October 11, 2008.

Sky Cable Vanity Fair Album

I’ve been looking for a driver who’s qualified
So if you think that you’re the one
Step into my ride
I’m a fine-tuned supersonic
Speed machine
With a sunroof top and a gangster lean

Around 10pm on Sunday, Formula 1 capped its first ever night race in Singapore.  Renault’s Fernando Alonso marked his 20^th career victory and first since 2007’s Italian Grand Prix with McLaren.  He won after starting 15th on the grid.  Second placer Nico Rosberg scored his best Grand Prix finish, giving Williams its best result since the 2005 season. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was third.

So if you feel me let me know
Know, know
Come on now what you waiting for
For, for
My engine’s ready to explode
Explode, explode
So start me up and watch me go
Go, go, go

  

50,000 tourists attended the first night race by F1.  Part of the historical night race was my friend and officemate, Karen Zabaljauregui, Jan Dela Merced with friends. 

 

  

 

Back in Manila, people who didn’t have an airline ticket to Singapore last weekend had an alternative as Alchemy, alongside Sky Cable, opened its door to an F1 Viewing Party.  Pia Boren hosted the event and gave F1 goodies for contest winners.

 

Back in Manila, people who didn’t have an airline ticket to Singapore last weekend had an alternative as Alchemy, alongside Sky Cable, opened its door to an F1 Viewing Party.  Pia Boren hosted the event and gave F1 goodies for contest winners.

Back in Manila, people who didn’t have an airline ticket to Singapore last weekend had an alternative as Alchemy, alongside Sky Cable, opened its door to an F1 Viewing Party.  Pia Boren hosted the event and gave F1 goodies for contest winners.

 

There were 3 track crashes that evening, Piquet, Fiscichella, Barichello –yea, I can’t pronounce those names too.  Massa had a pitstop disaster.

Got you where you wanna go
If you know what I mean
Got a ride that’s smoother than a limousine
Can you handle the curves?
Can you run all the lights?
If you can baby boy
Then we can go all night

Alonso did a round of cycling at 3am before the race day to probably get a feel of the track.  That photo is glaring brightly as Karen’s desktop wallpaper. 

’Cause I’m 0 to 60 in three point five
Baby you got the keys
Now shut up and drive
(Drive, drive, drive)
Shut up and drive
(Drive, drive, drive)

 

Thanks Chai for attending the event with me!

F1 Viewing Party Album  

 

We used the May 1 holiday to go out of town for our company outing.  Tovee was nice enough to lend us the De Guzman’s rest house in Batangas.  Too bad it was high tide and we weren’t able to lounge or swim by the beach.  Good thing the pool was maintained well and looked inviting.  As I was about to swim, a bee came buzzing by… and landed right smack to my leg and STUNG me.

Oh boy was I stung!  Most friends are impressed with my threshold for physical pain (no, my masochism doesn’t have anything to do with it ——I’m just keeeeeding, human rights people get off my back.)  I can hold it out better in a dentist chair than most guys who’d wince at the sound of the drill.  Not because I had a dozen of cavity gaps that needed to be filled.  Although that is true.  I fell down the stairs flat on my face before a big party and got 2 bruises as big as my hands.  I was sore all over, but managed to smile and be the designated photographer the whole night.  A car driven by a student driver backed up and hit me on the back.  Threw me a meter away.  I was in an artist’ house in Puerto Galera taking a shower when I slipped and gashed my hands in the process to break my fall (this was bad).  The bathroom was two-storey, if you can imagine, and the walls had spikes.

This photo shows the group drinking.  I am not part of it because geeks like me sleep at 10pm.

The Battle with the Bee

Again, boy was I stung!  I swatted the bee away and it left its stinger attached to my leg.  I was in so much pain.  Yssah, my savior of the day, was trying to hold me down so she can pull out the stinger, which looked like a tiny splinter with white hairs on it.  I couldn’t describe the pain but it was something I haven’t felt before.  The area around the sting felt semi-paralyzed and electrified… it was tingling, throbbing… PAINFUL.  For some weird reason, when I see Yssah’s hand going nearer my leg, it hurts more and I just had to move away.  Trying to keep my manliness (I’m a man behind the clothes.  Really.), I tried my best not to show that I’m hurt.  But I kept yelping in pain.  I don’t remember anything that has made me bark like that.

Finally, Tovee was able to find a plucker that helped Yssah pull out the stinger.  The pain subsided immensely after that.  I wish I wasn’t the casualty but how many can actually say that they have been stung by a bee?  I was especially picked out.  And to be a target of warfare means you’re a superpower.  Look at the US of A. 

But still, I kept yelping like a woman!  Shame on me.

I lost the fight with the bee.  Target engaged.  Target hit.  Mission accomplished.  He died with dignity.  I live on with humiliation.

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/426/08_0501-_Sky_Cable_Outing

Album 2: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/427/08_0501-_Calatagan_Outing    

The Philippine Advertising Congress, which happens every two years, was held in Subic for 2008.  It was my very first Ad Congress… and Bubba’s too!  I definitely gained about 5 lbs from all the food! Buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and buffet dinner!!!  I’m such a beast when it comes to eating…

 I was a delegate together with the account managers from the airtime department, which also falls under our division.  We rented a house in Subic that was newly renovated and I was bunked with Len and Kay, who I got to know better during the 4-day convention.

I loved the seminars (they weren’t boring at all) and learned a lot from it.  I was especially thrilled to see Neil Gaiman in the flesh, only a few meters away. 

11/22: Neil Gaiman

11/23: Marlboro Party

It was interesting to be part of the Ad Cong, which was pretty similar to the PCTA Cable Convention.  Ad Congress involves advertisers, media partners, etc. which is the same with PCTA but it’s more centric to Cable Channels and their shows.

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/285