Free at Last

Sorry guys, not too many posts this month. I've been selectively busy (or conveniently preoccupied). In no particluar order, here is a list of what I have been doing this month of August:

1. Free time, which includes unwanted absences (college), is spent mostly with my younger brother who has been away for more than 4years. Having experienced prison life for almost half a decade, we shared stories from different perspectives. We talked about a lot of things from life in prison to new buildings within the metro to inmates' scabies to computer games to everything under the sun including its cancerous UV rays. We talked a WHOLE LOT. We slept a bit late (around 4-5am). As a result, I had to skip my morning classes. (FYI: my brother's NOT GUILTY)


Manila City Hall

2. Bubu got hospitalized. Now, this incident took only a fraction of my time but a nasty bite on my wallet. I had to pay Php5,000 for a confinement that took less than 24 hours. My reformed brother almost killed the dog when he dropped it, head first on the asphalt ground. I was so mad I would have sent him back behind bars. Of course he apologized to the little fella'.


Bubu

3. Beer and more beer. Excessive alcohol drinking is a thing of the past. I choose to drink every weekend at most, none at best. No explanations but I've been drinking often this month. Thank you relatives and neighbors, for breaking my oath. All the beer drinkers around the world should try San Miguel Beer at least once.


Toast to my 11th bottle.

4. Last but not the least, my brother and his girlfriend are expecting their first baby. I will soon have my second niece. Wait, didn't I just say my brother spent years in jail? Exactly! Were they in a relationship before he got in? No, they hardly knew each other. That is what's so special about it! By the way, she was in jail only for a visit. It was the day they met. Moving forward, this couple really does not make me any busier but nothing beats the buzz of a newly engaged couple!


The free and a baby

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Pay Day!

Today is not only the start of a weekend (whew!), but also an essential event to employees: PAYDAY! As expected roads will once again be congested and malls filled with busy ants. Unfortunately, others are not as lucky. These goons take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. So take good care of that hard earned dough. You don't wanna lose it to charity. Beware of pickpockets, hold-uppers, or even your greedy wife (it's a joke, silly). See you around!!!


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Magic Jack

The MagicJack is no big secret. Many of you already know or have actually used this device as it lets you call abroad simply by plugging it on a computer's USB. The nice thing? Calling your loved ones (or even making prank calls) in the USA and Canada is of minimal cost: $19 a year (or equivalent in pesos). What does it mean? Well, eliminate COSTLY PHONE BILLS and save thousands of pesos!



I've been using it for about half a year now. So how does it work? How much does it cost?

Things you may want to know:

1) MagicJack costs around php3000.

2) Will require a PC, a handset, and an internet connection.


A regular handset like this is good enough.

3) With MagicJack you can contact cellphones or landlines in the US or Canada. Calling cellphones may mean collect charges apply. For instance, calling my mom in Cincinnati, Ohio costs her airtime minutes from 7am to 6pm ET. No charges apply outside of those hours. MagicJack to MagicJack calls to and from anywhere and vice versa is free. The MagicJack functions as if it were a North America phone number.

4) Calls (using MagicJack) outside the US/Canada may have rates depending on location. This means if you are using your MagicJack to contact someone in Italy, charges apply because you are calling somebody outside of the US/Canada region. This is true except when you are contacting another MagicJack (remember that MagicJack to MagicJack is for free).

5) I personally do not have any complaints on voice clarity (except the occasional pulses).

6) I am simply selling the idea so that more and more people will benefit from this peripheral.
For more info, visit MagicJack.com.


USB: Plug it.

Related Articles:
MagicJack - Make Phone Calls at Cheapest Rate anywhere in the World.
Learn more about MagicJack on Wikipedia.
Read more>>

Cory Aquino rides the yellow cab to the spirit world

Why are you wearing red, ma'am?
Image by ManilaRyce

Been trying to shy away from ink jotting regarding former President Cory Aquino's sad departure. Bear with me as I try to recall personal experiences linked to Cory's existence...

1986 campaign- I was 6 and well aware that my mom was pro Marcos. It was reason enough to turn me into a Marcos ally as well. As the election campaign intensified, more and more swarms of people can be found barking enthusiastically "Cory, Cory! Laban, Laban!", with the raised L hand sign and all (which now is a sign for L-osers). While Marcos "fanatics" uttered their version of the Marcos chant which drowned in the overwhelming battle cry of the opposition. A number of Marcos supporters later on found themselves enticed by the growing growls of Cory supporters and the bandwagon successfully ignited a prelude to the historical EDSA 1.

1986 post snap election- at the time our residence was situated a few hundred meters from Malacañang (palace). Commotion down the streets can be heard from inside the house. Kids such as I were quick on our wit to realize there is something special going on. Some concerned elders who didn't want to scare their kids tried to mask the event by talking in codes and forcing younglets to bed. In my case, the purpose is defeated since I hear what's really going on (tanks and legions roaming the streets) from adults themselves when they talk to each other. As the night progressed, it somehow turned to a calm celebration. As it later turned out, the Marcoses hula hooped all the way to Hawaii.

Yellow- not that slang for ice but the yellow of the color spectrum. Up to this day I associate this to Cory Aquino. In the 80's I had this vague interpretation that the Dollar taxi painted red is to Marcos as the emerging yellow cabs is to Cory. Mustard to ketchup. Yellow Submarine to Lady in Red. You get the picture. I was a weird kid and an even weirder adult.

Kris Aquino- the president's daughter. Location: PICC, the place to be with rented pedal bikes circling the entire place. Inside the PICC building, caught a glimpse of the young Kris Aquino and had instant daydreams of being with her as lovers (I was 9 and she was around 16). I was even assessing the age gap if it would later impose a relationship problem (duh!). Kids are crazy. I later resented the idea of this self inflicted abnormal proposition. Maybe soon I'll delete this post or modify it to save myself from embarassment.

Tora Tora Bang Bang- the famous coup d'etat in the latter segment of Cory's presidency. Gringo Honasan's attempted revolt against the Cory government flopped like flip. That was really a crazy one. Our warplane, the Tora Tora, is an amusing demonstration of the Philippines' technological advancement (or lack thereof). An elicit eye opener to a naive young boy (me) of our country's third worldness. Preserving history is not a valid excuse in operating a long retired warplane. It's brutal torture to this old aged machine.

Well, I bet once again you learned nothing from this blog. Thank you for relieving my boredom today. To former President Cory Aquino, may you rest in peace. Thank you, ma'am.
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Quality time with doggie dog

Spent the entire afternoon napping if not keyboard mashing. Tonight I'm scheduled to have dinner somewhere in a remote island called Eastwood. Okay, it really is not that far away and is definitely not an island. It just takes too much effort to get off the bed as I am more intimate with it than anything else. Of course, we spend more or less a third of our lives sleeping. You know that right?

All right then. Since this site is about the boring side of me, let me show you whom I spent the whole afternoon with. Meet my loyal friend, Bubu. This is what happens if you have nothing much to write about. Whew!



Related topic:
Knockout pets
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So what if Lebron gets dunked on by a college player?

I read this yahoo article today about Lebron getting dunked on by a college ballplayer from Xavier University. It's either the anti-Lebron or the less mature basketball fans who make this a blown up "success" story for a young hoopster. What I mean is hey, this is the game of basketball: you either block a shot or get dunked on. The greatest shot blockers get dunked on. Some to the point of real embarrassment. To name a few: Anfernee Hardaway - Patrick Ewing (#1 on link video); Robert Pack - Shawn Kemp; Kevin Johnson - Hakeem Olajuwon; Kobe Bryant - Dwight Howard; Larry Johnson - Dikembe Mutombo; and so on. Every basketball fan probably has a list of unforgettable facials in mind. Some of you may say, "Yeah right, get dunked on but not by a college kid." Of course a volume of great NBA shotblockers get dunked on by mediocre players. This propaganda of Lebron "gets dunked on" just makes Lebron's star a whole lot "shinier". It's big deal to dunk on a GREAT player. Oh, I remember what a friend posted on a social networking site yesterday: "Success is not determined by a single accomplishment; it's a habit of consistency." Okay, it sucks because I can't remember the exact words. What it means to me is give the guy a hundred attempts to dunk over LeBron and we'll see how many times he scores. And misses.

Related articles:
One man show, hurting Cleveland's chances
Shaq, say hello to Cleveland
Kobe Bryant, Big Time Player

Yahoo News!
Witnesses at last: Video of Lebron James getting dunked on
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Laugh of the day: Evian tv commercial

Check out this video of baby rollerskaters!!


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Improved study area

Today's boredom attack is not bad at all. I served a different approach as I let it wait the whole day to get into me. In fact, it did not have much success to bore my brain out. In the end, boredom got bored waiting for an opportunity to 'dullify' my day. You heard it, the word of the day: dullify. No makes sense but what the heck. Let's move on.

I now have an improved study set up. Hopefully this would help me get through the book-reading slump I have had in the past few days (an understatement for someone capable of reading no more than two [2] textbook pages a day). Do not question my dedication to higher learning though. There is just too much cerebral rust to shake.

*click to enlarge image

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Freddie Aguilar: Mariah Carey's right

Filipino music artists respond to Freddie Aguilar's comments questioning the patriotism of two fellow international Filipino artists in Arnel Pineda and Charice Pempengco.

Reports indicate Ka Freddie's statement that both Pineda and Pempengco validate Mariah Carey's sour remark regarding Filipino artists' inability to come up with a musical style distinct from the rest of the world.

Aguilar, himself a renowned international artist, reportedly criticized the absence of homegrown songs in both Pineda and Pempengco's performances. In my opinion, the two artists' achievements represent Filipinos very well as being world class performers. Although I also believe that success is more gratifying if foreigners embrace what is our own, like what Ka Freddie has accomplished in his storied career. Perhaps with more exposure, Arnel and Charice would find open windows for an opportunity to promote our culture intimately and that is by singing songs in our native tongue. I bet they'd love to do so.

On picture: author (back) with Freddie, Shiaianne "Anak" Aguilar, and former teammates


More on this incident, click here
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Got new phone Nokia E71 / 1202 (review)

Black and white E71


E71: feature-filled, priced reasonably.

The Nokia E71 is a mid range priced phone that costs around Php17000 or less. A combination of eye candy and performance, it turns out to be a pleasant surprise. Symbian S60 OS performs well. The interface looks great. Mobile internet is fast. The E71 is superb as a ♪Music Player♫- thanks mainly to its loudness and thump despite the single loudspeaker. The QWERTY keyboard takes a little bit of getting used to, but after a while it makes texting a breeze. Fat-fingered texters may disagree. Thankfully, mine is properly trained to hit small buttons. In addition, battery lasts approximately 3 days or so depending on the type of applications being used. I like to play loudspeaker music at the highest volume setting.

Overall satisfaction as far as I'm concerned is a perfect 10. If you are planning to buy an E71, check out the newer E72 first. Personally, I like E71's appearance. The E72 though is an improved version of E71 in terms of internal memory, battery life, and the addition of the highly anticipated optical track pad. (See comparison link at the bottom of this page).


Nokia 1202: cheap and light

I was looking for a cheap phone, preferably a low end Samsung phone, with long battery life priced below Php2000. I found the Nokia 1202 instead. This phone is u-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-e. The 1202 serves its purpose well: Easy keypad (arguably one of the best phone keypads ever) for the lightning texter such as myself. No nonsense black and white screen. Weighs only 78g. Battery tested very good as it lasted 4 days in one charging (approx 2 ½ hours of airtime and moderate text messaging). Built in flashlight may come handy during sudden power outages. Other websites rate this phone a 6 out of 10 which is insanely low considering its below Php1500 price tag.


E71 and 1202 side by side

Compare E71 and 1202, click here
Compare E71 and E72, click here Read more>>

Mobile unlimited call & text services: giving consumer great options

Image by Bah Humbug

During its infancy stages, texting service was free of charge. As the popularity of GSM texting progressed, the unpleasant news echoed across the pioneer generation of texters: the cost of 1peso/text.

Smart and Globe were popular choices; although there were other networks such as Islacom and Mobiline. The birth of Suncellular and its aggressive 'free call and text' strategy modified consumer mobile communication. And the rest is history.

Today we enjoy improved services (no more good morning messages at night due to text lags), cheaper rates, and unlimited calls and text messaging to name a few. The new cellphone models also contribute to price slashing. Picture messages for instance (Php15 for b/w graphics), a craze back in the black and white cellphone era, is almost a thing of the past as the public now enjoy mobile blogging, MMS, em@il on the go, and so on.

Red Mobile, Suncellular, Globe, and Smart offer a wide variety of unlimited services. I'll give an overview on each servicer based on personal experience.

Suncellular- Pros: To the fortunate subscriber who has good coverage, Php20 will give 2 days of free same-network texting and 20minutes airtime. Php30 Call & Text Combo for 40minutes sun-to-sun calls, 120 sun to sun texts and 40 texts to other networks valid for 3 days. Other flexible promos are also available. Cons: To me, it is a nightmare to use this service mainly because the reception is too weak in our area. I initially used it back in 2006 and is quite surprising how it has not improved over the years.

Red Mobile- Pros: red to red local rate is very reasonable and is the lowest among Philippine telecoms at Php0.50 per minute. Countrywide 3G coverage. Cons: I bought one last month, then realized I do not know anyone who's using red yet. A 3G phone for a spare sim? Yes, because it runs on 3G.

Globe- recently introduced Duo. Globe Duo is a service, thus existing Globe sim may be used. There's no need to buy a new sim. Subscriber will have 2 phone numbers: the current mobile number (i.e. 0905*******) and will be given a new Duo landline number (i.e. 02******). Pros: unlimited Duo to any landline, any Landline to Duo, and Duo to Duo calls. For prepaid users: Php125 is valid for 5 days and Php350 for 14 days. Cons: Duo to Duo call means the service apply provided the other person is also Duo-subscribed or is using a landline. Costly if not abused, so make sure to get the most out of it. Postpaid users add P399 on top of the regular bill and has a 3 month lock period. Pre-termination fee of Php1200 apply to postpaid subscribers. Initially available in NCR and Cebu only.

Note that Duo is for CALLS ONLY. For texting, I personally like unlimited globe to globe text for 80pesos/5days. Others want more flexibility by using the TEXT ALL service which gives a set number of free texts to globe and other networks. This is good instead of the standard 1peso/text to other networks.

Smart- Pros: Cheaper compared to Globe's Duo. Priced at Php100/5 days unlimited calls or Php500/30 days. Cons: Compromised signal reception perhaps due to heavy subscriber traffic.
Same as with Globe, Smart offers flexible texting services.

Overall, it's a good thing to have this options available. Hopefully, telecom companies would also offer other unlimited services such as MMS, mobile email, internet, and all of those features that the latest handsets are capable of.
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Forever college

Today marks the first month of a new school year. After a 5 year absence from college, all I can say is it is good to be back. My ultra short attention span is gradually improving...



Fully loaded with 26 units this semester, snubbed drinking buddies should try to be as considerate as possible. Those books alone make up only a total of 8 units. I have long outgrown reading books (at least 11 years back in time), as I conveniently switched to browsing through the pages of FHM or Maxim instead. Lately my genuine fondness of educational books is somewhat rekindled.

All right then, time is up. I just remembered I had bought the July '09 issue of MAXIM with Jackie Rice gracing its cover. Let me go back to reading.

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Gino @ Tabu photos

Makati City, Philippines





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Matchbox traffic

My cousin's matchbox obsession is crazy. GMA 7 featured the toy collection in one of its tv programs. Check out this mini traffic:





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A singer no more

The way I sound now, it is evident how far it is from my old self who could sing and perform fairly well. The vision of becoming a singer-songwriter has long been buried somewhere in the unknown passage of time.

To my old friends who were witnesses, this segment is for you.

2003 is the year I lost the gift of being able to sing well. First, let's differentiate ABUSE from MISUSE.

ABUSE- may contribute, but not necessarily the biggest factor that can ruin a person's ability to sing. (example: smoking and similar vices that should be avoided to optimize vocal range)

MISUSE- is the improper way of singing; prolonged misuse causes vocal cord disorders.(example: bad vocal technique such as using the throat instead of the diaphragm; more so using the throat the harmful way)

Click here for more detailed information on vocal cord damage and how to avoid it.



I wrote this for the purpose of directing friends, relatives, schoolmates, colleagues, and others who may hear about this lost ability; so that I will not have to explain myself again and again. I will not and can not sing anymore. Not for any gig, band, wedding, debut, fiesta, not even a casual night of beer drinking (except when I get too much alcohol, maybe). It is not selfishness, brother. I'd love to sing anytime of any day if I could.

The sad truth is I hardly sing anymore even when I am all alone. My guitar, unlike in the past, just rests in one corner and seemed to have died with my passion for music altogether. As you can see on the demo video I did today, for the sake of proving my point, it is barely there. Even the song lyrics are forgotten. A singer who can no longer sing. Read more>>

My take on cigarette smoking

Image by SuperFantastic

I’ve always been against smoking. Even after years of violating my lungs, I still am. Light a stick. That’s what I've been doing for who knows how long. I regret it.

"What brought you into my life?" is really a tentative question rather than ignorance. It signifies my frustration of having to deal with admitting my semi-addiction to cigarettes. And finding ways to rid of it. I know exactly how and when I started smoking.

There are several worn out excuses as to why smokers lit that first ever cigarette. Few would admit there is one ultimate force behind teenage smoking; and it's the desire to look and feel "cool". Whereas I've learned it is not, was never, and will never be cool.

When it is imbued as a habit, smokers become slaves to smoking. Excuse me, my loved ones. This is not something I can turn away from in a snap of a finger. If it were easy, I would have walked away from it a long time ago. For you guys, my dear ones.

If the world we live in were to be a gigantic non-smoking area; if manufacturers will make no more of it; and if the collective efforts of eliminating this waste product become successful; I shall be thankful. A bitter sweet ending to this detrimental vice.

For now, I blame it on me. I blame it on you. I blame it on anybody. I'll take a cigarette break now. Puff... Don't come near me, you passive smoker.

Click here to learn more about smoking addiction. Read more>>

Zorra

We adopted an alley kitten aptly named Zorra, in honor of maskman Zorro. Unlike many of the unwelcome stray cats around the residence, she can openly come into and go out of the house.

Zorra eats local cat food, as well as the occasional scrap food. In the meantime, my folks sent a small package that includes branded cat food. What a spoiled little brat! Strangely, this kitten loves to bathe and likes to play with dogs. The helper who takes care of her, though, kicks her out every night to ensure no litter scent shall enchant our indoor atmosphere.




Cruelty to Animals:

Why would anyone be cruel to animals?

There can be many reasons. Animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed, and under the control of others. The motive may be to shock, threaten, intimidate, or offend others or to demonstrate rejection of society's rules. Some who are cruel to animals copy things they have seen or that have been done to them. Others see harming an animal as a safe way to get revenge on someone who cares about that animal. (The Humane Society)

Quotes:

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."-- Mohandas Gandhi

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."-- Thomas Edison

"Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."-- Albert Einstein

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Thriller in prison

A look back in time as Filipino inmates perform the late Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'!

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Michael Jackson (1958-2009), gone too soon

Image by Tom the Misfit

The King of Pop. The most famous Moonwalker on earth. Michael Jackson, the man who introduced a new dimension to music performance died today. The cause of death is still being determined.

From the Jackson 5 days, the "Thriller" music video, his Heal the World theme, child molestation issues and all... the man is undeniably controversial and adored by legions at the same time. He was set to stage a series of shows in a few weeks. Now, all that is left are memories of Michael's great feats.

Here are some of the favorites from Michael Jackson:

1) Thriller- who, from the time it flashed on that old TV screen, would forget this revolutionary video? Back in its days, music videos were plain and often dull. Thriller set a 'new' standard of modern music presentation.

2) Give Love on Christmas Day- even those who do not celebrate Christmas enjoy this one and make 'em want to give love as well.

3) One Day In Your Life- a friend and I were arguing whether it was Karen Carpenter or not. Toinks! It's Michael.

4) Billie Jean- energy passed from Michael to Blackstreet, and recently with Kanye West as its 25th Anniversary edition.

5) Jam- basketball and Music fans come together as the two MJ's collaborate in its music video. Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson show off each other's skills. Whew.

6) Black or White- another treat as the third MJ, Magic Johnson, appeared on this video.

The list goes on and on with titles such as Ben, She's Out Of My Life, I Just Can't Stop Loving You, I'll Be There, My Girl, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Dangerous...

See yahoo's news links:
Michael Jackson, 'King of Pop,' dead at 50
Remembering Michael
R.I.P. Michael Jackson: The Greatest of All Time



More about Michael Jackson later! For now am heading off back to the classroom! Read more>>

Shaq, say hello to Cleveland

The rumors surrounding Shaquille O'Neal teaming up with LeBron James will soon be over as negotiation is underway.


Shaq reaching for his Cavs jersey.
Image by cliff1066

Cleveland fans rejoice as the Big Aristotle will bring strength to the Cavs' inside game. Both Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic will be sporting Phoenix Suns jerseys.

The Cavs, who led the league with a stellar 66-16 record in the regular season, are still fresh off a bitter ending in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

League MVP LeBron James was spectacular all year and even elevated his game in the post season. James averaged 35.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists in the playoffs and was a huge presence for the Cavs on both ends. His teammates were overmatched late in the playoffs versus the Orlando Magic, especially the big men who weren't even half productive as Dwight Howard.

How great is this development for Cavs/Lebron fans? I recently talked about how I love Shaq and LeBron, check out this article Kobe Bryant, A Big Time Player. Now they'll be playing together!

With the entry of Shaq, how greatly will it impact the Cavs' championship chances? We'll find out.

Click here for more on Shaq trade.

Related articles:
So what if Lebron gets dunked on by a college player?
One man show, hurting Cleveland's chances
Kobe Bryant, Big Time Player Read more>>

Manila day

Today is Manila Day.

Q: What is Manila Day?

A: It commemorates the day the City of Manila was established.

This is just a wild guess. Anyone can ellaborate further? Seriously, I can't seem to find any information on the web. Even Wikipedia seem to have no answers. Feel free to provide us some insights. Thank you!
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Hayden Koh scandal part 3

Here is the latest addition to the Hayden Koh scandal.
Check out these links to see part 3 of Maricar Reyes - Hayden Koh sex scandal:


Streaming video
Downloads and more streaming sources

The good: Despite the sex videos, Maricar Reyes is still very respectable. She did not do pornography to generate income. She has an angelic face whose wild side has been exposed through these videos but what the heck, we are all animals in bed. In addition, Hayden was her boyfriend and not just a random guy. Think Paris Hilton.

The bad: She is a doctor, commercial model, and TV actress. Her reputation is unjustifiably marred since these are very personal and intimate moments captured on video and leaked to the masses. Read more>>

Knockout pets

The corporate rat race can be quite exhausting. Back when we were kids, sleeping all day is not unusual. Things have rapidly led us to our busy lives of today, while occasionally daydreaming about the next guilt-free holiday. Whenever I see my tiny dogs lounge around, I can't help but recall the good ol' days of blissful slumbering...

Check out these knockout moments:

Baba "owns the bed"

Bubu "pillow hugger"

Chloe "eat and then sleep on the food plate"

Yorkie "rare deep sleep for the #1 barker/watcher"

Nemo "zombie"

Related topic:
Quality time with doggie dog
Read more>>

The Farm Resort, Philippines

Images by Irving Velasco

Located south of Manila, The Farm resort is an ideal place to relax.

Click here to view The Farm Resort official website. Read more>>