Beware of this Text Scam

This afternoon I got a text from someone who I thought was my friend from abroad.  The first text was "Msta n kau dyn?e2 n new roaming # ko.d2 n kyo mgttxt.mlapit n xmas & new yr.advnce n lng s inyo lhat.bsta ingat lng kyo dyn plgi,alwys tkecare & godbles."  Since no name was specified, the logical next question would be to verify the identity of the person.  Well, if you happen to know someone from abroad who carries a roaming number, you'd naturally mention a name answerable by "yes" or "no".  An answer in the affirmative would then lead to a couple of the usual "kamustahan" and then comes the hook which is in a form of a business proposal.  The text would say, "Ung mga ksamahan k kc d2 ng su2dgest n mag benta daw ako ng prepaid crd d2 malaki kc ang 2bo ung 500 crd mbebenta k ng 2,500. Db ang laki ng 2bo kng gs2ubumili k jan ng prepaid crd kht ilan ako ang magbe2nta d2 sau n ang 2bo."  Sounds enticing doesn't it?  Here then is how this "business venture" is supposed to happen, " Mdli lng g2wn m0h bibili ka lng dyn smart prepaid crd at kpg nkbili kna send m0h lng skn ang pin # at aq na bhla mgbenta d2,ip2dla q rn agd sau ang pinagbenthn."  He would then want you to text back 5 Globe and 5 Smart Php 500 loads.  Truth be told, I almost fell into this trap.  What gave it away was the makulit nature of the texter.  After I said that I'll just text him later a follow up text every 30 minutes will bug you.  So to be sure that he really was the friend I thought him to I asked him his surname---that ended the charade.  The mobile number of this scammer is 09212939530.

So friends beware.  There are a lot of unscrupulous people around!

San Miguel Beer Premium: Lemon and Apple Flavor

Ever since I had a gout attack I have refrained from drinking beer so I guess I was kind of out of touch in terms of what the latest offering in terms of this beverage.  

I have been introduced to San Miguel Beer Premium by a friend and found it smooth and light (heavy on the kick though).  Of course, being "premium" it came with a hefty price and it's only served in select establishments.  Last night, I attended a Christmas party for a vendor at Dencio's Metrowalk.  They were serving beer and they carry San Miguel Beer Premium!  As I've mentioned---I try to veer away from drinking beer but this time a colleague offered me one that I just couldn't say no to.  Meet---San Miguel Beer Premium Lemon and Apple flavor!   It had less kick at 3% alcohol content, meaning, we can drink more that our usual limit and taste good too!  

Beware: Camp Karingal is NOT a Safe Haven

This is a second hand account of what transpired yesterday, December 12, 2011.

Our company driver got involved in an accident yesterday and the vehicle was towed to Camp Karingal.  Since it was already late and with no resolution in sight, our company "negotiator" (taga areglo ng aberya) to pack up for the day and come back the next day.  However, when they they tried to endorse the damaged vehicle, they were told by the police inspector that they can do so at their own risk.  

What?!  Camp Karingal is a police detachment for crying out loud!  Who will dare commit a crime within its walls?  

Now we know why our police force are poor in terms of INTEGRITY!

More of Daiana Meneses @ the Bumper to Bumper 7 Event

The American Chopper Build Off: OCC vs PJD vs Jesse James

The much awaited build off is finally here!  OCC vs PJD vs Jesse James!  Whose the best custom bike builder?  Well, it's up to us the viewer and motorcycle enthusiasts to decide!  So what are you waiting for?  VOTE NOW or forever hold your peace! --- http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/american-chopper/chopper-live/final-poll.html#mkcpgn=fbtlc2&fbpostid=fbtlc2-

Now here's my two cents worth:

Who am I going to vote for and in what order?  Since there's no criteria for judging---I'm making my own.  

Theme - This is suppose to be a custom chopper build off so I'm disqualifying OCC who seemed to have lost their way here.  Is that a snow mobile they built?!  I guess Senior was too busy talking trash about his son that he didn't hear CHOPPER build off.  PJD and Jesse James got this right on the button.  Jesse James was also talking trash but at least he was listening as to what needs to be done.

Creativity and Design - This is the WOW effect.  Being from the Philippines, choppers are not an everyday sight.  So in the 3 times in my life that I've seen one cruising by definitely got my head turning 360 degrees!  But in so far that I have been watching American Chopper and looking at motorcycle magazines I can say that I've gotten myself an eye for what an exceptional bike is when it comes to design.

After much shit talking from Jesse, you'd expect him to really step up on the plate and hit a home run---NOT!  It turned out that Jesse was all talk and not much imagination!  This one goes to PJD hands down!

However, I must give credit to Jesse in terms of his bike building skills.  He made his bike all by hand that showed his blacksmith-ing skills.  Unfortunately, the build off is meant to judge the output and not the bike building process. 

Obviously, my choice is PJD over Jesse James!  So, whose your pick?

PJD Bike

Jesse James Bike

OCC Bike (if you can call it a bike, that is)

Everyday Lessons from Gloc9 and Daiana Meneses

I bumped into Aris "Gloc9" Pollisco and his lovely wife Teegi this morning at SM Hypermart and got to chit-chat while waiting our turn at the counter.  

Gloc9, together with Parokya ni Edgar, were in a successful North American tour a month ago.  For many of us from the outside looking in, it was a WOW thing.  It's like, "Wow!  Sarap nyo naman!  North American tour!" But what we do not know is how hard the life of an entertainer really is---show, travel, show, travel, show---barely able to rest and do anything else in order to fulfill the commitment to entertain.  Performing sick is part of the job hazard and as the entertainment saying goes, "The show must go on." 

Like Gloc9, Daiana Meneses is also living the seemingly glamorous life of an entertainer.  I saw her yesterday at the Bumper to Bumper Car Show and she seemed vibrant and accommodating amidst the suffocating mob of fans who either wanted her autograph or her picture.  I took a video of her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMTF2EC6qo&feature=youtu.be and posted it on her Facebook wall to which she graciously replied to with a short "kwento" as to the sleepless days of touring the different parts of the country prior to the event.  

These are people who we envy and look up to.  However, their life is not all that glamorous as we thought it is.  They are dedicated people making a living.  Many of us are like this except that we're only famous in our own little circle.  If we are envious of their fame, many of them crave for the simple life away from the kleig lights and public scrutiny.  Well, we are dealt with different hands in this game of life.  How we react to what we have is a matter of ATTITUDE.

Gloc9 and Daiana are good examples of people who love their work and are willing to go beyond the call of duty to make good in their craft.  Not only are they entertainers but also role models worth emulating.

Brooklyn Decker and Kate Upton: The New Breed of Supermodels

Supermodels are not spared by age!  Those whom I knew at the height of my puberty like Heidi Klum, Paulina Porizkova, Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Kathy Ireland, Rachel Hunter and Claudia Schiffer are now in the supermodel retirement home.  Now, you can only see them gallivanting the beaches with their children in tow---no more catwalk for these ladies.  Of course they've still got that sexy bodies but other than that age has got them holding on to the last vestiges of their glory days.  

Fortunately, like cellphone models, there's always a new set of supermodels coming out!  Oh, goody!  

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is one of the highest selling magazine in the world and with good reason!  It is also said to be the "arbiter of supermodel succession".  For a model to be featured in this yearly publication, good things are sure to come.  Ask Brooklyn Decker and Kate Upton.  They are the new faces who are now hogging magazine covers and ads! 

Brooklyn Decker

Brooklyn Decker, 23, was born in Middletown, Ohio, and raised in Charlotte, N.C. She was discovered at age 16 in a mall, and began her career as the face of Mauri Simone. She has been featured in Teen Vogue, GQ, Cosmopolitan, FHM and Glamour as well as in campaigns for Gap, Intimissimi and Victoria's Secret and in music videos for Jimmy Buffett and 3 Doors Down. This is Brooklyn's sixthSports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue appearance.

Kate Upton

Kate Upton, 18, is a Midwest native who always dreamed of being a model. Fantasy became reality three years ago when she walked into an open call and booked her first job. Since then she has been the face for Guess Lingerie and appeared on the cover ofCosmopolitan Bride. This is Kate's first appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.