I can’t remember the last time I did Jan’s Coffee Break and I really miss it. I am really glad Coffee Break is back! So for this week’s Coffee Break:

How does one have a vavavoom body
this beach season?

I don’t think I am the right person to ask when it comes to achieving a sexy body as I eat what I want to eat without even thinking how many calories I will gain from eating it.

But I guess some suggestions that I can give includes:

1. Exercise – This is really important as it helps us tone our body and stay fit and healthy as well.
2. Diet – but not starvation. I noticed that some of my friends who starved themselves just to loose weight are never really successful in achieving their goal. I think, loosing weight should be gradual.
3. Avoid eating fatty foods but instead start living healthy like eating salad or avoiding sodas.

That is all I can think of for now. Just like what I said, this is a topic that is very alien to me. LOL.

Remember my experience about Standard Chartered Bank? I made a post about this on my other blog but to summarize I made a payment to Standard Chartered Bank amounting to around P13,000 (I can’t remember the exact amount) through their payment machines. But then after a month, I got a call from them claiming that they did not receive any payment from me for my balance from the past month.

I was really shocked since that is my last payment for my personal loan. I filed a complain and they promised to make an investigation on how my payment envelope got lost but of course the result of the investigation is still favorable for their company.

I don’t want to pay the remaining balance because I know that I really made the payment and I don’t want to pay them twice for something that I know I already paid for. But since then, I have been receiving calls from their collections department who have been harassing me and has been very rude to me.

I know I don’t deserve to be treated this way specially since I am the type of person who really sees to it that I pay my dues on time. I am not used to people disrespecting and treating me like what Standard Chartered is doing to me because I have a very good credit standing. So my decision: I paid for my balance again and have asked them to cut my card and stay out of my life.

I don’t know why collections agents of Standard Chartered talk to their clients that way. If only they just got a Collection Agency who knows how to deal with their clients diplomatically, maybe they will have a greater success rate in recovering debt. An agency like American profit who works in industries like the banks, might even help Standard Chartered develop a debt recovery solutions.

But I guess Standard Chartered is still using traditional collection agencies. No wonder they are not one of the most popular banks here.

I love weddings. If only we are rich, I might get married again and again. LOL.

Weddings are also one of my husband's favorite events to cover. He does photography as his sideline and hobby and he says that he enjoys to cover weddings more than any other events.

His last wedding coverage was last January, when he covered the wedding of his colleague, Relly and Leiza. They had a prenuptial pictorial at La Mesa Eco Park and my hubby and the couple really had fun during the shoot. Here are some shots from the pictorial:


The church ceremony was held at St. Rita De Cascia Parish and the reception was held at Sulu Hotel. I was looking at the pictures after the event and one of my favorite are the wedding flowers. And I was even more surprised when the bride spilled to me the cost for their flowers. It was really affordable but the flowers were just so fantastic. They got the flowers at a wholesale price and the flowers are ship overnight fresh from the flower farms so the flowers look fresh and gorgeous during the wedding ceremony.

Hubby has been really busy with work lately that he does not have enough time for his hobby but I hope he gets a wedding coverage soon as I know how much he enjoys covering weddings.

1. On March 6, 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first Periodic Table of the Elements to the Russian Chemical Society. What memories do you have of your high-school chemistry course? It was difficult since I have to memorize every single item in the Periodic Table and I can’t see the reason why we have to do it.
2. On March 6, 1899, the Bayer company registered aspirin as a trademark. When did you last take medication for pain? Last week I think, when I had a headache.
3. On March 6, 1853, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata premiered in Venice. How do you feel about opera? I am not a fan of opera.
4. On March 6, 1947, American film director Rob Reiner (Meathead!) was born. Which of these Reiner-directed films have you seen, and what do you think of them?
o The Bucket List (2007)
o Rumor Has It… (2005)
o Alex & Emma (2003)
o The Story of Us (1999) I barely can’t remember the story line but I know that I love this movie
o Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
o The American President (1995)
o North (1994)
o A Few Good Men (1992)
o Misery (1990)
o When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
o The Princess Bride (1987)
o Stand by Me (1986)
o The Sure Thing (1985)
o This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
5. On March 6, 1972, American basketball-player Shaquille O’Neal was born. How do you feel about basketball? It is a very thrilling game.

1. What is the last "white" lie that you told? I have to make up a reason for not being able to attend an important event.

2. Can you forgive a liar? It depends on the gravity of his / her lies.

3. Do you tend to exaggerate or underestimate? Exaggerate.

4. Do you hold a grudge? Yes – I forgive but I never forget. LOL. (Scary)

5. What's the biggest lie you've ever told? I can’t remember really if I ever told one big lie.

6. Are there times that you feel that it is okay to lie? Specially if I have to protect the feeling of another person.

7. Did you ever end a relationship because of lies? Yes. I can’t take lies when it comes to relationships. Once you made played a major lying game with me, then it is all over.

8. Do you think you can tell when someone is lying to you? Sometimes. But some people are really good when they are lying.

9. Have you been caught lying? A dozen times I think by my parents.