UPLB CBS Gandingan Awards 2011

The UPLB Broadcaster's Society held it's 5th annual Gandingan Awards and invited the Broadcast Community a.k.a. The Country's major networks to accepted the "Isko't Iska's Broadcast Choice Awards."

I am not covering the event officially, so I did not really take notes or whatsoever, so let me just give you the low down of what Gandingan is.

Gandingan, according to Wikipedia,  is a Philippine set of four large, hanging gongs used by the Maguindanao as part of their kulintang ensemble. When integrated into the ensemble, it functions as a secondary melodic instrument after the main melodic instrument, the kulintang. When played solo, the gandingan allows fellow Maguindanao to communicate with each other, allowing them to send messages or warnings via long distances. This ability to imitate tones of the Maguindanao language using this instrument has given the gandingan the connotation: the “talking gongs.

Gandingan is sort of like the representation of the Voice of the students, that's why it's a Broadcast Choice Awards. Based from what I've listened to during the program, there are three ways to get in. 1) Panelist, 2) Screening, 3) Campus wide Survey. 

Watching this awards night really brought me back to my college days when we, as Mass Communcation students were very much idealistic. We were really determined to get into the business and pursue our dreams. Eventually we did, in our own ways. :) Life happened.

I wish these kids could really preserve their ideas and be idealistic. Shucks, it's really hard to blog about the truth once you hit "graduate school". 

Anyway, back to the Gandingan Awards, this is something that's not really new to me, I've heard it last semester from a professor but this is the first time that I am going attend the event with my date... my Mudra (Mother, in Beckinese, gay-lingo)

I was using a Canon 500D but got point and shoot shots instead. I just need to have a faster shutter and cover the event for my personal consumption... that I will share to you! :) 

Our exclusive entrance :)

Band Practice

Networks ready to cover

We got good seats

This guy, Kits Contemplacion, sang our campaign (Maki-Book[lat]'s jingle)

 The team in charge to distract the dead air. :) 

Hosts. I like the guy, I think Lainus is his name. He's young, witty and very idealistic. He kinda reminds me of someone I used to know back in College when we're still studying Mass Communication. ( We also majored in broadcasting)

Audience

Prayer and National Anthem

I wish I could type his name. All I know is he accepted the award for  " Umagang Kay Ganda" , he's one of the hosts in that show and... he's cute.

My personal highlight is when I saw Ms. Jessica Soho

So glad I'm sitting in front that I was able to take a really good picture of her and see her up close

I've been a "Showtime" convert from time to time, and I like Kuya Kim! He gamely gave in to the audience's request for a "sampol, sampol, sampol!"

There's Ted Failon of course, who was initially wearing a body-hugging shirt but was able to get away with it. 

Representatives of those who were not able to make it

Vicky Morales looks very regal

I like her and her outfit 

Kara David is Cute!

And she jokes with the audience too!

There's Howie Severino ( I like his documentaries! )

Here's the DJ China Heart

Here's China Heart again after accepting his award

I think I distracted Ted Failon with my camera flash.

The Man in suit is the "Voice" behind ABS-CBN. Literally, he's been doing the station's V.O.s for ages!

I think Kuya Kim Atienza is the friendliest of them all!

The highlight of the Gandingan - making broadcasters promise to stie 

Maki Pulido accepting the Award for I-Witness

My Mudra's favorite is Jiggy Manicad, because she already met him before and finds him very nice. He's also  from UP. 

There's Arnold Clavio. I am hoping to see the Puppet "Arn-Arn" :)

Of course the night would not end without my Mom having at least one Photo Op. Here she is with Howie Severino.

We left a little early because we wouldn't want to be caught in "people-traffic" and also the real reason is - we're super hungry! So we decided to just go to Mc Donald's and have our late dinner ( It was already eleven in the evening). 

Sunday is Jumi-Jenni Epperson Day

I love Jenni Epperson.

I secretly wish that I would even come close to half as her when I settle down someday. If you have such good taste and have been following her on Twitter and Bloglovin (of course, reading her blogs too!) You would know why this entry is called " Jumi-Jenni Epperson".

I can't cook. I want to but it seems like all the kitchen tools, utensils, down to the ingredients all come to a discourse whenever I enter the kitchen. But this day, I decided to brave my lazy ass on a Sunday Morning and prepared my breakfast also known as... Snack to memory lane.

Why 'Snack to memory lane'? A friend in high school made this while we were hanging out at her place back in high school for cheering practice. :)

To make it really short, straight to the point and unoriginal (since I got this from a friend), let's call this: The Improvised Pizza.

Here's the stuff that you need:

As per Jenni: Whatchunid

Tuna ( Since I couldn't get fresh ones) 

Cheese

Tomato Catsup (Since as per Jenni, you gotta be healthy!)

White Bread ( I could've opted for Wheat bread but it was not available) 

Grate the Cheese

Lather (Lather?!) up the Catsup on the White bread

Add Tuna on top

Add Cheese

Toaster Bound

Boarding

Sign: The Cheese Top turns brown-ish

Toasted!

As per Jenni, serve with a smile!

Tip: This tastes better if the Tuna is Spicy-flavored. 

P.S. This could've been better if the pictures weren't taken using a camera phone so you get to see the details. 

Fine. He's just not that into me. Okay.

I got this in 2006, and I swear by this book.

He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

I LOVE this book so much that I bought another one, opened it, highlighted the best lines using a yellow marker, wrapped it up and sent it to Dubai for my best friend.

I was super ecstatic when I found another copy (of this original cover), hard bound at a book sale only for Php40! What a super treat!

Five years later, I still have the book and I still swear by it and have this feeling to share it to my friends. My good friend Paully liked it so much that she photocopied mine. (ooops, copyright peeps!)

This book does not guarantee that you will never be stupid again but this is a very effective read to kick you back in the curb when the Love Bug bits you hard! I remember describing the reading the experience "as if I was showering with really cold water while reading it."

The book is not your average self-help kind, it is in a form of a Q and A with every girl's rebuttal and some Devil's advocate. Every little excuse that you unconsciously made up to excuse your guy was exposed. Debunk. Answered. Decoded.

So Frank, Hard and In Yo Face.

To say that this book is  must-read is an understatement. It is a must-own!

Preppin' up for Vday

I'm trying to recall the past Vday experiences that I had.

• I remember having a cheapskate boyfriend.
• I remember pretentious dinner at restaurants.
• I remember sending a Valentine's Day card to someone who's 12 hours away.
• I remember getting stood up... days before the planned Vday get away.

Since then, I started not to get excited about the Love Day when I used to get heart-shaped cakes from my mom when we were little. I guess to make the story short, it's the big deal about being in a relationship and not being in it when the Vday comes that made me loathe that one particular day in February.

But not this year.

For the first time, I actually did not care about whether I have a date or not. Because for the first time, after 10 years, I am spending my Vday laid-back style, with my new friends in gradschool, and just be spontaneous.

I figured out that the sucky thing about getting SAD on Vday is expecting and when you don't expect anything at all, that's when things get better! :)

Speaking of not expecting, days before the Vday, I got a sweet treat:

Surprise Cutesy Laptop Backpack Tag that I found this week from my sister, Apy

Cadbury Chocolate Goodies from Aunt Edith

Who says you need a beau to make you smile on Vday?

To all the single ladies, do you still make plans for Vday?

Shandel Series

For my second entry, another thing that I love: Taking Pictures!


Meet my subject. My nephew, John Shandel A. Lainez.


I am not sure if I have mommy readers, but does an average seven year old kid usually hyper like this one?

We thought he's just fine playing with his Pokemon cards while we girls go shoe shopping

Here he is crossing the street (check out the face!)

Giving me his ice cream...ehem, his second ice cream that is. 

Jump shot

I call this his "Darna" Shot but of course he doesn't know that!

Super kick pose

Showing off his Pokemon cards that my mum gave him last night

Super jump again

Shandel the Star...Fish!

This is actually a candid shot

Then he started to make faces

Practicing Halloween

For Chinese New Year

Showing me how big his eyes are

I'd say that this is his usual self

He's grown another front tooth. See?

Oh how he loves his "Tita Dulz" so much!

If my nephew weren't so darn shy in front of strangers and sometimes even few acquaintances, I would have loved to "exploit" this kid and force him to audition and become an "artista" (child actor)!


Kiddin'! 

Shoe-paholic!

This month I'm going to blog about the things that I love. 

Not really in a chronological order, but today, for my very first entry for the month of February, I am going to start writing about one of my many LOVEs: SHOES.

Today, my family and I went to Liliw Laguna before going to the hospital to visit my 89 year-old grandma.


Liliw is very popular for selling Liliw-made shoes. Sort of like the "Marikina" of the South.

Over exposed haha

Cutesy shoes displayed on the outside part of the store

More shoes from different stores

My mum trying one out 

My sister found one that she likes

We even saw a "celebrity"! Meet "Eagle" from GMA7's Unang Hirit. I don't know if he's still there but I used to watch him and Suzy exchange details on Showbiz Updates. Haha!  We were on the same store and my sister Apy saw him! He's also as frustrated as we are when getting shoe sizes. :)

Okay, Let's move to the next set of stores

I was able to buy a strappy flat sandals for only P170.00. 

Tips before you go to Liliw, Laguna to buy Shoes:

1. It's best to bring a car and expect that if you're coming from Manila, it is far. Make sure to bring someone who knows the place.
2. Make sure to wear comfortable footwear like flipflops or shoes that can easily be taken out.
3. The biggest challenge in shoe-shopping is making your style, comfort and budget meet at the same time.  There are shoes that fits you, it's just that it might not be your style.
4. Haggle, haggle and do more haggle. 
5. Prices are negotiable, not one but twice. You get a bigger discount if you buy more from the same store.