Nokia E71 In The Flesh!

The Nokia E71 is the rumored successor of the business warriors' top gadget, the Nokia E61i.

Geared as a mobile phone for those who doesn't want to keep their work away wile they travel or are on the go, the E series of Nokia proves to be a good business companion.

The E71 is expected to have HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, and a 3.2 megapixel camera.

I can't help but fall in love with the keypad. A modern version of the keypad of Nokia 3310, in my personal opinion.

Small and sleek.

3.2 megapixel camera -- not bad.

Compared with the width of the Nokia N95 8GB, the E71 looks like a typical ramp model - thin... very thin.


Chrome finish. That's the way I like it aha, aha.

(pictures taken from: http://www.mobilewhack.com/nokia-e71-pictures/)

GSIS - Hell On Earth?

I never believed that there is such thing as a hell on Earth until I had a recent trip at Government Service Insurance System's (GSIS) main building in Pasay to follow up on my grandmother's pension.

My grandmother, who is still very much active, able and slim at age 79, has stopped receiving her survivorship pension last December of 2007 because of the implementation of GSIS e-card. Due to unavailability of everybody in the family, we were only able to make time for it last May 5, Monday.

The lobby looks a bit ok for my taste though teeming with people. Since we were there to apply for an e-card, we were advised to go to the Pension Department.

I was surprised that there was no nearby elevator for us to take. We were told we had to use the stairs. A little walking wouldnt hurt, I told myself. When I saw the descent we were going to make, I could not help but wonder if Mr. Winston Garcia had ever took this stairs. Apparently, I think otherwise.

The descent was quite steep. An accident-prone one if you ask me.

When we got to the Pension Department, the guard who was manning the door never told us that there was a number needed from him. Had it been I never read the guidelines posted at the blackboard, we would have been waiting in line for nothing.

I wonder again about the percentage of illiterate pensioners who flock to GSIS everyday. What makes of them when the guard does not hand them any number?


The sea of people was expected but the number of employees were very much insufficient. The Pension Department has so many sections to begin with. Separate lines for each. Pension loans, e-card application, e-card picture and biometrics taking, e-card releasing, e-card automated activation and e-card manual activation are housed in one room.


Two employees were manning the e-card application, one for the pension loan, two for the picture-biometrics, four for releasing, one for automated activation and one for the manual activation. Imagine the number of employees vis-a-vis the number of people in that room.

We arrived there around 10am and we were number 173. The number they were calling that time was 66, if my memory serves me right. I knew right then and there, we were to stay there the whole day. Makes me think if Mr. Garcia will ever have to fall in line in his lifetime?

The room has airconditioning but it was not sufficient to make the room that cool because of the number of people. I told myself that chances are, these pensioners will suffer heat stroke even before they get their pension's worth.

I couldnt help but appreciate the employees stationed in the Pension Department. I caught a glimpse of their day in the office and I knew that no compensation could reward such job. Both tedious and difficult and some could still offer some smile and accommodation.

For one day, I was able to hear all sorts of complain regarding the GSIS and their system or perhaps, the lack of it. Many pensioners are in the dawn of their lives. Some are even brought with wheelchairs. Tattered and dirty clothes. Disheveled hairs. Frail and weak bodies. The sight was truly heartbreaking and frustrating.

Others look disoriented. I dont blame them. I got disoriented the minute I walked into that room.

A crazy woman accompanied by her sister created quite a commotion that day. Alarmed even the employees because she was getting physical with her own sister. She was shouting and cursing at the top of her voice.

GSIS's security was prompt but the situation could have been averted if not for the long wait the mentally ill woman suffered. For a measly sum of money that the pensioner SHOULD be receiving, a day was lost in GSIS. Talk about the proverbial saying, time is gold.

We finished around 4pm in the afternoon. My grandmother got her e-card but was informed that it will be fully functional only come July or August. No one knows exactly when.

I wouldn't wish anybody to suffer as we had at GSIS...





not even wish it to Mr. Garcia.

Duran Duran in Manila

I have nothing to say about this concert.

Except for the facts that:

1. I did not enjoy it.

2. I am not a Duran Duran fan.

3. I walked out even before it reached the middle of its performance that night.

4. I wish I was seated on the patron section during the SOS concert instead.

5. I thought I'd have migraine if I'd stay any longer.

I Heart Corinne Drewery of Swing Out Sisters!

When it comes to music, I prefer classic, acid or pop jazz and bossa nova. Being the restless person that I am, I find comfort and relaxation whenever I listen to Everything But The Girl, Sitti and Swing Out Sisters.

I was thrilled when I learned that Swing Out Sisters led by its vocalist Corinne Drewery would be performing here in Manila. However, the cheapskate me got ahead of the SOS fan in me and decided to settle for an upperbox B ticket because I thought that it would suffice -- a presumption I did regret even when the concert had not started that night.


I was thinking of buying binoculars already when I realized how stupid I was for buying such ticket! I was too far from the stage! Anyhow, I had no other option but to make the most out of my situation.

The concert started quite late. A far cry from what was printed on my ticket that the show would start on time.

Faith Cuneta had to do the front act -- more of a torture on my part. What the hell were the organizers of that concert thinking? They could have gotten Nina or Sitti instead but Faith?


Thirty (30) minutes of agony with Faith Cuneta was how I put it.

***SWING OUT SISTERS in MANILA***

It was sort of bitin for me but definitely, Corinne got me singing and dancing at the same time -- something peculiar for me, I guess.

I never thought that Corinne could hit notes that high. Dang! Wonderful woman!

Choice of songs: I was expecting they would sing their hits but when I learned they were promoting an album, I knew that the "oldies" would take a back seat.

Corinne's voice trembled after singing Forever Blue. She was about to say something but was immediately cut off when her band started playing for the next song.

Cory Aquino stadium.

She's fascinated by the jeepney and wanted to take one back home.


The barong was uhm... I dont know but it didnt look like one to me. Mukhang sutana, actually.

Bitin pa din ako.

Musings of An Ex-Neanderthal

After three months of being laptop-less ergo, internet-less, my laptop had been returned to me!

Woohoo!

I'm back to civilization!

And we'd been inseparable even up to now, making up for lost time.

Thanks to Ms. Melissa Patricio-Vergara of BenQ Philippines for all the assistance extended to me and to Aserco (authorized service center of BenQ) for the repair and for bearing with me.

I cannot thank them enough for "bringing back to life" my laptop despite the fact that its warranty had lapsed already.

Me = happy, satisfied and once again, nocturnal and sleepless.

Curse you, world wide web!

***

I haven't set foot in Boracay in my entire existence, honestly.

But as fate would have it, last month, Mo Twister of Magic 89.9 gave me free roundtrip tickets (courtesy of SeAir) to Boracay and Duran Duran concert tickets -- but that concert was another story.

I am happy but NOT that thrilled about that trip. Had it been a Baguio trip (and hopefully, free accommodation, too), I'd be ballistic until now.

But hey, beggars can't be choosers!

Thank you Mo, Mojo and Bianca King (Grace Lee was out of the country that time), Magic and SeAir!

When do I get my tickets?



Re: Baguio

I have a thing about places with colder climate. I thrive best given that condition (law school classrooms, excluded!).

I love beaches and pools but I prefer strolling/walking along Session Road, anytime.

***

I miss my law school buddies -- just hanging out with them at the law library or eating bacon and egg at 11am in Pacific Suites and after class pigging out either at Almer's (when the funds are low -- putek! may utang pa pala ako!), at S.R. Thai (love the grease, dude) or at The Pit (chocolate mudcake -- yum yum!)

Ilang tulog na lang, balik law school na.

Welcome back, migraine!