Everyday Concepts

Men, typically, are not really into shopping clothes and other fashion related accessories. Men don't value such items as compared to women. It's in the genepool of men never to indulge too much time for oneself in shopping for the best fashion statement. Anything goes for a typical male being.

You're in the mood to surf the net and maybe gain some knowledge or just idle on your favorite social cyber network (facebook, friendster, etc) but unfortunately when you turn on the computer, the power comes on but apparently there's no boot. Have you experienced this in your modern computer life? This could be a real pain especially if you're really excited to be online.

A friend of mine had this problem with her desktop and I have to troubleshoot it. If you know someone who has knowledge with computers, it might be a good idea to ask for his help. If you don't, then bring it to the nearest computer repair shop.

Here are the signs and symptoms I noted for the problem:

1. Power Led ON.
2. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Led ON.
3. HSF (Heat Sink Fan) works perfectly fine
4. All wires intact.
5. PSU (Power Supply Unit) turns on.
6. No Display on Monitor.

Now, here's what I did to solve the problem. I'll guide you through all the work that needs to be done.

1. Check all the wires and connections. See if every single wire is connected and if it is still working. If you see a non-working wire, replace it and see if the system boots.
2. Replace your PSU with another one that is in working condition. If it still doesn't boot, then your previous PSU is working properly.
3. Check every single component from the CPU, HDD, Memory, Video Card, Optical Drive, etc. Here's a tip, try to disconnect your HDD and Optical Drive then try to boot. If it still doesn't boot, then you can eliminate those as the non-working parts.
4. After seeing that, take out all your components from the computer casing and place it in a safe area (observe grounding rules).
5. Backlash your unit. Test if the motherboard, processor, memory, and PSU (with connected monitor in VGA port) can boot in the safe area. If it boots without any problem, then the problem lies in your casing. Your casing maybe short-circuited. If doesn't work, then one of your components is defective, test those components on a separate setup.

If the cause of your problem is not within the components, it must have something to do with your computer casing and mounting. This can only mean one thing --- The system is short-circuited.

Now, try to check if all your motherboard standoffs and screws are properly mounted. Here's a tip -- To prevent short circuiting, I usually cover my standoffs with masking tapes after putting them into the case. After doing so, remount all your hardware back to the case. See to it that everything is properly placed. Once done with that, your system unit should boot just fine. And if it doesn't, you remounted it all wrong.

One of the favorite snacks that we, Filipinos, love are finger foods. Finger foods offer different variety and a good example of this one are Chicken Apurados stalls which are very common in the growing malls today. Chicken Apurado outlets offer affordable snacks with commendable tastes.

Well, as I was surfing the internet... A friend of mine gave me this link which made me awe. It is just filthy and truly shocking. You go ahead and watch the video clip taken from a Chicken Apurado Stall in Robinsons, Cebu.



I'm not really a big fan of Chicken Apurado products but this certainly is a big no-no to its food chain market. I do hope that this will be looked at by their administrators. I know sanitary measures are accounted for when having food shops and all but this got to be one of the shocking things I've seen.

For most computer enthusiasts in the Philippines, one of the good places they'd like to set as standard pricing for components would be the PC Express pricelist (PCX). One of the advantages of PC Express is that their price lists are updated and these are in two forms - dealer's price and the suggested retail price. Dealer's price is also the one awarded to those who purchase via cash. On top of that, the PCX price is uniformed nationwide which makes it very convenient for out-of-Manila buyers.

However, recently the PC express website has been experiencing problems. It is temporarily down and because of such, the valuable price lists cannot be viewed by the PC enthusiasts. To solve this problem, there is a simple way to get about. For Cebu-based buyers, you can try and email the PCX Jones and NRA branches for the updated pricelists. Their emails are listed below:

pcxcebu_jones@yahoo.com
pcxcebu_nra@yahoo.com

I've also posted the August 28, 2009 PCX price lists here for everyone's convenience.

Aug 28, 2009 - SRP Pricelist
Aug 28, 2009 - Dealer's Price

It's been almost a month since I noticed 93.1 Smash FM has stopped airing. For those who haven 't heard of such station, Smash FM has been known to the local area for supporting local rock bands - both Bisrock (slang for "Visayan Rock") and English genres. Most of the songs they play revolve around the rock music genre. The station has been there for almost 4 or 5 years already.And Although Smash FM may have its downside and its own side of critiques, this station has done fairly well in evolving the imagination of the music scene here in Cebu and in the neighboring Visayan regions, as well.

The last thing I've heard from this station is that they were planning to transfer to a better site and one of their Disk Jockey aired this. He added that it may take some time to complete this phase of the station. Just recently though, I was able to hear some songs from the said station. Smash FM may be testing their frequencies and equipment. But from what I've heard, the station has been playing dance and trance music. Which left me wondering...Is the former Smash FM, the station that rocks your emotion, gone? Let's hope not. For the thousands of its listeners (both supporters and critiques), there is not much we can do about this but hope...and wait.

Wondering around town, I encountered this rare plant. The locals call it "Bugnay" in the local Visayan dialect. It is a plant which bears small fruits that resembles the western berries.

Like all other plants, it grows into a tree and bears fruits. The fruit it bears has a deep red color and ripens into a dark violet shade. Its fruit is quite sweet and has a unique taste. Like the western berries, it leaves a violet shade on your teeth and tongue if you eat it. Indeed, the fruit possesses a sweet and unique taste which sets it apart from the other surrounding plants.



Some of the commoners in the area told me that some people convert this into some sort of wine. According to them, it possesses herbal and therapeutic properties. Further studies are yet to prove and develop the potential of this plant. But one thing is certain, this Bugnay plant truly has a rare appeal which we all can appreciate.

I'm not really a religious type of person but I do believe in the power of a prayer. I found this lying in my room. I find it really useful to get me through my times of darkness. It's not a guarantee to fulfill every wish that you desire but sometimes a prayer can give you something much more importance - internal peace.

Prayer to St. Jude

Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr, Great in virtue and rich in miracles, Near kinsman of Jesus Christ, Faithful intercessor of all Who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition (name your petition). In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude pray for me and all those who invoke your aid. Amen.

Pray this 9 times a day for 9 consecutive days. On the 8th day, your prayers will be answered, for this prayer has never known to fail. Please don't forget to publish this once your wish is granted.


"Miracles are only given to those who believe in it".

I recently applied a new skin to my blog. I got this one from blogger templates. I do hope you all would like it. It fits quite nice into the theme of Everyday Concepts and basic living.

Please stay tune for more updates and upcoming articles on my blog. Thank you.

Last week I was scanning through the air waves for a decent radio station that play my kind of music. I scanned from the start to the last station on the higher frequencies. Then I came across NU 107.5.

As I listened to the station, I noticed something different. Unlike months ago, this NU 107.5 is fresh. As I continued listening to the station, I then noticed that this NU is not the live broadcast of its Manila-based station. It is a new station in Cebu city. I've heard some test DJ's over the station and practically everything is still in testing phases.

I was glad that NU 107.5 finally reopened in our beloved city of Cebu. Here's a brief history...NU 107.5 had a local station here in Cebu which was situated in the Ayala Center. It was shutdown on the early 2000s and its broadcast was redirected to the Manila-based home station. Apparently, when this move was done...ratings of the station went down here in Cebu area and most of the local bands lost support from the only rock station.

Now, it has reopened and I'm sure this is a good move for NU. Hopefully, the rock station will help cater our local talents and bands. I am expecting something good for NU 107.5 Cebu. Rock on!

Ever since I was exposed to working overtime on projects during my architecture undergrad days, I have gone accustomed to having coffee to get me through the blistering night. Coffee has done a lot of things and got me through the most crucial times. And so, though I'm not a coffee expert or something, I do appreciate a good nice blend of coffee. Today we're gonna take a look at one of the coffee shops here in Cebu which has slowly built up its reputation - Kopi Roti.

I was looking for a cup of brewed coffee one night and suddenly I recalled my friend mentioning about this shop which her friend operates. Kopi Roti Coffee Shop is located in The Gallery along the Mabolo street. You'll notice it immediately since it's the only coffee shop around the commercial strip.

Well, one thing that certainly sets this coffee shop apart from the others is that it offers your favorite coffee with a certain combo. Your coffee could go with a Kopi Bun, Kaya Toast, Soft Boiled Egg and pretty much more. I was used to have my coffee with nothing paired with it (just the plain black coffee with a little bit of sugar). While I looked at the price, I noticed that it seems like it was barely the same with other coffee shops (except that its partnered by their specialities). So, I decided to try it out.

Their brewed coffee was good but not that exemplary. However, the specialities paired with it works well with it. Their coffee alone (without the specialities) is nearly half the price of other coffee brands but it serves well for its price. Service is good in the shop. When I went there, I was immediately greeted by the owner. She oriented me with their shop and was really accommodating...That goes for her staff also. Wi-fi is readily available within the shop, so for techies...spending time there would go along way.

Overall, Kopi Roti is an alternative for people who want brewed coffee but not on a heavy price. It's a good place to idle. With Php 48.00, you can already avail of their coffee (Kopi "O") with milk...add Php 40.00 to that one and you get to try their specialities together with their coffee. Not that heavy on the pocket, but does a very fine job.

My Rating : RECOMMENDED

One of the most useful tool to get us through with our everyday lives is the automobile. It gives an outstanding advantage for the urban commoner. Having a car gives you the edge in controlling your transportation time factor. But like many great things, such has its own down side. One of the most common car problems that we experience at least once in our life is a "Flat Tire".

Yes, a flat tire could entirely mess up your schedule especially in crucial times. But don't worry, this is just a minor drawback if you know how to deal with this everyday problem. I've listed some some tips and tricks below on how to get-over this small constraint.

1. Don't panic and stay calm.
One of the major things that could waste a lot of your time when in this kind of situation is panic. One must remember that changing a tire would only take 10-15 minutes. Stay calm and focused.

2. Position your car on the side of the road.
We don't want anymore accidents from happening. So, it is advisable to change your tire on the side of the road rather than in the middle of it. High speed cars in the middle lane would have a large chance of hitting your car and thus creating further damage to your car and yourself. Plus, looking out for speeding vehicles would add up to your time and lesser time is one thing we're trying to accomplish here.

3. Put up early warning devices.
Turn the hazard light on to warn other motorists - keeps you from harm and minimizes traffic building up. If you have warning pylons or signs, you could put them up also.

4. Check your equipment.
Most cars nowadays are equipped with a spare tire. For those who don't know, it's usually placed on your trunk, just underneath your trunk cover. A small tool kit should be there right next to the spare tire to aid you in changing it. Try to check them out and prepare them for your procedure.

5. Welcome outside help but don't let them take command.
In most occasions, people nearby would offer help and assist you with your situation. Sometimes it could be a good idea to welcome them. But do remember this - it's your car, and it's your plan! Let them help but make sure you're in charge, they're there to assist you and not tell you what to do. Just let them do the basic stuff - lifting the flat tire.. And one more thing, lock the doors of your car and keep an open eye on your equipment..we can't always tell if they're gonna help you or steal from you. If they do a fine job assisting you, a small reward would not really hurt.

6. The concept behind this is very easy...Learn it and do it right.
As mentioned, this is just a very simple task. Here's the rundown. Pullout your Jack and Spare tire. Position the jack underneath your chassis on the side where you have a flat tire. Lift the jack to a good elevation for easy take out. Loosen the lug nuts of your flat tire and pull them out slowly but altogether. Take out the flat tire and replace it with the spare one. Place the lug nuts back and tighten them altogether. Lower the jack and transfer your equipment back to the trunk. And you're done!

That is all there is in changing your flat tire. Like I said, don't panic...this will only take 10-15 minutes tops. Learn it, Do it right, and you'll be back on the road in no time!

A few weeks back, my friends and I were looking for a place to celebrate a rare gathering. Since most of the places we've been through were fully booked, someone decided that we head towards the Bulacao Hillside Resort. Without any delay, we set our destination towards the place.

The road to BHR (Bulacao Hillside Resort) is quite easy to remember. Here's a quick guide on how to get there. You head south via the Cebu South Road until you reach Prince Warehouse Club (Bulacao Branch), you should be able to find a small street after Prince Warehouse Club. Go through there and you should be able to find the resort around 500 meters. If you don't have an automobile, you can hire a local motorcycle ("habal-habal") to take you there.


BHR is not the exquisite resort that you'd normally expect. Basically, the place doesn't have much ammenities except for the pool and a few cottages. Entrance fee is a lowly Php 50 while cottages range from Php 250-350. You can bring your own food and drinks, and you don't even have to pay for corkage. Basic shower facilities are promptly provided. Another thing to remember, parking space may be limited in the area...But you can always park your car by the road. Well, the good thing about the area is that you can have a nice view of the hillside (thus, the name). This goes perfect for morning and even evening excursions.

Despite its lack of facilities, Bulacao Hillside Resort is what I'd like to call a cheap getaway. It may not be something to look at but if you're looking for a good cheap outing by the pool, then I'd suggest you check this one out.

This week I had a first hand experience on one of the district hospitals in Cebu --- The Toledo City Hospital. The hospital is situated in Toledo City, a city which is geographically located on the western part of Cebu.

TCH (Toledo City Hospital) shoulders common medical and laboratory services. Although TCH can cater for a commendable number of patients, it doesn't have an operating room. However even without it, TCH is a secondary hospital which does a pretty fine job in maintaining health care services in the locale. Its efficient delivery and emergency rooms do a pretty fine job of catering to the basic public health needs.

In my honest opinion, I could really say that TCH is the cleanest district hospital in Cebu. I have had experience in different hospitals before but this hospital clearly excels amongst the rest (abd by a large margin). Hourly, I could see a lot of utility and maintenance staff cleaning, sweeping and mopping the floors or just wiping the glass windows. And this is a very good thing - a good, clean environment is the prime factor in accelerating the healing process. Wards are also kept in checked with regards to a pleasant environment. Hospital staff are quite friendly and accomodating to the locals and its clients. These factors make this facility a very effective healing center.

Right now, TCH is expanding its facility to cater to more patients. They are building more rooms and continuously improvi ng itself. To the officials and the people of Toledo City, keep up the good work!

Toledo City Hospital (Front View)

A few days back I had an exposure of our very own Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) New Operating Room. It's been a while since I landed in this area. After the infamous canister-related incident, the VSMMC Operating Room (OR) has changed a lot. One of the more obvious changes is the OR expansion into the ground floor.

Unlike the previous OR, the new one comes with a stunning look. It's visibly clean and truly something you can really appreciate. I've been through some government special areas before and I can really say that this fresh facility is something you won't expect from a public hospital. It's neat interior and segregated layout is splendid.

Going into the deeper details, the new OR theaters have established their own wash rooms and work area. This would really prove to be convenient for personnel and would largely contribute to proper segregation of instruments used. Another obvious change is the introduction of a unified hamper for soiled linens. Recovery rooms and nurse's station were upgraded and enlarged; computerized systems were introduced for proper patient tracking. Proper ventilation and lighting were properly emphasized in the new facility. This is pretty much obvious if you'd compare it to the old, gloomy OR. Other details like improved instrument setup and announcement boards add to the boost of the area. On the architectural side, the finishes were quite appealing. Granite finishes on floors and counters largely add to its presentable factor. Other professional utilities were retained in the setup.

Overall, the new VSMMC OR is something to look and work at. It maybe just a government funded facility but it's score can be on par or even exceed other private setups. Kodos to the Philippine government for making such an effort on improving our vital healthcare system!

View from an Operating Room Theater

Last night, I had an overtime in the provincial hospital; After that was done, I was finally able to head home. It was already way pass 12 o'clock and I thought that I may be able hit the sack in an hour. On my way home, I decided to stop over at my friend's apartment and pick up some work that he needed help with. I thought to myself -- might as well pick these up, so I can work 'em in the morning.

I spent a few minutes discussing with my colleague on the plans of how we're going to handle the said work. While doing so, I took a glimpse at the hallway and saw a crowd starting to build up in the gate of his apartment. With my curiosity, I took some time and checked it out. To my surprise, it was my car being towed by the CITOM Contractors!

To my own defense, I approached the towing contractors and asked why my car was being towed?! From what I knew overnight parking is a city ordinance in the city of Cebu (you can't park in the road after 12 o'clock) BUT your car can't be towed if the owner is there -- only a citation ticket should be issued (CITOM orientation). I tried to reason out with them and hopefully come up with a resolution...however, the two contractors just pointed me to the paper they posted in the wall which was about my car being towed.

Well, I suddenly noticed...there was no T/E (CITOM Traffic Enforcer) with them?! This is clearly illegal apprehension. I know that only enforcers can issue tickets and not those private contractors...But without any delay, the two personnel left with haste and didn't even bother listening to me...bringing along with them my car. I even overheard 'em talking to the walkie talkie -- "Sir, the owner is here..what should we do".

I tried to call the CITOM office and they told me that their crew always has an enforcer to implement traffic rules. Well, this was not true in my case.

Today, I processed the release of my car from the impound lot and filed for legal action against the enforcer for his negligence.

My tip for you guys out there who will have an experience on this one --- Stay calm. Try to find the enforcer and kindly reason out with him in a decisive but respectful manner. If the enforcer is not there on the incident, then you have every right to resist it!

With the growing popularity of generic computer accessories today, a review on such products would really come in handy for consumers. Generic computer product reviews are very difficult to find and so I've decided to make one.

A few months back, I've been looking for a cheap optical mouse to temporarily serve me while I find a proper replacement for my broken A4tech mouse. And so, I went over to a local computer shop and found this black generic mouse - the Apec Optical Mouse. Without any delay, I purchased the mouse and immediately used it.

The look was quite ordinary for this Apec mouse. It has a black and sleek exterior with a medium-size middle click button. The control was not really as smooth as compared to a high-end mouse (like what graphic artists use) but still it's optical and manageable.. There might be a slight difference when you're using a branded product but it's really negligible on this one. Basically I just laid it on a smooth mouse pad and it's all ready to go.

Apec Optical Mouse -- generic yet does the job

Last night my girlfriend and I was planning to visit one of our favorite local spas. Once we got there, we were disappointed when the receptionist told us that the next available room for couples would take almost an hour. My girlfriend really wanted to get her back done since she works in a bank and sitting on the teller cage for hours would really end up on her back. So, we decided to find another alternative nearby.

Walking around the Fuente rotunda in Cebu city, we saw an ad which directs us to another spa which offers Thai massage -- Tonton Body Massage Spa. Without further questions, we decided to try it out for ourselves.

Upon entering the spa, we noticed that the place was so empty. Apparently, there were 2 floors on the spa. The ground floor was for foot massage primarily and the upper floor was designated for the other services which include body massage. Well, as we went up.. it was the same thing, the place was quite empty. We didn't really mind it since we really need our back done.

Took us a few minutes before we got ourselves handed down to our masseurs. It was the usual, got our feet washed and cleaned before any other thing. One thing that bugged me on that one is that the place where we got our feet washed is adjacent to their supplies. Well, that isn't a problem with me but in my years of taking up architecture...I have learned that the "back of the house" (supply room, utility, etc.) is not supposed to be viewed by the public...or in this case, by us, the customers. This is the first time I noticed this in the different spas that I've visited so far.

Well, skipping that one... we were directed to our spot. Believe me, there were a lot of beds available but we had to be placed in the last ones. It was the usual curtain partitions which separate one bed from the other. But another thing that hit me was that the place looks like an emergency room. I mean, the curtains looks like the ones you see in the hospital. Heck, the orientation itself pretty much looks like it. Also, there were no aroma scents or Thai calming music (which you hear usually in a spa) in the place where we assigned to. And here's one more thing, I noticed our spot got too many clocks (I counted 3) and none of them are even working. These things are not very noticeable but this would really add flavor if you're running a spa.

On to the massage...Well, everything was quite normal. Nothing new to expect here. Just the traditional Thai body massage that you get from the others. There was one thing I don't like though...when the masseur was doing my back, I feel like I was being choked. Not that I'm complaining or something but I mean...I don't get this on other spas...must something to do with their pillow or positioning...I was just really uncomfortable when that was done.

Well, after trying out Tonton body massage, my girlfriend and I both complained of shoulder aches...I don't know if this is normal for therapeutic effects but I certainly haven't experienced this in other spas.

Overall, Tonton Body Massage is something I would not recommend for you guys. The place needs alot of improvement; and certainly there's alot better spas out there which can get you better service and fulfillment for your Php 200.

My rating --- 1 star out of 5!