License Renewal... Whew!!!

Today I renewed my driver's license which was expired one year ago. hahahahahaha! I know I am stupid driving in the streets of Manila with an expired license, yes, it is stupid seriously. Don't you ever follow me. It is very very dangerous. The reason why I wasn't able to renew my expired license a year ago because I went to Sydney and was planning to stay there for a long time but plans got all mixed up and I went back home. Truly, no matter how many people dislike Manila, this is the city wherein I wanna grow old, live my life, sow my seeds and reap it afterwards.

ANYWAYSSSS....

YES!!! I have it renewed today. Went to LTO-ELC (Land Transportation Office - Eastern Licensing Center) located near San Juan's Post Office, around 3 mins drive away from home. It was hot, uncomfortable and really crowded with lots of impatient applicants. Good thing, mine was only a renewal... thank God.

Steps are as follows: (to all those who are wondering what are the steps for renewal of license)

1.) Take a drug test which is valued highly at Php 250.00 hahahaha! examine your urine sample to test if you are under the influence of any drugs primarily Shabu and Marijuana.

2.) Go to the medical part, which is by the way valued at Php 100.00. Imagine, paying Php 100.00 just to weight yourself in an unreliable scale and read the letter chart to check your vision. Then you will be asked a couple of questions like: Are you in any sort of medication? Have you even been hospitalized? If you answered NO to all these questions then they will automatically issue you a receipt. That is worth Php 100.00 already.. SHEEESH!!! I dont even know if they were real doctors. The whole process takes less than 5 mins........... I know!!!

3.) Go to the re-assessor to check on your requirements (Expired License, Drug test, Medical test). This was the fastest step.

4.) Have your picture taken at a computer with a webcam that is about to break hahahaha.

5.) Wait for your name to be called by the cashier to pay for the renewed license. Before this step, your paper will be rerouted to three different people for encoding and verification. You will have to wait for the cashier to call you, this takes the longest waiting time.

6.) Go to the releasing window for your renewed license and sign the paper claiming that you have received the license ID from them

The whole process takes about 2 hours. Imagine just to renew your license takes 2 hours and it shaved Php 650.00 pesos from my wallet hahahahaha. I wonder how long does it take to apply for a new license considering they are automated already. I remembered mine took a day! Imagine!!!! They should have at least an express lane for all renewals.... right?!

Enough about complaning, at least I got my license renewed already. Whooopeeee!! My license will expire on 2011 and then I will have to go through the same process again. Hopefully by 2011, it will be faster.. CROSS FINGERS!!!

Greenbelt 5 & La Maison

These pics were taken way before this blog was born. Around November last year. I was just awed at how beautiful the interior of the mall and I want to share it to you guys. Imagine, chandaliers hanging, shiny marble flooring and wood finished interior for a mall. One of the reasons why the Philippines is named as the "Mall Capital of the World"

My second time was around January 08 when my friends and I ate at Le Maison. We had succulent ribs and creamy carbonara. Filling, delicious, classy but afforadable. Notice how black and beautifully shaped the bread is? The black bread is a sweet bread.... Try it!

Top 10 List

I noticed that I kept on blabbering about stuffs that interests me or things that I did, restaurants I ate at, games I played or music I listened. But still, I feel that there is something missing in my blog until I realized that I haven't actually shared to you a bit of me. HAHAHAHA! Silly huh? This is also a response from my friend's blog post at http:/jasonqua.wordpress.com entitled "Your Lifestyle - A top 10 list" answering the question so what's on my list.

Without further ado... presenting to you... ME!! hahahaha here are my top 10 list: (not in chronological order)

1.) FAMILY

No matter how insane or chaotic sometimes our family tends to be, still they are our family. And despite all the troubles and mistakes that we do, still, these people are the ones who will accept you and back you no matter what.

2.) INTERNET

Accessing information anything under the sun in the world wide web has never been this easy. Keep yourself updated with the latest news and gossips. Travel the world in a small window using your own LCD monitor. Watch Youtube videos endlessly. Downloading your favorite tunes, movies and games. Meeting people and discovering their culture with a click of a button. Chatting and being connected with your loved ones wherever you are. Do you still want me to go on? hehehehehehe

3.) FRIENDS

To be honest, I don't have that much friends, only a handful. But these people who makes up my handful are the ones who are really worth keeping, treasuring, loving and caring. I seriously don't need a large group of friend where I am blessed with small but real ones. Its hard to find real people and harder to find real friends these days.

4.) MUSIC

Who can go wrong with music? I listen to almost every genre as long as it appeals to my ears. With regards to music, I don't just listen to the beat and the melody but I internalize with its lyrics. What message is it giving its listeners. Mainstream or underground, it doesn't matter. I mellow down to the tunes of lounge music; soothe my soul with Northern Lights by Lux and Postal Service; dance with Akon, Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Madonna, Timbaland and Mariah Carey; party with DJ Tiesto, Hed Kandi, Bloc Party and Chicane; appreciate Edison Chen, Vic Zhou, Jay Chou, Leehom, Tanya Chua and Fly to the Sky; cry with the powerful ballads of Celion Dion, Mariah Carey (again) and emo rock of Dashboard Confessionals ; reminisce with the old songs of Toto, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Luther Vandross; rock on with The Fray, Panic! At the Disco, OneRepublic, Coldplay and Counting Crows. Most of all, love our own homegrown music OPM of Kitchie Nadal, Brownman Revival, Bamboo, Rivermaya and Brain Salad - to name a few... hahahahah few? hahahahahaha

5.) GADGETS

I am a tech freak, I don't just buy what is usually being bought but I research on other possible alternatives and competitors that can deliver better performance. I have my Creative Zen: Vision M (MP3 Player), my PSP, my cellphones (one for Globe & one for Sun), my laptop and my Canon Digital Camera. I really spend for these techie stuffs. I enjoy it, I simply love it.

6.) MOVIES

Imagine yourself sitting in a cool and comfortable theater, by the way, my top two theater choices are Greenhills Promenade and Powerplant anticipating the most talked about movies up to date. Immersing yourself in the movie that you are watching as if you are a part of the story. Simply amazing and very very relaxing. True, pirated DVD's are cheaper and you can watch at the comfort of your own home but nothing beats the suspense and the thrill of watching it in the theater.

7.) THEME PARKS / OCEANARIUMS / ZOOS

Whether it be oceanarium, planetarium, rides or whatever. As long as it is a theme park. I'm game! Anytime, anyday... Im sure to come. Roller coasters makes me smile. Oceanariums and zoos fills my curiosity. These are treasured landmarks any city should have.

8.) BEACH / DIVE

Ever since I was a kid, Ive always loved water, before it doesn't matter whether its a swimming pool or the beach but lately nothing can ever encompass my love for the beach. Again, imagine yourself lying on the sand, listening to your mp3 or just listening to the birds chirping and the water splashing with an ice cold beer. Now, after reading that, tell me you still dont wanna go to the beach. Doesn't matter where, as long as its the beach. Or simply dive at Anilao and have an upclose and real look at the riches of what Poseidon's seas can offer you. True, the Philippines is located in the coral triangle and the richness of its marine creatures are a real treasure. And to all those who aren't Filipinos, I'm telling you, The Philippines is a beach and diving haven..... trust me!!!

9.) CLOTHES

Coming from a family that adores clothes hahahaha, I myself am a huge fan of the latest trend. What looks good, what fits well. I love shopping as well. Topman is one of my favorite one-stop shop here in the Philippines. Going to HK and buying stuff there is insanely great!!! I love HK because of its wide variety and array of clothes to choose from. I don't simply go what's famous but I don't want to be behind the latest fashion as well. I go for basics from time to time also. Being criticized as someone who is a fashion victim is something that I will never accept! hahahaha

10.) FOOD

I love eating... can't you see from my photos? I adore good food. Price for me is secondary when the food is realy delicious. I can go to Le Souffle and have its mouth-watering seared seabass or go to Jollibee or Mcdonalds and have its mouth-watering burgers and fries. Depends on my mood. I can go to the best gourmet restaurant in town or simply head on to the nearest fastfood chain my gas can reach me. HAHAHAHAHAHA! As long as its good quality food, its ok for me

So now... can I ask... What's on your list??

GOD OF WAR & GOD OF WAR 2 (PS2)

Kratos, the protagonist in the God of War series, is an impressive spartan who saved Attica from the attack of the Persians, brings back the sun in the sky (Helios) from that deadly fog the enveloped the city (Morpheus) and battled Persephone (wife of Hades) in the underworld in Chains of Olympus, battled the hydra in the Aegean Sea, saved the city of Athens (patron is Athena), retrieved Pandora's Box and battled Ares and became the new God of War in God of War and battled the Collosus of Rhodes, killed by Zeus, saved by Gaia, rode the Pegasus, battled the titan Typhon and Prometheus, battled Perseus, seeks an audience with The Sisters of Fate ( Lakhesis, Atropos & Clotho ), brings back the past, battled Zeus and killed Athena, returned with fury and revenge along with Gaia and the titans to destroy Olympus... "The End Begins...." in God of War II.

I recently concluded God of War and God of War 2 in PS2. Thanks to my cousin Brit and Grant for letting me borrow their PS2. I borrowed the console just for this two games. Base on my previous blog entries, I wrote about how wonderful God of War: Chains of Olympus in PSP, after playing the God of War & God of War 2 in PS2, it is really indescribable. I played the two games literally the whole day until my eyes are about to pop hahahahahahaha!

Great gameplay, superb graphics, nice plot (I'm a huge fan of Greek Mythology), magnificent soundtrack... what more can you ask for in a game? No wonder Gamespot.com rated God of War with a 9.3, God of War II with a 9.2 and God of War: Chains of Olympus with an 8.5.

*** I included links to Wikipedia on the names of deities in the Greek Mythology for reference and additional reading***

Happy April Fools Day!

To share the spirit of April Fools, which we all know that it falls always on the 1st of April, I would like to share some funny text jokes that I had saved on my phone. It made me laugh during my tough times. Enjoy and Have fun... its April Fools Day

Joke # 1:

An arab was interviewed at a US Checkpoint....

"name pls?"
- ABDUL AZIZ

"sex?"
- 6 times a week

"I mean, male of female?"
- doesn't matter, sometimes even camels

"holy cow!"
- yes, cows & dogs too!

"man, isn't that hostile?"
- yes, horse style true, dogstyle, any style!

"oh dear!"
- deer?! no deer! they run fast

Joke # 2 : (Notice: Some words are in Filipino)

New Condom Brands:

1.) JOLLIBEE condoms - Bida ang Sarap
2.) MCDO condoms - Love ko to!
3.) BEER NA BEER condoms - Itaas mo!
4.) NOKIA condoms - Connecting people
5.) M&M's condoms - Melts in your mouth
6.) NIKE condoms - Just do it
7.) KFC condoms - Finger lickin' good
8.) MAX condoms - Sarap to the bones
9.) MOTOLITE condoms - pangmatagalan
10.) GRAND MATADOR condoms - Nasa laman ang init!
11.) VFRESH condoms - malamig sa bibig
12.) PEPSI condoms - Ask for more!
13.) ENERVON condoms - More energy mas happy!

Joke # 3: (Notice: Derivations are in Filipino)

NEWLY BORN CHINESE:

1.) Born Dark - ANDY LIM
2.) Born Fat - LUCKY CHAN
3.) Born Fatter - BOB UY
4.) Born Evil - DAEMON YU
5.) Born Flirty - ALLAN DY
6.) Born Smelly - KELLY KAY LEE
7.) Born Different - EVA YAN
8.) Born Incomplete - COLE ANG
9.) Born Sick - HATCH CHENG
10.) Born Cute - EDDY MI