OrangeinaPod, Freshly squeezed... Made in the Philippines (a Podcast)

Doll Making Workshop

2009-05-09T20:15:00.000+08:00

I'm conducting workshops on Basic Plush Toy Making all Saturdays of May, 9 in the morning at Cordillera Coffee, SM City Baguio. The workshop fee is only P300, it includes materials and snacks. If you wish to join our workshop, you may reserve your slots via email: olivermakesdolls@gmail.com or thru SMS 0929•6807986. Please include your name and contact number and we will send you a confirmation.

(Cheska and her plush kitty)

(My students' creations)

Oliver Makes Dolls

2009-05-08T14:57:00.004+08:00

As I've mentioned before in my previous posts, I'm now making dolls and I sell them off the internet... I also accept orders for customized dolls. If you wish to know more about my creations, feel free to check it over at Oliver Makes Dolls in Facebook.

There are a variety of designs to choose from, the voodoo dolls above are just some of my bestselling creations...

Apologies

2009-04-16T16:51:00.003+08:00

Dear Readers (are you still there?),

I apologize for not coming up with something for the longest time. I don't want what happened to happen again with OrangeinaPod. The site will have a major make-over. I think this is partly because of what happened recently... something personal... One thing is for sure though, OrangeinaPod will continue to be a 'blog et podcast' site. Oliver Twist will continue podcasting, delivering meatier materials, hopefully with some mates onboard the microphone, I think that would be fun and more exciting... and I will continue writing about anything and everything from gay issues to the next vacation hotspot, the cute guy next door and the Tony awards...

Things are happening so quickly, I now have a doll business, which started out as a hobby, and I have to keep up with the increasing demands for them... I've been getting invitations from various shops to supply them with the dolls...

Anyway, this will just be very quick. I really apologize for the, again, long 'vacation'... Definitely you'll see a better OrangeinaPod in the coming days...

I love you all.

Oliver

MyVoodoo is here…

2009-03-11T12:43:00.001+08:00

Series 1 of MyVoodoo is finally available. This limited edition kit contains hand-sewn cute voodoo plush doll complete with accessories: binding twine, voodoo sticks, beaded necklace, and a spell booklet for fun.

Other accessories like special voodoo sticks, ritual robes and vests, necklaces and more spell booklets will be available soon. For more information visit www.olivermakesdolls.co.nr.

Paper Art: Next Level

2009-03-03T14:56:00.002+08:00

Origami is for kids. Make way for paper sculpture. Below are examples of ‘three dimensional pseudo realistic paper portraits and sculptures’ by an amazing paper sculptor living in the Netherlands, Bert Simons.

Visit Bert Simons’ website here.

A Filipina’s Excellent Customer Service on Trial

2009-03-02T15:09:00.001+08:00

Was she just a victim of office intriga?

Saks Fifth Avenue’s jewelry department is lined with items like $3,000 David Yurman bracelets and $1,600 Anthony Nak earrings, and Cecille Villacorta was good at getting customers to buy them.

From 2000 to 2006, she brought in more than $27 million in sales, more than any of the other sales associates at the luxury department chain’s flagship store in Manhattan. In fact, she was the highest-grossing saleswoman in the store’s history, according to her lawyer, and was paid nearly $400,000 in her last year there.

But exactly how Ms. Villacorta, 52, of Manhattan, managed to rack up such sales figures is up for debate — and at the heart of her trial on charges of grand larceny and falsifying business records, which began Thursday in State Supreme Court in Manhattan.

Read the full story here…

Meet my new boys…

2009-02-15T23:53:00.001+08:00

I was able to finish two new dolls today… Meet Ichirou and Jirou, they’re my Ninja Boys… Sorry if my post is mostly about my new hobby, I’m just very excited about this…

More photos…

Vacation

2009-01-29T00:47:00.001+08:00

I will be taking a much needed rest and the chance to explore and discover the beautiful places in the North. I will be gone for days, away from the city. I wish to lose myself in Sagada’s mystic beauty to forget all the pain and rediscover my self-worth. I pray that the spirits of the mountains will refresh and heal my tired and lonely soul. (Photos by Jay Jallorina)

Another Doll: Mumu

2009-01-27T10:05:00.001+08:00

Say Hello to Mumu… I finished this one last night…

Trying New Stuff

2009-01-26T17:23:00.001+08:00

I made this one over the weekend. Trying my hands on making plushies. I’m making more…

Boys’ Stuff

2009-01-18T16:45:00.001+08:00

I’m currently cleaning up my closet, literally… and I found some of my old stuff like this enormous album of Magic: The Gathering cards all in excellent condition – big thanks to their Ultra Pro sleeves, and a bunch of other boys’ stuff. I’m now posting ‘em online for interested buyers.

If you’re interested, do not hesitate to drop me a line. I’m letting go of all my MTG cards. (UPDATE: I already have a buyer for all the dual land cards so they’re not included here anymore.)

Baguio's Coldest in 23 Years

2009-01-15T21:57:00.000+08:00

Baguio City experienced the coldest temperature recorded since January 1986 as it dropped 7.5°C today. The other coldest days here were Feb 28, 1963 (6.7°C); Jan 8, 1986 (6.8°C); Jan 9, 1971 (7.1°C) and Dec 13, 1991 (7.6°C).

We will be experiencing chilly Baguio until February due to the cold front brought about by the northeast monsoon (amihan).

Enjoy the biting cold whilst sipping a hot cup of brewed coffee at Cordillera Coffee where we usually hang out. (Sorry if I haven't posted an episode. I just need to finish some requirements in school so I can take up my Masters in time for June enrolment.)

Torn

2009-01-05T02:49:00.001+08:00

For being a good boy last year I’m thinking of rewarding myself (savings not yet enough but I’m almost there). Two months ago I was planning to buy an iPod Classic 12oGB; I checked out some stores and found a PhP12,800 unit (silver). Then I found Microsoft Zune 120 on the internet and now I’m having second thoughts on buying the iPod.Both have the same storage capacity, which is a whopping 120 gigabytes (more than what my PC currently has) which can store tons of media. The iPod is more popular than the Zune but, I think, it’s more of a disadvantage because of the many fake iPods around. One advantage is that Apple has a service center here in RP and the Zune has none. But what I dig about the Zune is the screen – a 3.2-inch display means a more comfortable movie watching experience than on the iPod. The price tag is almost the same although the Zune requires special ordering arrangement since it’s not locally available.

I still have until February to decide.

More info about the iPod Classic may be found at the Apple website and for Microsoft Zune you may visit Zune.net.

Claim to Fame

2009-01-03T13:05:00.001+08:00

OrangeinaPod #7: A Simple New Year's Wish

2008-12-31T19:00:00.006+08:00

Play today's episode here:

Episode 07 - A Simple New Year's Wish
~ 9min 12sec

A blessed new year to everyone...

Featured song in this episode: "Thankful" by Josh Groban (from the album Noel)

How to Celebrate New Year's Eve the Filipino Way (re-post)

2008-12-31T16:36:00.001+08:00

I saw this article How to Celebrate New Year's Eve the Filipino Way on eHow.com. It was funny, I don't know when this article was written or who wrote it. I laughed out loud when i came to steps 4 and 5 -- Step 4 - Serve sweet rice and ginger tea after the countdown; Step 5 - On New Year's Day, roast a pig over hot coals and serve with any number of Filipino dishes such as pansit, lumpia and adobo.

No one serves sweet rice and ginger tea anymore. If there are, just a few probably. What we usually serve on New Year's eve are hot chocolate, sliced bread, spaghetti (the sweet kind with sliced hotdogs and ground pork, topped with cheddar cheese), hotdog on sticks, pork or chicken barbecue, and round fruits like grapes, ponkan (mandarin oranges), and fuji apples (as they symbolize money according to belief).

And Filipinos can't afford to roast pigs anymore. Usually its the usual pansit, lumpiang shanghai, menudo, afritada, more pork or chicken barbecue, and whatever food was left from the night before. No one serves adobo on New Year's day. Adobo is not considered a 'fiesta' dish, probably because of its color.

And to this list, I want to add Step 6 - Bring out the karaoke or videoke machine, bottles of San Miguel/Red Horse beer (or Ginebra for the kanto boys... or Fundador for the more opulent magkukumpares) with matching spicy pulutan (or whatever's on the table). After a few bottles, expect to hear the tomadors belting out Englebert Humperdink or Frank Sinatra hits till the wee hours of January 2.

This is the traditional Filipino New Year.

Note for the re-post: Tell me how do you celebrate New Year's eve/day?

A Purrem for Midnight

2008-12-18T02:00:00.001+08:00

Sorry I’m not much of a poet, just tried this ‘purrem’ app from Whiskas website and here’s what I was able to come up with… for Midnight…

And the Heavens Smiled Upon Us

2008-12-13T11:26:00.001+08:00

The sky smiled on Asia, December 1, 2008, when Venus and Jupiter came in close proximity to our beloved Moon. While Venus is actually 100 million miles away and Jupiter nearly 550 million miles from the Earth, this exact combination and the Moon in the perfect spot created this beautiful artwork in the sky.

Some people might not appreciate it, but remember that this will not happen again until year 2052.

Merry Christmas everyone!

(View Slideshow from Yahoo! News)

Where Do You Belong?

2008-12-07T16:09:00.004+08:00

De-wormed!

2008-12-06T19:40:00.001+08:00

Midnight went on a trip to the vet this afternoon to be de-wormed. It took only a few minutes and it’s done. The vet gave Drontal, a cat dewormer (half tablet as Midnight is only .5 kgs). Before we left, I asked the vet to check on the gender of the cat. Apparently, at Midnight’s age (8 weeks) it’s fairly difficult to check, but after careful inspection we found out that Midnight is a HE. Coming home from the vet I checked the internet for some information about Drontal. I found out that it’s one of the effective broad-spectrum dewormers (generic name: praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate) for pets by Bayer. Midnight will go back for another dose after two weeks. Meanwhile, I also found this interesting article about Drontal on the ‘net, see if you can make a sense out of it.

Midnight’s Territory

2008-12-05T10:20:00.001+08:00

Milky Way is a new addition to the family and Midnight wants to make sure that it's still her territory. Frightened Milky Way hides in his box. They’re in separate rooms now giving both space and time to adjust with each other. Midnight is so feisty and hisses at Milky Way a lot.

I Won!

2008-12-04T20:19:00.001+08:00

As was mentioned in the latest episode of OrangeinaPod, I joined Jessica Zafra's contest and wrote a story about the mysterious piano in the middle of the Philippine jungle. The readers voted for their choice entries and they chose my story... Yey!!!

Read about the contest and my story entry here (Comment #7).

Thank you to those who voted for my entry and who commented.

• Jessica Zafra’s website is www.jessicarulestheuniverse.com

OrangeinaPod #6: The Loooong Weekend

2008-11-30T15:48:00.011+08:00

Play today's episode here:

Episode 06 - The Loooong Weekend
~ 24min 32sec

• Slideshow might take a while to load. Patience is a virtue.

Topics for today:

November 30 is Bonifacio Day
Controversy surrounding Andres Bonifacio's execution
Exploring Tam-Awan Village
Christmas decorations need not be expensive
Other December celebrations

Links:

Tomorrow’s Episode of OrangeinaPod

2008-11-29T00:15:00.000+08:00

Dear America,

2008-11-26T22:56:00.002+08:00

OrangeinaPod #5: Of Celebrations and G-Strings

2008-11-22T11:38:00.013+08:00

Play today's episode here:

Episode 05 - Of Celebrations and G-Strings
~ 19min 20sec

Topics for today:

early Christmas Celebration here in the Philippines
the Adivay Festival in Benguet
Christmas in Baguio City
Gay Community celebrations
Proposition 8 in California
Same-sex Marriage in the Philippines
Day Without a Gay

Of Celebrations and G-Strings (Episode 5 Out Tomorrow!)

2008-11-21T19:51:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow's episode of OrangeinaPod is all about celebrations and boys in g-strings!

We're gonna have a lot of fun.

Remembrance of Things Past 2

2008-11-16T00:31:00.003+08:00

Remembering my K-Lite days… The very first program where my voice was heard was with my very dear friend Dana Grey as a semi-regular co-host of ‘Heart to Heart’. Sometimes 5 deejays would squeeze in that little booth and just have a blast with the microphone. Every episode we would ask our listeners to share in their thoughts about a particular topic and we would sometimes play the cheesiest songs on air.

A few weeks later, I was offered to co-host ‘K-Lite Interactive’ alongside Hanna Grace where we ‘interact’ with our listeners via phone patch and text messages. Immediately after KLI, my very own program ‘The Weekend Countdown’ follows where I reveal the Top 25 songs of the week. My last broadcast was on January 26, 2008 for ‘The Weekend Countdown’.

Hate vs. Hate?

2008-11-14T18:24:00.004+08:00

A spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints tells NBC 4 News of the evacuation of the Mormon Temple in L.A. after employees received an envelope filled with an unidentified white powdery substance.

The temple was the target of protests last week following the passage of Proposition 8, a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would change California's constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. The Mormons are believed to have raised a significant amount of money to actively campaign for this anti-gay marriage ballot measure.

I was wondering if the incident mentioned was a plot to seek revenge against the Mormons. Should we fight hatred with hatred as well? Is it right to take it against the group? Comments are welcome.

Interesting Article from Red Room: Proposition 8 and God

OrangeinaPod #4: Oliver is Back!

2008-11-11T19:42:00.011+08:00

Episode 04 - Oliver is Back!
~ 16min 48sec

After two long years, I'm back with the 4th episode of my podcast.

Topics for today:

the long-process of coming back
Baguio Pride Network
10th Manila Pride March
LGBT Bloggers Party for Pride

Links to this show:
Baguio Pride Network
2008 Manila Pride March
LGBT Bloggers Party for Pride

Who is Oliver Twist?

2008-11-09T19:45:00.002+08:00

Obviously that is not my real name. I acquired that nick when I worked as a talk show host on radio, courtesy of my good friends Dana Grey and Hillary from the same station. It kinda stuck so I kept it until today. I don't do radio shows anymore. My last broadcast was in January 2008 on 96.7 K-Lite Baguio.
OrangeinaPod is a weekly podcast show I started in July 2006. A podcast is like a radio show except that it's available online and may be downloaded or subscribed to. I produced 3 episodes then i 'pod-faded' for 2 years. But I'm back to do more shows.
I used to own OrangeCafe in Baguio City. It didn't do well, probably because of its location. It's still there but with another name and management.
Yes, I am on friendster.

New Members of the Family

2008-11-09T13:48:00.003+08:00

Say hello to my two little kittens... Uhm, they don't have names yet, though... So i would like to ask for your help naming them. The orange one is male, the grey one female. Suggestions please... Thanks!

Free Cinema

2008-11-07T16:16:00.005+08:00

On all Saturdays of November, the Gay and Lesbian Activist Network for Gender Equality (GALANG) will hold screenings of LGBT-themed films. Admission is free, so come and check it out!

For more information, log on to www.galangnetwork.org.

2008 Manila Pride March promises to be BIG!

2008-11-06T09:58:00.005+08:00

Shopping Tip: Avoid the Rush, Go Online

2008-11-06T00:46:00.007+08:00

It's the time of the year once again and we went round the metro to witness the early holiday rush. The streets are now lined with Christmas decors and whatnots, customers enjoying the bargains, Christmas carols blaring from various corners. Stores are filled to the brim, shoppers looking for the best bargains trudging crammed alleys and literally climbing hills for cheap stuff.

Filipinos love to shop. But this is the craziest time of the year. Shopping means dealing with the mad crowd, walking from store to store looking for the items you need, long waits on check-out lines, evil taxi drivers and horrible traffic.

You might say, well, 'tis the season...

Wrong!

Shopping over the Internet is now becoming the best alternative. It's easy, it saves you time and lots of money. Contrary to popular belief, it's safe to shop online IF you know where to go. At SHOP.com, for example, every merchant passed their stringent quality review process so you're assured of the quality of the products that you order -- customer satisfaction is a top priority and they guarantee safe shopping.

If you're bargain hunting, you can get more savings with coupons and avail of great promotions, even free shipping offers. Beat the rush and start your holiday shopping online -- check out their wide array of carefully selected stores and brands.

Our friends from SHOP.com are also giving away Hot holiday gifts until December 14 in the Top Holiday Gifts Give Away including flat screen TV, iPod Touch, GPS Navigation System and more.

Shop at the comfort of your homes, avoid the crowds, and enjoy the best bargains. Now who says shopping should be a burden?

America's Victory

2008-11-05T18:58:00.001+08:00

My partner and I closely monitored the results of the elections in the US. Since we don't have a cable connection, we just satisfied ourselves looking at various websites as they revealed the numbers, from time to time watching CNN live reports online. This is the first time that I've witnessed such moving event in American politics.

The moment Obama's number went up to 200, we already know. And we felt so moved. For this is not just a victory to be celebrated by Americans but by the whole world.

I know that millions of blog entries will be written expressing their joy as to how Obama made history. I do not wish to go in that direction.

What saddens me is the fact that Filipinos don't care. What's with the apathy? Are we in such hopeless shambles that we can't feel anything anymore? This is a historic event. This is the American Dream realized. Yet, we're indifferent.

Because for Filipinos, this changes nothing. In two months' time, America will be governed by its first black American President, a symbol of hope, a complete turn around from what Bush represents. Back home, politicians continue to preen on TV gathering pogi points and belting out Frank Sinatra on game shows.

Books Galore

2008-11-01T17:10:00.006+08:00

Visiting Booksale again.

Got Jean Auel's 'The Shelters of Stone' in hardcover for P30.00. Saw Anne Rice's 'Belinda' but didn't buy; the price is quite steep plus it's not in my list. Was about to buy a paperback edition of 'Dune: House Atreides' but it's kinda expensive.

OrangeinaPod #3: The Coming Out Episode (August 3, 2006)

2008-10-28T10:23:00.020+08:00

This is my coming out episode. Well, sort of a semi coming out, because I know my family knew about it before. This is some sort of a confirmation. I had 504 downloads for this one (and still counting), not bad for an infant podcast. Still gives me shivers whenever I listen to this.

Episode 03 - The Coming Out Episode
~ 26min 59sec
Originally posted on August 3, 2006
Total Downloads: 593

I have the virus today, so I'm coughing... hehehe... But thanks to this miraculous Chinese medicine Pei Pa Koa, I'm okay now!

Topics for today:

Talking to my family and friends
Being gay in the Philippines
Support Ang Ladlad

Links to this show:

BearPodcast
Ongline Podcast
Ang Ladlad Website
LAGABLAB (Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network)

OrangeinaPod #2: Of Gay Superheroes and Childhood Memories (July 25, 2006)

2008-10-28T10:16:00.015+08:00

Episode 02 - Of Gay Superheroes and Childhood Memories
~ 39min 23sec
Originally posted on July 25, 2006
Total Downloads: 186

Pinoylicious Oliver (thanks to John Ong for this title) is back in the 2nd podcast episode of OrangeinaPod!

Superman Returns, Lex Luthor Rocks!
Top 10 Pinoy Superheroes
Our local superheroes are played by either politicians or comedians.
Zsa-Zsa Zaturnnah, the first ever gay Pinoy superhero who’s about to hit the big screen this Holiday season.
Learn some Filipino words.

Aaarrggghh!!! Sowweee!!! I was shivering while doing the recording because it’s soooo cold in my room… Brrrr!

OrangeinaPod #1: The Crappy Intro (July 12, 2006)

2008-10-28T10:07:00.017+08:00

This is my very first podcast episode and it's really crappy, but that's how I got started in podcasting. I was able to dig through the Internet Archive (www.archive.org) and found out that the files are still alive. This was from 2 years ago, can't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Episode 01 - The Crappy Intro
~ 16min 08sec
Originally posted on July 12, 2006
Total Downloads: 112

Show Notes

My very first episode... Just a jumble of stuff, sort of introduction to my podcast show.
A bit about Baguio (just a bit!)
About podcasts for first time listeners
John Ong's OnglinePodcast
Jessica Zafra is alive and blogging
The Internet is not just Friendster or porn

A Sucker for Anne Rice

2008-10-26T17:40:00.006+08:00

It's very difficult to complete my Anne Rice collection. It was a challenge because I think I have a competition in book sales here in Baguio City, add to the fact that you would rarely find Anne Rice hardcovers on sale.

This one is the First edition of 'Lasher' (pub. 1993), which I got for a measly P75.00 from Booksale about a month ago.

Yesterday I was ecstatic to find hardcover editions of 'Merrick' and 'The Vampire Armand' on Booksale in SM at P275.oo each. So now I only need the following books to complete the collection.

'Blood Canticle' (The Vampire Chronicles)
'Vittorio the Vampire' (New Tales of the Vampire series)
'Feast of All Saints' (saw a paperback edition on sale near UB)
'Servant of the Bones'
'Christ the Lord: Road to Cana' (Anne Rice's latest book)

These books go directly to my Christmas Wishlist. If you know where I could find them, send me a message. Thank you.

Remembrance of Things Past 1

2008-10-24T17:58:00.005+08:00

I remember this favorite snack from my childhood days. It's still around and now comes in JUMBO pack with jumbo chips inside! Yum! My niece seems to enjoy it.

India: Call Centers, Now the Moon

2008-10-23T14:22:00.004+08:00

The call center industry may not be enough for the Indians. After dominating the BPO industry in the recent years, India would like a piece of the moon (or some of the business opportunities there).

Yesterday, October 22, India launched its first unmanned spacecraft, Chandrayaan-1, to orbit the moon to demonstrate their technological capacity and to potentially yield commercial gains for the country's space program. Scheduled to last two years, the mission intends to prepare a 3D atlas of the moon and scout for natural resources in the lunar surface. More importantly the voyage carries the Mini-SAR, a device that will look for ice deposits in the moon's polar regions.

Soon they'll be sending contact center agents up on the moon where they will receive 1-800 calls from Mars and the nearby planetary systems.

Photo: The launching of Chandrayaan-1 comes about a year after China’s first moon mission. (NY Times) Courtesy of Dibyangshu Sarkar/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Pusakal

2008-10-23T10:58:00.006+08:00

Found this stray cat looking for food in the terrace. Got her some pieces of white bread which she ate heartily. Now whenever she's hungry, she would appear in our front door. We named her Mao.

She would visit from time to time and would walk in the house for a grub. A week later Mao would come with 2 more pusakals. They don't usually stay long. I don't think Mao and the rest of the gang would like to move in the house, they're just there for the food. Although they would rub their bodies on the door jamb marking it with their scent. (Mao would rub his head on my legs and toes claiming me in her name.)

After their meals, they would immediately go downstairs. They're probably afraid because there are 3 scruffy dogs roaming around most of the time. It may take time for them to feel really at home in the vicinity, unless of course someone owns these pusakals.

Pusakal - n. Tagalog slang, 'PUSAng KALye' (street cat, stray cat)

Blast from the Past: Ongline #170

2008-10-22T12:12:00.002+08:00

I remember this podcast by John Ong (www.onglinepodcast.com) where I promoted OrangeinaPod way back 2006. John was the one who encouraged me to come up with my own podcast and has been very supportive about it. I miss his quirkiness on the show.

Listen to the podcast episode - Ongline #170 Peacefully Unplugged Oliver’s Orange.

I will probably be re-uploading the 3 episodes of OrangeinaPod here for those who are curious about them. In the meantime listen to John Ong's quips while I mull over my 4th episode.

Quickie (Backtracking)

2008-10-21T01:00:00.001+08:00

Oliver started a weekly podcast here at OrangeinaPod on July 2006 and has produced 3 episodes. The show stirred curiosity and soon attracted listeners from all over the world, the first ever Philippine podcast to talk openly about Filipino gay culture. It was groundbreaking, downloads reached over 100 a day -- a pretty high stat for a newborn podcast from a country where podcasting was still in its infancy.

One of the highlights of the show was his 'coming out' on the 3rd episode. Downloads reached to a high of 280 and messages of support came pouring in. Unfortunately, listeners never heard of him since. His long absence puzzled his listeners, the blog was never updated and eventually disappeared.

After two long years, Oliver is back. And he has a lot of explaining to do...

Support OrangeinaPod via PayPal

2008-09-11T01:45:00.001+08:00

Thank you for choosing to support OrangeinaPod. Your contribution will be a great help in maintaining the production of the podcast episodes.

The Cheaper Pringles Tastes Like UGH! Yuck!

2008-02-02T00:58:00.001+08:00

Have you seen the new Pringles in the supermarket? It’s cheaper and the can is smaller because it contains less chips, 120g to be exact compared to the old Pringles which is 163g.

This new Pringles is being produced and packed in a factory in Johor, Malaysia and it tastes like sh*t compared to the Pringles made in the USA. It has lost its taste. I like the American-made Pringles, because it’s thin and crunchy. The Malaysian version is thicker and mealy and it tastes like flour (like the Mr. Potato brand). I had 3 chips and I didn’t touch the damn thing again.

Apparently, Procter & Gamble officially entered the Malaysia market via the acquisition of Richardson Vicks. So expect cheaper but low-quality Olay, Rejoice, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, even Downy and Pampers products in the market soon.

Supermarkets are currently replacing their stocks of American Pringles with the yucky Malaysian ones. I suggest you don’t buy them. They’re not cheap. It seems like it, but you’re actually paying for lesser weight, lesser flavor, and low-grade potato chips. The American Pringles is more expensive by 18pesos. BUT they taste better. I’d rather pay extra 18pesos and enjoy my Pringles than pay for garbage.

Calling Procter and Gamble Philippines, please stop importing the Malaysian Pringles, we hate it.

(This article is by Oliver Twist of 96.7 K-Lite FM Baguio)

My Christmas Wishlist

2007-12-09T12:09:00.002+08:00

Where to send the gifts? Email me at orangeinapod@gmail.com or send a meebo message, leave your contact no., let's meet and have coffee, my treat! :-)

The Worst Last Minute Christmas Gifts

2007-12-09T09:43:00.001+08:00

It's always a stressful time hunting for Christmas gifts to give to friends and co-workers. Yeah, everyone wants to give cool gifts, but most of the time we're a little strapped for cash. And you know how malls are packed with people - crazy, hot-headed people, that is... Add to that the pressure of getting a gift that will make its recepient say "Wow! What a great present!" Even if we don't have the time to shop or we don't have enough money for that "WOW!" gift we can still find good bargains around.

But please, AVOID giving the following gifts for Christmas:

Scented candles - Unless your friend is a new age junkie and digs weird wicca stuff, scented candles are way UN-cool!
Bars of soap - we're not elementary students anymore doing the "exchange gift".
Exercise Videos or Diet Books - even if the package is cute and you mean well, it is impossible to give a gift of this kind without offending the receiver.
Ceramic Figurine - see #2
Face Towel - see #2
Cartoon Character Ties - what are you stuck in the 90s? Whoever still wears cartoon character ties should be shot... on the spot!
Photo Album - this is probably the worst of all... and that includes a photo frame. Burn whoever gives you a lousy photo album (or photo frame) this Christmas.
Socks - most people are happy to buy their own socks and would rather do so than receive them as a present.
Punch Bowl - who would use a punch bowl these days?
Ugly hand bags - why are they even made in the first place?

They all say, it's not about the gift, it's the thought that counts, right? WRONG! If you're giving horrible, tacky, and tasteless gifts for Christmas, that equates to THOUGHTLESSNESS on your part.

Oliver Twist on Radio!

2007-12-01T23:58:00.001+08:00

I'm now on radio! Tune in on 96.7 K-Lite, the No. 1 Hit Music Station in Baguio City. I'm gonna be a semi-regular co-host of Dana Grey on Heart to Heart, weeknights, 7 to 9 in the evening. AND catch me on K-Lite Interactive with Hanna Grace, every Saturday 7 to 10 in the morning. AND I'm gonna be playing the Top 25 songs on The Weekend Countdown, right after K-Lite Interactive until 1 in the afternoon.

So, keep it right here on 96.7 K-Lite... the Official Radio Station of the Yuletide Season!

Only in the Philippines

2007-11-30T14:08:00.001+08:00

Typhoon lashed RP, followed by an earthquake... then (another) coup attempt. What's next on the list? Only in the Philippines my dear friends!

Oy, Mina!

2007-11-27T10:04:00.001+08:00

The temperature here in Baguio City suddenly dropped as Mina closed in on the capital. As I write this post, I await for the cancellation of classes in the university.

My Anne Rice collection... so far!

2007-11-25T21:45:00.004+08:00

I'm a big Anne Rice fan. I was introduced to her, eons ago, by a very good friend, Mike, who's now in Cambodia and is also collecting her books. The first Anne Rice novel I've read was Cry to Heaven. It's her finest novel I should say, with all the rich details of 18th century Italy and compelling characters. Given the time, I would love to re-read it.

Currently I own 12 of her novels, most of them from Book Sale (a second-hand book shop) and some, gifts from friends. I was lucky enough to get a hardcover edition of The Tale of the Body Thief for only 150 pesos, the others, like The Queen of the Damned, I got for only 70 pesos. I got her latest book, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt 20% off from National Bookstore. A few days later, a friend gave me another copy from the United States (with the silver cover), so now I have two.

The hardcover edition of Pandora is Mike's. I wasn't able to return it to him that's why I'm taking very good care of it in case he comes home to the Philippines and asks me to return the book to him.

My Christmas wishlist includes all Anne Rice's books not in the picture. If you wish to send me the books, just let me know and I'll give you the address where you can send them. Hehehe!

OrangeinaPod is BACK!

2007-11-25T21:29:00.001+08:00

The orange is ripe and ready for the picking!

OrangeinaPod's Podcast Alley Claim Tag

2007-11-24T21:49:00.000+08:00

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-d0808100c6d66ec20ff269cd2f247687}

Finally... a Josh Groban Christmas Album

2007-11-24T01:00:00.001+08:00

The Grammy-nominated, twenty-something, pop-classical phenomenon's fourth studio album is an expertly accomplished entry to the holiday marketplace. Noël tackles the familiar sounds of holiday music with a charmingly eclectic array of guest vocalists and a wide range of material. The songs range from the sacred to the secular, while Groban--buoyed in spots by none other than the London Symphony Orchestra--soars in his duets with Brian McKnight, Faith Hill, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. There's even a song with a gospel choir directed by Kirk Franklin. Produced yet again by crossover maestro David Foster, the arrangements never overwhelm the songs. Groban's smooth and supple vocals can be hard to categorize--seeing how his range is somewhere in-between a high baritone and a low tenor--but he always finds and emphasizes the emotional core of these songs. And whether they have origins in pop or classical music seems not to matter. The addition of messages from troops stationed in Iraq on top of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is undeniably heart-wrenching, while the album's highlight is its most spare song, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," which finds Groban alone at his piano, sounding very much like some kind of angel. (Amazon.com)

For more info visit this link.