“Like No Other”

I

As I count my years, ’til today,

I’ve never been so amazed to say,

That God has been faithful every single day,

For all the things, I am about to say.

II

Let me count the ways that God has fill

All my days, with His love that I can feel.

He told me many times to be still

So He can throw at me, lots of joy and thrill.

III

Like you my friends, old and new,

Who helped me through the days, especially, when I am blue.

And to my family where i was born to

Truly, God gave me the best, that, I won’t argue.

III

On my special day today, as most of you know,

I am thinking lots of things where we can go.

With Rendell and Cristelle, we still have to know,

For a day like no other, that’s where we want to go.

IV
This side of me, is not out in the open,

For I’m a poet, not that often.

Though today, I’m publishing this out in the open,

But please don’t expect this ‘poet in me’ always to happen

V

For the love of my life, who I want to marry.

Hopefully this year, we can be merry.

As we wait for the day that we can be called already,

as husband and wife, that will be a beauty.

VI

To my son, who is so dear

So close to my heart, that is very clear.

As you grow up, may God help me to rear

Don’t forget, no matter what happens, I am here.

VII

So before my special day ends,

Let me thank God again without an end.

For He has given more than what I intend,

His kindness and love like no other, has no end.

VIII

Though a new gadget would be a great gift from friends like you,

But a simple help, that will do.

Start by liking my blog, that’s a treat from you.

Though I won’t deny, a new iPhone – that’s a blast, Wooohoo! LOL!

Hope you follow this LINK and like it or Follow me HERE or HERE.

Rey Belen - Jan. 6, 2012

Controversial "People's Magazine January 2012 Cover" that has gone viral

Articles about Taylor Lautner’s controversial cover story about his confession of being gay trended on local and international online news sites.

Well, the truth is that this heartthrob’s viral magazine cover is FAKE (article here). (Sorry for the guys who hate him, whenever their girlfriends choose to watch him over you)

Anyway, this is just a recent example of how false information can somehow stand “believable” (even for a short time) on the internet. With a few clicks, one false message can go viral and be accepted as truth – especially if no one is going to speak up to correct it.

If known personalities can be a victim of false information proliferating over the web, more so that ordinary people can be a victim of falsehood. Whether it is posing as another person, misinformation, omission of information, false identification, et al.

One small, wrong information can spread like wildfire and be accepted as truth over social media, and can be used to influence the decision-making of the person/s who received the message.

Thus, it’s time for everyone to participate in this ever evolving and growing culture of social media, to speak up and stand in truth.

FALSEHOOD’S KIN

A very close friend of mine, Rey Joble (a sportswriter), who was writing for GMANewsTV’s Sports Section, was a victim of PLAGIARISM just this year.

What’s intriguing about the story is that a multi-awarded writer, Krip Yuson (Alfred Yuson), plagiarized the work of Joble.

Plagiarism is one of THE worst things, if not the worst, that any writer (and journalist) would do.

If not for the bold writing of Jaemark Tordecilla on his blog, FireQuinito, the act of plagiarism wouldn’t have been brought to light. (This resulted to GMA’s non-renewal of Yuson’s contract as editor-at-large for the online news media of the network.)

This proves that when someone speaks up, there is a chance that wrong practices can be corrected, no matter who might be the involved parties.

So, Krip Yuson will be on Philippine journalism history as one, being in the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the other for plagiarizing Rey Joble’s work.

SOCIAL MEDIA AT PLAY

Seeing the social media as it is now, (and looking at how it will grow in the future), we can have all our say, our influence, in shaping and making things better.

Everyone can speak up to his or her own sphere of influence – faster and more powerful than before, through social media. Just imagine, influencing at least 30 people in your own sphere. Multiplied again to the 30 more of the 30s you have influenced (900 people).

So, let this fact now push YOU (reading this article now) to speak up your mind. Speak up of what’s beneficial to the common good of everyone.

You’re a citizen of this country anyway, so act like a RESPONSIBLE one.

Use your voice.

Use your space.

Speak up for truth.

Speak up for progress.

Speak up for responsible communication

Speak up on 2012.

Communication plays a big role in developing people, communities and nations. And whether we like it or not, whether we know it or not, we are part of the WHOLE communication ecosystem. So either we choose to be bearers of destructive messages, or we can choose to be messengers of helpful new.

Thus, I stand for responsible communication – and I choose to play my part to actively participate in my small ways.

One is to reinforce my students, who could be the future communicators of this country, of the value of delivering helpful messages. Second is to deliberately post positive and developmental messages through own blogs and social walls.. This way, I can be a conduit of good messages that can help our nation rise.

I resist to believe that Filipinos can be irresponsible with what they talk about and how they talk about things. Let us all play our part. Speak of TRUTH, RESPONSIBILITY and PROGRESS.

In celebration of Healthway‘s 14th Anniversary, they are giving away HealthWay‘s HealthWallet, a consumable, transferrable and reloadable lifetime family health card:

• 14 HealthWallet cards with a load of Php1,000 each for FREE to the first 14 patients who will visit Healthway Greenbelt 5 on December 24 and 31, 2011 from 2pm– onwards.

• To avail of the FREE HealthWallet card with Php1,000 load, the client must approach the CRS and advise that they wish to avail of the “14 Promo”

• Valid only at Healthway Greenbelt 5 branch.

For more info also check HealthWay’s HealthWallet

Seeing the playground  first, I thought, it was only for kids to enjoy. But then, I was wrong. It proved that Seriland has more fun in store for adults as well.

Seriland only features four places. The 3D Cinema Plus, Kid’s Paradise, Mirror Maze and Trick Art Museum.

3D Cinema Plus

The movie that played was Dinky the Dinosaur. It is a 10-minute show about dinosaurs. The good thing about the movie is that it is child-friendly. The movie has good family values that parents can reinforce teaching after watching the movie.

Mirror Maze

Being inside the Mirror Maze made me feel like the ones in the movies (especially horror / action movies) that you get confused inside a small glass room. The illusion of having so many reflections makes you feel either you’re too far from the sides or that what you’re facing is a glass wall already.

The fun never stops as you try to find your way out of the maze. Better listen to you guide, like what Shine (Seriland staff) told us, to always place your hands infront of you, that way, you will know it is a glass wall, before you hit it.

Another word of caution is that, DO NOT RUN or WALK FAST, believe me, you will be fooled many times by the mirrors. You might end up bumping yourself into a wall

Plus, the place offers great spots for photos. Sad part is, my cam’s battery was drained already and wasn’t able to take more photos.

Trick Art Museum

This is another treat for the grown-ups, and even for kids (roughly 10 years and above). The museum is a gallery of artworks that has so much fun. With a creative imagination and camera, viola! you can create your own “masterpiece” of tricks.

Each artwork is designed to make an optical illusion of some sort. Jose (Seriland staff), our guide, said that there are obvious creations already as set by the photo samples. However, he added that even Seriland staff and visitors discover new angles that create a new set of images.

It was fun being in there. But due to other commitments we had to leave the Seriland. I’m sure going to go back there with my son and Cristelle again, to enjoy more.

RATES

Each attraction cost Php 150.

PROMO RATES (According to Seriland FB Page)

Merry Christmas! Good News for all our Fans. You may avail our attractions at PHP109 per attraction (Instead of Php150).

Terms:
Just give your facebook account name at our ticketing counter. Bring with you 2 or more family members or friends (They can also avial this promo). Valid from December 23 to January 1 only; 10AM-6PM.

For more information you may call (02) 559-7851

Acknowledgment

Thanks to Janese of lakwatseramom.blogspot.com for the invites. Until next trip.

Drop me a comment here or at twitter @ReyBelen and let’s all have some good time together with Vangie.

It’s pretty easy. Just kill the viruses floating on screen. You can LITERALLY swipe the viruses away from your screen. But you have to have a webcam to be able to play the game.

Here are the screenshots of the game:

One photo shows that I was waiting for the virus to come out. (This was I think, my second try of the game)

It is so easy that even kids (who are into FB) can play the game. It is composed only of three levels. On level one, yellow viruses. Level two has green viruses. While level three has the red viruses.

Well, like what I said, the game is so easy. I just hope that Conzace Viral Smackdown can introduce a simultaneous versus battle (like the Tetris on Facebook), for people to enjoy it more by fighting off those viruses – only this time – with the instant bragging rights of who’s better.

To start-off, the movie showed real-life scenarios of husband-wife and family situation, facing challenges.

In the advent of “money” earning-oriented movies, values have been overlooked a lot of times. And this time around, with the “My HouseHusband, Ikaw Na” a very noticeable angle of straightening and enriching family values are one of the key ingredients of the movie.

This I believe makes this movie a good one. Not to mention how the three main actors played their roles.

Ryan Agoncillo plays a husband who found himself “in-charge” of the household chores after resigning from work. Judy Ann Santos is a wife, who filled in the shoes of providing for the family, after husband’s resignation.

Eugene Domingo plays the role of a single-mom who has a dirty-old man as a lover.

Direk Joey Reyes knew how to bring out the best from this movie. The film has a simple, easy to understand plot – based on situations that most Filipinos can relate to. Any audience can simply connect with the idea of the struggles of a married couple undergoing tough times. Many, for sure, can relate to now becoming common phenomenon, wherein the Filipino wives nowadays,not only help in providing money for the family, but also THE main source of income for the whole household.

Best of all, Direk Joey was able to balance the drama and comedy on the whole film – providing ample time for the drama scenes to make the emphasis for the lessons, and making good transition for the funny scenes to be absorbed well by the audience.

The acting of Juday comes into play for the crucial drama scenes (where she is best at), making that piercing, realistic point of view of a wife who is working for the whole family and struggles not to step on the “ego” of her husband.

Ryan, on the other hand, played it well. He may not be known for hardcore drama acting, but on this movie, he was able to manage a switching roles from comedy to drama at times.

Eugene added more flavor to the general tone of the movie. Her funny antics made the movie lighter to comprehend, at the same time, a good transition to the scenes – be it heavy or light scenes. Her role is very noticeable and TRULY a fun thing to watch. Her scenes are hilariously funny.

This movie is a must-see movie on the Metro Manila Film Fest.

WRITER’S NOTE: Fearless forecast, this movie can be a formidable third in the top grossing films after, Enteng ng Ina Mo and Panday (family-oriented movies), but in terms of content, I believe this film is one of the best in this year’s film fest, though, I still have to watch the other movies.

Eugene Domingo is the “true” winner this year in the MMFF. Three of movies she is into, are in the official list of entries in this year’s fest: My HouseHusband, Enteng ng Ina Mo and Shake, Rattle and Roll 13.

And for the first time, the audience will get to enjoy the best of both worlds, Ina and Enteng in their new movie “Enteng ng Ina mo.”

In an afternoon with the media and bloggers, Vic Sotto entertained questions thrown at him.

Sotto said the team up was not planned at all. It was just by chance that this project took off. And when he was asked to do the project, Vic said he never hesitated to do the movie together with Ms. Ai-ai.

Vic said that Ai-ai is a true “Tanging Ina” in real life. Adding that delas Alas is a single mom rearing her children – truly a unique mom.

The creative team, headed by director Tony Reyes said that it took them a while to finish the movie. The team was challenged in combining the stories of both successful movie franches – “Enteng Kabisote” and “Tanging Ina“.

Reyes added that they introduced new “fantasy” characters. The creative team took extra time to enhance the visual effects of the movie, which was another challenge for the production team.

Vic added that the ending of the movie is open-ended, citing that there is a possibility of a sequel for the movie, depending on the outcome this coming Metro Manila Film Fest.

Writer’s Note: For the record, it is expected that this movie, “Enteng ng Ina Mo” will top the box-office, undoubtedly.

ENTENG NG INA MO OFFICIAL TRAILER

Segunda Mano, official entry of Star Cinema to the Metro Manila Film Fest 2011, is a horror movie about buying second items, and life’s second chances.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Mabel Domingo (Kris Aquino), the owner of a high-class, but creepy, antique shop, only wants herself and her mother to move on from the tragic past of losing her sister as she carries the guilt of causing her death. She meets Ivan Galvez (Dingdong Dantes), a rich and successful architect who only wants to find the perfect wife and mother for his young daughter Angel to finally have a complete and happy family after his ex-wife left for him for another man.

Since Ivan’s proposal, Mabel is haunted by an unknown ghost who seems to endanger everyone around her. As the terror escalates, she discovers an unexpected twist that will test her love for Ivan.

In an afternoon with the creative team, director Joyce Bernal disclosed that she was challenged with the movie. She admitted that it was not an easy task for her to direct her first horror movie. She said that her “criticism” on other horror films was not put to the test, since, it is her turn now to prove that she can do better in making people feel scared watching her movie on the big screen.

She added that the three stars were very professional and she never had any issues with them. “Angelica (Panganiban) made Dingdong (Dantes) feel very welcome since the very first day. Walang Kapamilya or Kapuso.” Bernal said.

Bernal attributed Kris’ eyes to be the x-factor for the actress’ appeal on the horror films. The director added that Kris’ eyes are like the Koreans, very expressive.

Based on Bernal’s statements, viewers can expect the unexpected from the movie. She noted that moviegoers need to watch Segunda Mano from beginning to end to appreciate it.

Writer’s Note: Well, based on Direk Bernal’s interview, I personally feel that I need to watch the movie, to prove that Segunda Mano is not a “second-hand” type of movie – meaning a rehash of other horror films. I feel that with Direk Joyce’ touch, there could be new elements to the film like no other Filipino horror films. 

OFFICIAL TRAILER of SEGUNDA MANO