The Catch 22 That is Mark Solis

Forgive my hard stance on this one.

I cringe over the new word netizens have coined the last few days inspired by one Mark Joseph Solis – “SOLISIFIED”. The word became synonymous to plagiarism.

The photo that earned him the fame but was not his in the first place (Rappler.com)

El Cuento de Un Ciudad (The Tale of One City)

The feeling of disbelief and devastation has never left me since that morning of September 9 when a cousin phoned mom to ask her to pray over reports of attack by the MNLF in Zamboanga. Mom was clearly worried and I reassured her that it will be over in no time and it is only an isolated scuffle pertuated by Misuari loyalists. 

“Acaba lang se dayun Mom. Tiene lang gaha se demands el maga MNLF por causa serca ya el signing del Bangsamaro framework. Mira tu, hinde caba este dia sale ya sus maga hente (It will soon be over Mom. The MNLF may just have demands since the Bangsamoro framework signing is near. You’ll see, before the day ends, they will retreat).” 

But the day progressed with TV reports of terror and violence engulfing the six coastal areas of Sta. Catalina, Sta. Barbara, Rio Hondo, Talon-Talon, Mampang, Arena Blanco and Kasanyangan.

Aerial shot of the coastal areas engulfed in fire (Source)

I was wrong with my belief that it was going to be temporary - now the armed conflict in Zamboanga enters its 15^th day.

For Just A Moment

We laughed until we had to cry 
And we love right down to our last goodbye 

We were the best, 

I think we'll ever be 

Just you and me 
For just a moment 

About five years ago someone asked me nonchalantly while I was busy tapping my laptop keys, “When we get to the inevitable, will you blog about me?” I had to stop what I was doing, took a sip of his beer and gazed at the shore outside our hotel window. “I promise to write about you. When - that I do not know. But all of these are blog worthy.” He cupped my face, kissed me and said he will be waiting to read what I will have to say about him.

His question tugged a chord in my blogger heart and until this day I can still vividly hear his voice asking me that. I have done a few blog posts about him in the past but it was written with much ambivalence, a perfect example of when love and hate collide. The recent events in my life and hours spent talking with my best friend Anthony and inner posse Myla made me rediscover essentials that I buried after the demise of our relationship.  Perhaps when you are deep in pain, you choose to think about the bad memories and negate the happy ones. Yet when you reach the point when you are good and healed, your eyes become objective and yes, acknowledge those times when you were so happy you didn’t mind if you were to die the next  day.

Starbucks VIA - Great Coffee Anytime, Anywhere

Starbucks new coffee line - Kape Vinta Blend and every coffee lover's dream - VIA Ready Brew

I am a coffee addict. Not exactly the connoisseur type but I know good coffee when I taste one – minus all the add-ins that can mask its real flavor so I rarely order coffee concoctions. I settle for either plain brewed or espresso especially when I badly need to stay up.

In my experience, good coffee can only be found in specialty coffee shops or with the help of a coffee maker when you’re too lazy to go out. But when the going gets tough, I sometimes find myself having to make do with instant coffee for my caffeine fix. Until I tried Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew. To this coffee lover, it is heaven-sent!

Solutions for the Domestic Goddess

After the success of the first two Good Housekeeping workshops in 2011 and 2012, 3M Philippines together with Good Housekeeping magazine brought a rebranded workshop entitled Home-mazing Ideas Workshop. The provincial leg of the workshop kicked off at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City last August 31.

Blogger Koni Esteban shares her crafting tips 

Now on its third year, the Home-mazing Ideas Workshop goes around the Philippines to conduct workshops at malls, residential areas, and condominiums about the best of home improvement ideas including topics about clutter management, and space saving home organization tips, from the country’s best interior design and home experts. 3M Philippines early set of workshops were conducted at Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City, The Columns and One Serendra in Makati City. The workshop featured Ms. Koni Esteban, a freelance DIY and Craft Specialist; and cool guys from Mad Science.