Quick Bytes..

IZEA!

Nearly a month ago, I blogged about the renaming of PayPerPost (PPP) here. PPP is a get-paid-to blog website which has over 80,000 bloggers and 11,000 advertisers now. Ted Murphy, the CEO of PPP posted here that there will be a lot of changes in PPP's system thus the need to rename. And finally, the cat's out in the bag! PPP will be officially part of IZEA.com and will become IZEA.com after the alpha and beta testing are done. Colleen, the top earner in PPP, got the scoop here. Below is a super cool screenshot of IZEA.com =) Love it Ted! And for those not yet into PPP, you can sign up here. I already earned about $450 from them since late August. Sweet!
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ahhh, France..

After UK, Australia, New Zealand and Spain, it's time for FRANCE baby! I'm sure, like everybody else, France is your ultimate romantic dream destination. Who could resist kissing under the magnificent Eiffel Tower? Or spending lovey-dovey time in romantic France hotels? Certainly not I! =) And when in France, do as the French do -- stroll in their pretty parks, drink wonderful wine in their numerous wineries and chalets, or you could go river cruising during sunset. Romantico!
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If you plan staying in Paris, the capital of France, there's no need to worry about your accommodation. There are plenty of affordable yet beautiful Paris hotels. There are plenty of cheap rooms for rent  located near famous landmarks like the Louvre Museum (pictured below at right) and the Moulin Rouge theater (at left). Aside from cultural immersion (via museums and wineries), you can also let out your physical energy via swimming or snorkeling in Nice, France. It's wonderful area blessed with gorgeous coastline and great Mediterranean beach. As with Paris, there are many Nice hotels to choose from so you need not worry about accommodation. Anyway, there are so many things to do in France -- whether you're a lover, a fighter, a foodie, a wine enthusiast, an engineer, a scholar, etc -- there is something for you to enjoy in the world's most romantic country!
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google pagerank hullabaloo

The past few days, the online community was in uproar coz of the quarterly updating of Google's PageRank. Apparently PR of many blogs and websites went down because they have (or sell) text link ads. Or so the rumors go. During this time, I checked this blog's PR and it remained at 2. I felt happy about it and hoped it wouldn't go down. As for my other 3 blogs, got great news! Issa's Dollar Earners went from PR0 to PR3! w00t! Tongue Temptations (food blog) is barely a month old and it's now PR1. I'm also getting lots of hits from Google Search, nice! My mobile blog at yes, it's ME remained a PR0. Quite understandable coz it's a personal blog and I didn't get it listed in directories and such =) So, what about your blogs? Were the PRs downgraded or upgraded?

do a place like a local!

Hiya guys! After arriving in Makati, my family proceeded to Boracay and I’m having the time of my life here! Yes, there is internet here (and other fab amenities) but its P50/hr. Imagine that! Lol! Still, gotta update my blog and submit articles to my employers =) My only problem here is my lack of a “local’s knowledge” of where to find the best finds and great places in Boracay. Unlike other magnificent cities like London, Paris, Berlin, etc – Boracay doesn’t have a comprehensive website that tells tourists where to go.
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Earlier, I browsed VisitLondon.com and what do you know! They have a part there that comprises of London locals out to help the tourists visiting their fab city. They share tips on the best London accomodation and pubs with great grubs, tips on where to go about London for some couple time and family time, etc, etc. It was really fun reading the locals’ articles on how to “Do London like a Local” =) I hope Boracay residents will also come up with this. It would really be helpful to n00b tourists like me, lol! By the way, that's Kensington Palace Gardens above. So pretty!

MIA!

For updates of my life, you can go to my mobile blog (yes, it's ME!) here. I'm currently in Makati right now with limited access to internet (only dial-up at 56 kbps!!!) so I won't be updating this blog as much as I did previously. My mobile blog, on the other hand, would be updated daily. Not much to do here except take pictures and blog about it, lol! Later, I would be meeting my highschool friends that I haven't seen in a long while. Can't hardly wait! =)

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P.S. MIA = missing in action. I'm not paging for a girl named Mia, lol

UK adventure continues!

I'm not a fan of Paris Hilton but I'd love to see their family's line of Hilton hotels in London. Wouldn't it be great that your accommodation in London is connected to the notorious hotel heiress?? Just for fun, lol! Who knows, you might even get a glimpse of Paris Hilton herself! But if that’s not your style, there are lots of London accomodation that will suit your discriminating taste. After relaxing, you go tour amazing London sights -- the London Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, etc. And if you had your fill of London already, move to other UK cities like Manchester.
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Manchester is the former home of the uber-hot David Beckham! And in case you don’t know, this is the home base of Oasis, the fantastic British band with sizzling members and cool songs. So, what’s in Manchester aside from hot guys? Great architecture like the Manchester Town Hall below. It is an example of Victorian era Gothic revival architecture. Several Manchester hotels are also made in this architectural style. If you're a historical and architectural buff, you'd surely enjoy touring Manchester. Lots of culture dude!
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accessorize your truck!

Months ago, we still had a Mitsubishi pickup. Even though it had no backrack, the back portion was still very functional. Anyway it was sold recently and the new owner installed a backrack and numerous accessories. I couldn’t believe how different it looks now! Kinda like a jack-of-all-trades, only it’s a pickup. Lol! It has a “power” lighting system attached to it. A kind of a cooler to put stuff inside, and other gadgets I’m not familiar with. You know the feeling when a guy looks at a girl’s makeup kit? That’s how how I feel when I look at our truck now. Lol!

life insurance & stuff

It's nearly the end of the year, and payments for term life insurance plans and other pre-need plans are up. Thank god for Christmas bonuses and 13th month pays! At least we have something to use to pay for the hefty prices of insurance plans. My mother used to sell pre-need plans but is now more active in investing activities. Mutual funds is her forte, and if ever you're planning to invest your hard-earned money, do give me a call (or text). My mom might be able to help you =)

Birmingham and Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, and is located on the south coast of UK. Cardiff was made a city in 1905, and proclaimed capital of Wales in 1955. Cardiff has many landmark buildings including the Millennium Stadium and the Senedd. The city is also famous for Cardiff Castle (photo below), St. David's Hall, Llandaff Cathedral, the Wales Millennium Center, Cathays Park, and numerous quaint Cardiff hotels. Cardiff Castle is a major tourist attraction in the city and is situated in the heart of the city centre. Other sites of interest include the Cardiff Bay Barrage and the famous Coal Exchange. Old hotels in Cardiff are also noted for their Victorian designs.
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Birmingham, on the other hand, is known as the powerhouse of UK during the Industrial Revolution. It was called the “city of a thousand trades” and “the workshop of the world”. But the most surprising fact of Birmingham is that it has canal transportation system! Yup, much like the romantic canals of Venice. Ain’t that great?? You can choose from several Birmingham hotels and stay for awhile in the city as you explore its canals in daytime and its entertainment offerings by night. Or have a romantic night gliding through its Venetian-like canals.. Nice!

finished packing!

Finally finished packing for my R&R trip to Manila and Boracay. I'll be gone for only 12 days but I felt I packed enough clothes to last me a month, lol! =) Right now I'm finishing up my blogging commitments then it's time to relax before I go to the airport. Bye Davao! See you in November 4! Hehe!

giveaways!

Christmas is fast approaching and I’m sure, by now, most companies have already ordered their corporate gifts and promotional products for giveaways to customers and corporate friends. When I was young, I was always excited when my father comes home from a company Christmas party coz of the tons of stuff he brings. There are cute t-shirts, caps, umbrellas, the ever-present mugs, and of course, Christmas goodies! Yum! For me, Christmas food baskets are the best stuff a company can give to their employees. Food is essential, branded shirts or mugs are not. And there can’t be enough food for the Christmas feast! Hehe! So, to all companies out there, remember: your branded gift is good but food is better! =)

Hof Gorei pics!

As promised, here are the pictures from our wonderful mini-holiday in Hof Gorei Resort. Made it into a slideshow so I won’t have any problems uploading the photos. Friendster Blogs is very limiting kasi. Anyway, if you’d like to view one photo at a time, click here. Enjoy! =)

servers, anyone?

I’ve been always fascinated with how websites work. When I was still in second year college, I made a “love” website from scratch (html), complete with several pages and animation. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, partly because I had no server problems and other technical difficulties. My site was hosted on Geocities (when it was not yet acquired by Yahoo) and it was good. In the process of making a website, I also learned about servers and how crucial they are to the success of your site. Apparently, right now, the best server according to users and professionals is the IBM iSeries eServer. This is actually a line/series that include several compatible hardware and software. However, as with all good things, a brand new combo is super expensive! But there are resellers of refurbished eServer products which are way cheaper. Performance Data Resources (PDR) is one of the resellers and aside from selling, they also offer assistance with issues ranging from simple device address & cabling problems to complex system tuning & troubleshooting assistance. Mmm nice, that’s what you call quality service!

wedding rings

Last time, I blogged about the "hardship" of choosing an engagement ring. Apparently, the "hardship" doesn't stop there coz you need to choose a wedding ring too! I thought all wedding rings are just plain gold jewelry bands, such that you don't really need to choose coz they're all the same. Well, as always, when it's about jewelry, I was dead wrong. Wedding bands these days are not just plain gold rings! There are so much types and styles to choose from as you can see in the photo below. I'm really having a hard time deciding so maybe I'll just let Labsie decide. I'm sure he's got good taste, hehe! So what will it be labs? Gold, silver or platinum? =)
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like playing in online casinos?

Many of the popular websites these days are online casinos; whether you like to play poker, bingo, blackjack, slots, roulette, or craps, name it – online casinos have it! Why go to Vegas when you can play all you want in online casinos from the comforts of your own home? The only problem is finding a trustworthy online casino with the best odds for players. According to an online casino reviews website, there are more than 3000 online casinos right now! Can you imagine filtering through 3000 sites just to find the best online casino for you?? Hard work man! But don’t fret, Pro360.com is here to save the day! This website has been reviewing online casinos since 1997 and they provide you with a detailed review of factors like game experience, trust score and bonuses offered by each casino. Now, you can start playing without worrying if this (or that) online casino really pays. Just remember, only lose what you can afford!

new dating site!

Guys! Stumbled on this new free dating site that allows you to date online, BLOG and chat LIVE! What a nice combination of services! And it's all for FREE! Now you don't have to resort to YM or IM just to chat with your online date. So, what's the website that offers this free live chat? None other than FRIENDSATION! Aside from live chat, this Friendsation also offers free phone chat. Yup, believe it or not, all these services are for FREE! Unlike other dating sites out there. Harumphh! If you're interested, just follow the links in my post. Good luck! =)

leaving on a {jet} plane

Tomorrow, I'll be going to Makati with my youngest bro. My parents and my other brother have been living there for about a year now, and it's our first time to "visit" them. Happy! =) My only concern is the lack of internet connection in their place. How am I gonna do my online work?? Wahh! $$$ down the drain, tsk tsk! But despite the possible income loss, I'm excited to tour Luzon once again! Last time I was there was after my college graduation, about 5 years ago. Too long! If you wanna stay updated with my adventures, go to http://melissasolito.blogspot.com {yes, it's ME!}. Even without internet, I can blog there through my SE k800i phone. I'll try to post pictures there everyday =)

Uptown Saturday Night!

Are you the type who loves to go to old and historic places but wants a dash of modernity? Or maybe you love to soak in Hispanic and African-American culture.. Then Uptown Saturday Night in St. Augustine, Florida is for you! The place has plenty of art galleries, antique stores, and unique shops. And on Uptown Saturday Night, a favorite end-of-the-month event in that area, these shops are open till 9pm! The event takes place from 5pm to 9pm every last Saturday of every month in the Uptown San Marco Shopping District, St. Augustine, Florida.

Events in St. Augustine include book signings, live music and outdoor concerts, refreshments, and you’ll even get the chance to meet the local artists. The best things? FREE parking and FREE admission! And who can resist freebies?? Not I! And I’m sure, not you too, lol! =) For October, the Uptown Saturday Night will celebrate Colonial Folk Arts Festival on the 27th. And on November 24th, it’s the Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. If you’re interested, see the details for the Uptown Saturday Night below. And for more information, you can call 904-824-9357.

Location: Downtown St. Augustine * Directions: Along San Marco Avenue * Hours: 5 to 9 pm * Admission: Free!

tagged by cherry rose! =)

You're right Che, it's about time we took a break from paid blog posts, hehe! Thanks for the tag! =) To my readers (naa ba?? lol), here's your chance to know me a lil better. Read on!

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* A - Age: 26

* B - Band Listening To Right Now: nada

* C - Career: would-be MD turned problogger, lol

* D - Drink or Smoke: drink! never had a smoke in my life

* E - Easiest Friends To Talk To: labsie, chin, jinx =)

* G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: nada, don't like the taste! ughh!

* H - Have a Boyfriend: yes, same one for 8 years

* I - In love: super duper! hehe

* J - Junk Food You Like: nova, fish crackers, hebi.. cheap thrills! hehe

* K- Kids: don't wanttttt

* L - Longest Ride Ever: from Philippines to Hong Kong

* N - Names For Your Future Kids: umm, don't want nga e!

* O - One Wish You Have Now: i wish Labsie could be with us in Makati & Boracay

* P - Phobias: cockroaches, ewww!

* Q - Favorite Quote: "Anything less than mad, passionate love isn't worth my time!" -- bongga ba?? hehe

* R - Reasons To Smile: having a great family and a loving bf =)

* S - Sleeping Hours: depende sa blogging jobs, hehe

* T - Time You Woke Up: 8-9am

* U - Unknown Fact About You: daghan! should i share one? yoko nga! :p

* V - Vegetable You Hate: saluyot, anything slimy! ughh!

* W - Worst Habit: procrastinating --> damn right che! hehe

* X - X-rays You’ve Had: chest

* Y - Yummy Foods: japanese, chinese, european, filipino, tanan!!! hehe =)

* Z - Zodiac Sign: cancer!

Lemon Law

I may sound ignorant, but to be honest, this is the first time I’ve encountered a law named as silly as this, lol! I’m not a car buyer so maybe that’s the reason why I haven’t heard of lemon law before. Anyway, now that I’ve heard of it, I’ll share with you guys what it’s all about. According to Wikipedia (my ultimate source of knowledge these days, lol), lemon laws are United States state laws that give remedies to consumers for cars that repeatedly fail to meet certain standards of quality and performance. These niche market cars are called lemons. The federal lemon law (the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) protects citizens of all states while state lemon laws vary by state and may not necessarily cover used or leased cars. Lemon law is just the common nickname for these laws, and each state has different [official] names for their own laws. Hmm, I wonder if we have this kind of law in our corner of the world..

kuratsa??

Guess what is that above! Nope, it's not a crab, which was my first guess too. Hehe! According to the styrofoam label (partly seen on top), its name is Kuratsa. Unfortunately for me, I didn't encounter Kuratsa or Curacha during my BS Biology years. Maybe I'd know what it is if its scientific name is given, lol! ;-) Anyway I saw this in NCCC supermarket a few days ago with Mama and Labsie- both also didn't know what it is. Do you know what Kuratsa is? Do help ignorant lil me! Hehe!Ü

Innovative Entertainment

Ever wondered how awesome events and shows are put up? It involves a humungous amount of coordination between getting the right talents, having the perfect stage design, making sure all technical details are ironed out, etc, etc. If you’ve been to a great Cisco party, show or corporate event, most likely it has been planned by the amazing Innovative Entertainment event experts. This company has been the foremost San Francisco event planning group since 1983. The company specializes in procuring and producing talent for special events, as well as exclusively representing some of the most popular entertainers in showbiz. From planning events in Cisco, Innovative Entertainment had already invaded the rest of the USA, and has expanded to producing shows in Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico, Australia, The Caribbean, etc. World-class as they say! So, if you’re organizing an event, whether it be a private or a public one, please drop by Innovative Entertainment first. They might be able to make your event-dreams come true =)

my first ripe tomato!

Last month I posted the photo of my first tomato fruit here. It was small and green -- but now its big, red orange and ready for harvest! Can't believe that 1 month of nature's TLC will produce something as exquisite as my first ripe tomato :-) Can't wait to harvest the other tomatoes, and my carrots too! Mmm good!

executive talk

Finally you’ve become an executive, still junior level, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re an executive already! Woohoo! Bring out the champagne and let’s celebrate! But before you do that, think: Do I still want to advance my career or am I satisfied being a junior-level executive? This early, you should think about your future promotion already. Coz you’ll be putting in more work and doing socializing with other executives, and these things doesn’t come naturally. You may learn to talk the business talk as the weeks go by but wouldn’t it be better if you’d have executive language training? That way you’d be taught professionally on how to improve your English, business talk and socializing skills. Being an executive does not mean you should sit on your laurels. Being an executive means you further improve yourself and get ready for another promotion!

safest surgical way to lose weight?

Wow, I can’t believe I’m doing back-to-back Health Matters post! I think it’s great though. Our health is one of the most important aspects of our lives that we should care for. Anyway, moving on… I’m sure you’ve heard about bariatric surgery as an effective means to lose weight. Google before & after images of people who underwent this procedure and prepare to be amazed! But before you get excited, this type of surgery isn’t for everyone. According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), bariatric surgery is the term for surgical operations to help promote weight loss. These procedures are only considered for people with severe obesity (BMI of 30 or more) and for those wherein medical treatments, including lifestyle changes of healthful eating and regular exercise, have not been effective. Here’s an overview of what consists bariatric surgery:
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The hottest type of procedure right now is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure. Unlike other bariatric procedures, the laparoscopic gastric banding (pictured at left) is not so invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less. It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Here’s to living healthy and living lite! =)

bliss! =)

Yeah, that's me below -- enjoying the cool waters of Hof Gorei Resort pool =) A few days ago, I posted here where I was last weekend. Over the next few days, I'll be posting our resort photos so watch out for it. But if you wanna view them now, you can go to to my {TheHofGoreiExperience} album here. Enjoy! =)
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weird o_O

Isn’t it weird that when you finally need something, you can’t find it? An uncle and aunt recently had a sleepover in our house before their flight to Saudi Arabia. They were still packing up their stuff in big cartons and asked me for scissors, box cutters, packing tape and pentel pen. As far as I can remember, we have all these things lying around our pc room. But now that they are needed, I can’t find them! As Homer Simpson would say, “D’oh!”

gPhone!!!

OMG! I can’t believe I missed this! If it weren’t for All in Anchor, I probably wouldn’t know about Google’s foray into the mobile phone market until now. This is what I’m talking about --
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-- the gPhone! I love the PINK color, super!!! =) According to rumors, it is set to compete with Apple’s iPhone, which is another gadget I’m salivating for. Hehe! Anyway, All in Anchor reports and I quote:

They (gPhone and iPhone) both offer similar features but with one big catch; the gPhone is a fraction of the cost of it’s rival competitor, Apple.

For those who are curious, All in Anchor is an internet marketing blog that I’ve started reading a few days back. I love their articles, especially the ones on search engine optimization; I find them very informative and helpful for n00bs like me. Do pay them a visit! And for those curious about gPhone, stay tuned! =)

ouch!

Went grocery shopping yesterday and even though I did not wear NEW shoes, my feet developed painful blisters! =( I didn’t even shop and walk for hours, I was only busy for about 45 minutes. Me thinks my feet is not used to wearing shoes anymore, lol! It’s coz I rarely go out of the house, and most of the time I just wear flipflops or go barefoot. So what did do with the painful feet blisters? Of course, I used a Foot Pain Relief product. The pain was eased but as they always say, prevention is better than cure. So the next time I wear shoes, I’d definitely use blister prevention patches. Hopefully it will work!

who wears the pants in your relationship?

I’m missing Labsie right now, so to stave off the loneliness, I took some LOVE quizzes about our relationship =) Here’s a fun one about who leads your relationship. And guess what? Labsie and I both wear the pants in our relationship! People may see me as the dominant personality, but I tell you, Labsie is even more domineering. Muhaha! Gibisto pa bitaw ;p Love u Labs! Mwahh!
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Both of You Wear the Pants

You and your guy seem to have stuck the perfect power balance. It's not that you don't disagree - it's just that you've learned how to compromise well. You're both mature enough to know that you can't always get your way... And usually, you're both adult enough to reach an agreement - even if that sometimes means giving in a little.

Who Wears the Pants... You or Your Guy?

OMG!!!

Anybody here who loved The Godfather?? If you’re a fanatic, you gotta see the memorabilia I found on the internet! Man, this one’s so f*cking gorgeous that I would love to own one! Paging Christmas gift-givers, hehe! =) It’s a framed set of The Godfather pictures with a full size non-firing movie prop replica of a Thomson Sub-Machine Gun (the popular gun used in the movie) and the ORIGINAL signature of Al Pacino as “Michael Corleone”. The over-all size of the memorabilia is 45"x39". The framing was done handsomely as you can see below. The bad part is that this is a LIMITED edition and there is only 20 pieces of this made. So if you want one, grab it now while you still can!
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I found this gorgeous piece of collectible in MillionaireMemorabilia.com –- they got loads of movie, sports, and entertainment memorabilia over there. I stumbled on the site coz I searched for a Star Wars 30th Commemorative collectible. Then I got hooked browsing their entire collection of memorabilia, lol! Most of their stuff is hand-signed by the celebrities so if you’re avid fan, you will surely be ecstatic about it =) Currently MillionaireMemorabilia.com is having a holiday sale, up to 25% off their listed prices. If you’re a fan or a collector, go visit their site. You might find something you like at a cheaper price!

Visite la bella Madrid!

That’s Spanish for “Visit beautiful Madrid!” Impressed? Don’t be, I just used Google’s language tools, lol =) I already blogged about Spain but I only featured Barcelona. So this time, I’ll share stuff about Madrid, the beautiful capital city of Spain. The photos below are of the Royal Palace (left) and the Puerta Alcala (right). Merchants used the latter as a gateway when they enter Madrid to trade goods a long time ago. I truly love the Spanish architecture! Magnifico!

   

Madrid is famous for its world-class museums (Museo del Prado, Reina Sofia, etc), amazing historic buildings (as seen above) and fantastic natural wonders. Even the hotels in Madrid are tourist attractions by themselves because of their magnificent old-world architecture. There are also plenty of cafés and countless other things to do and see in the capital city of Spain. For those wanting to visit Madrid, check for hotels updates first. You never know, there might be travel deals and promos. w00t! Below are more maravillosa photos from Madrid. The one at left is Gran Via, and the one at right is Reina Sofia Museum.

   

hiring executives?

If your company is hiring executives, let A.E. Feldman Associates, Inc. help you find the best ones for your company. AEF Associates had been in the recruiting business field since 1967 and is among the leading executive recruiting firms in the country right now. Their recruiters have the right knowledge, contacts and feel that enable them to make the best matches and find the tightest fits for each job your company requires. AEF Associates hire positions in the following fields: financial and risk management services, legal and legal support services, communications and technology, human resources consulting, and luxury products. If you need analysts, managing directors, associates, and middle to executive management personnel then AEF Associates might be able to help you. Check them out and good luck!

310th post!

w00t!!! I checked the stats of all my blogs today, and what do you know -- I passed the 300th post mark (in this blog) already! Mmm, I'm thinking of giving something away once I hit the 500th post. What do you think guys? Or rather, what would you want me to give away? And no, I'm not kidding, lol! =)
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As for my other blogs, I still haven't finished transferring all my food posts here to my new food blog at Tongue Temptations. Sigh.. One day, I'm really gonna finish all the loose ends over there. As for Issa's Dollar Earners, I added two new revenue sources. Check out the widgets from WidgetBucks and PayAds on the topmost portion of my blogpost area. And lastly, my mobile blog at yes, it's ME! It's doing quite well actually. In fact, it's the second most updated blog next to this one here =) Check out my Samal (Hof Gorei Resort) entries there!

Malibu!

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Cliffside Malibu offers an individualized clinical program for each patient, and the program includes individual therapy, cognitive-behavioral groups, process groups, and a family program. Along with these clinical activities, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or  alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more. If you’re interested (or knows someone who might be), give them a call at this number: 1-800-501-1988. God bless and here’s to a future free of drugs and alcohol!

MAKATI bombing!

I can't believe this! Mere four days before my brother and I will go to Makati, a bomb exploded in one of its prominent malls! About 2pm today (October 19, 2007), an explosion was noted in the lobby of Glorietta 2. Officials, at first, where not sure whether it was a bomb or an LPG tank that caused the explosion. There are now 8 dead people with more than 80+ wounded. Here's the latest news (10pm) from GMA:
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Mall blast kills 8; Police says not LPG, may be ‘a bomb’

At least eight people were killed while at least 100 others were injured after an explosion of still undetermined origin rocked a Makati City shopping mall at about 1:30 p.m. Friday.

The police on site had earlier traced the blast to an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tank but Director Gen. Avelino Razon Jr, PNP chief, said that an assessment by ground commanders showed that what exploded could be "a bomb."

"Sa assessment ng ground commander hindi LPG. Hindi pa natin masabi – it could be a bomb, pero wala pa kaming ebidensiya," Razon said.

Police Director Geary Barias chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said initial information showed that the explosion emanated from the Luk Yuen Noodle House at the first level of the Glorietta 2 shopping mall.

He said it was apparently an "accidental explosion" of a liquefied petroleum gas tank but added that "we are still verifying it."

Barias said the PNP Bomb Data Center has sent a team to the site to inspect the area. Asked if the incident was connected to any terrorist activity Barias said: "Di pa malaman ang koneksyon nito pero initial info namin is LPG blast (We still don't know if it's connected but our initial information is it's an LPG blast)."

However, dzBB radio quoted shopping mall security guards as saying that the blast actually emanated from a nearby delivery area.

The bridge way which connects Glorietta 2 to the Park Square shopping mall sustained heavy damage, the report said.

The Luk Yuen restaurant which is situated near the Park Square bus and jeepney terminal was hit by fire in September last year.

Metro Manila police spokesman Supt. Rodel Sermonia said three fatalities were "killed on the spot."
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Fatalities, injuries

The Makati Medical Center (MMC) has admitted as many as 42 people who were rushed from the Glorietta 2 shopping mall which was hit by the explosion.

A nurse interviewed by dzBB radio said no less than 30 people were in the hospital but could not comment on the extent of their injuries. A separate report said about 25 people were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati.

Alfie Reyes, corporate spokesman of mall owner Ayala Land, said "roughly about a dozen people were injured with the possibility of some fatalities."

He added: "We will extend assistance to all of the victims and if any of their families wish to reach out to us we will do so (and help them)."

Reyes added the mall area has been "evacuated" and that all of the victims have been taken out of the area.
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Chaos, fear

The explosion created a thick cloud of dust near Glorietta 2 and forced the closure of the Glorietta and Park Square 2 malls and Landmark supermarket.

An eyewitness told GMANews.TV that it sounded like a powerful firecracker blast and then a thudding sound was heard like that of a ceiling that had collapsed. Shoppers scampered out of the mall, some of them crying while police agents rushed in.

The explosion was heard near the Glorietta 2 mall from across the Landmark shopping center near Ayala Avenue in the financial district of Makati City. There were unconfirmed reports of injured persons.

A second eyewitness told radio dzBB that he saw smoke coming out of a building. It sounded like the explosion occurred inside or near one of the establishments.

Mike Ochosa an analyst for Solar Sports who was inside the mall at the time said he was going out of the mall toward the parking lot when he heard the explosion.

Ochosa described the explosion as similar to lightning but muffled. He said he saw shoppers some of them panicking run out of the mall.

"I heard something like thunder but muffled inside the building. Then people were running out. There was smoke people running out and police rushing in," he said.

He said the location of the explosion was near a department store at the side of Pasay Road. - GMANews.TV

need help!

A couple of posts back, I shared that a college friend of mine is preggy with her first child. I was excited to become a ninang or godmother (please gurl, make me one! hehe) coz I love buying baby stuff. Earlier, I went out to buy groceries and did a bit of window-shopping for baby stuff. To my chagrin, I absolutely had no idea what to buy! There are so many baby products out there that I can’t choose what’s the best gift to give! If I buy clothes, the baby would just outgrow it fast. If I buy toys, the baby won’t be able to appreciate it until s/he is about 4-6 months, and then it would be discarded coz I’m sure there’d be newer ones. I was thinking of buying the uber-popular diaper cakes that looked so pretty but what kind of a gift is a diaper?? Sheesh! To all my readers who are parents, by your experience, what’s the best baby shower gift should I buy? Your help will be very much appreciated by moi. Thanks! =)

need a personal injury lawyer?

It can’t be helped – sometimes accidents do happen in stores, shops, malls, everywhere. The big question: is the accident preventable? Is it caused by the negligence of the management of the store, shop, etc? We have heard of lawsuits involving a persons who slipped (or whatever) in a store’s apparently slippery floor who sued the management and won. If you have experienced the same predicament, then the Personal Injury Trial Group might be able to assist you. This group of lawyers specializes in representing negligence victims. They aim to get you entitled to reimbursement of lost wages and the medical bills you incurred for the treatment of your injury. They may also help you in getting compensation for your pain and suffering. PITrialGroup lawyers are licensed to practice law in all Florida State Courts as well as the United States Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida. So if you’re gonna need a Palm Beach personal injury lawyer anytime soon, feel free to visit their website or call them at 954-523-HELP (4357). They offer FREE consultation.

National Thank You Day!

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Do you say “thank you” to --    
…the members of your family and your friends?    
…your helpers and family drivers for helping you in your everyday activities?
…the barista at your favorite coffee shop for getting your orders right?     …salesladies after assisting you with your purchase?
…taxi drivers and tricycle drivers for bringing you safely to your destination?
…do you even say “thank you” at all?

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If you answered “NO” to even one of these questions, then we have a problem. We assume it’s okay that people drop everything to help us out. We expect friends to sacrifice their souls to the devil to get what we want. But when we already have what we want and they’ve lost their souls, how do we repay their act of kindness? We don’t. Because they’re our friends. Because they work for us. Because they’re supposed to.
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It’s a plague on the civilized world – etiquette and proper conduct have been thrown out the window. And you wonder why our lot’s going to the dogs. Well, then, what can we do about it? It’s simple, really. Start by saying “Thank You” -- say it with a smile; say it like you mean it and it will come naturally. And if you’re still finding it difficult to say it, here’s something that will make it easier: Celebrate National Thank You Day on October 20 at the SM Mall of Asia. Yes, boys and girls, October 20, 2007 is the 1st National Thank You Day so join in the party later tonight! And, don't forget, say thank you to all those who helped you =)

stress incontinence

For the readers adverse to reading names of sexual organs, you can stop reading now. This post is a medical one that involves women genitalia.
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When I was rotating in OBGyne (I’m a medical doctor, as yet unlicensed), I have seen several women who had stress incontinence. This type on incontinence is defined as an involuntary loss of urine that occurs during physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. I noticed that the condition is most prevalent in women with multiple pregnancies and vaginal childbirths. Surely, it has something to do with the fact that in multigravid women, the elastic and connective tissues that support her pelvic area have gone lax due to the stresses brought about by the many pregnancies. According to medical literature, stress incontinence is the most common form of urinary incontinence in women, and is a result of weakened pelvic muscles that support the bladder and urethra or because of malfunction of the urethral sphincter.
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Treatment for stress incontinence involves four major categories: behavioral changes, pelvic floor muscle training, medication, and surgery.  Behavioral changes involve decreasing how many fluids you drink, if you drink an excessive amount during the day.  Pelvic muscle training exercises (called Kegel exercises) may help control the leakage of urine. These exercises improve the strength and function of the urethral sphincter.  Meds, on the other hand, are given to patients with mild to moderate incontinence. Meds prescribed are antimuscarinic drugs that block bladder and alpha-adrenergic agonist drugs help increase sphincter strength and improve symptoms in about 50% of patients. As for surgery, there are many different types but mostly involves vaginal surgery repair. The first choice of surgical treatment usually recommended is the SLING procedure which has 80-90% cure rate for stress incontinence.

incoming baby!

Nope, not mine, lol! A few days back, a college friend of mine informed me that she’s expecting her first baby. Estimated date of arrival of her firstborn is April next year. That’s just six months away! Gurl, if you’re reading this, I think it’s time for a baby shower! Hehe! And do make me ninang (godmother) of your baby ha. You won’t regret it coz I love to buy baby gifts. My godson or goddaughter will be showered with gifts on every possible special occasion, lol! I do hope it’s a baby girl so I can get to buy lots of cutie PINK stuff. Mmm good! =) God bless with your pregnancy gurl and arrange the baby shower soon okay? See you!

Finally, NZ!

Yup, NZ as in New Zealand! After featuring Australia, France, UK, Spain and countless other places in this blog, it’s high time I talk about New Zealand. You know, the country made famous by Peter Jackson’s uber-popular Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Would you believe that every place you see in the 3 films were shot in NZ? The verdant hills, snowcapped mountains, barren wastelands, lush forest – everything in NZ! w00t! Oh, by the way, this post is dedicated to my friend Sophia who is currently studying in Auckland, NZ. Hi Soph! I got it right this time, lol =) I mentioned Auckland already so let’s start with this beautiful city. Pictured below is Auckland’s famous Sky Tower.
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Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand, but it’s not the capital (Wellington). It is known as the City of Sails coz of the residents’ love for sailing and of all things nautical. In fact, right now there’s a Coastal Classic Yacht Race going on (Oct 19-21). Hundreds of yachts sail through the Waitemata Harbour as they leave Devonport to race towards Russell, Bay of Islands. Aside from sailing, the city also offers tranquil and spectacular nature oases as well as bustling inner city. Auckland accomodation is not a problem coz of the wide variety of rooms available, whether you’re a luxury addict or a backpacker, there’s something out there for you. Cheap hotels in Auckland (or cheap hotels in New Zealand for that matter) are not hard to find if you know where to look =) Currently, Auckland is running a campaign to spend spring break in their beautiful city. Get their SPRING PASS and you’d get loads of cheap deals to their famous attractions. Don’t let it pass!

ZzzZzzZZ

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Signing off guys.. It’s been another 16-hour day for me. Wahhh! Me thinks going on 24-hours doctor duty is better. At least I am actively walking to and fro hospital areas. Hmm.. Must be my sleep-deprived brain talking now.. ZzzZzzZZ
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P.S. It's nearly 2am here in my corner of the world *yawn*

Perfume Bay baby! =)

I love perfumes! Who doesn’t?? Even guys are spending a lot just to smell great and attract hordes of women, lol! =) Anyway, I came across an online perfume seller a few days back and have been checking their inventory brand by brand. And guess what?? PerfumeBay.com has Max Factor’s Geminesse cologne spray! Oohh, this has got to be one of my best online finds this week. Hehe! Anyway, if you’re planning to buy perfumes this month, please buy at PerfumeBay.com coz 1% of their October total sales will go to Breast Cancer research. Now that’s shopping for a cause ;-)

Blog in Space!

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PayPerPost's newest baby -- send your blogs to space! =) Here's their description of their cool new project:

You're probably already aware of Blog in Space. This is a highly sensitive program like none other on Earth, providing bloggers with a medium for transmitting their blogs into space, in hopes of connecting with extraterrestrial beings. Aliens are curious beings, and they can learn more about us Earth inhabitants by reading our blogs. So if you have a really cool blog with a distinct voice, and want to be heard, then visit BloginSpace.com and submit your blog url.  (Hey...it's not for everyone!)

I already submitted my blogs and sent a post to the space frontier. Come on and join us share our life with aliens! Ahihihi! =)

attention athletes!

Ey guys! I stumbled on Numetrex.com, a website that makes and sells COOL heart rate monitors. How cool? The monitor is embedded on your bra or racer tank top or shirt for men! The clothes are made with special sensing fibers that knit directly into the fabric to monitor heart rate. A tiny transmitter (still in the clothing) sends data to a compatible monitoring device, and voila! You can see your heart rate while you’re jogging, doing cardio exercises, etc. I watched their video on how their products work and I must say, I’m impressed! You can view the video below:

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For those who are non-athletes, you might be wondering why should one monitor his heart rate? Aside from being one of the VITAL signs of the body that doctors and medical personnel routinely measure, your heart rate can tell you whether you are exercising just right. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should exercise at moderate intensity (50–70 percent of maximum heart rate) for at least 30 minutes five days a week, or at a vigorous intensity (70–85 percent of maximum heart rate) for 20 minutes three days a week. Would you know if you’re exercising at moderate or vigorous intensity if you won’t monitor your heart rate? Of course not! Also, through heart rate training, you would have an “early warning signal” if your heart rate suddenly changes during exercise. For more reasons why you should wear a heart rate monitor, please go here.
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10 things! =)

Snagged this tag from Yen =) Love it! Feel free to snag it too guys =)
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1. One thing you are looking forward to: going to Makati come October 25, whee!
2. Place you like to eat: right now, I wanna eat at Hof Gorei Restaurant again!
3. Last thing you bought: groceries for home
4. Something you do everyday: gardening, cooking, blogging and other online stuff
5. Last thing you received in the mail: Voxant Newsroom postcard, weird!
6. Favorite thing you own: my SE k800i and my book collection =)
7. Who do you want to meet right now: nobody in particular, hehe
8. A song that always gets stuck in your head: anything sung by Labsie, hayy
9. Last athletic even you attended: what athletic event?? lol
10. Worst place to be: somewhere without cellphone signal and/or internet, hehe

wedding ramblings =)

Weddings are a nightmare to prepare. There are so many things to do –- small details to sweat over and big things to execute until the wedding day. I’ve been planning to get a wedding planner but I feel my mother’s gonna be the best wedding coordinator I’d ever get for the least price, lol! When I turned 18 more than 7 years ago, it was my mom who arranged my debut. The only thing I did was make the invitations, choose my dress and the debut giveaways. Maybe for my future wedding, all I’d do is just choose the pretty wedding favors and make unique invitations. Ahh, that’s what I call stress-free wedding planning… A girl can dream, right?? Lol! Anyway here are some super cutie pink wedding favors I found over at LittleThingsFavors.com –- I absolutely adore them!! The one at right costs <$1, w00t! =)

joketime! =)

Life all too serious? Working like a dog all day and night? Don't fret, here's a little stress reliever for you! I've never been employed (save for medical training) so I found this really funny. I can't vouch that you'll find this funny especially if you're employed. Hehe! Enjoy! =)

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To all Employees:
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Effective September 2007

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Dress Code
1. It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a pay raise.
2. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a pay raise.
3. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

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Sick Days
We will no longer accept a doctor's certificate as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

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Holiday Days 
Each employee will receive 104 personal leave a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

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Compassion Leave
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

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Toilet Use
1. Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the cubicles.
2. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and your picture will be taken.
3. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company notice board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.
4. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

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Lunch Break
1. Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy.
2. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
3. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

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Thank you for your loyalty to our company. Remember we are an employer of choice and we are here to provide a positive employment experience.
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Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.
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Thank you!

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Sincerely,
HR Staff

need airport parking?

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One of the hassles of traveling from one city to another, if you don’t have your own parking space at home, is the need to park your vehicles at the airport. This ultimately saves you taxi fares since your car is just right there waiting for you to arrive. However, you will have to spend for airport parking space fees. If you’re from Oakland or traveling a lot to-and-fro Oakland, I suggest you head on to ExpressoParking.com for discounted prices on long-term airport parking. They offer a full-service, self-serve parking facility with parking rates unmatched anywhere in Oakland. Their customers include Kimpton Hotel Group, Kaiser Aerospace, Morton's of Chicago, Equity Office Properties, Travelers/Citigroup and Yale University. Now ain’t that grand? Remember, if you need Oakland airport discount parking, Expresso is the way to go! =)

photo blogging problems =(

Anybody here who photo blogs via their Sony Ericsson phone? I've been having problems posting from my SE k800i phone to my Blogger account, and I need help coz I really don't know what's wrong. This has been going on for 2 days already =( My last post was still when I was at the beach last weekend. Sigh.. I really hate when technology fails with no solution in sight!

feel the rain!

Last weekend, I was a beach bum at Hof Gorei Resort in Kaputian, Samal. I had a great time looking for live rocks in the sea and swimming lazily in their infinity pool. The place was great! Everybody was so accommodating and all, even the owner herself! I really had a fun weekend so watch out for my blog post about it – coming soon! =) Anyway, one thing I noticed in Hof Gorei Resort is the preponderance of showers even by the pathways.
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There was a shower by the beach gate, a shower by the bar, a shower by the pool, a shower by the huts – I tell you, the showers where everywhere! Also I noticed that they have different kinds of  shower heads. Some were so unlike the ones we use at home, or even at the hotels. The one kind I love though was the rain/rainfall shower head. The head is real big and round, and when water gushes out of it, it is as if it’s raining! Way cool! I tried it after a dip in the beach, and man, I feel the rain! It was awesome! I hope it’s not too expensive coz I’m planning to buy one for an outdoor shower here at home =) Here’s a sample photo of a rainfall shower head:
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JOB FAIR this OCT 17!!!

Attention job-seekers!!! There will be a job fair this October 17 in SM Entertainment Center. Nine call center companies will be hiring applicants so update your resumes and come early. This might be the opportunity you've been waiting for so don't pass it up! Here's a copy of the press release:
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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 October) -- Nine call center firms are taking part in what organizers say is the biggest all-BPO (business process outsourcing) job fairs in the cities of Davao and GenSan. Sarah Matalam, of the Davao-based JIB e-Academy, said the fair, dubbed “Career Gateways 2007”, will be the first among BPO firms or call centers in Mindanao. 
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She told MindaNews BPO firms from Manila and Cebu will showcase job opportunities on October 17 in Davao City's SM Entertainment Center and on October 19 in General Santos City's KCC Convention Hall. Among the firms that signified participation are: Six-eleven Global Services, E-telecare, Teletech, Sykes, Viventes, e-PLDT Ventus, Teleperformance, Advanced Contact Solutions and Callbox. 
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Matalam said they are also eyeing a similar fair in Cagayan de Oro in the future. Organizers have invited at least 20 colleges and universities in Southern Mindanao and from nearby provinces to visit the fair. Matalam said students and walk-in applicants who are planning to take a "bold step" into BPO careers should see for themselves what the companies offer.
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The fairs, Matalam said, will also be a venue to clarify some issues about call center jobs.  The fairs will also offer lectures, not only on business opportunities in the call center industry, but also informative topics on BPO careers, including perceptions that call center agents are merely “glorified telephone receptionists."
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The JIB e-Academy operates a call center school, language institute, business process outsourcing, and customer services. The call center industry is still the fastest growing industry in the country with 114 call centers all over the country as of 2006. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

coupons galore!

A few weeks ago, I blogged about using online coupons to save on your online purchases. I even recommended one website where you can search for such coupons. Guess what?? I found another website that offer online discount coupons! Woohoo! Right now, I’m “stocking up” on Overstock coupons and Mondera deals. I can’t begin to imagine all the money I’ll save after using these coupons for my Christmas gifts shopping, hehe! So if you’re into online shopping like me, check out EdealFinder.com for discounts and deals. Remember, you heard it first from me! =)

wanted: espresso machine!

I am not a coffee drinker -- I don’t need the caffeine boost when I wake up nor do I need to stay up in case I have lots of wor