Navigating the Streets with Ease

“Go straight then turn right in 150 meters.” A sweet female voice gives me directions while getting lost in the road at night. Thank goodness for the GPS (Global Positioning System) device, I was able to find my way and got home just in time to catch my favorite television show.

Dedicated GPS devices aren’t exactly new, but are rarely used by people here in the Philippines. It might be the case that since smartphones are capable of doing the job alongside being a phone for calling and texting, sales of personal navigation devices have been affected.

I had my share in using my smartphone as a navigation system, but it pales in comparison as to what I have experienced when using a real GPS device. Smartphones rely heavily on Internet connection. If the speed isn’t good, navigation fails. In addition, screen size and voice command features are not readily available to all smartphones.

Call me a late bloomer, but I recently joined the bandwagon and am now using a GPS device called Garmin Nuvi30. As a starter model, it’s price might be a bit of turn off to new users due to its semi-steep price of more than Php8,000. However, it is very much worth the price. Perhaps pricing is also one of the factors why Filipinos are afraid to invest in such devices.

The Garmin device comes out of the box with a few manuals, a charger, and a car mount. It’s pretty straight-forward, so it cuts the excitement and immediately forces me to set it up at once to prepare for its first use.

Sporting a full touchscreen interface, the Nuvi30 is just 3.5 inches small. It is powerful though, as it provides turn-by-turn directions that speak distances and street names. In fact, I can choose from several accents in order to select the best voice to listen to during long-distance drives. Surprisingly, the directions are spoken clearly, thus can be followed with ease.

The GPS device does the job at its best. It has a signal indicator that out-rightly tells if the device is capable of showing accurate routes and directions. In addition, its built-in map has options to search for street names and establishments that make it easier to start the journey. It also allows the saving of favorite destinations for easier recall later on.

What I like about it is, unlike smartphones, the GPS device provides a junction view and tells which lane to take before I get passed it. As an added watch out to the driver, the screen also shows a built-in speed limit indicator and a clock to tell if the driver is going too fast.

Having a personal navigation device gives me a sigh of relief. I no longer need to guess what direction or lane to take or which upcoming turn to drive to. The roads that are unfamiliar become easy to navigate. For me, a dedicated GPS device is still better than a smartphone-turned-navigation system.

This article is my 54^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on January 16, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).

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Westone UM1 Musician's Monitors Review

I’ve been brought up in a family that adores music very much. Though I won’t dare call myself a true blue audiophile, I know what makes good quality sound. It’s all about balance and clarity.

Whether I’m at the gym, walking or strolling, and even driving (I absolutely do NOT encourage it – it’s just that my car has awful sound system), I always have my earphones on. It has been a part of my life since I was twelve. Since then, it has given me an epiphany that earphones will be part of my anatomy.

I got very excited when I was given the chance to review the Westone UM1 Musician’s Monitors. Westone claims that they are “the In-Ear-Experts.” Compared to the “fun and mainstream” earphones I currently use, this Westone earphone set is the opposite. If it were a person, he/she considers Umberto Eco as light reading. And the operative word here is “monitor.” I tried keeping that idea in mind.

On the onset, Westone UM1 Musician’s Monitors have the following specifications:

• Sensitivity: 114dB/mW
• Frequency Response: 40Hz – 16kHz
• Impedance – 25 ohms
• Driver – Single Balanced Armature

From the appearance alone, Westone UM1 looks quite serious. Given that you won’t use it as your pitbull’s leash, it looks like it can really last a lifetime. Wires are twisted tight, three from the output plug, then splits into two twisted wires for each earpiece. I like how rugged this stereo “Y” cord feels.

To be honest, it doesn’t really have much on the looks department, but it’s definitely not shoddy at all. Aside from a pair of earphones that come out of the box, there are also two types of removable earpieces included, to cater for all types and sizes of ears out there.

Earpieces:

• Two pairs of simple grey rubber earpieces, one small and one big.
• One pair of “Christmas tree” type white earpiece (it does look like a cute Christmas tree).
• Two pairs of grey foam earpieces, one small and one big.

Cleaning the UM1 monitors won’t be a problem too as it comes with a tiny brush with a wire picker for foreign objects getting stuck inside the earphones. It also comes with a sturdy case wherein you can place the parts and have everything handy.

Now the moment of truth.

The first pair I tried on was the grey rubber ones. I tried Lady Gaga’s Edge of Glory. Honestly, I was quite disappointed on how poor it gave out bass sounds. On higher volumes, it was already blaring. The big set was too big for my ears, the small ones too tiny. I’ll let that slide as it might be my ear that has problems.

Next pair was the white “Christmas tree” type earpieces. Sigh. Sound quality didn’t even improve from the grey rubber ones. I listened to John Williams’ Imperial March from Star Wars’ Empire Strikes Back OST. The opening part of the march has this stomping bass feel that should definitely get you up and going with your light saber. Sadly, it didn’t make feel like getting up at all. For the fit, I’m still figuring out what those three sizes of plugs are for. Could an earpiece go that deep in an ear? I’m just curious. I suppose Westone really made the earpieces for ALL types of ears.

As I was starting to get really, really disappointed, I tried the last set of earpiece – the grey foam ones you can reshape. With the Imperial March still playing, I tested it. And now we’re talking. Sound quality is awesome! Just the right amount of bass and “tweeter” speaker sounds. Next track, Gustav Mahler’s Langsam & Ruhevoll and I could hear one of the violinists clearing his throat. Almost. Exterior sounds isolated. However, it performs so-so with music tracks that have a lot of bass. Like Lady Gaga’s (Sorry but I’m such a fan).

I tried listening to the motivational speeches I have in my archives and it performs with very good clarity. Immersion achieved – it felt like I was in the hall listening to that speech.

Keeping in mind that this is a “monitor,” I highly recommend Westone UM1 Musician’s Monitors for sound engineers who are just starting up (as this is an entry-level product from Westone) and video editors who want to hear their “virgin” sound as clear as it can be, who would have yet to process the basses and tweeter pitches. Of course, I’d recommend this for musicians as well.

I found a comfortable pair for my ears (the grey foam) and I’m sure a lot will find their perfect fit in the earpieces included. I suppose that the reason why the rubber earpieces performed poorly was because of the poor fit it had with my ears.

Standard Retail Price: Php4,790.00

Available at the following stores:

• Beyond The Box (One Rockwell & ForbesTown)
• Digital Walker Eastwood
• Digital Walker VMall
• Digital Walker Trinoma

Editor's Note: This article was written by Ace Espejo, a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. Ace is a Project Manager and Creative Director of Digicon Events Management. Revisions were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow Ace on Twitter (@aceist). - Glenn / Glich

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Globe Provides Free WiFi at Manila's International and Domestic Airports

Finally, there's Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access at Manila's airports! Hurray!  Globe has partnered with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to provide FREE WiFi at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), NAIA Terminals 2 and 3, as well as the Manila Domestic Airport.

Certified as the number one broadband brand in the Philippines, Globe Tattoo's free WiFi will really benefit millions of domestic and international air passengers at our airports. It will enable waiting passengers to work online, check emails or travel itineraries, and surf the net.

“Globe recognizes the increasing need for people to stay connected and in touch, whether it’s via a mobile phone or the internet. As we modernize our network and deliver faster broadband service, we are giving back to the Filipino people by powering the gateway to the Philippines with free WiFi service,” said Gil Genio, Head of the International & Business Markets of Globe Telecom.

“As we continue to make improvements on the NAIA terminals, we are happy to have the support of partners like Globe Telecom to help us transform our airport into one of the best in the world. It is through private-public partnerships, such as that of the MIAA and Globe were we can make greater strides in improving public service,” said MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.

Now that Globe is undergoing a massive $700-Million mobile network modernization program, they will transform the entire Globe network infrastructure into the most modern and most resilient in the country. This will then give us customers a vastly improved call quality under pervasive 3G coverage, rare dropped calls, and instantaneous SMS delivery, as well as enjoy blazingly fast mobile internet access.

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This Is Why I Trust Listerine Mouthwash

After my very successful Listerine six-weeks challenge last July 2011, I have never stopped using it daily ever since. I'm a firm believer that the product REALLY works. Seriously. Just look at the results of my pre- and post-dental check up.

Here's an analogy. When backing up the files of my computer, of course I always choose to do it 100% complete rather than just stopping when it reaches 50%. Same as when I'm cleaning my room or washing the car, I make sure I clean it in its entirety.

Similarly, I make it a point to keep my mouth 100% clean (as compared to brushing alone) by using Listerine mouthwash after brushing teeth. You see, brushing alone doesn't complete the job. There are germs and bacteria left in the mouth. These could later on cause tooth decay, bleeding gums, and bad breath. And I don't want that! I'm glad there's Listerine, which kills 99.9% of germs left behind by brushing.

I'm sure you'd also want to keep your mouth completely clean. Below are the different variants of Listerine mouthwash that you can choose from depending on what flavor you want.

I highly recommend Listerine Total Care. It's the most complete and advanced Listerine there is, plus it really tastes good! 

Checkout the Listerine Facebook for more information.

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Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 5

Samsung and Apple – these two brands are highly competing with each other in terms of their mobile devices and operating systems. While 2011 has served both of them good with tremendous success on its portfolio of devices, this 2012 is yet another challenging year. Who will emerge superior between the two?

Design and Form Factor

The Galaxy S3 is expected to carry on with the highly plastic design. It might be thinner than the Galaxy S2, which is just 0.3-inches thick. This could mean a slightly lighter weight as well. As for the screen size, we won’t be surprised if Samsung makes it about 4.6-inches, since the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note both have big screens.

For iPhone 5, the design is actually still a total mystery. However, some say that this upgrade of iPhone 4 will have a new form factor, sporting a curved glass display and a screen that runs from edge to edge. Whatever it will be, the iPhone has always come up with quality build and design, as well as a more expensive choice of materials.

Performance and Memory

If he Galaxy S2 felt fast, the Galaxy S3 will be even faster. Rumors say that the S3 might come with a 1.4GHz quad core processor and an impressive 2GB RAM. Blazing fast and insanely powerful!

On the other hand, the iPhone 5 is expected to also get a 1GHz quad core processor called the A6 processor. It might also be high time for Apple to put an upgrade to its RAM, making it 1GB.

As for the memory, Samsung Galaxy S3 will most probably be offered in 16 or 32GB variants, with an expandable memory card slot that can take up to 32GB SD card.

Meanwhile, it looks like Apple will be sticking with the non-expandable memory, which will give the iPhone 5 the same models in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions, much like the iPhone 4S.

Camera

If rumors were true, the Galaxy S3 will have a spanking 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. In addition, it might also have a front-facing camera that is capable of 720p HD video capture. Wow!

For the iPhone 5, though, there’s nothing much to look forward to. There’s a probability that the camera will be the same as iPhone 4S, but with some enhancements on the software side to include panoramic shot mode, among others.

Operating System

The Galaxy S3 will run on Ice Cream Sandwich OS, which is a more user-friendly OS than the predecessors Gingerbread and Froyo. However, since ICS is already being used these days, it might be a bit outdated already by the time the S3 debuts.

On the contrary, the rumored iOS 6 for the iPhone 5 holds so much promise in including iMaps, Apple’s own mapping and navigation system. As well, Siri might be even more versatile, making it more user-friendly in a lot more countries.

Conclusion

Although Galaxy phones have received great reviews, it doesn’t have a wow factor. On the contrary, Apple always had the X-factor that makes the people go wow. If iPhone 5 will indeed carry its new facial detection system, no other smartphones could probably beat it for that matter... till we don't know when.

It’s interesting to see which among all of these rumored specifications will actually come out when they are eventually released. What’s your pick – the Galaxy S3 or the iPhone 5?

This article is my 53^rd contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on February 20, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (upper right portion).

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"You Are God" - Cover by Glenn Ong

It's the first time that I will be posting a cover song here in my blog. It's in fact a Christian song entitled "You Are God" written and sang by Jam Capistrano, a worshiper at Victory Christian Fellowship. Since I heard him sing this song, it instantly became a favorite of mine. The lyrics are simple and so true about God.

Do listen to the song and try to sing along. I know my rendition isn't perfect. I just did my own tweaks and twists to the song, but I hope you'd still like it. Let me know what you think. 

Eversince I heard His name my life wasn’t the same

In me, there was a change

You broke the chains, Jesus you broke the chains

You are God, lives you restored

You are God healer of all

You are God faithful and true

I can always find rest in you

Crucified for you and me

Coz of love that we may see

By His blood we’ve been set free

You broke the chains, Jesus you broke the chains

You are God, lives you restored

You are God healer of all

You are God faithful and true

I can always find rest in you

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Was It Photoshopped or Not?

Gaining popularity as a powerful graphic design software, Adobe’s “Photoshop” has since become the single-word term for image adjustments and photo manipulation. Today, there have been several iterations of this word, such as “belo-shopped” or “body-shopped” and all sorts of similar terms used to point out the endorsers of a popular cosmetic doctor.

I Photoshop, you Photoshop, we all (or most of us have tried) Photoshop. This makes me curious – do you still trust the images you see? Do you still believe what the naked eye sees is the actual image that has been captured by cameras?

Editing images will not end anytime soon. In fact, I have had my share of shooting photos of people and trying to edit my shots to remove blemishes, pimples, and dark eyebags. I boost the brightness and decrease the contrast. I remove unwanted items in the photos to make it look cleaner. All these in the hope that someone comes along and says, “Look at my face back in 2010. My skin looks so vibrant and I managed to sleep well during those days.” When, in fact, it was full of unsightly ugliness that you wanted to hide.

This problem is actually not new. I believe we all remember the failed DPWH Photoshopped image that happened several months back. Their apologies didn’t seem clear to everyone, because it was as if photoshopping the images is really part of what they do, saying “it was not cleared yet before the staff posted it.” Whatever the case, how is clearing photos any different from Photoshopping?

Then we have those huge billboards and costly magazine covers that show flawless skin, perfect-shaped bodies and huge breasts of women. I remember seeing a picture of a popular celebrity with elongated fingers, and another, a before and after photo of a woman’s trimmed mid-section. Why oh why do they need to ride on the celebrities’ popularity then fool the public?

Back when there was still no Photoshop, people did not have to crop and insert elements, then polish the image using a healing brush tool. They did not have to use filters and brushes to create effects of olden times. It took more hard work and talents to shoot magnificent photos. That was all prior to Adobe Photoshop.

We can’t blame ourselves for using Photoshop, or them, the creators of Photoshop. All they had in mind was to help people to make their images look better. However, because of Photoshop, the credibility of images has fallen to an all-time low. In my opinion, no image can be trusted.

Thankfully, innovators have started to come up with software – we can consider it as a Photoshop CSI – which helps identify what aspects of a certain photograph have been altered. Through this, the public, especially young women, won’t have to result to excessive dieting causing eating disorders after seeing the highly edited and digitally Photoshopped celebrity icons in fashion magazines.

So, do you still trust the commercials and advertisements you see? Let me know. Email [email protected] or Tweet @GlennOng.

This article is my 52^nd contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on January 09, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).

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Crazy and Fun Time at Fuerza Bruta (Look Up)!!!

Fuerza Bruta! Fuerza Bruta! Fuerza Bruta! What a crazy night of dancing, shouting, clapping, and wow-ing, filled with many surprises! I didn't have a Valentines date like most of the people were longing for, but I had an awesome time watching the premiere of Fuerza Bruta (Look Up) at the Manila Hotel Tent City. This has got to be the most unique show I've EVER watched in my entire life!

Arriving at the venue alone and early, I held my hopes high that I'd be able to see familiar faces. I guess not. The place was mostly filled with media and lifestyle bloggers, celebrities, models, and known personalities. So what was I doing there? I guess I just got lucky! :-p

Glad I gained a new friend, Valorie who happens to be a blogger and a jewelry maker too. Later on, I saw Vince and Hannah, as well as Patty with her fiance Patrick.

What is Fuerza Bruta?

Translated into English, it means "Brute Force." It's basically an interactive theatrical experience originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I say it's unique and one-of-a-kind, because the show features a non-stop collision of dynamic music, visceral emotion, and kinetic aerial imagery. 

I actually didn't know what to expect before going to the show, so perhaps that made the watching even more fun!

We were all standing in a huge, dark hall for about 60-minutes, watching a completely non-verbal performance while looking up. Fuerza Bruta used dance, acrobatics, visual displays, and pumping beats. I actually didn't feel the long standing, because we were moving around as the show went on.

It's also not the typical sit-down, three-hour musical play where actors would tell a story. Fuerza Bruta forced our minds to create our own story out of the visual spectacle we were seeing right at that moment. Thinking aside, all I did was to just enjoy the show and have fun as the actors move around the hall.

Fuerza Bruta was like a surprise show that doubles as a dancing party. This heart-pounding celebration featured about nine performers running and tumbling across a vertical wall of Technicolor cloth. As well, there were  flying dancers, a man bursting through moving walls, and dancers wading on a small puddle of water on a hanging pool, going very near our heads.

The show ended with a techno dance party, with some of the audience getting wet as they danced to the music mixes of the DJ. After the dancing was over inside the hall, most of the guests stayed for the After Party at the Fuerza Bruta Lounge to get some cockatils and drinks. 

What do you think will the characters (pictured above) do? 

I tell you -- you've gotta watch Fuertza Bruta (Look Up)! It will run everyday from February 14 to March 26, 2012 at the Manila Hotel Tent City. You can get more information and purchase tickets from Hoopla's website. Tickets range from Php2,000 to Php3,000. Enjoy as much as I did!

Watch the trailer here:

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Twitter Could Be Our Best Friend

Twitter bird named Larry has been the best friend and confidante of many netizens since its birth in 2006, thanks to his creator Jack Dorsey. More and more people sign up to this 140 character, text-based social networking site every single day. Upon clicking the ‘sign up’ button, Larry instantly gets an additional friend.

If Larry were human, he might be crazy by now due to the billions of tweets being shared to him every single minute of the day. Fortunately, he was built that way – to be the friend who will never leave us until the system bugs down.

Unlike e-mail messages or Facebook updates, Twitter is mostly preferred by many for several reasons: (1) people are forced to think and be specific due to its 140 character limit; (2) tweets reaches an unknown audience, thus it easily gets shared to anyone; (3) responses to single or multiple persons are quick and easy to do; (4) convenience to take mobile photos and attach them to tweets are at hand; and (5) it is a new outlet for a variety of purposes in various industries and scenarios.

Just what does Larry hear and read every day?

Rants and Raves

Remember the time you tweeted how happy you are for winning a raffle, or the opposite, how disgusted you are that the weather has ruined your day’s plans? Many people – including myself – do this, because we want to let our emotions out. At times, the comforting (or the opposite) views of our Twitter followers are enough to get us going.

Personal Messages

Texting and calling are no longer the main communication mediums for some. At times, people use Twitter instead to tell someone a message that can be told faster if SMS or call were used. It’s such a cliché that some even just send tweets rather talking to a friend sitting on the side.

News, Reports and Announcements

Whether it’s the score updates of the DLSU-ADMU UAAP game, the reports of traffic conditions or the announcements of Philippine holidays, Twitter is the perfect avenue to get all those. Following the right accounts is key to getting very helpful information and data.

Marketing

Everyone can be marketers in their own rights. Aside from the brands that open up a Twitter account in order to promote their products and services to fellow Twitter users, bloggers for example help these companies to drive business by allowing them to hold contests and giveaways through the use of the social networking site.

Opinions, Feedback, and Issue Resolution

In the daily exchange of tweets, your knowledge will surely increase when you exchange views and opinions with fellow users. There’s no hard rule on providing feedback to companies and asking for help on an issue you’re encountering. Again, you need to follow the right people and at the same time have the right followers. You’d realize later on that you can get almost everything from Twitter.

Online Bayanihan

Twitter bird Larry has witnessed many Filipinos and the people of the world use the site for relief operations. Through Twitter, information and details of how, where, and when to send help to fellow countrymen hit by destructions and calamities easily gets spread worldwide.

This season of love, gift yourself with a Twitter account. Follow me @GlennOng.

This article is my 51^st contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on December 26, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).


Photo Credit: I Just Said That

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Crumpler Limited Edition Messengers and Dot Print Camera Bags

It started with an old sewing machine, some truck tarp, and a desire to build a better, more durable bag. Now, nearly twenty years on, Crumpler is one of the most recognized brands in the world of bags. To commemorate and celebrate their roots, Crumpler has released a limited edition range based on their most popular messengers and camera bags.

First up we have the Splatter bags. Their bold designs are a tribute to the original messengers that carried the stencils and paint cans that were used to spread the Crumpler name throughout the streets of Australia back in the day. The Splatter series includes The Western Lawn, The Barney Rustle Blanket, and The Hoax. All of which feature the same tough qualities we love from a Crumpler bag.

The Western Lawn is the smallest of the three messengers, but is large enough to contain an A4 sized folder, an ultrabook or tablet, and a couple of other gadgets that are a part of my routine.

The Barney Rustle Blanket is a tad larger and can easily accommodate my ancient 15 inch laptop and its power brick, a change of clothes, as well as all of my work essentials.

The Hoax is the largest of the three messengers coming in at 19.3 x 11.2 x 6.3 inches. It can effortlessly house a 17 inch laptop, some gym clothes, my water bottle, and all the gadgets I use daily.

Here’s what I would do if I had all three lying around. I’d pick The Western Lawn as a daily, The Barney Rustle Blanket as my bug-out/gym bag, and The Hoax as a weekender.

Next, but certainly not lacking any character, are the Dot Print camera bags. They’re based on Crumpler’s wildly popular Million Dollar Home line and pay homage to the bright and exciting designs that initially caught everyone’s attention in Australia.

The 4 Million Dollar Home and 5 Million Dollar Home camera bags are constructed from anti-abrasive fabrics and surfaces that ensure your clothes don’t catch and that whatever equipment you have don’t scratch. They’re also quite flexible! With two adjustable padded nylon dividers, you can easily make adjustments to make your equipment fit as snugly as possible.

Big enough to carry a basic set of camera equipment, the 4 Million Dollar Home is perfect for aspiring amateurs or professionals hauling around a light setup.

Slightly larger than the 4 Million Dollar Home, the 5 Million Dollar Home offers space enough for a simple camera setup and an extra lens or two. It also has side accessory loops that allow instant access to whatever I wish to attach.

Whether I’m carrying around a point and shoot with extras or a DSLR with spare lenses and an external flash, both the 4 Million and 5 Million Dollar Home camera bags are flexible enough to accommodate the load. In addition, it’s durable enough to keep all my gadgets safe.

Indeed, Crumpler messengers and camera bags are clearly built to last and endure the test of time. From the dual injection molded Velcro fasteners, quick release compression straps, to the 300D Rip-Stop lining, and 1000D waterproof fabric, I’m pretty certain that these bags can keep my gadgets safe and still take a mighty beating from you and the elements. Needless to say, they look incredibly great too.

Standard Retail Price:

• Western Lawn Red & Yellow Splatter – Php3,250.00
• Barney Rustle Blanket Red & Yellow Splatter – Php3,250.00
• Hoax Red & Yellow Splatter – Php5,950.00
• 4MilDollarHome Olive Dot/Snot Green/Blk – Php3,250.00
• 4MilDollarHome IT Blue Dot/Orange/Red – Php3,250.00
• 5MilDollarHome Olive Dot/Snot Green/Blk – Php3,450.00
• 5MilDollarHome IT Blue Dot/Orange/Red – Php3,450.00

Available at the following stores:

• Crumpler Bonifacio Highstreet
• Crumpler Trinoma
• Crumpler Megamall
• Crumpler Robinsons Ermita

Editor's Note: This article was written by Juan Carlos Ella, a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. JC is an IT Professional working for one of the leading IT services providers in the Philippines. Revisions were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow JC on Twitter (@jc_ella). - Glenn / Glich

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J.POPS Baby Donuts from J.CO Donuts and Coffee... Soon!

About two months ago, I blogged about a popular Indonesian donut brand that's soon to invade Manila by  storm. Since then, I have always craved for their Tiramisu-flavored donut. Behold, only a few weeks left before the first branch of J.CO Donuts and Coffee opens at SM Megamall on March 15, 2012. 

I like J.CO's donuts because they're not too sweet and the flavors are unique. However, I'd like to be honest by saying not all of their flavors are delectable to me. First, I don't like chocolates. Second, I stay away from peanuts and peanut butter for some weird reasons I don't know how to explain. Third, I'm never a green tea person. Still, I know people simply love all those that I dislike, right?

My previous post showed J.CO's regular-sized donuts, which are the same sizes as the ones from other brands. And now, they sent me these cute baby donuts called J.POPS! The box has a ribbon design printed already, so this could possibly be a great gift item for friends, straight from the store.

These bite-sized donuts are so colorful. Each box contains 24 pieces of assorted flavors, but I'm sure that we can also order one with just a single flavor of what our favorite is. These donuts are best eaten right after buying from the store or after reheating for a few seconds. 

After tasting the non-chocolate flavors, I have added two more favorites aside from Tiramisu (left-most, 2nd row) -- one is Heaven Berry (left-most, 3rd row) and another is Oreology (right-most, 3rd row). Imagine, I finished all 6 pieces in two minutes or less! I LOVE IT!

I brought a box to church for snacks during my band rehearsal. The girls loved Don Mochino (right-most, 6th row) and Why Nut (left-most, 5th row), while the boys sided with me on Tiramisu and Choconuttzy (right-most, 5th row).

Don't miss the opening of the J.CO Donuts and Coffee flagship store at the Ground Floor of MegaStrip B, SM Megamall (right in between of Seattle's Best Coffee and Mang Inasal) on March 15, 2012. The first 200 customers to visit the store at 9AM get a special treat.

J.CO Donuts and Coffee will also open in SM Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 3, Alabang Town Center, and TriNoma shortly after the launch in SM Megamall. Aside from delicious donuts, they also offer Italian Roasted Arabica coffee and yogurt delights. Contemporain Foods, Inc. (CFI) is the franchiser of J.CO Donuts and Coffee.

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

• 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:

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

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Affordable Sun Cellular Prepaid Offers (Giveaway Awaits!)

How many years has it been since we heard of unlimited text and call? Thanks to Sun Cellular, perhaps we wouldn't be enjoying unlimited-anything today if not for them who started it and pushed the competition for other telcos to do the same.

My cousin SC has always been a fan of Sun Cellular, because it's more affordable for prepaid users like her. She tells me that it fits her budget and becomes very handy especially that most of her block mates are on Sun, too. 

I recently checked out Sun Cellular promos and found out that their offerings are indeed affordable. If most of your contacts are on Sun, you gotta listen to this! For a Php450 prepaid card, you can get ALL of the following by either electronic reload or by texting CTU 450 to 247:

• Unlimited Sun calls
• Unlimited Sun texts
• FREE 500 texts to other networks
• FREE Php50 regular Sun load, which can be used for all transactions – calling and texting all network providers, mobile internet following P10.00/30 minutes rate, downloading contents like ringtones, wallpapers, games, as well as making IDD calls, landline calls, etc.
• FREE 90 minutes mobile internet valid for 5 days

"WOW!" That's my first reaction upon hearing this. No wonder my cousin prefers Sun Cellular more than any other networks.

They also have CTU 25 for 1 day unlimited Sun call and texts + FREE 30 minutes of mobile internet + 50 texts to other networks. For CTU 50, you'd get 2 days unlimited Sun call and texts + FREE 30 minutes of mobile internet + 150 texts to other networks. If you get CTU 100, you can enjoy 5 days of unlimited Sun calls and texts + FREE 30 minutes of mobile internet + 200 texts to other networks. In addition, on CTU 150 you get 7 days unlimited Sun calls and texts + Php25 FREE regular load + FREE 30 minutes of mobile internet + 250 texts to other networks.

Depending on what your needs are, the above-mentioned Sun Cellular options really give flexibility to prepaid users. This actually is an advantage for SMEs and yuppies who need to stay in touch with a lot of people in different networks (i.e. their suppliers, contacts, employees, and co-workers). As well, it's great for call-heavy mobile consumers who discuss a lot of items over-the-phone. It's also an alternative for people who do not have the requirements needed to get a Postpaid line due to lack of requirements... simply buy a call card and load up.

I need to inform my mom about this, so we can take advantage of Sun Cellular's offers perfect for our drivers and workers. Now it will never be a reason for them to tell us "wala po kaming load" (we have no credits), because it's always unlimited calls and texts with Sun Cellular.

For more information, visit the The Sun Shop or Sun retailer, or you may also call the Sun Hotline 200 using a Sun-powered handset or (02) 395-8000 from any landline phone. I also invite you to log on to www.suncellular.com.ph or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/suncellprepaid. Follow Sun Cellular on Twitter via www.twitter.com/suncelltweets for updates.

It's Giveaway Time!

Thanks to our friends from Sun Cellular, I'm throwing out a couple of Sun prepaid SIM and call cards for our lucky winners!

What two of our winners can win?

• One winner gets one (1) Php450 Sun Prepaid Card + two (2) Super Loaded SIM + one (1) brand new Sun broadband dongle with Sun broadband prepaid data SIM.
• Another winner gets one (1) Php450 Sun Prepaid Card + three (3) Super Loaded SIM.

How to join?

• You need to be a follower of Glich's Life to be eligible to win. Click "Join this site" in the right panel of this site labeled with Follow This Blog. 
• Do one of the following (or both will be better): Hit 'Like' on the Glich's Life Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/GlichsLife) or push that 'Follow' button on the GlennOng Twitter  account (http://twitter.com/GlennOng).
• To join via Facebook, click on Share button (located above) and say “I want my FREE Sun Cellular Prepaid Kit and Broadband Dongle with prepaid data SIM from @Glich's Life! http://www.glennong.com/2012/02/affordable-sun-cellular-prepaid-offers.html" MAKE SURE you tag Glich's Life, add the link in your post, and make your post Public.
• To join via Twitter, click on Tweet button (located above) and say "Yay! Another #GlichsLife giveaway! I want my FREE @suncelltweets goodies from @GlennOng! Join here http://bit.ly/yvGAwR" MAKE SURE you tag @suncelltweets and @GlennOng, add the link in your tweet, and make your account non-protected.
• Last but MOST IMPORTANT, Comment below with the following details:
• Full Name:
• Email Address:
• Google Friend Connect Name (name you used in bullet number 1 above):
• Link to your Facebook post and/or Twitter post: 
• Contest runs until 12NN of February 26, 2012. Winners will be drawn via Random.org, posted in this site, and will receive an email from me. Only Metro Manila Residents are eligible to join.

Giveaway Winners

Thank you very much to all 83 of you who joined the Sun Cellular giveaway. I've drawn the winners already and here's our two lucky readers who will get the prizes -- Congratulations Ricalyn Sicad (Prepaid Card, SIM, Broadband Dongle with Data SIM) and Bernadette Siazon (Prepaid Card, SIM)! 

Till our next giveaway, dear readers! Thanks for all the support!

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Free Coke Day… Truly Successful!

Chug, chug, chug… burp! Ahhh, Coca-Cola. Free flowing happiness has been served!

The Coca-Cola President for Happiness Caloy has just been elected recently, and yet he already made his first act to make the Filipinos happy. Last February 4, 2012, Caloy led a nationwide FREE COKE DAY for three hours at participating stores nationwide. All we needed to do was just to fall in line and get a free Coke to drink. Truly refreshing!

The FREE COKE DAY was successful and has in fact made a mark not only in real life, but also in the world wide web. Tons of people were tweeting about their Coke happiness, which is why “Free Coke” trended worldwide on Twitter. In addition, a lot of people posted their pictures holding their cup of Coca-Cola on Facebook.

Caloy’s first act will surely be remembered by Filipinos, since this is uniquely Coke. I don’t think any other beverage brand has done this kind of giveaway. I wish there would be more days of free Coke to get us all refreshed. 

Indeed, what a great way to begin the 100 years celebration of Coca-Cola. Expect more from the President for Happiness. Don’t forget to ‘Like’ the Facebook page of President Caloy, as well as follow him on Twitter.

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Close Up Pyromusical Makes Saturdays More Fun in Manila!

February is known to be the "love month" in celebration of the ever popular February 14 Valentine's Day. This is the month when guys spend so much to please their girl; the month when singles get together to avoid depression and celebrate the singles' awareness day instead.

I'm sure we all remember Lovapalooza held in the previous years. That was one of, if not the biggest Valentine's event by Close Up. However, that was more for couples, right? This year, Close Up came up with a new idea that will cater to everyone -- partnered or not. Hurray! 

This season of love, Close Up, the toothpaste that gives us the confidence to get closer with whiter teeth and long-lasting fresh breath, brings The Close Up Pyromusical, happening every Saturday, from February 11 to March 17 at the SM Mall of Asia.

What will happen on the 1st Week (February 11)?

Close Up is kicking off the first weekend with NOT ONLY a pyromusical show featuring the timeless classic Closer You and I and other BUT ALSO a grand Valentine's event called the Close Up Pyropalooza. It will be on February 11, 2012 at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia. 

Bring your loved ones and your friends to the Close Up Pyropalooza to watch American Idol star David Archuleta, soulful singer Zia Quizon, pop rock bands Indios and Never the Strangers, plus a special appearance from Youtube sensation and real-life couple, JAMICH.

What will happen in All Weeks (Feb 11-Mar17)?

There will be fun booths and activities designed to get everyone closer to each other. In addition, roving photographers will also be all over the venue to capture and make our Close Up moments even more memorable.

Close Up booth plus fireworks in the background plus you and your friends. More fun in the Philippines.

What will happen in the Last Week (March 17)?

With a grand opening comes an outstanding ending as well. On March 17, Close Up will end the Close Up Pyromusical with a bang by announcing the grand winner of the pyromusical competition, a special fireworks exhibition from the Philippines, as well as musical performances by up and coming artists. 

How to enter the Close Up Pyromusical?

Simply exchange Php100 proof of purchase of any Close Up product (Close Up Red hot toothpaste, Menthol Chill, Peppermint Splash, Icylicious Blue, Fire-Freeze, Crystal Frost Ganules, White Now) for a FREE ticket worth Php100, or 50% discount on Php300 or Php500 tickets at the SM MOA Booths. Proofs of purchase to be accepted are those made starting January 1, 2012 onwards only.

Note: We can redeem a maximum of three free Php100 tickets for every single purchase receipt (e.g. Php400 single receipt purchase = 3 free Php100 tickets only). However, there's no limit as to the number of discounted tickets if we have several receipts (e.g. Five receipts with Php400 each = 15 free Php100 tickets).

However we celebrate it, I believe that Valentine's Day or the "love month" shouldn't just be for couples and partners. Love is a precious gift that we need to celebrate every day and every second of our lives. But since our culture has dictated us to celebrate it the way it is today, let's just ride on it and party along!

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To Reply To All or Not?

Being connected to the Internet and having the capability of sending emails as often as we can are such normal things to do these days. However, it surprises me that many people are still unaware of the proper email etiquettes – especially when to use ‘Reply All’ and the BCC, CC fields.

A certain IT company sent an email to more than 800 employees requesting for RSVP to their upcoming Christmas party last December. Such action was required for attendees to be included in their raffle, where several expensive, huge prizes were at stake.

Naturally, almost everyone wanted to join. In desperate mode after not being able to find the voting buttons, several employees hit the ‘Reply All’ and questioned all 800 employees on how they can send a response.

One email led to more emails. Somebody replied to everyone to say not to reply to all. Another person then emailed ‘Like!’ as a response to the previous email. It did not stop there! Several more people still sent their inquiries to everyone. What the heck?!

In this scenario, both the sender and the respondents were wrong. The sender should have used BCC, so that recipients won’t be able to bug everyone. They should learn the right way of using the email fields and features.

When to use Reply All?

It is necessary to use Reply All if your response will create value for the original sender and all (or the majority) of the other people copied in the email. This is the sole purpose of this feature – to keep everyone informed.

When NOT to use Reply All?

Assess your response and see if it is needed to be read by everyone in the thread. Sending replies such as ‘Thank You’ and ‘Noted’ should only be sent to the Sender.

At times, you would receive emails where your name is not in either the TO: or CC: fields. You should know that the email was sent to you with your name BCCed, because the sender did not want to let other recipients know that you were also being sent a copy. Doing a Reply All would immediately defeat the purpose of the sender.

When only a few people need to see your thoughts, simply just use Reply and add only other recipients who need to receive the message.

And when you want to comment or embarrass, scold or correct the sender, it is absolutely necessary for you to just use the Reply rather than a Reply All. Otherwise, you could easily send negative vibes and start a nasty chain of emails.

Remember to watch your words on each email you send. Know the right way to respond or else you’d be like the Recruitment Executive Gary Chaplin who lost his post after mistakenly sending a nasty email to 4,000 recipients as a reply to a job seeker he didn’t like.

This article is my 50^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on December 19, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower left portion).


Photo Credit: It'sNGenius

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Sunday Breakfast at TORCH Restaurant

Exactly a week ago on an easy breezy Sunday morning, my friend HC and I had breakfast at Torch Restaurant in Connecticut Street, Greenhills. Having been a frequent customer of Torch, HC recommended that we try their new menu, which includes a new set of breakfast items.

I enjoyed my first ever Sunday breakfast with friends late last year, so I thought having another one would be a great idea. And so we decided to meet at 9AM.

I didn't have any problems finding Torch Restaurant even if I was not familiar with the street. It is basically tucked on the left side of Connecticut Street heading towards EDSA.

Although there were few parking spaces outside the restaurant (across the street), I decided to park my car at the basement of the furniture store beside it for a minimal fee of Php35.

The restaurant has a very attractive sign board and a spacious, inviting entrance. When I saw HC coming out of the parking, we immediately entered Torch. I was excited to see how the place looks like inside and if the food will be worth the early morning rise.

In fairness, the place looks so sanitized and well organized. The simple white tables and black chairs were stationed far away from each other, giving enough space for diners to move around. The interiors are pretty simple and straight forward, but I like how they used those green sticks to diversify the look and colors of the restaurant.

Behind the green sticks are more tables and chairs, and a long couch for those who wanted softer cushion. There's also a plasma television, which they turn on when there are customers on this side of the resto.

Beside the bar is an open kitchen window, where once would see how the chefs prepare the food. As a diner, I usually feel more secured that the food being cooked is clean and orderly whenever I see such kitchens. There's sort of transparency between the restaurant and the customer. Do you also feel the same?

Well anyway, enough of the structure and on to the food tasting. First on our order list is their Salpicao Tenders (Php219.95). An order comes with sauteed US Angus beef tenderloin cubes mixed with mushrooms and served with egg, buttered garlic rice, sweet-sour picked veggies (atsara), and tomatoes.

I like it, because the meat is very tender and juicy. The mixture of garlic, salt, pepper and other seasoning are just right as well. This dish is a good choice if you want to do away with the usual breakfast meals we see in other food chains.

Torch Restaurant serves breakfast menu from 7:00AM to 10:30AM everyday, which comes with complimentary bottomless house blend coffee. Hurray for coffee lovers!

Other main breakfast items that come with egg and garlic rice are the following: Fisher's Bangus (Php165.95), Homemade Corned Beef (Php189.95), Longganisa Kebab (Php165.95), Sardines (Php175.95), Torched Hamonado (Php155.95), Tocino Fingers (Php172.95), and US Angus Beef Tapa (Php186.95).

Next on the table is the Hot Italian Omelette (Php169.95). Surprise! It was a cook-our-own omelette. It comes with a hot plate, egg mixture, salt and pepper. I think it's a great idea to have customers cook their omelette, since we have different preferences - some like it well cooked, while other want it a bit wet. Plus we get to control the level of pepper and salt for taste.

The egg mixture consists of sauteed Lugo Nigi sausage in spiced arrabiatta cream with onions, red/green bell peppers and tomatoes, topped with melted cheddar cheese. Man, I love this omelette! The bell pepper has a prominent taste in this dish, but I was still able to savor the tender and juicy sausage included in the mixture. Pairing the bread (pandesal) with the omelette gets two thumbs up from me.

There are other omelettes that I would love to try next time. These are Bacon Temptation Omelette (Php179.95), Cheese Omelette (Php169.95), Fresh Garden Omelette (Php159.95), Porky Pig Omelette (Php169.95), Shrimp Omelette (Php189.95), and Steak Omelette (Php189.95).

The third item we tried out is the Hush Puppies (Php185.95/10pcs, Php99.95/5pcs). These delicious bite-sized Danish buttermilk pancakes are rolled in a yummy cinnamon sugar mixture, and served with rosemary maple syrup. The balls are moist and the cinnamon-maple syrup combination really tasted great! An order is good for sharing and can either be a dessert or an appetizer.

Apart from those that we've tried, there are still a lot of items that I want to taste next time. Being a Fusion restaurant, Torch offers a wide variety of choices from appetizers, soup, meat and seafood items to pasta, pizza, different sushi, desserts, and more.

And I heard that Torch Restaurant transforms into a bar from 10PM onwards. Coolio!

Give Torch Restaurant a try! I do hope you'd also find your comfort food here. Feel free to like TORCH on Facebook or follow them on Twitter, so you'd see updates and pictures of their new menu.

Torch Restaurant

Home Studio Bldg., 63 Connecticut St., Greenhills
San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 477-3771 / (02) 502-0000


Open everyday for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and After Dinner from 7AM onwards.
They also do Catering Services.

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