another side of credit card

Another side of credit card.

This is not a sponsored post (I’d like to emphasize that).

I’ve been using Citibank since my residency days at PGH. My first card actually was standard chartered, but its hard to maintain two cards so I have to settle for one. Since Citibank gave me a higher credit limit, I chose to maintain Citibank (sorry SC, maybe this will give you an idea).

Perks of havin a card? Atleast you don’t have to bring big bucks in your wallet whenever you want to buy stuff. Downside? In this marketing-driven economy, with your credit card around, you tend to spend and spend (and spend, shop, buy, spend, shop, buy!) until it basically eats up your monthly salary!

Being a goody goody client of Citibank, my status was upgraded last year to gold – increase credit limit and yeah, it comes with a flashy gold card. There was not much of a difference from the silver status until recently when one of my friend (who is working in Citibank, and would always thank me for using the card often – talk about advertising and promotions!) introduced me to Citibank Premium Concierge.

This is sooo cool. You can practically ask/inquire about anything! Telephone numbers, where to get this and that, where to find a store in the city, a church in tagaytay, even schedules of now showing (and probably coming soon and next attraction) movies both in cable and cinema houses! I don’t know if there’s limit on what to ask, but so far, their service is superb! This time, having a Gold card is a plus!

So to Citibank, thanks for a very brilliant concept.

PS this is not a sponsored post, my advise to people out there - do not OVERSPEND! Always make sure that at the end of the month, you can pay your bills cuz if you don’t, geez, the interests will haunt your pockets the next month and the months to come!

and btw, HSBC just approved my application, they gave me a bigger credit limit and acquire mabuhay miles points for swiping their card - now this is competition. in a dog-eat-dog world of commercialism, the consumers are the true winners.....er are we? (got me confused there)

MENTALLY STIMULATING AND EXHAUSTING

I told myself that this year, I will blog atleast once a day (along with my 2007 resolution of staying fit, jog 2-3x/week, healthy diet – which, as expected, I am unable to do). No particular topic, just write anything. But due to unforeseen circumstances – meetings, lectures, approvals and all – I basically parked blogging and indefinitely shut blogger world out.

This week is no exception. Anyone can make a book of complaints about everyday toxicities in life…. but that’s not me. I’m no saint either. I have come to a realization that its human nature to feel panicky as if the end of the world is near whenever there’s a deadline to beat. Its human nature to be “oscar the grouch” when things don’t turn out the way you expect it. Its human nature to say “I give up” when you’re sanity’s practically hanging by a thread. And I’m human.

But after all the complaints, morbid thoughts (is it suicidal tendencies?) and countless cussing, its human nature to say, “hey, I can do this.” Surprisingly, I did.

Ahhh, this is my life. This is my job. Mentally stimulating and at the same time, exhausting. Paradoxical indeed. I’m only human. We’re only human. And yes, I love my job and I’m facing the challenge!

see? blogging is therapeutic! i feel good!

blogger block out

its been a week since my last blog. i have an excuse - first, my connection at home suddenly gone berzerk last week (even the landline - no dialtone! can you imagine that?). It was only yesterday, that SMARTBRO people (subsidiary of telecom giant PLDT) visited my house and fixed it. thanks to them, i'm online again (and my kids - disney surfin galore!). Second, i attended our BIZCON (business conference) at Sofitel Philippine Plaza (that's Westin near the famous film center that the marcoses built)PICC complex.

with one week off the blogworld, i thought i just let the day pass by and save ideas for my next blog. actually i stored a lot - hmmmn, shall i start with american idol season six premier telecast, or how the bizcon turned out, my (mis)adventures at sofitel philippine plaza, me - passing my AAP driving exam? and many more..... topics upon topics upon toppings!

now, in front of the computer, listening to coldplay i'm having a hard time to start! blogging is an art. Sponteneity is one aspect that keeps it different. just write whatever, whenever, whoever, whatsoever (did i repeat the first wh? uh i did!)

ok, i guess i have to write about my stored thoughts when the right time comes, for now...... this will suffice.

uh btw, the image is the dynamic medical affairs department of AZP! kudos for a jo9b well done.

is there somethin wrong huh?

after the taiwanquake (well, every netizen actually in south east asia) noticed the intermittent internet connection since late dec2006. and yes, just like singleguy said, it can really piss you off.

the weird thing about this though is that some sites easily pops out, while others do not. like this one - gmail, blogger and google (obviously came from one creator) are sites i find difficult to access at a single click, early january its even worse! i usually get timed out. i already said this to ryeurn but i thought it was just nothin. until singleguy posted a comment sayin he's havin difficulty posting at blogspot.

oh well, i hope the cables are fixed by now. the connection may have gone haywire, but it will never stop me from blogging (it may slow me (us) down though)

welcome to the wonderful world of blogging.....

netizen in distress

i have a deadline to beat. i was in front of the computer all night to finish some stuff and slept at the same time the sun was having his majestic entrace at this side of the planet.

12noon, my little rascals are jumpin all over me, askin me open the computer and play DISNEY! (sorry guys, give me a break, its weekend - kids rule and i allow them to use the net - weekdays is a no no). To my surprise (or dismay) i cant access the net! Imagine the reaction of my kids - the tantrums and all, no matter how well you can explain the situation to the kids, believe me it will not work! so i called the service provider - glitch again. taiwanquake really made an impact. i read in one daily's that their workin on it already - exploring the seabed and fixing the cables (reminds me of fix you by coldplay). fix it, fix it, please, please please.......

kids? you know how they are, after a while they will give up as if nothin happened. there they are - playing with their thorn, worn-out toys, incomplete train, robot without a head, etc etc etc. - easy to please (unlike you guys! OLD people you!)

ME? i have a deadline to beat. am now in a net cafe, sending my accomplished work-of-art to my boss. (extracharge though, sigh)

done.

american idol mania is back!

last year idol fever reached the Philippine islands. after about four months of competition, mau marcelo bagged the title ( i was supposed to say crowned miss universe). not the typical singer you see on stage actually - she's on the heavy side (extralarge to be exact), dark complexion (she's half american - father is a puertorican of african roots)and not the classy diva that you expect (jologs to be precise). No matter what she looks like, her voice is WOW!



and speakin of idol fever, american idol season premiere will be on the 16th (probably 17th this side of earth)

i think it will be at STARWORLD (CABLE) and ABC5 (LOCAL). last season my bet was eliot yamin. i'd say he's not blessed with the goodlooks like ACE and the bald rocker i-forgot-his-name guy (who is also great), not as charismatic as the wedding-singer-like taylor hicks and not as star-quality-material as catherine mcphee (who gave me phee-ver). but eliot is eliot - great voice with the commoner appeal. and so he lost.

but mau marcelo didnt. so kuddos to our nation - not blinded by color, appreciating music at its finest.

idol mania is back in town! (i wonder how many filipinos will make it this time)

imagine coldplay the scientist

weird, but everytime i listen to coldplay's music, i cant help bet reminisce yerteryears. imagine yourself walking and see your life movie pass through you, and you cant do anything cuz its already done. you just have to move on.... sad isnt it. and yet, after the music, you just want to repeat it again and again. paradoxical indeed. and i think life is just like that - TWISTED.

here's one, the scientist. an mtv gig (listen to it, reminds me of IMAGINE by john lennon/beatles)



here's the link to the MUSIC VIDEO (BACKWARDLY TWISTED) i dunno how they make their songs (and whoever conceptualize their music videos) but despite the "unexplainable" heavy feelin it gives you its addictive. sigh....

bloggitis anyone?

i told myself that this year i will make anything-under-the-sun-that-my-mind-can-come-up blogpost everyday. blog-all-you-can, yah that was my initial plan...... until reality sets in.

everyday, i wake up early, eat breakfast, rush to the lrt station, squeeze myself in (together with 100,000 folks from all over the metro) ride a jeepney to the world famous EDSA and in less than hour (that is, if youre lucky) voila! am in the comforts of my office. turn on the aircon, set up the laptop, pray, launch microsoft outlook (pray again, hoping there's not many mails = work)then on with the job proper and so on and so forth......

before you know it, the day is over! during those hours, it always occur to me to post in my blogspot/blogpost friendster. "it can wait, after office hours, i will make one", "this is a good topic, i'd probably blog this later", "hmmm, nice pictures, i will post it in a while"

now i opened my blog, i cant believe that my last post was january 2! see, all planning, pumping creativity but no input - no action! the "later" fever.

i guess that's why im havin headaches, hyperthermic episodes, unexplained perspiration everytime i open the computer, reflex clicking of the favorites button to blogger and friendster. - all these, subtle manifestations of a rare form of communicable illness afflicting netizens with blog. BLOGGITIS! and the remedy - simple. write a blog and the symptoms will just go away.


ahhhhh, energized. now that's what i call quick relief. you havin bloggitis now?

back to earth

after about two weeks of shutdown (well, its not actually a shutdown for me, since i visited the office during those days - the only difference though is that i was with my faded low-waist(ed) jeans, shirt and sneakers) everybody's going back to earth.

back to the hussle, busy, sardines-like travel to the office, snail-paced honkytonk ride at EDSA, beating the deadlines, and yah, coffee-gone-cold at the table. the christmas vacation is definitely a must for us lowly workers.

if i can only have a universal remote and in just one click freeze office time and get to do everything without deadlines, that will be cool, no, that will be excellent! if only santa clause grant my wish of having all the goodies for my kids, that will be satisfying. if only i can have a reloadable mind, that you just insert an SD card and can copy all data in a single push of a button, ey that will be brilliant!if only......

oh well, can't help but day dream. back to earth. i am a worker. and this year i will do my best for my family, job, community and country! (booyah, now that's the spirit!)

plus! uh, and i will continue blogging