My Fascination with Vampire Novels

Eerie.
Recently i've been reading a lot.. Err, not exactly reading, rather listening or both (thanks to ibooks). I've grown really really fond of audiobooks. Very convenient specially if you don't have the eyes too sturdy as the addiction to read. I am specifically fond of those recorded by Penguin Audio or Listening Library or McMillan Audio. They have really really good readers. Hmm had i mentioned I'm into novel series? I can stand listening all day and still hope i can do so in my sleep specially if I'm so into the climax already. Back when i read, books or eBooks or PDF,My eyes just always gives up on me.

Best Vampire Series I've read and listened according to MY OWN CHOICE.

1. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.I love the plot, the twists, the romance, the characters of the protagonists. Above all i love Adrian Ivashkov. Well you know how someone broken and mistakenly evil can love so much so purely and unselfishly? Well Vampire academy series ended on the 5th book as Rose Hathaway the female lead character succesfully put everything back into place or better. Her love life has bloomed after getting Dmitri back from darkness. Getting her bestfriend Lissa into the throne she rightfully own, and earned the respect of the people around her which was an impossibility during the first book.Sad that this has ended but I am just as happy that the handsome Adrian Ivashkov is in the 1st Book of my next favorite.
2. Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. Currently on the first book, is a story about Alchemists, humans that are specialized in studying ancient relationships between vampires, dhampirs and humans. They are acting as damage control organization fixing everything up so humans would not be aware about such existence and will not create panic. The story is evolving on a lead character that has appeared in Vampire Academy Books, Sydney Sage as she struggle to proving herself worthy of the title Alchemist. It is known that she has comprised her credibility when she was involved in vampire politics helping Rose Hathaway escape from Prison. As it appears, Adrian Ivashkow may possibly be paired with her in the future books. Well at least that's what i'm hoping for. Adrian Ivashkov seems too hot be left dumped with a broken heart.


3. Twilight series by Stephanie Myers.Perhaps the most popular vampire series in the present generation. Is a story about two beings of different worlds, a vampire and an ordinary human fell in love and went an extra mile to be together, get married and miraculously produce a child. Their efforts to protect each other including the man , Edward Cullen, moving away to save and let the girl Bella Swan enjoy a life out of Danger.A few action during book 1 on the fight between James and Edward, love triangle on Book 2 as Bella discovered the true identity of her besfried Jacob, the struggle toprotecteach other from the avenging Victoria on book3, and the story on kinship, bravery asthe Cullen family muster their friends possibly the biggest vampire gathering in hundred years to attest on the authenticity of the miracle child being Renesmee against the possible massacre from Vulturi,which of course Alice has seen in one of her visions. Well just like a typical kids book, the ending was rather happy, or too good to be true. Vampire characters.. Hellow, someone big is gotta die one way or another, but not in this book sorry.


4. Sookie Stackhouse aka Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. Oh Sookie..As popularized by the tv Series True Blood, this novels about the title bearer herself, Sookie, a barmaid in Bon Temps LA go about her experiences as a human and a fairy, tangled in love with 2 vampires, Eric Northman and Bill Compton and a Shape shifter Sam Merlott. This series involved a wide range of supernatural creatures, fairies, shape shifters, werewolves, werepanthers,vampires, ghosts, witches and necromancers, demons etc. Story is evolving in a lot of areas, romance, politics, betrayal, family, friendship etc. Has 11 Books in total. As mentioned beforehand, Sookie Stackhouse series is shown on TV as True Blood under the direction of Allan Ball, however there are so many differences in the characters, the plot however is the same or slightly changed. Well the tv series is on going so lets just wait what Allan Ball offers us. By the way im for Team Eric!(Hurray hurray)



5. Queen Betsy aka Undead Series by Mary Janice Davidson. Elizabeth Taylor aka Betsy was proclaimed Vampire Queen after rising from the dead on a pink knock off flats. Currently on its 9th book, going 10th come June 2012 (Undead and Unstable). Is a hilarious novel being Book 8 as my most favorite. Great plot with only limited characters, if you are a designer shoes buff, you will love this novel, and if you are not, you have to read it to realize in the end, that having a designer pair of shoes is just one time pain in the pocket but a great addition to your personality. You will love the Bitchy but true nature of Betsy, she's a snob, sometimes she's mean but in the end, she's still nice.At least she's not so very fond of drinking blood from humans, she loves her friends and family. The tone is more adult than expected. Sexual pleasures are iminent on almost all books, i guess vampires like making out.




6. House of Night Series by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. Yeah right, i was thinking the same. Its just not so vampire sounding at all. House of Night really exists but the authors just derived the name of the books from a certain bldg and made the story on top of what was really present and existent (just like how dan brown's da vinci code was accurately plotted in real life places and structures). I think that style is great too, they give readers a more solid imagination. House of night series is lead by a girl, Zoey RedBird who was marked to become a fledgeling. Fledgelings are grown into vampires after their transformation, they are nortured and taught at the House of Night. The story is about her, and her struggles being the Chosen, most gifted fledgeling in the history, She has an affinity for all 5 elements, her body is intricately marked with tattoos no one has been marked much before. The series is revolving at the words given to her by the vampire Goddess "Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good"



The List Goes on ..Continued ..

Paskong Pinas 2011

We had a simple but happy Christmas celebration. My mama, papa, sister and family, my grandmother and aunt. This is my family. And we are complete, this is the most important thing anyone could wish for, my grandmother is still with us, hopefully also next year and i am home. Happiness. Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you had a blast





Our Noche Buena are not much either, Crispy Pata, Pancit, Puto Binan, Fruit Salad, Crema de Fruta and my new invention, Sizzling Tofu (Yum yum) .. Merry merry Christmas!!

Dec. 26, Jan. 2 Not a Holiday for Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The two successive Mondays right after Christmas and New Year’s Day – Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 – are not holidays.

These days do not fall under the list of holidays for 2011 in Proclamation 84 issued by President Aquino in December 2010.

The remaining regular holidays for the year are Dec. 25 (Christmas) and Dec. 30 (Rizal Day). Dec. 31 (last day of the year) is a special non-working holiday while Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day) is traditionally a regular holiday.

“The presidential proclamation is the one we’re observing so if that date falls on a particular day, it will fall on that particular day,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

The administration no longer practices the so-called “holiday economics” implemented by the Arroyo administration in which holidays are moved to the nearest Mondays.

The law also mandates the provision of holiday pay to workers required to render service during regular and special holidays.

Those who report for work on holidays shall receive double their daily income for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work rendered in excess of eight hours.

If the holiday falls on the rest day of the worker but he is required to work, he shall receive 230 percent for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work in excess of eight hours.

Workers who opt not to report for work during regular holidays are also entitled to receive their daily basic pay.

The Department of Labor and Employment also directed all employers to grant the mandated 13th month pay to their employees before Christmas to enable them to buy necessities while prices are still low.

The National Wage Productivity Commission said most workers are supposed to receive higher 13th month pay compared to last year because the wage increases granted by the wage boards should be integrated into the computation of the 13th month pay. – With Mayen Jaymalin

Source: http://www.philstar.com

K+12 Education System Philippines

What is K+12?

K+12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.

Kindergarten refers to the 5-year old cohort that takes a standardized kinder curriculum.
Elementary education refers to primary schooling that involves six or seven years of education

Secondary education refers to high school.

How are we planning to implement the K+12 program?

After considering various proposals and studies, the model that is currently being proposed by DepEd is the K-6-4-2 Model. This model involves Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school (Grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11 to 12). The two years of senior high school intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.

Features of K 6-4-2

(1) Kindergarten and 12 years of quality basic education is a right of every Filipino, therefore they must be and will be provided by government and will be free.

(2) Those who go through the 12 years cycle will get an elementary diploma (6 years), a junior high school diploma (4 years), and a senior high school diploma (2 years).

(3) A full 12 years of basic education will eventually be required for entry into tertiary level education (entering freshmen by SY 2018-2019 or seven years from now).

An open and consultative process will be adopted in the development and implementation of K+12.
Change is two-fold: (a) curriculum enhancement and (b) transition management.

What is Senior High School?

2 years of in-depth specialization for students depending on the occupation/career track they wish to pursue
Skills and competencies relevant to the job market
The 2 years of senior HS intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.
The curriculum will allow specializations in Science and Technology, Music and Arts, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sports, Business and Entrepreneurship.

What is the proposed implementation plan of DepEd?

Phases of Implementation:

(1) Universal kindergarten will be offered starting SY 2011-2012.

(2) DepEd will begin unclogging the basic education curriculum in SY 2012-2013.

(3) The enhanced 12-year curriculum will be implemented starting with incoming Grade 1 students of SY 2012-2013.

(4) Incoming freshmen of SY 2012-2013 will be the first beneficiary of a free Senior High School education that will be made available by DepEd in public schools beginning SY 2016-2017. Electives to be offered in Senior HS (arts, music, tech-voch..etc)

In implementing the K-6-4-2 proposal, DepEd will take into account the issues and concerns of all stakeholders, including the high school graduates before 2016. This will be done through regional consultations to begin early 2011. The mechanics and other details of the transition plan will be threshed out with HEIs in coordination with CHED, TESDA and other critical stakeholders.

Why add two more years?

• To decongest and enhance the basic education curriculum
• To provide better quality education for all
• The Philippines is the only remaining country in Asia with a 10-year basic education program
• K+12 is not new. The proposal to expand the basic education dates back to 1925.
• Studies in the Philippines have shown that an additional year of schooling increases earnings by 7.5%.
• Studies validate that improvements in the quality of education will increase GDP growth by 2% to 2.2%.
• Minus 2 instead of plus 2 for those families who cannot afford a college education but still wish to have their children find a good paying job. Right now, parents spend for at least 4 years of college to have an employable child. In our model, parents will not pay for 2 years of basic education that will give them an employable child. In effect, we are saving parents 2 years of expenses. The plan is not “Plus 2 years before graduation” but “Minus 2 years before work
• To inspire a shift in attitude that completion of high school education is more than just preparation for college but can be sufficient for a gainful employment or career.

How much will this cost?

• The immediate cost for the program will not be needed until 2016 when the first year of the two additional years is implemented.
• Meanwhile, we will continue to close the resource gaps in basic education – the President ordered DepEd to its close resource gaps in 2 years.

At this time, we estimate the total funding requirement to procure all needed resources at P150 billion for:

• 152,569 new classrooms
• 103,599 more teachers
• 95.6 million more books
• 13.2 million seats

What will society gain from K+12

• K+12 will facilitate an accelerated economic growth.
• K+12 will facilitate mutual recognition of Filipino graduates and professionals in other countries.
• A better educated society provides a sound foundation for long-term socio-economic development.
• Several studies have shown that the improvements in the quality of education will increase GDP growth by as much as 2%. Studies in the UK, India and US show that additional years of schooling also have positive overall impact on society.

Are private schools obliged to follow?

• While we enjoy the support of private school associations, we are yet to discuss with them the implementation of the program.

Where are we at now?

• Insufficient mastery of basic competencies is common due to a congested curriculum. The 12 year curriculum is being delivered in 10 years.
• High school graduates are younger than 18 years old and lack basic competencies and maturity. They cannot legally enter into contracts and are not emotionally mature for entrepreneurship / employment.
• Other countries view the 10-year education cycle as insufficient.

K+12 Education Vision

Graduates of Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program will:

• Acquire mastery of basic competencies.
• Be more emotionally mature.
• Be socially aware, pro-active, involved in public and civic affairs.
• Be adequately prepared for the world of work or entrepreneurship or higher education.
• Be legally employable with potential for better earnings.
• Be globally competitive.
• Every graduate of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program is an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that is rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, the capability to engage in autonomous critical thinking, and the capacity to transform others and one’s self.

Source: deped.gov.ph

Warm then Cold Water Good for Skin

In bathing and washing, I've always believed that warm water do me good.

Since i moved to Singapore, which is equally a tropical country like the Philippines, I've learned that bathing and washing in warm water is not only relaxing but also beneficial to my skin. Not only until i returned home to the Philippines and lived back here long that i realized .. I might be wrong.

Not counting tomorrow's future trip to salon, i've had 3 hair spa's already in the last 2 months. Not that hair spa is a pain at all nor too expensive to have, but its the dryness and the stiffness that i cant take. Whenever i look at how my hair falls dull, i feel miserable. I have many physical imperfections, but if i can help it, oh God please, not the hair, and certainly, not the skin.

Deepwell. The bathing water i used in the Philippines is not centralized nor it is the same in Singapores 'cleaned' whatsoever. It a deepwell. and the water most likely is impure, yes we have filtration, and yes, we've had the most number of pipes installed all the way down. But to no avail, the water still suck, whenever i bathe, i feel like getting minerals on my skin, minerals just like how an iron or aluminum smell? or how coarse the metal shavings are when on water. I had my work around. I am basically blaming the water for my poor skin and hair. It went on for months and me trying to get the best filter i could to install in the bathroom faucet.

And so i realized, its not the water. Or its not the water,only.

What were my regimen back in Singapore? i should consider those right?

Lots of fruits. In Singapore i dont eat much chips, but lots of fruits, longgan and grapes.

Less fried chicken, Backin Singapore i've opted out from Old Changkee Friend Chicken Wings on my first 2 months and decided to remove it from my vocabulary on the third month. Its just soo not healthy (but trust me they are heaven yummy, mybf love them so much too)

Occassional Vitamin E facial. Well i do this on my own, there are vitamin E capsules, i prick it and apply it to my face, normally every other week when i feel my skin is really stressed.

Shampoo and Conditioner. I actually use the same brand. Panteen Soft and Silky.

Soap. I can go about using any kind of soap, but im fond of papaya soaps, i think it makes my skin fairer. However i often get bored using the same scent of soap soexpiriment all the time, specially for body soap. For facial soap, itend to stick to whatever makes me feel better and gives me result.

Moisturizer. Not a fan but im keeping a few types, Nivea and Olay. I apply only when i feel like it. Im so not into the greasy feel. I use moisturizer only when my facial skin feels dry and the air is causing it, ahmm just like how it feels during Christmas season.

I tried to do and practice what i've been doing before and still without luck im doomed to a parlor visit in the next 24 hours. But why? Why can't i get the same result?

I this regard, i made a research on the internet and found out - i was really mistaken.

Dry skin and hair. Because i bathe with warm water every morning. Only warm, i dont even rinse in cold or tap temp water, that explains it. i've been so inlove with warm water only to realize its the one possibly causing it. On the other hand, the differencethat i missed to remember was, i had a bathroom heater in Singapore (and have only kettle wonder here.crap). When i bathe, i adjust the water, to warm, then cold, then warmer, then colder, i finish my bathing with a really hot (most i can tolerate and i can tolerate a lot, max on my heater), then i apply whatever i need to apply oil, lotion, moisturizer,toner (im so moody with lotions or the greasy things) then i step inside the airconditioned room with enough cold level to trap the moisture and heat inside my skin. I change to my office clothes and walk to office.. Oh yes, another point.. i never take a bus or train to the office, i only walk, no pollution. Whereas here,i travel 1 hour to work, then i walk 15 mins after the bus in a street filled of cars and people on a rush hour. So thats the trick that made my skin and hair really nice when i was in Singapore.

My photo when i was in SG (a yr ago)

Christmas Bonus

Apparently, in my 30 yrs of existence out of which more than 10 yrs of working with various companies, i've never really received a Christmas Bonus (in cash not in kind, thank you!). I feel bad to be accepting the fact that i'm not as lucky as i believed with my "Employers". Well Christmas is the biggest holiday for me, and i guess for most yeah? It would lift me beyond heavens having more bucks to spend for food, buying gifts, give aways and keepsakes, charity work etc etc.. the list just runs on and on.. its Christmas! everyone's supposed to be celebrating!

Oh Well, just because i'm bitter not having 'that' again this year, i thought of researching where the hell bonus during Christmas holidays came from, how in the world is that fair that i never ever get to have one for the last 10 years? Oh Santa!

Evolution of the Christmas Bonus

It used to be that business owners would give gifts to all of their employees as a sign of gratitude for all the hard work they have done for the year that passed. This was the origin of the "Christmas bonus". What happened and how come it is what it is now?

An owner of a small manufacturing company, Mr.X was a generous person. His business was doing well and profits were growing steadily. One Christmas, he decided to share the company's blessings to all of his employees.

He gave them ham for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were all very much grateful and delighted. The ham was a symbol of their pride. They felt they were vital to the company's success.

A few years have past, the employees slowly got sick of always receiving ham for Christmas. Some say they didn't like to eat ham. Some say the brand of ham given was not the best. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them food baskets for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were all very grateful and delighted. The food basket was a symbol of their influence. They felt their voice was being heard.

A few years have past, the employees slowly got sick of always receiving food baskets for Christmas. Some say they didn't like to eat too much while some say it was still not enough. Some say they didn't want to receive food as a gift. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them gift baskets for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were all grateful and delighted. The gift basket was a symbol of their triumph. They felt their will is being followed.

A few years have past, the employees slowly got sick of always receiving gift baskets for Christmas. Some say they didn't like to carry the heavy gift baskets, while some say the gifts were still not enough. Some said they wanted to choose which gift they want to receive. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them a gift vouchers for Christmas. Since then, it became a yearly tradition. The employees were somewhat grateful and delighted. The gift voucher was a symbol of privilege. They felt it was only proper for them to be rewarded every year with what they really want.

Do you know what happened next? Some employees didn't like the store whey they got the gift voucher from! Some said the store was too expensive while some said it was too cheap. They started complaining. Mr.X heard about it and did something to remedy the situation.

He gave them CASH for Christmas. The cash gift became the employees' symbol of power. They felt that it was their right to receive the cash gift every year.

Since then, the Christmas bonus was not treated as a thank you from Mr.X. Rather, it was just that extra money the employees receive by the end of the year.

Disclaimer : This is a fiction, article from the web previously written and published at www.blogtopsites.com

Trend Micro Philippines "NOOOO" contest

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