The Defense and Sporting Arm Show

I was at the SM Megatrade hall last July 14, 2011 for the first day of Philippine Defense and Sporting Arm Show held at the said venue and lasted until July 18, 2011. My uncle (who is a Police General) was also at the first day of the event. PNP Dir/Gen. Raul Bacalzo along with my uncle (Dir/Gen. Benjie Belarmino) and the UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mosa Abdul Wahid Al Khajah initiated the opening of the said event with the theme “Gun Ownership: A Lifetime Responsibility.” It was organized by the Association of Firearms & Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc.

Also on the said event was Willi Hahn of Hahn Manila; Sven Souter, managing director of Glock Aisa-Pacific; Tom Wagner, regional director of Sig Sauer based in USA; Dave Skinner of STI International based in Texas and among other firearm company executive.

Neri Dionisio, president of the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers (organizer of DSAS), said that they have lined up several free seminars on gun safety and handling, responsible gun ownership, proper firearms maintenance, rescue and first aid, and martial arts. Among those seminars are lecture on “An Introduction to the Olympic Shooting Sport” by Andy Maer, Susan Aguado and Bart Teyab of PNSA-NYDP and “The Future in Sport Shooting” by Rosey Labayo.

This was my 4th time to attend this kind of event since I entered into practical shooting. And for practical shooting aficionados like me, this kind of event was more exciting as the country’s leading gun dealers & manufacturers showcased their latest and most modern array of firearms, including new models that are not only considered affordable but also practical. I also got the opportunity to bought some magazines for my Glock 17L.

The 2^nd round of the Defense and sporting arm show will be on November this year. Congratulations to the organizers of the said event.

Most commonly used names

I often call a name that is present in two persons (e.g. friends or officemates) so I decided to create this post because I was just curious about my name and why so many people use the same name just like you and me. Here are the following:

I.             Male

1.       Mark

2.       Joshua

3.       Christian

4.       Angelo

5.       Thomas

6.       James

7.       John Lloyd

8.       Adrian

9.       John

10.   Andrew

11.   William

12.   Jack

13.   Christopher

14.   Samuel

15.   Noah

16.   Carl/Karl

17.   Ryan

18.   Daniel

19.   Benjamin

20.   Raymond

21.   Bernard

22.   Miguel/Michael

23.   Jose/Joseph

24.   Pedro/Peter

II.         Female

1.       Mary

2.       Nicole

3.       Susan

4.       Angelica

5.       Jasmine

6.       Grace

7.       Jennifer

8.       Marjorie

9.       Ailene

10.   Isabelle/Isabella

11.   Ruby

12.   Lily

13.   Emily

14.   Joy

15.   Kimberly

16.   Judy

17.   Anna/Anne

Because of the limited space here in my blog, I just only summarize some commonly used names in some parts of the world.

Not so good Flickr groups and posts (Part I of the series against the two worst Flickr Groups)

I've been a Flickr user for quite some time (maybe for 4 years). I’ve been posted and also deleted a lot of pictures from that site. I’ve been also seen a lot of comments on some pictures posted, both positive and negative comments. Flickr is an image & video hosting site as well as online community site developed by Ludicorp and later acquired by Yahoo. It is like “Photobucket” or “Picasa”. Flickr has also developed their own app for iPhone, Windows Mobile and Blackberry. I’m a Google Android phone user and I don’t know if there is a Flickr app for Google Android.

One day, there is a group of (bitter & jealous) Flickr users who are attacking other Flickr users. I don’t want to mention all of their usernames here in my blog but for the sake of those who wants to have a hint, their group names are resembled to a name of a bus company in the Philippines and another group resembles to their organization’s name as bus photographers also in the Philippines. These 2 groups are attacking AND demoralizing some Flickr users who are AGAINST THEM. These two groups also want something from those who they are attacking. Dirty tactics huh?!

Ten of those users who are being attacked by these two groups told me that that those Flickr users who are members of the said groups are either repeaters in school or college, dropped or those users who are stopped from studying just for the sake of bus hopping & photographing. Well, they don’t even mind finishing their studies just for the sake of their hobby.

Well, for me, they are a bunch of stupid who wants something from those whom they are attacking. If I were in them, just continue their studies instead of focusing on their nonsense hobby and doing their dirty tactics by means of attacking other users. Thumbs down on them…

Easy Listening songs I've ever heard...

I was on a journey going back to Manila from my 4-day vacation leave in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. The driver of the bus suddenly played 3 CDs containing his favourite songs and eventually, those songs I’ve heard really relaxes me well. I didn’t know that he likes “The Carpenters”, “Mike and The Mechanics”, “James Taylor”, “Norah Jones”, “Kenny G”, and among others.

I will not anymore elaborate all the songs containing in his CDs. I will summarize some:

-          The Pretties Thing  by Norah Jones

-          Don’t Know Why by Norah Jones

-          Carribean Blue by Enya

-          Taken In by Mike and The Mechanics

-          Throwing it all away by Phil Collins & the Genesis band

-          Hold on my heart by Phil Collins & the Genesis band

-          Release Me by Wilson Phillips

-          Coming around again by Carly Simon

-          Postcard from heaven by Lighthouse Family

-          Home by Michael Buble

-          When we dance by Sting

-          Let’s wait a while by Janet Jackson

-          Sister Rose by Kenny G

-          Asian Dream by Kenny G

-          The Key to you by David Benoit

-          Dad’s Room by David Benoit

-          Snow on the Sahara by Anngun

I was really delighted by those songs I’ve heard while travelling back to Manila. I hope someday that I will ride again that bus. I will never forget that driver and his CD collection of the best easy listening music.

Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts : A Colourful Side trip

I had a phone call last April 25, 2011 from my uncle & my auntie about the baptismal of their 3rd daughter last May 7. They chose me as one of the godfathers for the said baptism. But I didn’t realize that was also the way of filing my vacation leave even just for 2 days just to get away from my very hectic schedules at the office and to relax more. I was really very excited then to go back to Vigan City since my last visit back in 2009. One thing more, my mom and another uncle (a Police General) told me that May 4-7 was the Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts. I said, this is the right time for me to escape the hectic and noisy area of ​​Manila. After my work shift, I immediately went to the terminal to reserve a ticket. Fortunately, I was very lucky to ride in a de luxe coach (Thank you Partas Trans. Co.!). 

I had the opportunity to chat with one of my fellow passengers who happens to be my schoolmate in La Salle Manila (She's a college student while I'm a graduate school/masteral student). I don't want to mention her name anymore but she told me, that was her first time to visit Vigan City and see the wonders of that place. I told her, "well, you will be fascinated with the tourist attractions and delicacies of our proud hometown."

Partas Trans. Co., Inc.

After reaching the Vigan City terminal of Partas, my uncle immediately fetched my up to their ancestral house in Diego Silang St. We had our short talk, and also breakfast. I also had a chat with my relatives and some childhood friends. 

I didn't know that May 7 was the main event of the Viva Vigan Festival featuring colorful and spectacular parades, art shows and furniture exhibits. I even ate 4 empanadas (empanada is a delicacy in Ilocos usually contain longanisa, egg, green papaya or mung bean and chopped onion in a rice flour coloured orange with achuete and is deep fried) in their food exhibit located in Plaza Burgos. Street dancing competition was also held in Plaza burgos (in the evening) with matching tiangge sale (flea market or swap meet sale) and furniture expo from difference exporters, distributors and producers.


The week-long celebration is filled with different activities held in the major streets of Vigan City, like, Plaza Burgos, Quezon Avenue, Liberation Boulevard and Calle Crisologo, and Florentino Streets. The festive mood is characterized by Binatbatan street dancing. Other activities during the festival include Calesa parade, carabao festival, games, religious activities like "binyagang bayan", santacruzan, food fairs, fashion shows, and art exhibits.

The Famous Vigan Longganisa (Vigan Sausage)

Even thou it was a very busy day for me to go around the City square and experience how is like to be in Vigan City, I really enjoy the warmth of my fellow Ilocanos. Sometimes, I even speak Ilocano words to them and they told me "we thought you're not from Manila."

Maybe I don't need to post more photos, it's better if you (personally) visit Vigan City and experience it's beauty, the hospitality of Ilocanos and the wonder of our place. Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts happens every first week of May. 


Transportation going to Vigan from Manila & vice versa:
Partas Transportation Co. (Cubao, Quezon City - Vigan, Ilocos Sur)
-De Luxe = Php805.00

-Regular Aircon = P685.00


-Accomodations
*Grandpa's Inn
*Aniceto Mansion Hotel
*Casa Teofila
*Gordion's Inn Bed & Breakfast
*Vigan Heritage Mansion
*Vigan Plaza Hitel
*UNP Guestel

[Many thanks to my Auntie Jhen and my cousin Dennis. Also many thanks to my Uncle Ryan and his wife Auntie Myla, Grandpa Tony & Grandma Pepita and also Uncle Sherwin, Grandpa Romy and Auntie Marie Jean (Barangay captain of Rugsuanan, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur).]