Month: July 2008

Categories
Mostly Everything

Meeting Rick Astley: Words can barely describe

I’d been ignoring my phone for the better part of the day as I was preoccupied over finalizing the venue for the blog awards and making my way through press conference after press conference. It was only a few seconds – but when Alora asked me if I had gotten her plurk, I had to reply saying no I haven’t, please text me instead since I’m out.

“You can go to Alchemy later at 10PM. Rick Astley launch party will be there.”

OHGOD. Couldn’t bring anyone. Guest list only. So I had to make some change of plans for the evening because, well, I learned in school that urgency takes precedence over importance (“in matters of prioritizing, what needs to be done immediately always supercedes what is seemingly important.”) Rick Astley was only here for 2 nights and this was probably the only night I would be able to meet him in the flesh.

The first thing I did upon arriving at Alchemy was to text Marcelle as I knew he really wanted to meet him and a few texts later, Marcelle popped into Alchemy (he’s famous – he got in despite the tight security … so girls ….. *ahem* …..). Turns out there were so many other closet Rick Astley fans – a friend from grade school and even Vespinoy was there with his wife.

A video of Rick Astley doing his 80’s magic

Rick Astley at Alchemy from jayvee Fernandez on Vimeo.

So not only was I able to shake Rick Astley’s hand once. I was able to shake his hand three times (!!!) and I remember clearly on the 3rd time I just had to scream “I’M A HUGE FAN!!!!!!” And there it goes. Manhood Fail.

OK now came the part where the host starts playing parlor games. Kel, myself and two other guys are pulled “on stage” for a Rick Astley lookalike contest. Yes dear friends, before you laugh, it apparently seems that aside from Mr. Bean, I also have a vague resemblance to Rick Astley – move over Roderick Paulate!!. So then comes the question and answer slash talent portion – Kel did some magic in front of the audience (it wow’ed as usual) and when the host asked me what my talent was, I just had to blurt out …

“I’m never gonna give you up.”

Categories
Mostly Everything

Philippine Blog Awards 2008 at 1 Esplanade September 21 2008

We have a venue!

This afternoon I accompanied Noemi (2008 Blog Awards head) and Juned (“Vice Head”) to finalize the venue for the blog awards this 2008. We signed the contract as sunset approached 1 Esplanade, laying fame to a glistening bay view.

To those who see us often at events we ran across several bumps along the way especially when it came to finalizing sponsorships, incorporation, and finding a decent venue. But yes, there is a God and we were fortunate enough – almost by accident really, which is usually the case when commitment is being tested – to find 1 Esplanade just waiting for us even though it has been booked to the max this September ’08. So we were able to book the better part of the sunset of Sept 21 (that’s a Sunday – a weekday would have been harder for volunteers and Friday / Saturday was wishful thinking as events have been lined up months in advance).

Stay tuned to the Philippine Blog Awards website for additional details on finalizing nominees, and call for volunteers.

I’d like to extend a special shout-out to the SM Group, especially to Mrs. Riqui, Mr. Noel Sanchez and the Sy family for helping us get this really beautiful venue. The SM business units have been very helpful with blogger efforts – case in point the famed Taste Asia parteh series. I mean, just take a look at these shots:

And when you look towards the horizon, you see this:

Wew.

Thank you so much, especially to everyone who’s been patient with us in planning this event. We really cannot do this without you! We have roughly a month and a half to iron out a number of logistics for the event and we are asking the help of the community’s different expertise (lights, sounds, entertainment, making pa-cute, etc).

All details for this will be posted in the official PBA blog. 🙂

Categories
Mostly Everything

Paging, Super Joe!

I’m loving the fact that I grew up at a time where I got to experience the dawn of electronic gaming back in the Atari and 8 bit era. And I’m just as glad that in my “late twenties” I’m still able to become particularly excited when the oldies become new once more.

For instance, take this:

And 20 years later, turned to this:

I get to play all my favorite 8-bit Nintendo games (including Bionic Commando) on my Firefox browser with FireNES (it’s actually Virtual NES but compressed to a browser plugin) while enjoying the “new” stuff on the next generation consoles and the PC. I guess half the fun is seeing how the old school veterans like Capcom and Konami remake their most memorable titles for next gen console gaming.

What I do appreciate now is how relatively easier the next generation games are compared to their 8-bit counterparts. Weren’t the old games (have you played Silver Surfer, Ninja Gaiden I, Adventure Island or Ghostbusters for the NES??) just too insanely difficult to finish??

Categories
Mostly Everything

Toshiba Warehouse Sale July 31 – Aug 1 2008

Date: July 31 to August 1 2008
Time: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Venue: 2F Metro House Building, 345 Sen. Gil Puyat

Toshiba is having a grand warehouse sale on all their models and according to Juno Limjap, Marketing Manager for Toshiba (and my really kick ass vocalist friend), they will have a lot of stuff at low, low, low prices!

For more information, head on over to the Facebook invite page.

Coraline: The Graphic Novel

There are some books that aremeant to be turned into graphic novels and Coraline fits the bar. I bought this over the weekend at Fully Booked in Rustan’s Makati for P640.00. The imagery – especially that of the “button eyed other mother” is disturbing. The graphic novel is illustrated by the award winning P. Craig Russell, who also did Ring of the Nibelung and The Dream Hunters.