New American Idol

It's been a while since my last post. I've been busy lately and I also started my sports blog (http://sportslang.blogspot.com) last May 17, 2009.

Last night, I wasn't able to go to work because of tonsillitis. It had an opportunity to watch TV all night. During a commercial break of the basketball game I'm watching (Alaska Aces & Talk N' Text), I saw part of the finale of American Idol. A lot of people are voting for Adam Lambert to win it and Kris Allen has a small chance of winning it.

After opening my homepage, I saw this news from yahoo.com and I'm really surprised that Allen won. Congratulations to him. He was really great when I saw him during the finale.

Mother's Day

Happy mother's day to all mothers especially my wife and mom.

My First Driver License

I got my first driver's license yesterday. It's just a Student Permit since this is my first time to get one. I got it from LTO - Las Piñas in less than one hour with no fixers help.

Here's the list of the requirements in case you wanted to get one:

1. Duly accomplished application form
2. Photocopy of NSO authenticated Birth Certificate
3. A document or ID that shows your TIN (in my case, I brought my ITR for last year)
4. Photocopy of valid ID

You can download the application form from LTO's website or get one from the first window. Make sure to bring a pen that you can use to fill out the application form. You really have to bring a document or ID that bears your TIN because they will not accept if you just wrote it down.

And the process of getting the license is so easy. Here's a simple guide:

1. Submit accomplished form & supporting documents at "customer service"
2. Proceed to the next window and wait for your name to be called for the picture taking and signature
3. Pay at the cashier
4. Wait at the releasing window for your Student Permit

Here's the breakdown of what I paid at the cashier:

• Student Permit fee - Php 150
• Application fee - Php 100
• Computer fee - Php 67.63

Total is Php 317.63 but of course you have to pay Php 318. Just a tip, make sure you give exact amount or have Php18 at hand since I gave Php 500 and told the cashier that I don't have P18 and she only gave me Php 180.

Pacquiao wins in a flash

Manny Pacquiao looks at Ricky Hatton laying in the ring. (AFP Photo/Gabriel Bouys)

Millions anticipated the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, but it turned out to be just like a sparring session for Pacquiao after knocking out and sending Hatton to dreamland in the 2nd round of their junior welterweight championship bout.

Referee Kenny Bayless declared the fight was over at 2:59 as Hatton lay in the canvas. Bayless almost stopped the fight during the first round when Hatton was knockdown twice.

This is just the second, and probably the worst, defeat of Hatton, who first lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via 10th round TKO. Meanwhile, this is Pacquiao's fourth match in four different divisions, making him the only boxer to do this feat.

A lot of people were “bitin” of the match, not expecting that it will be that fast. The entrance of the two fighters was even longer than the whole fight.

Some things that I noticed during the fight: Dave Batista, or simply Batista for WWE fans like me, was part of the entourage of Pacquiao. I don’t like the way Martin Nievera delivered the national anthem, something that a lot of conservatives might criticize him. A lot of celebrities were present during the fight like Mariah Carey & Nick Watch, Diddy, Tonny Hawk, Fabulous and Busta Rhymes.

The Battle of East & West: Pacquiao vs Hatton

Hours from now, people are waiting for the boxing match of our very own Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Ricky "Hitman" Hatton at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

Everything is set, as the final weigh in was over this morning. Pacquiao, known as the "Pambansang Kamao" and the pride of the Philippines, tipped the scales at 138lbs while Hatton, the pride of Manchester, England and wanting to take away the number 1 pound-for-pound honor from Pacquiao, tipped the scales at the limit of 140lbs.

Dubbed as East meets West, the Pacquiao vs Hatton fight is the biggest and the most anticipated boxing event of this year 2009. They will be fighting for Hatton's Ring Belt and IBO Light Welterweight Belt.

I can't wait to see if Manny can continue his magic or if Hatton will cut the streak...

Labor Day Celebration

Today, May 1 2009, is the celebration of International Worker's Day or commonly known as Labor day in the Philippines (a legal holiday and it means double pay!).

The Philippines celebration of this day always reminds me of people protesting on the streets. A lot of labor union like Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), etc. staged rallies all over the country.

This year's protest is nothing new from the previous years. They are asking, or should I say "demanding," the same thing, a P125 across the board wage increase for workers nationwide.

With the economic crisis that the country, and the whole world, is experiencing right now, the call for this kind of additional benefits is not timely. I know that it is hard for minimum wage earners to budget their salary but with the problem that all companies are experiencing, the additional salary can't be granted. Pushing this demand will just result to more problems like less working hours or less jobs, etc.

While reading the news online at Inquirer.net, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) National Capital Region chairman Roy Velez said “House, lot, jobs – these should be given to us by the government. With the present administration, we have long demanded for a P125 wage increase across the board nationwide but our calls have fallen on deaf ears. Weak job policies of the government is allowing continuous poverty and unemployment in the country,” He also said that instead of providing band-aid solutions such as the P330 billion stimulus package, “Jobapalooza” job fairs, and intensified labor-export policy, the government should help secure its workers by strengthening support for homegrown industries and giving adequate benefits and security policies.

He is asking for a house, lot and job from the goverment?!?! Is he insane?! I'm really pissed off with people like him. He keeps on asking things from the goverment when he himself is not doing anything to get a job. How can he expect a job when he is protesting in the streets, waiting for help from the government. He should stop whining and start looking for a job for his family.

A lot of government agencies, as well as private companies, are doing their part to help the Filipino people to have a job. Senator Chiz Escudero proposed an eight-point package for displaced workers in Senate.

I have a job right now but I'm honestly not happy. I want to complain but instead, I thank God that he still provides food for me and my family. We all should stop whining and thank God for all the things He provides us. We should stop complaining and be happy with what he have.