My 2011 Thank You List! Happy New Year, Everyone!

They say that we don't need New Year for us to be able to start and end something good or bad. But for me, New Year is the jump off point when I can reassess myself, my blessings and my shortcomings of the past year, so that I can plan ahead and start anew.

God has blessed me with so many wonderful things in 2011. In fact, He has also taught be lessons in life through the hardships that I had to face and resolve. Overall, I believe I am ending 2011 as a stronger, better, and more mature person.

As I look back to the past twelve months, I'd like to highlight some of the things that I am very much thankful for.

January

• After celebrating my New Year at the hospital for dengue, I came out on January 3, 2011 alive and very much okay. I thought I was actually dying, because my platelet count dropped to 7,000 (normal is 100,000+).
• I started my stint as a weekly contributor in Manila Bulletin's TechNews section. Challenging, yet fulfilling.
• Towards the end of the month, I had my first project at my new team. It was not what I expected, but I sure learned something out of it.
• The Club started inducting me into the group. We had dinner at B&T Mexican Kitchen - my first Mexican restaurant after a long time. And I liked the food.
• I was able to review my first smartphone of the year - Nokia E5 - and my first product of the year - Smart C+ drink.

February

• A memorable trip to Tagaytay with fellow bloggers for the launch of Alter Space.
• Got to visit the 18th Philippine Travel Tour Expo 2011 for the first time.
• I think this is also the month when I first had a voice-over (VO) opportunity at TriNoma Activity Center for the BlackBerry event.

March

• Went to Bacolod with Digicon for a fun-filled relaxation and food trip. Thanks to E*dict for allowing me to use his slot.
• My first time to experience Ace Water Spa.
• I got the privilege to meet the US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. inside the balcony of the US Embassy in Manila.
• Another first in my life, I attended the CCF FRIENDS' Retreat where I got to know fellow Filipino-Chinese Christians and non-Christians alike, as well as my current Bible Study Group leader, Neil.
• My first tweetup - Twestival Manila - also happened this month. I'm glad to be part of it, as it was a tweetup for a cause. Got to meet several netizens there for the first time.
• Got a surprise package from Oishi! Yahoo! I love surprises.

April

• A new project has just started. I'm very happy to be with a great set of fun people on my first implementation project.
• While helping on a another phase of the project, I had my first local trip ever in Cabuyao. That experience was new to me, since we literally didn't sleep the whole night.
• Several events transpired during the month

May

• New events and new brands kept on coming in during this month. I love it, because it opened different opportunities for me.
• I became the SPOC for SAP Practice's Career Fair, where I led the creation of fliers, booth, and presentations. Glad I did, because the big boss got to know me.
• Got to try dimsum buffet at Lili Retaurant courtesy of my sister.

June

• I was so blessed to have witnessed Hillsong's concert this month. It was 2.5hours worth of standing up, singing songs of praise, and lifting everything to the Lord.
• Got time-off from work as my sub-team and I went to Ela Nina Resort for our offsite.
• Thanks to Digicon, we were part of DLSU's 100th Year Celebration. Since the host was caught in traffic, I became the impromptu VO and Host at the same time. It was adrenaline rush for me, but I'm glad people liked the way I handled the crowd.
• My first international trip abroad that was meant for business, thanks to my Manila Bulletin editor Art Samaniego, Jr. for sending me over for an event. It was a dream come true.

July

• Got to attend the Hillsong Music Conference for FREE, thanks to our church board members.
• The most-awaited cutover happened this month. It was my first, but I'm glad my colleagues were there to help and guide.
• My first WPPS offsite at Caliraya. Blessed with a great organizing team, I'm glad to have become the master of ceremonies. I was only initially assigned to be a registration person, but God had a greater plan.

August

• Finally got to attend my first BlackBerry event as a blogger. 
• I was also invited to the Nivea for Men event, where I was able to try out 360 Fitness for the first time. It was a great experience for me to be able to try 8 exercises in a few minutes time. Adrenaline rush to the max!
• A trip to Cebu courtesy of Digicon for work and pleasure. A wonderful sight of Shangri-la Mactan and a tour to the Bridges Salon capped off the wonderful trip.
• The SAP Practice Offsite at Club Balai Isabel happened this month. Got to be the VO again. I'm glad to be of service.

September

• A month of another first, got to join Digicon in a trip to Iloilo for work and pleasure.
• Spoke to Grade 4 students on my HS alma mater's Dedication Day. Didn't know how I would start and end it, but God was there to guide me.
• Since I have started doing VO to get extra income, this is the first time I was hired to do it for a government-related event. It was an honor for me to introduce the Vice President of the Philippines, Jejomar Binay.

October

• Week by week out of town trips to Davao, Pampanga, and Cagayan De Oro courtesy of Digicon. 

November

• The cutover for my Korea project didn't have any issue at all. Praise God!
• Many years in the making, a-las, my trip to Cebu for HS friends Lizelle and Annie finally pushed through! Thanks to the airfare and hotel sale, we got a great package. I'm also thankful that my friend Ken guided us during our trip there.
• I have almost forgotten the story of Little Mermaid, but I'm glad to have watched the musical play with good friends at the Meralco Theater.
• Thanks to my sister's generosity again, we were able to try the food at Xin Tian Di in Crowne Plaza Hotel.
• Another dream come true, my car has finally arrived this month.

December

• Got to enter Republiq for the very first time for the SAP Practice Christmas party. I'm blessed to have been given the opportunity to be the VO.
• Also equally blessed to be appointed as the VO for the whole HP Christmas Party at SMX. Again, glad to be of service.
• Marked my 24th birthday, where I had a week-long celebration with different sets of friends.
• Attended my first and last wedding for 2011, where I got to witness my former manager's exchange of vows.
• A Christmas worth remembering, because a prayer about family has been answered. It seemed like it was a miracle. Unbelievable.

Wow! Lots of things to be thankful for in the past year. I'm sure I was not able to capture them all, but my heart sure knows I am thankful for all the things, the people, and the experiences I gained in 2011. I would like THANK ALL OF YOU for being part of my blog's 2011 highlights. CHEERS to a new year 2012 ahead!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Photo Source: Kaboodle

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Enough of New Group-Buying Websites

We all love group-buying websites. It has been very helpful when trying out expensive and unknown establishments by allowing us to pay at the fraction of the original price as compared to when visiting them on a normal day. It’s also easy to purchase, since most of us have computers and internet connection nowadays.

Admittedly, group buying has become one of the fastest-growing online businesses in the Philippines. We Filipinos love to shop, eat, drink, and beautify, and for a discounted price, we do it plus love it even more.

Since group-buying websites launched a couple of years back, one site pops out after another, promising great deals to consumers. And after putting up high hopes by offering raffle incentives for referrals, some of these sites eventually just disappear and lose business.

Even at less than 40 active sites we have in the country today, don’t we find it already too many and too similar? Group buying is definitely useful for both consumers and companies, but the sites are operating in a very similar manner and offering the same services over and over again. Even the website designs have looked so alike; it’s as if there is no more better way to present the deals.

I say enough of new group-buying websites. Go find another business. Why? There is a huge investment on such online business – both monetary and human capital. Advertising, marketing, and designing are the top areas where expenses are being allocated into. And the profit? I’m not so sure if non-top ranking sites are even making profits. For some, I believe profit has been put aside. The high operating costs and brutal competition make it very difficult for them to catch up.

If we look into it in depth, do group buying sites have a high business value? For me, it’s a win-lose situation. Buyers get what they want – a new form of shopping and great way to save from discounts – while merchants have to clear their stocks or try to gain popularity by providing big discounts.

What has to be done? Those planning on creating a new site should just focus on planning for another business venture. On the contrary, present websites that are currently running the competition should make necessary adjustments to last.

Rather than just selling cheaper products, why not add more business value by providing local services to customers? It may be that the group-buying industry would love to see more of localized services, not objects. This could include paying for a deal online and providing offline services afterwards, such as dining reservations, renting apartments and cars, booking tickets, etcetera.

Several countries around world are experiencing the winter in group buying. It started out as a good business value utilizing technology and the Internet, but has later on stagnated due to lack in business value. Searching the web for trends and long-term ventures should be an unending process in order to keep up with the needs and wants of online consumers.

This article is my 45^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on November 28, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.


Photo Source: All Grown Up

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Indonesia's J.CO Donuts Opens in Manila

The past two weeks have been filled with surprises and gifts from different people in celebration of two important occasions -- my birthday and the holidays. Last Tuesday, I came home to three big, yellow boxes of donuts, which is equivalent to 3 dozens of sweet pastries. Excited to open them, I hurriedly grabbed my camera and took some pictures, so I can show it to you.

But before anything, you might be wondering what J.CO is and where it originated. Let me introduce the brand to you.

J.CO Donuts and Coffee is the brainchild of Johnny Andrean. It opened its first store in Jakarta in 2005, and has since grown to over 100 outlets spread throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and, more recently, Shanghai, China. Aside from the freshly made donuts, J.CO is very popular in Indonesia for its Italian brewed coffee. In addition, J.CO has its own yogurt brand called J.COOL.

Upon opening the boxes, I saw two dozens of colorful and palatable donuts (pictured above), and another one dozen full of donuts with almonds (pictured below). Look really yummy! Apparently, J.CO uses ingredients such as Belgian chocolates, Californian almonds, American honey, New Zealand cheese, and Japanese Matcha green tea. Wow!

As you can see, the designs and flavors are quite different from the other donut brands. I'm not really sure of what the variants are called, but a few of the are strawberry, chocolate, green tea, mocha, and more. From top to bottom, left to right, the donuts are called: 1st row - Don Mochino, Strawberry Caviar, Hazel Dazzle, Black Jack; 2nd row - Tiramisu, Snow White, Why Nut, Jacky Chunk; 3rd row - Heaven Berry, Choconuttzy, Green Tease, Chocolate Caviar.

Since I got a whole box with this donut, I got so curious and decided to look it up online. I found out that this is the Al Capone, J.CO's top-selling donut. It has no filling inside, but is compensated by the outside, which is topped with white chocolate toppings and sprinkled with almonds.

I don't really eat nuts, so I had my friend taste it and got a word that she liked it for having a soft dough and a not-so-sweet taste. In addition, she said that the almonds were sliced just right and had the crunchiness she wants in nuts.

I also had my share in tasting the donuts - in fact three consecutive pieces. The first one is called Heaven Berry, a strawberry-flavored donut. I don't know what specifically are the pink-colored topping and filling are made of, but the the strawberry taste wasn't shouting STRAWBERRY. By that I mean it was not too sweet nor overly flavored with strawberry. It tasted natural. Also, it was rich and kind of fruity as well. 

In my opinion, the second piece I tasted -- called Tiramisu -- can be classified as a gourmet donut. I'm guessing it's either Tiramisu or Coffee flavor. I really loved its mocha taste on top and its white filling, which comes out so richly, complementing the mocha taste. So far, this is my favorite variant of all. It's very delicious! 

This third donut called Why Nut had a vanilla topping and peanut butter filling. At first look, the vanilla topping made me think it will have Bavarian filling as with most other brands of donut. However, to my surprise, it contained peanut butter. Oh boy did it feel like eating an expensive soft bread with peanut butter and chocolates. Yummy! *Do you think I'm weird for not eating nuts, yet eating peanut butter? Laughs.*

In the spirit of sharing, I brought the two boxes of donuts to office and had my teammates try them. To make the donuts more delish, we followed the box's instructions and re-heated the donuts for it to become softer and creamier again. 

Some of them were shocked to see the boxes and even asked "sino galing sa Singapore or Indonesia?" (who came from Singapore or Indonesia?), while some asked what brand is J.CO and where is it available in Manila.

I happily told them that they are one of the firsts to taste J.CO donuts here in Manila, because it's not yet open, but soon to be in 2012. They were all smiles. They enjoyed eating their share and all had the same comment - "it wasn't too sweet." Good and bad actually -- good that it probably has lesser sugar, but bad because they won't notice they're already eating one piece after another.

This February 16, 2012 March 15, 2012, J.CO is set to open its flagship store in the heart of The Strip in SM Megamall, Ortigas. This first branch in Manila is a great addition to the J.CO family, proving its growing supremacy in the lifestyle cafe sector within the Asian region.

The first 200 customers to visit the SM Megamall store starting at 9am on its opening day gets a special treat. Make sure to tag your friends along for a chance to get something extra special from J.CO.

Aside from the SM Megamall branch, I also saw one branch being constructed at the 3rd floor or Greenbelt 3 in Makati. I'll probably update this post when I get more information about that specific branch.

Update 1: J.CO Donuts and Coffee will be specifically located at the Ground Floor -- right in between of Seattle's Best Coffee and Mang Inasal at the Mega Strip area, Mega B side (along Julia Vargas avenue where the cars pass through to get in from and out of EDSA via Megamall). You will see a big tarpaulin there.

Update 2: The opening of J.CO Donuts and Coffee SM Megamall is moved from February 16 to March 15, 2012. Other branches will open after this branch. 

Update 3: Here's another post about J.Co Donuts and Coffee - presenting J.POPS Baby Donuts!

Update 4: Pricing for J.CO donuts are out!
Regular-Sized Donuts:

• Php42 for 1 piece donut
• Php350 for 1 dozen regular donuts (any flavor of your choice - assorted or single flavor)
• Php550 for 2 dozen regular donuts

J.Pops Baby Donuts (posted here):

• Php250 for 2 dozens (can't be bought per piece or 1 dozen only)

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Congratulations to My Birthday Giveaway Winners

Hi everyone! I've been very busy celebrating birthday and Christmas over the past few days, so I'd like to apologize for the long delay in announcing the winners. 

Before we welcome Christmas as the clock ticks 12, I made sure to draw the winners as my Christmas gift to you all. I'd like to thank the 100+ participants who joined my birthday giveaway. Although, only 74 participants had valid entries, I still hope you enjoyed the thrill of joining and wishing to be a winner. 

Prizes A and C were drawn using Random.org and B was my personal choice for the answer to the question  "My only wish this Christmas is _____."

Congratulations to our winners!!! I will be contacting them via email. Should there be any problems in claiming of the prizes and/or requirements from the winners, the next in the list shall automatically be announced as winners.

Prize A - Kimberly Camille Tiu

You won the following:

• An unsealed, but brand new CloudFone Temptation smartphone with Android Froyo OS;
• Gym bag;
• Passport holder; and,
• Mug

Prize B - Ruben John Basa

His response was:

My only wish for this Christmas will not win me the Nobel Peace nor bring me closer to beatification, but I've always felt I had always lived for others. It's time I live my life for myself. After a false positive for the big "C", I came to appreciate the present as a gift (the present as a gift - "wow, wow" as Steve Jobs said it). This is not being selfish, but I can only share myself when I am whole myself and become the person I was meant to be. But then again let me add: world peace.

Like Ruben, we need to pause for a while and assess how we live our lives. Of course we need to look out for others and share our blessings to them. But it should not be the case that we forget to give time for ourselves and not live our lives the way we want it and how it should be.

Ruben has always lived for others - I don't know in what way - but his wish of also living for oneself as a gift to himself is a great way to start off the year 2012. The negative result for the big "C" just gave him hope that life is beautiful and that he should live it to the fullest. God is good!

To add, I liked his answer because of "world peace" - such a classic answer! (",)

You won the following:

• Nokia Director's Chair;
• Serenitea and Yoh Froz GCs;
• Baller ID; and,
• Mug

In the spirit of giving, I'd also like to give a prize to another person gave a great answer. Congratulations to Melanie Abuel. You won Php300 worth Serenitea GC and Php200 worth Yoh Froz GC.

Prize C - Ace J. Mendoza

You won the following:

• A pair of brand new, size-10 Penshoppe shoes for men;
• Three big tubes of Nourishing Conditioner;
• Hard-bound notebook with pen; 
• 4GB USB Card; and,
• ID lace

Till the next giveaway!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

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12 Days of Technology Christmas

The past months have been filled with gadgets and gizmos everywhere. In this blog entry, we look at another set of cool electronic devices – a few might already be available in the country, while most we’re still hoping to be brought here. I bet you wish these gadgets would be given to you one day at a time during the 12 days before Christmas. Sing the song 12 Days of Christmas as you go through this list.

One the first day of Christmas, technology gave to me a mouse with hand scanner.

LG’s LMS-100 Scanner Mouse is the first mouse that doubles as a scanner. Four LEDs illuminate the image for the bottom-mounted sensor as you swipe it across a page. The computer software that comes with it then composes the file onscreen and allows you to save it as a JPEG of text file, among others.

On the second day of Christmas, technology gave to me two auto destruct USBs.

Decide if this is useful or not, Victorinox Swiss Army Slim is a flash drive that protects your data with its own life. Once it detects a hacker trying to close on its password, it will draw enough power from the computer’s USB port to fry itself.

On the third day of Christmas, technology gave to me three lap counters.

For divers, the FINIS AquaPulse heart-rate monitor becomes useful to track your heart rate underwater. It is attached to a goggle strap, which measures the heart rate with an infrared sensor that detects the subtle changes in skin color associated with capillary blood flow.

On the fourth day of Christmas, technology gave to me four long life batteries.

As geeks who love to travel, the Dr. Battery Advanced Pro Series laptop batteries can run 800 recharge cycles, or about two years of constant performance. Its lithium-imide electrode component helps prevent burnout even at temps of up to 140 degrees.

On the fifth day of Christmas, technology gave to me five compact dust balls.

Feeling OC? This Black & Decker Orb Vac is a grapefruit-sized hand vacuum used to sit on your desk to sweep up crumbs or sawdust. Its handle and nozzle flip out at the press of a button and then fold back into the sphere so it can snap into a charging cradle.

On the sixth day of Christmas, technology gave to me six high-tech fridges.

The Samsung LCD Refrigerator with Apps is one of my dream electronic devices. It has Wi-Fi, an eight-inch touchscreen, and applications to use. Aside from being a fridge, you can use it to stream videos, check weather, and even leave notes to replace a mess of magnets.

On the seventh day of Christmas, technology gave to me seven camera-equipped shades.

Eyez makes video-sharing very easy. This Ray-Ban-style shades is able to capture images through a 0.2-inch high-definition sensor and then compresses it thru a low-power one-gigahertz processor. The footage is either saved into flash memory or beamed to your smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radio.

On the eighth day of Christmas, technology gave to me eight hydroelectric radios.

Don’t you just love to sing while showering? The H2O Shower Power Radio is a water-pressure-powered radio that runs off the flow from your shower. It channels water through an internal turbine, which drives a generator that plays music.

On the ninth day of Christmas, technology gave to me nine dual-purpose pots.

Trying to save space? This Hot-Pot BBQ is a mini 12-inch barbecue grill that doubles as a stainless-steel charcoal grill when opened, and a fully functional herb garden when not in use or closed.

On the tenth day of Christmas, technology gave to me ten mouse with calculators.

With Canon’s X Mark 1 Mouse Slim using Bluetooth for the mouse functionality, this mouse if the first to double as a full numeric entry pad great for crunching numbers on a limited laptop keyboard. It also works as a standalone calculator.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, technology gave to me eleven electronic cutters.

The Cricut Expression is best for arts and crafts lovers. This electronic cutter is able to cut letters, shapes, and motifs in impressive sizes using the 12" x 24" mat or the 12" x 12" mat. You can also create bigger die cuts for classroom decor, scrapbook layouts, signage, and so much more.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, technology gave to me twelve special chairs.

Bizarrely named as Gymygym, this chair has a patented flat bungee seating system designed to conform to users, which helps eliminate very serious physical issues caused from prolonged improper seating. It also doubles as a fitness solution to strengthen and stretch major muscle groups like arms, chest, legs, and more.

This article is my 44^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on December 9, 2011 (Friday) in the TechNews Quarterly Supplement "Digital Generation"

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And It's Break Time, Folks!

All work and no play can bring a person’s stress level so high. True or false? Whether you’re in front of the computer for work in the office, lying down in your bedroom or surfing via 3G while on the road, it is very important to relax for a bit and take some time out. As a matter of fact, experts recommend taking a break of at least five minutes for stretching or doing recreational things every 45 minutes to help reduce stress.

Here are a few ticks and tricks on what you can read and visit to aid you as you slow down and chill out physically and mentally on a day-to-day basis.

WikiHow Exercises (bit.ly/WikiHowExercises)

This how-to website is very useful to most working employees, especially those who are sitting in front of the computer for several hours a day. It basically lists down steps as to how our bodies should be positioned properly during long hours of work. It also provides procedures on how to do simple stretches during small breaks, as well as warnings that we need to be on the lookout for.

Eye Strain (www.eye-strain.org)

When the eyes are strained from too much computer use, one can catch the Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) caused by decrease in blink rate. To aid you in understanding all about how to prevent, treat and veer away from the causes of eye strain, this simple blog teaches a couple of eye exercises that you can follow.

9Gag (www.9gag.com)

Just for fun, this website will surely tickle your senses and make you laugh. It basically contains images that range from safe to exotic ones, which are all contributed by members and readers alike. Here, you can sharpen your creativity skills and create your own fun portfolio for others to see.

Sporcle (www.sporcle.com)

A website filled with thousands of mentally stimulating games, you’d find yourself playing one puzzle to another here. It has a wide variety of choices, whether you want to play something that has to do with logos, music, geography, language, sports, and more. You’ll be amazed!

Fark (www.fark.com)

Drew Curtis’ creation doesn’t actually make news, but just mocks other websites. It’s sort of an aggregator of different sources around world, which can keep you abreast with the strangest (and sometimes not very safe for work) news. If you’re a reader, you’d love it here.

The Audiovisual Club (www.avclub.com)

As an entertainment portal, this website promises to give you your most needed pop culture break. It contains a collection of news, interviews, opinions and reviews of music, film, DVD, TV, books and more. You’d enjoy reading the articles as the website’s writers try to dissect parts and portions of whatever they can make use of, such as shows and series.

There you have it! Remember, taking breaks not only reduces stress but also lessens the chances of workplace injuries caused by repetitive actions. Take a break – it’s healthy for you and it surely helps.

This article is my 43^rd contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on November 21, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.


Photo Source: SunStar by Tony Padua

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Attention to Marshall Headphones: Major and Minor

Admit it – your iPods, mp3 players and music players are your constant companions. Especially during those moments when you are commuting, waiting for your flight or destination, leisurely walking alone or even while working. It’s like when we start blasting our song choices, we begin to be absorbed into a world that we love and nobody’s gonna take that away from us. For a while, it makes us to either forget our problems or break into a concert and freak everyone out.

It is essential to have a good pair of earphones to detach ourselves from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and achieve that great feeling of being in our own universe. We need to have something that is comfortable to use and most importantly, can make us appreciate music – from the voice of the singer down to the beat of the drums and bass.

So when I received the Marshall Headphones for review, I immediately tested it to see how it fares to all the earphones I’ve tried before.

Marshall Headphones has two versions – the MAJOR and the MINOR.

The Marshall Headphones MAJOR is a full-earcup headphone, like the ones used by DJs, while the Marshall Headphones MINOR is the smaller in-ear version.

Look and Feel

Marshall Headphones Major

Compared to the other headphones I’ve tried before, hands down this is the most ear-friendly. The cushion rests lightly upon your ears making your listening experience comfortable (In fact, the long hours I was using it, it didn’t hurt my ears).

The construction of the MAJOR Headphones is also foldable and collapsible making it easy for users to carry and store it anywhere they go.

Personally, what I don’t really feel about the MAJOR is its cord. I think this is the type of cord that will easily wear out if the product’s been used over and over. Or too much folding of this cord will result in cracks.

Marshall Headphones Minor

I really like Marshall Headphones MINOR because it has an EarClick feature that secures the earphone into position in your ear. It also comes with interchangeable pairs of earpads so you can adjust the earphones based on how it will fit comfortably in your ears. The medium-sized earpad is perfect for me. It is so comfy it feels like I’m not using earphones but hearing music loud and clear.

I think some people might be confused at first on how this is worn (I had to figure it out also initially) but once you find the earpads that suit you, then the experience will be great. I think the MINOR is perfect for running and workout because the earphones, with its EarClick feature, are designed to be locked on your ears so it doesn’t easily fall off.

What I love about the MINOR is that it uses a tangle resistant fabric cord which is definitely up for long-period usage.

Both MAJOR and MINOR look pretty classic with the gold accents. Both also come equipped with microphone and remote which can be used with your mobile phones. This comes in handy when you are in transit and you have to take a call or change songs in your playlist but your cell phone or music player is in the depths of your bag or pocket.

Both are compatible with any music player and mobile phone with 3.5MM earphone jack. MAJOR is also compatible with 6.3MM earphone jack.

While the white MAJOR and MINOR look spiffy, I prefer to have these in black since white is more prone to dirt.

Sound Experience

Both the MAJOR and MINOR are not just eye-candy. They are ear-candy as well!

Marshall Headphones Major

What’s good about the MAJOR is that for its category as full-earcup headphone, its relatively small size did not compromise the quality of the sound you’re listening to. I appreciated the songs on my iPod more than ever when I started using the MAJOR. The bass and vocals were very lucid. I could even hear the back-up vocals clearly which I normally overlook when using other earphones.

I also tried this for watching TV series and movies. For all the long hours I was using the MAJOR, it didn’t hurt my ears. This one really was built for long-viewing or listening sessions.

Marshall Headphones Minor

Surprisingly, for a small, ear-in headphone, the MINOR delivered great sound quality. I tried different tracks from pop to classical to rock and they all sound clear and groovy.

Verdict

Overall, the MAJOR and MINOR deliver the goods – not just on the outside but the inside as well. They both look pretty and sexy but there’s more to them. They give amazing sound quality too.

So if you want to enter and dramatically improve your own universe, get the Marshall Headphones for your music player. Stick it to your ears, blast your song choice, savor in the beat and the music and start your concert.

Suggested Retail Price:

• Marshall Headphones MAJOR - Php4,650.00
• Marshall Headphones MINOR - Php2,950.00

Available at the following stores:

• 8Telcom – Davao
• Astrovision
• Beyond The Box
• Digital Hub
• Digital Hub – CDO
• Digital Walker
• ECentral – Cebu
• Gadgets iN Style
• HTC – MOA
• iStore – Cebu
• iStore – Dumaguete
• iStudio
• Listening Room
• PC Hub
• Power Hub – Davao
• Power Mac Center
• Switch
• Technoholics
• Urban Athletics

Editor's Note: This article was written by Sabrina Dar Santos, a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. Revisions were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow her on Twitter (@mimsicle) - Glenn / Glich

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Appliance and Gadgets Craze in 11th World Bazaar Festival

I have recently passed by World Trade Center and saw the big signage of World Bazaar Festival. Now on its 11th year, the organizers Worldbex Services International ushers in a new highlight called Appliance and Gadgets Craze under the World Bazaar Festival umbrella. This event will be held on December 13 to 15, 2011, from 12nn to 10pm at the World Trade Center East Wing Tent.

[This is] where shoppers can enjoy the best deals on the trendiest electronic and appliance brands for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation.

Brands that will be there are Robinsons Appliances, VillMan, and LKG, to name a few. There will also be a wide assortment of products such as gadgets, appliances, houseware, mobile items, accessories, and many more. Credit cards offering convenient modes of payment as well as ATM terminals will be available for the public.

The 11th World Bazaar Festival will continue to run from December 2 to 18, 2011 at the World Trade Center. Shoppers can choose from over 600 booths of quality finds from the country’s top retailers.

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How Small Can Printers Get? Check Out PrintDreams

Long before the modern printers came to existence, our ancestors started with the duplication of images thru different ways. This include block printing, rotary and flat-bed printing press until such time when dot-matrix, inkjet and laser printers got introduced to what we are using today.

Printers nowadays are such intelligent electronic devices. It does not have a limitation anymore to just simply print pages after pages of paper. Instead, it is also capable of scanning, sending fax, stapling, etcetera. As such, these devices are becoming bigger and bigger.

Even normal printers that are portable can still be classified as big, because it’s not something we can easily put into our backpacks. At the least, we’d have A4-sized printers for text printing and the 4x6-inch printers for postcard images.

With such kind of gadget, size does matter. So the question is: can these printers get any smaller – at least just to serve its purpose of printing?

Behold, the products of PrintDreams called PrintBrush 4x6 and PrintBrush A4, which took six long years to develop and perfect.

The two devices use the Random Movement Printing Technology (RMPT), which allows printing that is achieved by random movements with freedom of motion vertically, horizontally, diagonally and with rotation of the printing device without interference with the final result.

The RMPT requires an optical navigation sensor with very large positioning accuracy. It has very high performance regarding speed, acceleration and stability.

PrintBrush 4X6 is a pocket-sized inkjet printer and a 5-megapixel camera all in one. It is capable of shooting photos and printing them in an instant as it sweeps different surfaces using the RMPT. If a photo already exists on a PC, simply copy it to a micro-SD card, snap it into the gadget and print away.

On the other hand, PrintBrush A4 is classified as by far the smallest printer device in the world that can print full size formats (A4 or letter size). It also features PrintDreams’ proprietary RMPT, so it can print onto photo paper, office paper, cardboard, fabric or even walls! It’s quick and easy to use and is greener too thanks to fewer moving parts and minimal energy consumption.

Now we can simply bring along a portable printer and/or camera and print with no wires, no cables, and no mess. Plus, it prints without any noise therefore allowing us to print even when on meetings and functions. These products are brilliant inventions, indeed!

Watch videos and see full specifications at www.printdreams.com.

This article is my 42^nd contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on November 14, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

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Free Holiday Shopping Tickets to The Big Holiday Outlet Sale 2011

Hear ye, hear ye! The time has come for the biggest, brand-filled shopping sale event of this holiday season -- The Big Holiday Outlet Sale 2011 (TBHOS) happens on December 16-18, 2011 from 10AM-9PM at the SMX Convention Centre Hall 4, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Sponsored by BPI Express Credit Edge, Malibu Enterprise is at it again for the grandest sale this December. A lot of brands are joining the event, such as Adidas, Nike, Puma, Maldita, Plains & Prints, R.A.F, JB Sports, Daniel Hechter, CMG, Melissa Shoes, Giordano Ladies, BOSE, Switch, Hush Puppies, Sebago, Cushe, Ipanema, Grendha, Digital Walker, Light Room, Skechers, Desigual, Repetto, HTC, Lenovo, Nokia, Philips, Canon, Timex, Monster Cable, And1, Gola, Ryka, Reva, Triumph and SO MUCH MORE!

Up to 90% off on NEW brands as well as favorite TBOS brands!

BPI Cardholders get FREE entrance with a Valid ID! Plus, BPI Express Credit Edge Cardholders get additional perks and a chance to win in the hourly raffle draws.

Non-BPI Cardholders can also get in for FREE by joining our giveaway! There are 25 pairs (total of 50) of tickets to be given away! Here's how you can join:

1. Follow @GlennOng on Twitter OR Like Glich's Life on Facebook.
   
   • Tweet "The Big Holiday Outlet Sale 2011 happens on December 16-18 at SMX! Get FREE entrance tickets at @GlennOng's blog! http://bit.ly/tq8JJ3" OR
   • Share this on YOUR OWN wall: "Wanna shop? @Glich's Life is giving away FREE entrance tickets to shop at The Big Holiday Outlet Sale 2011, which happens on December 16-18 at SMX! http://www.glennong.com/2011/12/free-holiday-shopping-tickets-to-big.html"
   Please make sure that the link is included, Glich's Life / @GlennOng is tagged, and the visibility of your post is set to Public.
   
2. Comment your Full Name (that appears in a Valid ID you'll be bringing), E-Mail Address, and the actual full link of your tweet or Facebook post below.

Giveaway runs from December 5 to December 14 (11:59PM). Lucky winners will be listed in the Comments section below on December 15. 

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Philippine Holidays 2012

The holidays for 2012 have been finally announced. It came a bit later this year as compared to the past years, but this announcement gives us an ample time to plan ahead for our trips and getaways. Yahooooo!

So far, we have six long weekends for 2012. Let's continue to wish that Eid'l Fitr and Eidul Adha will be either a Friday or a Monday. Enjoy!

A. Regular Holidays
New Year’s Day Maundy Thursday Good Friday Araw ng Kagitingan		January 1 (Sunday) April 5 April 6 April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day Independence Day National Heroes Day Bonifacio Day Christmas Day Rizal Day		May 1 (Tuesday) June 12 (Tuesday) August 27 (Last Monday of August) November 30 (Friday) December 25 (Tuesday) December 30 (Sunday)
B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Chinese New Year Ninoy Aquino Day All Saints Day Additional special (non-working) day Last Day of the Year		January 23 (Monday) August 21 (Tuesday) November 1 (Thursday) November 2 (Friday) December 31 (Monday
C. Special Holiday (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary		February 25 (Saturday)

Philippine Holidays 2012

Source: Official Gazette

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Birthday Giveaway: Smartphone, Bag, Mugs, GCs and More!

December, oh December. Don't you just love this month? As for me, I have several reason why I do - (1) it's the last month of the year, which means there will be a week off from work; (2) it's the holiday season, which means there are tons of celebrations and gatherings, a time to catch up with long lost friends; (3) It's a caring, sharing, and giving season, which means I get to share things in good condition to charities; and, (4) it's also my birth month - December 15 to be exact, which would add another year to my age.

As the year ends, I'd like to giveaway a few items I have on hand, which I think many people would love to get. So if you're one of those who would like to have these, read up and join the simple mechanics below.

What will winners get? 

Prize A -- One (1) lucky winner will win the following:

1. An unsealed, but brand new CloudFone Temptation smartphone with Android Froyo OS;
2. Gym bag;
3. Passport holder; and,
4. Mug

Prize B -- One (1) lucky winner will win the following:

1. Nokia Director's Chair;
2. Serenitea and Yoh Froz GCs;
3. Baller ID; and,
4. Mug

Prize C -- One (1) lucky winner will win the following:

1. A pair of brand new, size-10 Penshoppe shoes for men;
2. Three big tubes of Nourishing Conditioner;
3. Hard-bound notebook with pen; and,
4. ID lace

How to join? 

Simply follow ALL of these instructions. Again, ALL three steps should be followed.

1. Follow @GlennOng on Twitter OR Like Glich's Life on Facebook. 
• Tweet "Follow @GlennOng and tweet to get a chance to win a CloudFone Temptation, gift certificates, mugs, and more! http://bit.ly/uWDg0Z" OR 
• Share this on YOUR OWN wall: "Ho-ho-ho! @Glich's Life is giving away a CloudFone Temptation smartphone plus gym bag, mugs, a director's chair, and Serenitea & Yoh Froz gift certificates! Join now! http://www.glennong.com/2011/12/birthday-giveaway-smartphone-bag-mugs.html"
Please make sure that the link is included, Glich's Life / @GlennOng is tagged, and the visibility of your post is set to Public. If using Twitter, ensure you have at least 100 followers. If you're going to share using Facebook, do have at least 300 friends.
2. Check out my October and November posts and share at least one entry using the buttons above (just a line after the post title). If using Twitter, ensure you have at least 100 followers. If you're going to share using Facebook, do have at least 300 friends.
3. Complete the phrase "My only wish this Christmas is _____________." Comment your Answer with your Full Name, E-Mail Address, and the actual full link of your tweet or Facebook post below.
• Please follow this format for your comments:
• My only wish this Christmas is ______________.
  
• Full Name: __________.
• Email Address: ___________.
• Shared link for #1: ____________.
• Shared link for #2: ____________.
• No. of Twitter followers/No. of Facebook friends: ___________.

Additional notes:

• Prize A and C winners will be drawn using Random.org, while Prize B winner will be given to the best answer of #3. You can only win once.
• Winners should be able to claim the prize within Metro Manila or be willing to shoulder the courier fee.
• If your comment does not appear right after posting, it means that it is moderated and will only come out after my approval. 
• This giveaway runs from December 1 to December 19 (11:59AM). Winners will be announced thereafter. 
• I might be able to add more items in the next few days.

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