Ah Eh.. But Wait! Let Me Explain!

Disney to Acquire Marvel Entertainment

Worldwide leader in family entertainment agrees to acquire Marvel and its portfolio of over 5,000 characters.

Acquisition highlights Disney’s strategic focus on quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion to build long-term shareholder value

Burbank, CA and New York, NY, August 31, 2009 —Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.

Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.

The rest of the news can be read here and through our local news web site.

So now what? Will there be future cross over story? Will Howard the Duck finally meet Donald and Daisy? Or a cross over of characters?

asteg!

Note: This column appeared in Philippine Daily Inquirer today. Here's the link from our web site.

Theres The Rub
May araw din kayo

By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:04:00 08/17/2009

Tatagalugin ko na nang makuha n’yo. Kahit na lingwaheng kanto lang ang alam kong Tagalog.

Tutal Buwan ng Wika naman ang Agosto. Baka sakali ’yung paboritong wika ni Balagtas ay makatulong sa pag-unawa n’yo dahil mukhang ’yung paboritong wika ni Shakespeare ay lampas sa IQ n’yo. Kung sa bagay, ang pinakamahirap gisingin ay ’yung nagtutulug-tulugan. Ang pinakamahirap padinggin ay ’yung nagbibingi-bingihan. Ang pinakamahirap paintindihin ay ’yung nagmamaangmaangan. Bueno, mahirap din paintindihin ’yung likas na tanga. Pero bahala na.

Sabi mo, Cerge Remonde, alangan naman pakanin ng hotdog ang amo mo. Bakit alangan? Hindi naman vegetarian ’yon. At public service nga ’yon, makakatulong dagdagan ng cholesterol at salitre ang dugong dumadaloy papuntang puso n’ya. Kung meron man s’yang dugo, kung meron man s’yang puso.

Bakit alangan? Malamang di ka nagbabasa ng balita, o di lang talaga nagbabasa, kung hindi ay nalaman mo ’yung ginawa ni Barack Obama at Joe Biden nitong nakaraang Mayo. Galing silang White House patungong Virginia nang magtakam sila pareho ng hamburger. Pina detour nila ang motorcade at tumuloy sa unang hamburgerang nakita nila. Ito ang Ray’s Hell Burger, isang maliit at independienteng hamburger joint.

Tumungo ang dalawa sa counter at sila mismo ang nag-order, hindi mga aides. Nagbayad sila ng cash na galing sa sariling bulsa at kagaya ng ibang customers ay pumila para sa turno nila.

Ito ay presidente at bise presidente ng pinakamakapangyarihang bansa sa buong mundo. Kung sa bagay, ’yung amo n’yo ay hindi naman talaga presidente. Di lang makita ang pagkakaiba ni Garci kay God kaya nasabing “God put me here.” Pekeng presidente, pekeng asal presidente.

Sabi mo, Anthony Golez, maliit lang ang P1 million dinner kumpara sa bilyon-bilyong pisong dinala ng amo mo sa bansa.

Ay kayo lang naman ang nagsasabing may inambag ang amo n’yo na bilyong-bilyong piso sa kaban ng bayan. Ni anino noon wala kaming nakita. Ang nakita lang namin ay yung bilyon-bilyong piso—o borjer, ayon nga sa inyong dating kakosa na si Benjamin Abalos—na inaswang ng amo n’yo sa kaban ng bayan. Executive privilege daw ang hindi n’ya sagutin ito. Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang di managot sa taumbayan? Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang magnakaw?

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million, ay bakit hindi n’yo na lang ibigay sa nagugutom? O doon sa mga sundalo sa Mindanao? Tama si Archbishop Oscar Cruz. Isipin n’yo kung gaano karaming botas man lang ang mabibili ng P1 million at karagdagang P750,000 na nilamon ng amo n’yo at mga taga bitbit ng kanyang maleta sa isa pang restawran sa New York.

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million (at P750,000), bakit hindi n’yo na lang ibigay doon sa pamilya ng mga sundalong namatay sa Mindanao? Magkano ’yung gusto n’yong ibigay sa bawat isa? P20,000? Sa halagang iyan 50 sundalo na ang maaabuluyan n’yo sa $20,000. Pasalu-saludo pa ’yang amo n’yo sa mga namatay na kala mo ay talagang may malasakit. Bumenta na ’yang dramang ’yan. At pasabi-sabi pa ng “Annihilate the Abus!” Di ba noon pa n’ya ’yan pinangako? Mahilig lang talagang mangako ’yang amo n’yo.

Bukod pa d’yan, saan ba nanggaling ’yung limpak-limpak na salapi ng mga kongresista na pinansisindi nila ng tabako? Di ba sa amin din? Tanong n’yo muna kung ayos lang na i-blowout namin ng wine at caviar ang amo n’yo habang kami ay nagdidildil ng asin—’yung magaspang na klase ha, ’di yung iodized. Ang tindi n’yo, mga p’re.

At ikaw naman, Romulo Macalintal, tapang ng apog mo. Maiisip mo tuloy na sundin na lang ang mungkahi ni Dick the Butcher sa “Henry VI” ni Shakespeare: “First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Pa ethics-ethics ka pa, pasalamat ka di nasunog ang bibig mo sa pagbigkas ng katagang ’yon.

Marami mang sugapa rin sa aming mga taga media, di naman kasing sugapa n’yo. At di naman kami sineswelduhan ng taumbayan. Wala naman kaming problemang sumakay sa PAL at kailangan pang bumili ng P1.2 billion jet. Anong sabi n’yo, kailangan ng amo n’yo sa pabyahe-byahe? E sino naman ang may sabing magbabyahe s’ya? Ngayon pang paalis na s’ya—malinaw na ayaw n’yang umalis. Bakit hindi na lang s’ya bumili ng Matchbox na eroplano? Kasya naman s’ya ro’n.

Lalo kayong nagpupumiglas, lalo lang kayong lumulubog sa kumunoy. Di n’yo malulusutan ang bulilyasong ginawa n’yo. Para n’yo na ring inagaw ang isinusubong kanin ng isang batang nagugutom. Tama si Obama at Biden: Sa panahon ng recession, kung saan nakalugmok ang mga Amerikano sa hirap, dapat makiramay ang mga pinuno sa taumbayan, di nagpapakapariwara. Sa panahon ng kagutuman, na matagal nang kalagayan ng Pinoy, at lalo pang tumindi sa paghagupit ng Typhoon Gloria, dapat siguro uminom na lang kayo ng insecticide. Gawin n’yo ’yan at mapapawi kaagad ang kagutuman ng bayan.

Sa bandang huli, buti na rin lang at ginawa n’yo ’yung magpasasa sa P1 million dinner habang lupaypay ang bayan sa kagutuman—di lang sa kawalan ng pagkain kundi sa iba pang bagay—at pagdadalamhati sa yumaong Ina ng Bayan. Binigyan n’yo ng mukha ang katakawan. Katakawang walang kabusugan. Mukhang di nakita ng masa sa usaping NBN, mukhang di nakikita ng masa sa usaping SAL. Mukhang nakita lang ng masa dito sa ginawa n’yong ito. Sa pagpapabondat sa New York habang naghihinagpis ang bayan.

At buti na rin lang mayroon tayong sariling wika. Di sapat ang Inggles para iparamdam sa inyo ang suklam na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di sapat ang Inggles para ipakita sa inyo ang pagkamuhi na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di maarok ng Inggles ang lalim ng poot na nararamdaman namin sa inyo.

Isinusuka na kayo ng taumbayan, mahirap man sumuka ang gutom.

May araw din kayo.

asteg si sir Conrado!

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

This afternoon, I received a small package at the office that made my day and probably jump-started my eagerness to learn new things, which is a rarity from the said place. The package was from Europe (not sure if it is from The Netherlands or from the UK), and it is the CD installer of Linux Ubuntu desktop edition that I ordered from the net. I’m not sure if “order” is the proper word for it, but it was sent to me without spending a single cent. Yes, as we all know, it’s free. Linux, one of the competitors of Microsoft, is a free software or better know as Open Source software.

Although Linux Operating System is not in the line of network administration, I really love to try this alternative OS since I first learned about it many years ago. With the many versions of Linux, I heard and read that Ubuntu is the easiest to learn and to operate. Now I can install this in my PC at work (of course, with permission of my supervisors) and have my hands-on training everyday, rather than just sit at my desk waiting for me to go home as soon as I logged in or wait for a miracle to happen with my career. Hehe! Now is the time for me to learn it while I am surrounded with people who are familiar with this software. I just hope they won’t punish me if ever I crash my PC’s system, though. This will be my first of many steps in saying goodbye to the the world of Microsoft, who ironically hosts the blog site that I am using. Well not really 100% say goodbye to it, actually, but almost.

While reading the information written on the CD sleeve of the installer, I read a part where it actually encourages me to make copies, distribute, modify, and reinstall the software no matter how many times that I want to. Being used to seeing Microsoft and Apple products by reading their EULAs every time, it is unusual for me to be reading such encouragement to distribute more copies. But before I feel like those pirates from Quiapo and other parts of Manila, I then remembered how wonderful these open source software companies are. They make our lives easier in many ways legally.

To know more about Linux Ubuntu, please search for it using the search engines at the bottom of my blog site. Or click here if you want to download Ubuntu on your computer or order your own installer CD of the desktop, server , or Kubuntu versions.

Yes, the best things in life are FREE!

asteg!

Last month, me and my SE46-mates sponsored the Singles Encounter 49. It was a complete success! I was so happy that my girlfriend was able to join this batch as well. All the cramming, lack of sleep because of planning, hard work and physical tiredness paid off. It was all worth it!

Before the SE weekend, there were a lot of oppressions that came along our way. Less than 15 people were participating in the planning stage and we were so worried that we might lack the expected number of work force during the weekend. Funds were a concern too. The much awaited weekend came and it was no different. Oppressions and situations that tested our patience were everywhere. Very heavy traffic, non-stop rains, impatient and stubborn candidates and people from other SE batches. But since me and my SE46-mates are spiritually, physically, and psychologically prepared for all of these and more (of course with the help of the other SE46 members who came that weekend to participate and help), we all came through and became very, very successful. And we all did it for our love for our One and only Creator. We were all ready to face all these just to help all the 58 candidates to become better person and more closer to God after the weekend. And we achieved all our goals and more! It was a spiritual high for us! We never felt the effects of being so tired and lack of sleep during the weekend.

We indeed enjoyed each and every second of sponsoring the Singles Encounter 49. Success! Cheers to my beloved classmates from Singles Encounter 46! All for the greater glory of God!

(Note: Photos of the Singles Encounter 49 sponsors (that’s us) can be viewed at my Multiply, Facebook, and Friendster accounts. Most shots can be viewed at Costy’s (1, 2 and 3) Multiply account. He didn’t post all of his shots, though. Some are with Jay-R and the only copy that I have is burned in a DVD-R.)

*  *  *  *  *

Chona and I celebrated our birthday (advanced celebration for) at the SE49 weekend. Just like last year when I did celebrate mine, I am glad that my girl experienced the best gift ever in our Catholic life. Having your birthday celebrations while you’re in the highest peak of your spiritual journey. And not only that, I am blessed to see her cry, shout, sing, enjoy, and rejoice for joy – just as I did when I was one of the candidates last year. I am glad that I was able to help her release much of the burdens that have been bothering her for many years, through forgiveness. Most of all, I feel so blessed that I was able to help her to be closer to God and strengthen her faith more.

I know that emotionally, she’s one of the strongest persons that I have ever met. But with this experience, I’m sure she’ll be stronger not only emotionally, but spiritually.

Praise God!

*  *  *  *  *

My sister finally went back home here in the Philippines last Friday from Spain. This is the first time that my family is complete again after two years. I’m so thankful that we were given 2 weeks together again. A mini-reunion had already taken place for our cousins as well. We went to Mall Of Asia to have coffee and dinner.

I missed her so much. I think the rest of the family does too. I wish she would have more time for vacation, though.

*  *  *  *  *

Two weeks ago, I attended my first ToyCon (Toy Convention) at Megamall. Toys, character statues, and comics exhibits were everywhere, as well as those people who wear costumes of their favorite comics, movie, and anime characters (a.k.a. Cosplayers). I went there with my good friend from Sykes and saw some of our former workmates as well. My current workmates were there too. Since they were equipped with pro-cameras, I got my copies of the other exhibits and cosplayers as well. But what made my day was (other than seeing Alodia in person [hearts flying above my head]), I got to pose for a picture with a Storm Trooper from the 501^st Legion, Philippines Post. Finally! A picture with one of my favorite Star Wars character! You can view the pictures here and here(2). (photos by Z3ll).

asteg!

I laughed my ass off the first time I saw this video. Thought of sharing it with you too.

I am a Star Wars fan and have yet to see the new Star Trek movie. This will amuse me for now.. Enjoy!

They just can’t get along can they?

asteg!

Well ah... You know? I mean.....

We've all seen the live coverage, we've all seen the replays. Pictures are all over the internet, newspapers, and TV. Everybody's talking about it. But the question is: Who's next in line to fight Manny Pacquiao? Sports fans, especially boxing followers, knows who are chasing our countryman. Unlike in the video game, our Pacman is not the one chasing the ghosts for him to devour. The ghosts are the one who's chasing him even after he had eaten the power pellets (remember the huge yellow dots?).

Since I am one of the people who gets to know the news first, I'll let you in on some updates that I read and heard earlier just in case you haven't heard of yet before and after the fight:

• Days before the boxing match, the two trainers of both fighters were already getting into each other's skin. Here's a clip from documentary from HBO entitled Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 Overtime that you may haven't seen yet. Watch Freddie Roach and Mayweather, Sr.'s battle of words. Even Fred kicked Floyd's mouth all the way to his ass without even trying. Haha!
• Manny shut a lot of loud mouths this past weekend. One of them is this old, babbling trainer who loves to talk trash.. because he IS a trash. This coming July, Floyd, Jr. will be coming out of his retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez (the only Mexican fighter who Manny had difficulties winning against with) to earn the right of being the worthy opponent of our People's Champion.
• I don't know how strong the wind that's coming out of the mouth of the father and son tandem. While the senior had his mouth shut, all that he did was to blame Ricky Hatton for everything. He still thinks he's the freaking best trainer and he did nothing wrong. That old man is full of crap! Maybe that's the reason why his own son dumped him as his trainor. Yeah, Junior did that many years ago. He dumped his own father. Oh andby the way, Ricky only hired the old man just for this fight. He's just a temporary coach but he acts like he's the boss. Jeez! His head is as big as his mouth, but has little or no brain in it.
• One of my workmates saw on TV a papparazi video that shows Ricky Hatton trowing a party somewhere, though not sure if it is in the U.S. or England. But the video shows that on it, Ricky is sitting in one corner drinking a bottle of beer after another, without any reactions, and staring at nothing. I guess he's still shocked-to-the-bones from the outcome of the fight.
• On his lowest, Ricky recently decided to take the advice of his former trainer to retire. He said that he wants to promote up-and-coming fighters instead. I feel pity on this guy.  I believe he's a humble person. He seldom talks trash. All those we heard him say in his interviews before their fight was a part of the "Boxing Hype". He was a great fighter. He really is. It's just that he collided with a better boxer. I hope he still changes his mind on this. I still want to see him win some more fights.

So there you go. The latest news after the historic fight thus far. I'm not going to waste everyone's time here so I'm moving away from talking politics here. I don't mind listening to Manny speak in English. Kahit yung dila nya ay "parang taling nagkapilipit-pilit!" But please, spare the Paquiao-to-politics talk.

O-ki ba ang mga chismis ko?

"Now you know!"

Note:

No permission was asked to use the parts of the scripts from the commercials of Alaxan If-Ar and Vetwater. Ah este.. Alaxan-FR at Vitwater pala.. Churi naman.

asteg!

Last Sunday, I was in Outback in Glorietta to help the sports editors of Inquirer.net and Philippine Daily Inquirer cover the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. What I did was to record the fight using our dvd recorder (a cool gadget as it has its own HD were it stores the videos), eat the food that comes with our ticket package, sit back, and watch the fight. All the expenses paid by the company. Oh, did I mentioned that I was there to work? Hehe! This is one of the best part of my job.

Anyway, there’s quite a big crowd in there who paid to watch the fight without those very lengthy commercials that usually is longer than the fight itself, without Chino Trinidad’s senseless and brainless comments, and enjoy it with great food. There are a couple of tables with foreigners as well though I’m not sure if they’re British nationals. They, as I observed them, are somewhat quiet while the fight is on going. Maybe they are British and are afraid to be “bullied” by the overwhelming Filipino Pacquiao fans around them.

Surely enough, Filipino fans in that restaurant, all-over the country and the whole world were not disappointed. Manny Pacquiao flattens Ricky Hatton before the second round ends. Ricky Hatton was also KO’d twice in the first round. Fans were shouting, clapping and jumping out of sheer joy and pride. It was a great moment for us. Everyone’s delighted.

I was the happiest person on that place and that time. I was there working with not much to do other than check the recorder I set up earlier if it’s still working, sit back and wait for my mates to finish jotting down their real-time running account coverage for our web site (The Pacquiao Files), enjoy the food, and of course, enjoy the fight.

The one-sided fight was a fight to remember. The Filipino pug known as Pacman dismantled the British Hitman and silenced his noisy, full of air, trash-talking trainor and all those who belittled our National Fist, and the whole Filipino community as well. In fact, Manny landed 73 punches against Hatton’s 18. With this win, the commentators and his own promoter labeled Pacquiao to be the greatest fighter that ever lived. Not just pound-for-pound king, but the greatest.  Humility, God-fearing, and eagerness to learn even if he’s already in his top form are the factors that they saw for them to say these brave title next to Manny Pacquiao’s name.

Iba ka talaga idol Manny! Mabuhay ka! I mean.. You know..

P.S.

‘Wag ka na pumasok sa politika para hindi magalit ang mga Pilipino sa iyo.

Pacman Power

Dismantling Hitman:

After 1^st knockout..

He was down for the 2^nd time..

Sleep tight Hitman..

asteg!

It’s not the song from Filter with the same title. This entry is about taking pictures, literally. It’s just that everybody seems to be in to this kind of hobby these days. Yes, everybody seems to be in to photography. Some of my cousins, erstwhile and current officemates, church mates, and classmates seem to be indulged into this leisure as their type of relaxation (or sideline) and hypnotized by the beauty of their taken photographs. My jaw dropped in awe by looking at some of their shots especially when nature becomes their target. Just check out their shots by clicking this as an example.

Wow! That’s the only word I was able to say when I first saw them. The beauty of nature immortalized by the almost-professional hands the equipments of my officemate.

My friends from Sykes have their own blog site of their shots too! Check out their site here. Galing di ba?

I have been trying to take the best shots that I could get from a point-and-shoot digital camera and it is almost impossible for me to get the best quality that I wanted (starting with my diecast car collections). I wanted to try it as well a long time ago and everybody’s encouraging and teasing me to buy and SLR camera soon. But as we all know, this hobby requires money and skills, the latter being the easy of the two.

Meron ba ako pambili?

Hmm.. Teka..

Bahala na si batman!

asteg!