August, what's up?

- Have been seeing more police around lately -- still many accidents on Dubai roads.
- Preparing for a January 09 supplement... believe me, the year will slide quickly
from here.
- Watching movies almost every week: Wanted; The Mummy 3; Tropic Thunder; X Files;
Batman, etc.
- Trying to write my pet project... cross your fingers for me.
- Keeping in touch with family & friends through blogs and other sites. Hi fam &
friends!
- Waiting for my new machine-readable passport to be released. I hope it's ready.
- Sorta got promoted. More responsibilities.
- Had my car towed, battery died. It's ok now.
- Booked ticket for Christmas break. It was quite mad! As early as July, available
dates were so scarce!
- Chatted with my witty pampangkin.
- Trying to keep up with Aiki classmates. Aiki is difficult!
- Tried to cancel my gym subscription. But they convinced me to try and 'work it out'.
- Became a Pupe.jp member. It makes me practice product photography.
- Finished Avatar -- I love 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'!
- Got a ticket for "lane discipline" - I don't really know why!
- Dreaming of home. Yes, dreaming...

Calling creative Pinoys

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings from Dubai Media City !

the Ibda'a Media Students Awards aims to recognize talented media
students in the region. Launched in 2001, this annual quest invites
creative media projects from students all around the world.

Short-listed candidates gain region-wide exposure, and are flown to
Dubai courtesy of Dubai Media City on an all-expenses- paid trip to
attend the Gala awards ceremony. Winners walk away with prestigious
internships and prizes. For media students all over the world, this is
a chance to showcase their talent on a global scale.

Students can participate in the following categories:

Journalism
Radio
Animation
Graphic Design
Analogue Photography
Digital Photography
Print Advertising
TV Advertising
TV Documentary
Film / TV Feature
Mobile Film

The contest is open to all undergraduate students. Students who
graduate in 2007 are also eligible to apply.

All entries must conform to the criteria and must follow the
guidelines for the submission of entries for the respective category.

I would appreciate if you could take some time to our website and you
can find it in this link: www.ibdaa-awards. ae

We kindly request you to spread the word about the Ibdaʼa Media
Student Awards among your students and heartily invite their
participation in this program.

Best Regards,

Benjamin Panaguiton Jr.

Administrative Coordinator

Direct: +971 4 365 4841
Fax: +971 4 390 25 25
Email: benjamin.panaguiton @dmc.ae

*got this from an egroup email

Failed Picasso

Pablo Picasso's works are currently on exhibit at the Emirates Palace so when the holiday was announced, somebody pitched the idea of going to Abu Dhabi to see it. Soon enough, a group was formed and we ended up with seven vehicles heading for the emirate.


After the stressful convoy (the waiting for everybody to arrive, the heat, the stress of losing a member of the convoy, more waiting, the stress of finding directions and other stuff which almost made the actual exhibit anticlimactic...) and the restful (thankfully) break for lunch at a friend's house in Abu Dhabi, we finally reached the palace's entrance... only to be told that we're not allowed in: the King's delegates were there. We were told we can come back after two hours. We called in advance to make sure that they are open 'but what to do?', it's his palace, it's his delegates...

After getting the number of their office to make sure that we can get in later, we decided to pass the time in Marina Mall .

And after two hours, we were told that the exhibit will be accessible to the public only after TWO DAYS. The exhibit is open but security is refusing to let people in.

Sigh, now, that is a work of art.