American Idol 2012 Tour in the Philippines

We were on vacation in the US during the height of this year's American Idol season. During the finale, we were texting like crazy voting for Jessica Sanchez. Haha! It is only this year again, that I watched the whole season since the battle between the two Davids, (David Cook and David Archuleta) which was back in 2008.

In less than a month to go (September 21, 2012), the Idols are coming over here in the Philippines for their tour. I am sure a lot of AI fans are already excited! Yay! :-)

Photo from OvationProductionsManila.com

Thanks to Ovation Productions, AI winner Phillip Phillips, fellow Filipina Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, Hollie Cavanagh, Skylar Laine, Elise Testone, Colton Dixon, DeAndre Brackensick, Heejun Han and Erika Van Pelt are performing live in the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ticket prices are the following:

• VIP Seated - P11,090
• Patron Seated - P10,560
• Patron Standing - P9,770
• Lower Box VIP - P7,920
• Lower Box Regular - P5,810
• Upper Box A - P3,700
• Upper Box B - P2,115
• General Admission - 845

You may visit www.ticketnet.com.ph for more details and to purchase tickets.

Today's Quote

PHOTO CREDIT

"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." 

--Joshua J. Marine--

MENSA Qualifying Test [SEPT 1]

Mensa Philippines, the country's high IQ society and part of the Mensa International will hold its qualifying test on September 1, 2012, Saturday at the University Hotel of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. 

To be a Mensa member, you should score in the top 2 percentile of the Mensa Qualifying Test. 

Interested parties should be at least 14 years old. Just bring a valid ID and P500 for test fee. Undergraduate students are entitled to a discounted fee of P300, just present a valid school ID.

You may visit their Facebook page to confirm a slot and to know more about the event.

Fashion & Interior Design Capsule Series

Fullybooked and the School of Fashion and the Arts are holding a series of seminars this coming September about Interior Design and Fashion. Admission is free! All you have to do is RSVP to reserve a slot. :-)

Visit Fullybooked online and @SoFAcollege on Twitter

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Usual household chores like washing the dishes, sweeping and mopping the floor, and hand-washing clothes leave my hands in pain. I broke a couple of glassware already because my hands suddenly get numb, my fingers get stiff, and there's a splitting pain somewhere around the wrists.

Because of my medical history, I've decided to see my orthopedic surgeon to have it checked. Based on my symptoms, (which my doctor explained is fairly common) he believes I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. He asked me to undergo several tests to confirm (as it may also be arthritis) and check the extent of the swelling.

I already had my wrist x-ray done. Next tests are: EMG (electromyography) and NCV (nerve conduction velocity) -- which I am praying, would give a result that would not require me to undergo surgery or steroid injections anymore. :-(

In the meantime, the doctor gave me some pain relievers and medicine to reduce the swelling. He also told me to keep my wrists/hands in 'neutral' position always, and avoid straining.

I hope the pain and swelling resolves soon, because the household chores are inevitable and I feel helpless having a loose grip.

Sharing a photo about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome circulating around Facebook from: Facebook.com/Admin.Chengcake

Today's Quote

PHOTO CREDIT

"The world is a dangerous place, 

not because of those who do evil, 

but because of those who look on and do nothing."

--Albert Einstein-- 

Designers Guild: Interior Design Lecture Series

Are you an Interior Designer, Interior Design student or one interested to learn more on how you can improve your homes? Then every Saturday of August 2012, (starting today!) head to SM North EDSA for a series of lectures.

The 33rd Manila International Book Fair

So excited for this! See you all there! :-)

P.S.
Adarna House is giving away free tickets to the event. Just follow this LINK and download the .pdf file (print as many as you need! yay!)

Sushi Etiquette [Foodie Friday]

I am not "sushi-crazy" but it is good to know that somehow, I am not alone in wondering how sushi(s) are properly eaten. (See, you are here reading my post because you wanted to know! Haha, gotcha!)

Honestly, I don't care. The way I devour on those little fishy slices depends on my mood. I munch it whole -- or sometimes I poke my chopstick right in the middle so I can insert a tiny bit of wasabi. 

At any rate, I'd still care not to offend our dear Japanese friends so when I saw this info-graphic circulating around Facebook, I thought I might as well re-post it here. Too bad it doesn't have any source written on it so I just scoured the world wide web to look for the site where it possible came from.

So, here goes:

SOURCE

Starbucks Tumbler Treat

Coffee-lover? Eco-warrior? or both? Then this might be a perfect time to further help in saving the environment. After seeing the piles of garbage along Roxas Boulevard after the flooding last week, then you might consider cutting down on your 'disposable plastic' use. 

Having reusable tumblers for coffee or simply just water can make a big difference. Imagine how many plastic cups you can save in days...months...years! 

If you wanna be "in" then you might want to grab this opportunity. Only P345 for a 12oz Starbucks mug. :-) Promo runs from August 16 to September 10, 2012 only! 

Gift Gate Big Sale

Remember my blog post a few days ago? Gift Gate is having their first ever Big Sale on August 25, 2012 (Saturday) at the NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig from 10am to 10pm!

For only P20.00 entrance fee (FREE for BDO credit card holders and Sanrio Fans Club members) Sanrio-lovers can buy cutie-patootie items like plush toys, stationeries, bags, shoes, accessories, infant wear, clothes, pillows and a lot more. What's even cooler is that they will also sell items from Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, Angry Birds, Bandai, etc.

Looking to get early Christmas gifts for kids and kids-at-heart? Then this might be the sale you are looking for! :-) 

Common Diseases That May Be Acquired Due To Flooding

When I did the grocery shopping last weekend, I bought a pack of MoskiShield (a mosquito repellent patch) and a bug spray from Human Nature. I have lots of red patches on different parts of my body, which I suspect are bug and mosquito bites from I-don't-know where I got. :-(

  

I am worried that due to the prolonged flooding, mosquitoes are given perfect places to multiply. And with mosquitoes abound, cases of dengue, malaria and other diseases will rise. So other than the topical mosquito repellents I bought, we also cleaned the parts of the house which may potentially breed these insects.

---000---

The Department of Health are asking everyone to keep safe from other common diseases that may be acquired due to flooding (like Leptospirosis). They released an info-graphic to make it easier for everyone to understand. Here goes: 

Everything I Need To Learn, I Learned From Noah's Ark

I remember when I was younger, the priest in our church patterned his homily after a list of learnings from the Bible (specifically the story of Noah and his ark). He gave away print-outs of those, and I kept mine glued to my journal. Great words to live by. :-)

SOURCE

The recent flooding caused by monsoon rains caused people to once again think of 'doomsday' and the likes. Some of my friends even posted this on their Facebook walls:

Conservation of Built Heritage Lecture

---o0o---

The article you are reading now is from my blog, The (Mis)Adventures of Superboink and is purely authored by me. If you are reading this from another website or resource without my direct consent, the content must have been scraped. I would appreciate if you could let me know so that appropriate action could be taken.

Like this post? Click to Subscribe to The (Mis)Adventures of Superboink by Email 

Xoxo, 

Help Flood Survivors Through World Vision

Happy Sunday everyone!

It is heartwarming to see and feel the Filipino bayanihan spirit very alive, especially now that we are once again hit by a calamity. People from all walks of life, extend any possible help that they can offer.

For people who are willing to give (or give some more) you may want to course your donations through World Vision. A development and relief organization, World Vision Philippines assures that, "[they] would be working along with other government agencies to make sure that affected families will get the relief assistance they need in the fastest way possible." 

From your donations, they would be giving away "Relief/Survival Packs". They would also be putting up "Child Friendly Spaces" so that affected children will be given "a place to play, study, and be given special care."

You may want to visit the World Vision website to know more, or use the sponsorship form (see photo below). Follow World Vision in Twitter to receive updates: @WorldVisionPH.

Quick Guide to Help in #ReliefPH

One of the good effects of being active in social media is that you get fast and reliable information. Thanks to Twitter, Facebook and Google - a lot of our kababayans who needed help were given due assistance, and announcements/ warnings were disseminated quickly.

Another good thing, is that one gets exposed to a lot of creative minds and their works. Circulating in social networking sites now are some info-graphics that aim to give easier-to-understand 'to do's' --- and this one from LoveArmy is no exception.

Using the hash tag #reliefPH, this comprehensive info-graphic is worth highlighting.

I hope the info-graphic inspired you to do your share to help our fellow kababayans rise again in this time of need.

How To Purify Water

One of my worries during calamities like typhoons, is running out of potable water. A person cannot last a few days without water and that's why amidst possible water contamination caused by the Habagat flooding, we must ensure that our water supply is safe and free from contaminants.

I am quoting parts of the Department of Health's Advisory on Safe Drinking Water (issued on August 7, 2012) --- 

The following are guidelines in purifying water:

• Water must be filtered first to trap and remove large impurities. Any clean cloth or coffee filter can be used as a sieve. 
• If the water is cloudy, it can be made to stand for half a day, after which, clear water can be scooped and then filtered. 
• Boiling water kills all potential germs you may get from contaminated water. Heat water and allow it to boil for two (2) minutes then let it cool. Boiled water that has cooled can be used immediately. Stirring it or putting it from one clean container to another container several times or adding a pinch of salt or powdered juice can improve taste. 
• Water can be disinfected by adding 2 drops of 5% chlorine solution (unscented bleach) for every one (1) liter of unrefrigerated water. Allow it to stand for an hour. If a faint chlorine smell is detected after an hour, then it is safe to drink. Repeat the procedure if you cannot detect the smell after your first try. If it does not have the faint chlorine smell on the third try then the water must be discarded since it may contain many germs. To improve taste, allow it to air some more or transfer it from one clean container to another several times. 
• Follow provided instructions if you opt to use commercial chlorine tablets for purifying water. Chlorine solutions are also available in most health centers or evacuation centers.

PAG-ASA COLOR CODED WARNING ALERTS [Revised]

In relation to my previous post regarding the PAG-ASA's Color Coded Warning Alerts, the PAG-ASA issued an update changing the color 'Green' warning into 'Orange'.

The color warnings initially caused confusion because (1) the public didn't really know what they meant, (2) people were so used to storm signal numbers, they didn't see the significance right away of there color-coded alerts, and (3) color 'Green' is usually associated with something 'good' or 'go' or 'positive'.

As a response to this growing confusion, the PAG-ASA issued a revision to their color-coded warning alerts, turning the 2nd alert (Green) into color Orange.

Leptospirosis Information

I'll be posting a series of "re-posts", mostly pictures regarding information we currently need to know and share. #Habagat 

The Department of Health already issued a health advisory regarding Leptospirosis. Since almost 50% of the Metro's been flooded, there is a great probability that cases of Leptospirosis will increase.

Please take extra care should you need to (unavoidable situations) wade through flood waters. Wear rubber/plastic boots, rain suit with plastic pants, etc. Make sure you wash yourself well with soap and water (apply disinfectant like isopropyl alcohol if available) and take Doxycycline (phrophylactic medication) to prevent onset of disease.

This photo is a re-post from my previous blog post and from this source.

Hazards on Flooded City's Streets

The weather's crazy! To think it's not even a typhoon --- just monsoon rains.

Hay, I hope you are all okay. This is another test of Pinoys' resilience.

I am reposting this photo -- source included in it --- for everyone's information.

This is a photo from the US Government released during a flooding in New Orleans. I believe the same applies to us here in the Philippines to, so I've decided to re-post.

You might find this helpful especially since a lot of places in and near the Metro are flooded right now.

Take care everyone and God bless us all!

Philippine Emergency Hotlines

A valuable resource for everyone right now, I am posting here some emergency hotline numbers. 

Link to GOVERNMENT INFORMATION DURING NATURAL DISASTERS

List of Government Emergency Hotlines:

National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) hotlines(02) 911-1406, (02) 912-2665, (02) 912-5668

Philippine National Police (PNP) Hotline Patrol117 or send TXT PNP to 2920

Bureau of Fire Protection (NCR)(02) 729-5166, (02) 410-6254, (02) 431-8859, (02) 407-1230 

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) hotline7890 or 0918-8848484

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Metrobase hotline136

MMDA Flood Control
882-4177, 882-0925

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)(02) 304-3713

Red Cross hotline143, (02) 911-1876

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) hotlines
(02) 3-5000 and (02) 580-8910

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) hotlines
(0920) 96-SCTEX (72839)

Skyway System Hotline
(02) 776-7777, 0915-6256231, 0939-5006910 

South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) hotline
0908-8807539

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration(PAGASA) hotline(02) 433-8526

Philippine Coast Guard
(02) 527-3877, (02) 527-8481, 0917-724-3682, 0917-PCG-DOTC

Local government units (partial)

Manila Traffic Hotline – 527-3087
Cainta Traffic Hotline – 646-0044, 655-7368 loc. 164
Las Piñas Traffic – 874-5756, 874-3957, 874-3927
Mandaluyong Hotline – 534-2993
Taguig Traffic – 838-4301 loc. 7112
Marikina STOC – 646-1651
Pasig Traffic – 643-0000, 724-5813
Makati Public Safety Dept – 844-3146, 819-3270

Source: LINK

PAG-ASA FLOOD WARNING ALERTS

***These flood alerts have been revised. See this POST for details.

We have been experiencing rains - heavy at that - for a week already. Mr. Sun where are you?

I am currently on Twitter waiting for news updates (class suspension for the kiddo and work suspension, if there will ever be...)

Metro Manila is currently (9PM August 6, 2012) under Red Alert...
Wait, Red Alert what?
Here's a photo and screep capture from Manolo Quezon's Tumblr account, regarding the 'Color-coded' Flood Alerts:

My 29 List --- 2012

Blogging has taken a back seat in my life the past months (okay, make that a year...sorry guys!) so I missed on writing about a lot of things that happened in my life. :-)

Anyway, I thought of still posting my "29 List" this year even if it's way too late. My "List" is an annual thing I do --- a wish list of things I want to receive, be it a need or a want. :-)

Sometimes I get lucky, that even if I think one wish is too much ('luho' na lang) I still get it, thanks to my very generous family and friends --- don't get me wrong, I never 'insist' ha! hehehe! :-)

In my "28 List" last year, I got more that 50% of what I wished for (*note: material things*). From those I did not get, I'm including some in my 29.

Here goes: