Crazy over Kobe!

It's the third time that Kobe Bryant visited here in the Philippines. And I didn't let the chance to see him pass. Hello, he's my basketball idol! Well that's besides Michael Jordan, which is already given haha!

Thank God for my job that I gained a lot of basketball-related contacts, and even contacts inside the Big Dome. We got 4 free Upper A tickets from our friend from Araneta Coliseum, but a few hours before the show, some of our bosses backed out and didn't use their tickets, and those tickets were given to us! We got 4 lower box tickets so we gave away our 4 Upper A tickets. It's indeed our day!

This "Take Every Advantage" Manila Tour 2011 of Kobe Bryant drew a huge crowd in Araneta Coliseum. The dome was filled with all of his fans, including us! Everytime the big screen focused Kobe, we were cheering for him. In fact, out of thousands of people there, me and 2 of my girl friends were captured by the camera and flashed in the big cube screen at the center of the dome! Wah! So fun! haha

Also, we're not only there for Kobe, but for our friends from the 2 competing teams: UAAP All Stars and the Smart Gilas Pilipinas. I must say that Nike was never wrong in getting Kobe as their endorser. This was actually the first and I think, the best Nike event I've ever attended.

Originally, the UAAP All Stars and Smart Gilas teams will only play for 10 mins; but when Kobe saw that Smart Gilas beat UAAP All Stars with a huge score gap, he decided to put 8 mins on the clock and play with the UAAP All Stars against Smart Gilas. Kobe wore an FEU jersey. He played so well that the lead was cut down to 2, which could've been a tie, not until Greg Slaughter messed up with that crucial shot from under the ring for the last few seconds. So the Smart Gilas won even if Kobe didn't make it easy for them.

After the game, before Kobe entered the dugout, he threw the jersey that he used to the crowd. Two girls were able to catch it at the same time and nobody was letting go. Security guards had to stop them.

 After the game, we went to the dugout to greet our player friends. Then we had dinner in Coffee Bean, Coliseum Circle; finally, we're off to Blue Onion, Eastwood.

I may not have gone too close to the Black Mamba ('coz we're too far from the court), I was still happy because we were able to have fun and experience this for free!:)

P.S.
A day after the game, we found out that Marcus Douthit of Smart Gilas is actually a friend of Kobe since their basketball days in the US. In fact, they partied together in Republiq Club, Resorts World after the game. Cool!:P

Plant For Life

Last 1st of July, I experienced one of the best things in this world...and that was to spend a day to give back to nature! Our office organized a tree planting activity in the Ipo Watershed, in Norzagaray, Bulacan. As a water company, we recognize our duty to save and protect the environment as it is vital in giving life to everyone. The Ipo Dam is one of the biggest sources of the metro so it is essential that we protect it.

We left the office at 6:30am and we got there at around 8am. We had a short program where the officials of the participating companies/institutions shared a few words. Then we took a 30-minute boat ride to the area where we'll be planting trees.

It was so fun 'coz it felt like a hiking/trekking activity going up a mountain. We met a lot of Dumagats, the indigenous people who live in the area. Also, we had to cross streams to get to the planting site. I haven't seen such a clear and cold stream for the longest time!

We planted Narra seedlings, which were prepared by the Dumagats. It was such an adventure! We ended at around 1pm, then we had lunch under the trees. We took a dip in the stream and it was so refreshing! It was a fun yet very productive day!:)

We were able to plant around 5000 trees since we were a big group. Our next tree planting activity is on July 29 in the same venue. We have scheduled month tree planting activities to reach our target of 35,000 trees until the end of the year.


 My attempt on Photography:

kids of the Dumagats

Making the Most out of One Night!

Saturday night (July 9) and I got no plans of having a long night. I just went to Araneta Coliseum to watch the PBA game: Talk N Text vs. Petron Blazeboosters. As usual, we got hungry after the game so we we had dinner at Coffee Bean (Coliseum Circle). I love the food there, most especially the salad and pasta.

We're supposed to have a spontaneous trip to Tagaytay, but we ended up in Blue Onion, Eastwood City. I didn't had any alcoholic drink there 'coz I decided to meet up with my friends who were in Makati that time.

 the geeky look LOL

now without the glasses haha

After a couple of hours, when I was about to leave Blue Onion, my friends hid my Blackberry that's why I can't leave the place. After struggling to get back my BB, I was finally able to move to Kyss in Makati City. It's the after-party of a successful skateboarding event of Vans Philippines which happened earlier that day at A-Venue. Got lots of free flowing alcohol. Finally got reunited with Patron!:) I was glad to finally party with my girls in Makati, since I haven't partied with them for quite some time 'coz I work and live on the other side of the metro.

 the girls

 BFFs

 Wendell, Troy, and another friend

After an hour, we left the party. Just when I though the night's over,  my friend Farah and I drove to Palladium where our foreign friends were. We got in for free even at 3am 'coz we knew the promoter. We stayed there for just an hour, then finally called it a night!

See, that's how "having no plans at all" can lead to "having a fun spontaneous night"!:)

Philippines Bikes for Water: LTdF 2011

Last April, we took part in the Le Tour de Filipinas Cycling event. It's a 4-stage cycling event wherein cycling teams from different Asian countries competed. In this event, we have aligned our advocacy of protecting the environment and providing everyone an access to clean and safe drinking water -- the Philippines Bikes for Water.

Stage 1: Manila (April 16)

It was Rahim Emami of Azad University (Iran) who won this stage.

 Mayor Fred Lim

 with my officemate Kris

 Mr. Cayton & Ms. Patricia Hizon awarded the winners

chillin' by the Manila Bay

Stage 2: Bataan to Zambales (April 17)

It was Kazuo Inoue of Bridgestone Anchor (Japan) who won this stage, however we weren't able to join the group this day.

Stage 3: Zambales to Bataan (April 18)

Mirsamad Pourseyedi Golakhour of Azad University (Iran) won this stage, but we didn't make it here because it's just the morning that we left Manila. We proceeded to our boss' rest house instead for a meeting and a bit of unwinding.

 Our boss' rest house. It's "antique"-themed

 i enjoyed swimming at the pool during sunset

 while resting on the hammock

the beach with dark gray sand 

Stage 4: Pangasinan to Baguio

The final stage! We witnessed the cyclists as they rode up to the high lands of Baguio City. I really admired their determination. We stopped by a few spots to cheer for Team Smart (Philippines). It was Rahim Umami of Azad University (Iran) who crossed the finish line first. And after the long journey, it was Team Azad University (Iran) who won 1st place, 2nd was Team 7-Eleven (Philippines), and 3rd was Team Smart (Philippines).

After the race, we had lunch at Rose Bowl and proceeded to Microtel. We attended the awarding ceremonies and party at night. We also had late dinner and drinks at our company president's resthouse in Camp John Hay, then we headed back to the hotel. The next morning, our bosses just attended a couple of meetings while Kris and I shopped in the  Baguio City Market. Then we headed back to Manila. But since it's already Holy Week, our bosses had their own family reunions in their respective provinces on our way home.

 before stage 4 started

Our team :)

 at work in the hotel

 Mayor Domogan of Baguio City at the center

 Team Smart

 proud!

 fireworks!!!

 Don Podring band

 Microtel

 late lunch in Pangasinan