Ode to Friendster

I first caught the social networking fever way back in 2005 when I first started using Friendster. I remember feeling loved by my friends' testimonials and birthday greetings and really felt connected with them whenever we share photos of the latest happenings in our lives, even if some of them are miles away. But because there was nothing else to do on the site, I soon lost interest and just maintained it and updated it months apart.

Then my colleagues at work started using Facebook and its exciting applications that make it possible for you to have a virtual pet or send virtual gifts to friends. Friendster tried that for a time but the apps were erroneous. I only started my Facebook account in November 2008 when I joined a group of fellow media practitioners in an event in Pearl Farm and most of the parting words I heard when we were about to leave the resort were, "Pa-tag na lang ng pics sa FB ha."

I made use of Facebook like I used Friendster -- for photos uploads and messages -- until I tried the game apps and got hooked. That's another story but I think that was how Facebook got most, if not all, of Friendster users over the years. I remember Friendster revamping itself and relaunching to the public last year but I guess they did some heavy thinking and accepted that Facebook is currently the winning social network around the globe, that is until another Mark Zuckerberg comes about.

Today marks the last day of Friendster as a social network, instead it is positioning itself as a social entertainment website for games and music apps. They even made this file exporter for those who want to save the "memories" they entrusted to Friendster -- the application can download and save the user profile, photos and even blog. Being a sentimental fool, I stayed up late last night to retrieve all that I can from Friendster before it vanishes into virtual oblivion.

It was only after savings my files that I read the advisory that they are extending the deadline until June 27. So for those agonizing at having missed the chance to save the "memories", you still have 27 days to do so. Now it is goodbye to Friendster, the social network; and hello to Friendster, the social entertainment.

Dos Mestizos: A Good Find in Boracay

Been going to Boracay almost every summer for the past years but it was only this recently that I discovered a treasure of a place where good eats await. I have tried restaurants along the beach from stations 1 thru 3 and within D'Mall, but I never explored those quaint establishments in the alleys until my trip this summer for the AXN Big Challenge and DJ Fest events.

Calle Remedios

Dos Mestizos is located between stations 2 and 3, behind the Tourist Center and since the tricycles were not permitted to enter the alley from the main road, one would have to do a 10-minute to reach the place. The brainchild of Binggoy Remedios, a well respected chef and restaurateur in Boracay, and Jose Ramon Valdes Nieto, his close childhood friend, the restaurant's exterior gives hints of the Spanish theme -- from the colored tiles to the wooden structures typical of Mediterranean houses.

Dos Mestizos Restaurant

They also have a deli and bakery where they sell freshly baked breads (yes, they bake their own yummy breads).

Gusto Y Gustos Deli

But wait until you step inside and be immediately transported to the modern-dramatic but cozy interiors. Pretty colored plates and tiles, and a Philippine map mural (painted counter-clockwise) adorn the walls giving contrast to the dark wood furnishings.

Dos Mestizos interiors

They also offer wines for romantic evenings and celebrations which they store in a separate room -- a cellar-cum-meeting room.

Wine selections

Then it was time to have lunch, the much awaited part. As indicated in their menu, they want customers to begin their dining experience by going through the offerings which can be best described as "gusto y gustos de dos mestizos" -- that they offer a selection of dishes that have been a part of our growing up years, done with care and expertise.

Their own freshly baked breads

For starters, there was the bread with dips and the Caesar salad that was so creamy yet light, and the greens were so fresh they crunch with each bite.

Ensalada de Cesar (Traditional Caesar Salad)

For more appetizers, there was the Spanish menu staple -- a bowl of olives and Albondigas. The meatballs were firmly rounded but was surprisingly easy to bite and so yummy, one isn't enough!

Aceitunas Verdes Alinadas (Olives aged in Oil and Garlic)

Albondigas (Beef Meatballs in Tomato Sauce)

Tried this unappetizing-looking dish of anchovies in olive oil and garlic -- it was pure heaven! The fish meat was tender with no hint of fishiness whatsoever. Served warm, it was the perfect healthy comfort food.

Boquerones en Vinagre (Fresh Anchovies aged in Vinaigrette)

Then came the much awaited Paella, a Spanish dish made of sticky rice with sliced hard boiled eggs, veggies and seafood (and sometimes chicken and pork). This I ate with much gusto! The serving included a generous amount of fresh seafood and the rice was cooked and seasoned just right.

Paella de Mariscos (Fresh Seafood Paella)

All these happened on our second to the last day in the island of Boracay and was made possible by the lovely Denise Manahan.

Summer ladies (l-r): Me, Joy & Denise Manahan

I am definitely going back to Boaracay and Dos Mestizos to try their selection of excellent Tapas, hopefully with my family.

Night Shopping at Venice Piazza

Check out the Great Night Market at the Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill starting tonight May 23 until May 27. Enjoy shopping from over 100 vendors from 10:00pm to 4:00am. Admission is FREE!

Cinema One Originals: Third World Happy

From May 25 to 31, Cinema One Originals movie "Third World Happy", under the direction of EJ Salcedo, will be showing in selected SM theaters nationwide.

Starring Sam Milby, the movie revolves around him as Wesley, a 34 year old naturalized Fil-American living in NY City, who upon leaving the Philippines 12 years ago, left his grandmother and older brother to pursue his dreams of being a painter someday. Hampered with guilt of leaving them behind plus the pressures of keeping up with the American way of life, the past years have gone by without him being an inch closer to his dreams.

As life would have it, in the middle of his life-crisis away from his homeland, Wesley suddenly gets a phone-call saying that “a loved one” back in the Philippines died and he needs to come back home to say goodbye. Problem is that two weeks before he came to NY, a tragic accident had taken the lives of his parents, since then he has never looked at a dead body in a coffin and hasn’t gone inside a funeral home. Throughout his homecoming, his older brother, his friends, an aunt and an ex-girlfriend remind him of what life is truly all about---They also help him shine some light on his struggles back in the States and his struggle to look at his loved one in the coffin, to finally say his last goodbye and eventually help him move on with his life and start chasing his dream again.

Joining Sam Milby in the cast are: Jodi Sta. Maria as Aylyn; Archie Alemania as Lyndon; Melissa Mendez as Aunt Beth; Eugene Herrera as Dexter; Archie Adamos as Tiyong Boy; Ricahrd Quann as Danny; Raul Morit as MangTeng; and Geraldine Tan as Alynn’s Mother.

Catch "Third World Happy" in 10 selected SM Theaters nationwide: SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Manila, SM Fairview, SM. Sta. Mesa, SM Southmall, SM Marikina, SM Cebu and SM Iloilo.

John & Yoko: Modern Japanese with a Twist

Since being introduced to the John & Yoko restaurant in Greenbelt 5 a couple of years ago, I've been coming back to taste my favorites, either with friends or family. The interiors suggest early on that John & Yoko offers something more than the average Japanese fare -- modern Japanese with a twist. I love how they made circles a part of the design from the lighted wall decors, to the designs on the wood cabinets.

Recently, they replaced some of their ho-hum dining chairs with these funky Japanese themed chairs.

John & Yoko's menu boasts of a wild variety of maki, tempura and rice bowls plus salads, pizzas and more; and it does hurt that the prices are affordable and competitive. Among my favorites are:

Big Star Salad

A delicious mix of fresh crispy greens, mango slices, shrimps, cherry tomatoes and peanut brittle bits.

Spider Roll

Soft shell crabs wrapped in rice and topped with orange caviar and teriyaki sauce.

Ika Fritters with Cocktail Sauce

Crunchy squid rings with tomato-based cocktail sauce.

Bacon Enoki

Enoki mushrooms wrapped in smoky bacon garnished with spring onions and brown sauce.

Tofu Steak

Fried tofu slices in oyster sauce with beef slices and cubed carrots.

Chicken Teriyaki and Mango Pizza

Mozarella pizza topped with chicken teriyaki bits and mango cubes plus spring onions, toasted sesame seeds and orange caviar...a surprisingly good combination.

For drinks, they have the bottomless dalandan (blue), calamansi (red) and lime (green) that are equally refreshing and thirst quenching.

I have yet to try their other food offerings but I'm sure that my next visits will give me and my companions a truly unique dining experience every time.

Bring Home a Piece of Eclipse

Before the fourth installment of the Twilight Saga comes this November 2011, get yourself a DVD or VCD with poster of the Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Click here to join the promo: http://www.herword.com/promo/main.php?id=Eclipse

Promo Mechanics:

a. From May 11 to June 10, 2011, BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, through HerWord.com, in partnership with C-Interactive Digital Entertainment, will be raffling away the following to new and existing HerWord subscribers:

• Nine (9) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse VCDs with posters

• Five (5) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Single Disc Edition DVDs

• Three (3) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Two-Disc Special Edition DVDs

b. To be included in the promo, participants must like our Facebook fan page, complete the HerWord.com subscription form and answer correctly the question below.

c. Strictly one (1) person, one (1) entry.

d. Participants should send their entries on or before 12 midnight of June 10, 2011. BusinessWorld shall conduct the raffle the day after promo and announcement of the winners via HerWord.com will be made on June 15, 2011. Winners will also be notified via email and SMS.

e. This promo is not open to the following: all employees of BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, all employees of C-Interactive Digital Entertainment, and all relatives of aforementioned up to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity.

f. Winners can claim their prizes within 10 days from the date of announcement from the Marketing Communications Group of BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation with office address at 95 Balete Drive Ext., New Manila, Quezon City from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please present 1 (one) valid ID when claiming your prize.

g. This promo is valid for Metro Manila residents only.

From Under the Sea to the Stage

Am still a child at heart that's why I still get excited and giddy over Disney films and characters. This November 18 to December 11, at the Meralco Theatre, Atlantis Productions brings to life Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Atlantis just revealed the actors who will play Ariel and Prince Eric -- RACHELLE ANN GO and ERIK SANTOS -- who are making their musical theatre debut.


The Little Mermaid will be directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga. For inquiries and reservation, call Claire of Atlantis Productions at 892 7078 or 840 1187 or visit their website at www.atlantisproductionsinc.com.


Photos from Atlantis Productions

Free Admission to Ayala Museum

It is International Museum Day on May 18, Wednesday, and as member of the International Council of Museums and part of the World Museum Community, the Ayala Museum will have FREE admission that day for everyone to enjoy the ongoing exhibits.

This special day has been celebrated since 1977 to raise awareness on the importance of museums in society development, not to mention preservation of history and legacy.

For more details, visit the websites of the International Council of Museums (www.icom.museum) and Ayala Museum (www.ayalamuseum.org).

Walk The World

Poverty and hunger, most specifically in the Philippines, has been in existence ever since I became socially conscious. My everyday street scene won’t be complete without street children, oftentimes barefoot, approaching me or knocking on the car window for alms.

It is said that the children are the future, but what does the future hold for them when they barely survive the present? What will their young minds learn, if they are sent to schools at all, when their bodies are not nourished enough? What can we, as ordinary citizens, do to help fight hunger and malnutrition?

Hunger and malnutrition are the biggest threats to global health worldwide, and are responsible for a third of all deaths in children under the age of five in the developing world.

Now, we have our chance to join thousands of people around the globe as they prepare to join the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its major corporate partners, TNT, Unilever and DSM, in a huge endeavor to raise awareness and money to feed hungry children in some of the poorest countries in the world.

WFP and its partners are passionate about taking action on this important issue and believe that everyone can help by joining Walk the World Pilipinas as a step towards ending hunger.

WHERE: SM Mall of Asia, IMAX Parking lot

WHEN: May 29, 2011, Sunday, 5:00-10:00AM

Set to be bigger than the previous years, this year’s Walk the World, is open to walkers and runners who are passionate about fighting hunger. Aside from the traditional 2-km walk, there will be a 5-km run for enthusiasts, both male and female, and a competitive 10-km group run.

CATEGORIES		ENTRY FEES	INCLUSIONS	ASSEMBLY	GUN START
2k Walk	Open	250	Event Shirt	5:45 am	6 am
5k Run	Men’s Division/ Ladies’ Division	500	Race Kit, Singlet, Baller ID	5:30 am	5:45 am
10k Run	Group	10,000	Race Kit, Singlet, Baller ID, Button Pins, Team Plaque	5:15 am	5:30 am

Proceeds from the event will support approximately 80,000 school children in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

Participants can register ONLINE (www.walktheworld-pilipinas.org) now until May 27 and pay through bank (an additional P100 will be charged for delivery of race kits) at BPI Otis S/A no. 8053-002-707.

There will also be ONSITE registrations until May 28 or until slots have been filled up, whichever comes first, at the following venue:

STORE	MALL	AREA
The Travel Club	Alabang Town Center	Alabang
Brat Pack	Greenbelt 5	Makati
Brat Pack	Robinson’s Place Manila	Manila
Columbia The North Face The Travel Club	Mall of Asia Mall of Asia Newport Mall	Pasay City
Res Toe Run The North Face	Robinson’s Galleria Building A, SM Megamall	Pasig City
Columbia Res Toe Run The Travel Club Sanuk	SM North Edsa Gateway Mall Trinoma SM North Edsa	Quezon City

Join Walk the World Pilipinas today -- it costs WFP just 10 pesos to provide a nutritious meal to a child at school. School feeding programmes also give parents an extra incentive to keep their children in school, and help to lay a healthy foundation for a better future for the young.

If you can’t join the walk in person, you can still get involved at http://wfp.org/walktheworld with photos, videos and donations. Or better yet, help spread the word and your family, friends and colleagues to join.

For more information, please contact:

WFP - Angeli Mendoza (+632 750 2561 loc. 2420; angeli.mendoza@wfp.org)

TNT - Rachelle Neri (+632 551 0918 loc. 349; +639178339704; rachelle.neri@tnt.com)

Unilever - Liza Vengco (+632 588 7342; +639175612434; liza.vengco@unilever.com)

Filed under EVENTS

Justin Bieber in Manila

Gone were the days when a child’s life is simple…no video games, no high-tech gadgets and no singing idol to go head-over-heels with. Kids nowadays wish for the latest mobile phones, laptops or tablets and concert tickets to see the likes of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

The Beliebers :)

If there was a Justin Bieber back when I was younger, I think my parents would disown me if I asked them to buy me a VIP ticket (LOL) and be one of the screaming fans lined up at the gates just to catch a glimpse of the YouTube singing sensation.

Concert poster

May 10 was the big night for Justin Bieber’s throves of fans at the SM MOA open concert grounds for the “Justin Bieber. My World Tour” in Manila, where a number of fans dressed up in the Bieber’s trademark color -- purple. The pop star may have felt a bit under the weather due to lack of rest from the Singapore leg, thus reports of a short concert and abrupt exit, less than 100% voice quality and performance, not to mention videos of minor mishaps with the press and fans. But no matter what, the Beliebers love him just the same.

Poreotics performed at the Justin Bieber concert.

Justin in action.

So what is it about the Bieber that made young girls and boys Beliebers? Is it the musical prowess, or the cute face, or the famous bowl cut hair he sported until February this year?

Justin wore hints of his signature color -- purple.

For the uninitiated (non-Beliebers), the 17-year old Canadian pop star was discovered via a video uploaded in YouTube back in 2008 by Scooter Braun who went into a joint venture with Usher to launch Justine’s career. His debut single, "One Time", released worldwide in 2009, peaked in the top ten in Canada and charted in the top thirty in several international markets. His debut release, My World, soon followed and was eventually certified platinum in the United States. Justine Bieber became the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and soon, he started getting nominated by award giving bodies and brought home quite a number of trophies.

Justin Bieber

I just hope Justin will be able to handle fame well and strive to be a good role model for the young generation, despite some bad publicity. I also hope his star does not fizzle out early like those that came before him.

Thanks to STUDIyo for the concert photos. (http://studiyo.wordpress.com; http://facebook.com/studiyo.photo).