Five on Friday: Batanes Photos

Batanes [1]

Batanes [2]

Batanes [3]

Batanes [4]

Batanes [5]

Before I talk about the drama I’ve been selling in my previous entry, here’s five photos I submitted as my photo essay for our photo contest in Batanes. I didn’t win, but fortunately, my pangga Hana did! 🙂 She got one of three special prizes, the other two going to Mimi and Ferdz. AJ got runner–up honors, while Joey bagged the top prize. Familiar faces, good company. 😉 They all get to take home great photo printers from Epson so they can print even more photos from our trip.

Special thanks to Epson for taking us to Batanes, the place is more beautiful than I could’ve dreamed or imagined. Every Filipino should get to visit it at least once in their lifetime. 🙂

Thankful

I was somehow doubtful if I would be able to write this, and the fact that you’re reading this only means I’m alive.

This week’s lesson: what God has given, God can take away. Anytime He wishes. Embrace life to the fullest.

Renaissance of Philippine Cinema

Auraeus left a comment on my post about his movie Pisay, I think is worth sharing with everyone:

“Pisay is a beautiful film, simple and sophisticated, direct and campy, one that gets better and better as it goes along. From the evidence gathered, the praise is valid for Filipino cinema as a whole, which is undergoing something of a renaissance.”

by Emmanuel Burdeau Cahiers Du Cinema

Cahiers du Cinema is the most prestigious critic’s group in the world. They have declared that Filipino cinema is on the verge of a renaissance. But a renaissance needs hard work and in order to reach this renaissance, Philippine Independent Cinema needs an audience.

I am happy to say that “Pisay” recently won two awards in the 14th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France: The Grand Prix du Jury (Grand Prize of the International Jury) and the Prix du Public (Audience Prize).

Pisay will be shown February 20 — 27 exclusively at the following SM theaters:
SM North Edsa Cinema 8, SM Megamall Cinema 9, SM Manila Cinema 4, SM Southmall, SM Fairview Cinema 6 and SM San Lazaro Cinema 6

Help us reach the renaissance of Philippine Cinema. Please watch Pisay the Movie. Go to the Theatres on the first 3 days.

Salamat po!
🙂

If you failed to see Pisay last year, now is your chance.

Why an Asus Eee PC?

Asus Eee PC vs MacBook.

Though I’ve always wanted to buy a MacBook, it was hard to resist getting an Asus Eee PC considering its relatively low price. Since I have another laptop, the Eee’s supposed to fit well into my system: a primary laptop for photo editing and heavy work, with the Eee for mobile computing and simple show–and–tell stuff.

I’ve been loving the Eee, but I’m not sure if life’s any better juggling two computers. Interestingly, I’ve been doing most of my recent coding tasks on the Eee instead of the more ergonomic, bigger laptop. Go figure.

As an aside, there is an ongoing Asus Eee PC design contest called “dress mEee up” which aims to find a winning design for a custom Philippine edition model. The winner gets to have the design used in the market, and gets one Eee PC with the winning design. Even if you don’t have an Eee, you can join the contest. This is your chance to get yourself your own Eee PC!

Another aside, Asus Eee PC Hacks is a new blog I’m running, to help you get the most out of your Eee PC. And then there’s mobile! which is another (older) blog on laptops and mobile devices, but also getting hits related to the Asus Eee PC.

So is the Eee PC a good buy? Get one if you can find one. It’s on the small side, but it lets you do things you couldn’t do with a desktop or a laptop. It wouldn’t be easy using it as your primary computer though. For 20 thousand pesos (or less) though, it’s a good mobile device.