Pathetic interior designer

Thank God, my load today is lighter than most days. Unfortunately, I’m blogging with a heavy heart.

I hardly encounter rude people on the net but this morning, I just stumbled on one. She’s an interior designer in Hollywood by the name of Tobi Tobin. From the looks of it, she chanced upon my Payperbiz blog yesterday and didn’t like my post on Randolph Duke, a Hollywood fashion designer whose beautiful creations are much appreciated by world-renowned entertainment figures like Angelina Jolie, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, and the like. Moving on, I wrote about Duke’s New York abode which was recently featured in a TV show about interior design.

In my post, I mentioned Duke collaborated with Tobin in designing his tropical-inspired beach house. After writing, I googled some pics of Duke’s home to accompany my write up.

Alas! Upon checking Payperbiz this morning, I received a threat from Tobin. She wrote:

“To whom it may concern,
Please take down this Randolph Duke editorial on your website….You do not have my permission to use these photographs from my website. I will pursue with legal if it is not down today. 1/ 7/09. One of the phtoographs you have used for your website was not designed by Randolph Duke it was designed by Tobi Tobin Design.”

Did she sound insecure or what? Had she only read my entire post, she’ll realize I never wrote that those pictures were designed by Duke. I also did not give all the credit to Duke for her to sound so mad. Besides, I don’t think I’m guilty of copyright infringement because those photos I used didn’t even have her signature on them to begin with; I just found them on the Google page. I wasn’t even aware her site existed.

I removed the pictures anyway along with her name. I don’t know this designer to begin with. It’s only Duke who’s popularity I can’t ignore since he’s been in Hollywood for decades and he never fails to create to die for gowns.

Still blogging, peeps!

SEE what working in a US-operated company has done to me? I can’t imagine I’m calling you guys “peeps”. Here I am taking a short break to express how much I miss blogging for fun since I’ve been trained to take blogging as a serious task, a very serious one.

I learned it’s not a simple diary online, especially when writing purportedly promotes the products, company and services of a set of clients. Gone are the days when I would look at the keyboard as a joystick and pound on it relentlessly until I’ve released all the words that depict the feeling or mood I have at a given moment.

All these months, I’ve been a constant visitor of different blogs that I’ve developed an addiction to each blog. I like digesting each word on a blogger’s post, and how I delight at the vivid photos incorporated into it.

As I start my other blog to talk freely about cars, interior design, art galleries, even escort service among others, I hold the line “blogging is a powerful sword” from brainteaser’s review of the first-ever Wordcamp Philippines, in high regard.

Apart from giving birth to a new form of journalism, blogging has also turned out to be a perfect tool for advertising. It can boost or bring down the reputation and business of others.

Music Progression

FRIENDS, I may not be writing about entertainment and music anymore but my heart will always have a big room exclusively occupied by my favorite musicians. Aside from my favorite foreign artists Kenny Lattimore, Lenny Kravitz, The Beachoys, The Beatles, Bon Jovi, The Cure, David Foster, Green Day, Toto, Lee Ritenour, Warren Wiebe, Aerosmith, Babyface, Maroon5, and Vertical Horizon among others, I will never forget the Filipino bands who stole my heart and whose music continues to linger in my system to this day.

There is just too many Filipino bands then and now that I like and love. To mention a few there’s Parokya ni Edgar, Alamid, Afterimage, Bamboo, Eraserheads, Fuseboxx, The Pin-Up Girls, Zavanna, Urbandub, and Put3ska.

Notice that they are a mixture of different genres because that’s the kind of listener I am. I don’t want to be stuck in one music category only and live the rest outside my door. I want to experience all types of music that this universe willingly offers.

I grew up listening to jazz-y ditties courtesy of my father’s records, cassette tapes and later CDs that fall under this genre. It will have to take another lifetime for me to forget George Benson, Gino Vanelli, Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, and Lou Pardini. As I got older, I gradually got intimate glam rock, alternative and progressive rock. As a matter of fact, I was introduced to the latter not so long ago and fell instantly for it. If I’m not mistaken, the first ever progressive rock number I heard was from Pink Floyd.

I see how much respect Progressive Rock artists give their listeners. When they get onto that stage, it’s no longer just about the lyrics of their song or their vocal prowess. They create music that is worth every minute of your listening time. I especially like those bands that give a moment to each instrument in their band and person handling it. Music, after all, should be free to talk. I guess, sometimes musicians and record labels should put aside the business aspect so that music can just flow out sincerely and be enjoyed to the fullest.

If you’re up for a night of Progressive Rock, check out “In Progression 3: Odd Times” slated on Sept. 26 at 9mile Bar in Kalayaan, Cubao. For more details check below.

In Progression 3: ODD TIMES
When : Sept. 26, 2008
Where: 9mile bar (Kalayaan, Cubao)
Ticket: P100.00 w/ free beer

Gate opens 9pm
Band Performers:
Drastic Measure
Fuseboxx
Cinderblock
Nimbus Crowd
Kitchen Sync (From Baguio)
Thought Prison (They were in In Prog2)

Please spread the word! The poster will be posted here as soon as it is done. for now let’s all do text brigades and email, thread, ym etc. advertisements.
Let’s support this event in preparation for a bigger and more exciting event by the end of the year!
Thanks!

-Pinoy Prog Community-

Playground

LIKE a child who’s set foot on a playground for the first time is how I describe myself at the moment. I’m experiencing a lot of new things and I love the fact that I’m learning something of importance every single day.

All the more do I understand my daughter now because we’re both on the same page. While she’s working on her ABC’s and nursery rhymes, I’m basking in a new work atmosphere. It always feels good to be around people with healthy minds and by that I mean open to new ideas and improvement.

Writing should be fun and fulfilling. Although it also falls under the category of profession, I still perceive it as an exciting activity more than a chore. Love, death, anguish, angst, sun, rain, flowers, trees, cartoons, movies, music, people, gods, gadgets, are just among the many things that trigger one to slump on his computer chair and pound on his keyboard until he finally gets his feelings and thoughts accurately out on that piece of while sheet on the computer monitor through rich text.

In my case, all it takes is contentment and a happy disposition for me to write monumental articles at work. Good thing that I have both now.

The Jungle

TRUST is something I value and don’t easily give. Most of my friends I’ve known since my childhood and even though we don’t meet often these days, an occasional text or call rekindles the friendship.

Landing on my first job exposed me to different kinds of personalities. So this is the jungle my mother has been talking about when I was still in school. Back then, she would constantly tell me to study hard and hone my skills in preparation for my journey to the jungle.

Upon reaching the jungle, I encountered two-faced individuals and they are not easy to handle or deal with. In your presence, they act and talk as though they are sincere, nice and professional but act differently when you’re away. It’s also in the jungle that I got into fights because two-faced creatures would always try to devour the unsuspecting me. I learned to care extra care of myself, to keep two-faced creatures at bay.

When I had Sonnet, I transferred to another company. I expected it to be another form of a jungle with beasts disguised as humans lurking and preparing to pounce at me at any given chance. But I was wrong. This company has more angels. Although not everybody is nice and I could still sense the agenda of omnipresent two-faced creatures, I’m lucky I get to work directly with likable people who are not only intelligent and funny but trustworthy, as well.

Aside from being excellent team players in the office, three of my office mates also happen to be rare gems in a treasure trove. I’ll forever be grateful to the friendship they shared with me, for respecting my views on life, for the intellectual conversations, and most of all for turning this jungle into a paradise.

Avi, Jane and Len, I’m dedicating this post to you. As I leave PIMS for reasons I only shared with you, let me thank you for being my kid sisters, for the love, concern and most especially for dreaming big with me:) I love you and I will surely miss you.

Image I love

I’ve been tagged by brainteaser and gmacomics.

I’m not a photographer but I’m a fan of photography and I admire people who can capture the realness of an event, a facial expression, an occasion with just a click of their cameras. This tag is a celebration of photography and poetry’s marriage and I’m glad I’m part of the gathering.

Here’s the rule:

1. Write a poem or an inspiring line based on a photo of your choice. This photo can be your own, or someone else’s. (If the picture is not yours, please ask permission from the owner when you post it, or better yet, provide only the link to the picture that inspired you, without posting it.)

2. Your poem or inspiring line may be of any length, and any genre. It can be humorous, sentimental, heart-warming, whatever. You may write in Ilokano, English or Filipino.

3. Post your inspiring line in your blog and in the comment section of this page (or just a link to your post so we could go and check it there). For poetry submissions, please indicate if you wish your piece to be posted in Bilingual Pen as an article submission.

4. The goal of this game is to get us to write, and express our thoughts and emotions.

High with Sonnet

It’s a line of truth or lie

A notion of the youth

Who think they speak of love, of life

Yet live the moment with rules

Season, theme, space and time

All these seem relevant

In a fast-paced reality

Even on times that I write lit

Then the sky whispers

An angel is coming

As told in many a song

She’s heaven’s precious gift

In an instant the moment changed

And so did the word and the world

Who’s Shakespeare to call Sonnet a poem?

I wonder who coined it from a song

Sonnet is my cotton candy

My solemn hymn in the night

Prayer answered by my beloved God

My life, my heart, all that I am

I’m now tagging Pelicarol, Lambing, Lenski, Potsquared, Kengkay, Vhincent, and Raft3r.

Manufacturing robots

WHAT do you think of a microchip being inserted into your body? Last Saturday I was tuned in to GMA 7’s “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” and got to watch the program’s segment on microchips.

At first I couldn’t believe that microchips are actually being implanted in animals and people these days. But as soon as I saw how a veterinarian injected a microchip in a woman’s poodle, I realized this is really happening. According to people who do this, having a microchip in your pet avoids the possibility of losing it to the hands of dog slayers and eaters. The owner of the dog added that with a microchip in her dog, she could now easily monitor its health.

A young woman, on the other hand, says she puts a microchip under the sole of her rubber shoes which connects to her iPod. According to her, this helps her record the gradual increase of her speed and monitors how much she has improved since her last run.

Learning from the show, however, that implantation of microchips is being conducted even on human beings enveloped me in fear. Fear of science and technology. According to a health expert, a microchip implant in animals and people can be hazardous and cause malignancy. I don’t know if this is true but I’d rather take his advice than be turned into a guinea pig.

I’m neither a fan of technology nor am I a hater of it. What I only know is that I cherish and treasure my being. I just hope this microchip implantation won’t be ruled as compulsory in the country or in other parts of the world. If that happens, I’d rather go for euphenesia.

The Color of My Love

IN April of this year, I wrote about the departed American singer Warren Wiebe after having found out he sung Sadao Watanabe’s song, “Old Photograph”. I titled that blog entry “The Man Behind the Old Photograph” and felt it was a personal achievement to have finally unveiled the owner of the exemplary voice behind that beautiful song.

Four months later, I was having dinner at home when a song my father played in his computer made me halt. It’s a song I’ve loved since the 90s but its title I never came around to know. I asked my papa the name of the artist singing and he said it’s Warren Wiebe. Then I asked him the title of the song and he responded, “Paint the Color of My Love.” Papa said Warren had actually worked with David Foster and other famous personalities in America’s mainstream music. Sadly, he was never given the recognition that’s due him.

I told papa “Paint the Color of My Love” was originally sung by a woman and if I’m not mistaken it was Tamia. After an in-depth research on the said song, I realized Tamia was never in the picture. It was Warren Wiebe who first did “Paint the Color of My Love” then David Foster asked Celine Dion to perform the song also but by this time, they had shorten the song’s title to “The Colour of My Love”.

“Paint the Colour of My Love” is a song about the infinity of love and the lyrics make it a perfect wedding song. Had I known the title of this song way back, it could’ve been my wedding song.

Below are Celine and Warren’s versions of the song, respectively.

Paint the Colour of My Love

I’ll paint my mood in shades of blue
Paint my soul to be with you
I’ll sketch your lips in shaded tones
Draw your mouth to my own

I’ll draw your arms around my waist
Then all doubt I shall erase
I’ll paint the rain that softly lands on your wind-blown hair

I’ll trace a hand to wipe out your tears
A look to calm your fears
A silhouette of dark and light
While we hold each other oh so tight

I’ll paint a sun to warm your heart
Swearing that we’ll never part
That’s the colour of my love

I’ll paint the truth Show how I feel
Try to make you completely real
I’ll use a brush so light and fine
To draw you close and make you mine

I’ll paint a sun to warm your heart
Swearing that we’ll never ever part
That’s the colour of my love
I’ll draw the years all passing by
So much to learn so much to try

And with this ring our lives will start
Swearing that we’ll never part
I offer what you cannot buy
Devoted love until we die

Turn RH to Law

My visit to Hoshi’s blog earlier led me to this and I felt it’s necessary I pass it on to you.

The struggle for the passage of the Reproductive Bill (RH) in Congress rages on. The Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) through our org, the Democratic Socialist Women of the Phils. (DSWP) initiated an online petition that we request you to support by attaching your signature. Please go to http://www.PetitionOnline.com/rhan2008/petition.html to do this.

We hope to gather ONE MILLION SIGNATURES to show our legislators that there is a wide support base for the bill’s passage despite what the opposition says. We will present the signatures both to the House of Representatives (HOR) and Senate within September as we are waiting for the schedule of plenary deliberations in the HOR and the release of the Senate Committee on Health’s report.

Please support the petition. It will not take more than 5 minutes of your time. More than 10 women die daily due to pregnancy and childbirth-related causes. The big bulk of those who die are poor women at the prime of their lives. This is simply unacceptable and must be stopped. Congress has the power to do this.

Let’s spread the word and save lives.

Who’s vain?

Pelicarol tagged me to write something about makeup essentials. Since this sweet couple have always been game in doing tags, it would be silly of me not to do this. I just don’t know where to start because I know absolutely nothing about makeup. I used to write makeover articles some nine years ago when I was still working for a mainstream newspaper. But that was not by choice. I had an editor to obey, you see.

Among my many tasks at the time was to take a plain-Jane to Paradigm Salon’s hair and makeup expert Obet Federizo (I’m not sure if he’s still affiliated with Paradigm since I’ve not seen him for a decade) every week. I remember Obet never failed to turn simple faces into head turners. Every week, I would interview him while he did the makeup of a model. I’d ask information about each makeup item he applies on her but after every session, I forget everything he told me.

I know that what your heart refuses your mind can never absorb. I just can’t stand makeup. It feels sticky and itchy. As a matter of fact I’ve only been made up seven times in my 31 years. I felt the makeup brush on my skin for the first time in high school just a few hours before prom night. The next occasion that required me to wear makeup was a performance at the Malacañanang Palace with the rest of our college choir. The third, fourth and fifth times were for three weddings where I was a bridesmaid. Ahh, the sixth time I was made up was for my best friend’s wedding where I stood as her maid of honor. Then the seventh time I was made up was for my own wedding and this is the only time I smiled in front of the mirror while paint was being applied on my face.

There’s nothing unusual or pretty about my face. It’s just plain, bare. I doubt if anybody notices the raspberry lip balm I’m wearing. Aside from my lip balm, I nourish my skin daily with VCO.

VCO bar

I’m now passing this tag to Hoshi, Avi, Lenski, Dhangski, Brainteaser, Vhincent (Jen can answer :=)), and Lambing