Entries for November, 2011

Thai actor Mario Maurer was here last week. He is not exactly at the top of my list of favorite idols but since my friend Belle had an extra pass for his fan conference, I decided to go with her. 

I wasn't really sure what to expect since I've never been to a fan conference. Before going there, I imagined that there would be a part when he would just be on the stage and fans would be greeting him one by one and getting his autograph or taking a photo with him. But with so many fans showing up at the conference, I realized when we arrived at the venue that what I had in mind could not happen. The conference was held at the PICC plenary hall and if you've never been there, then let me tell you that it is the same venue where graduation ceremonies of universities usually take place. You can probably picture now how many fans were there to support him.

Ten fans were able to sort of meet and greet Mario during the conference and while not all the fans that showed up had the chance to get really close to him, he did not disappoint for when he appeared on stage, he was giving a lot of fan service. He sure knew how to respond to the fans. For instance, one girl was asked during the conference what she wanted to tell Mario. After the girl gave her message, Mario's response was:"I met you last night." To this the girl said:"Oh my God! You remembered me." Any fan in that situation would be really happy to hear that response.  A fanboy was also asked to give his message to Mario. The fanboy told Mario that he loves him and to this, Mario replied:"I love you too." 

How can you not like him when he is just so nice? I know that when it comes to idols, looks almost always comes as the first reason why an individual becomes a fan. The way the idol relates to the fans however, becomes a factor in making the fan remain a fan. We already like Mario because he's cute, but we like him even more because he's nice and loves his fans.

 

 

 

 

 

VJ Utt who hosted the event joins Mario on the stage. At 38, he (Utt) still looks cute.

 

Posted by Louie on November 2, 2011 at 04:22 AM | Add a Comment

Goodbye Wowow. We will miss you. 

Posted by Louie on November 14, 2011 at 12:24 AM | Add a Comment

I remember going to Baguio every summer when I was still a kid.   It's been a long time though since my last visit. Around 2006? I went there earlier this month (November 8 to 12), not for vacation but  to cover a mining conference and to visit the country's largest miner's Padcal mine.


The trip was quite an experience considering that I have never visited a mine site before. We went inside the Padcal mine operated by Philex Mining Corp. We had to wear hard hats, and boots because, as what the Philex officials said, it was the standard outfit there.  We also had to ride 4x4 vehicles inside. It was so cool.

 

Looking like Santa Claus.

 

 

While we were in the mine site, some people from our group got lost because their driver wasn't very familiar with the way around the mine. It was a good thing we were riding with the incoming president of the firm, who told us he worked for 25 years in the site. He was the one who found those that went missing  for a while.  Amazing right?

Underground, we saw the nickel ore being shipped overseas and the equipment used to get all of it.  The nickel ore, I have to be honest, looks just like plain sand. Not exactly how I imagined it.  I thought we would see gold, but we were told the metal is processed else where.

Close to the mine site is a community with people who seem to have no problem about mining at all. Mining activity in the area has provided them and remains to be their source of livelihood. There are schools in the community and a hospital with their own doctors. Security is pretty much covered too.

There is a lot of debate in mining now, particularly with certain provinces imposing a ban on open pit mining like South Cotabato and Zamboanga del Norte. Some would question  if the benefits are worth it after the resources are utilized. Here's my take on the matter. I think what is needed is a balance.

 

By the way, during our very little free time in Baguio, we dropped by a cute bookstore with books by Filipino writers I've never heard of nor seen in bookstores in Manila. The store's called Mt. Cloud. I didn't buy any book because I didn't find anything I really, really like. Got notebooks instead which I plan to give to friends for presents.

We went to Nevada Square too, which is like a small compound of bars/clubs. We went there on a Wednesday night, so we pretty much had the place all to ourselves. There was a pole and while none of us know how to work it, we pretended we could.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently reading: The Future of Us---Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Posted by Louie on November 26, 2011 at 01:43 PM | Add a Comment
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