HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Karen+Archie

Flower Shower!!!!

Gerard captured this beautiful photo of Karen and Archie's dreamy and romantic wedding last December 18. Gerard's metal jaw dropped when he saw Karen in her wedding dress. She was stunning. Archie, you're a lucky bastard! :)

Gerard got a bit teary eyed because Karen and Archie have reminded us all what it means to genuinely loved and be loved. Gerard wishes that he finds his true love in this lifetime, like they did! Awwwwwww...

Of course, the wedding was even more beautiful, thanks to Karen's entourage and high school friends!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Tengson!

Dear Ping Medina

Dude,

We need to talk, man to robot.

You have to stop. See, I'm just a typical robot. And when I say "typical robot," it means that I'm an attractive, cool, and (insert a remarkable characteristic) robot. And why am I here on Earth? To find myself a girl. All the girls that I met before like YOU. Adore YOU. And the guys want to be as cool as YOU. The longer you continue to be Ping Medina, the harder it is to get me a girl.

For my own sanity, I made a list of ways in which you can stop being Ping Medina.

1. Stop being so attractive. Look at you. You're like Gael Garcia Bernal. You're really, really, good-looking. You can pull-off a bad haircut, plain shirt, jeans, and dirty 5-year-old Chuck Taylors. And why is that a problem? I've been spent the entire week mimicking your style and signature poker face, but I look like a beaten up Optimus Prime. Sheeesh!

2. Stop being a great actor. You are the Prince of Philippine Independent Movies. You played a guitarist, the brother of a gay kid, and portrayed 20 different roles in all 20 films for Imahenasyon. Dude, you're like a crazy awesome actor. And you have Pen Medina's "acting blood" running through your veins. You do movies because you like to tell great stories and explore emotions. Asiong Salonga? Damn, even I want to see it!

3. Stop being a multifaceted person. You're an actor, musician, and a businessman. I went to PenPen last night. I ordered a Smoked Cheese Dynamita. It was the best creation on this planet. 

In conclusion, just stop it. Stop being Ping Medina. I'm thankful that you exist, really. But I need my sanity back.

Your long lost brutha,

Gerard

P.S. This is the main photo that didn't make it. Ping, no matter what you do, you still look cool!

P.P.S. I'm just an insecure robot. DON'T CHANGE.

Coffee with Anielle

At this very moment, Gerard is having coffee with his new coffee buddy, Anielle Santos-Banson.

Anielle is a model, both for print ads and TV commercials. Gerard first saw her one afternoon on TV in a coffee commercial, and she changed the way Gerard thinks of coffee.

"Ehem..."

"Coffee tastes better with cream!" Gerard says.

"Ehem."

"Sorry. It's my first time to taste something like this. Mmmmm.."

"EHEM!"

.....

.....

And Anielle got Gerard at "ehem".

Michelle

It's not easy to blog about Michelle Callanta-Taledo. Gerard's metal screws melted thinking of what to write about her, given the fact that Michelle is a writer -- a REALLY REALLY good writer. She's the Associate Editor for a tech magazine. She has a blog that reeks of her sheer INTELLIGENCE. She lives and breathes words. She's in-love with words and wants to have babies with them. She's so smart she could replace Wikipedia. And, should Gerard write one wrong word about her, Michelle's pose of sisters will probably kick his metal ass outta here.

Good thing Gerard (on stalker mode) found a beautiful piece about Michelle on her own blog.

"She is a formidable woman. The sweet-sexy ornament of the Humanities building. The male species look at her with vicious eyes and ensnaring thoughts. She is a Queen. She is the RED QUEEN. Always near on top but never at the top of any gambler's game that I know. She walks her walk; talks her talk. Smiles like an innocent but tempting and oozing with the eloquence of a learned. Be DAZZLED. Stick your jaw to the ground and let that saliva make its way to moisten the floor. But she never slips... Long have you seen her. The glasses deceive the fool. The tongue peppers the soul. The dress betrays the body. If you think that's her... it isn't. All is a sick cycle of prejudice, morality, aesthetics, education, and liberality. So many holes for reconsideration, reconstruction and reorganization of a closed mind. The brain is capsulated by the cranium. But the psyche roams uncharted."

WORD! GOD! *fireworks* *champagne showers* Gerard just loves this description. EVERY. F*CKING. WORD. What Gerard loves about Michelle is that she knows and loves herself, and she can do whatever the hell she wants. But, f*ck it, Gerard wants it be simple as possible. Yeah yeah this statement is dripping with cheese and shizz, but behind those glasses and disarming smile, Michelle is one heck of woman. And Gerard is lost for words. Damn you, Michelle!

The Red Whistle

Gerard loves and lives by the numbers. But he was SHOCKED to discover the recent statistics of the HIV and AIDS epidemic here in the Philippines.

According to the Philippine National AIDS Council:

8 new cases are reported everyday

8 out 10 are tested positive for HIV

An estimated 8,700 people (and counting!!) are living with HIV

936 AIDS cases since the outbreak

In the Philippines, 15-24 year-olds are most susceptible to the risks of HIV

We now have a 56% increase since 2010

in 3 years 30,000 Filipinos will be living with HIV

These numbers are crazy. This IS a serious matter, guys! And Gerard wants to challenge these numbers. 

There's nothing quite like the feeling of being in a room with people who are out to change the world.

Gerard, Nimu, Kriska, JM and her girlfriend Lee were able to participate in The Project Headshot Clinic, particularly their run for the The Red Whistle. The Red Whistle is a great initiative that concentrates on issues surrounding the increasing cases of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines. According to their site, lack of awareness about the risks brought on by AIDS and HIV is one of the main drivers of the increase in cases. As a response to this, The Red Whistle was formed, and came up with three objectives:

1. raise awareness on the situation to encourage community action;

2. deliver safer sex messages designed to reach communities affected by the epidemic

3. help facilitate access or referral to HIV services, including HIV testing, treatment, and support services. 

The idea of the Project Headshot Clinic is using peoples' photos as promotional materials for initiatives such as The Red Whistle. They were able to sign up as participants for the project, and had their headshot taken by one of the most prominent photographers in the country today, Niccolo Cosme. Gerard loves his mohawk hair, by the way.

Nimu, Kriska, JM, and Lee's headshots

It was a very wonderful experience in so many levels. Apart from it being really inexplicably fun, Gerard, in one way or another, was able to take part in an effort to make the country a better place to be in. Such a win-win! :)

It's time to blow the whistle!

Knowledge is the best prevention. Check out these sites:

Philippine National AIDS Council
The Red Whistle

The Red Whistle facebook

Project Headshot Clinic
Project Headshot Clinic facebook

Take the Test

in slow mo

12:00 midnight - Now it’s time, Gerard and I can stop and think long enough to pull the exact, best words out of our recessed mind…

(I know this will sound a little cheezy... just let me pull this out..)

^{i n}  S L O W  

                                         M O T I O N

                                              B y:  J a k e

Your enthusiasm for life inspires me utterly, been nothing but blessed with such sweet company

With every time I see that smile, outshining all the smiles a day could ever bring

With all the laughter shared, more than the joy these carefree hearts could ever hold

Surroundings shifting slower and slower, tainted lights growing brighter and brighter

In this very moment I realize all are moving in slow motion together

Indeed you look beautiful at this young age, as anyone could honestly say

Do know for me, you look beautiful anyday and everyday

As I look at you, I can't help but sigh, I know my eyes just couldn’t seem to lie

This isn’t just a day that comes and hurries by

Cause together we’ll be moving freely in this slow background, You and I

Happy Birthday!!!

Jake: hey little robot, thanks for helping me out!

Gerard: no problemo, just for nemo (nimu)! (fist bump!)

Secret Garden

There was a time when Gerard wanted to eat a really good meal at a garden restaurant with (name of future girlfriend insert here) or his group of friends.

Gerard's food cravings came true a few weeks ago when he was invited by his homo sapien friends for a dinner at Isabelo Garden Restaurant in Marikina City. Gerard calls it "The Secret Garden," a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. He even got lost getting there, so that's how secret it was. Yet, it was worth all the trouble! 

This little secret garden took us back in time: Isabelo is an ancestral house-turned-garden/outdoor cafe, which shelters decades-old (or perhaps centuries-old) trees, retro-themed floor tiles, and colorful lights, details which Gerard instantly loved.

The food was just as fantastic; Gerard gave it a Capital D for Delicious! The Spinach Artichoke Dip nearly bought metal tears to Gerard... it was amaze-balls! He also finished an entire plate of Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pesto all by himself. His metal tum-tum was so full. Capital G for Gluttony! *food coma

Gerard was impressed with the whole dining experience that he won't leave the restaurant without meeting the wonderful chef behind it—Portia Baluyut. 

Chef Portia grew up seeing her grandmother cook, and since then, like her lola, she prepares and cooks the food with the secret ingredient: love. Yeah, yeah, that statement is oozing and dripping with cheese. 

Gerard can't wait to have a romantic dinner at Isabelo with (name of future girlfriend insert here) soon!

P.S.

This is a food blog, right? But WHERE ARE THE PHOTOS OF THE FOOD? Well, the food was really really good that Gerard ate all of it and forgot to take photos. Ooops! Check out their website: http://www.isabelogarden.com/gallery.html

Website Makeover

Hey, Gerard's blog got a new spankin' look! It looks way better than before.

But Gerard never had a problem with how his old site looked. Since he had an oil change last weekend, might as well change the look of his site, too.

First, Gerard changed the logo. He asked his friend Wilver Alquino to draw Gerard's logo in exchange for a cold bottle of beer. Nice, right? It's very sketchy and rough and cute all at the same time. Gerard loves the green, red, blue and yellow colors, because those are the only colors he knows. Haha!

Second, changing the font to COURIER. The logic behind it: Gerard=Courier. It's the standard font for all robots and computers. Gerard loves Courier since he was a little sprocket. Courier suits him because it's more robot-ish and mechanical.

Last step, Gerard trimmed the fat. His idea of "trimming the fat" came from the movie Horrible Bosses, he needs to remove unnecessary stuff on his site. Just like he trashed the search button, because he hated that button and there's nothing to search about.

So, whaddya think?

En Route: Bangkok, Thailand

Gerard couldn't wait to go with Nimu's friends, Bevs and Eric, to Bangkok last October! He, like Eric, has never been to Thailand. Bevs told Gerard of what to expect from Thailand. "The city is hot like Manila. And the food is spicy!" 

Gerard, Eric and Bevs at the airport.

Goodbye, Manila. Sawatdee Khrab, Bangkok!

Gerard knew what Bevs meant when she said the word "hot." But spicy? He has never heard of such a word.

"What is spicy?" he asked Bevs. 

"Well, spicy means it's hot on the tongue." she answered.

"Hot. Spicy." Gerard said it again. He was confused. Hot hurts the skin. And if spicy and hot are the same, does that mean spicy can hurt the tongue, too? 

"You'll taste the word soon," Bevs told him.

Bevs wanted Gerard to have a true Thai gastronomic experience so she ordered popular Thai dishes during the trip. 

Gerard went along for the ride with Bevs and Eric.

Their first stop was a quaint restaurant in one of Bangkok's big malls. Bevs told Gerard that Thais really love herbs and spices, and even fish sauce! Gerard had a whiff of the spices infront of him. "Mmmm..."

Eric ordered Korean beef noodle soup and Bevs ordered spicy seafood noodle soup to share with Gerard. As soon as he had a taste of the red broth, Gerard felt a burning sensation on his metal tongue and screamed, "Oil! Oil, please!" And Bevs also screamed, "Water! Water, please!" But nonetheless, it was the yummiest spicy seafood noodle soup they ever tasted!

Next stop was Feuang Nara restaurant. Bevs and Eric loved this restaurant so much! They ordered breaded pork which came with a spicy dip and Glory Morning vegetables (which is probably Thai's local version of Kangkong) in oyster sauce. Gerard was very happy with this meal and it wasn't that spicy, too!

Along the way, Gerard made a few friends, too! Meet Captain Quack and the seven duckies! They were inviting him for a bubble bath as it was a really hot day. But Gerard didn't want to miss the next gastronomic adventures of Bevs and Eric so he politely declined. 

For dessert, Bevs and Eric ordered sago and cantaloupe served with shaved ice, mixed with coconut milk. "Thais love coconut milk just as much as Filipinos," Bevs mentioned to Gerard. What's nice about the dessert was that it was served in a Margarita glass. Three small scoops of cantaloupe sat on top of the shaved ice and underneath it were the gummy sago.

On their last day, Bevs and Eric wanted to make it special for Gerard so they ordered the famous Tom Yum soup. The Tom Yum is a potent combination of herbs and spices mixed with mushrooms and prawns. They also ordered a plate of stir-fried rice noodles with vegetables and chicken. Gerard was couldn't get over how yummy the Tom Yum soup was. "It's really Tom Yummy!" he said.

The three capped of the trip with a traditional Thai dessert:

sticky rice with coconut milk and mangoes! 

"What a food trip!" Gerard said as he thanked Bevs and Eric.

Jericho Rosales

Gerard met a lot of new friends in Baler—musicians, local surfers and tourists. But the highlight of his social life in Baler was when he met the coolest, most humble, and the most good-looking guy he ever met, Jericho Rosales. Ummmkay…that's so gay.

"Hi, Jericho! I'm Gerard."

"Just call me Echo, bro."

"Cool shirt!" Gerard said.

And they did the secret brutha-hood handshake.

Echo is an actor known for his humble beginnings and worked his way to the top. He is really cool and very humble. He has really perfected being the everyman. Gerard feels like he knows him since forever, and he's like a buddy.

Echo and Gerard took their bromance to the next level and talked about a lot of stuff like movies, music, girls, cars, beach, girls, and…girls. The conversation was frequently interrupted by fans who want to have a picture with Echo, and most of the time, these fans asked Gerard to take the picture for them. Gerard didn't mind.

Echo loves the beach and surfing is his past time when he's on vacation. Waves relaxes him and makes him feel energized. "Surfing ignites my inner being and surfing gives me a kind of calm that relaxes my mind," Echo said. He invited Gerard for a surfing session, it'll be cool if both of of them could be surfing buddies.

En Route: Baler, Aurora

"What is surfing again?" Gerard asked NiMu while packing his things in his metal backpack. "The word "surf," as far as  I know, is when you visit the world wide web. Why go all the way to Baler just to check out websites?"

"You'll see when we get to Baler," NiMu quickly answered, looking so busy preparing her own stuff. "Don't forget your sunblock, okay?" Gerard rolled his eyes as he got up and looked for a bottle of sunblock.

It was a Friday night. Gerard, together with NiMu and her boyfriend, Jake, and their two other friends, are going to the Surf and Music Festival 2011 in Baler, Aurora, for the long weekend. "3 days of surfing?! Crazy, crazy people," Gerard said to himself. 

They hopped in the bus and took their seats. Gerard made sure he sat beside the window. NiMu told him to sleep because it will be a looooooooooooong ride. "Besides, you will need plenty of energy for tomorrow's surfing lessons," NiMu said.

Gerard didn't realize that he slept for almost 9 hours straight until NiMu woke him up. Gerard couldn't believe his eyes what he saw outside the bus window, "BEACH!!!!!!!" he shouted.

This is the beach of Sabang, Baler. Fine sand, waves, amazing scenery… This is the LIFE! 

Gerard: So that's why you said to bring sunblock!!

NiMu: DUH!

Gerard: Okaaaaay, okaaaay, sorry! So, what's our game plan?

NiMu: SURF!!!

Gerard's metal jaw dropped when saw some guys standing on a board in the middle of the sea. "Ooooh, so that's surfing. It's like skateboarding, but on water." he said. Nimu gave a FREE SURFING stub to Gerard. 

A lot of people go to Baler to enjoy the beach and surf. Gerard made new surfer friends!

Gerard couldn't wait to surf. Local surfers told him to choose a surfboard. Gerard chose the yellow surfboard with skull logo. He wanted to be a bad-ass surfer.

SURFING 101:

Arvin is Gerard's surfing instructor. Arvin is a local in Baler and he's a very good surfer. He even won surfing competitions.

Before the actual surfing, Arvin enumerated the parts of the surfboard, how to paddle, how to stand on a surfboard, and safety measures when surfing. Gerard was listening intently to Arvin's lessons and instructions. He even helped Arvin put some wax onto the board.

Arvin: Tara na sa dagat!

Gerard: *gulp* Um…okay!

*SPLASH*

*PADDLE*

*WAVE*

*STAND*

*SWIIIIIIISH*

*SPLAAAASH*

At first, Gerard failed to stood on the surfboard because of the strong waves and his knees were shaking. After a few attempts, he finally did it! Gerard robo-surfed! His surfing experience went on for about 40 minutes until Gerard and Arvin got out of the ocean.

Gerard cant really explain the feeling. He was stoked! After his surfing experience, Gerard now wants to be the first robot surfer instructor and show off his washboard abs! He wants to go back to Baler soon!

Gerard left a mark...

Special thanks to Travel Factor.