A few days ago, social media went crazy when a female journalist from a big TV network was wolf-whistled at a press conference by none other than the president-elect. Two years before this incident, an experiment video showing women getting catcalled while walking down the streets of Manhattan went viral. A couple of years before, while walking home after school, I got my first catcall. I was 14.

"It's just a form of compliment, 

you should be grateful"

I don't know about you but getting catcalled bothers me - a lot. Though truthfully, I've gotten so immune to this after countless incidents, it still doesn't change the fact that it makes me uncomfortable. Despite men's claims that it's just a form of appreciation, harmless in nature and that women should "learn to take it as a compliment" it doesn't make me less mad about it.

"Catcall is  not a form of flattery  

and is 

definitely not harmless"

Do you know what goes on our mind every time we got catcalled? Do you know the internal conversations we do with ourselves when you do that? Do you know how we consciously checked our surroundings and what we're wearing for that matter?

Catcalling vs Complimenting. 

Personally, genuine compliments from strangers on let's say - a bag or shirt I'm wearing, doesn't bother me and I always smile at them as an act of gratitude but there's just something about strangers complimenting your look while grinning creepily and looking you up and down that is downright rude. This is not a compliment. It is street harassment and sad to say, happens to almost everybody even while you're doing the most mundane things.

I could list down quite a number of arguments on how catcalling is so wrong on all levels but then again it wouldn't make any difference. Why I even need to explain this is so beyond me. But one thing's for sure, it isn't and will never be a sense of validation nor another method of flattery. I'm a woman and I want to be respected not objectified.

How about you? What's your stand on catcalling?

I'm one of those people who grabbed their phone first when they woke up and so imagine my surprised when a "new" app showed up on my phone's home screen. I was lying in my bed trying to remember if I downloaded another photography app last night and it was only after a couple of seconds (when my eyes had already fully adjusted) that I began to notice the words written below the new colorful logo - Instagram.

Instagram is my second most favorite social media app (Youtube occupying the first slot) so any updates and such on this would make me freak out - remember that Algorithm news a few months ago? Thus, I tapped into my inner researcher and was up on Instagram's official sites getting everything I need to know about this new update.

Here's what I got so far:

1. New Logo

Say goodbye to that familiar brown retro camera logo and say hello to this rainbow gradient one.

They have also updated the icons for their other products: Layout, Boomerang and Hyperlapse

Quite honestly, I'm not a fan of this new logo. I feel like they didn't put a lot of thought about it. It was just so simple and plain. And it's kinda weird and very contradicting that they put a gradient rainbow on their new logo but when you open it, it doesn't have any bright colors. That brown retro camera logo will be surely missed - I know I would be.

2. App Design

The team opted for a sleeker interface by introducing a black and white look so as to make our photos stand out.


         
I'm currently digging the whole minimalist look nowadays so I like what they had done to its interface. It's clean, less busy and cluttered. It might seem too bright to some but it really does make your photos be the focal point - which is what Instagram is all about.

For more information about this new update, watch their introductory video about this here:

It's so crazy how much Instagram has changed these days. I remember when I first used it at the beginning, I would post anything - from snaps of my newest e-book to shameless selfies and random rubbish but looking back at them now, I realized they are quite lame!HAHA. With all these discussions about "theme" and "feed goals", I become so conscious about my feed. Gone are the days where I would just post random things and pick out a random filter for a single photo.  Now, it's all about adjusting the little things (brightness, saturation, contrasts etc. ) on a single photo to create a cohesive feed for aesthetic/branding purposes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you what you should/shouldn't do nor am I boasting about my feed to get more followers etc. I just love the app so much because this is where I get most of my inspiration. At the end of the day, it is an art form and I just love looking at beautiful photos.

How about you? What's your take on the new Instagram?

I'm not a lawyer nor a law student but I definitely heard the phrase Ignorantia legis neminem excusat or Ignorance of the law excuses no one and what it means which is for me, any person who is unaware of the law may not escape liability for breaking the law.

The past few days, the whole country was shaken up when a new legislation was passed. Republic Act No. 10175 or more commonly known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 promises to protect us citizens from the people who would do us wrong (e.g. hackers, identity theft, cyber bullies) via digital means. It was also created to safeguard the integrity of computers and other communication devices as well as the confidentiality of the available information and data. Any forms of abuse, misuse or any other illegal acts will be punishable under the law. Sounds good right?

Yes, this legislation has its own good purpose that will benefit us but we cant ignore the fact that this same law also threatens to take away our freedom to say anything we want and our ability to enjoy the wonders of technology. As Sen. Guingona III (one of the senators who are against this) said:

Spot.ph summarizes the new law's questionable parts briefly explaining it and listed it into its own 10 Scary Things about the Cybercrime Prevention Act . It will give you insights on what this law was all about including the punishments one would likely face if found guilty.

Despite protests against the new legislation, the government as of yet, showed no signs of backing down. In fact, it is already starting to protect some government owned websites against such thing. As shown here when I try to access one:

Once again, our government exercises a new way to control us. Preventing us to exercise our freedom of speech? that's not a solution to make this country a better place to live in. No one, not even our government can stop us from exercising our freewill. I heard that there are some lawmakers that are trying to review provisions under this new law but while waiting for news about it, I'll go ahead and download some movies and books online.

Somebody sent me these set of pictures on my e-mail and I really found this very intriguing specially with the on-going Beijing Olympics. It's politically funny for those who knew about the relationship of China and Tibet. I don't mean to bash China with these, hell! I even don't take credit for these pictures. I just want to post it here just for the sake of humor and its up to the readers on what they thought about these.

This is how the logo was made:

Indeed, it was a sweet victory.

Manny Paquiao once again made us proud with his recent victory in Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. His KO win over David Diaz put him on top of the rankings as the World's Best Pound for Pound Boxer. He made history as the first Asian to have 4 belts in different boxing categories. He proved once again that once he stepped on the ring, all Filipinos regardless of where they are in the world would put aside their differences and be united. But as much as I would like to fill this page with all those Manny Paquiao brouhaha, I could not erase on my mind the other man on the ring, the one whom Paquiao defeated - David Diaz.

What about him?

First and foremost, I pity him.

I watched the fight on GMA - 7's broadcast on t.v (with added ire on all those advertisements) and I saw how Manny pounded Diaz - brutally. Blood flowed down from the cuts and bruises Manny left on his face. He was Manny's punching bag from the first round onwards. And when he was hit with Manny's left hook and fell down on the canvass (bloodied) as if he were a post, I could not help but shed a tear for him. It's like his dream of becoming a well known champ vanish away with that fateful stoppage on the 9th round.

Nonetheless, I salute this man for showing what courage really meant. From round 1, anyone could see that Manny won this fight but David never quit. Even if he was pounded by Manny and blood flowed from his face, he stood there tall and proud for all the world to see. He even hug and congratulated Manny after the fight and praised him for showing his supperb boxing skills.

Cheers to Manny! Cheers to David for being such a good sport!

I first saw its trailer last March and I thought that it was really funny so I couldn't wait for it to be shown here in our local theaters. Unfortunately, when it was finally shown, I didn't have enough money left in my allowance to be able to watch it. Thus, I made a vow to myself that the next time I will receive my allowance I'm going to watch this movie. Luckily, my cousin gave my sister two movie passes so I beg my sister to let me have the other movie pass so I could watch Kung Fu Panda. It turns out that she liked to watch the movie also so the two of us went to Ayala Mall to watch it and LOL! it was a blast!

Kung Fu Panda is the story of Po, a big fat panda, who is the biggest fan of kung fu around. Po works in a noodle restaurant owned by his father (in this case a goose). Unexpectedly, he was "accidentally" chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy of being the Great Dragon Master to bring peace to China and its people. With this, his long time dream of being able to learn kung fu along side the legendary furious five of Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey - under the leadership of Master Shifu would now be at his feet. Unfortunately, the treacherous Tai Lung, a snow tiger, escaped from prison and is now heading to Po's village to seek revenge and it is now up to Po to stop him and protect everyone from this oncoming threat.

Basically, Kung Fu Panda's storyline about an unlikely hero out of not "society-thinks" a hero should be - in this case a "BIG, FAT PANDA" is sort of a cliche (remember shrek?) in which most of us have been familiar with. But, with its funny antics and wisecracks along with its lovable characters and with a stellar voice performance from an all star cast, Kung Fu Panda succeeds in entertaining me.

By the way, apart from enjoying the visual graphics of the movie, I happen to caught some memorable lines from it that I would like to share it here:

"There's no secret ingredient, you just have to believe in yourself"

"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called present"

"To make something special, you just have to believe it's special"

P.S :

I was quite a surprised when I learned that the movie's theme song was sang by our very own Sam Concepcion. Oh ho ho! way to go Sam! You make the Filipinos Proud.

The line at Ayala Center Cebu ticketing booth was long. Different Faces all recording one meaning--excitement beams at me from the crowd of people hungry to have a ticket of the latest movie this season--Transformers.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is Transformer's second opening week in our country but it still is a huge hit base on the crowd of people lining up to get a ticket too see it and base also on the number of people talking about it. I confess, I used to be one of those who doesn't give a damn about this.

I'm not a Transformer's fan---really.I have'nt watched the cartoon series way back my childhood days ergo I didn't know much about the characters -- the Robots. That is why, I'm not that keen enough and super excited to watch it. If it had not been to my boyfriend, I won't watch it and write this review--err sort of. If it had not been to him, we would not be lining up at the ticketing booth. I'm not blaming him for anything though. In fact, I'm thankful that because of him, I found out that Transformers was not that bad after all.

Anyways, Transformers, like what I said was not really my cup of tea, thus in order to be "not-being-left-out" during discussions with my boyfriend, I've read reviews and synopsis of the movie on the web. It's better to have some piece of information on hand than to be a total weirdo na nakatulala lang at walang alam sa mga pinag-uusapan d ba?. Now going back to the reviews that I've read, Transformers has it share of the good ones as well as the negative ones posted by anybody on the net. Wanna know what I think about it?

Now here's the plot, Transformers is all about good robots called the Autobots engaging in war with the bad robots called the Decepticons over a "special cube" that can cause havoc on mankind if it would be in the hands of the bad ones. That cube was found here on Earth ergo humans became entangled in the so called "robot wars".

At first, you may see this movie as pure testosterone having fights left and right to make it more entertaining to watch. Trust me, I thought so too but after watching it, I found out that there are some comedic scenes entwined in the whole movie. I so love the part when the Chevy Car (which became one of the robots by the way) hum out a "Baby Come Back" song whenever the lead guy's apple-of-the-eye walk away. I also love it when the SUPER HUGE Robots try to fit in the lead guy's small house to hide themselves! I have to give credit to the people behind this movie especially the Special Effects Team for doing a job well done in making this movie such an entertaining thing to watch. The Transformer's shape changing from robots-to-vehicles and vice versa keep me in awe. It was perhaps one of the amazing things I've ever seen in the movie world.

Apparently, the movie keeps me hanging. There are some scenes in there that seems like it's lost. Some characters were gone in seconds as the movie nears its end. I wonder where are the new robots that was created by the special cube gone? What about the"defense girl" and the "Black Guy" who both discovered what the so called aliens were after for? What happened to them?

Over all, this movie ROCKS! It's really worth everything--your dime, time and interest. You better check it out and be transform.

After almost 10 years, the original all girl group announced a few days ago that they are performing a series of shows in January. Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, Melanie "Sporty Spice" Crisholm, Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell, Emma Baby Spice" Bunton and Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown surely are getting back together huh?

I'm such a big fan of this group way back when I was still in Elementary. My cousins and I often sang their songs and act out their videos in our little play and I would always play the part of Posh Spice (she's my favorite spice girl). Like any other spice girls fan, I was heartbroken when the group break up in 1998 with Geri Halliwell's departure. This became one of the biggest news stories during that year. But the remaining girls still continue to record albums and appear in shows yet the group is still not the same as having Geri around.

Since then, rumours of a Spice Girl Reunion began circulating the music world and fans around the world patiently waited for this to happen but it never pushed through not until this day.

I'm so excited to see the group that started it all perfom once again! I wanna hear their hit songs once again! It's like being 9 yrs old again playing "wannabee" with my playmates.

GIRL POWER!

Ang araw na ito ang ika isang daan at siyam na anibersaryo ng ating kalayaan. At dahil espesyal ang araw na ito para sa ating mga pilipino, pipilitin kong magsulat sa sarili nating wika kahit pa ako ay isang Bisaya at mas bihasa pa sa pag gamit ng wikang Ingles kaysa sa wikang Filipino.

Gaya nga nang sabi ko, anibersaryo ng ating kalayaan ngayon. Kung ating matatandaan, simula pa noong bata tayo ay tinuro na sa atin nang ating mga magulang at mga guro sa elementarya kung ano ang Araw ng Kalayaan, Bakit ito importante para sa ating mga pinoy at kung bakit natin ito ipinagdiriwang taon-taon. Para sa mga taong hindi alam ang sagot sa mga katanungan ito, pasensya na kayo at hindi ko maipapaliwanag o masasagot kayo dahil ako ay isang estudyante lamang at hindi guro ng Kasaysayan. Kung baga, kung ano ang alam ko ay itatago ko nalang sa aking puso. *taray! HAHA

Dahil nga araw ng kalayaan ngayon, marami sa ating mga ahensyang gobyerno ang ipinagdiwang ang araw na ito dahilan para ako ay mairita bakit? kasi naman grabeh ang traffic kanina dito Cebu. May mga parada kasi sa daan at meron ring nagwewelga. Talagang inis na inis na talaga ako. Tumatagaktak na ang aking mga pawis sa loob nang jip at nangangamoy usok na ako, sira narin pati porma ko. Grabeh talaga!

Pero pansin ko lang, hindi ko yata naramdaman ang halaga nang araw na ito sa ating mga kababayan. Wala akong nakikitang nakasabit na watawat sa mga kabahayan o sa mga opisina. May parada nga pero pgkatapos nun? alam ba nang lahat kung bakit may parada? o gusto lang nilang makakita ng mga tumutugtog na banda sa daan? Sa jeep nga tinanong ako ng katabi kong ale kung bakit may nagpaparada at nang sinagot ko siya na "araw po ng kalayaan ngayon" ang naging tugon lang niya ay "ah ok, mahalaga pa ba yan? puwermisyo lang ang dulot nyan". Napapaisip tuloy ako na maaring tama nga si Ale. Isa lang siguro siya sa mga libo-libong pilipino na hindi binibigyang importansya ang araw na ito. Hindi naman natin sila masisisi dahil sa mga pinagdadaanang gulo ng ating bayan ngayon. Malaya nga tayo sa mga mananakop na mga dayuhan pero naging malaya ba tayo sa isang dictador? Kung ang mga ninuno natin ay ipinaglaban hanggang sa kamatayan ang kalayaang inaasam-asam nila laban sa mga mapang aliping dayuhan, bakit karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay pumupunta sa mga dayuhang bansa para mag trabaho doon. Bakit nagpapaalipin pa rin tayo sa mga dayuhan kung talagang malaya na nga tayo? Bakit gusto natin ang mga gamit na nila kung ang mga ninuno natin itinakwil sila sa ating bayan isang daan at siyam na taon na ang nakaraan? Talaga nga bang malaya na tayo? Dapat pa bang ipagdiwang natin ang ating Kalayaan taon-taon?

Napakahirap talagang maging isang tunay na pinoy pero alam nyo? bilib ako sa lahi natin bakit? napagdaanan na kasi natin lahat ng problema sa mundo pero ito pa rin tayo..tinatawanan lang natin ang mga problemang ito. Saan ka makakita ng ganyan sa buong mundo?

Akalo ko maikli lang ang maisusulat ko ngayon kasi hirap akong magtagalog pero heto..naka-ilang salita na ako, parang pang talumpati diba?HEHE. Pasensiya na lang po sa mga marunong mag tagalog na bumabasa sa sulat kong ito. Mali-mali po ang tagalog ko..pwede nyo po itong pintasan pero nais ko lang malaman nyo na ngpakahirap po ako para dito..HAHA

MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!

Mexico - Riyo Mori from Japan was crowned Miss Universe 2007.I was not able to watch the live show at ABS-CBN because of some work to do but I when I got home at around 8pm I hurriedly turn on the TV and watch the telecast on Studio 23. There were a lot of gorgeous and lovely ladies this year that you can't really tell who will win. Here's my thoughts on the show:

STAGE:

Way to go Miss Tanzania! uhm..Slovenia should have taken the place of Miss Nicaragua.

TOP 5:

I'm so glad that two of my bets for the crown are in! Venezuela and korea and Oh My God! two Asians (Japan and Korea) in he top 5? my oh my..that's a feat you kow because MU is well known to favor Latinas over other race. Thus for two Asians to make it on the top 5 is truly a WHOOSH!

THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE

Miss Japan was a "so-so". She was not in my list to fight for the crown. Compared to the other finalists she's not that strikingly beautiful l(Korea has the prettiest face on the competition!)like the rest of the top 5 but then again they were robbed from the crown last year with that "Plastic Doll" so maybe the MUO gave the crown to Riyo instead of that Latina Bombshell from BRAZIL. Well, at least she's from Asia but I really wish KOREA should have won...


SPECIAL AWARDS

OMG! MISS PHILIPPINES won for three consecutive years that Miss Photogenic award. Im sorry to say this but there are more beautiful candidates in the competition that truly deserves that award. I'm not bashing our representative but come to think of it, the basis for that award is thru internet voting and dios ko naman! Ang daming mga badush at mga pageant crazy filipinos sa buong mundo at yun nga ang nangyari! todo suporta na naman tayo. Yeah, it's not that bad but maawa naman kayo sa mga kandidata natin. Taon-taon nalang tayo nanalo ng award na yan at taon-taon na rin tayong pinagtatawanan ng buong mundo. I really hope that MUO will let the photographers choose the miss photogenic candidate to show fairness to other girls.

WISH THEY WERE THERE

Misses RUSSIA, GREECE, SOUTH AFRICA and SPAIN. Sayang naman kasi ang gaganda talaga nila. I failed to watch the preliminaries that is why I really don't know what went wrong for these girls. They were a heavy favorite in Mexico.

Miss Universe had concluded....and a new queen have been crown...4 major grandslam pageants to go....watch out for Miss World..we have a pretty representative..MAGGIE WILSON.. =D

Four days to go and the Filipino people will face their "biggest" challenge as a nation. Four days to go and I will be able to exercise my right to vote. Being a first time voter I really have no idea what to expect this coming May 14 and what to do when I'm in the poll precint. Mix emotions run through my system. I admit that I'm scared - of what is going to happen on election day. I'm confused of who will I vote. Thus, when GMA - 7 has this "Isang tanong, Isang sagot" program last sunday wherein all the senatoriables would have to answer questions thrown at them by selected media men and fellow aspirants, I was very keen to watch the show even if it was aired late at night.

Did the show helped me? It sure really is!. It really help me to decide whom to choose among the senatoriables this coming election day.Here's my list:

As of now, these two are my only bets for senators because of their platforms that really involves youth development. And oh..by the way.. I'd like to plugged Pichay =). I found his tagline amusing :Pichay, itanim sa Senado..hehe..

Just a couple of hours had passed since Wendy Valdez was eliminated in Pinoy Big Brother Season 2. I first saw Wendy during her BB. Pilipinas stint where she emerge as first runner up. Next thing I know, she's one of the housemates that would enter big brother's house for the second season of the show. At first, I like her because of her well..uhm..beauty, her strong personality and her own life story. When she was first nominated for eviction, I keep on hoping that people would vote for her. She was really one of my favorites to enter the top 4 along with Bea, Nel, and Mickey. But as time passes and after watching a couple of live episodes in Studio 23, My adoration for Wendy changed. Pardon me for saying this, but Wendy is such a "backbiter"!. She keeps on making issues on her other housemates. Hitting them while they are not around. I don't know why she's doing this stuff to her other housemates.Is it because it's her attitude to be frank at all times? Nonetheless, I really don't like this attitude of her that is why when she was eliminated I was not sad. She may be pretty but what can a physical beauty do if what is inside her rot?

I'm an avid watcher of America's Next Top Model eversince it debuted its first cycle with it's first ever winner Adrienne Curry. Since then, I make it a point to watch every episodes of each cycle on youtube.Now, this Tyra Bank's creation is on it's eight cycle and from the start of the competition my bet was Brittany. She is perhaps the most photogenic contestant of the show ever since Yoanna House conquered cycle 2. I see a great potential in her especially when she does close-ups she is really gorgeous, a true high fashion model seen on the pages of Vogue. Unfortunately, she was eliminated.

I was so sad about the judges decision. I really don't want her to go home yet. I was hoping that she will enter the top three. Life is just so unfair. I feel like I don't wanna watch ANTM again..huhu.. Anyways, my second bet was still fighting a good fight. Natasha, get 'em girl!

To Brittany, I was sad to see you go. But the end is just the beginning. I hope that I will see you again..on the pages of Vogue.

for more info about the ANTM check this site:http://cwtv.com/tehcw/americas-next-top-model=biohub