tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38635952012-01-05T10:31:00.529+08:00You know you want toAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.comBlogger461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-70588677547603713032009-09-02T19:45:00.001+08:002009-09-03T09:37:27.073+08:00

This year has been quite a productive traveling year. I have been to three new countries so far. I started the year in Hong Kong. Then I went to Korea in April. This was followed by a short but captivating trip to Indonesia in July. A few weeks later, I went to Brunei. Two weeks after that, I went to Malacca in Malaysia and again to Malaysia - Penang - for business, the following weekend. This

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-23456195714421452422009-01-29T20:42:00.009+08:002009-01-30T00:06:06.946+08:00

As promised, here are my tips for that crucial last twenty-four hours before the CFA Level 1 exam. This is meant to complement my blog entry posted around a month ago containing general preparation tips for this test. Re-read - A lot of people actually recommend test-takers to take a break the day before the exam. This supposedly keeps one from being too psyched up for the next day, which in

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-40454798803630328672009-01-28T23:40:00.004+08:002009-01-28T23:52:31.457+08:00

CFA results out now! I passed! All I can say is - I'm so relieved! This motivates me to write another CFA tip. I'm still not claiming to be an expert or anything but hopefully my blog entry containing some recommended preparation for the last 24 hours prior to the exam will be useful. Will try to have this up by tomorrow.

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-86093157147470310822008-12-30T22:25:00.004+08:002008-12-30T22:36:25.173+08:00

For those looking for good and reasonably-priced lodging in some of the world's major tourist centers, I have a page with my unbiased verdict on those that I have slept at. Scope is worldwide though most reviews are concentrated on the Asia-Pacific region. From hostels to four stars. See it here. Hopefully, you won't find any unpleasant surprises if you ever choose one of the hotels I recommend

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-80505065205134726462008-12-24T21:27:00.012+08:002008-12-25T00:52:04.240+08:00

The Singaporean press is in dire need of ideas for content. Really. The headline in today's free tabloid, My Paper, was taken from Reuters and contained the nth bleak reminder that more job losses are in store. It seemed like an eye catching title initially, and it was when it appeared the first few times during the past few months. But the problem is, we've been told of it already. We've seen

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-73115748148240224452008-12-21T11:45:00.003+08:002008-12-21T11:57:52.146+08:00

A nifty idea from Houston to liven up or perhaps add misery to your airport transit (depends on who's singing) this holiday season.

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-51860017701874377482008-12-16T20:33:00.018+08:002009-02-02T20:33:12.877+08:00

I was originally planning to post this in January after the results come out but later decided to do this now while the memory is still fresh in my mind. I am not an expert on taking tests, and I'm not claiming to be one. Going back to the 7th of December, there are many things I would have done differently had I known then what I do now. For those who are just about to take Level 1 next June

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-85740121965898673772008-12-14T19:56:00.005+08:002008-12-14T20:49:50.322+08:00

I've recently taken a liking for non-fiction books, particularly those dealing with Wall Street and the financial markets. Four goods ones I've encountered lately were written by people who are/were in the industry, and are considered to be some of the better known ones on the subject. My take: The Accidental Investment Banker by Jonathan Knee - Now this is one of the more serious of the lot.

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-85094527796525674872008-12-13T22:17:00.015+08:002008-12-14T12:19:30.550+08:00

This year, I decided to celebrate my birthday in a very symbolic way. My morning was filled with two appointments so as soon as I was done with those and had my lunch, I set out to climb Singapore's tallest peak - Bukit Timah Hill. Climbing it is of course, nothing compared to Everest, or K2 but it's a start. It's not that tall but it was quite a steep climb. My thighs got sore (and are still

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-14108851739628436692008-12-13T00:46:00.007+08:002008-12-19T22:07:56.757+08:00

The big news today at Merrill Lynch was the announcement that 30,000 to 35,000 heads will be cut as a result of the merger with Bank of America. In absolute terms, this number pales in comparison only to the 50,000 figure announced by Citi some weeks back. This email "greeting" came as a shock only to the uninformed few as news of the same have been spreading in CNBC and other channels for quite

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-35882695387280555972008-12-11T23:04:00.008+08:002009-02-03T00:04:39.368+08:00

Now that I am done with the CFA exams, I don't have to be bogged down by my conscience incessantly telling me to study. It feels so good not to feel guilty whenever I am out on the town not thinking about leases, efficient markets and whatnot. Damn, it feels so good to be free! As strange as it may sound, the whole process of preparing for it was fun in a sadistic sort of way. Don't get me

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-65561753200321968252008-12-04T15:50:00.010+08:002008-12-05T13:31:46.230+08:00

To my utter surprise, last night's concert by Kraftwerk was almost filled to the brim. This was that show which I had to go alone because not a single person I know in Singapore is aware of the band's existence. Nevertheless, I did not let my solitude dampen my mood. My excitement had me arrive a good thirty minutes before the show. Everyone else inside the Esplanade Theater were just as excited

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-38294744218226892732007-07-24T19:24:00.000+08:002007-07-24T20:39:13.132+08:00

Yesterday's State of the Nation Address (SONA) puts Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the front page of today's edition of the FT, the first time I've seen it happen in the two years that I've been reading the paper. Philippine issues appear sparingly in its pages, thanks to correspondent Roel Landingin who comes up with the goods. There's even a running joke in the paper that "the

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-42973010556495725692007-07-09T19:20:00.000+08:002007-07-09T21:26:59.635+08:00

One of the world's largest musical events was held last Saturday and televised to billions of people around the world. Live Earth came and went, this being the third "Live" concert on such a massive scale. The series of concerts, from Rio de Janeiro to Tokyo and even Antarctica, aimed at raising awareness for global warming. It was initiated by former US Vice President Al Gore and supported by

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-9811991642012148302007-06-23T18:06:00.000+08:002007-06-24T11:12:01.504+08:00

Now you see it. Now you don't! Turned out that President Bush merely slipped the watch into his pocket early on while greeting the cheering crowd. Apparently, the Albanian public are offended over the way news agencies played it out - as if the timepiece was stolen by someone in the crowd. Tsk. What some people do to get a story. Albania may be the poorest country in Europe, but that's no

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-6122686860471462552007-06-23T13:13:00.000+08:002007-06-23T13:41:00.688+08:00

With global financial markets once again at all-time highs, investor appetite for risk has never been as encompassing (and worrying) as this. The spate of growing liquidity has prompted investors to look elsewhere for opportunities - even in places that many would hardly find attractive or promising. This week marked the publicizing of the First Persian Equities Fund, a fund that gives foreign

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-58156325155033313822007-06-16T22:09:00.000+08:002007-06-17T00:25:56.341+08:00

Yahoo Mail has recently disposed of its 1GB email storage cap. The good news is that there's now unlimited storage. Say goodbye to bouncing emails! I can now keep all the mail I want. As a Yahoo Mail user for four and a half years, I am one happy camper.

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-41777868212482768572007-06-12T22:17:00.000+08:002007-06-13T21:30:15.188+08:00

Move over New York City. London is now the world's premiere city of commerce, according to MasterCard's Worldwide Centres of Commerce Program. The survey made use of various dimensions such as (a) quality of life, (b) ease of doing business, (c) volume of actual commercial activity and (d) flow of knowledge and information to rank the cities. Despite ridiculously overpriced rides down the tube

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-24168203688591939562007-06-09T22:56:00.000+08:002007-06-10T01:36:51.845+08:00

The new logo (above) to be used for the 2012 Olympic games in London was unveiled earlier this week - to much criticism from Londoners and non-Londoners alike. The jigsaw-like image, which cost a staggering $800,000 to make, certainly drew in a lot of flak because of its departure from how these logos usually look like. For one, it is rare for an Olympic logo to just have one color. Its

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-42234974396946145262007-06-05T21:14:00.000+08:002007-06-09T13:34:16.811+08:00

Singapore has always been known for being topnotch when it comes to law and order. Given the administration's notoriety for strict rules, the city-state's citizens are known to have a relationship with its government that is akin to one between an obedient child and his mother. Although that relationship arguably played a big role in making Singapore an economic powerhouse today, there are

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-57196690879954151332007-06-02T15:48:00.000+08:002007-06-03T20:38:49.561+08:00

Forgive me for the title. I just couldn't resist! Going in and out of Singapore's Changi Airport is always a pleasure as its orderliness and efficiency also mirrors that of the city state's. As the first thing which travelers see upon arriving in the country, it is only fitting that the first impression becomes a lasting one. Airports the world over could learn a thing or two from an airport in

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-82851656054804385612007-06-01T19:43:00.000+08:002007-06-01T20:45:08.284+08:00

In its first ever country ranking of peacefulness, the Philippines placed 100th out of 121 countries. Although it certainly wasn't a comprehensive list (troubled countries such as Chad, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan are not included in the list), it is still a sad reflection of the type of peace and order situation we have here in the country. No doubt, the violence from the recent

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-44632425749007113682007-05-30T21:58:00.000+08:002007-06-01T13:55:13.700+08:00

Direct flights have become operational starting March between the capitals of two countries. Now this wouldn't seem like news at all until you hear which countries it involves - Iran and Venezuela. That's right. Iran Air now flies long-haul between Tehran and Caracas on a regular basis. The fastest service from Persia to Latin America and vice versa! The launch of the said route is rather

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-55647134057527691422007-05-30T16:55:00.000+08:002007-06-01T20:48:01.220+08:00

There has traditionally been a strong bond between movies and video games. Several big budget films - such as James Bond and Superman to name a few - have separate versions as PC or console games. On the other hand, a number of popular gaming franchises have also seen smooth sailings in their movie versions. Silent Hill and Resident Evil are just a few examples of games that have successfully

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-27775552157136493072007-05-26T11:06:00.000+08:002007-05-26T11:41:42.779+08:00

After nearly a year's hiatus, I'm back to posting in The Feel Good Blog. Missed me? Let me begin this de-facto relaunch (if you can call it that) with some raves for this new and upcoming app called Particls. We know how the internet can be a jumbled mess sometimes. It gets insanely difficult to search for the things that you really want to know about, or maybe those that just tickle your fancy.

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1151851080598699102006-07-02T21:43:00.000+08:002006-07-02T23:25:44.256+08:00

Spoiler Warning After skipping the latest in the X-men franchise, Bryan Singer directs another noteworthy superhero movie in the form of Superman Returns, the first film in nearly twenty years to feature the Man of Steel. Twenty years after the clunker Superman IV : The Quest for Peace, "Returns" flows like a sequel rather than a new series altogether. There were unmistakeable resemblances,

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1150254476105644132006-06-14T10:26:00.000+08:002006-06-14T22:10:41.060+08:00

The more I observe, the more I am convinced that the recent sell-off in the stock markets isn't going to end anytime soon. I should've known. With the YTD charts revealing two-pyramid formations (encircled below, the first and larger pyramid being the euphoria experienced worldwide in early May, and the second and smaller pyramid indicating the relief rally in late-May), the downtrend pattern is

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1150118092620714722006-06-12T21:09:00.000+08:002006-06-12T21:14:52.633+08:00

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1149775781490306622006-06-08T21:32:00.000+08:002006-06-08T22:16:48.050+08:00

The selection was fresh with copious amounts of seafood and sashimi, although at 1,200php/person, the food could use more variety. Basically there were six stations - salads, Japanese and fresh seafood, Chinese, international fare, a cooking station as well as desserts. Paseo Uno also has an excellent crepe station and a dark chocolate fountain for those with a sweet tooth.

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1149348546798574142006-06-03T23:10:00.000+08:002006-06-04T12:26:23.400+08:00

A trip to Negros isn't complete without a daytrip over to Silay City. Once dubbed, "The Paris of the East," the city is dotted with old buildings and mansions that used to be populated by the rich sugar barons of yore. Just 20 minutes away from Bacolod City, Silay has a distinct bohemian feel, resemblant of its past reputation as a favorite haunt of musicians and artists - some coming as far as

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1149260279035181812006-06-02T22:03:00.000+08:002006-06-02T23:16:35.376+08:00

You know that a movie is in trouble when it starts to cross over to the gross side to pass off as a "comedy". Such is the flaw of the Adam Sandler-produced "Benchwarmers," where stomach-turning scenes of vomitting, farting, spitting and insect-eating came out as lame and pathetic attempts at generating laughter. There were more "yucks" heard in the theater than guffaws - perhaps serving to

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1148829382105748662006-05-28T23:06:00.000+08:002006-05-28T23:19:52.743+08:00

There has always been a secret understanding between San Francisco and superhero movies. Think the gripping Golden Gate Bridge scene in Superman (1978) or the green giant plunging into the bay in the Hulk. X-Men III joins the list by providing lengthier and even more dramatic scenes of the city than the other two. All the necessary SF elements are there : Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower,

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1148341911631764562006-05-23T07:28:00.000+08:002006-05-23T14:19:52.040+08:00

Talk about feel good. Come on. I want you to do this little exercise. Laugh. Now. Done? Good. It seems that life nowadays has become too prudish that people have actually forgotten how to laugh (no wonder millions suffer from burnouts). According to this article in the Financial Times, people actually pay good money to be taught how to laugh - especially stuffy office managers. Earlier this

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1148223911951705872006-05-21T22:29:00.000+08:002006-05-22T17:14:30.023+08:00

Compared to the page-turning book that came out three years ago, the film adaptation of “The Da Vinci Code” turns out to be bland and mildly disappointing, rendering it totally unworthy of all the buzz that had surrounded its theatrical release. Although it is certainly possible that being familiarized with the whole story beforehand could create some sort of bias against the film, knowing

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147998357036388242006-05-19T07:56:00.000+08:002006-05-19T08:56:13.396+08:00

In a recent turn of events, authorities in Manila have banned movie theaters in the city from screening The Da Vinci Code because the film is "offensive to the established beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church." Someone needs to go up to city hall and remind them that The Da Vinci Code is FICTION. Do they seriously think that the city's residents are ludicrous enough to abandon their Catholic

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147823469159309212006-05-17T07:30:00.000+08:002006-05-17T08:52:05.313+08:00

It certainly doesn't take a Nostradamus to predict that The Da Vinci Code, which opens today, is going to be one of this year's most watched movies. It will be a huge earner, no doubt about that. It was almost not approved for public viewing, due to some groups complaining about how the film negatively portrayed the Catholic church - a taboo in traditional and deeply-religious Philippines. It

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147582968850550312006-05-14T12:46:00.000+08:002006-05-15T10:19:01.843+08:00

The following was extracted from an article I wrote for Ateneo about my 139 day experience as a part-time exchange student, full-time wanderer based in San Francisco in late-2005. What is life in San Francisco like? You’ve only been walking three blocks but it seems like you’ve gone mountain climbing already. By now, your heart is pulsing rapidly at 160 beats per minute yet you have every

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147393407096865612006-05-12T08:05:00.000+08:002006-05-12T09:13:12.076+08:00

Sometimes I can't help but feel gullible while watching Pinoy Big Brother, and other reality shows. The recent Teen Edition episode with the newcomer being able to tell a person's birthday to the exact day and all that made it seem "scripted" to the core. Of course, I'm not stupid enough to believe in the utter reality of Survivor, Amazing Race, and the like. But since they're reality shows, they

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147271452667907212006-05-10T21:15:00.000+08:002006-05-10T22:44:22.560+08:00

Can you imagine the electrician who did all that? This particular photo was taken in Divisoria, Manila way back in January of this year. It sure creates quite a ghastly sight, no doubt about it; so appalling it had to be photographed. But the big question remains : how can those damn wires still work despite the mess?

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147175961693310672006-05-09T19:17:00.000+08:002006-05-11T15:46:28.236+08:00

Public utility jeepneys should be obliterated. Yes they should. In case you're not from the Philippines, the PUJ or Jeep is the most popular form of public transportation in the country, especially in Metropolitan Manila where I live. A remnant from World War II when they were used mostly by American soldiers, the jeeps of yore were modified and made longer, attached with two rows of seat

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147173014462619762006-05-09T18:48:00.000+08:002006-05-09T21:13:04.260+08:00

Once again, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's President, proves that his capacity to shock is not to be underestimated. It was only seven months ago when the then newly elected president fueled controversy by declaring Israel as "a disgraceful stain that must be wiped off the map," sparking the ire of George Bush among others. In a shocking move this Monday, the Iranian leader sends a letter to the

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1147011461210582562006-05-07T21:08:00.000+08:002006-05-11T16:10:13.570+08:00

When watching movies, I tend to approach the likes of James Bond or Mission Impossible with a semblance of pseudo-fantasy akin to a superhero movie. MI3 certainly fits into this category to a T. From tennis ball machines that appear on top of a Shanghai skyscraper in minutes to a fake passport that is crafted overnight, MI3 deals with the mixing of sensible reality with the absurd, with a little

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1146972623860039252006-05-07T11:24:00.000+08:002006-05-11T15:47:02.846+08:00

The American dream. Everyone knows about it. It's the same dream that symbolizes the immigrant nature of the country. The land of the free, the land of opportunities where one can succeed by working hard. This may not be so true after all, according to a recent study reported by Reuters: The likelihood that a child born into a poor family will make it into the top five percent is just one

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1146903759948004322006-05-06T16:20:00.000+08:002006-05-11T15:47:26.843+08:00

My Macintosh inclination has waned substantially with the news that my iBook may no longer be immune from computer viruses. During the past week, two Mac users have been victims to what is regarded as the first ever virus to hit the Mac OS X operating system. This is certainly a major blow to Apple, whose drawing point for lots of people is the immunity from such vulnerabilities. This includes

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1146845941087902832006-05-06T00:12:00.000+08:002006-05-11T15:47:42.673+08:00

The Philippine Composite Index inched up by almost 100 points today, the fourth straight day in a row. I am not sure as to when the stock market last soared by that much in a single day, but it could have been during the aftermath of Edsa Dos. This wraps up the week with a 200 point gain, which is not too shabby. I had earlier thought that the market would undergo a correction today (I thought so

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3863595.post-1146829679564624962006-05-05T19:19:00.000+08:002006-05-11T15:47:58.236+08:00

Unimaginable workload for the past months plus a six-day trip to Beijing and Shanghai have been successful in diverting me from gaining access to the silver screen for more than a month. But I was keen not to miss my chance to watch Silent Hill, the movie based on the Playstation game by Konami. It's been almost seven years since I completed the game, and I must say that watching the film

AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819549480580222985noreply@blogger.com1