Miss Philippines crowned Miss International 2005

Yup, time for the Philippines to get the crown again.

Miss Philippines Precious Lara Quigaman won the Miss International title on Sept. 26, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan.

I watched an interview with Precious Lara yesterday. I learned that she likes to join beauty pageants and she has always done it since her teens. She once joined Eat Bulaga’s TV Babes beauty pageant in the year 2000. (Eat Bulaga is a popular noontime variety show in the Philippines.) She won first runner-up there.

Congratulations to Precious Lara Quigaman for getting the title. Mabuhay sa iyo!

See also:

The Philippine Daily Inquirer

Precious Lara’s Gallery

Audios, Videos and Photos inaccessible

Hi guys.

My site has currently exceeded its bandwidth quota, so you will be unable to access my audios, videos and photos for the moment.

But they will all be up again starting October 1, midnight (Manila time, GMT +8:00).

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Han Chae Young: Finding Chun Hyang in “Endless Love”

Update: Han Chae Young, Kwon Sang Woo, Kim Hee Sun and Andre Kim named PR spokesperson for South Korea’s National Tax Office (June 17, 2005, KBS Global).

You might not believe it, you might be unaware of it, or you might have forgotten it. But the sassy nerdy girl in Chun Hyang is also the bitchy Shirley/Shin-Ae in Endless Love 1: Autumn in My Heart.

That girl is Han Chae Young (alternate spelling: Han Chae Yeong), one of the popular actress/model and the Barbie Girl of Korea. She’s very much into modeling, appearing in various TV commercials and magazines. She’s also known for her sexy body.

She’s 5′ 7″ (172 cm) tall and weighs 103 lbs (47 kg). She likes designing clothes and collecting Barbie dolls.

She was born on September 13, 1980. She grew up in America and lived with her family there. She even had an American name, “Rachel”. She also finished high school there. After that, she went back to her country alone and attended Dongguk University. She used to visit her family frequently, but nowadays she visits them only rarely because she finds long flights too tiresome.

In 2000, she debuted through the Korean horror film The Record/One Shot And You Die (2000). Then she was also cast into Endless Love 1: Autumn in My Heart (2000) together with Song Hye Kyo (Jenny/Eun-Suh), Song Seung Hun (Johnny/Joon-Suh), Won Bin (Andrew/Tae-Suk) and Han Na Na (Yumi). She got an award, KBS Most Popular Newcomer. After that, she made some more movies and many other TV Series, the most successful one so far being Sassy Girl Chun Hyang (2005), a.k.a. “Delightful Girl Choon Hyang”. She was also involved in the joint Korean KBS - Chinese CCTV drama, Beijing My Love (2004).

Here’s her filmography:

TV Series
2005 Only You
2005 Sassy Girl Chun Hyang
2004 Bejing My Love
2002 Affection
2001 Father & Son
2000 Endless Love 1: Autumn in My Heart

Movies
2003 Wild Card
2002 Bet on My Disco
2000 The Record/One Shot And You Die

See also my gallery.

perryv.i.ph will be down

Hi guys.

My blog will be temporarily down on September 22, 2005 from 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM, Manila time (GMT +8:00) for server maintenance.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Audio files to be uploaded to Gnutella

Hi guys!

I’m going to upload my audio files to the Gnutella P2P network at around 10:00 PM (Manila time, GMT +8:00), so that I can save some bandwidth for my site. Besides, I’m unable to upload new files to my site right now because of bandwidth problems.

The Gnutella network is accessible by P2P clients such as LimeWire, IMesh, Shareaza, BearShare and MLDonkey.

Some of the files I’m going to upload are not available right now on my site, like the All About Eve OPM (Tagalog) song called Kahapon Lang by Kathleen Leslie (thanks to Billy Munoz for contributing). But they can be accessed from Gnutella.

To search for my files, try to type “perry” or “perryv.i.ph” on the Search field of your P2P clients. If it doesn’t work, type the song’s title, artist, or genre (”Soundtrack”). You may also try to type the title of the Korean serial (e.g., “Attic Cat”).

I’m also thinking of sharing my files, especially the video files, by uploading them to Bittorrent.

Good luck.

Metro Manila in 1973

Update: I have numbered the pictures for reference. Thanks to ro for the suggestion.

Update: I transferred my Manila pictures to another image hosting site so that you can view the full sizes.

I got these pictures from a certain forum that I’m unable to access nowadays. But I thank the original photographers for taking these pics. They are memorable to me and especially to my parents and my elder brothers and sisters.

Let’s see if you can still identify these places in Metro Manila way back in 1973. Put your answers in the Comments section. I’ll post the answers after one week.

Click on the picture for the full size.

[1]	[2]
[3]	[4]
[5]	[6]
[7]	[8]
[9]	[10]
[11]	[12]
[13]	[14]
[15]	[16]
[17]	[18]
[19]	[20]
[21]	[22]
[23]	[24]
[25]	[26]

Naaalala mo pa ba?

I’ll just share with you this amusing article I found elsewhere on the Net. It’s all about the common Pinoy experience during the late 70’s to the early 80’s. (The language is mixed Tagalog and English.)

1. You first saw Herbert Bautista in Kaluskos Musmos and you wondered why Dranreb could not pronounce the letter “R” - lalaki pa siya nuon.

2. Ang major car accessory was the musical backup horn.

3. Dig-man ang pinaka-sikat na halo-halo.

4. Buying Vick’s candy - triangular in shape, regular and kalamansi flavor. Ang mga candy/bubble gum na bilog na iba’t-ibang kulay ay lima singko - yuong puro pula na bubble gum ay yuong cherry balls.

5. Nakakabili ka ng Greenwich pizza na kalahati lang, sabay aliw na aliw ka sa vendo machines dispensing softdrinks in a cup (waxed paper) and not in cans. Kung tumagilid ang baso at natapon ang binubuhos na softdrinks eh pasensiya ka.

6. Nagpalit ng theme song ang John en Marsha to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough.” Nagkaroon na sila ng aircon sa barong-barong na bahay pero front cover lang pala.

7. Baduy na baduy ka sa opening ng TODAS (Television’s Outrageously Delightful All-star Show) on Channel 13 with Val Sotto, Spanky Rigor,and Freida Fonda.

8. Si Bibeth, Mang Tem-I, Miss Tapia, Mary at si Tonette Macho ang kasama ni TVJ sa Iskul Bukol. Kumpleto pa ang ngipin ni Richie D’ Horsie.

9. Nakikipag-debate kung sino ang mas magaling… si Officer John Baker or si Officer Frank Puncherelo sa CHIPS.

10. Inaabangan mo kung anong gagawin ng A-Team para makatakas at makabawi sa kalaban nila - ano ba ‘yan, wala namang namamatay na kalaban kahit na anong pagbaril o pagsabog.

11. Bagong labas lang ang bakya na rubberized (Happy Feet brand) para malambot, hindi na kahoy.

12. Uso ang Espadrille na sapatos, Crayon shoes at Grosby rubbershoes. Bago pa lang labas ang top sider na sapatos - Sperry at Docksiders pa lang ang tatak na U.S., and Haruta Penny Loafers. Wayferer (orig o fake) ang shades mo - feeling Don Johnson, Remington Steel, Tom Cruise (Risky Business) o Madonna.

13. Ang Walkman mo o yuong nakikita mo ay halos kalahati ng laki ng AM radio. Marami kang nakikitang malalaking cassette/radio player - mga galing Saudi. Pinapatugtog mo ay mga tapes na pirata na may lyric sheet pero mali-mali naman ang lyrics.

14. Kapag 25c ang ibigay mo sa nangagaroling na mga bata eh hindi ka kakantahan ng “Thank you, thank you, ang babarat ninyo thank you.”

15. Cloverleaf and usong term at hindi flyover.

16. Singko lang ang 1 fishball. Wala pang squid ball o kikiam.

17. Magaling ka sa Math kasi mayroon kang ballpen na mataba at may built-in multiplication table na iniikot at yuong ballpen na napakaraming option sa kulay ng tinta, karamihan ay hindi makita o natuyo na ang tinta.

18. Texas bubble gum na kahit anong gawin mo ay hindi maaalis sa buhok mo kung mapadikit.

19. Gusto rootbeer, Sunta & Mirinda orange, RC cola, Yes cola and Sarsi with egg with Danny Vanni - masarap na, masustansiya pa.

20. Watching the Caronia nail polish advertisement sa TV with the 4 pa-sexy girls.

21. On Sundays, watching music videos on VH1 or Video Hit Parade (they used to be called “film clips” - wala pang MTV sa Pinas) before noon, then Spin-A-Win at lunch time (Jeanne Young - “Agree or disagree?”), Lovingly Yours (Helen Vela - Channel 7) or Happy Days & Electrawoman and Dyna Girl (Channel 9) in the early afternoon, and then Superstar (Nora Aunor and German Moreno - Channel 9) at dinner time, and capping it all off with Penthouse 7 and Marvelous Golden Movies (MGM).

22. Archie Lacson as dancing guru sa Discorama with Bobby Ledesma and Tito, Vic and Joey. Ngayon si Ralion Alonzo na sa Easy Dancing.

23. Lotlot. Lotlot and Monching. Lotlot and Friends. That’s Entertainment (not!). That’s Entertainment Saturday Edition.

24. Uncle Bob Lucky 7 Club show on Channel 7. Bakit ganon lang ang prizes niya.

25. Bob & Emmy Garon featuring the houses of the Marcoses - “that’s my wife… Emmy”.

26. You had a 2-Peso bill (color blue) in your wallet. Puro ganoon pa ang binibigay ng lolo/lola tuwing Christmas.

27. Ang piso na dirty ice cream ay yuong matamis na apa na ang ginagamit at marami pang scoops, minsan ay may chocolate dip pa. Bring your own baso sa ice skrambol pero hindi pa uso ang powdered milk at chocolate syrup.

28. Ang standard greeting ay “give me five” na nag-evolve into “appear”.

29. Biggest name in ice cream ay Magnolia kaya inaabangan mo ang susunod na Flavor of the Month. Kung gusto mong mas bongga eh di Magnolia Gold Label, yung “Double Dutch” chocolate flavor ang pinakamasarap. Papel lang ang mga balot ng frozen delights - hindi pa foil except yuong vanilla ice cream wafer sandwich nila. May Sundae sila na tinatanggal ang top cover at nilalagay sa ilalim para maging base. Kapag nag-a-attend ka ng B-day party ng bata imbes na regular B-day cake eh Magnolia Ice Cream cake ang mayroon (carousel or yuong puro flowers). Pero masarap din ang sweet corn flavor ng Selecta.

30. Ang Christmas package na inuuwi ng magulang mo ay may kasamang malaking keso de bola at hilaw na chinese ham (buong leg na nakabalot ng craft paper at plastic na net na kulay pula).

31. JD (red and black), MCL (Blue and Yellow), DM (white and blue) bus lines, Love Bus (the only aircon public bus). Pati na rin yuong bus sa Quiapo na walang pinto pero open yuong isang side - dito daw natutong mag-stuntman si Lito Lapid.

32. Pumupunta ka sa music store para tumingin ng LPs, 45, at Jingle magazine o Songhits. Pwede mo lang pakinggan ang plaka kung bibilhin mo na talaga. Hindi pa uso ang e-mail kaya all your dirty jokes came from the “Grin Page” in the back of Jingle magazine.

33. Ang bakla lang sa showbiz ay si Georgie Quizon (utol ni Dolphy) and Sandy Garcia (mestisohin na may bigote, kulot ang buhok, at balbunin).

34. Nagkakabuhol-buhol ang cord ng remote control ng Betamax niyo dahil buong araw ka nanonood. Break mo lang ay para kumain, mag-CR at para lumamig uli ang Betamax unit. Madali pang dumumi ang head kasi hindi pa uso ang rewinder. Kung mayroon na kayo eh one way lang siya - rewinding lang wala pang option na forward.

35. Pinakamabentang poster ay kay Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Bruce Lee, Scott Baio, Farrah Fawcett, Phoebe Cates, and Bo Derek (kuha sa movie na “10″). Kung sosyal ka, showbiz magazine mo ay Tiger Beat. Kung baduy ka eh Jingle Extra Hot.

36. Pinapanood mo at pinakikinggan ang Menudo with Robbie Rosa as the most sikat of all members. Nakyu-kyutan pa lang kayo kay Ricky Martin kasi siya ang pinakamaliit.

37. Nilalagnat ka at Royco chicken noodle alphabet soup ang kinakain mo - haluan mo pa ang dinurog na Skyflakes.

38. Hearing Bert Tawa Marcelo’s laugh - bawa’t tawa was P50 daw ang talent fee niya.

39. Shutting off your TV and watching that white spot in the middle of the screen slowly disappear.

40. Pagandahan ng metal lunchboxes (various cartoon or movie themes) with matching Aladdin or Thermos brand na termos na madaling mabasagang loob.

41. Sumasakay ka sa jeepney na puro kabayo ang hood, tadtad ng mahahabang antenna, at halos natakpan na ang windshield ng 8-track na tapes.

42. Watching and listening to the We Are The World version of the Phil. National Anthem.

43. Watching movies at Cinerama sa kanto ng Recto and Quezon Blvd. (Isetan na ngayon), Delta and Circle theater sa Timog Ave and Quezon Ave, Rizal Theater sa Makati (Shangri-La Hotel na ngayon), Magallanes Theater - (ginibana).

44. Drinking Mango Brutus nang madalian sabay sakit ang ulo dahil sa sobrang lamig - brain freeze.

45. Buying Cattleya notebooks, Funny Friends scented ballpens, and other school supplies at Alemar’s and Gibson’s bookstores. Ang pad paper nabibilina 1/2 lengthwise, 1/2 crosswise and 1/4 sizes para sa mga quiz.

46. Lahat ng PBA at Holiday on Ice ay ginaganap sa Araneta Coliseum.Hindi pa uso ang “ending”.

7. Lahat ng waiters sa Shakey’s Pizza Parlor ay may suot sa Styrofoam na sumbrero (yellow with red strip of paper with Shakeys printed on it). May mini version pa sila para sa dulo ng antenna ng radyo o TV. Panonoorin mo pa kung paano ginagawa ang pizza sa viewing window nila.

48. Be sure to be home by 12 midnight dahil may curfew kasi Martial Law.

49. Sa Quiapo at Binondo pa pupunta para makabili ng talagang masarap na hopia. Tapos shopping ka na sa Good Earth Emporium at Sta. Cruz (Uniwide nangayon) and be amazed by their candy selection on trays in a conveyor-belt type of machine.

50. Maalikaya when it first opened. When it was first raided and closed. When it was re-opened. When it was re-raided and closed. When it was opened again. When it was raided and closed again. When they opened it again. When they raided and closed it again. When they…

“My Sassy Girl” inspires Pinoy songs compilation

Wanna hear Jimmy Bondoc and the Eraserheads sing in the background while watching the Tagalog-dubbed version of My Sassy Girl?

This afternoon I went to the Odyssey record bar at the Robinson’s Galleria mall. Then as I was searching for a music CD I found this CD titled “Pinoys songs inspired by My Sassy Girl“. I scanned for the songs included in this CD and I found I Believe by Jimmy Bondoc (I’m not sure if it’s a remake of the Korean original), Torpedo by the Eraserheads, Stay by Cueshe and Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko by the Sexbomb Girls. I’m not sure if there’s any trace of Faith Cuneta in there.

It seems to me that the compilation is intended to be the sound track of the upcoming movie My Sassy Girl Tagalog-dubbed version, starring Jun Ji Hyun and Cha Tae Hyun (but I can be wrong). My Sassy Girl is a blockbuster hit in Korea, and is the highest grossing comedy film of all time there.

Microsoft CEO: “I’m going to f*cking kill Google.”

According to a legal document in an ongoing lawsuit between Google and Microsoft, when Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer learned that engineer Mark Lucovsky was about to jump to Google, Ballmer picked up a chair and threw it across the room, hitting a table in the office. Then Ballmer said many things against Google; among them, “…I’m going to f*cking kill Google.”

See John Batelle’s blog and Borsa-Italia.Net.

How to convert WMA to MP3

Hello, guys!

Did you know that you can convert your WMA music files to MP3 format? You don’t need expensive software to do it!

I’ll share with you a technique that works in both Windows and Linux.

Basically, we will use MPlayer and Lame to convert WMA to MP3. Like most Linux programs, MPlayer and Lame come free of charge. Their corresponding Windows versions are free, too.

I will assume that you are using Windows. If you’re using Linux, then adjust the steps accordingly.

Our general procedure is as follows:

1. Convert WMA to WAV.

2. Compress WAV to MP3.

Before anything else, you should have a ZIP file archiver installed. I recommend 7-zip (which, unlike WinZip, also comes free of charge). 7-zip can also handle different compression formats besides ZIP, like TAR, RAR, GZIP, and BZIP2.

Download the latest version of MPlayer from the MPlayer site. Create a folder called C:\mplayer, then extract the contents of the MPlayer ZIP file into there.

Download also the Windows essential codecs for MPlayer. Then go to the C:\mplayer folder and see if the codecs folder exists. If not, create the codecs folder in C:\mplayer. Extract the contents of the essential codecs ZIP file into C:\mplayer\codecs.

Finally, download Lame from the Lame site. (Click any of the “lame-3.96.1″ links there.) Create a folder called C:\lame, then extract also the contents of the Lame ZIP file into that folder.

Now here comes the fun part. Let’s say that you have a WMA file called stay_cueshe.wma. The file resides in the C:\music folder. You want to turn it into stay_cueshe.mp3.

First, bring out the Command Prompt and enter the following command: (Commands are in green. Do not type the blue one.)

C:> cd c:music

Next, type this command on a single line:

C:music> mplayermplayer  -vo null-ao pcm:file=stay_cueshe.wav-af resample=44100 stay_cueshe.wma

The file stay_cueshe.wav will now be created.

Finally, type this command (on a single line):

C:music> lamelame  -b 192  -h stay_cueshe.wavstay_cueshe.mp3

And we’re done! You can delete the WAV file if you want.

Additional song uploads

Hi again! I uploaded two additional songs: I Believe (My Sassy Girl sound track) and One (Friends sound track). You can see them in the Audio and Video Page.

I would like to thank Philip Bañez for One and steph for I Believe.

Songs mega-upload for today!

Hi guys!

As I’ve promised, I will upload my new song files this month. And so I did.

For today, I’ve uploaded almost all the songs in the Attic Cat OST. My only problem is, I still don’t have the opening title theme. One of my source files has the name “Attic Cat opening theme”, but in reality it is the closing theme. And there’s also the closing theme itself (making the opening theme a duplicate of the closing theme). I have to find the real opening theme somewhere.

Thanks to pa3k for contributing his Attic Cat song files to me. Thanks also to those people whose names I forgot to mention. I also contributed many files there myself.

More songs to come tomorrow. Enjoy.