Tweet Over Blog in 2010

Statistics show that from Aug 2009 to December 2010, I made 4,000 plus tweets in my 16 month old www.twitter.com account.

On the other hand, my blog entries have slowly eroded:
Y2010 – 36
Y2009 – 82
Y2008 – 83
Y2007 – 158
Y2006 – 64 (for ½ year)

Is the micro blogging uptake inversely proportional to the decrease in blogging? Nah!!! I was just too busy with work.

CARCIL 2010

The magic number was 375 inmates. There were 69 calls made by the bakasyonistas to their relatives and friends last December 25, 2010 from 9AM to 12NN hence a mere 18% calling rate. What’s good to note is that there were still prisoners who wanted to talk to their loved ones however time was up and we had to pack up. Here’s some interesting statistics and verbatim gathered this year.

FREE CALL DEMOGRAPHICS Dec 2010

Total Calls Made is 69.

Who they called?
(a) wife 26%,
(b) sis/bro 23%,
(c) son/daughter 19%,
(d) friend 9%,
(e) cousin 9%,
(f) aunt 6%,
(g) mother 4%,
(h) in-law 3%,
(i) father 1%.

Interesting text received this year:
"Nung snang atsu k keni at emu gewa yn d sna makasaup kng s2ling panulo ng ima, mgsustento kya,eku sna mgobra ing ald0ng makanini,,kya eka dpat s2bing mknyan,at eka manyumbat mknyan,kc ala kng blu keng malilyari keng kilwal mu."
TRANSLATION: If only you where here and you didn’t commit that dastardly act, then you could be helping us with mother’s medicine and supporting her and I should not be working on a Christmas day! You shouldn’t be taking it against me because you really don’t know what’s happening outside (the prison).

Ouch! That hurt…

And who is Joseph Fiennes?

This year, I was hooked on FOX TV series and one of my faves was Flash Forward. It was a daily series starting at 8PM so I made sure I was home before that time. One of the main characters was Mark Bedford, an FBI Special Agent. The forty year old English film and stage actor Joseph Fiennes plays Mark Bedford.

In our group's Kris Kringle, the category was 'people born in the 70s' and my codename is Joseph Fiennes. After randomly picking his name as my code name, my first reaction was - "Who the H@@L is Joseph Fiennes! After doing my research, I found out that Joseph Fiennes is THE Mark Bedford of Flash Forward. That is what you call COINCIDENCE.

CAR CHOICES…INSPIRED BY FLASH FORWARD

Assuming the date today is July 1, 201X, one month before our due date to replace the company car plan, my car options would be the ff:
(1) Hyundai Sonata Theta II GLS 2.4 6AT
(2) Mitsubishi ASX Active Sports Crossover 2.0L GLS 4X2 AT
(3) Subaru Impreza 2.0L R-S AT

Without factor rating, coming up with a decision would be extremely difficult since the 3 choices all have our requirements. After subjecting it to factor rating, it becomes a bit clearer as the choices are down to 2. This can be decided by using a decision making tool called "toss coin." Here’s the result of the factor rating:



CONCLUSION: Either Sonata or ASX would be a good choice. Since I can’t bring home both, I’d probably go for the ASX. No, I’d go for the Sonata. The ASX, the Sonata. The ASX, the Sonata. The ASX, the Sonata. Sheesh, a 0.37 difference presents a complex decision making.

If I go for the Sonata, the cons include:
(1) Ground clearance will be a limitation hence a disadvantage during the rainy season.
(2) The H badge. Am I really ready to invest in a Korean car?
(3) After 5 years (or 10), resale value will be below a same class Toyota (Camry) or Honda (Accord).
(4) If the company will allow me to get a mid sized sedan.

If I go for the ASX, the cons include:
(1) After 5 years (or 10), resale value will be below a same class Honda (CRV) or Toyota (Fortuner).
(2) No back up sensor.
(3) The sub compact SUV has a small cargo capacity.

Since I’m just dreaming, I’ll probably get a red Mitsubishi ASX if today were July 1, 20X.

BAI'S BRIDE FROM BACOLOD

Last July 17, 2010, I received an sms from a college friend Dean. The sms says “Everybody’s invited on my wedding with Ris on Nov. 13, 2010 in Bacolod City. Hope to see you there. Fyi, Cebu Pacific is offering promo until July 19. Pls. reply so I know you got this.” My thoughts after reading that sms is that I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Finally after almost 4 months, I'm writing this blog entry about the trip to Bacolod, the wedding and the LSC reunion.



TRIP TO BACOLOD
It was my family and I's first time in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. We flew in last November 13 via Cebu Pacific with some friends and checked in at L’Fisher Hotel. Lunch was in Manukan Country courtesy of one of Dean’s wedding principal sponsor. Just before we left Bacolod last November 14, we had a city tour which covered the following places: Colegio San Agustin, University of St. La Salle, Provincial Capitol and the Capitol Lagoon. The last stop before going back to the hotel was 888 Chinese Mall for some pasalubong.



THE WEDDING
I hope my friend declared to his beautiful wife that he had many girlfriends in the past and made sure to highlight that he only married one . The wedding was held at Queen of Peace Parish Church along Hilado St. The uniquely shaped church was a photographer's dream and it was further accentuated by the floral arrangements. The reception was held at L'Fisher Hotel along Lacson St., the City’s main street. It was an "en grande" both in Bacolod and Manila standards. I lack the proper skill in estimating wedding expenses but I reckon they could have bought a brand new car with the wedding expense.



LSC REUNION
It's always fun attending reunions. We just don't get tired of reminiscing and reliving the name calling. Present were 1- Banong, 2- Tyanong a.k.a. Butch Dacanay, 3- Carlo Tiuks, 4- Carlo Bab, 5- Brian Black, 6- Papa Dom, 7- Tony Pana, 8- Gene Chonggo, 9- John Yo!, 10- Jumping Jay and 11- DyLac a.k.a. Benny Ang. The reunion this time was more special because it was out of town and out of the island of Luzon. Dean's friends came from all over the Philippines: Metro Manila, Dipolog City, Davao City and Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Map – Made in Japan

Little Boy refuses to be called Little Boy anymore. He's turning 13 in 2 months time and in the adolescent period - a cross between a child and an adult. He will later realize that it's fun to be a child forever.

During our travel to Japan mid this year, he learned his first adult lesson from his old man - how to read a map. To make our Universal Studios Japan more exciting, I got a map, taught him the basics (news, landmarks, resto & restroom symbols) and let him plan our itinerary for the day. I just told him to ask me when he's in doubt.

The following days, he progress to a bigger scale by being the "co-navigator" in exploring the cities of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Kobe. The situation presented more challenge for the father and son because some of the signs were in Japanese.

A popular adage says "experience is the best teacher" and this is one practical lesson he will not forget.

Top Ten Car Tips from BL

It's Papa BL's birth month in November. He would have turned 64 y.o. this coming 27th. How I drive is a reflection of how my father taught me. I never enrolled in a formal driving school and credit him for teaching me the basics plus some add ons. Here are the top ten car & driving tips that I learned from him and still apply in my 23 yrs of experience:

1- Blowgas. I bet my father read this from somewhere or learned it from somebody but back then, I thought the acronym blowgas was practical so I quickly adapted it. The basic item that you should check before driving your vehicle includes the ff: Brakes, Lights, Oil, Water and Gas.
2- Plan your route. What's the best way to go from point a to b? Think. Research. Prepare. Don't just start the car and drive. This way, you save gas, hassle and stress.
3- Jackrabbit. Your passengers are not ingredients inside a blender. They want to get to their destination in one piece and not confused as a result of the jumpy ride. Drive as smooth as a plane.
4- DL the Explorer. When time is on your side, I was taught to discover new routes. Often, there are alternatives to go from one destination to another. Do not, I repeat, do not be afraid to explore.
5- Follow the leader. Imagine this, it’s raining cats and dogs in NLE and visibility is less than 10 feet. What do you do? You follow the leader. It would be wise to look for a “pace car” that seem to know what he’s doing but doesn’t know you’re trailing him. Just ensure you keep a distance. Not following the last instruction might be fatal.
6- Truck ban. Whether on rainy or sunny day, never follow a truck! It's next to being blind on the road.
7- Blind curve. Drivers know that it's dangerous to overtake in a blind curve, but they do. It's a major no-no and a lose-lose situation in case the unexpected happens.
8- Go fast...alone. Boys will be boys. The curiosity (that killed the cat while you were driving 100 kph) in us will always be there. If you want to explore the limits of your car, do it alone. Spare your family from your mischievous deed and let them enjoy your life insurance.
9- Parking check. Before the back up sensors or a parking guide videocam were born, there was this thing called common sense. When parking in a tight squeeze or to ensure if you’re within the limits of the parking space, nothing beats going down to check if your parked properly.
10- Getaway mode. When parking, ensure that you’re always parked on the getaway mode. This means sacrificing time and effort to park before alighting the vehicle so that you gain the rewards when you leave the park space.

Parents really play a huge role in molding their children and learning to drive is part of the top box. We need responsible drivers on the road.

The Galleon Andalucia

Last October 9, the DL family trooped to Manila South Harbor Pier 13 to check out the Spanish Galleon Andalucia. B5's history subject touches on galleons during the 17th century reason why it was important for us to check it out. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough because the line was too long and the organizers decided to visitor count limit on the last day.

Who?
It was constructed by the Fundacion Nao Victoria of Andalucia.
The skipper was Captain Gonzalo de la Cruz.

What?
It is a replica of the ships that sailed between Spain and the Philippines in the 17th century.

Where?
It was docked in Manila South Harbor Pier 13 for three days.

When?
It stayed in Manila from October 6 to 9.

How?
It is a 51 meter wooden ship.
It sailed from Spain to the Philippines for 6 months.

-end-

HRM

I'm not talking about the undergrad course called Human Resources Management but a device used by humans called the Heart Rate Monitor. I got mine in 2002 through L-Time studio. Of course, I got it on sale for P5,000 when the regular price was p7,000. Mine is a Nike Triax C6. It's a useful device as it not only tracks time but as the title of the entry suggest, your heart rate. And speaking abt heart rates, here are some personal facts:
(a) Ideal heart rate for a 38 yr old male:
beginner 110 - 128
intermediate 128 - 146
advanced 148 - 165
(b) Heart Rate Results:
Control standing = 86
After 12 mins run with incline = 173
Cool down after 5 mins = 101.
(c) Max Heart Rate for a 38 yr old male is 182.

The formula for Maximun Heart Rate is 220 less age.

This device is one of my "best buys."

60+ Reasons why U’ll miss Central Luzon

June 21, 2004. With a heavy heart, I left a team that I lead for 5 years to handle another team. I handled the CL family when I was 27 until 32 yrs old hence truly memorable times in my life. I received over 60 messages from my teammates that I handled directly or indirectly and I’d like to share some of the messages;

Sir DL,
Goodluck po and a great loss indeed for CMO kasi mababawasan po sales namin because of your endorsements sa mga friends nyo na gusto mag-apply. Hehehe  You’ll always be our CL Smart family. God Bless.
K. / Pampanga

DL,
Thank you for the times you’ve helped me. And thank you for just being there.
M. / Pampanga

Sir,
Salamat…sa mga bagay na tinuro ninyo…sa opportunidad na binigay mo…sa supporta at pang-unawa. Good luck & more power.
B. / Bulacan

DL,
Thought you’ll be my superior for the rest of my SMART life. Thanks and good luck in your new team!
L. / Tarlac

Dearest Sir DL,
I believe that you are one of the best managers in Smart and I will not be surprised if you’ll be entrusted more with greater responsibilities in the future. May the good Lord continue to bless you in your endeavors Thanks so much for the trust. I hope that you’ll be proud of me someday. We’ll surely miss u! Ingat po!
B. / Bataan

Sir DL,
Just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for guiding me and molding me into becoming the kind of person that I am right now. I had a lot of rough times at Smart and I know you were behind me all the while. Thanks for trusting and believing in me. I must say that I’m blessed to have a boss like you. Hope that I would have the chance to work with you again.
G. / Pampanga

Sir DL,
I have learned a lot from you in the short time we have known each other. Thank you for encouraging me to make decisions on my own and for allowing me to commit mistakes in order to learn. Most especially thank you for the trust & support you have given me. I’m sure going to miss working with you. God Bless!
H. / Bulacan

Sir DL,
Sayang etana mekapag basketball ulit, pero ebali dakal pa naman aliwang aldo. Sir, Kasanting mu palang akakit keng TV. Pwde kang maging host bala ku sana ita ing maging bayu mung career. Good luck!
P. / Pampanga

Dear Sir DL,
Thank you for the lessons learned from you. There maybe ups and downs along the way but it brings better relationships to both of us. Good luck to your next assignment and am sure this will add another feather in your cap. God bless you always.
B. / Zambales

Sir DL,
Thank you for everything. You’re one of the people who made me or rather showed me to love my work. Don’t work too much OK? Kaw na rin nagsabi na pagnagka sakit ka, yung family mo lang ang karamay mo. Goodluck po. I believe this is just the beginning of a lifetime of success.
P. / Pampanga

Sir DL,
Thanks for being there always. So sorry if sometimes na hurt ko yung feelings mo but I do know that you want the best for me and I really thank you for that. As I’ve said, naiintindihan ko ang lahat ng ginagawa mo. I wish you luck on your new challenges in your life. Take care always and we love you.
A../ Pampanga

Sir DL,
All good things must come to an end. It wasn’t all that bad, believe me. I know this is one opportunity you will not let pass and I’m certain that you’ll make it. Let me kthank you for letting me be part of one of the best teams in SMT. Had I not been under you, I would have been a different (maybe less of who I am right now) AE in the corporate world. I hope that somehow, I added COLOR to your “always put in B & W” approach to work. I’m happy that in our last task together, you finally got the BALIUAG’s spelling right  See you around!
A.E. / Pampanga

Sir DL!
Thank you po ken eganagana asaup nyu po kaku lalong lamo nap o itang “BIKE.” Good luck na mu po ken bayu nyo po lugar o pwestu. Sir, Amiss ku po itang “RL dating gawi!” at ing piyalung ta po basketball. Sir unit po, good luck.
R.L./ Pampanga

Sir DL,

Thank you for the support you have extended to me/us! Kamustahan with you po ay malaki ang nagagawa even not just to voice out problems if there is anybut plan sharing experiences. Good luck and more power on your next endeavor.
H. / Nueva Ecija

To Sir DL,
Thank you for believing in me and making me a part of the Smt family. I could still remember during my interview when you told me that being a contractual doesn’t make me less of a person and you were right. I was inspired and I was able to strive more and render something more than I thought I could do. Anyway, I just wish you all the best and all the luck! Gob bless you and surely you will be missed.
A.B. / Bulacan

-end-

Clean Up Drive

My blogsite is 4 years and 3 months old. It has over 400 posts. I reckon this site will outlive me barring any technical or personal concerns and I have no recourse but to shut it down. Since it is expected to be here long after I’ve gone to the next life, I should have at least clean it up. This is what I plan to do:

(1) Check spelling & grammar.
(2) Review if pictures are appropriate to the text content.
(3) Rationalize the categories.
(4) Mask the names of my family members.

My target is to clean 100 entries every month. This is a 4 month personal project which will commence on November 1, 2010 and end on March 31, 2011.

I Love Nature photo contest entry

http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/ilovenature_entries.html

And the winners are...
http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/ilovenature.html

Better luck next time, DL.

Dreamt of My Pare

Brown Mitsubishi Mirage. Orange Toyota Supra. Green John Deere tractor. Yellow Willy's jeep. These were the vehicles found in our garage during my dream.

Last Sept 14, I dreamt of my father BL. It was my first dream that I heard his voice again since April 2008 days before he passed away. The location was in my parents house. We were in the garage and he put his arms on my shoulder and we walked to the adjacent garden. Miss you BL.

Boss Badge

It is believed to be an urban legend but the fact that TV documentaries featured this not-so-ethical practice shows proof that this is actually happening. Here's the scenario: an off duty police riding a public transportation (like a bus) will show his police badge and he gets a free ride. Speaking about "the badge" last Aug 1, we took time out and visited the Hyundai Quezon Boulevard showroom. Visiting car showrooms is becoming one of our family's bonding time. The plan was to see the all new sixth generation Hyundai Sonata. And yes, it was pretty. As Top Gear Phils described it "it looks like an entry level Mercedes Benz" probably drives and handles like one at half the cost. But there's clearly something wrong with it. My senses tell me it's the "H" emblem. If it were the popular "H" from Japan, at P1.380M that mid sized sedan would sell like hotcakes.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/sonata/

TGP article

I hope TGP doesn't sue me for posting this in my blogsite. Peace.

http://www.topgear.com.ph/blogs/head-over-wheels/?p=411

7 cool cars for cool dads
Written by Dinzo Tabamo of Top Gear Philippines
June 17, 2010

When I was growing up, I recall that my cousin Dylan was one of the coolest kuyas I had. He was funny, had good taste in clothes (he was a bit brand-conscious, but it was the 1980s), and he always looked younger than his actual age. And while I wouldn’t call him a certified car nut, he knew a lot more than the average Juan when it came to machines on four wheels.

After he got married, he purchased a Toyota Revo. It was a very capable vehicle, but I chided him for getting a daddy car. He just grinned and acknowledged that he has other priorities now. When he upgraded to a Honda CR-V, I thought he finally decided to get a more hip ride, until I found out he got the automatic transmission variant.

I like fatherhood. I grew up with a kind and forgiving dad. I also understand there are new responsibilities and commitments that come with it. The sporty two-seater might have to go and be replaced by something with a more practical purpose. But it doesn’t have to be vanilla compact SUVs or minivans.

Here are some cars for dad that can be used by a family of at least four but can still make him feel like a teenager with a new driver’s license. I’m sure when my cousin Dylan’s cute children Kobe and Chloe graduate from college, he’ll make a beeline for one of these fine cars.

1. Subaru Legacy Wagon – Symmetrical all-wheel drive and a torquey turbo will redefine your definition of a midsize sedan. The wagon variant is a good excuse to tell your wife it’s just a plain station wagon, just tell her the hood scoop is an eco feature of some sort.

2. Porsche Panamera – Profit is the reason Porsche created the Panamera. But the result is a superbly engineered four-door with the soul of a 911. It can only seat four, so yaya will have to be left behind.

3. Hyundai Sonata – The most likely candidate to topple the Camry from its throne. Based on looks alone, the Toyota midsize sedan should start worrying.

4. Lancer Ralliart – It’s not the most hard-core Lancer in Mitsubishi’s lineup; that distinction belongs to the Lancer Evolution X. But this 237hp compact sedan with dual clutch transmission is more than enough to make one feel like a driver in the WRC.

5. Land Rover Discovery 4 – The Disco is the right balance between the hip-hop luxury of the flagship Range Rover and the mountain goat utility of the classic Defender. Even though the most off-road action it will get is probably Manila’s post-election potholes, the feeling that the ability to crawl rocks is there makes all the difference.

6. Lexus GS460 – To some it resembles the Toyota Camry but when you drive it, all the Camry comparisons fly out the window. There’s a reason this car is being aimed at the BMW 5-Series. Here’s a hint: a 322hp V8.

7. Nissan Grand Livina – At first glance it looks like a failed attempt to steal market share from the best-selling Toyota Innova. However the Grand Livina is one of the most underrated cars in the market. Select the variant with the six-speed transmission and it will do wonders with the 1.8-liter engine. And since it’s smaller than the Innova, what the Grand Livina loses in space it makes up for in handling and sportiness.

City Lights

Overheard in an elevator are two officemates who recently got 3rd gen Honda City. They were talking about other officemates who also got a similar car model:
J- Naka City din siya.
L- Ha? Naka City lang siya? Bakit City lang kinuha niya?
J- E siguro yung lang ang budget niya.
L- Pero kahit CRV afford niya.

In our culture, the top 3 determinants of success are 1- house, 2- car and 3- clothing. The car and the clothing is the most visual. Actually, it may be a general rule but not always the case. There's this retired couple living in a Makati CBD condo and has two 7-Eleven franchised stores but drives a mid 90s Honda Civic. On the other hand, there's this young couple living in an apartment and "trying to make ends meet" but drives an early 2000 Ford F150. I wonder where they get the budget for gasoline. I reckon from his rich parents.

The reality is priorities of people vary hence what you see is not what you get.

Impressive Impreza! Impressive Impreza?

Last June 26, the DSL family trooped to Motorimage in Edsa, Ortigas to test drive a potential next family car - the third generation Subaru Impreza 2.0 R-S. It was a two-months-in-the-making scheduled test drive courtesy of Jesette of Motorimage who arranged it. The unit was color black and if we decide to get one in the future, we're eyeing the lightning red color.

ROUTE
The test drive route was from Motorimage's Ortigas Edsa office to Christ the King and back. DSL drove from the showroom to Corinthian Gardens then JML from there to Christ the King Church. From the midpoint and back to the showroom, the wheel was back to DSL.

PRO & CON
The Pros:
* For P1,2M, you get a fully made up sedan that has a personality disorder...is it a sport car or a family car? It will definitely turn heads esp. the non car nuts. Car nuts would probably say it's a rice car.
* When asked "So what do you drive?" The proud answer is "I drive a Subaru Impreza." If asked if it's a WRX or STI, just say "Next question pls."
* Contrary to popular belief, preventive maintenance cost is within range. A 10,000 kilometer check out would cost the owner between P4K to P5K.
* It's a cult car with serious followers. While the resale value is a scale or two below Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, there is second hand market for this car. You just have to exercise patience. It's a virtue anyway.

The Cons:
* The 3rd gen was released in the US in 2008 while it was released in the Phils in 2009.
* It's underpowered, walang sipa. Cruising at 40kph, I floored the gas pedal and thought that I was driving a diesel powered full sized SUV w/o turbo intercooler.
* Imagine a 2010 model poging poging ride but sports a 4 speed auto tranny. What that?!?! BMW uses 8 speed A/T for crying out loud. My former ride, a 1993 Mitsubishi Galant MPI A/T had a 4spd tranny!
* If the car breaks down, you better have tons of tissue paper para umiyak ka na lang because there's only ONE SERVICE CENTER in the 7,107 island Philippine archipelago.

It's 23 months to go before we change our primary ride however Mr. Excitement is excited again. In case we do opt for the Subaru, it will be our closest thing to a European luxury car having owned 5 Japanese cars so far since I made my own money. It's still not the Euro dream car pero pwede na.

Sakurabashi Superman

At around 7 o’clock in the evening in the busy JR Osaka train station, an “undressed” Superman wearing a black suit approach me and asked “Do you want to go?” I wasn’t really sure what he meant: (a) Did he have the hots for me? Or (b) Was he asking me to leave? I reckon that since I was holding a map, he meant that he wants to help me get to my destination.

Sakurabashi Exit
We just came from Universal Studios Japan on day 2 of our Japan trip and on our way back, I was trying to figure out our exit point since this will be “our point b” for the next 3 days of our lives. Point B a.k.a Sakurabashi exit is a few steps away from the Righa Royal Bus Stop. In economic terms, this means savings of Y1500 per trip of taxi from JR Osaka Station to the hotel.

Helpful Tribe
During the trip, we came to realize that being helpful is a trait common to Japanese. That was not the only time we were approached and offered help. The biggest challenge is the language barrier as a tourist need to communicate their objective to mostly non-English speaking Japanese.

In parting ways, I could only say Thank you as Arigatou gozaimasu slipped my mind during that brief encounter with the Sakurabashi Superman.

A quick lesson in Majority and Minority

The 15th President of the Philippines Benigno C. Aquino III was inaugurated in simple albeit historic rites today in Quirino grandstand. His political resume shows 9 years as Tarlac Representative (District 2) and 3 years as Senator. He is still considered a political neophyte. On the other hand, newly minted VP Jejomar Binay has 18 years of being Makati city Mayor under his belt plus 3 years as MMDA Chairman. In the national election last May 10, Aquino garnered 15,208,678 votes or 30.4 % of the population while Binay got 14,645,574 votes for 29.3% of the voting populace.

B5 is this school year’s class Vice President. He got 45 votes out of the 50 class population and that makes him the majority VP with 90% of the votes. This is his 7th year in DB and he has been Prexy 3X and Veep 2X already.

MC is the class President. She got 17 out of 41 votes which makes her a minority Prexy with 41% of the votes. Her classmates who ran against her got 10 votes an the 3rd placer got 7 votes. Her friend and namesake nominated her for class prexy. This is her 3rd year in CS.

Majority is considered 50% plus 1%.

Photo Me again

I am joining my Nth photo contest in the last 3 years. I’ve actually lost count how many times I’ve joined but recall submitting entries in CNN, Air Asia, Sea Air, Havaianas, Smt Photo Club and now Philippine Star. Prizes range from airline tickets, electronic gadgets and gift certificates.

Last month, I joined the two Philippine Star photo contest with themes: (1) I Love the Philippines http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/home.html and (2) I Love Nature http://www.philstar.com/microsite/ilovephilippinesyear3/ilovenature.html. The Phil Star contest runs until end July 2010.

My win ratio is a bit low since I’ve only won one first place in a photo contest that I joined last year. But that doesn't discourage me from joining more contest as long as there's no joining fee and I become richer in experience.