#Miss World Philippines 2021

[normanblogs]

Transformational Possibilities: Dr. Trisha Martinez

This is half gut-feel on my part. The other half is a soft whisper to my ear saying that she just might. A Licensed Dentist who espouses oral health and youth empowerment for her advocacy, Dr. Trisha Martinez joined her first national pageant last 2021 and won as Miss Philippines Tourism under the collective titles of Miss World Philippines. Sadly, a supposed international assignment did not push…

[apopcornkernel]

i dont know if there's even a ppop presence on tumblr but i do also want to promote ALAMAT, a 6-member idol boy group from the Philippines. Its members comprise of Taneo, Mo, Jao, Tomas, R-ji, and Alas. They debuted in 2021, and their creative direction centers on championing the Filipino identity and culture through their music.

sorry that ^ was a copypaste but it's a very useful and concise copypaste LOL but onto my own promo:

(note: also most of these videos have english subs!!)

(extra note bc this issue always pops up whenever locals encounter alamat: mo is always wearing black hairstyes bc he is blasian and not bc he is appropriating from black culture hdfjhdf)

KASMALA, the inverted Tagalog word for "strong" (malakas), is the MV that really did numbers on social media iirc. The video direction focused on the "human zoo" in the St. Louis' World Fair of 1904 (which included Filipinos specifically Igorots), and a general theme of anti-Filipino racism by white people (who are represented as ominous figures literally dressed in all white)

personal opinion: the music video is great but i personally think they have better songs, music-wise. and i'm going to give you an example of that by introducing you to my ALL-TIME FAVORITE ALAMAT SONG!!!

ILY ILY, a transliteration of "Ili-Ili Tulog Anay", incorporates the melody and lyrics of the Ilonggo lullaby it derives its title from. The MV and lyrics both work together to portray the experience of being an OFW/having an OFW parent. OFWs, or overseas Filipino workers, refer to Filipinos who go abroad in search of jobs that have better pay, so that they can remit money back to their families in the Philippines.

personal opinion: this is their best song THIS IS THEIR BEST SONG EVER OF ALL TIME and lyca gairanod is such a perfect singer for this. her ethereal crooning really gave me chills the first time i heard it UGH

DAYANG, the term for the wife of a Datu, is one of their most earworming songs ever. It's a gorgeous love song and what I would recommend to newbies if they want to get into alamat <3

personal opinion: The MV is kinda ass because it's just a super long extended ad for DITO PH (in terms of story and also bc they really missed out on doing a vid that drew more on culture esp bc dayang is a historical noble title and they used tausug words and designs for the graphics an the dance itself already incorporated pangasik dance which is also from the tausug people LIKEEE?? they've always promoted other cultures of the philippines i know they can do it but because of CAPITALISM--). But the song bangs so severely, as a pop enjoyer this is peak pop for me.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT DAGUNDONG

DAGUNDONG, a song basically recounting the colonial history of the Philippines from Spain to America, is just so fucking good you should watch/listen to it rn. There's EN subs don't worry you won't miss out on the context. This is colonial rage it's so satisfying I still remember where I was when they dropped this.

personal opinion: FOREVER OBSESSED WITH HOW THEY SAY "dahil puso mandirigma di papakutsa di papapugon" you guys have no idea how much i sing that line to myself sooo satisfying. Instant earworm this song i swear.

OK ONE LAST one last and i'm done. okay.

MAHARANI, a Sanskrit term for the wife of a Maharaja (translated as "great queen"), heavily features singkil, a Maranao dance which uses bamboo poles like tinikling does. The song also uses SEAsian instruments like kanun, gamelan, and gangsa. Also BINI's Jhoanna plays one of the main characters here!!!

personal opinion: this is their most pop-sounding song, which i think is slightly carried by the video i'm sorryyy. it's catchy though!! and i looove the part somewhere halfway where alas starts his verse, singing it in a more spoken-word way

___

okay 5 songs is. probably enough. this post is already kinda long shdfjskdff but yeah. pls check them out if you can hehe <3

also ppop idols are just really funny. there's no concept of an idol image so they just tweet shit. alamat jao gave out his genshin UID after a fan tweeted about having co-oped with him in genshin, and then after that he started answering questions with the hashtag "#canceljao" making a lot of magiliws (alamat fans) confused, and then he posted a classic iphone notes apology like this 😭

i'll do a bini version after this my girls deserve more international hype. they occupy a more girlcrush pop genre but they're just as chaotic as alamat if not even more 😭 there are entire THREADS on twitter of them just being hilarious jdhfkshgf i love them so much

thanks for reading <3

[vintagelacerosette]

Weekly Tag game (Catch up)

Forgive meee I am late but I had the other one in my drafts & I hadn't be able to finish it off yet 😅

I was tagged by these sweethearts 💖💕💖

Jessica @guinguin1984 Julia @blue-disco-lights Deanna @deedala Georgia @iansw0rld

Face @burninface Jaclyn @crossmydna Evie @energievie

Bri @y0itsbri Lyle Lyle crocodile @kiinard Macy @heymacy

Mel @gardenerian Sarah @sleepyheadgallavich Julissa @heymrspatel

Harvey @mikhailoisbaby Kat @mybrainismelted Ling @lingy910y

Name: Shermyn

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (or you): Sydney in the western part  

Ok, so this week we are going to snoop into your google search. Type in each phrase and tell us what the first suggestion is that google gives you!

What is the best way to….rule? (hehe nice maybe my Leo tendencies 🤣🦁

This is what I saw on Quora

1) Become a community organizer · 2) Learn to speak eloquently · 3) Tell people what they want to hear · 4) Sell your soul to the Devil · 5) ...

😂😂😂

Where can I…. watch Saltburn? (it's on my watch list haha) Amazon Prime

How old is…. Taylor Swift? (i didn't search this but i guess she's top result) 34

How long does it take… to get to mars? (wow a fun one) Now quoting NASA, "If jt all goes well, you'll get to the Red Planet in about seven ot eight months." ♂️🔴

How many… states in Australia? Six states 🇦🇺

Who set the record for…. the highest jump? Javier Sotomayor good job my dude 👏

When did….michael jackson die? 25 june 2009 (woah I started 1st year of high school then)

What does it feel like to… to be in love? (ummm ive never searched that but damn a pointed search 😭😭😭) Reddit says "when you wake up thinking of that person & go to bed thinking of them"

Can you…go parasailing in sydney? (So me bc i missed out when i was in the Philippines 🥲) You can't anymore booo 👎

Why do… i sweat so much? Google says could he nerves that trigger it.

Is there a way… to save karlach? I really wanna play Baldur's gate 3 what's gonna happen to her?? I love her?? 🥺

How old do you have to be… to work? (boooo i don't wanna work but i want money 😩) In NSW minimum age for full time work is 17

Where do the… kardashians live? (i don't care) Malibu

What is the best time to… to go to fiji? (aaayee holiday??) June to September

And to finish us off…. What comes up when you type in Shameless? shameless last episode date

11 April 2021 I needed it for my gallacrafts 🥹

Name: Myn

Age: 27

Astrological sign: Leo ♌️

Upon which continent do you reside: Stralia 🦘

tell us how you're feeling right now using 3-5 emojis: 🥶💸🤔🤫🤗

whats your favorite flavor of gum? Juicy fruit but the flavour never lasts long

whats the last movie you watched? Anastasia for my nieces first viewing 😆 It mostly became a sing-a-long with my big sis 🎤

what was your worst subject in high school? Maybe science?

whats the job you stayed at for the shortest period of time? Working for a weekend event at a convention centre for the active wear brand Lorna Jane. I got lost on the 1st day & didn't get paid for that 15 min 😅

whats your favorite thing to do at an amusement park? Try all the interesting foods 😋

what condiments go on top of the perfect hot dog (meat or plant-based)? BBQ sauce & caramelised onions 🌰

cincinnati chili, thoughts? Never heard of it!

do you sleep with a plushie? No my plushies are on a shelf bc I can get kicked out of my room every 2nd weekend bc my sister & her family takes it over haha. But worth it to have my baby niece over 🥰

how do you feel about thunderstorms? No strong emotions. It's cool when boom

what's the last animal you touched? My dog Roxy 🐕 ❤️

grab the nearest item with words on it that ISNT a book and tell me the final word: Tulip on this korean dry shampoo I'm trying 🌷

have you ever forgotten to do an assignment until the night before its due? Oh I was organised at knowing darw but procrastinated the hell out of the assignment until the due date. Then trying to finish the night before 😅 I found an old diary entry calling myself a dumb bitch for doing that to myself & saying to never do it again (she did) 😭

Not tagging anyone bc LATE but if you wanna play consider yourself tagged! 🩷🐇

[mixdgrlproblems]

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Congratulations to @manalochelsea! Chelsea makes history as the first #Black & #Filipino-American representative of the #Philippines for Miss Universe! 👑

Following the theme of "Love For All," delegates shared their thoughts on the kind of love that makes a woman both inspiring & transformational. ❤️‍🔥

Chelsea Anne Manalo — born on October 14, 1999 under the astrological sign Libra — is 25 years old. ♎️

She is a proud #FilipinoAmerican Bulakenya who was raised in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. She was born in the Philippines to a Black American father & a Filipino mother, who separated in 2000. Following the divorce, her mother remarried a Filipino man. In 2004, she reconnected with her biological father in the United States, where she completed her grade school education. 🇵🇭🇺🇸

Before graduating from a tourism college, she expressed deep passion for music, dancing & modeling. Her journey into the world of beauty pageants began during high school. 🎵💃🏿💋

Chelsea is a professional model who has been gracing the cover of magazines, starring in commercials & print ads since 2013 at the age of 14. In 2021, she became a @benchbodyph endorser. 👠

Outside of high school, Chelsea's major debut into the pageant scene was through #MissWorldPhilippines 2017, she competed against 34 other candidates & made the Top 15. 💅🏿

On February 17, 2024, she was officially appointed Miss Universe Bulacan 2024. She also earned the title "Bulacan Barbie." Her advocacy reads: "Championing Indigenous Youth Education." Her advocacy aims to provide opportunities for #indigenousyouth to access quality education & unlock their full potential. 👯‍♀️

"As a woman of color, I've always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty has standards actually. But I have listened to always believe in my mother, to always believe in yourself, uphold the vows that you have in yourself. Because of that, I am already influencing a lot of women who are facing me right now as a transformational woman. I have here 52 other delegates with me who have helped me become the woman I am today." 👸🏾

As fellow #BlackFilipina #Saweetie would say: "IKDR!" Congratulations Chelsea! 🏴🇵🇭🇺🇸

[youranemicvampire]

Week 6: Favorite WLW movies / shows

15-week Sapphic challenge

PS: I didn’t include shows or movies that have sapphics as side characters or side storylines with little screentime

Shows

Orange Is The New Black (2013-2019)

Torrent :)

Not only the best WLW show, but it’s one of the best shows of all genre and all time. I mean, they are the reason that Netflix became successful (Ungrateful MFs).  If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re missing a lot, i swear. I’m not exaggerating when i say this show changed me and made me grow as a person. 

A League Of Their Own (2022-)

Prime Video

It’s character complexities, queer majority, diversity, intersectional stories, heart and sense of humor reminds me a lot of Orange is the new black so if you like the latter, watch this and vise versa. + Women in sports, duh! 

The Sex Lives Of College Girls (2021-)

HBO Max

Mean (but not really a bad person u know) lesbian lead, let’s go! This show is f*cking hilarious like you won’t just love the show for the lesbian representation, but all of the leads! It’s more than its title! 

Dickinson (2019-2021)

Apple TV

Haven’t finished it yet, but it’s already on my top 5. Not every show can pull off a modern interpretation of period pieces. And thank you, Apple TV for letting the show wrap up in the middle of lesbian cancellations. Thank you for the bare minimum. 

Gentlemen Jack (2019-2022)

HBO

Haven’t watched the show yet, but I KNOW, i know it would be one of my favorites. I love badass lesbian historical figures especially when they are gender-nonconforming

Movies

But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

Hulu

Classic. Historical. I think this is the 1st lesbian movie i’ve watched after i came out? It also helped me became more aware of my compulsory heterosexuality. 

Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita / Anita’s Last Cha-Cha (2013)

Juanflix (DM me if you’re outside Philippines)

Unfortunately, only few people know about this movie, but it’s really one of the best WLW movies in the Philippines AND in the world. And just so you know, the older woman and the girl didn’t have any weird romantic or sexual relationship, this is just all about the lesbian girl’s first childhood crush. A very wholesome story! 

Rafiki (2019)

Hulu 

This is not hyped enough and we all know the reason why. :) Very beautiful film with amazing cinematography, chemistry and soundtrack. It’s banned in Kenya so make sure to support this movie. 

TRIGGER WARNING: Blatant and violent Homophobia scene near the end

NECESSARY SPOILER: It has a good ending so don’t worry

Saving Face (2004)

Prime Video or Apple TV 

Cutest WLW movie ever! It felt very warm the whole time i’m watching it. Another Sapphic classic and Lesbian 101 for baby gays. 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Hulu 

A masterpiece and a great take on Female gaze. Art and Lesbianism really are partners. 

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 16, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 17, 2023

The summit of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies continued today in San Francisco, California. 

Formed in 1989, APEC is made up of the economies of 21 nations around the Pacific Rim: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, Vietnam, and the United States. Together, these economies make up about 62% of global gross domestic product and almost half of global trade.

David Sanger of the New York Times today noted an apparent shift in the power dynamic between President Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who met yesterday for a four-hour conversation. Earlier in his presidency, Xi was riding on a strong economy that overshadowed that of the U.S. and looked as if it would continue to do so. Then, Xi favored what was known as “wolf warrior” diplomacy: the aggressive defense of China’s national interests against what Chinese envoys portrayed as foreign hostility, especially that of the U.S. 

Under that diplomatic regime, Xi emphasized that liberal democracy was too weak to face the twenty-first century. The speed and momentous questions of the new era called for strong leaders, he said. In early February 2022, Russia and China held a summit after which they pledged that the “[f]riendship between the two States has no limits.” 

Things have changed. 

The U.S. has emerged from the coronavirus pandemic with a historically strong economy, while China’s economy is reeling from a real estate bubble and deflation at the same time that government crackdowns have made foreign capital flee. This summer, Xi quietly sidelined Qin Gang, the foreign minister associated with wolf warrior diplomacy, and in October, he replaced Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, who is under U.S. sanctions for overseeing weapon purchases from Russia. 

Indeed, China has also been quietly pushing back from its close embrace of Russia. Just weeks after their February 2022 declaration, Russia invaded Ukraine in an operation that Russian president Vladimir Putin almost certainly expected would be quick and successful, permitting Russia to seize key Ukrainian ports and land. Such a victory would have strengthened both Russia and China at the same time it weakened Europe, the United States, and their allies and partners. 

Instead, Ukraine stood firm, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and allies and partners have stood behind the embattled country. As the war has stretched on, sanctions have cut into the Russian economy and Putin has had to cede power to Xi, accepting the Chinese yuan in exchange for Russian commodities, for example. This week, Alberto Nardelli of Bloomberg reported that the European Union is considering another round of sanctions, including a ban on the export of machine tools and machinery parts that enable Russia to make ammunition. 

In a piece at the Center for European Policy Analysis today, Julia Davis, who monitors Russian media, noted that Russia lost an extraordinary 997,000 people between October 2020 and September 2021, even before the war began. Now it is so desperate to increase its population that its leadership claims to have stolen as many as 700,000 Ukrainian children and is urging women to have as many children as possible.  

Holly Ellyatt of CNBC noted that to the degree they even mentioned it, Russian media sniped at the Biden-Xi summit, but it was hard to miss that although Russian president Putin was not welcome to attend, Xi came and engaged in several high-level meetings, assuring potential investors that China wants to be friends with the U.S. Also hard to miss was Xi’s pointed comment that the China-U.S. relationship “is the most important bilateral relationship in the world.” 

Going into this summit, then, the U.S. had the leverage to get agreements from China to crack down on the precursor chemicals that Chinese producers have been shipping to Latin America to make illegal fentanyl, restore military communications between the two countries now that Li has been replaced, and make promises about addressing climate change. Other large issues of trade and the independence of Taiwan will not be resolved so easily. 

Still, it was a high point for President Biden, whose economic policies and careful investment in diplomatic alliances have helped to shift the power dynamic between the U.S. and two countries that were key geopolitical rivals when he took office. Now, both the U.S. and China appear to be making an effort to move forward on better terms. Indeed, Chinese media has shifted its tone about the U.S. and the APEC summit so quickly readers have expressed surprise. 

Today, Biden emphasized “the unlimited potential of our partnerships…to realize a future that will benefit people not only in the Asia-Pacific region but the whole world,… [a] future where our prosperity is shared and is inclusive, where workers are empowered and their rights are respected, where our economies are sustainable and resilient.” 

Biden and administration officials noted that companies from across the Asia-Pacific world have invested nearly $200 billion in the U.S. since Biden took office, creating tens of thousands of good jobs, while the U.S. has elevated its engagement with the region, holding bilateral talks, creating new initiatives and deepening economic partnerships. 

Today, Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, an economic forum established last year as a nonbinding replacement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership former president Trump abruptly pulled out of, had agreed on terms to set up an early warning system for disruptions to supply chains, cooperation on clean energy, and fighting corruption and tax evasion.

In a very different event in San Francisco today, a federal jury convicted David DePape, 43, of attempted kidnapping and assault on account of a federal official’s performance of official duties for his attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul with a hammer on October 28 of last year, fracturing his skull. 

DePape’s lawyers did not contest the extensive evidence against him but tried to convince the jury that DePape did not commit a federal crime because he did not attack Pelosi on account of Representative Pelosi’s official position. Instead, they said, DePape had embraced the language of right-wing lawmakers and pundits and believed in a conspiracy theory that pedophile elites had taken over the country and were spreading lies about former president Donald Trump. 

DePape told jurors he had come to conspiracy theories through Gamergate, a 2014–2015 misogynistic online campaign of harassment against women in the video game industry, which turned into attacks on feminism, diversity, and progressive ideas. Trump ally Steve Bannon talked of pulling together the Gamergate participants behind Trump and his politics. 

Also today, a subcommittee of the House Ethics Committee set up to investigate allegations against Representative George Santos (R-NY) issued its report. The Republican-dominated committee found that Santos had lied about his background during his campaign and, furthermore, that he appears to be a serial liar. Those lies also “include numerous misrepresentations to the government and the public about his and his campaign’s financial activities.” 

That is, the committee found, Santos defrauded his campaign donors, falsified his financial records, and used campaign money on beauty products, rent, luxury items from Hermes and Ferragamo, and purchases at the website Only Fans. The subcommittee recommended the Ethics Committee refer Santos to the Department of Justice, and “publicly condemn Representative Santos, whose conduct [is] beneath the dignity of the office” and who has “brought severe discredit upon the House.” 

Santos says he will not run for reelection.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[trollpium]

\\ Hello Trollsblr! // ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

(...Did I say that right?)

I'm a student cartoon nerd who loves animation and the like! I especially love Trolls!

I truly embraced the movie series this year after watching Trolls Band Together! I'm planning to rewatch everything, make analyses, and put them here ↓

》So far, I think these are the most relevant...

📖 Follow Your Art

📖 Trolls Graphic Novel Vol. 1: Hugs & Friends

— ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ₊ ⊹⟡

📖 Trolls: The Junior Novelization

📖 Trolls: The Deluxe Junior Novelization

🎞️ Troll 2 Troll

🎥 Trolls (2016)

📖 Rock'n'Troll Collection aka Trolls Chapter Books

📖 Trolls Holiday: The Official Novelization

🎞️ Trolls Holiday (2017)

— ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ₊ ⊹⟡

🎞️ Trolls Shorts

— ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ₊ ⊹⟡

📖 Trolls Graphic Novel Vol. 2: Put Your Hair in the Air

📖 Trolls Graphic Novel Vol. 3: Party with the Bergens

📖 Trolls Graphic Novel Vol. 4: Brain Freeze

📖 Trolls Graphic Novel Vol. 5: Brain Freeze

— ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ₊ ⊹⟡

📖 Trolls World Tour: The Junior Novelization

🎥 Trolls World Tour (2020)

🎞️ Trolls Holiday in Harmony (2021)

— ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ₊ ⊹⟡

🎥 Trolls Band Together (2023)

📖 Trolls Band Together: The Junior Novelization

The crossed-out ones are the ones I've rewatched now. I've watched all three movies except the specials, books, and shorts.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

✦ I am a minor. I currently reside in the Philippines. The books aren't available in my area and they don't sell e-books of the books above. :( Having to buy a hard copy and have it shipped from miles away is way too expensive for me. I was wondering if anyone could help me out in scouting these books? Any locals? Perhaps people in the Philippines selling these books online for other Filipinos to read? I'd love to get ahold of the books, especially the ones I mentioned above as they're most relevant to me. Though I wouldn't mind getting the other books that aren't in the order of the series!

✦ Although I'm a minor, I am capable of paying with PayPal, Gcash, or Google Pay. I would buy the books but they're just quite expensive. I would really appreciate anyone helping me out!

✦ This account will contain analyses, headcanons, rambles, easter egg hunts,-

Navigation:

✧ Spotlight Post

✧ Best Recent

✧ Analyses and Rambles

✧ Timeline Talk

✧ Headcanons, Ideas, & Fanworks

✧ Compilations (Coming soon)

-and things I've discovered from rewatching these over and over again.

Which of course they all will contain spoilers.

✦ I don't really want to impose most of my shipping onto this account as much (I have given out some ship-related posts now though) but a fair warning that I am pro-fiction. I'm in favor of whatever is made in fiction stays in fiction. So that includes ship and let ship. Here's a silly image to help you.

Regarding the purple text from above, if not much can be done, that's alright too. I'll continue to do what I do: Watch the movies/animations/specials and make analyses on them!

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

If you have any questions please use the ask feature! :) I will update this intro progressively, and add certain details about me and all. xddd Tell me if I've missed anything on the list, thanks! That's all. Toodles!

[elimaster23]

My FIFA Journey

When I was in still in the Philippines, I had known already that FIFA World Cup 2022 will be held in Qatar. On October 7, 2021, I arrived at Qatar for work purposes for a three-year period. A heightened excitement runs through my veins as the event draws near. During the FIFA season, all schools in Qatar would be closed and that means that our last day of school would be November 17, 2022, and the opening of FIFA WC 2022 would be on November 20, 2022, at Al Bayt Stadium.

As early as September of 2022, I and some colleagues did apply as FIFA Volunteer but after knowing that we will not receive a salary, we opted to withdraw. What we’ve done next was to visit some agencies advertising for some hospitality and logistic works affiliated by FIFA. Since my interest was working in a bar, I decided to apply as a barman. I even influenced my friends to accept the offer as barman. We accepted the offer by Inspire Training Management as barman as they are specializing on hospitality management. With that, after signing the contract, we were required to attend session and trainings for food and beverages handling. Our trainer Miss Yogi was so effective and inspiring.

The next step we’ve done was undergoing a medical procedure. I passed the medical exam together with my colleagues and we were then given a uniform plus the medical certificate that would certainly grant us the access to the stadium and be allowed to serve the international guests.

A night before the FIFA World Cup opening, I and my friends Loida and Mark went to 900 Park Doha to watch the interesting views. And as we go home, we made ourselves ready for the next day’s big event.

On November 20, 2022, our call time was 10am. We were then transported to Al Bayt Stadium and reach the location about 11 in the morning. Two-way pass was then issued to each of us after two hours. We felt the sun burned our skin after long hours of waiting outside. At 2 pm we were allowed to enter the Workforce Entrance for security checking. Again, we were made to wait for another hour before we were finally able to enter the stadium. We finally settled in our assigned area at 3pm and waited for the guests to arrive. From 3-6pm, we served the guests with beverage that they want. It was the starting point where I see a lot of foreign nationals although I am accustomed to it back when I was in Saudi Arabia.

At 6pm, that was the time that we were allowed to eat food since the guests had been watching the match. We ate hurriedly to prepare for the influx return of the guests during the halftime. I took a glimpse of Jungkook’s performance through a tv screen only without volume, but I was fully aware of what was he singing since the release of the official theme has dominated the airwaves already. We were then required by our floor supervisor to report on our station and continue with our work.

During that moment, I gained friendships with my co-barmen and other food servers. It was a nice moment since I appreciate the approachable attitudes of my supervisors. There are many supervisors to deal with. Luckily, all of them were easy to work with.

We were released by our coordinator at exactly 10:30pm for the next day’s duty at 974. I reached home at 12am. The next morning, we were required to report at 974 around 9am. There was a bus fetching us at Al Rayyan Al Qadeem and there were only four of us in the bus. We reached the 974 stadium and had to clean all the utensils since there was no match that day at 974. It was prepared for the next day’s match wherein we were again assigned there to work as barman. During my first work as a barman at 974, our guests were the Mexicans whom I fondly regarded as the friendliest peoples. They look like an upgraded Filipino. Why do I love the Mexicans? First, I am heavily influenced by Thalia, a Mexican superstar who dominated the Philippine television in the 90’s and early 2000’s. I was never wrong with my admiration to them since my guests were very friendly. Added to that, they were very generous in giving tip.

I had a supervisor named Miss A, whom I am quite upset with. She was always scolding us, the barman as if we were robots and should do what she wanted accordingly. My point was, if ever she wanted us to learn something, why didn’t just she teach us about it. Human as I am, it is just normal to feel pain, and anger towards her for the maltreatment and humiliation I received.

I am a fan of team Argentina ever since I got interested with football back in 2013 when I arrived at Saudi Arabia. I do not play but I just love watching my students play football and sometimes when they submit an essay, most of them would write about their favorite football stars like Leonil Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I felt the same thing along with the worldwide fans back in 2016 when Messi announced that he would no longer be playing in international football due to multiple losses. Thankfully, he was convinced to play once more. In 2018 FIFA World Cup, team Argentine lost to France during the round of 16, dropping their hopes to the Finals.

Until they won the COPA Americana trophy in 2021 and the much-coveted world cup trophy during the FIFA. Qatar has indeed successfully hosted to one of the biggest events in the world. I, myself had been truly enjoying and entertained by the dazzling array of performing stars who rendered a stunning performance at the FIFA Fan Festival at Al Bida Park. I had personally seen the performances by Julian Marley, The Uprising Band, Myrath, Paul van Dyk, and Sean Paul.

During the Finals, I was not able to watch the match at the big screen at FIFA Fan Festival due to multitude of fans already inside. What I could hear was the loud screaming of fans whenever Argentine team scores. I, together with my friend Marque, was only seated at the nearby entrance and looked only at the mobile screen of a guy who was also denied entrance. The game ended and I went home extremely happy for the result. When I arrived home, the Argentine celebrations continued, and I was able to watch the live broadcast. They were paraded at Lusail Boulevard and throng of supporters showed their admiration and congratulatory remarks. Meanwhile, at Messi’s hometown, millions of Argentine people celebrated the winnings of Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

              I wish it had not come to an end!

[kadcptblog]

Castillo PT 6

Video 1: "#MSafe always with McDo" by McDo Philippines

The reason why I selected this advertisement in particular was because I came across it almost everyday through various multimedia websites during the pandemic. The video advertisement itself is a short video featuring the various sanitation and safety practices done by the McDonald's employees in order to minimize the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The commercial was made in order to draw in customers by ensuring that their safety is guaranteed when dining or entering any McDonald's restaurants nationwide. Which brings us to its target customers. This video was posted on YouTube on April 2021, which was still at the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The target customers for this ad would most likely be the general public. The various sanitation practices shown in the ad are most likely shown to persuade the individuals who are still skeptical about dining/purchasing food outdoors. The practices they've shown in the video are common COVID-19 prevention practices, which include good hygiene, the wearing of proper equipment such as masks and face shields, the installation of transparent boards in order to block the transmission of the virus, among many other things. The efficacy of face masks and face shields at blocking the transmission of the virus has already been proven by Wendling et al. (2021), who experimented with various types of facial equipment using two mannequin heads spaced 25cm apart. The experiment also included a particle emitter in order to simulate the transmission of virus particles. The results showed a transmission reduction of up to 98% when wearing a face mask or a face shield, which of course, could benefit the consumer as they’re running a lower risk of receiving the virus in the public environment. To conclude, I'd like to discuss if there are any forms of Media Manipulation present in the video. From my experiences, I'd say that they're sticking to their promises. Obviously, since the threat of the virus has died down, they're way less strict than they were during the midst of the pandemic. But, they're still practicing most of the various sanitation methods that they've presented in the advertisement.

Video 2: "Sama-sama sa Distansya" by globeph

The video features a compilation of cuts of different places in the Philippines showcasing the effect of the pandemic on the daily life of Filipinos. This was backed by an audio recording of a woman who at first seemed to be avoiding someone who was important for her, but we soon learn that it was for good reason. She states that, during that time, it would be better for them to distance themselves from one another, because they were close. Which may imply that staying too close to each other during the time of the pandemic may cause more harm than good. Though, during that time, they were able to meet more often through the use of the internet and its communication capabilities. They were able to find ways to connect with each other, even though they're far apart. The possible intended purpose of this short ad is to let the people know that during this time of being disconnected to the outside world, we could still build more connections with those around us through different means. And those means could be accessed through the internet. The target audience for this ad would be those who miss the ones dear to them, to persuade them to connect with those loved ones through the use of the internet, and the services of Globe Telecom. For me, the services that Globe offers is essential during this modern time, especially since we're recovering from a pandemic. The internet allowed us to limit physical interactions, which drastically decreased the transmission of viral diseases such as COVID-19. As for the presence of Media Manipulation, I'd say there is a subtle hint of it, but it isn't really relevant. I think that the ad managed to gain the interest of the public because of its creative writing and storytelling. It draws you in to anticipate the conclusion of the story.

References:

McDo Philippines. (2021, April 23). #MSafe always with McDo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTx9KhgA91w

globeph. (2020, April 17). Sama-sama sa Distansya | #SafeAtHome [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZNnrEKbyJ4

Wendling, J., Fabacher, T., Pébaÿ, P. P., Cosperec, I., & Rochoy, M. (2021). Experimental Efficacy of the Face Shield and the Mask against Emitted and Potentially Received Particles. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1942. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041942

[etes-secrecy-post]

Hi, before I explain my post, I want to say something important.

• What you see my blog has become a major overhaul. And despite the changes, I decided that my 2nd account will be now my artwork blog with a secret twist.

⚠️NEW RULE! (W/ BIGGER TEXT!)⚠️

⚠️ SO PLEASE DO NOT SHARE MY 2nd ACCOUNT TO EVERYONE! THIS SECRECY BLOG OF MINE IS FOR CLOSES FRIENDS ONLY!⚠️

• AND FOR MY CLOSES FRIENDS, DON’T REBLOG IT. INSTEAD, JUST COPY MY LINK AND PASTE IT ON YOUR TUMBLR POST! JUST BE SURE THE IMAGE WILL BE REMOVED AND THE ONLY LEFT WAS THE TEXT.

⚠️ SHARING LINKS, LIKE POSTS, REBLOG POSTS, STEALING MY SNAPSHOT PHOTOS/RECORDED VIDEOS/ARTWORKS (a.k.a. ART THIEVES) OR PLAGIARIZING FROM UNKNOWN TUMBLR STRANGERS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE BLOCKED, RIGHT AWAY!⚠️

😡 WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT EVER LIKED & REBLOG MY SECRET POST! THIS IS FOR MY SECRET FRIENDS ONLY, NOT YOU! 😡

Okay? Capiche? Make sense? Good, now back to the post…↓

Journey to Manila w/ my Paper Dolls [Recorded Jan 8th, 2023]

Hello, my secret friends! Here's what I'm promised. A journey to Manila, featuring my family & my paper dolls. 🙂🌃🇵🇭

If you haven't seen my 1st episode of "Take a Taste" 2023, then please [CLICK ME!].😉

So, without further ado, let's get started:

1st to 5th Image(s): ↑

• This is before we go to "1919 Grand Cafe" for some delicious sweet treats, and also after we ate at the "Delicious Restaurant".

• Before we proceed to another eating established, let's take a look at the "New Binondo Chinatown Arch". ⛩️🇨🇳🏙️ Isn't it pretty, you two? Love the changing colors! 😊💡

Fun fact #1: Did you know, that "Binondo's Chinatown" in Manila was considered the most oldest Chinatown in the world? That's right! It was established in 1594; 182 years before the United States of America declares their independence (July 4th, 1776) 🇺🇸📖🪶, and 304 years before the Philippines (my country) declares our independence (June 12th, 1898) 🇵🇭📖🪶. That's old! 😁 Know about more "Binondo's Chinatown"? Then please [CLICK ME!].

6th to 8th Image(s): ↑

• And this is after we're leaving the "1919 Grand Cafe".

• Here are my last three photos, as we stroll along at the new improved "Jones Bridge" 🌉. Yes, I said it "new improved" because of Mayor of Manila (Isko Moreno) order the officials to renovate the bridge into a nostalgic looking reminiscent of the past, and it amazed us. Don't ya think, you two? 😊 Love the scenery w/ the Philippine iconic structure; the "Manila Central Post Office". ✉️🏛️🇵🇭

Fun Fact #2: The original name of this bridge was "William A. Jones Memorial Bridge", It is named after the United States legislator William Atkinson Jones [CLICK ME! #1], although, Mr. Jones didn't architect the bridge, but rather a Filipino designer named Juan M. Arellano [CLICK ME! #2]. The original style of the "Jones Bridge" was the "Neoclassical arch bridge", from 1919 to 1945, where the latter was bombed by Japanese Army forces during WWII. A year later, they revived the Jones Bridge w/ several alterations until 2019. Which, I've already mentioned before.

Final Overall:

• My entire family are satisfied our stroll & eating delicious food from two establishments, at the same time. We're haven't done this since the pandemic, and we're missing out some great places in Manila (and other parts in my country). Here's hoping, that we planning another bonding, someday. 😊 And don't worry, we're always wearing face mask & arming some sanitation sprays. 😷😉

Well, that’s all for now. More journey moments, coming soon. 😊

And If you haven’t seen my previous episodes of "Take a Taste", then I’ll provide some links down below.↓😉

Take a Taste 2022:

• Popeyes U.S. Spicy Chicken Sandwich [Dec 6, 2021]

• Jollibee Chick'nwich & Crisscut Fries [Dec 21, 2021]: Part 1 [CLICK ME! #1], Part 2 [CLICK ME! #2]

• Mini Stop Chicken Fillet XL Sandwich [Feb 7, 2022]

• Minute Burger Cheese Burger(s) [Mar 1, 2022]

• Pepper Lunch Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice w/ Egg (& Honey Brown Sauce) [Mar 5, 2022]

• Bacsilog’s Sulit Combo Bacon-Tocino & Samgyup Day’s Pork Herbs [Mar 12, 2022]

• Burger King Whopper w/ Sides & Drink [May 6, 2022]

• Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola Zero [Aug 26, 2022]

• Cheesy Burger McDo with Lettuce & Tomatoes Meal [Recorded: Sept 16, 2022]

• Mcdonald’s PH McSpicy & Apple Pie (featuring their World Famous Fries) [Nov 14, 2022]

• Mcdonald’s McCrispy Hamonado Sandwich [Dec 31st, 2022]

Take a Taste 2023:

• Foods from Delicious Restaurant & 1919 Grand Cafe [Jan 8th, 2023]

Tagged: @bryan360, @carmenramcat, @leapant

[kevbob]

In remembrance of my late buddy

This was the obit I posted to Twitter in March 2021.

March 12 2021

Today we said goodbye to my kitty knight. Simba Collins. He powered through 19 years and 7 months of pure love. Never a paw raised in anger. The gentlest soul you could ever hope for.

He was found wandering at about 8 weeks old in October 2001.

Though I took him to an adoption event after socializing him, we got right back in the car and he stayed with my existing cats, FatCat and Winston.

Later, after we said goodbye to them, he was joined by the lovely Cammie for a couple years. He genuinely loved every animal and person he encountered.

In 2010, he welcomed a human cat into the house and they were inseparable. He watched over her with love in his face. He tolerated every naughty toddler trick as she grew.

In 2018, at the ripe old cat age of 17, he became a world traveler. Flying with me to Korea for a layover to live with us in Philippines. The many Korean tourists that went through customs with me who were charmed by him hailed him as a wise and special cat. They weren’t wrong.

Here he lords over his new home, 40ish floors above Cebu City. A king.

Last summer he accepted a new sibling when Beanie the chi joined our house.

We will all miss his beautiful soul. Bless you, my boy. I’ll always love you

[thisinkedpaper]

one movie from every country

the challenge is to watch at least one movie from all 195 countries in the world. not sure if that's possible cause getting a copy of movies from countries with very "visible" cinema is already hard enough. but we will try. (this is also just to keep myself from jumping off a cliff.)

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

American Samoa

Andorra

Angola

Anguilla

Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia — Amerikatsi (2022, Michael A. Goorjian)

Australia — Nitram (2021, Justin Kurzel)

Austria — Des Teufels Bad (2024, Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz)

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus

Belgium — Close (2022, Lukas Dhont)

Belize

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil — Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho (2014, Daniel Ribeiro)

British Virgin Islands

Brunei Darussalam

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cabo Verde

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada — J'ai tué ma mère (2009, Xavier Dolan)

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Chile — Una mujer fantástica (2017, Sebastián Lelio)

China Mainland — 少年的你 (2019, Derek Tsing)

China

Christmas Island

Cocos Islands

Colombia

Comoros

Congo-Brazzaville

Congo-Kinshasa

Cook Islands

Costa Rica

Cote d’Ivoire

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark — Jagten (2012, Thomas Vinterberg)

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

East Timor

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Estonia

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Falkland Islands

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Finland — A Moment in the Reeds (2017, Mikko Mäkelä)

France — Anatomie d'une chute (2023, Justine Triet)

French Guiana

French Polynesia

Gabon

Gambia

Georgia

Germany — Die Mitte der Welt (2016, Jakob M. Erwa)

Ghana

Greece — Miss Violence (2013, Alexandros Avranas)

Greenland

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Guam

Guatemala

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Hungary — Hat hét (2022, Noémi Veronika Szakonyi)

Iceland — Hvítur, Hvítur Dagur (2019, Hlynur Pálmason)

India — Taare Zameen Par (2007, Aamir Khan)

Indonesia — Jagal (2012, Joshua Oppenheimer)

Iran — طعم گیلاس (1997, Abbas Kiarostami)

Iraq

Ireland — The Banshees of Inisherin (2022, Martin McDonagh)

Israel

Italy — La vita è bella (1997, Roberto Benigni)

Ivory Coast

Jamaica

Japan — 誰も知らない (2004, Kore-eda Hirokazu)

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya — Rafiki (2018, Wanuri Kahiu)

Kiribati

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Mali

Malta

Martinique

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mexico — Roma (2018, Alfonso Cuarón)

Micronesia

Moldova

Monaco

Mongolia

Montenegro

Morocco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nauru

Nepal

Netherlands — Noordzee, Texas (2011, Bavo Defurne)

New Caledonia

New Zealand — Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016, Taika Waititi)

Nicaragua

Niger

Nigeria —

Niue —

Norfolk Island —

North Korea —

North Macedonia —

Norway — Verdens verste menneske (2021, Joachim Trier)

Oman —

Pakistan —

Palau —

Palestine —

Panama —

Papua New Guinea —

Paraguay —

Peru —

Philippines — Patay na si Hesus (2016, Victor Villanueva)

Poland — Sala Samobójców (2011, Jan Komasa)

Portugal

Qatar

Republic of the Sudan

Romania

Russia — Возвращение (2003, Andrey Zvyagintse)

Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Samoa

San Marino

São Tomé and Príncipe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

Somalia

South Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Korea — 도가니 (2011, Hwang Donghyuk)

South Sudan

Spain — 20.000 especies de abejas (2023, Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren)

Sri Lanka

Sudan

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Swaziland

Sweden — Höstsonaten (1978, Ingmar Bergman)

Switzerland

Syria

Taiwan — 誰先愛上他的 (2018, Mag Hsu, Hsu Chih-yen)

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand — หลานม่า (2024, Pat Boonnitipat)

Togo

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey — Okul Tirasi (2021, Ferit Karahan)

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom — All of Us Strangers (2023, Andrew Haigh)

United States — Blue Jasmine (2013, Woody Allen)

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vatican City

Venezuela

Vietnam

Wallis and Futuna Islands

Western Sahara

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

there are countries i've seen more than one movie from. as for my reasoning behind which film i choose to list, i don't have any. i just write down whatever comes to mind first.

i'm literally more than a hundred films away from completing this. i'll probably die without succeeding.

[onenettvchannel]

BALITANG SHOWBIZ: Doraemon's Double Pioneer Japanese Voice Actresses of 'Nobi Nobita' have both died

KYOTO, JAPAN -- The world of Japanese animation mourns the death of two (2) pioneering voice actresses from the hit classic anime series 'Doraemon'. The death of 'Yoshiko Ota', acts originally for 'Mr. Nobita Nobi', and Noriko Ohara, her successor, has left fans and their colleagues in tears.

Yoshiko Ota, who first brought Nobita to life in the 1973 version of 'Doraemon' on Nippon Television, passed away last Friday on October 29, 2021 at the age of 89. Her agency at 'Theatre Echo' announced that she succumbed to heart failure after battling the condition for several years. Ms. Ota's portrayal of Nobita laid the base for the popularity that has not only endured but also left a mark on the series.

Nobita of the 1979 series 'Noriko Ohara', died alone on Friday (July 12, 2024) at 88 y/o. Ohara's agency '81 Produce' revealed on social media post that she had died after receiving unsuccessful treatment for an unspecified illness. Our news team learned to OneNETnews, it is not determine if she is related to natural death, health concerns or both.

With her voice, Ohara's instantly became synonymous with Mr. Nobita, the character loved by generations of Japanese viewers. In a career spanning more than 4 decades, she also voiced characters in other popular anime, including 'Yatterman' that was released in January 1977 and 'Conan: The Boy in Future' in 1978. Though their names share 'Conan' from the anime series 'Detective Edogawa Conan' are no connection, or being related between the plot, genre or voice production occurs.

First broadcast in April 1979 at All-Nippon News Network's TV Asahi, 'Doraemon' just about became an instant cultural phenomenon first in Japan and then around the world. The series follows a cat robot named Doraemon as he travels back in time to help a young boy named 'Mr. Nobi Nobita'. That success may be due only to the magnificent voice acting that realized these characters and made them emotionally resonate with audiences across all ages.

Internationally, 'Doraemon' found its place in more syndicated TV networks outside Japan, whether by free or cable TV, such as Disney XD in the United States of America (U.S.A.) and GMA 7 in the Philippines. Episodes in local languages, as part of global syndication aired most of the daily reruns with no new episodes. Such worldwide reach made the series a staple of childhood for most in the world, further making it a cultural icon.

A thoughtfulness tribute between Ota and Ohara marked an era for 'Doraemon' fans. In so many ways, their comforting voices will be deeply missed. Today, 'Ms. Megumi Ohara' already has to transition her around 2 decades ago, in continuing her new legacy for a voice actress of 'Nobi Nobita', because of the likeness that matches as a fictional male character.

As the anime community reflects on their legacy, the impact of Ota and Ohara's work will continue to be felt for generations to come. Both hard work and skills have all managed to touch the anime industry, in such a way that their voices will never be forgotten, always remembered in the hearts of fans worldwide.

FILE and ART PHOTO COURTESY for REPRESENTATION: Google Images and Jainish Ramanuj via Figma PHOTO BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY: Tegna

SOURCE: *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobita_Nobi *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiko_%C5%8Cta *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noriko_Ohara *https://www.figma.com/community/file/990094112434879347/nobita-by-jainish [Referenced Art Photo via Figma] *https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-08/voice-actress-yoshiko-ohta-passes-away/.179327 [Referenced News Article #1 via Anime News Network] *https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-07-23/voice-actress-noriko-ohara-dies-at-88/.213502 [Referenced News Article #2f via Anime News Network] *https://www.epicdope.com/noriko-ohara-voice-behind-nobita-from-doraemon-dies-at-88/ [Referenced News Article via Epic Dope News Bureau] and *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjBQ9dKYtI4&t=1833 [Referenced YT VIDEO via Rulumi]

-- OneNETnews Online Publication Team

[conandaily2022]

Miss World Philippines 2024 results: Gwendolyne Fourniol crowns successor in Pasay

The Philippines currently has 21 Miss World placements including the coronation of Megan Young in 2013. The most recent one was in 2021 when Tracy Maureen Perez finished in the Top 12. Navjot Kaur, Kristen Wright, Nursena Say, Gwendolyne Fourniol (©Miss World) beauty pageant: Missedition: date: July 2024venue: international membership: broadcasters: candidates:national director: hosts:…

[n0resistance]

Winter

     I always hated winter. My mom hated winter. We get sick in the winter and are anemic so we’re always cold, and get the flu easily. And for when she was a live and what I do for a living, the amount of money you make drops in the winter. When I turned 9 my mother would go to the Philippines every winter. She was in real estate so her business was slow and she wanted to get out of the cold. She said her cough would go away as long as it was warm. 

   When I was little I used to always say that the only good thing about winter was skiing, and then when I turned 14 I would say the only good thing was snowboarding. There's ice skating, hot chocolate, Christmas, and snow tubing. We had a vacation home in the Poconos and utilized it for skiing trips.    

    Finally in 2017 I escaped winter moving to La in the thick of winter in January. Then after 3 winters in a row living in LA, I missed the seasons. I actually missed the cold, maybe a day with it. I was so tired of the day being beautiful everyday. Who would've thought, but the desert got to be too much. When I was living in LA I would hide out in "bourgeois pig", the darkest coffee shop in Hollywood. Just to escape all that light.  

    When I moved back to New York, I thought Oh brother winter is coming, and my first winter in New York was the Pandemic. So it was brutal. We atleast made money with the covid-relief while hospitality workers weren't able to work.

  I remember in February 2020, right before the shutdown, I went to LA with sorority sisters and my ex, and I got to see everyone I had left in 2019, so my trip was exhausting. However, the amount we were working, the small apartments in Brooklyn, and just being super stuck in the city in the freezing cold.

 I really wanted to leave and we organized a trip. Then when we got back, bam, the pandemic hit.   

    Everything in life really fell apart. It took a lot of energy to put it back together. The following winter February 2021 I went to Dominican Republic with friends. Then the following winter December 2021 I went to DR for a wedding, and it was a week long, but when I got back the winter deadness, depression, lack of money and lack of work really hit, stuck in my small apartment feeling the winter blues would happen and I just had to go to therapy. 

   I didn't have the money to leave the country or to flee to the west coast, but I had insurance that covered this so I talked through my winter blues. Which were actually decades and decades of blues. So I talked to her for a good 6 months and was like you know what, I never want to feel the winter blues like I did last time I'm going to leave for the whole winter. 

    Now, it wasn't the whole winter because that is really really difficult. I planned all summer to take this amazing trip. To LA North Hollywood --> Manila Philippines-->Siargao P.I-->Sydney Au -->layover in Hawaii--> LA ktown --> Palm Springs--> San Diego --> Home. December 24- February 15. 7 weeks. I really started buying tickets in June. It was enough time to plan a perfect trip and transition out of my old life into the new. 

   The best part is I stayed with people everywhere I went because I have family and close friends in these parts of the world. My acting friend who has a family, my brother, and entire mom's side of the family, plus doing adventures like surfing and swimming in Siargao, seeing a friend I knew since kindergarten in his new home in Sydney and getting to go to his amazing birthday party, and going to beaches like Manly Beach or Bondi Beach, (where when you go under water you feel like a marine biologist) and in ktown I stayed with my old roommate, where we felt like roommates again, and in Palm Springs I actually did a Bachelorette party for my friend, and saw cousins & An Aunt I haven't seen in forever which was really nice, and finally seeing my close friend who now lives in San Diego and my best friend who also lives there. So I was busy, not working!, and connecting, importantly enough I was connecting to myself and I got rid of those winter blues. 

    It wasn't easy, It was a reset, had to find a new job and that was a blessing, I was away from my boyfriend whom I missed terribly and he had a hard time in the winter, and I needed to travel to self-soothe because I didn't like where I was stuck in life. I wasn't happy with work, or my habits, or myself. Travel allowed me to just stop and just live, and the weeks go fast, but then you realize in 1 work day all the cool things you can accomplish. 

     Anyway this post isn't about my amazing winter in the Philippines. It's about the past winter that is just ending right now. 

    I changed my high stress, high paid, dead winter job and got a couple chill jobs. I finally moved out of Bushwick, a highly congested area with small apartments that are falling apart, even if they look modern, for our own apartment that's spacious in Queens. Dom and I think,  how did take us so long to move to Queens. This winter I quit drinking. Not the whole winter but I did it for 2 straight months and it did feel amazing. Your sugar intake does increase. I didn't like who I was and I also could not afford drinking in NYC anymore. I could not. 

    So I filled my time with yoga, kickboxing, aerial yoga, good dinners, shows, and learning languages. I would discover museums The Met, Picking up dog sits, like we did on Christmas. I love checking out galleries too. Another thing is this winter, this year, my boyfriend works a lot, and when he finally has days off and we finally get to spend time together; it’s quality time together. No stress, no running around, not a million people. just us and just us only. 

     When you're in your 30's and you have friends that are married who are starting their families. When you’re at a stage where you finally don’t have roommates, no kids, you don't even have a dog, so you get plants and a fish. Priorities shift. I like being home, I wana see my family or my boyfriend, you stop prioritizing your friends, and start prioritizing jobs you enjoy and focus on healthy hobbies like yoga. I wana read. I realized the beauty of New York in the winter is this. No lines, not many people, you can take a class on anything, try Groupon, you discover so many shows, eating out you can get in and out easy. This time I didn’t leave for 7 weeks just left for 1 week. San Diego, LA, and Phoenix. To be honest it was a great trip because I realized LA isn’t the vibe for me anymore. I really enjoyed Phoenix, Arizona. I want intimate nights at home, hiking, nature, good food, and good vibes. My 20’s are really over. My head and my heart tell me that. 

   I’m glad to know when you’re busy with the right stuff and in the right situation. Winter isn’t that bad. I also figured out my chronic sickness was because I hated my job. Life is way too short for that. The drinking was also from high stress. It really will come down to taking care of yourself and your needs. Then you can survive winter. You can probably survive anything.

[brijeshtiwaripune]

Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua Takes the Title – Miss Universe 2023 Winner !

The Miss Universe 2023 pageant, which took place on Saturday at the Adolfo Pineda National Gymnasium in El Salvador, lived up to expectations. A total of 84 contestants from around the world participated in the final ceremony of the 72nd edition of the beauty contest, and Sheynnis Palacios, representing Nicaragua, emerged as Miss Universe 2023 winner. This victory marked the first time a contestant from Nicaragua had won the Miss Universe pageant. MISS UNIVERSE 2023 IS @Sheynnispalacios_of !!!! 👑 🇳🇮@mouawad #72ndMISSUNIVERSE #MissUniverse2023 pic.twitter.com/cSHgnTKNL2 — Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) November 19, 2023 The top three contenders anticipated to win Miss Universe 2023 were ranked as follows: Karla Guilfu Acevedo from Puerto Rico, Maria Brechane from Brazil, and Sotima John from Cambodia. Diana Silva from Venezuela, who holds Venezuelan nationality through her mother, secured the sixth position in the odds to win. The finalists who made it to the last round of the question-and-answer session were Miss Thailand, Miss Nicaragua, and Miss Australia. Jacqueline Bracamontes, Mexico's representative at the turn of the century in the beauty pageant, hosted this edition of the gala. The 23-year-old, a TV host and model, triumphed over first runner-up Anntonia Porsild from Thailand and second runner-up Moraya Wilson from Australia. The remaining top 10 contestants included representatives from Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Venezuela. The new Miss Universe is...India!!!! #MISSUNIVERSE pic.twitter.com/DTiOKzTHl4 — Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 13, 2021 A total of 84 contestants participated in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, competing in evening gown, swimsuit, and national costume. Palacios wore a black embellished costume inspired by the Nicaraguan Grackle, a bird native to her country and designed by Jorge Salazar Caliz. Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel, a former Miss USA, presented the crown to the winner. In a heartfelt Instagram message before the final, Palacios expressed gratitude for fulfilling a childhood dream of participating in the global competition. She dedicated the night to her inner child and encouraged others to dream big with determination, perseverance, and passion. Miss Nicaragua outshone representatives from Australia and Thailand, securing her place as the first-ever Miss Universe winner from Nicaragua. Palacios, born on November 24, 1995, in Chinandega, is a communications major with a passion for social justice causes and a love for volleyball.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Manu (@manumatusphoto) Her intelligence and charisma played pivotal roles in her success. Palacios will hold the crown for a year until the next edition of the world's most popular beauty pageant. Noteworthy mentions from Miss Universe 2023 included two transgender women representing Portugal and the Netherlands. Additionally, two married contestants with children participated, taking advantage of rule modifications allowing such individuals to compete. We are down to the TOP 3!! One of these three delegates will be crowned the next MISS UNIVERSE!👑#72ndMISSUNIVERSE #MissUniverse2023 pic.twitter.com/EUYr4b13Vn — Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) November 19, 2023 Miss USA, Noelia Voigt, did not make it into the top 10, preventing the United States from repeating as the winner. The representation of Nepal included a plus-size model, Jane Dipika Garrett, adding to the controversy surrounding Miss Universe's fresh look under new ownership. Read the full article