People Power multiplied by Traffic's Exponential Power

Today marks the 26th year celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

There a lot of changes that happened, unfortunately some took a turn for the worse - including TRAFFIC. 

So if you have plans of going through the Metro today, take note of other events / commemorations taking place in the areas of Makati and Manila. These will definitely add to traffic build-up and road blockages aside from the one which will definitely happen in the Edsa Ortigas Route.

Read on so you can prepare your schedule and route from today til tomorrow. Stay happy and stress-free on the road! :)

17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival 2012 (caveat: to people with allergies, can trigger dust allergy)

Hot Air Balloons are what childhood dreams are made of! 

Fly me to the full moon

Since it's the time of the year again for the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark, we decided it's the best time to get a mini-vacation, an advanced Valentine's Day celebration and get a really good view of all these flying objects (and people!) up close!

We left Manila a bit late (by Hot Air Balloon Festival standards), just enough to get off the MMDA's number-coding radar last Friday :) If you are able to see the schedule of activities for the 4-day festival, you'll easily see that being early has it perks - like seeing the balloons in flight at dawn - but due to the late nights I had in the previous days, I couldn't quite get myself to keep up with the ideal 3:30 AM schedule to Clark; you wouldn't even be able to drag me out of bed. 

Yuletide Cheers from the Philippine Skyway System : Toll-free Skyway!

If you are one of the many motorists who have to ply the long southward stretch of the Philippines' Skyway System everyday or if you really just have to brave it for the holidays - say on your way to visit friends and relatives or to go to nearby Tagaytay, Batangas or Laguna - then be of good cheer as the Skyway System will be toll-free for Christmas and New Year's Eve as per their 12-year tradition. Yes, TOLL-FREE baby! :)

Philippine Star's Businessline reports:

"Motorists using the Skyway System’s 13.5-kilometer Magallanes - Alabang at-grade and the 16.2 kilometer Buendia - Alabang elevated sections will enjoy toll free travel starting at 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2012, Skyway O&M Corp.’s external affairs head Ed Nepomuceno said. “The toll-free Christmas and New Year’s Eve has been a tradition followed since the opening of the Skyway System in 1999. It is our way of sharing our appreciation to our motoring patrons every Yuletide Season,” said Nepomuceno. Nepomuceno added that Skyway System motorists who do not normally use the elevated section to save on toll cost will have the opportunity to experience or enjoy shortened travel time on the elevated toll road. Meanwhile, due to the usual heavy holiday traffic volume, motorists are also reminded to keep their vehicle roadworthy for their own safety and convenience and those of other motorists. To ask for assistance or report stalled vehicles or unusual incidents, they can call the Skyway System hotline at 776-7777; Globe: 0917-900-5248; Smart: 0919-560-1163 or Sun: 0923-953-6189."

 IMAGE SOURCE: skyscrapercity.com

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, free media noche or even a free ride but at least the Skyway team gets to play Santa on hours you wish you weren't on the road at all.

Stay safe guys! Happy New Year!

Make-up by Karen Jean Santos

Ever since discovering the magic of make-up, I've been hooked! I've gone on to build  my own personal collection and know-how by reading blogs, watching videos (hello Michelle Phan!) and attending make-up courses offered in Manila. 

My first try at a make-up course was through Suesh, same company I bought my 16-piece make-up brush set from. This was in April 2009 and they held it at a condominium in Eastwood City for a group of 8 or so girls. I was so ecstatic to get a one-on-one time with a Kanebo MUA so I can build my HG day & night look. I remembered looking and feeling fab afterwards whilst trying to memorize every stroke and color that we did that day.

As memories don't always serve us well, over time I forgot how to re-create the same perfect smokey eyes they did to me that day. It was a good thing that my office mate Maan, invited me to a make-up workshop of her classmate, Karen Jean Santos. I have honestly not heard about her from before but since it was a referral by a friend, I trusted her good judgment. 

stranger a'lurkin..

There's a strange and scary man-lurker at National Bookstore Shangri-la Mall (business section) - at first i thought he was either a promodizer for new books or an NBS salesperson..he asked what i was looking for but i said i was just browsing..i expected him to sales talk me into the book I thought he was promoting (really big and thick hard-bound book he was clutching) but instead he extended his hand and introduced himself and I, so dumbfoundedly and absentmindedly shook his hand and even gave my name as well (aaackkk!!) and probably one other detail best left out for strangers..hunter on the prowl...yikes!!

Lessons learned:

1. Always have a screen name

2. You don't have to answer all questions

3. Really, don't just talk to strangers