Giveaway: Unscripted by Vicky Herrera and Sarah Meier

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Saab

Unscripted is a collection of interviews conducted by The Dollhouse dolls Vicky Herrera and Sarah Meier during their stint as radio DJs on the now defunct U92 FM.

I know how hard it is to get a book published around here and most of the time you don’t have control on your cover design so when I saw their colorful cover, I knew they’d worked really hard for this book. As these girls would say, dopeness!

The book features interviews with inspiring people: Lourd de Veyra, Imelda Marcos, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Masta Plann, Kuya Germs, Kate Torralba, Boyet Sison, Jeannie Goulbourn, Jim Paredes, Rico Hizon, Gang Badoy, Carlos Celdran, Jeffrey Cariaso, Raimund Marasigan, John Lesaca and Ryan Cayabyab.

Each page is beautifully laid out with photographs by Roy Macam and designs by Create.ph.

I’m giving away one copy of the book to one of my readers. The winner must be able to pick up the book at Fully Booked Bonifacio Global City. All you’ve got to do is leave your Twitter ID on the comments section ONLY ONCE. I will choose a winner at random tomorrow afternoon! Good luck!

Posted in Books, Contest | 369 Comments

NYP 9 is Open to Applicants!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Saab

“We need your voice! Join us usher in change,” said NYC (National Youth Commission) Commissioner Gio Tingson Thursday, marking the opening of the applications to the 9th Parliament of Youth Leaders.

With the theme, “Revolutionizing Youth Development,” the parliament aims to formulate policy recommendations to address youth issues in the country. These recommendations are then lobbied to government leaders to be considered as proposed bills and administrative policies. It is important to note that during the event, participants also get to share ideas and gain valuable insights and networks to aid them in their youth development efforts.

Commissioner Tingson, who heads this year’s NYP National Organizing Committee, said that this gathering is the perfect platform for all Filipino youth to get proactive, “Ito na ang pagkakataon n’yo na makibahagi sa isa sa pinaka-importanteng proyektong pangkabataan ng pamahalaan kung saan ang boses ng natin ay maririnig sa paggawa ng mga policy recommendations para maging batas o polisiya. If you want change in the government – in our society – this is a great place to start. Ang Kabataang Filipino mula sa lahat ng rehiyon at sektor ay inaanyayahan ng NYC na sumali at makilahok.”

The Commission is also revamping the conduct of the parliament, making it more inclusive and youth-friendly. “We’ll do away with cosmetics like formal clothing and focus on the substance. You can show up in your jeans and rock star shirt, as long as active participation and involvement is there,” said Commissioner Gio.

Started in 1996, the NYP is slated to be held on the 1st week of May 2012. An estimate of two hundred (200) youth leaders representing different sectors and regions are expected to participate in this event.

Download the application forms at the NYC website (www.nyc.gov.ph) or get it from your nearest NYC area office. Following are the qualifications of NYP 9 applicants:

● Filipino citizen, aged 15 – 30 years old as of February 29, 2012
● Residing at the place of representation for at least six (6) months at the time of submission
● Must be a member of an organization
● Of good moral character
● Can contribute to the objectives of the 9th National Youth Parliament

Deadline of sending of application is February 29, 2012. The NYC reminds that previous NYP delegates are no longer qualified to participate. Other details and requirements are posted on the NYP 9 application form, the NYC website and the NYC Facebook account. For more information, please e-mail nyp9@nyc.gov.ph or call (02) 416-2833, 416-3415, 413-5503 or 416-3570.

Posted in Events, Philippines, Press Release | 6 Comments

Gigs, House Parties and Trust Issues

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Saab

Ernville

JasonRaims

RA

Mike

Happy birthday Enzo!

Oh nothing, just wanted to edit a hip hop house party video using footage all taken in one night. I have a theory that anything edited to Drake’s music will make it 100 times cooler.

Posted in Music, Photography, SaabTV | 44 Comments

Elmo on the Cover of Garage Magazine

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Saab

This February, teen pop stars Sam Concepcion and Elmo Magalona cover the Young Talents Issue of Garage Magazine. Learn the secrets to their successful careers at such an early age! Also, this edition puts your Spring wardrobe in order. Find out which wardrobe essentials and trend must-haves you must be trying out this season. Grab a copy of the newly-revamped and only style guide for the modern Filipino, Garage!

Love it!! Can’t wait to buy a copy. Jim is also featured inside as part of this year’s batch of young talents :)

Posted in Family | 7 Comments

Win Toro y Moi Tickets

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Saab

Columbia, South Carolina’s Chaz Bundick (aka Toro Y Moi) rose to the fore of the music blogosphere in summer 2009 when he and a few peers made their hazy bedroom recordings the most talked-about sound of the season. Critics across the board took notice of the range of his compositions, and his debut album, Causers of This, showcased his ability to make elements of Brian Wilson’s pop, 80s R&B, and Stone’s Throw hip hop coalesce into a distinct sound that’s as suitable for a dancefloor as it is a pair of headphones.

When Chaz first signed to Carpark Records, the plan was to release two records in 2010– one electronic and one with live instrumentation–and although it didn’t quite fit into the same calendar year as his debut, Underneath the Pine is that latter offering. This release sees him following the same creative urges to completely different ends. Having spent the year listening to film composers like Ennio Morricone and François de Roubaix, Bundick returned to his home in Columbia, the birthplace of many Toro tracks of yore, to bring his new ideas to fruition. The result of these sessions is an album evocative of R. Stevie Moore’s homespun ruminations, David Axelrod’s sonic scope, Steve Reich-ian piano phrasing, and the pervasive funk of his first record. Underneath the Pine announces a new phase for an artist whose talent defies classification.

I’m already watching Toro y Moi in Singapore on Feb 12 but I’m watching him again when he comes here! I’m also giving one of you a chance to win two tickets to his Manila show! Here’s how you can win:

1. One winner with 1 pair of tickets
2. Follow Kindassault on Facebook and Twitter
3. Go to www.kindassault.com and click on the “Tweet” tab AND “Like” tab on the right side
4. Repost the tweet “Watching Toro y Moi on Feb 15 and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart on Feb 29 at Hard Rock Cafe! http://kindassault.com/ via @kindassault”
5. Comment on Kindassault wall “I’m watching Toro Y Moi on Feb 15 at Hard Rock Cafe”
6. Winner will be chosen by the Kind Assault team using random generator!

Continue reading →

Posted in Contest, Events, Music | 11 Comments

Did You Miss Me?

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Saab

I swear I’ve got a lot in store for my blog this year beginning February, thanks for being patient with me.

January was mostly about our resident third wheel Manny getting a girlfriend of his own.

This video still a perfect representation of our friendship. At the end of the day/night we would wind up being just the three of us and we’d be perfectly happy. Manny was like our extra boyfriend and he was a big part of our relationship.

Can you imagine the pain we felt when he started blowing us off for his girl?? Haha I don’t know if any of you guys have ever been in this situation. I imagine it’s like how my gay friends feel whenever I have a boyfriend and I don’t have as much time for them. :( Yes, I know I was being unreasonable and I should have been happy right away when Manny got a girlfriend but Manny was such a jerk (sorry, Man hahaha) he didn’t even tell us about his girlfriend!! The girl was the one who told me about them. I realized later on that maybe Manny just isn’t the type to tell other people about his love life. He didn’t want to jinx it or whatever.

It was Manny’s birthday last January 24 and we had a little get together at Jim’s house the night before. I really saw how much Manny loved Jewels.

What a cheeseball, her face is his phone’s wallpaper haha

At midnight, Jewels gave Manny a deck of cards and hidden within the cards was a Death Cab For Cutie ticket! So sweet <3

I already gave Jewels the “if you hurt him I will hurt you” talk hahaha so as long as they’re happy, we’re happy! We didn’t lose one, we gained one. YUCK nahawa ako sa pagka-cheesy!!

Love love to everybody! Malapit nang mag-Valentine’s day!!

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson Contest Winners

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Saab

I had so much fun going through all the entries you sent in for the Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson book!!

I especially loved the ones with accompanying stories of how they were once bullied when they were younger and how they took control of the situation and made a comeback. Here are my favorite before and after photos.

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Janine Armie Palomo formerly known as “Golden Buddha” or the most original insult ever: “baboy”

HOT MO, GIRL!!

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Roxanne Diana Figuerroa: “Boys in class teased me because I was such a weakling. They would block my way and push me around. Once a seatmate who was one of the achievers in class put earwax in my notebook just ’cause I can’t multiply numbers.”

She ended up being the batch salutatorian and 3 of her bullies ended up courting her.

Ang say ko: ANYARE, BOYS?! Roxanne Diana, wag mo silang sasagutin pleeeeeease.

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Ricardo Fernandez‘s before and after photo

Panalo ka sana kaya lang walang kasamang anecdote nang pagka-bully sayo.. Pero oh my gosh GWAPO MO. And you’re fighting against HPV. Love it!

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Jessica Orense was a lot like me in grade school. Both nerds except she’s good at Math, ako pang English at Reading lang. She won this medal at an international Math competition held in Lucknow, India. How very Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls)!

“Boys in our class would also compare me to other smarter, thinner, prettier girls and [they] would tell me that the only thing I’m good for is studying… and that nobody would ever like me. The sad part is it really got to me and I always walked around with my head down, avoiding stares.”

“I’m in fourth year high school now, and I’m happy to say I know better. I’m comfortable in my own skin, and although I still get insecure from time to time, I definitely love who I am and I wouldn’t want to be anyone else.”

Work it, girl! She said this photo was taken after their class had a Gossip Girl-themed fashion show and she was Jenny Humphrey. I think you’re way hotter than little J ;)

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Marie Paulyn dela Cruz. She stopped tying her hair back when she was 9 because of classmates making fun of her big ears.

She’s 16 now and she obviously outgrew her classmates and realized they were being so immature!

She puts her hair up in a ponytail and is thankful to God for giving her bigger ears. She now considers them a blessing rather than a curse :)

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Nilo Reyes sent me his “evolution” through the years!

Keri!

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Cindhee Lopez didn’t want to look at herself in the mirror because she was always being teased about the burn on the side of her face :(

“I realized that I need to accept first myself so that others will do too.” And you should totally be proud of who you are because whenever I see you at gigs you have one of the most pleasant faces in the crowd <3

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I love Marie Lyzette Cuenca‘s transformation!

You make that head gear look so chic, I’m not even kidding. You look so calm and cool in this picture! But I do sympathize with you and the fact that your childhood “friends” used to call you Bangus, Tilapia, Golden Teeth and Palakol because of your teeth, dark skin and small build.

BUT LOOK AT YOU NOW! Akala ko nga si Kylie Padilla.

I’m sure the taunts from your bullies (who are for sure ugly today because nagmamanifest ang sama ng ugali sa itsura ng tao) helped you become the confident sociable person you are today!

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Cutie pie Chino Matienzo sent in his before and after photos with this message, “Treasure your haters. They are the very trophies that show people that you use your freedom to do what you want to do and you enjoy it. Haters gonna hate!”

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Jerlie Driza Baruiz used to get bullied all the time because of her glasses, uneven teeth and boy-cut hair.

Her father passed away towards the end of 6th grade and this made her think of her two younger siblings. She knew she had to stand up to her bullies to protect herself and her siblings as well.

“I’m very proud to say that I have changed a lot not only physically but as well mentally and emotionally. And guess what, those boys that use to bully me are now my admirers! :P” I’m sure, sexy!

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Gell-o Conferido was bullied because he was sexually confused at a very young age. Name calling, emotional abuse and even violence (damn you, Marco, whoever you are!!) were used to bring him down.

“Now, I’m FIERCE, in college and at the same time working in the fashion industry, fit-er than ever, more successful than those guys who bullied me before and damn more confident of myself and my sexuality! But somehow, I thank them for doing that to me, coz I wouldn’t be this strong if it wasn’t for them. I wouldn’t be as tough as a rock when someone tries to make fun of me. Instead of swallowing my pride, I’d just go up to them and say ‘God bless you’ :)”

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Ira Giorgetti was your typical high school nerd (in my opinion a very cute nerd)

He didn’t include a story about his experience with bullies but I think this photo taken by Regine David speaks a lot about the issue at hand.

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FINALLY! The two winners (I wish I had more copies of the book to give to all of you huhuhu):

MICO TALAN was called Kirara and Horseshit when he was studying in an all boys school where being gay automatically makes you a target for these insecure/confused/probably-gay-themselves teenage boys. One time Mico helped a classmate who, instead of thanking him, pushed him because he didn’t want to be associated with Mico. He actually broke his arm and ended up in the hospital because of that incident (which was dismissed as an accident and the boy was not punished – what the heck, Don Bosco…).

He studied Air Transportation in college and was also bullied by his college classmates. He turned “Nita Negrita” into “Ms. Angola” and embraced his dark skin and sexuality! His school gave him his own plane to fly and it came in pink!! LOVE IT!

JEFFREY IMUTAN was bullied in grade school and he joined on behalf of his daughter who loves Lady Gaga. This is his only before photo because their house burned down :(

He sent in this picture to prove his now oozing confidence.

Don’t know what’s up with all the shoes and that logo on your thigh but that pose is golden. Your daughter’s lucky to have you!

Congratulations! The two of you may claim your books at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street beginning tomorrow, just show a valid ID.

Posted in Beauty, Books, Contest | 35 Comments

Cara Manglapus and The Executives Unplugged

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Saab

One of my best friends and fellow Creative Writing student back in college Cara Manglapus has bloomed into a beautiful young jazz singer. I blogged about her and kind of predicted her singing career. She started having regular gigs when she came home in 2011 after two years of traveling the world.

The Executives Unplugged is a musical spin-off of the historic 15-piece jazz group, The Executives Big Band. Founded in 1957 by Senator Raul S. Manglapus, the original Executives have jammed with giants in both music and government, including Duke Ellington, Gary Burton, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Byrd, the King of Thailand, the King of Cambodia, Former First Lady Ming Ramos, and Former US President Bill Clinton. The have also performed for Pope John Paul II in the Vatican.

This love for great music is carried on by Raul’s son, Francis Manglapus, who now manages a 3rd generation of musicians that compose today’s Executives Band. Francis and his daughter, Cara, make up ½ of The Executives Unplugged, playing rhythm guitar to Cara’s smooth and sultry lead vocals. A business executive by day and a musician at night, Francis also plays the piano and the drums.

Cara Manglapus started singing at age 2, heavily influenced by her father’s enthusiasm for Broadway classics and The Beatles, and her grandfather’s zest for jazz. As she grew up, she broadened her vocal capacity by taking voice lessons in both pop singing and musical theater, and singing with the multi award-winning Woodrose High School Glee Club. She graduated with a degree in Creative Writing from the Ateneo de Manila University and went on to work in Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Taiwan, and Sweden as a project manager of a distinguished advertising company. She has since returned to the Philippines to rekindle her devotion to the arts, with a debut performance on the main stage at the French Embassy’s Fete de la Musique in June of 2010. She is also a contributing writer for local magazines.

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I’m happy to promote their upcoming Valentines Day Concert in Alabang’s newest 5-star hotel, Acacia.

They’ll be playing 3 sets of 45 minutes each and the cherry on top is how affordable this date would be for you and your loved one. A romantic 4-course meal with a glass of red wine and a smooth jazz band to score your Valentine’s kiss. www.acaciahotelsmanila.com

Cara just recently started her own blog (finally!), you might want to follow her: caramanglapus.blogspot.com

Posted in Events, Music, Websites | 9 Comments

Join The Red Revolution!

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Saab

The REVOLUTION will take over the month of hearts as the finest music of today go hand in hand in raising the alarm for HIV AWARENESS. Prepare for a Bigger and Better RED REVOLUTION, February 9, 2012, Metrowalk Open Parking Lot, gates will open at 3pm. Let’s SPREAD the LOVE!

Don’t forget to do your part. Be aware, get informed. Sound the alarm. BLOW HARDER!

Ticket price is Php 50.
(there will be no more P30 and P20 denominations but we will still accept the tickets purchased before.)

See you there! Read more for the full list of bands!

Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Health, Music | 12 Comments

Tattoo Unleashes a New Global Resistance

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Saab

Pushing the bounds of connectivity, Tattoo has taken on the challenge that continues to make Filipinos more mobile, powerful, global and consequentially, revolutionary. Get ready for a new domination in your broadband – with three reasons to resist the slow and unreliable broadband internet that plagues the market. With an empowered prepaid and postpaid portfolio Tattoo outdoes competition yet again in etching a permanent mark in the minds of the young, mobile, and techno-savvy. More to these, it is their new brand ambassadors, it seems, that causes the most buzz in the beeline.

Proof that Tattoo packs a punch in providing value for money for the best deals, the “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire raises his fist in resisting mediocrity with the tired old broadband we all have been accustomed to. The current World Bantamweight Champion has risen from jaggedness and aims for prominence. And putting up the same stance for the country’s #1 most preferred broadband, Tattoo promises internet service that is uninterrupted, with strong and powerful signals at unbeatable speeds.

With his perma-lined eyes, black swept hair, and his melodic howl, vocalist Miggy Chavez has raised a strong following for a religion he calls Chicosci. Armed with hypnotic guitar riffs, surreal lyrics, and, Chavez’s addicting vocal styling, Chicosci has reared a legion of head-banging cronies for their “Vampire Social Club”, a historic hit for Philippine rock. And with Tattoo on his side, Miggy Chavez can take his ‘vampiric’ social network following to virally fanatic proportions, with reliable bandwidths designed for instant updates, super-sonic uploads and downloads, and unlimited interaction. Backed up by Tattoo, Miggy breaks through limitations caused by slow, unreliable internet access, as he puts his rock-cult status in the burning spotlight and paves the way to musical innovations that would bring the Pinoy sound to the international arena.

Model marvel Georgina Wilson on the other hand, with her multi-faceted persona has invaded the international fashion consciousness and left an indelible mark all her own. From the face that launched a thousand billboards, to her display of Filipina beauty in the global stream of America’s Next Top Model, Georgina has proved, time and again, that the Pinay supermodel is more than just a pretty face. Above all, professionalism, personality, and panache transcend a model into an invading icon.

Tattoo challenges you to RESIST all your old notions of what your broadband can be. It is time to RESIST the undependable, and start living your connected lives without limits, as it takes you to the new generation of global broadband domination.

Join the resistance and choose your weapon, visit www.tattoo.globe.com.ph

Posted in Gadgets, Press Release | Leave a comment