Goodbye MJ, The King of Pop.

Michael Jackson is dead.

Yes, It's true.

After almost four decades of his highly publicized personal life and his succesful career in the music industry. Michael Jackson (The King of Pop and Wacko-Jacko) has finally found peace.

He started his career as a five-year old talented boy together with his brothers Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon and Randy (replacing Jermaine in the later years) as the Jackson 5.

I remember seeing his famous moonwalk and singing his songs as a child. Man, It was infectious... LOL!

But his great talent and genius performances have been overshadowed by child sexual abuse accusations, Unsuccessful marriages, drug addiction and faulty plastic surgeries.

His planned comeback concert was scheduled next month but now it'll never happen. MJ had a cardiac arrest at his home on June 25, 2009. He was 50 years old.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009

"Music has been my outlet, my gift to all the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever." -Michael Jackson-

Yes. His music will live and his memory will forever be remembered.

111th Philippine Independence Day

The Philippine Declaration of Independence occured on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. (formerly known as Cavite El Viejo)

With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of the Philippine Independence, Filipino Revoutionary Forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo, proclaimed the sovereignty and Independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently defeated at the Battle of Manila Bayduring the Spanish-American war.

Today, Even after One Hundred and eleven years, We still celebrate this special day in the lives of Filipinos around the world.

I remember clearly as how Independence Day celebration would be like when I used to be in school. There would be parades, floats, balloons, treats, food, concerts, sale and whatevers.

It is a different experience each year for me.

And this year, I have again joined the wonderful Embassy Choir called "Koro Filipino".

KORO FILIPINO, is a choral group founded by the former Vice Consul of Cambodia.

I have been with the group since 2006. And I saw many members come and go. And it kind of made me sad but meeting and having new friends were such reasons for me to stay with the group. Plus, I get to do what I like most. Which is Singing!!!




These are some photos I took during the event.


Clockwise from left: The Ambassador with the cutting of the cake, Koro Filipino singing "Lupang Hinirang", The National Anthem of The Philippines. Ballroom dancers guests from Manila. The Cambodia Philippine Dance Troup dancing Tinikling.


Goofy Moments and some Photo-Ops;





I even did...




Pinoy... Bingo... Night!!!

(Explains the whole look, right?)

Ginumis

On a hot summer day...

I've decided to make Ginumis...

Ginumis is a textured treat made by layering pearls of sago (tapioca), Colored cubes of gulaman (gelatin), perhaps some tiny balls of fruit, and tasty roasted pinipig (immature glutinous rice pounded into flakes) , then pouring panocha syrup and coconut milk over the stuff and eating the concoction parfait-style with a spoon, or stirring together into a delicious slurry before consuming.



I discovered Ginumis while I was on vacation in the Philippines, introduced by my bestfriend in my lovely hometown, Daet. In this very small restaurant called Tippy Toppy. This was two years ago and I've been craving on since then.



Ingredients:

3 ripe mangoes
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup cooked sweetened tapioca (sago)
2 pandan leaves (or vanilla essence)
4 tablespoons of sugar (or honey)
(you can also add other spices like cinnamon or anis)

But because there are no mangoes available at home. I've decided to use peaches instead.

(Canned peaches)

Instructions:

Cut mangoes (or peaches) into small cubes. Set aside. In a pan, pour coconut milk, pandan leaves and four tbsps. of sugar. Let it boil. Turn off the fire immediately. Choose a beautiful and presentable glass for this dessert. Start by putting a layer of sweetened tapioca or sago, followed by a layer of sliced mangoes (peaches). Pour your coconut milk. Let it stand in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour.

Nadal's injury... will he be able to play in Wimbledon?

I have not seen Nadal since he got beaten by Robin Soderling at the Roland Garros a few weeks ago. He has insertion tendinitis, A chronic knee injury which he had been suffering for many months now.

While Rafa continues his treatment, we’d like to share with you this beautiful quote about Rafa Nadal from the seven-time Wimbledon champion and tennis legend, Steffi Graf:

“If you watch Rafael Nadal play tennis, you can only respond with amazement and great admiration. He is an incredible athlete with so much discipline, so much concentration and someone who likes to put a lot of passion into every point”.

“Words fail to come out of me to describe his game appropriately. I've rarely seen anyone who approaches a ball with so much attention. With such passion and joy that it makes it great fun to watch him. With him, you can associate everything that makes tennis so beautiful,” said Steffi to the German ‘Abendzeitung.de’ online newspaper.

http://www.abendzeitung.de/sport/tennis/111662

Meanwhile, I'm also overwhelmed with Roger Federer's victory and winning his first French Open Title and finally getting his 14th Grand Slam title, tied up with Pete Sampras. Although, I could say that the Finals of the French open 2009 was quite boring. No offense to Mr. Soderling but, Would anybody agree with me that having Nadal and Federer on the Finals is the highlight of every tournament?

Great Minds discuss Ideas; Average Minds discuss events; Small Minds discuss people.

With all the chaos going on....

What disappoints me much is people making a big fuss over a sex video of this doctor turned celebrity in the Philippines, Dr. Hayden Kho and a Filipino actress, Katrina Halili.

SO WHAT???!!!

As if it's the first time this situation has ever happened. Right? Not only this two people have done this. It's such just a shame that it came out. Whoever made the video public, should be the one to pay.

And what's sad is that a lot of people are still buying those videos. Not only in the Philippines, but here abroad as well.

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk...

At this instance, I remember this quote I came across to when I was still in school.

"Great minds discuss Ideas; Average minds discuss Events; Small minds discuss People."

This only shows how many people have such small minds.

Too Bad... :-(