Spin Your Life With Cisco

Working on my beauty blog lately, I spent a lot of time tweaking the template and transferring the site to my own domain. It consumed several hours of my precious time figuring out how to do it right which could have been no sweat if I had a background in IT.

I have no regrets finishing med school (uh.. don't I?) but sometimes I do wonder what could have happened if I took an IT course to make use of my tireless internet hours. I'd probably be earning big bucks, as it is an in-demand job these days. My cousin in the IT industry was sent abroad to train further, with his allowance bigger than what I make as a doctor. Imagine how much he'd be earning after the training. But nah, I don't have plans of going back to school anytime soon. It might put me on nosebleed learning the ropes of the technology at this point in my life.

However, if IT is your thing and you want soar in this field, Cisco certification may be the answer to your dreams. I have heard stories of how much this is valued for career advancements. From landing a lucrative job to getting promoted, a cisco credential was their passport to it. It puts you a cut above the rest. You can check out the their website for the modules and certifications they offer.Whether you are a newbie or an expert, they have programs to match your level.

At your own home and own pace, you can be recognized globally and earn a ticket to a 6 digit income. Sounds cool? Darn, I might have to eat my words. It isn't too late to learn, right?

Young Angie and Shiloh

Will Shiloh grow up to be as gorgeous as her mommy Angie? Highly likely. Little Shiloh has striking similarities with her mom. Maybe Vivienne Marchelline, too. We'll see when she grows up a little from being the cute bundle of joy that she is. Big sis Shiloh will be taking care of her and their baby boy, Knox Leonne.

Dressing Up Your Little Girl

I was browsing through old pictures and noticed my fashion style when I was little. My mom was always updated with the latest. Knee-high socks, denim all overs, big shades (which is making a comeback), tubes, etc. I was amused at how my mom dolled me up, which is probably how I developed a flair for fashion.

Seeing kids these days dressed like miniature adults can get annoying to the point of being whore-ific. Kids are supposed to be cute, not sexy. I don't get the point why they are made to wear heels when it puts them at risk of spraining their ankles. Heels should be for the adults who can sacrifice comfort for fashion and don't run around in them. Let kids be kids.

If I'm going to have my kids in the future, I want at least 1 girl that I could dress up and prettify. For sure, her closet will be full of pinks, from jammies to jackets, dresses, shoes, socks, to hats. Buying branded items like Gymboree will not be a problem as by that time, I have a feeling I'll be richer by then. :) I hope that won't be too far from now. But then browsing at the online shops for kids' clothes, they aren't as expensive as I thought. My makeups are far more pricey than a $3 Gymboree floral sundress.

I guess if you just know where to shop for affordable kids' clothes without compromising style and quality, your kid will still be in fashion. I can have my little girl flashing her signature grin in a $30 Ralph Lauren mesh polo dress which is cheaper than my Mac brush. If it's not available in one store I can always browse for another, with lower price and better deals, which is made easier by shopwiki.

Hmm.. sometimes I am tempted to click the buy button. Perhaps the kids will follow soon enough, eh?

Silver Linings 2008

After the success of Silver Linings in Shangrila Hotel in Manila last September 2005, I Can Serve is bringing it back, in Cebu this time.

Silver linings is a homecoming of cancer survivors organized by the breast cancer support group, I Can Serve. Simultaneous educational forums dealing on the updates on breast cancer, steps after medical treatment, support for loved ones and improving one's self esteem even through illness, will be conducted.

During the last Silver linings, the topic that got me excited was "look good, feel good," a makeup tutorial by Abbygale Arenas. Yes, I was just diagnosed with cancer that time but nothing stopped me from learning how to primp up despite my condition. I think it's important not to look the part when you're sick because that would be an added downer.

Of course, I learned valuable updates from medical doctors who talked about the latest developments of the disease. I was warned about soya and ginseng which are healthy foods but may have some estrogen mimicking effects that is not good for breast cancer.

The brave survivors delivered their testimonies and one of them was my kind surgeon, Doc Frankie (RIP). She invited me to the event and even tried looking for a sponsor to foot my airfare bills as a fellow doctor. Unfortunately, drug companies were apparently scrimping. But I went, anyway. My mom came with me for support.

Celebrities were all around the place, as resource persons or as loved ones who had to cope with having a family member struck with cancer. This year, it will be hosted by Pinky Marquez with forum moderators Karen Davila, Melissa de Leon, etc. Bituin Escalante will also be singing.

Cancer survivors are encouraged to attend, not exclusive to those with breast cancer. The event will be on September 6, 2008 at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu. The registration fee is very minimal, at P100.

For pre-registration and inquiries, contact: 6332.2439370 (Cebu) 632.6873942 (Manila) or write to silverlinings2008@gmail.com.

A Very Special Laugh

I finally got to watch John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo's flick, " A Very Special Love." The trailer seemed corny but I was glad to give it a chance as I had fun watching the movie.

Every few minute intervals, I couldn't help giggling from the scenes of the prudish Sarah scoring attention from her long time dreamboat, John Lloyd. The "kilig" factor is up, despite that John Lloyd is not with his box- office tested screen partner, Bea Alonzo.

Sarah is one of those pop stars who has great potential in the acting arena. She portrays the role of a giddy admirer of the publishing boss played by John Lloyd in a cute but non overacting way. Just the right blend to get the audience tickled. I can see her doing more light dramas and even comedy roles. She may not be the stereotypical picture of beauty but her charm will get her going places. Her supposedly "love-struck" hair-do didn't flatter her. Apart from that, Sarah brought the house down.

Image Source: sarahgeronimo.com
I have always regarded John Lloyd's acting as one of the best in his generation. From "Tabing-Ilog " days, I find his natural style very pleasant to watch. He has an effective way of pinching your heart til it cries along with him. I applaud how he sensitively essayed the role of a son aching for acceptance from his family. As a heartthrob and the grouchy boss who terrorizes his employees, he delivers.

Matet, although playing a support role is noteworthy. After all, she grew up acting from her supertot days. All the actors including Gio Alvarez, Joross Gamboa, Al Tantay, etc fit their roles to a tee. Director Cathy Garcia-Molina should be commended for the job well done.

Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, I, in behalf of the viewers who laughed their guts out and squirmed in "kilig" from their seats, am definitely not surprised why.

Christina Applegate Faces Breast Cancer

Another addition to the unfortunately growing list of breast cancer patients is star of "Married.. With Children" and "Samantha Who," Christina Applegate.

The 36 year old actress was found to have the disease during a routine MRI. She is currently under treatment and is expected to recover soon. She has been an advocate for cancer research, as her mother fought both breast and cervical cancer. Christina is one of the celebrities scheduled to appear in the TV fund raiser, "Stand Up To Cancer."

Just about a month ago, her boyfriend Lee Grivas was found dead in his apartment.

Here's wishing Christina the strength that she needs to surpass this difficult time of her life. May she get well soon.

Cancer, when will you stop bitching around?

Cookies For The Hungry Soul

Did I just hear your tummy grumble? Can't blame you. Seeing these gastronomic delights will push your stomach to a hungry mode. Even I can't help drooling as I write this. It's a feel good food perfect for those nursing a broken heart and replenishing drenched up spirits. Give your tongue a break from licking your wounds and give in to your cravings for these yummy gourmet cookies.

I've been very choosy with my food lately that I have to avoid disease-causing ingredients. I'm loading up on vegetables and shying away from animal products. Living in a health conscious era, even these treats heed the call to a healthier living. Choose the all natural cookies with healthy ingredients like organic whole wheat pastry flour and dairy, heart-beneficial oats and organic butter. Feed your body right.

If you're looking for gifts for your loved ones or wanna cheer up a friend, these should liven up their spirits in no time. Accentuate these with dainty ribbons and you're good to go.

If you're the boss everyone would love to have, think of ways to keep your people enamored. These delights would make excellent giveaways as corporate gifts cookies. Give your employees a pat in the back by rewarding them with unforgettably delicious premium grade goodies.

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Not me. But I definitely want to get my hands on the jar as long as they're healthy.

Olympic Gymnastics

With only 6 days to go before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, the sport I anticipate the most is gymnastics, especially the women's artistic division.

I grew up watching Bea Lucero in the Milo TV ad and followed her career til she won an olympic medal in another sport, Tae Kwon Do in the Barcelona olympics. It was a demo sport back then. She failed to join the Philippine olympic team as a gymnast due to politics but she will always be remembered as the girl who inspired other Filipino kids into gymnastics.

Gymnastics is much more than just somersaults, flexibility and grace. It provides one of the most breathtaking spectacles to sports viewers, in an olympic level at that. Will someone surpass the record achieved by Nadia Comeneci of Romania? We will be looking for perfect 10's in this year's delegates.

Strongest bets are from the USA, China, Italy, Romania, Brazil and Russia. Shawn Johnson, from the USA, won the women's all around individual title in Stuttgart, Germany for the World Championship last year.

Million Dollar Babies

Being born to famous parents translates to millions of moolah. Reuters report that the exclusive rights to the first photos of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's twins born last July 12, 2008 are sold to People and Hello magazines.

Knox Leonne and Vivienne Marchelline, the million dollar twins, their parents and 4 other siblings already had a photo session, according to Getty Images. The exact amount paid was not known but it was speculated to be around $11 million.

The twin cuties must be proud to know that in less than 1 month of age, they are already doing an act of goodwill, following the footsteps of their benevolent parents, just by flashing their toothless grins to the cameras. Oh yeah, they can't smile yet but the charitable institutions will. Their parents and Getty images agreed that the proceeds will go to charity. Fabulous babies!

Shopping With Humor

One of my favorite hobbies is shopping online. Bad for my credit card's health but there are too many stuff not available within my reach, hence I have to resort to long distance shopping from various countries.

I check out reviews of items on the net before buying them. Some will confuse you as one product may work for some, but may be a nightmare material to others. Looking for reviews may find you lurking in this unusual blog on the overlooked items on shopwiki. Who would've thought there was a "Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul?" After being ridiculed in front of worldwide audience, this should help rebuild the hopefuls' ripped up self esteem and bounce back from Simon Cowell's notorious remarks.

Do you splurge up on cocaine? No, not the abused substance that could pass for an underarm deodorant. It's an unusual brand name of an energy drink selling for $1.99 per can. Controversial? Hell, yeah. The Overlooked blog provides an insightful background to this product.

You will be loaded with information and humor on products that you never knew existed. Their regular "Hunk Friday" feature is worth checking out too. Take this alternative shopping route along the information superhighway and have a good laugh checking out the goods.

Rick Astley and Roderick Paulate

The 80's icon Rick Astley is in the Philippines for his concert "Here and Now" at the Araneta this Friday, August 1, 2008. For some reason, Roderick Paulate comes to my mind when I hear the name of Rick Astley.

Watching Rick on the news today momentarily flashes me back to Roderick singing "Never Gonna Give You Up" in promotion of his movies in the 80's like "Ako Si Kiko, Ako Si Kikay" and in his show with Carmi Martin, "Dick and Carmi." He was linked to Jackie Aquino back then. Darn, my age is showing. In fairness, Roderick can sing and his voice was often compared to Rick. It's just that being in the Philippines, I see Roderick more often than Rick that listening to Astley songs brings Roderick dancing his way to the picture.

By the way, don't believe the rumors that Bo Derek's surname is Paulate.

Propa-GANDAH!

Here are the promotional campaign materials for my beauty blog:

My fans

Being a Head Turner

Front Page

Mall-wide promo

Angelina Jolie is now my fan?

Lol.. You don't need to be famous or a master of the photoshop to land on billboards. Just check out Photofunia.com to fulfill your vanity wishes. Got this idea from fellow GT blogger Miemiemie.
Enjoy! :)

David Cook And Other Hollywood Biggies Support Cancer Cause

David Cook, Meryll Streep, Charlize Theron and sports hero Lance Armstrong are among those who pledged to help bust the big C in the upcoming TV fundraiser, called " Stand Up To Cancer".

The show will air commercial-free simultaneously on 3 US TV networks: ABC, CBS, NBC on primetime which is rare on television history.

Being a cancer patient myself, I am happy that influential people are taking part in important causes such as this.

Almost everyone today knows someone inflicted with cancer that it becomes a personal battle to hep find ways of stopping it. It is no longer limited to people with genetic predispositions. Anyone can be afflicted with it. It is not only a physically and emotionally distressing disease but financially draining, as well. So please, if you can find ways to help, please do.

Other celebrities expected to appear are Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek and Sally Field. Mark your calendars on September 5, 2008, 8 PM.

Making Your Web Presence Felt

I do have the habit of searching my name on the net, just for the heck of it. Since my surname is uncommon, I am easily lead to sites that have something to do with me and not people with similar names.

While fellow doctors are cited on webs for their exemplary researches and other works, searching for my name leads me to sites that showcase my flair for the brushes as a makeup artist. My medical persona does appear on pages when I passed the physicians’ board exams and my accreditation with philhealth. Other than those, it’s mostly about makeup. But I don’t mind at all coz it's just my passion making its presence felt. That's the other side of me.

If you’re a professional wanting to promote your services, the internet is a good vehicle. Creating a personal web page is the most convenient way for your clients to check on your goods and reputation. That’s how I let them view my portfolio for makeup works.

Start by building your professional online profile thru look up page so you won’t be confused with other people. They would know that you’re the right guy for the job and not some porn star bearing the same name. That’s part of your online reputation management. If someone does a name search on you, it will appear on top position in google and you can also track who your potential clients are.

Double The Dose

Lately, I noticed celebrities have been giving birth to twins. This holds true not only in Hollywood but also locally, here in the Philippines.

Here are some Hollywood couples with twin blessings:

• Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
• Rebecca Romjin and Jerry O'Conell (still expecting come winter)
  
• Julia Roberts and husband Danny Moder
• Marcia Cross and husband Tom Mahoney
• Patrick Dempsey and wife Jillian

On Philippine Shores, we have:

• Charlene Gonzales and Aga Muhlach
• Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi
• Broadcaster Vicky Morales and husband King Reyno
  

The offsprings of these Filipino celebrities have been making waves in TV commercials because of their natural charms and good looks inherited from their parents.

What's with these celebrities causing this twin boom trend? Fans are wanting to follow suit and have twins for themselves, to the point of considering fertility pills. Well, having twins does sound cute but multifetal pregnancy poses more risks to the mother and the babies.

When I was doing ultrasound during my residency training, I dreaded scanning a twin pregnancy because it was more tricky to trace. But it was exciting to break the news to the mother. The mom would either welcome it gleefully or paint a worried look on her face calculating the double costs later in these kids' life. It's probably why twins are lately given to celebrity couples, because they can afford raising these double bundles of joy with their million dollar incomes, don't you think?

Missing Boy Found Begging

Last week, a blog was circulated regarding a 3 year old boy named Matthew "Chu-chu" David Samudio abducted in Festival mall in Alabang. His aunt asked for the help of fellow bloggers to help find her nephew. It got around fast that the media picked up the story. The surveillance camera showed the boy being escorted by an impoverished looking teenage girl out of the mall.

Last Friday, the kid who was an only son was reported found around Sta. Rosa Commercial Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna begging with the girl. The boy who lived a comfortable life was turned into a beggar! He is a sickly kid due for surgery next month for hydrocoele. He was wearing a new set of clean clothes. The girl speeded out upon seeing the security guards who saw them.

There was no ransom asked but people are speculating that it was a syndicate responsible for the abduction. The family of the boy is thankful for their miracle. They have learned a valuable lesson and tells other families to take care of their precious kids. In this day and age, you can't trust public places to be safe.

Thanks to the power of the internet and bloggers who moved heaven and earth to find the boy.

Event Displays

Working on weddings as a make up artist, I can't help but be amazed at how they pull of a grand design for the reception place. My regular events organizer, Jane, is good in that. Even my friend in Manila, Dylan, who organizes weddings and other occasions have a flair for tasteful arrangement of venues.

It's amazing that even with a limited budget, talented people can manage to make an event look prestigious. For those in the US, there's this company in Texas, that can help you with your needs on your special day. They have cute table covers for different occasions. Their trash can cover caught my fancy. I find it amazing to have a utility often ignored like a trash can, dressed up looking so elegant.

If you're a wedding supplier planning on trade show exhibits to showcase different services offered, or if you're looking for fashionable ways for a table top display of your merchandise, check out the designs on their site. You can put your portfolios for potential clients to see.

From banner designs, to flooring and lights for your event, they got you covered. You need not go looking some place else. I wish they had something like that back here in CDO.

My Secretive Phone

My phone is giving me the cold treatment. The N76 lucky phone which I won in last year's nokia passions promo suddenly stopped alerting me for messages. The next thing I knew, my inbox was flooded with messages which I failed to check earlier, including an invitation to a photoshoot.

I guess it had to do with being exposed to the ice cold water I brought in my bag. The phone accidentally laid near it. It probably got a frost bite or something. I tried to make it work by checking on the profile settings, volume, etc. Nada. Calls still make sound but it doesn't alert me for messages received. Other than that, it's still fully functional. I just have to keep checking it every now and then for important sms. I have to trust my gut feelings to sense a message worth checking.

I hope I could get it working again. It's a very special phone to me. Sentimental values and all, despite that it's a little heavy and the camera isn't that fab. For some reason, I loved the pictures produced by my Nokia 6600 before, even if it had a lower resolution than the 2 megapixels in nokia N76.

Looking at the positive side, I used to complain about text messages sent by morning people. It woked me up before my usual waking hours. Now I don't have to deal with that. I just hope I don't miss out on work opportunities texted to me.

Doc Frankie

Today is the 2nd death anniversary of my favorite doctor, Dr. Frances Dizon. We lost her to breast cancer. With new lumps surfacing on my affected breast, these are the times I wish she was still alive. She was the most compassionate and understanding doctor I knew, not to mention intelligent and beautiful. Probably too good for this world. Unlike other doctors who scold and alienate their patients for not doing as told, Doc Frankie respects the decisions you make but patiently waits for you to come to your senses.

Today I included Doc Frankie in prayers during the mass I attended. When the light strangely lit up the other night, I don't know why Doc Frankie came into my mind. I searched my previous entry of her and realized it was almost her 2nd death anniversary. What I did not mention in my blog about the mysterious light switching was that I palpated another lump in my left breast minutes before the strange occurrence. An unwelcome reprise to the saga I thought was long over.

Strange Night

I slept late last night like I usually do. Past 2 am, I went to the living room to switch off the internet connection after surfing the net thru wifi in my room. Normally, I leave it open when I doze off to sleep. I don’t know what entered my mind to suddenly be conscious of energy conservation. On my way, I turned on the light in the kitchen. Switching off the internet modem, I prepped myself to sleep and turned off the kitchen light on my way back. Just after stepping inside my room, I heard a click and the kitchen lit up again! I thought it was either my mom or dad who woke up to get something in the kitchen. I turned around, took a peek and noticed there wasn’t anyone around. Instead of heading to the CR, I rushed towards my husband sleeping.

I told him my story and being the ever loving hubby, he escorted his terrified wife to the CR. I kept convincing myself that it must have been a lizard which crawled over the switch but then it has to be very precise not to tap the other light switches proximal to it. And the click was too loud.

If it were some strange creature, it was probably warning me to sleep earlier. My alternative medicine doctor has been constantly urging me to sleep during 9 to 2 AM because those are the hours when the body repairs its cells. I’ve been trying to, only to keep tossing in bed unable to sleep. My creative juices pour in usually in the wee hours of the morning, hence I take this time to write and plan my next move. Back when I was still a medical student, I chose these hours to study because my brain tends to be more receptive to voluminous information at these times.

With my diagnosis of cancer, I am compelled to employ a healthier lifestyle but some habits are harder to break. It takes a strange circumstance to prompt me to sleep earlier. That should do make me sleep earlier tonight. Don’t want to mess up with lights that have a mind of its own. On second thought, it probably irked the mysterious creature that his internet connection was suddenly cut off. He must have been in a middle of a chat when I turned it off. Geez.. I'm creeping myself out.