Pinoy.Urban.Blog

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) cordially invites you and your colleagues to a free stock market seminar on Tuesday, 05 June 2007, 01:00 PM, at the main Function Room of Star Plaza, Dagupan City, Pangasinan and Thursday, 07 June 2007, 01:00 PM at the Fort Ilocandia.

This endeavor is in line with the PSE’s main thrust to revitalize the local capital market by inculcating the stock market in the minds of a greater number of Filipinos. Through such investor education activities, we hope to promote the stock market as an effective venue for mobilizing capital for business enterprises, which in turn will generate more employment, more livelihood opportunities and more economic growth.

We have lined up experts who will share their expertise on stock market topics that we are sure prospective investors and would-be IPO candidates will find interesting.

There’s a limited number of slots. Thus, participants are requested to pre-register to accommodate only registered participants on a first-come, first-served, basis.

Pre-registration, however, is no hassle, because you can just call the PSE Market Education Department at (632) 688-7536 to 39 to pre-register and confirm your attendance. Or you may sign up by sending your name and company/organization via fax at (02) 6346695 or email to cgpenaflor@pse.com.ph. You may also text your name and company at 09166459111.

The much awaited Aliwan Festival starts today until Saturday, April 26-28, at the Roxas Boulevard. Dozens of participants in awesome spectacle which includes previous champions such as the Dinagyang of Iloilo and the Sinulog of Cebu.

See the complete list of participants below:

Sinulog Festival of Cebu City

Sagayan Festival of Sultan Kudarat

Pakalog Festival of Pasig City

Panagbenga Festival of Baguio City

Sambali Cagayana Festival of Cagayan

Disposorio Festival of Malolos, Bulacan

Pamitinan Festival of Rodriguez, Rizal

Boling Boling Festival of Catanauan, Quezon

Pili Festival of Sorsogon City

Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City (Ilonganon and Kahilwayan contingents)

Babaylan Festival of Bago City, Negros Occidental

Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos, Leyte

Padul-ong Festival of Borongan, Eastern Samar

Pasalamat Festival of Pagadian City

Zamboanga Hermosa Festival of Zamboanga City

Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City

Padang-Padang Festival of Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan

Melimud Festival of South Upi, Maguindanao.

The Philippine Federation of Bodybuilders, Inc. (PFBB) has announced the staging of the 2007 NATIONAL BODYBUILDING & FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIPS on Saturday, 28 April 2007 at 2:00 to 7:00PM at the Saint Joseph’s Theater, La Salle Greenhills, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

Seven male categories will be contested – 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg, and 85kg – and the Women Fitness Open category in a 5-hour event. The competitions are open to male bodybuilders and female fitness of Filipino citizenship. Dope testing will be given to the winners of the men’s division while there will be NO dope testing for the women’s fitness winners.

Post dope-test winners will gain entry to the prestigious National Team 2007-2008 and qualify for the following international competitions:

1. 3rd East Asian Bodybuilding Championships
2-6 August 2007 – Yamaguchi City, Japan

2. Asian Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships
28 August – 3 September 2007 – Shanghai, China (PRC)

3. World Bodybuilding Championships
October 2007 – Jeju, Korea

4. 2007 SEAGAMES Bangkok
December 2007 – Bangkok, Thailand

The annual selection is sanctioned by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

For further details and pre-registration, please call Ms. Len S. Garlejo at Excellent Travel, 1523-1527 M.H. del Pilar Street, Ermita, Manila 1000 at landline 523-7912, fax 5260318, or email to pfbb_06@yahoo.com.

When was the last time you visited Corregidor? If it was back when you were still in school, it might be time for a return visit. Or you could just opt to bring your kids here during the summer months to squeeze in a little education during the school break. Carlos Celdran is arranging for overnight tours to the island of Corregidor on the following dates:

APRIL 28 - 29, 2007
MAY 19-20, 2007
Departure 8:00am Saturday. Arrive Manila 3:45pm Sunday.
Only twenty-five (25) slots available.

More details can be found in his blog.

An alternative option would be to take a day trip. Rates start at P1590 per person. You can visit the Sun Cruises website for more information. A sample itinerary follows:

7:00am Check-in time
7:30am Boarding time
8:00am ETD Manila
9:15am ETA Corregidor
Guided tour with Lunch
2:30pm ETD Corregidor
3:45pm ETA Manila

In case you haven’t already heard, the World Light Expo is ongoing along Roxas Boulevard until April

Special Attractions include:

• Harbin Ice & Light Festival
• An Ice World of minus 18degree Centigrade
• One of the World’s Top 7 Mysteries
• The 1st Qin Emperor’s Terracotta Army Exhibition
• China Government-certified Circus Performance
• Korean Folk Paper made (Hanji) Doll Exhibition
• Fantastic Water Screen
• Laser Show Dance Festival
• World Top Korean B-Boy Group

What: 2007 World Light Expo Philippines.
Where: Roxas Blvd. and Coastal Road Junction, Paranaque City
When: Feb. 13, 2007 to April 22, 2007
Ticket Prices: P300 (Adult) / P200 (Child)
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance.

Related links (and photos) follow:

• World Light Expo by Anton
• World Light Expo by skipsmilesleep
• Let There Be Lights by Daguldol
• World Light Expo 2007 by pinoy photographer
• Amazing World Light Expo by Annalyn

Related Link: Recessed Lighting from Tecnolux Lighting producer

Looking to improve your photography skills this summer? You might want to sign up for a photography workshop with Jo Avila. He has classes running regularly on weeknights, and sessions on weekends as well (for folks with day jobs).

April 2007 Basic Photography Seminar (Weeknight Sessions)

April 10 – Basic Theories and Principles of Photography
April 12– Composition Techniques
April 17 – Basic Studio Lighting
April 19 – Basic Photoshop
April 24 – Basic Color Management and Guerilla Shooting Techniques

All sessions shall be from 630pm-930pm.

April to May 2007 Basic Photography Seminar (Saturday Sessions)

April 14 – Basic Theories and Principles of Photography
April 21 – Composition Techniques
April 28 – Basic Studio Lighting
May 5 – Basic Photoshop
May 12 – Basic Color Management and Guerilla Shooting Techniques

All sessions shall be from 2pm-5pm.

There are only fifteen (15) slots available.

The seminar fee of P4, 500/participant is the total fee for all five sessions. All participants will receive handouts and a certificate of attendance.

More information can be found on his website.

If you’ve been planning to check your real estate options in Angeles City, you might want to attend the launching of a high class subdivision in Angeles City - The Enclave. This class A subdivision is near Timog Park subdivision, Sunset Valley Mansion and Grand Royal Garden.

The Enclave’s launching will be on March 24, 2007 at 5pm. Guest artists include Sam Milby, Sitti Navarro, Take 5 Band and Pinoy Dream Academy Winners.

The Enclave is currently being developed by Delfin Lee of Globe Asiatique. 

Delfin Lee is the same guy you see so many times on television giving out condo and residential units to winners in televsion hits “Pinoy Big Brother”, “Pinoy Dream Academy”, and “Wowowee”. Globe Asiatique is the same group behind GA Twin Towers in the heart of Edsa Mandaluyong; Chateau Valenzuela, a 5-star condo complex in Valenzuela City; Sta. Barbara Villas, a modern community overlooking mountainside of San Mateo, Rizal; and St. Monique Valais - a 200-hectare classy residential area in Binangonan, Rizal. - SunStar

The Enclave’s amenities include the following:

• The whole subdivision is a wi-fi hotzone for internet and VoIP 
• Security cameras in every street
• CCTV surveillance system at the entrance gate and commercial area    
• Cable Internet
• Enclave Gate
• Enclave Geyser

It will be a residential and commercial center rolled into one.

I got an email from Max’s this afternoon. They are having a Free Breakfast Day this coming Monday, March 19th, to celebrate their new Power Breakfast line. You can get in touch with Blooey Singson at press_incorporated (at) yahoo (dot) com or landline (02) 729-4013 to request gift passes (which are required for the free offering). Kindly email your name, blog URL, email address, and mailing address where the can send the passes.

Max’s has a limited number of passes, though, and they’re prioritizing bloggers based on reach and readership. But I was told they will try to accommodate as many requests possible. The free breakfast offer is only on March 19th from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. only (which discounts restaurants located in malls, given mall opening hours).

Press release starts below

Max’s launches Power Breakfast line

Early risers are in for a wonderful treat as Max’s Restaurant launches its new Power Breakfast composed of sumptuous meals that will surely jumpstart your day.

The classic Tapa Meal is the 60-year old heirloom recipe of Max’s founder Nanay Ruby Trota consists of tender beef slices marinated in tapa seasoning with zesty hint of pineapple and served with rice, two fried eggs and brewed coffee.

Chef Gene Gonzalez lends its interesting Pinoy-progressive recipe of Adobo Flakes Meal of shredded bits of chicken pork adobo fried to crispy perfection.

The Pepperoni Omelet Meal is a deviation from the usual ham and beef fastfood fare with its savory pepperoni and cheese filling and served with orange slices, fresh bread loaf and brewed coffee and also available in vegetable omelet.

Missing the good old champorado? Triple Chocolate Champorado offers an extra chocolatey recipe with thrice the chocolate indulgence. Food lovers even have the option to top this tasty recipe with vinegared, boneless and scaleless gourmet tuyo to satisfy their cravings.

Other Max’s Power Breakfast fares include Sausage Meal (juicy frankfurter slices and caramelized onions, sauteed in Max’s sauce), Tocino Meal (tender pork seasoned with salt and pepper, pan fried with a tangy caramelized coating), Longganisa Meal (two pieces of meaty chicken longganisa cured the hamonado way) and Bangus Meal, (half-sized bangus marinated in garlic and vinegar for that real daing flavor).

All are served with Max’s specially brewed coffee from Indonesian Arabica and Robusta beans.

Max’s Power Breakfast is available from 7 am to 10 am daily, at all of 72 free-standing Max’s outlets nationwide.

March 15th is Starbucks annual Coffee Break day. They’ll be giving away free coffee to patrons.

Next Thursday, March 15th, plan on stopping by your local Starbucks between 10am and 12 noon. During that time, Starbucks will be holding its 2nd annual Coffee Break. All company-operated and licensed Starbucks stores in the U.S. , Canada , New Zealand , Australia , Thailand , Malaysia , the Philippines , Indonesia and Greater China will be giving away free Tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee to anyone who drops by. Starbucks Coffee Masters clad in black aprons will be present during each of the coffee breaks to kick off the company’s spring brewing sale and to answer any questions you might have about the coffee or coffee brewing. Last year, many stores used the coffee break period to sample some of their pastries out to customers waiting in line, as well. For the location of the nearest Starbucks, you can look at their website http://starbucks.com or text your zip code to “MYSBUX” (697289) for a return of the three nearest stores.

Long lines are expected, however. So it’s an issue of whether 30 minutes waiting in line (not to mention the walk/commute to a nearby Starbucks branch) is worth the PhP 100 or so that a cup of drip-brewed coffee costs.

But if freebies are your thing, then be sure to drop by Starbucks tomorrow.

Cebu Pacific is offering P1 flights (just pay for taxes and insurance).

Sale Period: March 2 - 8, 2007
Travel Period: June 1 - Dec 15, 2007

The website is crazy busy during work days (I think I’ve seen statistics showing that most people access the Internet from their office places in the middle of the work week) so I recommend you try and book your flight during evenings or early in the morning. I’m trying to book a flight to Hong Kong myself but their crazy site keeps on offering me their full fare P1999 ticket (one-way). It’s possible they’ve run out of cheap seats for most of their flights. In any case, the flights seem like good bargains, especially the international ones if you can manage to maneuver your way around their site.

Be forewarned, their international flights are scheduled for the dead of the night and make use of the budget airlines. And if you need to make any changes later on, you need to go through the inconvenience of paying a rebooking fee and coordinating with a brick-and-mortar Cebu Pacific office.