Manhattan Beach Surf Fest 2007

Manhattan Beach Surf Fest is a 6-person volleyball tournament on the beach. The twist is people usually wear costumes to play and more often than not, the players are inebriated. It's one big massive party. The event also attracts the pros and ex-pros.

the beach before the crowds The Magnum P.I. team

The Grannies vs. Magnum P.I.'s

Grannies win

The water polo team does volleyball too

my cousin, "Where is Waldo Robin?" with the Baywatch babes

video footage

learn to hang glide at Dockweiler State Beach

My B's at Playa del Rey Beach

Besi & Birdie by the Venice Canals

20th Annual Hollywood Bowl Party

20th Annual Hollywood Bowl Party
and
South Pacific with Reba McEntire & Brian Stokes Mitchell

An Inconvenient Tale on the 11th Hour

Being a lover of animals and the great outdoors, I was deeply touched when I saw the documentary film, "Arctic Tale". A few days later, we watched the advanced screening of Leonardo DiCaprio's new feature documentary film, "The 11th Hour". Both films, in my opinion, we very compelling and well made, coming a year after Al Gore's Academy award winning documentary film, "An Inconvenient Truth". Whether you are a believer or a skeptic when it comes to the concept of global warming, I recommend you go see these thought-provoking films, in case you have not seen them. Who knows, it may touch something in you and may make you want to change part of your lifestyle and even go green.

My question for the U.S. Presidential Candidates

This was my entry to the very first CNN/You Tube Debates.



According to Anderson, they had so many entries,

that they, unfortunately, could not include mine

along with the hundreds of others.
Too bad, this could have been my 30 seconds of fame. LOL

Happy Bastille Day!

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.

Breaking Headline News!

My brother in-law, Lance,
was in a biking accident the day after 4th of July.
See the unofficial CNN footage below:

Happy Independence Day!

This was my first 4th of July celebration as an American.

Below are the fireworks as seen from our rooftop:

A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Close to midnight on the day after Christmas Day of 2006, we were jolted out of bed hearing the doorbell frantically ringing. I peeped out the window, and saw a dirty gaunt man shivering in the night. I called out to him and he hollered back my name. I rushed downstairs to see who it was. It took me awhile to recognize this homeless-looking man, whose first words were, "Help me, I'm dying...". I was shocked to realize that it was our old friend, Mike Pohjola, who also happens to be the builder of our house. Bill and he had a falling out about five years ago and we had no knowledge of his whereabouts and how to contact him. The last time we saw him, he was starting to have the early signs of Parkinson's disease. Now, here we were opening the gate to allow him to come in. He could not walk straight and stop shaking. The disease obviously was already in its late stages. His appearance matched his current living conditions, since he apparently had recently come back to L.A. and was living out on the streets.
Since he is our friend and being that it was the Yuletide Season, we welcomed him to our home and let him stay with us. We went through the process of buying him new clothes and footwear, treating him to spa treatments, etc., to at least get him cleaned up and to resemble his old self. As the days passed, we grew more exhausted than the day before. It was evident that we were not capable of taking care of him. He needed 24/7 assisted living and professional attention. For the next months we assisted him in his medical/financial affairs and getting him placed in a nursing facility. We try our best to spend most of our free time visiting him. With this experience, I tip my hat off to all doctors, nurses, and care-givers for what they do on a daily basis. I certainly could not take their place. I feel so helpless seeing a friend at this state and not being able to do more. I wish there was a cure. Today, we are at the UCLA hospital, where the doctors will be performing a pallidotomy. I hope it helps in alleviating his pain. I remain hopeful...

Besi - Diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.

Jury Duty

It has only been seven months since I became a U.S. citizen, and here I am already being summoned to perform one of the civic/civil obligations. I know of several people who have never been called. I looked forward to becoming an American mainly for the blue passport and for the right to vote in 2008, but did not look forward to jury duty. Well, I called in every morning of every day this week to check-in, but, fortunately for Paris Hilton, never got called as a juror. LOL

Happy Gay Pride 2007!

saying hello to my friend, Richie,

who heads one of the Filipino Gay Group contingents

My Bitches Wear Prada

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.

Happy Cinco de Mayo 2007!

modeling my friend, Ridge's Mexican poncho and hat

"Yo quiero Taco Bell."

iPostcards from New York, NY - Spring 2007

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.

Project Amazing Extreme Makeover of the Lost Anatomy of America's Next Desperate Houseworker's Office - Home Edition

As the year 2006 was drawing to a close, I was pirated by my former company's main competitor, another travel management company based in New York City, which specializes in high-end corporate travel with accounts in financial, law, technology, pharmaceutical, and fashion industries. Since the company does not have an office in Los Angeles, and I could not relocate to the "Big Apple", I was asked if I would mind telecommuting or working remotely from the comfort of my own home. Would I?!...I have always imagined that I might have to get a job "licking envelopes" in order for me to work from home. I never thought that this opportunity from within my own industry could present itself if ever. Certainly not this soon! With an enticing offer of a better package plus the idea of saving money and minimizing stress & high-maintenance factors, I decided it was well worth it and I took the leap.

I started in mid-January, went to NYC for my orientation and training, received my new work laptop, set up my home office for the next few weeks, and have been loving working from home ever since!

I find I have no need to even peek into my wallet, since I do not need to buy food & drinks. I do sometimes miss having to dress up smartly, but it also helps in keeping money in my pocket when I do not have to spend on clothes, shoes, accessories, grooming products, etc.

Quite obviously, I do not have to drive my hardly used, relatively new car to work, so I also save on gas & mileage, and my car insurance has gone down ... plus no more stress with dealing with the traffic in "the great big freeway" or driving through shortcuts via bad neighborhoods.

I remain very disciplined...I still shower, shave, and put on a fresh pair of underwear...LOL ... and I do not get tempted to see what Rosie, Oprah, Dr. Phil and/or Ellen are up to during the day...LOL.

I am lucky to have a great boss and a wonderful team. The account I handle is that of a financial investment firm. It is a big and very busy account, thus my day and even shorter 37 1/2 hour work week goes by very fast.

Since I have completely cut off on travel time, I now have more time to spend on other things that really matter...
Bill and the bitches love it too!

***

travel expenses: $0.00
Starbucks coffee: $0.00
lunch: $0.00
working with nothing coming between me and my Calvins: priceless

I can start working without even having to get out of bed.

I can work while I take my bubble bath.

I can work without having to get dressed for work.

I can work from the balcony and watch the boats at the marina & the wildlife in the wetlands...

...and see the snow-capped mountains on a rare clear day.

I can work while I work on my tan lines up on the roof top.

I can be a "Sean of a Beach" while I watch David "Hassel the Hoff".

I would take an ocean view over a big corner office at any given day,

so I can watch the sun set over the Pacific, as I end my day.

... ahhh all in a day's work! ...LOL

... oops! ... how did this get here?! (this is not me, I swear!) ... LOL

Family Properties for Sale

By mere coincidence,
three of my siblings currently have properties for sale.
If interested, please let me know...
I need to increase the pot of my inheritance

from my older siblings...LOL


My brother in-law and older (second) sister are selling a bunch of (approx. 23) family-owned condo units in a 36-storey hotel residence, strategically located at the heart of Annapolis Street in upscale Greenhills in the Philippines. It is called Swire Elan Suites. It is close to every key point in the Metropolis: Ortigas Center, Makati City, Quezon City and Mandaluyong City. Residents have a commanding 360-degree vista of the city, including a glimpse of Manila Bay, Antipolo Hills, Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, Makati Skyline, Ortigas Skyline and the landscapes of Marikina City.
Please click HERE and HERE to be directed to the realtor's website.

***

My only brother is selling their home in New Jersey, USA:
Come and enjoy this meticulously maintained Dutch colonial in the Upper Gregory section of West Orange. Step through the front door and you will be drawn into a large living room with a warm and inviting wood-burning fireplace. Two French doors lead to the cozy sunroom. The formal dining room provides easy access to the country-style eat-in-kitchen. The original chestnut wood trims and hardwood floors throughout exude old world charm. The finished attic (or 4th bedroom) is an oasis from it all! Currently used as a family den with a sitting area. Other features include spacious and bright bedrooms, updated baths, detached 2-car garage with loft storage, additional parking on driveway, a full basement, front porch, 2-year old roof, brand new furnace and water heater. Conveniently located with easy access to NYC train via jitney at corner.
Please click HERE to be directed to the realtor's website.

***

My eldest sister is selling their home in School Lane Hills, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA:
This wonderful spacious 5-bedroom home is situated on large lot with mature trees, professional landscaping and privacy. Two first floor family rooms include custom built in cabinets and bookshelves. The sunroom is equipped with a wet bar and has access to the private patio. The spacious living room has a cozy fireplace and large bay window. The “Quality Custom Kitchen” has been updated with a center island and built in breakfast booth. The formal dining room features corner cupboard and large picture window. The West wing, with separate entrance, includes two bedrooms and full bath and is perfect for in-laws, guests, live in housekeeper/nanny, or exercise room. Great home for formal or informal entertaining.
Please click HERE to be directed to the realtor's website.

The Hills are on fire!

Hollywood Hills Fire close to the Hollywood sign

as seen from our rooftop.

Click here for news details of the blaze.

Hollywood Reject

Living in L.A, where celebrities are a common fixture almost wherever you go, I still get star-struck whenever I bump into one...
unlike some of my friends from both sides of the Pacific, who are used to this kind of thing, since they work up close and personal with celebrities (both local and international).

We get to watch a lot of advanced movie screenings and quite often get invitations to movie premieres...

Last night, my girlfriend, Shang, invited me and Bill to attend the movie premiere of the silly but good-natured movie, "Blades of Glory" at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Shang was running a bit late, so while waiting for her, we somehow ended up in the VIP line. We just acted as if we belonged. The Event Security seemed intimidated by Bill, that they did not bother moving us out of our place where we chose to wait, unlike what they did with the other people. Once Shang arrived, we realized we had to go around the block to meet her where most people were waiting. Since we were already in the inside, we explained our situation to Security. I guess since they thought we were VIPs, they asked us to simply walk the red carpet back to where we came from (supposedly). So we just did that. Bill walked briskly, while I wanted to take my sweet time working the red (actually blue) carpet. There I was caught in between Brooke Shields and one of the main stars, Will Ferrell. The microphones were waving and the cameras flashing...then just when my turn came up to be in front of the paparazzi, (as if with a snap of a finger), they suddenly stopped taking pictures, as if blatantly asking, "Who the f+_)(*&^%$#@!k is this guy?" Hey!...I may not be as beautiful as Brooke or as funny as Will, but you do not have to throw it in my face! Hmmpph...the nerve! After 12 years of living in LAla land, I finally experienced rejection in Hollywood without even trying...LOL

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's an Airbus A380!!!

The village where I was raised (and no, I am not referring to a burned-down village in the middle of a rice field in a warn-torn South East Asian country...LOL) is situated very close to the airport in Manila. Our house is directly beneath one of the main flight paths, thus I grew up equating a picture of a plane (specifically a BAC 1-11) with that of an alarm clock that rang during ungodly hours. It's because of this fact, that I am now hard of hearing.
I have always been fascinated by planes. My childhood friends and I would bike to the side of the runways (of an airport not of a fashion show) to watch the various planes take-off and land.

I find it so ironic that now that I live in the U.S., I continue to live close to an airport. In fact, if you take off from LAX and are seated on a window seat on the right side of the plane, you are bound to see me on top of our roof waiving "bon voyage" at you.

Finally, the Airbus A380,
the world's largest passenger airliner to date,
has reached the U.S.A. via New York's JFK and Los Angeles' LAX!
Here are two videos of the arrival at and departure from LAX:

First Arrival of Airbus A380 at LAX

First Departure of Airbus A380 from LAX

Project Funway

While I was in New York City for work,

I was very happy to be able to catch up with a lot of old friends.

I regret that I did not have enough time to catch any shows (Broadway or off-Broadway).

The only show I got to see was this one...

It was not Fashion Week, but it sure seemed like it...

since some of my friends in the travel industry

promoted their respective hotels or airlines

in a fun-filled fashion show tagged as "Project Funway",

a spoof of the reality tv show, "Project Runway",

where they creatively utilized materials

from their respective properties to create their pieces.

Please click HERE for links to the videos.

I Am Changing

My 5 1/2-month stint of working on-site in one of my company's top law firm accounts is over. I have achieved what I had set to do: salvage the company from the prospect of losing the account by eventually winning the account back over, receiving a stellar review and getting them to sign-on permanently by year's end.
This assignment proved to be a challenge. It entailed a lot of late lunches and overtime work. I was feeling very stressed and was prematurely getting burnt-out. I also felt very isolated and a bit lonely working on-site...feeling like an outsider on the inside, but never a part of their organization.
So I figured it was time to move on and start the new year right.
I swear, I do not mean to be a hopper...(a job-hopper, that is)...
but I got an offer from another company that was hard to refuse.
I'm off to the Big Apple!
Click HERE to see what eventually happens.

Happy New Year 2007!