ReView

I can't believe this, after 5 years doing this while I'm working.. I'm doing it again. hahaha While waiting to end my lunch since wala naman masyado sleeping quarter dito eh makablog nga.

Actually, di ko pa gamay ang work but great thing improving naman everyday. This month was kinda stressful talaga. Kung di lang kay Glenda siguro kaunti lang problema namin, lalo naman sa kin. hehe Ganun talaga, some events just happen and all we need to do is move on. 

Surprise talaga ang UST, going 3-1 kasi UP lang naman kalaban sa Saturday so akalain mo ganun line up, magulo pa ang mga play, naka 3 panalo pa? hahaha Gilas naman this coming August, pero tagal pa. NBA, the King returned to his home.. I'm coming home. Naks. hahaha Talagang ayaw niya umalis ng Cleveland as evident naman sa More than a Game documentary.

I'm not sure what to watch this week, Dawn, Guardian or Cinemalaya? Hmmmm I'm looking towards Cinemalaya, hintayin na lang sa mga sources ko yun dalawa. hehe 

Working in a night shift is hard, lalo na yun dati, but this time, steady lang. Not like stressful before kasi wala naman puknat na tawag kasi. Eto, kahit nagtatawag ako, parang wala pang 30 calls per week. hahaha 30 calls per week. Geez, eh ilan oras lang yun sa call center. Feeling on my first call? La lang, as normal lang despite not taking calls for almost 2 years. Saka client businesses naman to. Yun iba through email lang talaga. Ayaw makipagusap. Fine! hehe

Going to August, my feeling is a bit loose and just preparing sana wag na worse, just recovering and fixing na lang siguro. Doing other good habits. I hope yun movie festival ko matuloy na. hahaha 

I just want to, well, 2 things.. Start to do some changes. Second, enjoy life for the rest of the year. =)

"these are my personal views and not my employer, Accenture."

Not Showing: Jodorowsky's Dune

The greatest movie that was never made. That tagline caught my curiousity to check out this wonderful movie documentary. Actually I didn't expect that this documentary gave me more yearning to look forward watching Alejandro Jodorowsky's films soon.

First of all, who the hell is Alejandro Jodorowsky? A peruvian director who made theater plays mostly in Mexico which lead him making films. His first film was fando y lis which he was end up banned in Mexico. The reason? He disregarded the director's union and made people mad by watching the film. But that doesn't stop making films. He made a cult classic El Topo, a spaghetti mystical western story. Due to the success of that film, he got a million dollars to do his next feature Holy Mountain which about a thief took a journey to holistic transformation. He became sucessful again and this where his story of Dune comes in..

Dune was regarded as one of the best sci fi books made which until now I haven't read or even look at that book. But at that tine in 1970's, it was the best seller. Jodorowsky has also no idea what the book is as it was only suggested by a friend. First I love how Jodorowsky detailed the process of how he imagined or created the feel of the film. Despite the book itself was hard to swallow, he just made a way to make it understandable with his touch of madness. I loved how he recruited what he called spiritual warriors.. His artist was Giraud, one of the best French comic book artist. That dude is one of a hell artist as he can draw everything in detail. VFX supervisor Dan O'Bannon who kinda surprised he was picked despite only the second choice. Alejandro doesn't feel Doug Trumbull, the SFX dude of my fave film 2001 because he was described very technical and full of himself. Jodorowsky was also able to assemble a very intersting cast. Despite no known actress but his set of actors are damn legendary, from David Carradine, Jodorowsky's son as usual, Mick Jagger, Orson Welles and even Salvador Dali. I love the footage of Dali, indeed enigmatic. Don't forget Pink Floyd and another rock band for its musical score and OST. How about the other illustrators/artist included in this movie project. It shows how ambitious this one was.

Another thing I love was the inputs of the men and women behind this project. From critics, even the producers of the film and people who joined the project seemed very influenced how Alejandro motivated them to be artist than a worker who has a deadline. Lastly, with all these factors going thru the course of the film, I was convinced that this might have been the best scifi or even of the best films ever made. The year was 1973 and on how this was made, it was indeed ahead of its time. Despite with some violent and gore effect, the concept is somewhat scifi and religion in one film. Star Wars or even blade runner was not made yet. 2001 was made but it was not box office hit until it was released in home video.

3 factors that made me sad after watching the documentary. It's not really the films fault. First the behavior of the big movie studios today of making films is still the same. More emphasis on profit than art. The film as the producer calculated can be done if the studios provided just added 5 million dollars for the budget but still they declined due to the nature of the film and risks involve. Geez they were damn wrong. They didn't even gave a second look to this film. Second, the film was indeed made by David Lynch but it was terrible that even Lynch doesn't want to talk about it or even claimed its a mistake he made. This was connected to the first one as the producers thought they'll earn but without the right people or mindset, it was an epic fail. Lastly, I won't blame if less will watch this because of less people or only movie fanatics knows Jodorowsky. As much this is well done and promoted, Jodorowsky's films made really not for the general public. It's bizarre and mystical as I saw some scenes in his films.

Amidst of failure well, all the people worked in this doomed project moved on and better yet achieved success. Somewhat used the ideas in this film to other ones. Great example was alien, the design of Alien came from a design of one of the castle in this film. They also won Oscars in other projects. The manuscript or even design of Dune was kinda used in most films until today, as you see in montage at the end. I suggest that since Nicolas Winding Refn was the one saw and heard what this project should been, he's the one could do it.

Jodorowsky already moved on and now legendary. But you can see in this film his undying passion to still create his project. Even he admits he might not see the light or have this project done in his lifetime, he still encourages anyone to create this..

Magnificent film. 

I wonder what would happen if this film was made indeed before Star Wars and other films? Will this alter what we view in a sci fi film? or How films should be made?  

broken lines (collection 46)

Storm coming forward,
furious, devastating wind.
Darkness flows around.

Whirlwind shows no fear,
swirling, raging and pouncing.
Destroys along path.

Even small droplets,
rain with such strong storm dangers.
All who looks upon..

Despite no thunder,
such scary echo of wind,
enough spreading worry.

Surge of damage rise.
Thy storm picking up power,
crushing everything.

Staying in one place,
it may not sure of safety.
it gives sign of end.

Anxiety grows fast,
as the storm reaches on high.
Darkness may not end.

Swifly, storm thy halt..
left us drenched and yet happy.
Sky shows sign of life!

unplanned 57

For now I'm in a daze. Actually may mga lakad ako today but I felt, I need a rest.. For the past 2 weeks, medyo tight ako, do this and that, aba lalo na last week! hahaha

Thank God at wala naman nasaktan galing kay Glenda pero yun kwarto, was not spared. But still grateful perhaps. Ngayon well, I don't know I'm always thinking 2 years from now. 2 years later.. Hmmm Just excited siguro with the planning or soul searching I did habang nagtratraining ako eh naisip ko na yun gusto ko gawin at siyempre financial na din. Gastos and savings na dapat. Except of course ito nangyari galing sa bagyo, medyo magbabago. haha

Next week or weekend ko na lang aayusin yun akin weekend routine kasi sa sobrang not only stressed but also drained. Di pa ko nakapahinga kahapon. hahaha

I'm quite feeling just want to lay down and rest. Besides medyo gipit din, malayo pa sweldo. hehe 

About my training and stuff with ACN, naks, accenture for short.. Saka na ha. You'll see a lot of "these are my personal views and not my employer Accenture" in some of my other post coz of well social media policy. Pretty strict. Ok. hehe

Kakagulat ang UST, talo na kahapon, nanalo pa. hehehe I don't know pero feeling ko di magfinal four ang team na yun. Di ko alam kung dahil sa coach, players or sort of. I don't know. Very clueless at abang na lang ako kung sino magfinal four. Yun Gilas, August pa naman so expect highest next round. Lowest? Hmmm wala naman, kahit sa bracket natin yun next na pinakamadali, yun lang, eh veteran teams naman lahat. Kaya expect, bakasyones sa España. hahaha

August onwards I only expect to have things in normal. Masunod ang mga small steps. hehe Adjusted sa very new work. If possible, have the home here fixed. Yun lang naman. Make it simple but ambitious and achievable. 

I expect to start that next week. hehe Kasi pag August na. Ah, what else.. I also expect please Lord, wala na Glenda type storm ha. At sana wag na malakas ang ulan habang medyo damaged pa ang bahay namin. hehe 

Hmmmm for now, I can say.. I'm quite relieved.. Despite of course looking back to my other choices last month, unti unti ko na narealize.. I'm making the right decisions. Not the best though pero ok na din to. Di pilit at walang sabit. Adjustments here and there..

I'm fine. =)

Kung Ako'y Isang..

(events organizer)

 

One of my dream jobs before besides well IT job or advertising job. hehe IT job kasi I love computers and

programming stuff basta lahat about computer. I'm trying to learn nga ulit ang computers. hehe Advertising job,

hmmmm creating ideas for marketing or a certain project or roll out, promotions at higit sa lahat, models.. Este

model employees. hahaha

Events? Well, ano pa ba gagawin mo, aba edi party, promotions, seminars, or event whether sporting or charity orsimply celebrations such as birthdays, weddings or even anniversaries. O kahit simply get together na may pagames or same pakulo. Kung ako yun, hmmmmm specialty ko malamang hindi weddings or anniv. Although lagi naman ako niyayasa kasal ng mga friends. hahaha Charity event pwede basta yun simple lang or in a small group. Promotions andparties siguro pwede ako. Well, nagpromote naman ako ng biz dati. hehe Parties, nag organize ako pero sa bahay lang. hahaha Promotions and party kasi masaya. Although wala naman event na malungkot unless libing ang ilead mo,eh sa promotions challenge kasi ipromote mo whatever product or service, to check talaga in real time if may chance maghit ang new endeavor. 

Party well mahirap magset up one pero once the party starts, tanggal stress at higit salahat masaya. Except siyempre yun ligpitan pero ok lang yun. Concerts will be great! Lalo na if you are a fan of the artist. But kung hate mo yun artist, di na! Unless big money. hahahaha

Naisip ko 'to kasi sa recently concluded ultra successful Last Home Stand. In the first place dapat kung di pala

pwede maglaro ang players kahit exhibition eh dapat di na tinuloy. Kung ako yun, sinabi ko na kay MVP na di pwedetalaga. First attempt pa lang di na dapat tinuloy. Eh mapilit, so dapat di na ko nagtry as an organizer, maghanapsila ng iba. hahaha Better yet, dapat clinic na lang kung mapilit although kaunti lang gagawin, edi daan na lang sastore visits, promotions or guestings perhaps. They should know in the first place na tapos ang lockout and NBA hasa right talaga to avoid players doing larong labas. hehe I don't know if they look the past basketball stars visitsdito eh di naman aberya, eto lang. Ang masama, big time talaga. hahaha Epic fail...

Anyway, in every event naman you have people or a team to organize to get the job done. Eh kung kumuha lang sila ngmga tamang tao, eh maiiwasan yun ganito. Dapat tanggalin yun VP na nagsabi na pwede irefund yun bayad pero sana wagkasi para naman sa charity. For short, di charity yun, just to do stop loss strategy. hahaha That's the firstperson should go. And of course, get the right supplier or 3rd party player. I mean kahit sabihin natin may trackrecord, dapat talagang track record. Not one time big time dati eh ngayon sila ulit. Dapat track record na maramina nagawang maayos na events. Well, di naman nila ginawa yun. They should at least try other companies. 

Lalo na saindustry ng events na bihira lang na long time supplier. I mean supplier ka sa isang event na to then next eventiba naman, kasi siyempre from track record and all the cost din.. Lalo kung nagtataas pa ang supplier di

ba.

Business sense din. =)Well, wala na nangyari na at masakit siyempre walang nangyari. Abono lahat ng pumunta. In any event, make surepagpunta nila eh from the onset eh worth ang time until they go home. Important naman sa event is experience eh,kung lahat naman ng artista nandun, pero panget ang event eh wala din.. Sayang lang ang event. Organizing one takestime, a lot of it, preparation, good estimation and most of all, creative ways to make it worthwhile. 

You don't want to end an event getting boos at the start right? Di yun Practice Lang Daw Talaga. haha

Glenda Strikes!

I won't go out yet or be friendly to a lady whose name is Glenda. Please. hehe Just kidding. She gave me a traumatic experience. I haven't watch that film Dark Water, but I saw a scene na sobrang pinupuno ng tubig yun kwarto and the mother and daughter where kinda afraid. 

Well, in my case, habang natutulog ako ng mahimbing, all of the sudden, ginising ako ni Kuya Alpro and to my shock surprise, my room is not only wet, it was drenched. The floor is flooded tapos yun kisame eh tumutulo ng malakas and conscious effort kina Kuya Alpro and Ate Jen to get my things out of the room and lipat kina Mommy's room. I made a mad rush to save my things! Get my small things, lalo na yun nasa tray at shelve na de-tulak. hehe Tapos of course, save my computer! Tanggal lahat ng cable, yun wifi modem, of course bayantel modem, and my precious CPU. Hay, at ang masakit, yun dripping won't stop at that moment. Worse, Algerro's room eh ganun din, kala mo may falls sa kwarto niya. Dagat din yun floor. Grabe..  


As I look up, wala na yun bubong and yero. Geez, nilipad na kung nasan pa man. It is sad but at that time, wala nang time to be sad. Ika nga sabi ni Kuya, wala na tayo magawa ganyan na yan. Save ourselves. Indeed.. Sa kwarto nila, worse nangyari, butas na yun isang wall nila and basa na din yun gamit nila. Out of the 5 rooms na pwedeng tulugan or gamitin, 3 ang massive damaged. We are very lucky to have yun 2 kwarto na kahit maliit di naman natamaan ng bagyo. Glenda send massive and destructive winds ng ilan oras lang, like 2 hours. Grabe yun damage na dinala niya, sa min area ha..  

Anyway, Algerro great thing di siya nag tantrum and although scared but stayed and followed our instructions. Yun nga lang, naasar siya sa dami ng lamok. It's normal lalo wala naman kuryente that time. I am thinking despite of the damage in my room, great thing na tinanggal ko na yun mga plug, di ako nagdodownload that time and nasa bahay na ko, baka kung naglakwatsa pa ko, aba baka ano nangyari that time.. 

Wala naman nasaktan sa min, pero nagkasakit nung weekend dahil naman sa panahon. After the wind calm down, well, yun ulan ang kinabahan namin since wala na yun yero and bubong. May kisame kami kaso may holes na kita na yun langit sa labas. 

After that scary experience, well we do as usual, linis, tapos kain and ayos ng mga gamit. Our lunch was filled in laughter, lalo na sinabi ni kuya sa kwarto ko na dahil prayerful ako mas madali ko na maencounter si God, kita na yun langit. hahahaha O Jesus, come closer to me.. Then open my eyes, heaven I thy see in an instant. 

It was very difficult that time kasi walang kuryente at yun pa, tulo ng tulo sa taas so sa baba, sobrang basa din. Naubos lahat ng balde, batsya at basahan. Masasabi namin eto yun pinakamalakas na bagyo kasi etong bahay despite it's wood construction eh na withstand niya yun milenyo, yun ondoy, o kahit yun habagat, na walang tulo sa bahay. Pero grabe to si Glenda, yun lakas ng hampas niya earlier na lumipad na yero sa amin pala yun mga yerong yun. Sa compound, kami yun sobrang tinamaan. Grabe.. Yun ibang bahay di naman damaged although may yero pa nasa ibang bahay na di kanila. hehe 

Lalo na sa gabi, ang hirap matulog. Ni kahit di ako pumasok ng isang gabi, grabe di naman ako nakapagpahinga kasi I need to have Algerro to calm down and patayin lahat ng pesteng lamok. hehe Hay.. 

Kahit ganun nangyari sa amin, we still feel positive and hopeful. Although cost is not very affordable to have it fixed eh we are still alive, well and content. I prayed to Jesus that I'm not really asking to rebuilt the house right away, siguro blessings na lang to have this ordeal na magsurvive. And step by step, have the house fixed and we do our share and sana yun may ari may ibigay ng kaunting tulong. hehe Yun lang, continue to love us and hope, beam of hope.. 

Well, I got some pictures, I posted them here, some of them. Very shocking yun sa labas na yupi yun yero. Thank God na nandun pala sila. hehe And yun mga bubong nagkalat sa bahay, kahit halaman ni Mommy was not spared. 

Days later, well.. Hmmmm great thing na despite loaded yun mga karpentero dahil siyempre marami din nasiraan, nakakuha kami ng temporary help na maayos yun mga yero. My room now eh kahit 50% ng kisame eh dila na. hahahaha di naman tumutulo. Algerro's room kahit may yero, malakas na talaga ang tulo pero manageable. Kuya Alpro's room yun butas dun pa din pero nagagamit naman. Walang ilaw sa taas except sa saksakan. Di ko pa din magamit ang kwarto ko. Ok lang, pwedeng tulugan pero yun usual routine ko, makalat pa din sa kwarto kaya ayoko ko dun. hehe  

I want to thank others for...

Our family na strong and well, helping each other na makabangon ulit. It may take time pero ok lang. No one really harmed.

Friends and relatives na shared some words of inspiration, encouragement.. 

Yun mga binili kong plastic hub sa sm na buy one take one, di lahat ng libro or gamit eh nabasa. hahaha 

Philips LED, CDR king na speaker, tplink na modem and bayantel na kahit nabasa, glenda proof kahit sandli. hahahaha Kahit yun magiisang dekadang computer table ko na after ng bagyo ginawa namin siyang saluhan ng tulo, now, I'm still using it. hehe 

Other upholsteries like yun cabinet or orocan or kahit yun cabinet sa kwarto eh nabasa pero pwede pang gamitin. 

THL for having an extra batt na tumagal pa yun gamit ko ng phone to communicate lalo na sa mga emergency times.

Lastly, to my Cougar casing na despite maraming tulo sa kanya, just days tuyo, well it's here. Buhay pa ang CPU ko!!! hahahaha I love cougar!!!! Not that ehem. hehe Kung dating case ang gamit ko, naku malamang basa ang mga parts ng cpu ko at sira. Cougar is the best CPU housing, military grade, water tested whatever!!! hahaha

No rainbow shown after Glenda left. Very very bad girl.. 

However, great thing, after the storm, I can now see despite rainy season... 

That blue sky. It means, brighter things ahead.. =)

Eye of the Storm

Nung galing ako sa last break ko, at nakikita ko yun glass door sa gateway tower 2 bumubukas mag-isa.. Kinabahan na ko. This storm is no freaking joke. Actually Tuesday morning na dapat dumaan ang bagyo pero nadelay, PAGASA announced, it will coast on Wednesday at dadaan talaga sa NCR. Stronger than Milenyo daw. Ibig sabihin, wind type talaga to na scary. 

After that break, well bumalik ako sa station and I'm hearing rumors na wala nang kuryente in most areas. Di ko alam sa bahay kasi natutulog ng mahimbing mga tao. I don't know what to expect that time, I just want to go home.. Narinig ata ang hiling ko. Nagpower outage na sa office, on and off. Di na nga masave yun ginagawa namin. Management decided na uwian ng maaga. Nakakatuwa nga, hours earlier eh may backup business plan na in times na marami di makapasok. Sa kin, wala pa naman ako station, and training pa ko, so di naman makakapekto pa. I even volunteer na papasok ako next day basta walang baha sa E.Rod at Sto. Domingo. 

Everybody is worried that time, lalo na yun mga nakatira sa East such as Rizal, Pasig at Marikina. Notorious kasing waterworld yun mga lugar na yun. Isama mo pa yun rest of NCR, starting sa Manila siyempre. QC, di naman lahat binabaha. 

Quarter to 5 am nakauwi na kami. Weird but fun!!! I rode a cab pauwi at 15 mins nasa bahay na ko. Wala pang bagyo, at wala pang hangin. Ginawa ko muna reflection time and fix my bed, check muna ang mga balita sa web at natulog. Anxious pero nakatulog na din ako kasi malamig at masarap matulog. 

Around 8 am, nagising ako, sa sobrang lakas ng hangin.. Yun isang bintana ko kasi sira ang screen so yun curtain eh lipad ng lipad. Tinanggal ko yun mga saksakan at turn off the switches kasi may kaba na ko. Grabe yun hampas ng hangin, naririnig ko yun mga ugong at kung ano ano lumipad na yero or stuff. At siyempre yun hangin na pumapasok sa kwarto ko. Kinakabahan ako na pumasok yun ulan at mabasa yun mga gamit ko. I tried every way na matigil yun hampas ng hangin sa kurtina ko but I failed. 

I prayed dearly na sana di kami masaktan or well, no damage sa bahay. Pinabayaan ko na lang yun kurtina, at medyo kampante ako kasi di naman malakas yun ulan. Yun hangin napakalakas lang. 

Nakatulog na ko.. Kahit walang electric fan and stuff.. Sarap matulog. My fan stopped working so I guessed, well wala nang kuryente. 

I felt na sobrang tanggal ang pagod ko sa sarap ng tulog..

Well, I thought I did have a great sleep until I open my weary eyes..

For one of the scariest scenes I saw in my life.

flashbacks: CRAP DOTA nights!

Kala ko mamaya mayroon pero mukhang busy ang tatlo. hehe Itong si Igz, nanisi pa na ako daw dahilan kung bakit naaddict sa DOTA. hahaha Inaalala ko nga yun. Well, ok lang. Instead kasi na kain, or asaran lang or magtsismisan kina Igz, aba ngayon, basta si Doc may dalang dalawang laptop tapos yun laptop ni Igz at ako sa desktop na, ayun sugod sugod na sa base ng scourge! hahaha

Pati si Rheg eh naaddict, si Doc, eh pangtanggal stress ang DOTA. hahaha Eh ako? Naku, addict, kahit minsan dalawa lang kami ni Igz, sige, pwede na! hehehe Sa sobrang addict ko, 22 characters out of 110 something eh alam ko lang. Mas maganda itest ang galing pag sa labas o sa pustahan pero malabo na ko sa ganun. Or lalo kami. Iba yun mga nasa computer shop, all random ang mga skill nun. hehe Pero dahil dito, ang talagang nadedevelop eh team work. Oh, kala niyo laro laro lang ha. Minsan kasi pag kanya kanya eh kahit madali lang yun insane na kabilang team, natatalo kami. Mali kasi ang diskarte or worse, walang coordination yun mga hero. 

Saka dito nakikita yun ugali ng bawat isa sa min. Nakita nila ako na maingay at bwakaw, matapang. hahahaha Si Doc, nagagalit na, sa DOTA, lalo pag patalo na kami. hahahaha Si Igz, lumalabas din ang init ng ulo saka sarcasm sa sarili lalo pag panget na hero ang ginagamit. hahaha Si Rheg, well, traxex lang naman ang gamit at makita namin na kailangan ng practice. Kaya sa likod lang namin siya lagi. hehe 

Dahil din sa DOTA, eh napapadalas yun kitaan namin. Eh minsan parang every week, pwede na. hahaha Or every other week. Eh ako naman, since medyo limited yun gamit ng ibang kasama ko, ako eh kailangan yun ibang hero alamin ko, from agi to int at siyempre yun melee types na kailangan sa team play kilalanin ko na. hehe Kasi minsan kahit alam namin yun gamit, eh di effective sa ibang hero. Kaya yun, napadami ata ako alam na hero. haha 
Kailangan din magpahinga sa practice kasi dami ko din gagawin. Kaya tama na yun 22 plus na yun. 

Dahil din dito, ah after DOTA naguusap kami about sa mga buhay buhay, chismax and stuff. Saka minsan napapatipid na kami ha. Di na kami kumakain. hahaha Tubig na lang ok na!

Only disadvantage, eh madaling araw na ang uwi! Lalo pag mga talo laro namin, eh si Doc di papayag sa ganun, kailangan makabawi hanggang maka isa! haha Minsan 4am na kami natapos, eh ayun, kung ano mga lakad ko next day, sira. hehe Ok lang naman, kaso kulang tulog next day. Grabe.. hehe 

Minsan pumasok ako office, isang oras lang tulog ko, deretcho na office, ayun auto pilot sa office. hehe Lalo na yun counselor diyan, may office na matutulugan! Bwahahaha May isa pa pala, siyempre dahil kulang sa tulog, di healthy yun. =(

Pero yun lang.. I always miss this and its a new way na magbond kami.. We will try other ways to bond, healthy ways kung baga. 

For now, OWNING!!! =)

almost gone: Music/Video shops

When I went sa ATC, years ago, siguro mga first time ako pumunta dun, tanging mall lang na may Tower Records! I mean that famous tower records na galing states. All kinds of records, mapa video, CD's and may vinyl collection pa sa basement. Dun ko din nakita yun box set ng Joy Division na di ko nabili kasi walang pera. hahaha Which eventually pagtagal nagkaroon na di ako dahil sa mabait kong english trainer! 
Napapadaan ako sa National Bookstore here sa Quezon Ave, eh di lang malaking national bookstore ang mayroon, may Music One na dalawang floors, parang tower din at pwede ka pang makinig ng sounds. 

Actually parang mag isa lang ang may ari nun tower and music one dito sa pinas dati. hehe Sikat din si Odyssey at Astrovision, kanyang kanya lakihan ng pwesto and release of new albums and home videos. 
Years past, well yun tower sa ATC now became a fashion retail shop. Music one, matagal na wala, kahit sa greenbelt branch. I don't see one either kahit saan. Odyssey eh maliit na lang, bumibili pa din ako pero phillips headset lang. hahaha Astrovision, well, paliit na paliit yun pwesto. They sell console games na din and surprisingly vinyl. 

Due to internet and well technology advances, halos mawawala na sila. Lalo na these days na dumating pa ang music streaming services such as spinnr and spotify and the likes. I mean, parang collecting music eh katamaran na din, bayaran na lang yun mga music streaming services to fulfill yun audiophile needs. It's sad, unlike those days na pupunta ka ng music store, pakinggan yun cd after some songs and bili na. Now, specific song eh pwede mo na bilin, not the whole album. 

I don't like that neither. hehe I prefer getting the whole discography or album, kahit isa lang trip kong kanta, eh ok na yun. Minsan kasi kala mo panget yun album, eh maganda pala. hahaha

Videos or movies, well, may netflix, may illegal, at faster release ng theatrical version dito. Dati huli tayo sa mga theatrical release, months talaga. Ngayon, some blockbuster films, eh una pa tayo kaysa sa US. Great examples, Cap America 2 and Avengers, una tayo sa US. hahaha Kahit minsan tumingin ako ng mga videos, although yun bago talagang mahal, pero yun iba mura na, wala pa din bumibili. Like I said before, video rental shops were gone, well, sadly baka ito din. =( Kaya di lang videos or daniel padilla albums ang binebenta nila, they go to music accessories, video and even karaoke! Geez.

Malungkot kasi mas maganda yun lalabas ka ng bahay, tapos tingin ka ng mga albums, test every album and out na. Kahit wala ako bilin, basta babalikan ko siya. hahaha These days, with the power ng net, eh parang di ka na lalabas ng bahay. Load lang and net connection, ok na. I prefer still going out and check albums. Pero now siyempre check lang sa net kung ano maganda, and ehem, get it in the other way. haha

Pero importante pa din sila, I mean lalo mabuti yun mga artist na they prefer selling albums di lang sa itunes but sa record stores, and mas special edition agad. I hope tuloy lang nila yun. Even yun mga box sets, kasi di naman lahat dito eh can afford ng net, lalo na pag mataas na speed. hehe Kaya mabuti nagbebenta na legal na box sets, keep it that way. =) At maganda pa, benta ng tickets! So some record shops eh exclusive or pati sila nagbebenta ng mga tickets ng concert so maganda yun, para may pumunta din sa kanila.

Well, pagtagal di natin masasabi with the new strategies na ginagawa nila will keep them afloat but I still hope they will be there.. 

For a long time. =)

Ring! Ring!

Makati

(last part!)

At last, we arrived for the final part of this big place..

Paseo de Roxas street corner Ayala Ave houses some of the well known BPO/call centers. Don't be suprised if you see all the biggest banks in the country, situated their headquarters here at this prestigous street.

Philam Life tower - well, great looking tower! This where JP Morgan chase first center which I'm not sure if its still there. It has infosys, Lexmark but I'm not sure if they hire. hehe Recently Xerox is now there, it's inhouse and I don't know how they recruit. However what I know is that center has combination of call center and backoffice, but it's US time shift so, night shift is their main work time. Food, or everything you need is pretty satisfied in this place as it is near salcedo village and Ayala Triangle, and more convenient stores, count Paseo square as well. 

After some strolling around, passing thru the headquarters of banks plus the Paseo Square, you'll see Citibank.

Citibank Tower - It houses one of the offices of Citibank Philippines which they also have one at Eastwood, don't be confused with the one at PBCOM tower because that is for their international accounts. In this building, I know some centers situated here. Medicall but now Cognizant which has an insurance US account. Pointwest IT company, a homegrown company which it has also a center in UP technohub. I took a test there and it was hard! I'll get my redemption sometime. hehe Citibank for the local soil, which usually open for office positions. At the outside, you thought it's kinda old but once you get in, it looks great. hehe So this one is fine.

After this building, you'll pass Atrium building for BIR, PAG-IBIG Makati offices, piece of advise, if your numbers are registered in this offices, come early! Then at the end of Makati Ave, you'll see another famous street. My first workplace in Makati. 

Buendia! I'll just give a rundown of the offices you'll see here. BPI tower which houses some BPI's departments and local call center. Not outsourced. It also has Eperformax which is a BPO/call center handling some US accounts. You almost see them at malls, having recruitment kiosk. They offer outstanding benefits but accounts they handle seem to be passing by, come and go. I'm surprised they are still alive. hahahaha

Reposo/N.Garcia st. houses well, my first job, at ePLDT or now they are called SPI Global. I'm not sure if Dish network is still there but let me tell you simple. Just stay away from that center! hehe Although they have great medical benefits, one of the best. But compenben? Nope!

Going to Edsa, you'll see Startek, hmmmm they handle more US accounts and lastly, VXI which has I'm not sure Zoom money remittance and I'm not sure if they still have outbound hard core accounts. I'm also surprised they are still there. hehe

Makati was my first place of work and it was confusing at first because of the big place. But in the long run, once you know all the bus stops, terminal, stop lights or even MAPSA guarads, it's an easy place to go. If you have less budget for food, there is jollijeep! hehe Don't forget the pares stations especially if you are really in a tight budget for food. There are convenient stores, malls, and a lot more! You should know all the jeep routes to avoid getting lost or going into the wrong place. If you have a car, be very extra careful due to high parking fees and yes, traffic violations, because all the security guards here has a right to confiscate your license. Beware of yellow dudes, yellow and white guards and even the barangay patrol, they can confiscate your license. Penalties are high here.. 

What is great here in Makati, it is a central business district that all kinds of transportation coming from all parts of the metro and even from far south, comes here. All kinds of BPO/call center jobs, you can choose here. Just please avoid the rush hour because of very tight traffic especially in the rainy season and a lot of road work. At first when you are working here, I'll not be surprised if you get lost a lot of times. hehehe

I'm just worried in the future of this place because of the high taxes that this city imposes to business or companies, they might transfer to other cities. There are streets here looks barren because business or stores closed or transferred already to other cities such as BGC or even in my place at QC. They should lower their taxes and other charges to avoid such transfers, or worse unemployment. I hope that the family runs in Makati don't just show their faces to prepare in the next election, they just need to work it out. Please just don't take BGC, coz, ehem.. Corruption might get into their heads and traffic will just get worse. 

Anyway, whew... I'm done with this place. Will I come back to this place to work again? No problem, as long the price and sked is right! hahaha