Guitar Wars in Infiniti Bar Bacolod

We had a great time last night watching and listening to local bands here in Bacolod. The Guitar Wars, I am assuming, was a showdown or an exhibition of guitar playing, strumming and all that (I don't know what's the right term for that). The Infiniti Bar was filled with bands and enthusiasts in various types. There were those that only play rock; others hum contemporary; some go with Blues while a friend of mine was contented with instrumentals. It was a hard-rocking show. But, it could have been better if only the organizers geared up its promotions. It would have been jampacked.

The Rule of Balance in Photography

Been dreaming of having DSLR, just taking shots of anything. But, I realized I should learn the basics first before investing in an expensive hobby. So I get to read and scan a lot of photography tips, simple guides, as much as possible, from the web. I stumbled upon an article from Digital Photogarphy School (DPS). I usually get valuable information and easy steps from DPS regarding Photography.

They say... one of the most important compositional principle in Photography is 'balance'. It's not like the other rule, the Rule of thirds where you can identify key spots on an image by imagining lines through it. Balance is compositional factor worth considering when framing shots.

As I See It: Presidential Wannabes (Part 1)

Kilala Mo Ba Talaga Sila? That's the title of Probe Team's new branding, Profiles, which tackles the public and private lives of presidential wannabes for the upcoming 2010 Presidential Election.

I think this investigative show, Profiles, is a great venue for us young electorate to know more about the background and qualifications of the men and women who have of course expressed intentions to run for president next year.

Profiles' first installment of the series probes Sen. Manny Villar.

Cebu Pacific flies you to Hong Kong Disneyland for only 5k Plus?

Thought you might need it. Too late though. Tsk!
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), Asia’s third largest low-cost carrier, offers as much as 50% off the airfares for flights from Manila to Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, as well as from Clark and Cebu to Hong Kong. CEB offers its ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare of P999, you can book and buy Manila-Kota Kinabalu and Clark-Hong Kong flights.

Generic and Brand Name Drugs

Is there a difference between Generic and brand name drugs?

I've researched opinions and articles in the web and here's what I found. At times of crisis, Generic drugs could save you money, more so, your life.

Generic drugs do not work slower or have less strength or efficacy as compared to brand name drugs. The BFAD in the Philippines, as well as Food and Drugs agencies in other countries, requires generic drug manufacturing plants use the same quality control standards as the brand name manufacturer. So basically, this means there is no essential difference between generic and name brand prescription drugs other than the price.

Spirit of Adventure

Pixar's animation has done it again! UP springs from simple, straightforward stories that cater not only kids but all age groups.

I got to watch the movie UP last night and I found the movie very enticing. I was moved by the character of Carl Frederickson.

"In oder to move on you've got to let go of some things at some point." That's what the movie UP teaches us. The spirit of adventure is in Russell, the Wilderness Explorer scout.  The very cute Rusell persistently offered his assistance to Carl who in this film is an elderly longing for his late wife named Ellie. UP will take you to South America as Carl promised to for Ellie. Towards the end of the trail, Russell the persistent boy teaches Carl to move on, that is, to move on to another adventure.

UP animated film is totally entertaining and simply stunning to take in. It's so beautiful you forget you're watching an animated film; instead losing youself in an dazzling film.

Top Digital Cameras for Gifting

Christmas Wishlist
Well, I just wanted to share this with you the Top Digital Cameras of the last five days. This is based on the number of "click throughs" to the reviews, previews and some news articles. The number of clicks may not be translated to the number of purchases of the camera but its popularity may contribute to the number of consumers who may be interested or planning to buy the camera.

You might never know, somone might hand you one of these popular digital cameras this Holiday season. You must be lucky!

Still Life Lighting Guides for Beginners

An article from Digital Photography School

One of the important elements in Photography is lighting. This is so in “Still Life” photography. The way a photographer uses light for still life photos will surely add mood, give context, provide interest, and ultimately, create a dynamic still life photograph. Lighting for still life is not complicated. In fact, stick to these 5 tips, and you will nail your still life shots every time.

Web Surfing Helps the Brain

An interesting article from RealAge.com

If you're one of those internet/web surfing addicts (i bet you are, co'z reading this), here's some good news for you.

You're actually doing your brain a favor. Yes, you heard me right! Research shows that decision-making and reasoning centers in the brain light up like fireworks when computer-savvy people do Web searches.

I know web surfing (or loafing, hehehe) seems like a pleasant way to kill time, but in a study of older adults, it just did much more. Brain scans of the computer-adept group showed more activity during Internet searches, compared with the brain scans of people who weren't so handy with a browser.

More Tips on RealAge.com....

Information Is Brainpower
Researchers say that searching the Web most likely stimulates the brain by forcing you to evaluate search results and make decisions about what links to click.

Cut Fatty-Food Cravings With Calcium and Vitamin D

According to studies, adding a calcium and vitamin D supplements on your diet helps lose weight. Researchers theorize that when your calcium intake is too low, your body may start craving foods rich in the mineral. Many of us do not know this but foods high in calcium are also high in fat and calories (imagine ice cream ans full-fat cheese).

"When you take vitamin D with calcium, your body absorbs more of the calcium, so a combo supplement is best."

Tips from RealAge.com

Have a clear goal. Whether you want to lose 10 pounds or 100, setting a goal and tracking your progress will help you get there. Use this online tracking tool to reach your weight loss goal.

Waxworks V opens today at The Negros Museum

Getting sidetrips to Negros Museum.

This Halloween season, Waxworks Year 5 presents Kilometrahe Trese at the Negros Museum. Waxworks will treat you to a creepy walking exposition on the museum's collection of Negrense folklores and urban legends. Waxworks will also trick you to a road of paranormals which will be transpired in seven chambers. Creepy. The chambers open at 6:30 pm 'til 10 pm.



The Waxworks V presentation is on going, October 26-31, 2009.  Tickets are sold at the Wax main entrance.

Admission is at 25 pesos.

The Negros Museum

"he Negros Museum showcases the different art collections. Most of it depicts the lifestyle of Negrosanons before and on Spanish era. The museum also holds exhibits of contemporary arts by Negrense artists. Negros Museum is located in Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City."

The Next Best Thing

Independent films are gaining much more popularity nowadays. In fact, it's much cheaper to produce a movie like these ones. Indie films have low budget and shorter time of shooting and I mean the entire movie. What I like about it is that its substance is never compromised. Since it's not commercialized like the ones produced by Star Cinema or GMA Films, short films are more appealing to most theater and movie buffs. It's much more convincing because veteran actors prefer doing it. It always is a powerhouse of great actors.

Let's take for example, Yanggaw, a horror film written and directed by Negrenses' pride Richard Somes. I happened to see the movie and it brought me shivers while watching it. It only proves that it does not require expensive CGI effects to make convincing scenes.

Yanggaw, produced by Cinema One Originals, scores high because of its great cast - Ronnie Lazaro and Joel Torre. Cheers to both of them!

The plot is well written. It will take you to a far-flung province of Negros. Junior (Ronnie Lazaro) is a patriarch of a family living in a small farming community. One day his daughter Amor comes home with a mysterious sickness. She becomes weaker and weaker as days go by and the whole family has no choice but to consult his daughter's case with a local healer healer. Junior and his wife learn that his daughter has been infected by a malevolent spirit. Little did they know that she is slowly turning into an aswang. A very typical Negrense father at that, the local authorities, headed by Joel Torre, getting closer to the truth, Junior seeks to save his daughter from this curse, or failing that, to protect her at all costs. That starts the conflict between Joel Torre and Ronnie Lazaro. And by all means, Junior has to protect her daughter even if it would cost his neighbors lives. The limitations in production do hurt at times. There’s a somewhat lacking in the death scene near the end of the film that just never manages to be convincing, though they do established their point across.

"Yanggaw is easily one of my favorite films; getting a fresh take on Negrense local myths."

Indie films are definitely the next best thing.

Yanggaw Shown Today at Robinson's Place Bacolod

The horror film “Yanggaw”, written and directed by Negrense Richard Somes is now being shown at Robinsons Place Cinema 6 in Bacolod City.

Yanggaw is a Hiligaynon word meaning infected. It is more associated to a person who is infected by a poison of an evil spirit; eventually turns into an aswang, a monster feasting on flesh and blood.

Yanggaw has a fresh take on Negros local myths. The short film is being more sincere as presentation is concerned because it is dubbed in Hiligaynon, a dialect spoken by Bacolodnons. Most of cast members, if not all, are from Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

Cast
Ronnie Lazaro ... Junior
Tetchie Agbayani ... Inday
Joel Torre ... Dulpo
Aleera Montalla ... Amor
Monet Gaston ... Erma
Gio Respall ... Toto
Keith Cabañez ... Abner (as Keith Bryan Cabañez)
Leon Gaston ... Leon
Erik Matti ... Lazarus Ave
Lilit Reyes ... Dr. Sandico

2008 Gawad Urian Awards
Best Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor)
Ronnie Lazaro

Best Sound (Pinakamahusay na Tunog)
Romy Lopez
Eduardo Velasques

Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres)
Aleera Montalla


2009 Star Awards
Digital Movie Cinematographer of the Year
Herman Claraval
Lyle Sacris

Digital Movie Director of the Year
Richard Somes

Digital Movie Production Designer of the Year
Donald Russ Camon
Michael N. Español
Rashem Gumacal

Digital Movie of the Year

Bacolod celebrates 30th Masskara Festival

I know it is too late to write about Bacolod Masskara Festival but I'm writing it anyway.

The Masskara Festival is a week-long festival held every third weekend of October. Just a brief etymology, Masskara means a multitude of smiling faces coined from the word "Mass" meaning people and the Spanish word "cara" meaning face. True to its history, the festival was taken by Bacolodnons as a good opportunity to put out the gloomy atmosphere. After all the typhoons that had stricken Manila and surrounding areas two weeks before the charter, the people of Bacolod still showed resiliency.

A Brief History of Masskara Festival

"The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop, and the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes like high fructose corn syrup in the United States. It was also a time of tragedy; on April 22 of that year, the inter-island vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City, collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank. An estimated 700 lives were lost in the tragedy."

It is always been expected that beer (lots of it), food (esp. the famous Bacolod inasal), huge audio systems and live bands are the center of merry-making in the streets of Lacson (now known as the Tourism Strip in Bacolod). I got to experience the street party and it was fun and loud.

With the outpouring support from all the Baranggays of Bacolod, the Masskara Street Dancing competition was a success. Not to mention, all their hardwork and sleepless nights memorizing the basic formation and dance steps. All the dancers danced gracefully with their colorful costumes, heavy props and smiling masks.

Truly, Bacolod City is the City of Smiles.

Masskara Festival Schedules - October 16, 2009

Audio sytems are now installed along Araneta Street for the SMB Night party and also in Lacson Streets for the Electric Masskara Dance parade tonight at 6. This should be fun!

Check out what's happening today:

Masskara Schedule (Oct. 16, 2009)
7 a.m. MassKara Drag Race Competition
- Old Bacolod Airport
8 a.m. 2009 MassKara Badminton Invitational
- Pohang Badminton Center, Dr. Pablo O. Torre St., Bacolod City
5 p.m. Photographers Night
- Benjamin Hall, 4th Lacson Street Bacolod City
6 p.m. Electric MassKara
- Tourism Strip, Lacson Streets.
8 p.m. Ledge Dance Competition
- Tourism Strip, Lacson Streets
10 p.m. Concerts with various local bands
- Tourism Strip, Lacson Streets

SEO Seminar at Planta Hotel Centro Bacolod

I've heard SEO from friends before but it just slipped into my mind. I thought it was only for hardcore programmers. But I was given a chance to attend a seminar on Search Engine Optimization (thanks to my bosses!). I would always rely on the internet for my research but little did I know seminars could be more, much interesting.

The topic was "Making Money through Website". It was held last October 8, 2009 at the Planta Hotel Centro Bacolod located along Araneta Street. The hosts were from JNB Web Promotions. They've been very accommodating.

The seminar on Search Engine Optimization was basically about web site visibility. If you want to increase your web site's popularity or PageRank, SEO is the answer. It could produce top placements for your web sites practically to any popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, MSN (also known as Bing.com) and the like. It was interesting. I was drawn to it. Imagine you get to earn some bucks by simply blogging. Money-making could have been a lot easier for copywriters through SEO.

According to Wikipedia...
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" or un-paid ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results as opposed to search engine marketing (SEM) which deals with paid inclusion. Typically, the earlier (or higher) a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search and industry-specific vertical search engines. This gives a web site web presence.