British Petroleum,, BP as is now popularly known, may soon become Bankrupt Petroleum.
Now that the top kill method used by BP to stem the gush of oil in the Gulf of Mexico has proven to be a failure, the Petroleum giant is running out of options and pretty soon might be running out of resources too. Already, the Obama administration has expressed support to lift the liability cap for the disaster which is currently pegged at US$75 Million. The media is also abuzz with news of Congress possibly enacting a bill which would have a retroactive effect to get BP to pick up the tab for the expenses caused by the oilspill beyond the current cap.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Review: Pond's 'Apple' Commercial
I am not a big fan of watching TV, in days I do watch TV I'm usually more excited with the commercials. It could be my attention deficit or instant gratification but I enjoy commercials more.
Back in college I took an advertising course and was since hooked. Of all types of commercials the most I hate are celebrity endorsements -- they often lack any creativity and just banks on the fame (or infamy eventually) of the celebrity endorser. Filipinos love celebrities, it is not surprising, therefore; that A LOT of the commercials running on our local TV stations are celebrity endorsements.
Back in college I took an advertising course and was since hooked. Of all types of commercials the most I hate are celebrity endorsements -- they often lack any creativity and just banks on the fame (or infamy eventually) of the celebrity endorser. Filipinos love celebrities, it is not surprising, therefore; that A LOT of the commercials running on our local TV stations are celebrity endorsements.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sagada: Defying my Limits
Nike said 'Let's do it' and Adidas said that 'Nothing is Impossible'.
I have never been, maybe never will be, athletic and sporty. I love eating healthy and has an extremely low sugar tolerance so I am not really at risk - Black Swans aside - of obesity or any health related disease. Running has been my only sport lately with my fitness regimen chronicled by nike plus. So when I got the itinerary for an action packed weekend in Sagada, I knew I would be so tired.
Indeed, I wasn't wrong, not only did I get so tired but I was also able to do things which I thought I would never be able to do.
I have never been, maybe never will be, athletic and sporty. I love eating healthy and has an extremely low sugar tolerance so I am not really at risk - Black Swans aside - of obesity or any health related disease. Running has been my only sport lately with my fitness regimen chronicled by nike plus. So when I got the itinerary for an action packed weekend in Sagada, I knew I would be so tired.
Indeed, I wasn't wrong, not only did I get so tired but I was also able to do things which I thought I would never be able to do.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Review: Barre3 at The Spa is Barred from my List
Ballet + Yoga + Pilates = the ultimate workout experience. I have such high expectations for this workout so when I had a blah experience t I was doubly disappointed.
After seeing the huge tarpaulin of the free trial on Barre3 offered by The Spa I made a mental note to try it out. When I called the number posted on their website the lady who answered the phone couldn’t really give me a responsive answer, she then told me that I should talk instead to the information desk at Barre3 studio and she gave me a number. I asked if it would be possible for her to just transfer me to the Barre3 studio but she said it’s not possible. So I had to dial again and call the number she gave. While I know it is not such a tedious task to call again another number but individuals who are in sales and/or marketing know that the key is not to let the customer wait on the phone i.e. if you can, do use a trunk line and make it possible to transfer a call within your building, surely that can’t be expensive and well worth the investment . Nevertheless, I called again and the receptionist got my name, contact number and confirmed my appointment. Before putting down the phone I asked her if I need to bring anything like yoga mat etc. she said ‘no’, however; she said they require students who will attend to use ‘sticky socks’. I was like what are sticky socks…and she can’t even give me a straight answer nor a suggestion of where I can get it. So anyway, I had to google again and use my powers of deduction to conclude that sticky socks meant those non-slip socks. Now the next task: where to find it?
Product Review: Human Nature Cleanser & Makeup Remover
I am a self-confessed makeup junkie. It probably started when I was three years old and discovered the power of lipstick in a little pink candy called lips. Twenty one years later, I still totally love makeup albeit with more sophistication now that a 1 peso candy laced with pink food color.
Everyone who pretty much loves makeup is always in search of the Holy Grail – the ultimate makeup remover. It doesn’t matter if you’re makeup is super-expensive, super hypoallergenic or super pure, at the end of the day – this is the first commandment of makeup junkies – you still have to remove it!
The best makeup remover I have found in the market so far is Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil. It’s the perfect makeup remover it removes even the most stubborn specie of the whole MAC kingdom: the waterproof mascara. One problem though is that it is a bit too expensive. At 3500 per 450 ml I usually just use it when I had to pile on several layers – from primer, to base to finishing powder – of makeup. Sometimes, I don’t use it when all I’ve used for the day is just some loose powder and bronzer it just doesn’t seem practical. I, however; feel guilty sometimes that I might have been unable to remove all traces of color pigment. So I tried other makeup removers – but it just doesn’t seem to come close to Shu’s cleansing power. So I am back to the traditional facial foam and toner. I want to be less dramatic and not say it like this but what the hell…Until last night.
Last night, after dining at healthy kitchen we went to this Echo Store in Serendra. The store sells environmental friendly toiletries which are locally made and most importantly CHEAP! Cheap, of course, usually equate to not good but since the labels clearly indicate the ingredients I figure well it’s worth trying. Since we already have pretty much what we need – shampoo, soap, massage oils, lotion, moisturizers etc. – we just bought some stuff which may be readily used (like that same night!). So final purchase for the night: cleanser/makeup remover and a non-toxic powdered insecticide called Exterminator. Since I cannot empathize with the ants, I will only do a review of the cleanser/makeup remover.
The cleanser/makeup remover is made from honey, and at 100 pesos it couldn’t be bad. After using it, it is not so bad at all. In fact, it’s super good! I didn’t have mascara at that time but I had on some cheek tint which pretty much stuck to my skin after sweating it out at Barre3. After emulsifying the cleanser, it cleaned out all traces of makeup and foundation on. The ultimate test that I had to subject it to that night was to use it as a cold cream too i.e. whether in using it with cotton I can still get some dirt or makeup residue. I didn’t get any! The best thing too is that not only do you get a clean face, but the cleanser left my skin nicely dewy and supple – bye bye to those moisture stripping facial cleanser that leaves you feeling like you just had botox.
Verdict: it’s not a replacement for Shu but it definitely works to replace your regular facial foam and perfect for light makeup days. I love it!
Another bonus thing too is that they don't wrap your purchases in a plastic bag, rather they put it in this recycled glossy magazines that was made into 'bags'. Of course, they could have instead asked us if we want our purchase our purchases wrapped to begin with.
Echo Store is located at G/F Serendra, across Market Market
Everyone who pretty much loves makeup is always in search of the Holy Grail – the ultimate makeup remover. It doesn’t matter if you’re makeup is super-expensive, super hypoallergenic or super pure, at the end of the day – this is the first commandment of makeup junkies – you still have to remove it!
The best makeup remover I have found in the market so far is Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil. It’s the perfect makeup remover it removes even the most stubborn specie of the whole MAC kingdom: the waterproof mascara. One problem though is that it is a bit too expensive. At 3500 per 450 ml I usually just use it when I had to pile on several layers – from primer, to base to finishing powder – of makeup. Sometimes, I don’t use it when all I’ve used for the day is just some loose powder and bronzer it just doesn’t seem practical. I, however; feel guilty sometimes that I might have been unable to remove all traces of color pigment. So I tried other makeup removers – but it just doesn’t seem to come close to Shu’s cleansing power. So I am back to the traditional facial foam and toner. I want to be less dramatic and not say it like this but what the hell…Until last night.
The cleanser/makeup remover is made from honey, and at 100 pesos it couldn’t be bad. After using it, it is not so bad at all. In fact, it’s super good! I didn’t have mascara at that time but I had on some cheek tint which pretty much stuck to my skin after sweating it out at Barre3. After emulsifying the cleanser, it cleaned out all traces of makeup and foundation on. The ultimate test that I had to subject it to that night was to use it as a cold cream too i.e. whether in using it with cotton I can still get some dirt or makeup residue. I didn’t get any! The best thing too is that not only do you get a clean face, but the cleanser left my skin nicely dewy and supple – bye bye to those moisture stripping facial cleanser that leaves you feeling like you just had botox.
Verdict: it’s not a replacement for Shu but it definitely works to replace your regular facial foam and perfect for light makeup days. I love it!
Another bonus thing too is that they don't wrap your purchases in a plastic bag, rather they put it in this recycled glossy magazines that was made into 'bags'. Of course, they could have instead asked us if we want our purchase our purchases wrapped to begin with. Echo Store is located at G/F Serendra, across Market Market
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
It's Time, It's Time
The end of season sales, the coats now dominating the stores windows, the back to school sales, they all herald one thing: summer is (almost) over and the rainy season is about to begin.
It's time to bring those coats out from the back of the closet, dust of my plueys and start humming 'I'm singing in the rain'. Oh how I wish facing the challenge of the rainy season is that easy! Not on this side of the (third) world. Aside from the erratic weather, there is one thing that we people of the Philippines need to worry about: floods, traffic (a much worse one!), typhoons, dengue outbreak, clogged drainage, and floating trash.
It's time to bring those coats out from the back of the closet, dust of my plueys and start humming 'I'm singing in the rain'. Oh how I wish facing the challenge of the rainy season is that easy! Not on this side of the (third) world. Aside from the erratic weather, there is one thing that we people of the Philippines need to worry about: floods, traffic (a much worse one!), typhoons, dengue outbreak, clogged drainage, and floating trash.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Cerebrating
"...things like these are matters which should come naturally, and the fact that you have to think about it makes it pathetic, makes YOU pathetic."
September, 2009 at past 1:00am post bar-operations duty on the way back to Quezon City while traversing the deserted roads of Manila, a commitment phobic friend blurted this out.
Fast forward to May 2010, after much debating rationalizing and negotiating, right in the middle of the scenic beaches of Zambales the same friend is now in a relationship. Still fast forward to several hours after, facebook status updated: In a relationship.
I was the 11th person to comment, FINALLY!
When a cerebral commitment friend finally commits - in his own definition of commit at least - it is a moment worth cerebrating!
September, 2009 at past 1:00am post bar-operations duty on the way back to Quezon City while traversing the deserted roads of Manila, a commitment phobic friend blurted this out.
Fast forward to May 2010, after much debating rationalizing and negotiating, right in the middle of the scenic beaches of Zambales the same friend is now in a relationship. Still fast forward to several hours after, facebook status updated: In a relationship.
I was the 11th person to comment, FINALLY!
When a cerebral commitment friend finally commits - in his own definition of commit at least - it is a moment worth cerebrating!
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