I finally made it back to North Park after a couple of months of not going there.  I was so excited to eat my usual menu choices.  I went to visit the North Park along P. Guevarra, San Juan, MM to get my chinese food fix.

What i like about North Park is that even though they’ve been around for over a decade, they still manage to keep the quality consistently good.

So, i ordered my usual Salted Garlic Squid, Lemon Chicken, and plain rice.  I also got the free soup broth which i started with and hmmm…. it had a funny smell and taste to it.  If i could try to describe it, it tasted like a wet smelly rag.  So, i figured maybe this is an isolated incident and i am sure that the orders are gonna be awesome.  The food arrived and i was SHOCKED to say the least.  The quantity of the food was lessened by about 30%.  i was disappointed that they lessened the servings.  I wonder if they think no one noticed.

To top it off, the squid also tasted a bit funky.  It tasted like it came from a dirty stinky kitchen.  Even the chicken was not really that great.

Aaaaarrgghhhh….. I am throwing this out into the universe and i hope that the owner or management of North Park hears this.  If they lower their standards now, it’ll only take that next big chinese food restaurant to take over the helm.  I hope they try and redeem themselves.

Two weeks ago, i went to Tian Di with my girlfriend to get a massage.  We called ahead to reserve one of the two couple rooms available.  I was really excited to finally get a massage at Tian Di since they opened.

So, we made our way to Tian Di in San Juan and when we walked in, i was impressed with the interior.  It had an old world charm about it that is unlike any other spa.  The lady at the counter greeted us and apologized that the masseuse was not yet available.  We waited in the main reception area and we were served drinks while waiting.  We waited for about 45 minutes and i asked if we could go to the room already while waiting and i wanted to shower prior to getting a massage.  The room looked fantastic!  i dont know how else to describe it.

I headed to the bathroom and i noticed that there were cobwebs.  This meant that this room hasn’t been used much, nor has it been cleaned lately. hmmmm…. this got me a bit worried on the cleanliness of the place.  I jumped in the shower and and i noticed that the water was filling up and the drain was clogged. i couldnt see much because the lights were a bit dim.  I used my slippers to move the drain around and realized that there was a thick layer of guck (hair stuck together) on top of the drain. It was freakin’ gross!

The shower itself wasn’t that great cuz the water pressure wasn’t that strong and the shower head seemed clogged as well, since the water was all over the place.  Now i was beginning to think that maybe the sheets haven’t been changed or the room cleaned.

Nonetheless, we proceeded with the massage and the massage itself was ok.  i’ve had better massages for cheaper, but this was adequate.  Maybe about 30 minutes into the massage, i could hear people laughing and talking outside, then suddenly there was club music playing.  it totally ruined it for me.  Gone was the serenity, relaxation, peace, and quiet.  Apparently, Tian Di is also a bar and resto.  I dont have a problem with that idea.  But i do have a problem when the noise from the bar starts to become audible to the people in the spa.  This made the whole experience lousy since i couldn’t relax much with all the club music playing.  I do hope that the owner fixes this problem by sound proofing the walls or fixing the times of the spa and the club so that it doesnt coincide.  Otherwise, i suggest that you go during an earlier time so that you dont have to put up with the noise.

Although Tian Di can still be heavenly if they just fix the minor issues that i mentioned.  I hope that they fix this problem.

On our first night, we ate dinner by the clubhouse and we decided to celebrate and drink ourselves to oblivion in this new “Happy Ending” bar. While eating, i looked over to the bar area and noticed that NO ONE was inside and people were hanging out outside by the clubhouse eating and drinking.  This seemed unusual since one would think that people would rather drink inside a bar, rather than by the clubhouse.

So, we made our way to the famed “happy ending” bar and as we got to the door, we were greeted with a HUGE sign that states, “slippers, board shorts, singlets and sleeveless shirts are not allowed.” THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST STUPIDEST SIGN I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

Think about it.  CWC is a WAKEPARK.  How many wakeboarders actually come to CWC and bring SHOES? Seriously! I NEVER BRING SHOES to a wakepark.  I love the management of CWC and they did such an awesome job with running this wakepark, but this policy is mind boggling.  what were they thinking when they created this policy?  This policy looks so lost and is simply out of touch with the reality and culture of wakeboarding.  Wakeboarders did not come to camsur to dress up and be all formal. we’re here to chillax and just have a good time.  I think the management of “Happy Ending” should do the same and just chillax and have a good time and maybe their bar will eventually fill up.  Otherwise, expect it to be stuffy and empty!

The sucky part is that Hollywood, in their effort to increase ticket prices, is forcing the 3D issue down our throats.  Now, when i go to the cinema to watch a new movie, all they offer are the 3D versions.  What a scam! I watched Narnia recently on 3D because they didn’t have a non-3D version out, and after the movie, i realized that i could’ve watched it in 2D and it wouldn’t have made a remarkable difference.

So, you’re probably wondering why am i so against the 3D movement.  Let me count the ways.

The stupid looking glasses. In the old days, they used these glasses made of cardboard and colored plastic.  it wasnt that comfortable and it had alot of glare.  it was very difficult to watch a movie comfortably.

Now, they came up with these new 3D glasses. Wanna know what the difference is? Aside from the fact that it looks a bit more fashionable, and they now use better material such as plastic frames and glasses, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! it is the same technology recycled from the 1950′s.  uuugghh…

When i watch a movie, i want to be lost in the movie moment.  The 3D glasses make sure that i know that i am in a movie theater watching a movie. How so? well, did you notice the glare on the lens whenever you wear it. There is light entering the lens from somewhere and its causing a glare that is annoying.  You cant help but notice it when your watching a movie. Also, the glasses are not really that comfortable.  You’d think that with the eyewear technology, they would come up with more comfortable glasses. hello no.  All of that combined, and this ruins my movie watching experience.

Oh, and to add to that, i kinda get dizzy watching a 3D movie for a couple of hours.

So, the way i see it, until Hollywood comes up with a better solution for a true 3D experience without having to watch thru those annoying glasses.  I’ll stay away from 3D movies for now.

Here are my comments from the whole experience…

Ambiance
The place was kinda muggy and humid inside. it seems like the aircon wasn’t really working. The air didn’t seem fresh. The lighting was kinda dark even though the whole place was surrounded by glass.

Menu
Considering that the restaurant was positioned as a breakfast joint, their choices seems limited. There was only one (1) menu item for omelettes and it was the bacon and mushroom omelette. I wish they had more options for omelette.  I didnt really check the other stuff to give a proper assessment.

Food
I ordered the Beef Tapa.

Size: They gave a fair amount of beef and the eggs were large with the proper rice portion. Very nice.

Presentation: The presentation was pretty good, except for the Beef. The beef looked unusually black. It didnt look fresh at all, like it was cooked the day before and reheated. It did not look appetizing. i was wondering if it was really beef or carabao meat.

Taste: This was the worse part. I ate a piece and it already tasted funky. It seemed like they drowned it with flavoring to mask the “malansa” taste.

Service: I was fairly impressed by the attention and sincere concern of the manager and the staff in handling this situation. She immediately offered me a replacement which I declined, but she brought fruits to our table to help take away the foul taste. Unfortunately, when we ate the fruits, it also tasted like it was a few days shy of spoiling. The mango slices were already spoiled sour. But we didn’t have the heart to tell her that it was spoiled. Then she gave us complimentary meal for take home. The problem is that when I got the bill, they didn’t take out the tapa order. I had to tell her to take it out of the bill. But they gave a sincere apology and assurance that they would improve on their food quality.

Overall, i am not sure i would go back to flapjacks greenhills after that experience.  Just thinking about it makes my stomach turn.  The only reason why i am still considering going back is because of how the manager treated us and the situation with utmost care and sincerity.  If i do ever go back to flapjack’s, i hope that its gonna be a yummier experience.

Candidate #1: He used to work in my company but i fired him a few years ago.  He was my GM before but he was always late for work and had a drinking problem.  Worst of all, i caught him stealing massive amounts of company money, so i sued him and he went to jail for it.  He is applying for the same position again.

Candidate #2:  This guy has been working in my company for 12 years. He stayed out of trouble.  He seems like a nice honest guy.  He is NOT one of my star employees.  He never really stood out.  Very average.

I gave him a job 12 years ago cuz his mom used to be the General Manager of my company and his Dad was one of the top performers in my company.  Here is my dilemma, his mom just died and i feel bad.  Prior to his mom dying, he never even considered applying for the GM position.  During his job interview, he was telling me all the things that he stood for and so i asked him point blank, “what have you done in the past 12 years to support your stand?” He just stared back at me with those big googly eyes. he seemed lost for words.

Candidate #3: The next candidate impressed me. He is a rags to riches story. He was poor and he was a self made multi-millionaire. He joined my company a few years ago and whichever department i place him, he would always end up heading that department. As head of a department, he was instrumental in my helping me file my case against my former GM (candidate #1) and during those times he stood up for what he believed in.  He is very charming and slick to a fault; also, he is a master at office politics.  He knows what he has to do to get things done. Although there were some questionable transactions that he needs to clear up. Other than that, he seems like an ok guy.

Candidate #4:  This guy worked in one of our subsidiaries.  I had a floundering subsidiary when my partners decided to call off the partnership and left.  It was in shambles.  There was so much wrong going on in that company.  It seemed like a hopeless case.  He applied for the position and he was determined to fix the problem.  So i gave him a chance.  Now, that particular subsidiary is one of my stellar performers.  The employees there have straightened up and they are all working hard.  The subsidiary has set the standard of what our company should be like. He has since moved on, but his legacy is still seen within that company to this day.  This guy is an achiever! A very passionate individual that has proven himself time and again.  He has been an inspiration for a lot of his colleauges.  He turned down a job with another company that was gonna pay him over $1million annually.  He told me during the interview that he really believes that my company can grow and be better than what it is now and he can make it happen.

Candidate #5:  The last candidate also exemplifies leadership qualities.  He has held leadership roles within my company and has shown his competence.  He is very good with people and with communcating his ideas. He worked under the wing of my current General Manager and knows his way around.  He should be able to get the job done.  My current General Manager is endorsing him to me for consideration.

I need your help…

if you were me, who i would you hire for the General Manager post and why?

The other person that i will NOT vote for is Noynoy Aquino.  I have met so many people that plan to vote for Noynoy, yet none of the people that i have met could give me a logical reason on why they will vote for Noynoy.  Some of the reasons i have heard include: hindi siya magnanakaw; its his fate; He is the son of Ninoy and Cory; He is the lesser evil.  But none of the reasons point to why people think he is actually a strong candidate.  Usually when someone votes for a candidate, they vote for the person because of what he brings to the table.  In NoyNoy’s case, he brings nothing to the table.

So, here are my reasons why i will not vote for NoyNoy Aquino.

HE HAS NO TRACK RECORD.  Noynoy stands for NOTHING. His last 12 years in public service amounted to NOTHING. He had 12 years to make a difference, to take a stand against everything that he stands for now and during those 12 years, he did NOTHING.  He is nothing like his father who stood for something bigger than all of us, filipinos. His father is a National Hero because he fought for the Filipinos his whole life.  What did Noynoy fight for? NOTHING! Look at his Dad’s track record and compare it to his, His dad was on a whole different league.  Noynoy pales dramatically compared to his father and even his mother.

HE HAS NO LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.  There are certain qualities that i look for in a leader and Noynoy has none of it.  (1) A leader has to lead by example:  Noynoy has never done anything to lead by example. You have to walk the talk. And as far as i am concerned, he is all talk. (2) A leader has to inspire:  His father and Mother inspired people, he does not inspire at all.  He is merely riding on the coattails of his parents.  Its so typical in the Philippines for a son to ride on the accomplishments of their parents. (3) A leader has to have a Vision:  Noynoy has no vision for the country, and he NEVER did.  A person with vision would’ve done something in the last 12 years to fulfill that vision. What did he do? NOTHING.  (4) A leader takes a stand:  For 12 years, Noynoy stood for NOTHING. and now he claims to be the champion against corruption? hahaha… he had 12 years to fight against corruption and he did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and now he is our champion.  SUSMARIOSEP, if this is our champion, we are in so much trouble.

HE IS A PUPPET.  Noynoy decided to run for president because he was talked into it by the people around him who figured that since his mother died, sympathy of the filipino people will be on his side and therefore, he has a good chance of converting them into sympathy votes and win.  If his mother did not die, he would not have been pushed to run by the people around him.  There is a lot of politics behind Noynoy’s running for president.  Mar Roxas, who exemplified leadership, was suppose to run and had to step down to a lesser candidate because Mar had to tow the line of the party and give in to a winnable weaker candidate.  By picking Noynoy over Mar, The Liberal Party cheated the Filipino people of a real leader in Mar, and compromised themselves with a candidate that they know is not a strong leader, only because they know that they can EXPLOIT the death of the mom and win. Shame on you, LP!  The fact is that there are a lot of TRAPOS around Noynoy and even if you think Noynoy is not going to steal, the people around him will and he will be clueless about this, just like his mother was, during her term.

I have so many more points that i would like to make and will post in another blog. Feel free to comment either for or against.

Game#1.  I was 2nd in chips and i was Big Blind with KK.  Everyone folded and the chip leader on the button decides to push all-in to steal the blinds. Obviously, i insta-called him and he shows 9J suited against my KK. I was ecstatic.  The flop came out 78T giving him a straight on the flop. UN-FUCKING REAL!!!! For good measure, Full Tilt even gives him a flush on the river to ensure that i was really out for the count! WTF!

So, i figured, i will play another game.

Game#2.  I was again, 2nd or 3rd in chip stack. i was small blind this time with AA.  The guy to my left in late position decides to raise preflop, i reraised him a considerable amount, and he reraises me, pushing me all-in and i obviously called. He had 95 suited. the flop comes out 68T. i was thinking, there is no fucking way this guy was gonna hit, and BOOOOOOMMMM, he hits a 7 on the fucking river. UNBELIEVABLE!!! and he becomes a monster chip leader and i was out.

So, after those 2 unreal bad beats, i decided to call it quits for the night.  I realize that i dont think i would ever want to be a poker pro. Well, i live to play another day.

High intelligence enables human beings to do more with their lives. As a property of the mind, intelligence facilitates the use of language, the solving of problems and the comprehension of complex or abstract ideas. Intelligence is what makes learning possible. Do you want to know if your IQ is high enough?

Mensa Philippines – the Philippine chapter of the international organization for people with high IQs – invites prospective members to take the Mensa IQ Challenge this Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Fully Booked, High Street, Fort Taguig.

Mensa has over 200 members in the Philippines, and 100,000 members in over 80 countries worldwide. Actor/Olympian archer Geena Davis, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov are some of the more prominent Mensa members. Scoring in the top two percentile is the only requirement for joining Mensa.

Those interested in taking the IQ test should prepare a testing fee of P500 and a photo ID. Students who are undergraduates andhigh school students are given a discounted rate of P300 if they bring a validated school ID. Test takers below fifteen years of age are not permited. Tests start every hour at 10AM until 5PM. Contact info@mensa.ph for more details.

If you are interested, reply to this message and text your name, email address and your preferred time to 0920.904.0804 or email to info@mensa.ph

Apparently, if you are forming a corporation, you do NOT need to register with the DTi.  The DTi is only for single proprietors.  For corporations, you need to register with the SEC.

According to www.sec.gov.ph, i need to submit 6 copies of the following documents to the SEC to register as a stock corporation:

1. Name Verification slip (which i can secure online or from SEC Name Verification Unit)
2. Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws (apparently i can just get a template and just fill in the blanks and make it more applicable to my business)
3. Treasurer’s Affidavit
4. Bank Certificate of Deposit of Paid Up Capital notarized in place where signed

i would advise you to reserve the name that you want online on their website first and pay for the reservation fee of Php80.  That way you have it reserved for 90 days.

Now, since i am going into the retail business, i would need to create a name and logo of my brand.  I would have to register this with the IP (Intellectual Property) office to ensure that i have ownership of the name, trademark, logo.

This is their website www.ipophil.gov.ph

So, thats the first step!!!!!

“Thats one small step for man, and one giant leap for ChrisTan”

Addendum:  I found this website that details the registration process in setting up a corporation in the Philippines. It shows you the all the costs associated with registration, the schedule and amount of time it should take per step, and additional comments on each step for further understanding.

For the benefit of those who want to start a business, Here’s the link:

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/StartingBusiness/Details.aspx?economyid=153