Just a Quick Rundown of Past Events

May 28 - June 5, 2011 - 22nd FIBA Asia

From its launch in the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall, through the games and upto the finals in PhilSports Arena (formerly Ultra), we witnessed this highly reputable amateur basketball league. Smart Gilas Philippines indeed fought hard to be this season's champions; they were unbeatable until they were defeated by Iran, which put them out of the finals. They battled against Qatar for 3rd place, yet they lost. But still, Team Philippines was happy because 4th was the farthest they've reached in their FIBA history, not really bad! Great job by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for staging this event.

PRELIMINARY ROUND
May 28 - PHI vs KSA

May 29 - MAS vs PHI

May 31 - PHI vs IRQ

girls in support for the team

June 1 - JOR vs PHI

 with injured Coach Nash Racela

FINAL ROUND

June 3 - PHI vs SYR

June 4 - IRI vs PHI (battle for finals)

June 5 - PHI vs QAT (battle for 3rd)

June 5, 2011 - AKTV Run

TV5 launched its newest sports channel -- AKTV on IBC13.For me, it's great to have a local sports channel which keeps you updated about the latest in the world of Sports, and also encourages other people who are not so into sports to at least appreciate it. I didn't actually run, but I was there for our corporate booth.

 Rich Alvarez = endorser for free haha

 the Ateneo-Talk N Text boys: Larry Fonacier and Rich Alvarez

 Rabbeh Al-hussaini in the house

people lining up to sign up in the Maynilad Sports website

MVP Birthday Run: An Extraordinary Day

I was supposed to look sporty but I wasn't prepared to run because I got a lot of work during the event so I decided to put on a semi-sporty outfit, minus the animal print bag. haha!:))

Last July 14, Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) celebrated his 65th birthday. He usually does his birthday celebration in big hotels every year; but this time, he chose to simplify it so he held his party in Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall. He did this because he was more excited about Smart's big birthday treat for him -- the MVP Birthday Run.

The companies within the MVP group went all out to make the best birthday celebration of MVP. The run was held last July 16 in SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds. The run was composed of four major categories: 1. the "serious run" - 10k, 2. the "mardi gras" run, 3. the "run w/ pets" - 3k, and 4. the "privilege walk w/ MVP" - 1.65k Only the MVP Group employees, their families, and MVP's family and friends were invited in this extraordinary event.

 the birthday celebrant = THE BIG BOSS

Almost all of MVP's basketball teams were also there: Talk N Text, Smart Gilas, Meralco Bolts, San Beda. Though, I wasn't able to see the Ateneo players. Also, a couple of celebrities/talents from TV5 were also there. All of them joined in the 1.65-km Walk with MVP. Also, the Maynilad float which has a Buganda band playing Brazilian percussion with Maynilad's volleyball and basketball teams, has made the walk a lively one! We even had party poppers popped as soon as MVP reached the finish line.

 the boss saying his "thank you" message

There were also a couple of lucky runners who won raffle prizes such as iPad, Blackberry, and the grand prize -- Toyota Vios! It has been indeed a happy birthday celebration of Boss MVP!:)

 i was holding the party poppers haha

 so fun hanging out with my co-workers

and I wasn't a part of this photo 'coz I didn't hear somebody called me for the photo op!

gosh...the sun and us!

Sorry for my Delayed Posts

Please forgive my delayed posts. I will try to blog each event as it comes. But for now, I will be posting my events in no chronological order haha!:)

Meanwhile, here's a rundown of the events I should be writing about, before next week starts:

PBA All Star Weekend (May)

MVP Run (July)

MVP Bossing Awards Launch (July)

Myx VJ Search Finals (July)

Shakey's V-League (July-present)

Vans x Hello Kitty (Aug)

I have 3 days to write about these events. Then I'll be featuring my upcoming events!:)

Excited!

A Weekend with the NBA Stars

It was a week of non-stop "ticket" requests. Facebook, Twitter, BBM, SMS, name it! I really felt like I was Ticketnet after getting flooded with messages requesting for tickets for the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend.

It's probably the first time that famous NBA players came to the Philippines to play basketball against our local basketball players; so nobody seemed to let this chance pass. Thank God we're part of the group which brought them here -- the MVP Group of Companies. Smart and MVP Sports Foundation together with TV5, played a big role in this once in a lifetime event.

The night of July 22, we were at the Big Dome to fix some stuff for the big weekend. And we were surprised that at 10pm, the doors of the coliseum were being shut and security was alerted. Then woah! Some of players came in to do some practice shooting. Chris Paul and James Harden came in first with their entourage, but they were kinda snob. The 2nd batch who came were Tyreke Evans and Derrick Williams. I said "hi" to both and them and they smiled at me and said "hello". Cool! We followed them in the court but we were driven away by the very strict bouncers (yeah even if we're kinda part of the organizers).

JULY 23

A Meet & Greet lunch at The Lighthouse in Meralco was organized to accommodate fans who can pay at least Php10,000 for a lunch with the NBA Stars.

Then a Basketball Clinic was held at the Ynares Gym, wherein the NBA players taught the basics to young boys.

The event's Press Conference was held in the Isla Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. The hotel security was very strict; some members of the PRESS were not even able to enter the hotel. First to answer the questions from the media were PBA Players Sol Mercado and Gabe Norwood, and the Philippine team's Head Coach, Rajko Toroman. The NBA players came in one by one, and were never complete in the presidential table. After answering questions from media, they went up to their rooms to rest and prepare for their game in the evening.

Gabe Norwood, Coach Rajko Toroman, Sol Mercado

Patricia Bermudez-Hizon

Derek Fisher and Coach Chot Reyes

Kevin Durant, Derek Fisher, Coach Chot Reyes, Tyreke Evans

Kevin Durant

Patricia wasn't as ready as Paolo

At 7:30pm, the show started. I was in the dugout with the PBA players who were so excited to play against the NBA stars, but were actually more excited to get autographs from and have photos taken with their NBA idols. Security was soo strict that we can't take photos of the players. I was lucky that I got an inch closer to Kobe, but he wasn't able to hear me calling him to look back, so I just took a snapshot of his back. haha!

PBA All Stars

 MY IDOL!!!

Before the game started, a big revelation happened. Manny V. Pangilinan unveiled the new Smart-Araneta Coliseum! Woah what a surprising move!:)

I didn't have a seat but I enjoyed watching the game even if I was standing on the first half, then at the second half, I found seats beside my Smart Gilas friends. I took a couple of photos and videos during the game. It was obvious that the PBA All Stars got starstruck with their NBA idols. They just played the game for fun, and it's been a dunkfest for the NBA stars. The crowd really enjoyed the fact that it has been an awesome "show".

 the Kiss Cam was cool

 Gabe Norwood and his baby w/ Kevin Durant

 LA Tenorio during the Meralco-Maynilad 3-point Shootout

 Larry Fonacier

James Harden

 Chris Paul

the basketball fanatics

July 24

The better game day! Smart Gilas (RP Team) vs. Smart All Stars (NBA)

Team Philippines really put up a good fight; while Manny Pacquiao's arrival became a show stopper. The NBA stars asked for autographs on their jerseys from him. The score gap wasn't as big as the previous day's, and that proved how talented our local basketball players were, most especially Japhet Aguilar who had a coupe of dunks, and Jayvee Casio who had a couple of 3-point shots. Great game!

 i just love my job!:)

 Kobe Bryant and Manny Pacquiao!

 tattoos!!!

 my lucky friends who I was able to help get down to the ringside from Upper B

since Kobe and Patricia were already close 'coz of Nike

Also, after the show, a mini presscon was held at the center of the court. The best part, the NBA stars threw/gave away their belongings such as jerseys, shirts, and shoes! The players left right after the presscon; while Derrick Williams and James Harden went for a quick shopping in Greenhills with their security team.


IT HAS BEEN AN AWESOME WEEKEND!:)

HSBC is the WORST!

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GET AN HSBC CREDIT CARD

Let me tell you my story...

THE SCENARIO:

There are always a couple of booths in our office' ground floor almost everyday. These booths sell credit cards, phone lines, cable lines, and other postpaid subscription stuff. Last week, HSBC approached me and gave me an application form. I said I'll just take it upstairs to our office room and review it. Then the agent insisted that I fill out the form right then and there. Just to get through with it, I signed up the form quickly. Then I was asked to submit photocopies of my payslips and IDs. I said I'll give it later. But since I was too busy, I wasn't able to give the requirements back.

Then the next day, while I was going crazy at work, the agent called me and asked me to fax or email my requirements to him. He also interviewed me a bit. He asked me how long have I been with the company so I answered 3 months going 4. Then he said, during the CI, I should say that I've been with the company for 6 months already. So there, he taught me how to lie. Anyway, when I had the time that afternoon, I took photos of my IDs and payslips, and emailed them to the agent. Then he called me back to say that the details in my payslip weren't readable, so he instructed me to photocopy them and submit to their booth in the ground floor. What a hassle! So I insisted on taking a new snapshot of the payslips, then I emailed them again. Fortunately, he didn't call me again.

THE CLIMAX:

So the weekend passed...and just when the clock ticked 12 earlier today, I got a call from the agent. My co-workers and I were about to go to the cafeteria for lunch when my phone rang. Anyway, so I answered the call. He briefed me about the stuff I should say when I talk to the CI agent. I thought that's for another day, so I got surprised when he said he'll forward that call to a CI agent.

I wasn't prepared. My co-workers didn't know who I was talking with on my cellphone. We're on our way to the cafeteria and my co-workers were teasing and playing around among themselves. I can barely hear what the CI agent was saying. I wasn't even able to focus since my co-workers tried involving me in their jokes and I had to put the CI agent on hold just to stop them. Btw, the CI agent was a girl and I can't remember her introducing her name but I didn't mind.

When we reached the outdoor, it was raining hard and there were lots of people, so all the more that I can't hear what the girl on the phone was saying. This was the conversation that followed:

(then her rudeness started)

ME: Ano nga yung sabi mo? Pakiulit.

AGENT: (in a very impatient tone) You've been in the company for 6 months, is that right?

ME: Ha? Ano un? Di ko marinig. Eh kasi naman lunch break kayo tumatawag e.

AGENT: (very b*tchy tone) Excuse me! Ma'am, nagsi-CI kami. Anytime pwede kaming tumawag kahit lunch break or kahit ano'ng ginagawa niyo.

ME: Pwedeng pakilakasan? I can't hear you.

AGENT: (raised her voice, kinda close to yelling) Ma'am, malakas po ang boses ko! Yung mga kasama niyo po ang maingay. Sabihin niyo po tumahimik sila. Kayo rin baka madecline tong credit card application niyo.

ME: (to my friends) Uy, tumahimik nga kasi kayo di ko marining yung kausap ko.

ME: (to the agent) So ano nga uli yun? Hello?

AND SHE EFFIN HUNG UP!!!

That was a first time! what kind of service was that? That girl was thinking that I need her more than she or HSBC needs me?!? WELL SHE'S WRONG! I am the client here. And in the first place, if not because of their credit card seller who kept on disturbing me while at work, I wouldn't have considered signing that f*ckin form! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN about HSBC credit cards because I HAVE 2 OTHER CREDIT CARDS that are PERFECTLY WORKING for me! FYI, I haven't even heard a SINGLE POSITIVE FEEDBACK about HSBC Credit Cards.

THE CONCLUSION:

It wasn't only I who experienced the same rudeness from an HSBC agent. My friend's dad considers them the WORST! Also, they increased my bestfriend's credit limit without even informing her. And based on my twitter friends' comments, HSBC seemed to have the worst agents, worst service, and worst client relations! So i suggest:

NEVER GET AN HSBC CREDIT CARD if you don't want to continuously experience HASSLE!

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