Davao Blogspace

For weeks now I’ve been trying to decide on getting a tattoo on my right arm or neck. Not because tattoos are gaining a new visibility. It’s a way of marking the completion of a new book, a new chapter in my life. But I have to think it over because ta…

Filed under: Culture, myself, religion | Comments Off

In the presidential debate last night, John McCain addressed Barack Obama as “That One.” An entrepreneur was quick to cash on the one-liner by registering it on the web. The Web site is a one-stop shop for “That One” T-shirts emblazoned with the Ob…

Filed under: election08 | Comments Off

I am yet again at a crossroad. Those who know me might say “Raine, you’re always at a crossroad”. That’s quite true especially when it comes to what I want to do with my life. I am thinking again of quitting my job and look for better opportuni…

Filed under: General Gibberish | Comments Off

After spending a hyperactive day -writing an essay, enjoying cups of coffee, having a haircut, ogling boys in the library- I suddenly became depressed. Maybe it’s the gloomy weather. The emptiness of my room? Is it because my crush at the Writing Works…

Filed under: myself | Comments Off

May Accidental Tourist. May Accidental Firing. Ibang klaseng Accidental ito.

Nag-beach ang mga bakla noong Sunday. Kasama sina Fiona, Patricia, Samuel, Tita Agot Edgar, Enching, Fifi, Maricel, Mahal, Petra and Re-Re. Exclusive Bading. Sponsored by balikbayan Eric.

Pagdating sa Adolfo’s beach resort, di exclusive ang naganap. Sa kabilang cottage kasi ay may isang grupo ng boys. Masaya ang mga

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

There’s a photo shoot tomorrow so I decided to have a haircut. I snapped a photo using my Photobooth, again, because I look haggard in my digicam shots. I don’t smile in photos because I look phony. How I wish the lighting was better. I like the angle …

Filed under: myself | Comments Off

I’m in the main library of the University of Iowa, finishing an essay for a new magazine called Off Deadline. It’s quiet here and I thought that it would be the best place to have work done. Wrong choice. I’m so distracted with all the cute boys around…

Filed under: iowa city, men, queer | Comments Off

This arrived in the mailbox when I was away in San Francisco. It’s from StubHub. It contains my ticket to the Chicago leg of Madonna’s Sweet and Sticky Tour on October 27. A fulfillment of a bayot’s dream.

Filed under: Events, Madonna, Music | Comments Off

I’m tired as heaps of PCs and Macs have arrived this day. We have to carry them from the door as the pallet can’t fit right through it. It was just ok until the number of trips plus the weight just made things harder for us, making my back and my arms kind of sore.

Anyway, all went better as I unpacked the servers. The Acer Altos was just ok, powerful enough to get the domain running. We’ll

Filed under: Gadgets, Toy, australia, work | Comments Off

Walay kuyaw.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

My cat Buffy turns one-year-old today.

Filed under: cat | Comments Off

So of course Twilight — “the hottest books since Harry Potter” — is being turned into a movie series. Vampires as angsty romantic love objects? Haven’t we been here before? Ho-hum.

Then I chanced upon the movie poster and had a big laugh. Seriously?! Is this James Dean making a comeback?

But what really got me was the hair. What is it with vampire hair? I mean, is it supposed to look

Filed under: movies | Comments Off

This museum is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. Of course, it should have the most extensive collection since it’s in Egypt for crying out loud.

Established by the Egyptian government in 1835. They exhibit more than 120,000 collections. This is located at Tahrir square, Cairo, Egypt.

It’s also the first big museum, I’ve ever been too. Photographs are not allowed inside, so I can’t show what’s inside the museum.

It contains a lot of coffins (made out of granite, limestone or covered with gold), statues, tables, jewelries, the treasures found from King Tutankhamen’s tomb, weapons, instruments, chariots, and other stuffs .

Of course this is where you will see the mummies - they have a Royal Mummy Room and you have to pay for another extra to go inside. We did not get to go inside because almost everyone’s itching to get out of the place - medyo mainit rin ang museum plus everyone’s tired.

This is also where one of the scenes in the blockbuster hit movie “The Mummy” was shot.

Filed under: Adventure, Experience, History, Informative, Jewelry, Photos, Places, travel | Comments Off

One of my favorite places in San Francisco is Haight Street. It’s a gold mine full of great finds -DVDs, records, clothes, shoes, accessories, food, weed (if you are bold enough to ask for it). So I planned to spend several hours there last Thursday. I…

Filed under: san francisco, travel | Comments Off

I took the Muni train to Ocean Drive for a lunch talk at the City College San Francisco. Anthem and I agreed to meet at the entrance of the Rosenberg Library where the talk was going to be held. It was a Philippine Studies class so I screened Mindanao …

Filed under: Environment, san francisco, travel | Comments Off

From the Mindanao Daily Mirror, Oct 7, 2008 Davao City Police Director Ramon Apolinario has dissolved the Traffic Group (TG) of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) upon the recommendation of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The disbandment of the 50-menTG headed…

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

I want to dedicate this series to someone who loves simplicity and serenity but I’m changing my mind. It’s too mushy. So I dedicate share these old pics which I took in three different places with everyone instead.

Bintan, Indonesia

Dos Palmas, Palawan

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Asus EeePC. It’s light and it’s handy, which is what makes it great for travelling. But after a whole week staring at the Internet through its tiny 7″ screen at 800×480 resolution? Well, let’s just say the 12″ screen of my ancient Thinkpad is a VERY refreshing change.

Filed under: Tech | Comments Off

Spent the entire week in Manila, just returned to Davao today. Highlights:
Workshop on open source software selection with the International Open Source Network, the main reason for the trip. Workshop lead was Carlo Daffara from Italy. Overall verdict: fantastic.
LitCritters session with Dean, Nikki, Charles, Vin, Andrew, Alex, Kate, Elyss, Erika, Zarah, and, er, a couple of girls whose names

Filed under: Personal | Comments Off

I have always wanted to learn more about video production. And, I did venture to that once or twice in our Multimedia Class and another one when a friend of mine asked for help. But, I stopped since I need to focus on what I have at hand. But, one day.. I will go back.

Talking about multimedia and video production…..

I know of this group of people ( Chicago Video Production ) who can produce videos for you. Be it for corporate, training, trade show, recruitment, marketing, sales, tv or promotional video. They can even hire the actors for you!

Richter Studios can shoot the scene in any format from any location. Or, if you already have the footage, but need that special post-production touch to bring out the magic - they can do that as well. They have world class editors and animators who can help you with that. They have an award winning team that can make your video production an attention-grabbing masterpiece!

They don’t just deal with videos! Other services they offer are Web and Interactive Production Services.

A lot of their clients usually requests for web version of videos, and so to cater their client’s need and the constant demand of those web version of videos, they have extended their services to the World Wide Web. And to make sure that you are really dealing with PROFESSIONALS, here is the proof:

“Richter Studios created the award-winning Pinehurst Virtual Tour, which features over 70 videos, dozens of animations, PDF’s and interactive slide shows - all created in-house by the Richter Studios team.”

An All Digital Workflow + World Class Talent = Richter Studios

http://www.richterstudios.com/

Go check their website now and look around specially at the portfolios part.

Filed under: Service, Website | Comments Off

I don’t know if I’ll be happy with the rain or not.

As much as I would like to have rain to fill the dam in this drought stricken Aussie state, the rain just make things harder to me in pushing my bike to work and back. I can barely see the road and the weather just makes me wet, cold and slow. *sigh. How I wish I could get my license and get a car soon.

Anyway, it’s back to school and I’m

Filed under: australia, work | Comments Off

It would be nice to be in a relationship with someone who shares your interest. I love reading and I wished before that I’ll end up with someone who’s also a bookworm. Unfortunately, Blow doesn’t share this passion. He only read books or magazine…

Filed under: General Gibberish | Comments Off

I’ve just awakened from a thirteen-hour sleep. I’m back in Iowa City. Refreshed I’m going to blog about San Francisco in reverse order. Friday night was uber hectic. At quarter to seven I waited for the other writers at the lobby of the hotel. Litquake…

Filed under: myself, party, san francisco | Comments Off

Noong isang linggo pa naubos ang lubricant namin. Sinaid na nga e. Kulang na lang hiwain namin ang tube tulad ng ginagawa namin sa toothpaste.

Eto ang itsura nya.

Sa gitna ng chat/conference ng rainbow bloggers kagabi, naitanong ko kung safe ba gamitin as lubricant ang KY Massage Oil.

Eto kasi ang pasalubong sa amin ni Eric.

Di ako sure kung safe ba o hindi.

Ewan ko ba at bakit sa anim

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

It’s a quarter to nine in the morning. I’m packing my bag. I’m flying back to Iowa City in four hours. I just got back to my hotel after a night of partying with Las Tres Estrellas Redux -Lyka, Ekra and Jezebel, featuring Mama O. I was pleasantly surpr…

Filed under: Blogging, myself, san francisco | Comments Off

And few hours from now and we’ll be in the future. Daylight saving time is coming and we’ll be moving the clock, one hour ahead at 2:00 AM.

I’m sure everyone will be losing an hour of sleep. Though tomorrow’s Sunday, where majority will be having their rest, I’ll be at Melbourne to continue my lessons. I have already prepared my things for tomorrow and I’ll try my best to wake up “on time” to

Filed under: australia | Comments Off

” Korina meets ‘Yaya Nanay’ “Sun.Star Davao, October 4, 2008 At 10:00 in the evening last September 29, 2008, Salvacion Porcel a.k.a. Nanay got the biggest surprise of her life. A writer for ABS-CBN’s top rating TV show “Rated K” called up Nanay …

Filed under: Billy Dakudao, Camille Dakudao, Inang Yaya, Korina Sanchez, Rated K, Roro Dakudao, Ryan Dakudao, Salvacion Porcel, Sun.Star Davao, Yaya Nanay, loyal nanny, www.mom-about-town.blogspot.com | Comments Off

It’s not only irritating to hear horrendous “cure all” claims of some food supplements manufacturers and advertisers about their “drug” but the lack of advertisement control also nauseates me to no end. The sickening charade of food supplements jumping out of nowhere and claiming to heal all kinds of human afflictions thinkable (just so they can corner the poor man’s pocket) is staggering to say at least. Taking these supplements at advertisement value is already one big step to your sick bed. Deceiving someone with false hopes and killing the patient in the process is another “crime” worthy of harakiri.

In almost everyday that I listen to the radio, some airtime (at times lasting a full 15 minute!) is spent on miracle cure throttled by exaggerated personal testaments of complete strangers.

What happened to “PANA: Truth in advertising?” or the KBP’s commitment to “Nothing but the truth, so help us GOD?”

Here’s BFAD guides on how to spot false claims by these unscrupulous supplement manufacturers.

1. The product is advertised as a quick and effective cure-all for a wide range of illness.
2. Certain key words like “scientific breakthrough, miracle cure, all natural without side-effects or ancient remedy” are used.
3. The promote claims that medical professionals and scientists have conspired to suppress the product.
4. Adverts contain undocumented, anecdotal cases, but with amazing results. No science involved.
5. These products sell falls hope for extreme physical attractiveness and shortcuts to weight loss. They will never emphasize the value of healthy lifestyles, like avoiding smoking, excess drinking of alcohol, eating appropriately, adequate rest and sleep, and regular exercise.
6. Remember that legitimate health supplement products will never carry claims for quick cures; claims such as cancer prevention, good for arthritis, good for diabetes or good for hypertension, should be high suspect.
7. The product is advertised as available from only one source.
8. There is a money-back guarantee promise.

The usual excuse laid for such drug supplements goes along the lines of herbal medicine being natural and hence, is the best form treatment. Another sad excuse propagated by these unscrupulous manufacturers and advertisers is the soaring prices of BFAD certified drugs. Both of these excuse “prompts” the ignorant listener to buy the cheaper, food supplements that claims healing every imaginable human disease yet lacking in rigorous scientific testing! It’s like jumping on a plane hoping your jacket will save you (it may even get tangled in the plane’s props) instead of your chutes. Stupidity does have its additive effect remember. It might not only rob you of your hard earned money but it may sometimes kill you or your patient!

To argue that some drugs or supplements need not pass rigid testing to be effective is an outright lie. Often, these are Russian Rolette type solution to a worsening health economics. Licensing and BFAD approval of any drug aims at at least two basic goals. Rigid and scientific testing makes sure the quality and quantity of any drug is not only safe for human consumption but should also be effective against the illness(es) it claims to combat.

At the very least, any drug must be tested for its safety profile and efficacy. Remove the first and your taking in a poison. Any dubious drug efficacy even in rigorous scientifically studied drugs, is nothing but pure waste of money. Take out both, and you make yourself poor on your way to your deathbed.

One (or two) person’s testimony, no matter how famous that person, is not tantamount to a safe and effective medicine.Some physicians or physician’s name is even attached to these claims. In the current recommended evidence based approach to treatment and procedures, anecdotal testimonies ranks the lowest in the strength of evidence.

Now would you want any food supplement giving you all these complications? Would you even dare to give food supplement to someone you love and risk losing his life base on false claims?

Think again…

Filed under: Deeper look at the orthopedic practice, Ideas and concepts for physician education, Personal insights into the practice of medicine | Comments Off

It’s sad to see Adrian leaving. He has resigned from work and will move to another company. He’s one of my first Aussie friends whom I could talk like I used to with my friends back in Davao. I don’t know but whenever I get to have a person whom I could get along with here in Oz, that person would just go away when everything seem to click. Anyway, that has been the thing and I just have to

Filed under: australia, only in Australia, work | Comments Off

Nintendo DSi just released in Japan. Notable features: slimmer form factor, digital camera, bigger screen, and built-in audio player. The digital camera looks to be the kicker, though, and will likely spawn a new category of games. Full story from ABC News.

Filed under: Tech | Comments Off

>While I was doing some stuff on the computer, I glanced on the TV and saw this newest motorcycle sport being shown.As they say, “Awesome!”EnduroCross Website

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Porbida!!! I just finished watching “You Got Me” and I should say I enjoyed the movie. Not that it’s a good one but the things I could remember from watching Pinoy movies at movie houses.

When watching Pinoy romantic movies at the theater, expect the movie goers to go screaming in unison when the mushy thing comes. And at the middle of it, expect another person from the crowd who’ll just

Filed under: interests, pinoy | Comments Off

I’m here in San Francisco, CA for a five-day mid residency break. It’s nice to be back in a place that I am familiar with and, most specially, in the company of nice, warm friends. San Francisco is more like my kind of a place -fast, crazy and schizoph…

Filed under: san francisco | Comments Off

Sean and I sometimes swap notes and reproduced below are excerpts from our latest exchange:
Also submitted to ———- ——-, but as I’m beginning to think, local publications are a black hole unless you have a “name.”
and
They are. We’re normally lucky to get so much as a rejection letter from them, I think. That said, they can’t exactly tell you to stop sending them stuff, so persistent

Filed under: writing | Comments Off

Muntik na akong di makasama sa Camiguin. Nagkasakit kasi ang mother-out-law ko. Pneumonia. Naospital.

“Sure ka?” tanong ko kay Kulot isang araw bago ang alis namin.

“OO, di na ako sasama. Walang mag-aalaga kay Mama,” sabi niya.

“Di na rin kaya ako sumama,” sabi ko.

“Sumama ka na. Kaya ko to. Nakakahiya naman kay Eric. Isa man lang sa atin ay makasama,” paliwanag niya.

Sumama ako. Pero

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Since I’m one of the folks who strive to compose complete and grammatical SMS messages, I use T9 quite a lot. Because of that, I’ve “discovered” something I call “anT9ms”, that is, a class of key combinations which produce words which are opposites of each other. I don’t have a long list as yet, but here’s some that I found:

735328 - REJECT / SELECT

735328466 - REJECTION / SELECTION

7874 -

Filed under: Interesting | Comments Off

While waiting for a cab in a waiting shed beside Davao Doctors Hospital one rainy night, I overheard this conversation between a group of students in white–perhaps nursing students–and manong, a vendor who sells balot and cola.Girl1: Kuya, tagpila an…

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

I’m in a process of looking for a place where I could move in. It’s just that, I just have to live independently, have more privacy and do things which I can’t do while living here in my auntie’s home. Hopefully, I could get a good deal as this would be my first time to become “independent”.

Anyway, my day was ok. I had setup linux boxes as our machine to monitor our clients’ domain. It’s on

Filed under: australia, work | Comments Off

LTO opens its doors and finally listens… The September 30 detailed report by MROFrom Biker’s World: a detailed account of the meeting held yesterday at the LTO Head office attended by LTO bigwigs, MC advocates and Congressman Teves of Dumaguete. The …

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

My bike’s tire got punctured and it’s a bit hard walking from home and chasing after bus schedules. Imagine the hike going down and up the hill with approximately 45 degree elevation plus some magpies trying to chase you. It’s like “Takeshi’s Castle” minus the brutal part. Anyway, I have already bought some spare tubes and installed it moments ago. I just have to wait until tomorrow morning

Filed under: australia, work | Comments Off