CATCHY is the word to describe its lyrics, tune and melody.
8. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD COME - Loni Rose
This is one of the songs used in the movie "American Pie". This is my serendipity song because I only discovered this song while I was searching for another song in LimeWire. Listen how she compared her love to things and how she search for it.
7. WHEN THE LAST TEARDROP FALLS - Blaque
The voice is perfect for the song plus its melody fits the lyrics.
6. ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY - Gilbert Sullivan
One of the best song of yesterday is really tender to the ears. Listen to the story of this song and be amazed by how he narrates the whole things to create this wonderfully done music.
5. HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY - Az Yet
This is a remake of CHICAGO's 1982 hit and Az Yet did not disappoint my ears for this is a very good rendition of the song. Listen to the acoustic piano from the beginning till end to enjoy its soft mood.
3. 1,2,3,4 -Feist
The song in the new iPod nano is becoming a major hit around the globe today because of its very catchy tune and the Spanish accent of the singer.
2. YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The lyrics is great plus the combination of different music genres of acoustic rock to slow rock to emotional or melodic rock is just perfect.
1. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN - Reba McEntire
Perfect for those alone during these rainy days. Perfect for break-up couples and just for those who wants to experience a nostalgic attack.
I have all these songs in my mp3 player and if you want to listen to any of the songs above, just download the song over LimeWire or www.loudfusion.com.
The guitars used are awesome plus Ne-Yo and Rihanna has great chemistry.
9. CRAZY LOVE - Kim Chiu
CATCHY is the word to describe its lyrics, tune and melody.
8. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD COME - Loni Rose
This is one of the songs used in the movie "American Pie". This is my serendipity song because I only discovered this song while I was searching for another song in LimeWire. Listen how she compared her love to things and how she search for it.
7. WHEN THE LAST TEARDROP FALLS - Blaque
The voice is perfect for the song plus its melody fits the lyrics.
6. ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY - Gilbert Sullivan
One of the best song of yesterday is really tender to the ears. Listen to the story of this song and be amazed by how he narrates the whole things to create this wonderfully done music.
5. HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY - Az Yet
This is a remake of CHICAGO's 1982 hit and Az Yet did not disappoint my ears for this is a very good rendition of the song. Listen to the acoustic piano from the beginning till end to enjoy its soft mood.
3. 1,2,3,4 -Feist
The song in the new iPod nano is becoming a major hit around the globe today because of its very catchy tune and the Spanish accent of the singer.
2. YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The lyrics is great plus the combination of different music genres of acoustic rock to slow rock to emotional or melodic rock is just perfect.
1. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN - Reba McEntire
Perfect for those alone during these rainy days. Perfect for break-up couples and just for those who wants to experience a nostalgic attack.
------00000------
I have all these songs in my mp3 player and if you want to listen to any of the songs above, just download the song over LimeWire or www.loudfusion.com.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Bitter Rivals
(of course the first letter is fake but the succeeding tells you how genius they are)ATENEO de Manila University Blue Eagles vs. De LA SALLE University Green Archers
(The Boys from Katipunan versus the boys from Taft Avenue)
ATENEO and La SALLE may be the fiercest rivals in UAAP history but this time, ATENEO scored over La SALLE in this funny picture during the Cheer dance Competition. (I've made it even funnier)
Friday, September 21, 2007
NBA LIVE '07 Tips
I've always been enjoying the NBA Live series since 2003 and I have been playing their Dynasty Mode for the last four years.
NBA LIVE '07 might be at its last 2 months for the arrival of NBA LIVE '08 this November but for sure the thrill in Dynasty Mode is not yet over for some people like me.
What thrills me most about any Dynasty Mode of the NBA LIVE series are trades in which you add depth and strength to your team as a whole by adding and losing some players.
For all those NBA LIVE DYNASTY MODE users who wants to get some quality trades, here are some tips:
DO THE MATH. What I mean by doing the math is for you to always consider the salary cap of every team. Your team and the other team's salary cap because trades might not work if there's an exceeding numbers on your cap or the the other teams' own cap.
NEVER FOR 1. You can never trade any player individually in an easy fashion. Try adding up some quality players on your own especially centers and point guards or rookie for you to be able to hook up your desired player.
------------
Here is an example of a blockbuster trade that surely works for the '07 series:
Select the BOSTON CELTICS as your team using the NLSC07 Uninjured Roster for your Dynasty Campaign. Trade Paul Pierce, K. Perkins and Gerald Green to the LOS ANGELES LAKERS for BRIAN COOK/ SASHA VUJAJIC, RONNY TURIAF and main man KOBE BRYANT. Hey, you got an all star do-it-all man in King KOBE plus a talented rising forward in TURIAF. Gerald Green may dunk all over your face but come on, it's KOBE BRYANT. consider the name.
Next thing is to trade Wally Szcerbiak, Delonte West, Michael Olowokandi to the HOUSTON ROCKETS for J LUCAS and YAO MING. Man, this is the biggest trade you'll ever make.
Your Team: Imagine Kobe Bryant and Yao MING on the same team. You have a deep post and drive-all-the-way center with good free throw shooting technique center plus a know-it-all scoring machine guard and what do you got for your team? It's called a 1-2 Punch Combination. It has Worked for so many times to win a championship like in the showtime lakers KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR- MAGIC JOHNSON tandem and SHAQ-KOBE championship run. Try doing it on your new formed team and win all games in a good run for your Dynasty Mode and rule the world. Good Luck!
NBA LIVE '07 might be at its last 2 months for the arrival of NBA LIVE '08 this November but for sure the thrill in Dynasty Mode is not yet over for some people like me.
What thrills me most about any Dynasty Mode of the NBA LIVE series are trades in which you add depth and strength to your team as a whole by adding and losing some players.
For all those NBA LIVE DYNASTY MODE users who wants to get some quality trades, here are some tips:
DO THE MATH. What I mean by doing the math is for you to always consider the salary cap of every team. Your team and the other team's salary cap because trades might not work if there's an exceeding numbers on your cap or the the other teams' own cap.
NEVER FOR 1. You can never trade any player individually in an easy fashion. Try adding up some quality players on your own especially centers and point guards or rookie for you to be able to hook up your desired player.
------------
Here is an example of a blockbuster trade that surely works for the '07 series:
Select the BOSTON CELTICS as your team using the NLSC07 Uninjured Roster for your Dynasty Campaign. Trade Paul Pierce, K. Perkins and Gerald Green to the LOS ANGELES LAKERS for BRIAN COOK/ SASHA VUJAJIC, RONNY TURIAF and main man KOBE BRYANT. Hey, you got an all star do-it-all man in King KOBE plus a talented rising forward in TURIAF. Gerald Green may dunk all over your face but come on, it's KOBE BRYANT. consider the name.
Next thing is to trade Wally Szcerbiak, Delonte West, Michael Olowokandi to the HOUSTON ROCKETS for J LUCAS and YAO MING. Man, this is the biggest trade you'll ever make.
Your Team: Imagine Kobe Bryant and Yao MING on the same team. You have a deep post and drive-all-the-way center with good free throw shooting technique center plus a know-it-all scoring machine guard and what do you got for your team? It's called a 1-2 Punch Combination. It has Worked for so many times to win a championship like in the showtime lakers KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR- MAGIC JOHNSON tandem and SHAQ-KOBE championship run. Try doing it on your new formed team and win all games in a good run for your Dynasty Mode and rule the world. Good Luck!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Geriatric Curiosity
Why do people have to grow old?
I mean even if this has nothing to do with dying but after I've watched videos on www.youtube.com of Michael Jordan, Paul McCartney and many other great people of their generation, I have asked myself why do they have to retire.
It would really be great seeing His Airness going 1 on 1 against the best basketball players today like Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady and watching The Beatles all together perform on stage with all the mop heads and seeing all the girls scream.
I wished I had those kind of moments. I know it would be great.
I mean even if this has nothing to do with dying but after I've watched videos on www.youtube.com of Michael Jordan, Paul McCartney and many other great people of their generation, I have asked myself why do they have to retire.
It would really be great seeing His Airness going 1 on 1 against the best basketball players today like Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady and watching The Beatles all together perform on stage with all the mop heads and seeing all the girls scream.
I wished I had those kind of moments. I know it would be great.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Lapses
In my previous post, I have mentioned the issue on Vanessa Ann Hudgens scandal about the leaked photos of the teen star showing herself naked. The teen sensation of High School Musical 2 quickly apologizes and called it as a "lapse in judgment".
For my post this time, another actor, this time on the local scene, uses the word "lapse" in his recent mistake after he mistakenly sung the Philippine National Anthem in a circus fashion-like a pirated audio compact disk which anyone of you can buy in Quiapo area. I am talking about "Asia's singing sensation" Christian Bautista (correct me if I am wrong with the salutation) in which he sung the national anthem of the country in a boxing match in Alabang and forgot two lines of the later ending of the song-two very important lines.
My Personal Comment: I just rate it on a scale of 9 over 10 in terms of stupidity. Yeah right, what he did was so stupid and really, he should never sing it again. Check your conscience man. The best way to sing that song is to sing it by its normal and natural tone, tempo and melody. There is no other way to sing it. Really KARMA works on you.
Here, in case you've missed it, here's a recap I got from www.youtube.com. ENjoy!
For my post this time, another actor, this time on the local scene, uses the word "lapse" in his recent mistake after he mistakenly sung the Philippine National Anthem in a circus fashion-like a pirated audio compact disk which anyone of you can buy in Quiapo area. I am talking about "Asia's singing sensation" Christian Bautista (correct me if I am wrong with the salutation) in which he sung the national anthem of the country in a boxing match in Alabang and forgot two lines of the later ending of the song-two very important lines.
My Personal Comment: I just rate it on a scale of 9 over 10 in terms of stupidity. Yeah right, what he did was so stupid and really, he should never sing it again. Check your conscience man. The best way to sing that song is to sing it by its normal and natural tone, tempo and melody. There is no other way to sing it. Really KARMA works on you.
Here, in case you've missed it, here's a recap I got from www.youtube.com. ENjoy!
note: Are we Filipinos having penchant for the word "lapse"? I've heard three people used that word-Arroyo, Hudgens and now Bautista. Why not just say that you've been stupid for about two minutes by the time you've done your action.
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Next Big Thing
About a week ago, this picture was leaked on the Internet and rumors says that it was High School Musical's star Vanessa Ann Hudgens. Earlier, http://www.tmz.com/ confirmed that yes, it was the angelic half-Filipina teen star who was in the picture and the teen star herself already apologized for what Disney said to be "a lapse in judgment"-making her a real PINAY (quite ARROYO-sque).
My Personal Opinion: Here is a simple FORMULA I made for teen stars and hollywood actresses like Vanessa in order for them to understand what could be the result of their actions and what could be done to prevent it. This is a new psychological behavior many researchers are trying to discover and I'm leaking out these simple notes.
Formula:
NUDE PICS or DDRUNK DRIVING + CAR ACCIDENTS or ADDITIONAL CONTRABAND
is equal to
Freaky Mean Loaded Hyperactivity Disorder
Above is a very simple pathophysiology of FMLHD. Adverse effects are being caught by the Police and charged Driving Under Influence (DUI) of Alcohol, partying all night with fellow "common people"(see Lohan, Hilton and Richie) and cancelling shows and appearing and being criticized publicly because of confusion and loss of energy. the worst effect would be death and suicide.
Britney Spears (after breaking-up with Justin Timberlaloo) - definitely the famous among them all.
Princess Diana - She is definitely the Monarchy's Biggest Headache. If Britney is the famous one, the People's Princess is the fairest of them all.
Paris Hilton (etiologic agent unidentified)-
Nicole Richie (genetic cause)-adopted daughter of Lionel Richie; one word "HELLO!"
Vanessa Ann Hudgens (incoming)- the Filipina is set to be the Next Big Thing in Hollywood's paparazzi world since Lindsay Lohan.
Amy Winehouse - blame the inner child. harhar
Anna Nicole Smith- may she Rest in Peace. Period.
The good thing about FMLHD is that it could still be treated by simply altering the formula for beginners and incoming patients like Vanessa Hudgens. Its etiologic agent is still unknown so better keep an eye on yourself for you to be able to track if you are developing or having that kind of behavior. Another treatment is enrolling yourself to some REHABS like what most of the people above have done. The worst case is the one on Anna Nicole Smith as it Resulted to death.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Review of Related Literature
Welcome to my newest blog.
They say that the colors Black, Red and White are the best colors for infants because it is good for their cognitive development. So take a look at my blog and I hope that you will have the right reasoning and thinking for everything that I will throw out here- uncensored.
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