CBSi @ 4

Cebu Bloggers Society Incorporated (CBSi) has grown from seed to tree so fast. Look at how the years have zipped by! It was four years ago when it started but it seems like it was just four days ago. That's just the feeling you get when one enjoys great company.

On the night of February 11, 2012, the members of the most organized blogging organization in the Philippines will gather in celebration of their four years of unity in the name of blog, bloggers and blogging. Having the theme "It's More Fun in CBSi", the anniversary will highlight the fun moments that they had. Plus they will have games and give-away givings to all the attendees.

You Have An E-Card From Adventurouslei!

I made this e-card for all for of my online and offline friends- includes you dear readers! Thank you for always tuning in to my posts and giving me wonderful comments and emails! I hope you will support my blogs all the way! Lovelots!

P.S. If you find the image too small, check this link here. I hope it helps =)

A Brief Review of My 18th Year On Earth

Today is a very special day because it is my birthday! Yup! The day after Valentine's Day, February 15 is the birthday of Adventurouslei. Happy Birthday to Me! Yehey! First of all I want to clarify that I am not online. I will not be online for the whole 24 hours of February 15, 2011 as I will be busy rejoicing my day with my family and friends. This is just a scheduled post.

I have plenty of things to share and this time, I want to share a run-through of my 18th round of 365 days of life here on Earth. I already have the words and my 2010 planner to help me do it but I thought of just simply stating the bottom line of the whole thing and that is to thank everyone who has been a part of my life.

Thank you so much to Papa God, the paramount giver of all. If not because of Him, I wouldn't be alive. Yes, there are times where I tend to forget the value of life and find it easy to say how I wish I never lived but truth is, I am very grateful to receive the best present of all.

Big thanks goes to my family who has been in my life through and through. Of course, my wonderful friends, awesome classmates, coolest schoolmates, witty mentors, twitter followers- lol just kidding and my ever-dearest readers in my blogs. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

My Dalaguete Fun Run Adventures

The Summer Capital of Cebu, Dalaguete, celebrates its 300 years of grace and pride. In line with the event, sports competitions are conducted to showcase camaraderie and sportsmanship among 'Dalaguetnons'.

Yesterday, I received an invite from two bloggers to join them in covering one of the sports activities Dalaguete will be having. Of course, I affirmed to accompany them in the adventure.

February 5, 2011

Everything that I needed was prepared and I hurriedly filled my backpack with it. It was already 2:40pm and I was on my way to the University of the Philippines Cebu College to have a peek at what's happening at Otaku Fest 4.0. I only had a couple of minutes to stay inside the campus to meet and greet, take shots and observe cosplayers and anime fanatics roaming around. Twenty minutes after 3:00pm, I rode the taxi going to Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC). I met a lot of runners and some people from the media.

Miss Juliet and Janice

Mark M., Me and Mark G.

There were two buses used for all of us to transport going to Dalaguete. Runners dominated the two buses as there were only less than 10 people who were media. My fellow bloggers sat beside me. Across our seat was the seat of Miss Juliet; the person who invited us to join the event and Janice; her close friend. The long ride began at 5:00pm and ended pass 8:00pm.

Touchdown: Maria's Batchoy & Restaurant

Dinner

After dropping the runners at Dalaguete's Municipal Hall, we went to a a nearby restaurant and took our late dinner. The name of the place is Maria's Batchoy & Restaurant.  The bloggers and newspaper writers got the chance to know each other. The food there is really good. I love the Chicken Curie and Chapsuey.

By 9:30pm, we all rode a service van to the town's sports complex where many of the locals trooped. Why? There was a basketball competition. Who were playing? Good question! The game spiced up because it was played by the Dalaguete Basketball Team and the PBA All Star Team. Yup! You read it right! The PBA All Star Team.

I captured short video clips during the event. Check it out below.

I felt so happy and excited when Miss Juliet told me that I can interview all the members of PBA All Stars. I didn't wasted time; I went out of the sports complex and took some papers and a ballpen in the van. I continued watching the game when I got back in the complex. A couple of minutes later, I felt so down because the driver of our service van wanted to rest already which means we have to go to the resort we will be staying over the night. We had no chance because the resort is quite far from the complex. We all had to go because nobody else can drive us to the place. We were not able to watch the last quarter of the game.

Before we arrived at Dalaguete, we already knew that the PBA All Stars were playing in the town and that they were staying in the same resort we were going to stay, but we also know that the stars won't be staying there all night. They were going to play a round of game and then go back to Cebu City to prepare for their flight back to Manila, tomorrow at 10am. Just when I thought that everything was over in meeting the stars, we knew that their bags and luggages were left inside our rooms at Jonadels Resort. I had hope. Haha. If the stars don't have assistants, it could be possible that they are the ones who'll carry their bags from the resort.

Slacking outside the resort

(L-R) Janice, Ms. Juliet, Me, Merlita

To make the very long story short, I met all the members of the PBA All Stars that night. I was able to sit in their van and check out their room. I took a lot of videos and pictures of them. I was so happy. Usually, in blogging, I keep on meeting artists and singers but I don't feel so excited to meet and greet them. Often times, I don't even hope to see them personally because I always dreamed to be a star someday. I know it- I believe it, so I think I don't need to take pictures with them. LOL. Yea. I dream big, alright.

A few of my pictures. I also have vids of them too!

I wasn't able to sleep right away after the incident. I was starstrucked! I had the stars in one roof with only me and a good friend who offered to be my photographer of the night. I was so happy! The stars invited me to come with them going to Cebu and have some dinner but I had an event to cover (The Fun Run-which is the main reason I went there). I felt no worries after refusing them. After all, I just met them. I don't have much trust in them.

Moving on, I was able to sleep at 2:00am which is the time the stars arrived at Waterfront Hotel (yea, I know :P they told me) I woke up at 3:00am. Oh wait! Did I mentioned that the room the guys stayed in is my room in the resort? Hahahahhaha!!

Dawn. I prepared all my stuff for the Fun Run and realized that I left my running shoes at home (Talisay) Yikes! Didn't saw that comin! But I didn't worry because I thought that I can always use my Fushu- but of course it will keep me slow in running so as for me to not wreck it.

February 6, 2010

Time check- 2:20am. The vampire in me was alive! I was still awake and wasn't sleepy at all. I settled myself on my bed and unconsiously fell asleep. Hurrah! My phone rang by 4:00am and goodness gracious- I hooked-up with sleeping. I wanted to sleep more but I have to move since the assembly time for the Fun Run is 5:00am.

After fixing myself, I called the boys outside their room which was just beside mine. And as I knew it, they were still sleeping. Haha. They woke up right away and hurriedly fixed themselves. We waited for our service van outside the gate of the resort and after a while, we joined the race. Mark M., Mark G., and I took 5k Track. The next parts of the story, will be told by my pictures.

The awarding followed right after the last racer crossed the finish line. I could tell, this adventure is for sure, one of my blogging events which I will never forget. It is so unique in so many ways. You can raise a good question to the previous line.. "How is the race in Dalaguete different from other fun runs?" Well, the town boosts well-known mountainous barangays where runners pass. Unlike other fun runs, in Dalaguete you won't be breathing gas exhaust and you won't be killing your seconds in crossing roads to give way to passing vehicles.

At exactly 10:00am, the runners and we, the media rode a big bus going back to our meeting place yesterday, CCSC. It was a very long ride. Since I live in Talisay, the bus driver dropped me at Gaisano Tabunok. Five minutes after, I was home alas! =) It seemed like I wasn't home for the last three days. Haha I was one long and awesome adventure!

A Food Blog Is Born!

I AM SO HAPPY because finally, I have settled things right to open up a food blog which I always wanted to do over the last two years. Big thanks to everyone who crossed Adventurouslei.com. I am thankful to have awesome readers like you who score me overwhelming numbers of views and flattering comments.

Usually, things are made through inspiration and for the opening of my newest blog, I want you all to know that you, dear readers, are my inspiration. You all motivate me to create a Food Blog. Introducing FOODIECRAFT.COM - Food, Eating and Everything in Between! 

I will not elaborate more on the site because of course, if you want to know about it more, all you have to do is click the link and do the reading in the new page.

I hope that you will support my food blog the same way you support Adventurouslei. Also, I wish that you'll find reading my posts in Foodie Craft as enjoying and informative as Adventurouslei. Let's talk about food! Follow FoodieCraft.com now!

Chinese New Year

On the third day of February, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year! It's going to be a blast as our fellow Chinese family will be opening a new chapter in the book of life.

To everyone, Kung Hei Fat Choi! I wish you all happiness and good health year-round! Consider reading my New Year post -> 15 Ways to Jumpstart Your 2011. Don't forget to check out the January 2011 Movie Releases so you'll know what's still airing in the movies this week.  Lastly, treat your eyes with these eye-candies -> Pyrofest 2011: Dumaguete is the Brightest. Enjoy reading!

15 Ways to Jumpstart Your 2011

It's January 2011! Hurray! Starts and ends are happening and for that, we should change! Time to apply our learnings from our endeavors that we have encountered last year and change for the better.

What is your plan for 2011? Don't give me a "Nothing.". Set goals and visions for the next 12 months! Time is so precious and the challenging thing is that, it flies so fast. For those of you who in one way or another can't think of what to do in the first month of 2011, I have something for you!

Pamper yourself, learn something new or just have fun with these 15 ways I recommend you to do to jumpstart your 2011. This is my personal list which I will be following starting this day and on.

• Go Green - Shift to the green lifestyle by taking part of of any environmental project held in the community. Follow environmental actions like reducing, reusing, and recycling whether at home or in other places.
• Get Physical - exercise everyday and have a balanced diet. Be a health-conscious person like no other but don't exaggerate things. Just be clean and neat.
• Sporty You - treat yourself with serious sport activities. Whatever sport you've been fascinating since your childhood years, make it come to life. Play it with a good pal.
• Start Saving - open a bank account or simply keep a piggy bank. Restrict yourself from opening it and be obliged to drop any amount of money in it everyday.
• Serious Christian - attend prayer vigils and holistic events. Reconcile to those you have sinned and forgive the people you hurt. Pray the Rosary at times and don't skip Holy Masses.
• Renew Yourself - get a new hairstyle, shave that bear, and remodel your room. Try to improve your physical looks. Make all things good and act positively. If you achieve it, don't forget to spread the good vibes to others ;)
• Give Back - involve yourself in outreach programs. Be aware of the standing of your community and your fellow countrymen. Share your blessings.

"The more you share yourself to others, the more valuable your existence in the world will become."

• Be a Model - show kindness at all times. Study hard. Outstand your co-workers. Any of the following will make you a good model wherein you will gain respect and honor. It will also turn you into an influential person.
• Hook Up - we know you love your family and friends but saying it isn't enough. Show them that you truly love them all by going out together more frequent than last year. Pig out, play some sports, go on a vacation or simply call for small cooking parties and sleep-overs to have bonding moments with them.
• Have some Recreation -  relieve your senses from the stresses you felt last year. Spend some quality time for yourself. Do what you want that will make you happy. Watching a movie, go bowling, or read a novel you like will do.
• Like Versatility - develop a new skill by starting a new hobby different from your personality. If you love rock music and dislike love songs, try listening to love songs. Try appreciating it by memorizing its lyrics and sharing it to your friends. If you like eating, learn how to cook. Enroll yourself in short-term culinary classes.

"Music is the language of the soul."

• Marry Music - be musically inclined. Sing if you love to. If you're not good at it, go to singing school or learn how to play a certain musical instrument. This will give you advantages during parties and special occassions. Aside from presenting it as a gift to your love-ones, you can open up teaching class wherein you can earn money.
• Get Out of the Country - excite yourself with something different from your culture. Visit unique tourist spots, eat unusual dishes, do some rituals of foreign natives, or learn a new language. Of course, don't forget to photograph the moments and share it to the world through social networking sites.
• Follow Something - it's really exciting to follow something that comes out rarely in a month or year. What I'm saying is, begin collecting stuff or get tuned up with some book or television series. This will make you feel contented if you achieve to own, read, or see your new collection.
• Document Your Life -  start recording your daily actions. Make a simple scrapbook of your accomplishments. Use a planner or an unused notebook. You'll be surprised at the end of the year that you have done a lot and it's all like a wosh of the wind.

Now that the first decade of 2000 has ended, it would be best to begin 2011 with a bang of productive actions. Follow my list or make your own. It would be best to have a guide that will remind you time by time, your your main goal for the year. God speed!

A Diary of a Cebuana Cosplayer

COSPLAY, COSPLAYERS, and COSPLAYING in CEBU

For those of you who have been living in Mars since 2007, costume playing (cosplay) came to inception in Cebu that year. The aim to dress up and meet new friends opened a way to a few of Cebuano youth to cluster up and live their way of art.

Three years after, cosplay groups and organizations launched and sprouted. It bolted the small anime-dress-up community into a bigger one. While some entered the world of cosplaying because of the dressing-up and friendship, some counted in because of positive peer pressure and the existence of the groups and organizations.

Costume playing unleashes the inner child of a person as it requires an explosion of initiativeness and creativity to look totally and perhaps, exactly as one's desired character to follow.

Cosplay is booming in Cebu. Its community of cosplayers has grown largely this year. From fairly 8-15 youth dreamers and believers, the vision to live our favorite characters, usually anime, came true and turned out to become a hundred and counting.

BEYOND COSTUME, MAKE-UP and PROPS

Just when you thought that cosplay ends there. Think again. It doesn't. Costume playing doesn't end in the embellishment of an attire on a person's body. There is more to suit, make-up and props.

Once in a costume, cosplayers take the gestures, body language, and attitude of the character they represent. They look cute, angry, happy, cuddly, scary, funny, unpredictable and others. When dealing with them, expect an anime character, not a true person in other way.

At times, when I talk to my co-cosplayers, I sense that I am not talking to the real person. I am talking to the character they are portraying. I find it magical and very fun. It's funny. Being a cosplayer myself, I don't get the 'nose-bleeds' and amazements anymore but I feel a bit worried with the kids who'll approach them (most especially the monster/scary characters).

DEVELOPING ONESELF THROUGH COSPLAY

Indulging oneself in the hobby of cosplay is not only just for fun. Being time-consuming and an environmental activity, the hobby allows the youth to avoid involving themselves in unpleasant actions and undesirable circle of pals nowadays. Aside from enhancing one's confidence and critical thinking, costume playing opens a pool of opportunities in line with modelling, illustration, role playing, singing and dancing, photography, and other forms of arts.

Many have achieved great accomplishments because of cosplaying. It makes one, known and moreover, if proven, be offered for career opportunities that will take a person farther than he/she could dream of. One big thing that will make you hasten yourself in cosplay is the fact that you get exposed to different people (ordinary, media, model searchers, cosplay enthusiasts, photographers etc.) It's not about the money. It's not about the fame. It's the fun you feel when you get in the game.


COSPLAY and ME

I myself cosplayed too. My world have collided in the realms of cosplay just last year. It was a break-through to me as it opened my world to a lot of things. I gained wonderful friends, received undeniable opportunities, and much more.<

It was in November 2009 when I first went to a mall; dressed-up the way I am not me. It was very different. It felt so strange but I had so much fun. That time, I joined the competition and guess what? I won second place! For the curious, I cosplayed Traxex from the World of Warcraft.

Thankful and happy of what I got in the game, I continued the hobby that which improved myself. Here are other fictive characters I cosplayed that followed in the next cosplay events that came along the calendar.

Ontonashi Saya of Blood +

Being a first-timer in cosplay occasionally makes one to follow characters wearing outstanding looks and styles. I'm not part of the sort.

When you're new to the hobby, in the first moment that an idea pops out of your mind that you'll be joining/attending a gathering is the word 'simple'.

Nobody would want to go wrong in their first-time experience so one wants to play safe and good. As for me, I thought of cosplaying Otonashi Saya from the hit japanese anime show Blood +.

The attire is simple and quite easy to make, I got cut off with the equipment the character possesses though. The Katana was pretty difficult to make but good thing I have a woodworker friend, who answered my help and made the weapon of no charge.

Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland

Cosplay doesn't limit its world in anime. It covers everything that is followable. It may be bounded from the oldies toy characters to the modern personalities in techy movies.

With the thought of stretching the line in Cebu Cosplay, I thought of coming out of the scene as Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. I conducted a photoshoot and it went well.

A female can cosplay a male character and a male character can cosplay a female character. In cases like these or case like in mine, Me, a girl cosplaying a boy is what you call costrip. It's not always that a boy cosplays a male character and vice versa because it's not all the time wherein guys like male characters and the other way around. Anyone can costrip but mind you, it needs a little more confidence acting the opposite way you act in the real world and during the competition.

It did went hard. Since the character had so many colorful fabrics on skin and wore several blingblings, I had to find and make up the attire from anything I had. Big thanks to a impulsive friend who helped me go over with the pictorial.

Red Empress
If you are not into anime/Japanese stuff, you may have not noticed that the character is not in any media.


Red Empress is actually an original character which I created out of borrowed wig, rented clothes, and purchased footwear.


When you want to cosplay and you have limited resources, you have to squeeze your creative juices to figure out the best you can make out of what you have.


At times when you roughly get what you desire to perfectly follow, you have only one choice; go for an original character (OC). Understood by the name itself, original character is a character created by oneself. Usually in competitions, OCs are not allowed to join but are given acknowledgements in coming up with the role.

to be continued...

MY COSPLAY DIARY is a series of write-ups about Cosplay, Cosplayers and Cosplaying in Cebu. Originally written by me, you can read it all for free. The upcoming parts will be posted soon so stay tuned! CONNECT with www.adventurouslei.com to get an alert on the continuation of this article.


header photo credits : Maki Kazagami & Joebert Cimafranca

December: Christmas, Thanksgiving and Reflections

Let's all celebrate! December is here!

Today, the last month of the year starts its countdown from 1 to 31. Time to wrap up annual tokens, hang up colorful lanterns, alter red curtains, embellish cabinets with socks, decorate series lights, top our shelves with snowman figurines and so much more.

When it's Christmas Season, there are a whole lot of things to do that is very fun. It should be fun. Though December denotes that the year is about to end, everybody should be merry and joyful.

We should be thankful that we have arrived on this day alive and kicking. For God, who has given you the best gift ever, what will you give Him back on His birthday?


Addressing you these questions could be quite advance, but allow me to do it so- "How is your 2010?", "What did you accomplished?", "Did you lived up your Christmas Resolutions of last year?". Many of you may have the answer 'yes', but some have the n'o'. Santa is coming so you better be good ;)

2010, thank you!

Talking about this year would make me a very dramatic person. 2010 has given me bountiful opportunities and happenings that, for sure, will be reflected in a way or another on what will I be in the years to come.

This is the year that I boomed. And by the term 'boomed', I mean that I have been involved in so many things, I never thought I could be a part of. I have met so many kind and loving friends and had chances in attending sublime events.

Enjoy Christmas Season

It's not all the time wherein you get to bond with your family. This Christmas Season, don't let it end without exchanging hugs, kisses and 'I love yous' with them. Make peace to those you have confronted and find forgiveness to those you have made sins.

May God enrich our lives abundantly, fulfilling our earnest longings, answering our prayers and hold us closely in his loving hands. Enjoy your Christmas!

Cheers,

Adventurouslei <3

Things I want to do before I die

Hey Guys! After a bunch of blog entries about serious media stuff and techy talks, I wanna talk today about the things I wanna do before I die. I'm quite uncertain if I can do it all. LOL. You judge. After reading this, I wish you would list yours too and share it to me at angeliysama@yahoo.com.

I just thought of sharing this list out so you guys will get inspired to work hard in order for you to do really awesome stuff. Well, such stuff like:


17 Things I wanna do before I die

1. Throw a huge party and invite everyone I love and care
2. Attend a major sporting event.
3. Go up in a hot-air balloon (sunrise/sunset) til morning
4. Try having white-Christmas
5. Be a member of the audience in a TV show
6. Fall deeply in love -- helplessly and unconditionally.
7. Travel to at least five countries outside Asia
8. Experience skydiving
9. Sing a great song in front of an audience.
10. Spend a whole day reading a great novel.
11. Set foot on each of the seven continents
12. Be a model of a famous clothing line
13. Travel through forests and mountains by train
14. Be a host of a famous talk show for over two years
15. Ask someone I've only just met to go on a date.
16. Ride a speed jet with any love-one
17. Model at least one fantasy themed-photoshoot

I want to let you all know to live without regrets. Don't stop dreaming. If you do, it's somewhat like- you're contented of what you have and what you are right now. If one stops dreaming or if one is contented of his/her current state, he/she has the possibility to not work. I mean, not do anything at all. Right?

I wanna hear from you! Share to me your top 10 or more things you wish to do before you die. Don't forget adding in the e-mail subject "Things I wanna do before I die". Interesting responses could be posted here and the sharer gets a special prize. God Speed!

New Month, New Beginnings

Today, we enter into a new chapter in our lives. New month, new stories. New friends, new happenings. September Month is finally here. It marks the start of counting down days to special monthly events because it's

the first of all the 'ber' months.

Annual highlights of the 'ber' months

September - International Strategic Thinking Month

October - Month of the Holy Rosary

November - Halloween

December - Christmas Day

September is one perfect time to make new things and apply changes in some certain stuff in our lives. And speaking of the words 'new' and 'change', I have made some of it in here.

NEW

As you have noticed (if you frequently visit here), I have placed a few new stuff in the blog. One is the advertisements. They may sometimes seem annoying, but it'll help me a lot so please adjust with its presence for the mean time. Second is the Donate Box. It's the perfect place where one can send their money to if they're having a hard time using it. Haha. Really, everyone knows what the box is for and is about. There are some other new boxes that I added. Some of which are the Recent Comments Box and the Popular Posts Box.

CHANGES

Just the other day, I made big alterations in the arrangement of the sidebar boxes as well as the layout of the page's footer. A few of the sidebar boxes are now transferred in the footer- it results to somehow, make the sidebar not so crowded with boxes. I think the arrangement looks better than before.

So there you have it, my new things and changes for the month. Expect more in the following days. How about you? Have you made new things and changes for this month? Do it now :)

Ila Puti - Asian & Fusion Cuisine

Dinner Time! To spice up the night, my friends and I went out for a scrumptious dinner in Asia Town I.T. Park, Lahug. No restaurant was planned to be visited so we made an on-the-spot choosing of which eatery we will be dining in. Ila Puti was in front of us so we choosed to dine in it. Haha

Looking at the restaurant from the outside, it looks like a Chinese-oriented eatery. It looks attractive and formal. Whether you enter or not, you can see its wonderful interior because the front wall is made up of glass graced with a glass door as well.

A large bulletin of menu is placed up above the counter’s wall. I love it like that. It’s clean and unique. The lights decoration is nice. There are white lights on the ceiling but yellow ones dominate the entire place- making a ‘royalty & intimate’ atmosphere.

The chairs are in gray color that compliments the black tables. One of the wall is made up of piled bricks, the other is plain painted white and the other one, as I have mentioned above is plain glass. The counter is clean and the staff is really approachable-adding more points in making costumers come back to eat in the restaurant.

I like their Grilled Liempo. It tastes so good. The overnight marinated slab of pork belly with herbs and spices is paired with garlic-shrimp fried rice –making it taste spicy and delicious. It is sold for Php200.00 only!

The Sisig Sizzler is the bomb! It’s so spicy and hot in the mouth! It’s said that it’s made in the Ila Puti way of making food really spicy. It costs Php180.00.

Only one of our friends ordered something that is eaten with plain rice. He ordered Ila Puti’s Plato Sizzling Burger Steak. It’s a quarter pound burger patty with mushroom gravy and white rice. It costs Php150.00

My friends loved the Pasta Puti. It is the restaurant’s best-seller. It costs Php180.00. It is Penne coated in rich white sauce with mushrooms and bacon with two bread sticks. Yum yum yum!

For our beverage, the gang ordered canned softdrinks and some bottles of Saint James Mineral Water. I for one ordered the Chocolate Milk Shake which melted me. Haha! The beverage that costs Php100.00 melted my intestines away! It is so delicious I want to have another round.

September Movie Releases

For this month of August, I wasn't able to update my blog in line with movies. One of the monthly write-up I compose which is "Movies Releases" wasn't posted though I got the entry ready to publish. It's payback time. We are a week before September and for what I've done, I'm going to post a week-advance entry of the month's movie releases. Before giving you the list, let's talk about the latest happenings in the world of movies.


Over the past 20 days, we were mirthful with the airing of "Step Up 3D", "The Expendables", " Vampires Suck", and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World". The third installment of Step Up Series which is "Step Up 3D" was pretty much awaited by many but it doesn't show in the billboard. "The Expendables" rang up $34.8 million last weekend, so even a modestly severe second-session drop of 55% would yield almost $16 million. That's enough for us to assume that this movie will go even higher in the rankings for next week in US. Meanwhile, "Vampires Suck" is second in the chart having about $12,200,000 for this weekend gross. Topping the first three ranking in US Weekend Box Office are (1)The Expendables (2)Vampires Suck (3)Eat Pray Love.


Apparently, Warner Bros.' urban comedy "Lottery Ticket" appears ticketed for the lower-double-digit millions, Dimension's "Piranha 3D" will struggle to reach similar box office waters, and Miramax's Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy "The Switch" is on course for even lower depths. 

We are currently waiting for 6 days so we can see the week ranking and gross earnings'of the movies "Nanny McPhee Returns", "The Last Exorcism", "Soul Kitchen" and others that were released last Friday, August 20.

I guess that's enough movie news for heads today. Here are the movies that hasn't been released that is set to be out this month:

Centurion - limited ♦ Change of Plans - NY ♦ Daniel and Ana - limited ♦ Highwater ♦ The Last Exorcism ♦ Make-Out with Violence -limited ♦ Mesrine: Killer Instinct ♦ The Milk of Sorrow ♦ Takers

All of the above will be out on 27th August. Catch it with your pals and family!

September Movie Releases. Out with the popcorn and soda!

September 1
- The American

September 3
- A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop - limited
- Going the Distance
- Last Train Home - NY
- Machete
- Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 - NY, LA
- Prince of Broadway - NY
- White Wedding - NY
- The Winning Season - limited

September 10
- Ahead of Time - NY: LA Sept. 24
- Bran Nue Dae - limited
- Heartbreaker - limited
- Hideaway - NY; LA release: Sept. 17
- I'm Still Here - limited
- Legendary - limited
- Lovely, Still - limited
- Resident Evil: Afterlife - 3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D
- The Romantics - limited
- The Virginity Hit

September 15
- Never Let Me Go -limited

September 17
- Alpha and Omega
- Catfish - limited
- Devil
- Easy A
- The Freebie - NY
- The Girl - NY: LA October 1
- Jack Goes Boating - limited; expands: Sept. 24
- Kandahar Break - NY
- Picture Me - NY; LA Sept. 24
- The Town
- The Wild Hunt - limited

September 22
- You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - limited

September 24
- A Mother's Courage - limited
- Buried - limited; wide: Oct. 8
- Enter the Void - limited
- Friction - limited
- Howl - limited
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole -  3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D 

- Waiting for "Superman" - limited
- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
- You Again

September TBA
- Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould - limited

Adventurouslei Hearts Cebu

A couple of weeks ago, a new, good friend of mine in the famous social networking site, Facebook tagged me in a picture. It was actually a banner. The banner stated that it's from Island Souvenirs (IS) and they're having a contest. Whoever wins gets a thousand and five hundred worth of gift check in the said boutique & souvenir shop.

I didn't believe right away that the contest is real not because the person who tagged me in its said banner was a new in my friends list but because the banner cannot be found in the official IS FB Fan Page. I gave no notice to it but truly, I was interested in joining the contest.

Three weeks have passed and I checked the IS Fan Page. I was astound! The banner wasn't there but a wall post concerning about what contest as what the banner stated highlighted the entire profile. Waaaah! 'I need to join because I will win!' were the words inside my head after realizing that the whole thing was true. There is a contest and it's easy to win!

Over nine FB users joined the contest and I decided to be the tenth. In the night of July 8, 2010, I went to IS SM Branch and hurriedly bought a white IS I Heart Cebu shirt because I only have the black one. After which, I went back to my school and looked for people I know who had cameras. No one else did but Joan who accompanied me the whole afternoon. She helped me took some quick snapshots for the contest.

After hitching Joan's car in going home in Talisay, I went online and waited for her to send me via email the photos of me that she took a while ago before we got ourselves home. It was already 11:00 in the evening when I received my photos. I made some edits that took a couple of minutes- 35 to 50, yes almost an hour. Later on, I consulted to Ms. Jade Seducas and she told me that my photo entry was so obviously edited. I would like to thank her for telling me that. Because of her words, I realized that I might get disqualified in the contest if I pursue to use the edited photo in the contest. She made me think and know that raw pictures could be sometimes, better than the others. Thank you Ms. Jade!

It was already around 12 midnight and I finally had the chance to flaunt my photo entry. I used the raw photo after doing a little edit- side cropping. Nothing else :) Time was so valuable for me that night but although I have to work on things to make FB users 'like' my photo- since the entry with the most 'likes' will win, I managed to sleep. The next day was intense. I felt the pressure. The leading entry had 60 'likes' while I was in the second place having 20. Whoa! Not that bad, I say, but making other people like your entry is not as easy as it seems to be in my case because my friends aren't always online.

After fixing myself early morning, I commuted myself to my Grandmother's house and looked for my cousins. I made them 'like'/vote my entry and they did :) I was checking on the leading photo entries in the IS Fan Page time by time and the competition was so close. Six hours left to vote and I was targetting 300-500 likes. It sounds really easy but then again, it's difficult in my part also knowing that in the contest nobody help me. Haha. My family and classmates didn't even know I joined a contest such as this wherein their votes are needed so bad. Ahaha. Anyhow, I took my cell phone and rushed to the store; had it loaded and zoooom! I texted everyone in my phonebook who were net savvy to support me. 

I left the computer for a while and ate my late lunch. It didn't took a lot of time but when I went back to my focus of the day, I already went down to third place. Waaah! That fast! The voting was really tough and fun. After six hours of making my online friends vote for me, I ended up as third placer in the contest. I'm happy for having the place but I would have been happier if I got the first slot. The experience paid well and I don't have hard feelings of whatsoever; negative vibes in me.

The voting began last June 15, 2010 that was closed last July 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm. I joined the contest in a rush; competing ten early-joined fb users the night before the final day of voting. Who would ever thought that I would be the third placer? That's quite far enough in gaining back my late night 'like' works. AHHAHA! The experience was really fun and so good. I will never forget this :)

To see the official results of the whole voting process, click here.

Congratulations to Maria Rennelyn for being the First "Express Your ♥ For Cebu" Contest Winner! As of July 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm, here are the results:

1st Place: MARIA RENELYN with 255 votes
2nd Place: THRD ADVINCULA with 254 votes
3rd Place: MARY ANGELI BAS with 226 votes

Maria Rennelyn will not only receive an Island Souvenirs Gift Cheque but also and I ♥ Print ad. Congratulations to the three of us! Let's all continue loving the Queen City of the South, Cebu City!

I would like to thank everyone who supported me. The ones who voted for me and the ones who want to but wasn't able to catch up with the time. I love you all guys! Thank you so much!