New Compact DigiCam after two years.. :)

  

     From the old and defective Canon A420, my sister came home with the new and stylish Sony DSC-T2 at hand.

     Our Canon cam before had a one-year warranty, which we thought is enough. But after 8 months, we noticed its poor performance and malfunction. We can’t take pictures in bright areas (daytime or with light) anymore because it will only result to overexposure (as in OVEREXPOSE!). You will also notice white lines when taking pictures at night or with flash.

     Since it was still under warranty, we brought it to the only Canon service center here in Davao, Philippines and it undergone a one-month repair in Manila. They even told us that it may be sent to Malaysia if it has major defects but we’re not worried about it because even the freight charge is free unless it’s under warranty. Compared to Canon’s, Sony compact cameras and handycams have three years warranty, which we felt assured with it.

     Talking about price, Sony’s T2 has the biggest leap of price. From 27k 5 months ago, now it’s only very affordable and budget-friendly price of 14k. So, it’s like decreasing it almost half the price. There were also rumors that Sony will discontinue the production of T2, which is quite disappointing since the camera is really affordable and its design and features are amazing.

     This T2 is just an addition to our Sony gadgets. We have just bought a Sony handycam DCR-DVD710. My sister is also planning to buy DSLR next month for my Photography class and I’m so excited with it. Just an entry level DSLR for a begginer, maybe Canon 450D, 1000D or Nikon D80. Whoo! I also had a hard time in choosing what’s the best among the three.

Going Back Blogging

It has been four months since the last time I posted a blog entry.

Due to hectic schedule of projects and activities in school including the two busiest months I’ve ever experienced (Sep-Oct 2008), I didn’t have time or maybe I was just tired of making some blog entries. Actually I have a lot of vacant time but maybe I don’t want to spend it in blogging.. haha! Since I don’t have classes anymore (celebrating the first day of my semestral break), I’m still worried about my grades.. hehehe! (it’s a usual frustration of a student).

But I’ve learned a lot from my 3rd year 1st sem days. Not to mention those sleepless nights because of finishing and editing articles for our Journalism newsletter, recording and editing our 30-minute radio program at the sound room and editing bay, producing a rigorous short film (which I’ve done lately and we actually had a premiere night). I just felt how busy it is to be in 3rd year.. hehehe! Though others may say that MassComms aren’t experiencing stress as nursing, engineering, and accountancy students are experiencing too much of it.

So, here I go again… going back blogging.

For One More Day

Well, I’ve read this book months ago and I actually watch its movie. It’s truly inspiring.

2nd male Big Winner, Ejay Falcon

pix courtesy: http://www.pinoybigbrother.com

          Big Brother and ABS-CBN changed another life. He used to live an ordinary rural life in the province of Oriental Mindoro, but Ejay Falcon, tagged as the Promdie Hottie, marked yesterday as his biggest night of all while 36.31% of voters given their wholehearted support for a deserving Big Winner. Maybe it was unexpected for Ejay to be part of final 14 teen housemates or even to the Big Four as he was only dreaming to get away in the midst of poverty by joining the Pinoy Big Brother, and now he even bested among other housemates by winning the grand title Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus’ Big Winner.

    

          According to Ejay, he can’t believe he won since Ejay and his mom were merely audience, who always watch PBB and supported other housemates from the past season like Ruben Gonzaga (Celebrity Edition Big Winner).

    

          Ejay was indeed a good example for every young Filipino for being hardworking and loving not just to his friends but also to his family. Two Falcons bagged two similar awards, Big Winner (Guardian) for his Daddy Erning worth 500,000 Pesos and Big Winner (Teen) for Ejay worth 1,000,000 Pesos, a condominium unit, and prizes from Sony Vaio and Crystal Clear.

    

          The crowd of Araneta Colliseum shouted and cheered for Robi and Ejay, who were left struggled for the title, The Big Winner. Text votes for the two of them were really close. When the Big Night started, Housemate B (Robi) ranked first, then Housemate C (Ejay) reached and replaced him successfully on the number one spot before the voting ends. Garnering 620,934 votes or 36.31% of the total percentage of votes, Ejay Falcon became the 2^nd male Big Winner in the history of Big Brother Philippines while Robi Domingo garnered 588,115 votes or 34.39% of the total percentage of votes.

“May Globe Broadband na kami!”

     Dial-up connection really sucks! From downloading data to video streaming, you will only suffer from its very slow speed rate that may only lose your temper. Some people are contented with Dial-ups through Internet prepaid cards, but like me, who is a frequent Internet user, would rather enjoy doing any other things than surfing in a dial-up internet connection. We used to have 28 to 50 kbps Internet connection before, which is up to 20x slower than our Internet speed right now. Though in my broadband connection, we seldom experience broken connections, but it’s just rare and we should put in our minds that nothing is perfect. For years, we’ve never planned of any Internet postpaid plans until we heard from ads and from other people that broadband these days is very affordable. Globelines Broadband is one of the Internet Service Providers that caters all your needs for high-speed Internet connection.

     Globelines Broadband commercial on TV really caught the attention of many viewers because of their latest Broadband package, which costs only 595 Pesos (But it’s not what we availed). Persuasive commercial ads are indeed a powerful weapon to target many viewers and consumers. With the girl’s famous line in ad “May Globe Broadband na Kami!”, really suitable to everyone who avail Globelines’ promos. When I watched their ad, I thought that their latest promo (DSL 595) is a high-speed and unlimited Internet access, because they never give more details about it. So, my cousin called their office and inquired about the promo. When we knew that it (DSL 595) is only good for 30 hours/month with a speed of 256 kbps, we just stick to Plan995 with a speed of 1mbps. As I watched Globe’s commercial ad again and again as it flashed on the TV screen, at last I saw the text written in very small letters (nearly can’t be seen), 30hours/month and 10 pesos charge for every 30 minutes after using the 30 hours. Although Plan995 is quite expensive with a one-year contract, we don’t have any choice but to accept it besides I don’t have anything to do this summer (I didn’t take summer classe. J). Other people have a lot of complains and protest in some blogs and even on youtube about the rival DSL providers like SmartBro, for their always-busy services, technical difficulties and broken connections. Though I’ve never heard of complains about Globelines and I didn’t experience broken connections just slow speed sometimes. Hehehe!

Monster Effect or Demon Face Warp in Adobe After Effects

 

     Learning this tutorial was not easy for a beginner like me. Anyway, this was my first tutorial that I learned using my newly installed Adobe After Effects v.7 (newly installed, five months ago. lol). Adobe After Effects is indeed one of the powerful and reliable movie production softwares, which contains ample of creative presets and powerful tools suit for creating an amazing video. Despite the fact that I’m not quite familiar with this video editing software for professional BEFORE and when I noticed some videos on youtube with artistic and wonderful effects created through this software, I never hesitate to purchase it (since it also received a lot of remarkable comments and ratings from its users from different websites).

 

     Faces of monsters and ghosts in some famous horror movies like The Ring, Shutter, The Grudge, etc. are really frightening; nevertheless, it’s also tricky and difficult to create as well. Movie viewers and critics would probably think that it takes time and effort to make a movie, which contains massive and astonishing effects particularly in making ghosts. Though some people tries to unlock the secrets of some famous movie effects. Making a monster face in After Effects may be intricate for others particularly for the beginners and may be easy for others. Demon face warp includes a frame-by-frame editing, which is too exhausting. It also includes dark masks using pen and dark paint so that it would really look a ghost or a demon. And finally, you have to warp the ghost’s face particularly having a long mouth, big dark eyes, and long face. The edited video above is my version of demon face warp, though it’s not perfect and the mask is a bit shaky. Please ignore the sound because I just asked my younger sister, who is also the MODEL hehe!, to record an audio. 

DEMON FACE WARP at http://www.videocopilot.net

    If you want to know and learn this tutorial, you can visit Andrew Kramer’s website, www.videocopilot.net and search for the tutorial entitled Demon Face Warp. You can also find a lot of creative and great tutorials from this website.

 

 

 

Priscilla, PBB Teen Edition Plus’ 6th Evictee

 

 

          The deaf dreamer from Davao City, Priscilla Navidad, failed to accomplish one of her dreams. By surviving all the tasks, challenges, punishments, and boredom, she proved to all the viewers that although she may have a hearing impair but it doesn’t restrain her from living independently and living life to the fullest. People in the outside world were astonished with such confidence she portrayed just to reach and achieved her dream. More people thought that she could make it to the Big Four and even become the next Big Winner, nevertheless, people’s impression to her changed radically when they noticed and witnessed her awful attitude towards her housemates. Her violation, mouthing of words and asking what happened to the outside world, turned out to be a sign of her rapid farewell. This was her second time to be automatically nominated since she isn’t excused of committing any violation, and this time, the people unite and decided Priscilla to be the next evictee.

          A typical eviction night happened, but the housemates were not informed who the nominees are. Some made predictions that there might be massive evictees this evening, not knowing that Kuya already decided to automatically nominate three of their housemates for committing a serious violation. The housemates particularly the nominees were not mindful with their actions, which made them to be part of the latest set of nominees.

          When the end of the voting period occurred, the housemates felt the tension as Toni announced the 6^th evictee. Now, it’s Priscilla’s turn to say goodbye to say goodbye to her housemates. The emotions overflowed knowing that they had to let go another housemate. Priscilla hugged her two closest housemates and wept as she left the house. Priscilla got only 11% of the total number of votes while her two rivals were obviously supported by many text voters. Among three Davaoeños, Priscilla became my bet to be the next Big Winner because of her great self-confidence and has optimistic attitude (Not because Priscilla’s elder brother is my classmate in high-school. Hehe!). I was really surprised that there are three of them passed the standards of being kuya’s housemates. Since I’m also a Davaoeño, I also felt proud that they made it to the final 14 housemates and I think it’s first time in the history of Pinoy Big Brother to have two or more housemates from Davao City. A comparison of different seasons and editions of PBB, some housemates from Davao City easily get evicted from the house, it’s either they’re the first or second evictee. Mikki from teen edition 1, Jasmine from Season 2, and Jieriel from Teen Plus ran out with luck resulting to early eviction.

          There are also Davaoeños, who became successful in staying the house. Cass, is one of which, who became the 3^rd Big Placer during the first Big Night of PBB and on the other hand, Ruben from celebrity edition 2 bagged the first big placer or The Big Winner. Mommy My Love, Nan’s mom is also a Davaoeño, who became the 4^th Big Placer and won 100,000 pesos from the Guardian’s Big Night happened last Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

Josef evicted while Andi enters Kuya’s house

   

pix courtesy of: www.pinoybigbrtother.com

     After having nominated 4 times since the 1st nomination, Josef Elizalde, the Lethal Lassalite, was evicted due to stronger opponents. He survived and ranked first the other three nomination nights because of his fervent and avid supporters, who help him stay in Pinoy Big Brother house. Josef’s mischievous attitude and his laziness perhaps had became the basis of his housemates why they chose Josef to be in the danger of eviction. Some guardians, on the other hand, voted Josef because sometimes they don’t like Tita Anna’s bossy attitude. Nicole’s mom Sandy, also nominated him because she didn’t like Josef’s closeness with her daughter, Nicole. The night was stunning to everyone for the reason that Josef, who have ample support from the outside world, would be safe in the eviction process. After disclosing the results from the text votes, housemates who had been close to Josef started to cry. Rona, who sat beside the evictee and later hugged Josef tightly, was the housemate who got the highest number of text votes. Alex and Beauty, who became Josef’s confidant, also cried hard because of losing their friend in the house. And Nicole, who became very special to him, cried and gave Josef a last hug in the house as he went outside the house.

     Josef was evicted and another houseplayer is about to enter the house on the next day. Andi, daughter of an award-winning actress, Jaclyn Jose, decided to be the 2nd houseplayer ng bayan aside from Shy. She agreed in kuya’s deal to be the next houseplayer. With her strong personality, she thinks that she can handle every task given to her and Shy. She is ready for every challenge that awaits her. Will she able to succeed Kuya’s tasks? Well, we can find it out by watching Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus everyday.

Rock on! WarRock…

     Addictive isn’t it? Nowadays, online games have been so popular into the point that it won the support by a lot of teens and even the young and old ones. It became a hobby and a pastime for most teens today. As for teens, spending countless hours in front of the computer is like an escape of tedious and tiring life for the reason that we, teenagers, always want adventure.

     It was March 15 this year when the last time I played WarRock (I can still remember. hehe!). WarRock is a multiplayer online game which is available for free download. It launched here in the Philippines on September 1, 2007, but released in Korea on 2004. WarRock is a free to play online game but also has premium users for those who purchase their cards. I started playing it one month after its release, though I don’t know it was new. ABS-CBN is the media network who holds WarRock here in the Philippines and they inform people by advertising it on TV or touring every school campuses to give cd’s for free. I knew this game by trying to discover some newest and freshest game in some internet cafes outside the campus. And when I found out this game, I was confused on how to start and play the game (I think it’s usual for first-timers).It wasn’t addictive at first because I noticed that there are only few players online. I tried to learn and master the game through tutorial mode so that I can also be better in shooting my enemies (not in reality).

     I’ve never experienced an online game addiction before, since I prefer myself to be busy surfing the internet all the time, mp3 and video streaming, and sometimes Friendster. I used to play some multiplayer games before like CS and Dota and found out that it was not an addiction because I can still control myself :). Hehehe! But, when I received a CD of Tantra (also a game from ABS-CBN) from the university which I study, I tried to install it at home and little by little, I enjoyed it. Then, it became my pastime for more than 2 months (such a short time). I considered it as an addiction for 2-months span but I stopped playing it when my character received I think 2000 Karma points (points you get when you killed other player without hitting the DUEL mode). Karma points are disaster since other players can kill you anytime instead of killing the monsters. Players prefer killing other players, who have Karma points than the monsters for the reason of earning much higher EXP and high money. Due to innocence of the rules, I killed other players, not knowing that it was a violation equal to serious consequences. Though I reached level 50 (80 is the highest level), I didn’t wish to continue playing the game. I even try to discard my character. 😦

     Going back to WarRock (i think I’m too much focused in Tantra.. hehe!), it is a game that every person don’t want to miss for the reason that the quality of its graphics is astounding and remarkable. It seems you’re in a reality of battle and war. Although, the game contains slight violence, it doesn’t ruin every child and minor’s mind. It teaches us to be cooperative and to be determined in every game that we play. It also teaches us teamwork within other players. WarRock becomes enjoyable as you play and know how to deal with the other players.

 

4th evictee: Jolas Paguia

pix courtesy of: www.pinoybigbrother.com

     His last words inside Kuya’s house were “Saludo ako sa Inyo!” (instead of saying his last goodbye, I don’t know why he said that during Eviction Night, maybe he was just proud seeing his housemates reached that far). Garnering only 8.66% from the total number of votes, the Gentle Giant from Bulacan, Jolas Paguia, made his purpose inside the house by being a leader of most daily and weekly tasks and also their kuya (aside from Big Brother).

     I just finished watching Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus’ 4th eviction Night and I was surprised by the crowd’s decision. With its typical rule, people outside the house can decide who they want to support and to save from the eviction process by texting or by voting online. This time, Jolas got the lowest number of votes, which made him out from kuya’s house. It was not a close fight between the nominees since each of them have huge gaps of percentage. He wasn’t given a chance by the people to stay although it was his first time to be nominated.

     Remember, when ex-housemate Kevin, disclosed his fearless revelation to his housemates before his voluntary exit? It was him who pointed out that Jolas seldom cooperates in household chores inside Big Brother’s house and not only Kevin noticed Jolas’ attitude. Instead of sharing their likes and dislikes among their housemates’ attitude, their open forum was then bounded with tension, which led into a small quarrel between Jolas and Kevin. And when nomination came, those who nominated Jolas reasoned out that he hardly help them when it comes to household chores. It became a basis for every housemate to nominate Jolas for the next eviction.

    On the other hand, the bubbly girl from Davao, Jieriel, supports Jolas to be the next Big Winner. According to her interview on The Buzz, Jolas has a leadership ability which can help his housemates be guided in every decision that they made and through this, he is also capable of achieving their daily and weekly tasks.