I just received one of my most sought-after Saber figure, the Mon-Sieur Bome version by Kaiyodo, as a birthday present from my friends. I am so happy that they really managed to find one since this is a bit rare already (this was released July 2007), and fulfilled one of my wishes! Very excited, i took out my ever reliable Canon A630 digicam and aimed it at my new possession the moment i got home. Here are some of my "excitement photos:"

This has become my most prized possession since this costs for about 4500 Yen or around Php 2300, although this one is the US-released, and costs around Php 1800. Add to that the fact that this was given to me as a gift. T_T And for that reason I will forever thank them!

Lovely, isn't she? ^^ It's true that this Saber is a little pricey, but it is so worth it since this is the most beautiful Saber out in the market so far. Her face is based on the Fate/Stay Night anime series and not from the manga (most of the earlier Sabers were manga-based), which is childlike and has a colder facial expression. Although not fully-articulated, one cannot argue that this is one of the most detailed Saber ever. I really like the way her armor is sculpted, but my most favorite part of her dress is her skirt. It gives a cloth feel and effect even if the whole figure is made of plastic. In my opinion, the only contender to this is the poseable Figma Saber, yet to be released locally.

More photos:

I will try to post better pictures of her (but I am not promising hehe), for now please bear with these. Or, if for you my shots scuk, you may also want to view it's release photos.

By the way, did I mention that Saber is my favorite female anime character? ^^

~~~

Twenty-five years is a quarter of a century. That's how young I am today. And what good is a birthday without the wishlist! This year, I thought of the things (yes, I am materialistic ^^) that I want to have:

1. Creative Zen -4G
2. Bome Saber figure
3. Meister Haruhi Part 2
4. LCD monitor (I already bought an AOC 193FW last month)
5. 4G Memory Stick Pro-Duo for my PSP

I am still contemplating on getting the Zen, since I think I am being so impulsive (on buying things that I like) since the start of 2008. I mean, am I out of my mind? Where is my self-control?

My friends promised to give me the Bome Saber, I am believing and hoping that they will not break their pledge or else grrr... I hope they can still find one since this is rare already.

I've already reserved Meister Haruhi Part 2 at Greattoys Makati, and will be getting it next week. Just before Part 3 is released locally!

I am currently using the LCD monitor that I bought. Very sweet!

As for the 4G memory stick, I don't think I'll be getting one this month (you are most welcome to give one to me as a gift ^^) because 1- I don't have the *resources to get one 2- I think I can still live with only my 2G stick.

Four out of my five targets, it's not bad at all! Yey!

April 02, 2008: Yesterday, one of my bestest friend gave me a 4G memory stick as her pahabol gift! Yey! As for the Zen, I am yet to decide whether I'll buy it online and have it delivered to a friend in the US, or not to buy at all since I think I'll have to save enough for my lakads this summer. O_o

~~~

Play-Asia is giving off 20% on all of their stocked items! This is supposed to be their Easter sale, yes it is late but as they've said, who cares anyway? As long as we get discounts as big as this, it won't really matter what this event is called! A few of the items that got my interest are:

Fate/Hollow Ataraxia Minis Set
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia Set Volumes 1 and 2
Shakugan No Shana Figure Meister Half-Prism Figures

Too bad most of the trading figures of my favorite anime like Suzumiya Haruhi, Naruto, Bleach, Deathnote, and Fate/Stay Night are either out of stock or not yet released. T_T

Know more about the Play-Asia sale here. This is only until March 31!

I've just read an article on the March 2008 issue of Reader's Digest about overcoming stress and work overload, and I thought that I should be sharing it. No. I'm not trying to steal RD's profits, or block readers from buying it, it's just that most of my friends and acquaintances are in the IT industry (probably where the most stressful jobs are) and I myself has experienced a very stressful worklife on my previous company.

Here are some of my favorite tips from the article, I hope you get something from them:

I have a choice. Repeat these four words. People who say, "My boss wants me to be reachable after 8pm" are likely exaggerating the controls others have over them.

~ This is my most favorite. We all know it, but most of us ignore this fact. The truth is you have several options around, you just have to let yourself see them. If you don't want to be disturbed by work while enjoying your private life, you can just turn off your phone (or any communicator that you might have). If you feel unrewarded and unhappy with your current work, you can always look for some place else.

Take baby steps. Try being inaccessible for short spurts to see what happens. The world probably won't implode.

~ I used to think that I can't take a day-off, as no one seems to be more capable than I am for the current work that I am assigned to. I used to be afraid that my team would somehow be delayed if I don't give my contributions. But there will always be someone who can do the work in your stead. Believe it or not, even if you got sick, even if you resign for another job, somebody else would definitely accomplish the tasks that you've left.

Make a task list. If you're interrupted, you'll get back to work faster if you have a list of what needs to be done.

~ Very self-explanatory. I just hate it when someone forgets to complete a major task, just because he did something else, which he thought was more important. You should include levels of prioritization in your task list, or else you'll end up not knowing which one to do first.

Set limits. Rein in office email and instant message traffic. Who truly needs 35 daily FYIs on the outcome of a project?

~ I would like to say, set your non-negotiables. Create a list of the things that are more important to you than your work. Set your boss' expectations. If you don't want to miss your dad's birthday each year, then going to his party even on a workday is a non-negotiable to you.

Of course, to work is also important. But one should not let it get the better of him. There are a lot of things that are more significant and enjoyable than work, you just have to allow yourself to take a few hours off.

I've been so crazy about Haruhi Suzumiya (she's my second fave anime character, next to Saber of Fate/Stay series) that I wanted to complete at least their Figure Meister line of trading figures. I already have Part 1, and Part 3 is on it's way to toy stores this month, so I badly need to get Part 2!

This set was released last November 2007 and costs for about 4800 Yen for the whole blind box of eight figures (meaning you don't know which you'll get), and locally for about Php 400 each. This set consists of seven figures: a Haruhi in Santa costume, a Mikuru in casual wear and a variant, a Yuki in swimsuit and a Yuki variant, a Tsuruya in school uniform, and a variant. The cheapskate that I am, I waited until its price drops but unfortunately it didn't, and now all of the stores that I know, even those online, do not have any stock left!! T_T

Good thing I have very good and dependable comrades (a.k.a. toy bargain hunters^^), they told me that a set is still available at GreatToys at GoldCrest in Makati! I immediately went there after work, and true enough, they have the Part 2 set!

But there's a big BUT... they only have the set of four regular figures, no variants. They're selling it for Php 1350, around Php 335 each figure. Too bad they don't want to give me any discounts. T_T

Yesterday was Easter Sunday, but instead of going to the malls as we usually do and hunting easter eggs (yeah, they still have those events annually, maybe because families like us enjoy them), we went to the wake of someone we consider as our second father in our primary school.

It was last Wednesday night when a friend called me up as I was on my way home, she was crying. I can barely understand her when she broke the bad news: our beloved mentor already passed away. Still not convinced, I tried to text and call anyone who could give me us confirmation.

That morning, Sir was brought to the hospital. He felt constant pain in his stomach, but it was the first time that he was admitted. It was not long after he was declared...

He was one of the best teachers in our elementary school. No, maybe one of the best in our town (he also teaches in a community college). He taught us not only the lessons from our books, but also those that can be used in our daily lives. He liked to talk, in between classes and during breaks, he would approach a group of students and speak about anything under the sun. He would then give us pieces of advice, those that we often ignore and laugh at, maybe because we are just kids then.

For 12 years or so, I saw some of my classmates' faces again, some of them I could not remember clearly. For 12 years or so, I saw his face again. He's a little thinner than what I can remember of him. He wanted to have a reunion last year, but individual schedules wouldn't allow it to happen. He was enthusiastic about that event. Now his class, we, are reunited, but he's not there to join us. Our regrets would not bring anything back. I too, could not think of any more excuses.

He may be far, but the teachings that he left will always remain with us. With those, he will always be alive for us. I guess what he only needs to hear from us is a little "Thank You, Sir!"

Yuki is someone who never fails to make me happy whenever we see each other. Energetic as she is, she never stops playing with her toys, moving around as if she's looking for something, and doing what she does best: making us laugh.

Yuki is a shih tzu puppy, she has been a member of our family since we met her on October 2007. She was just a little angel back then:

Who could resist that kawaii-ness? ^^

I wanted to talk more about what actually happened to her during that time, but those details bring back a lot of sad and depressing memories (awww...) so I guess this is just it. T_T

A pretty girl at six months, she was our darling!

Now, about eight months old, the cute little girl is starting to transform into a young lady. We recently gave her a summer cut (for obvious reasons):

Before:

After:
Now we can't wait for her hair to grow back, she's 100% more kawaii before her cut!

More to come on Yuki! ^^

~~~

A few days before its official release on March 25, news spread that a copy of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII has leaked, and can be downloaded from the internet. True enough, several links became available, claiming that they have the full English copy (the Japanese version has already been released last year) of this very much-awaited PSP game.

Bumped into this game a few weeks ago and been playing it since then. Angels Online (AO) is very much like our beloved (and hated) and ever popular Ragnarok Online (RO). Here you can create an avatar that looks like an anime version of yourself (or of your enemies, since you can choose skin colors such as green, violet, and black), and make them level up by killing monsters until you get bored or when your PC breaks down.

So why would someone want to play AO, if it is almost identical to RO? Here's a few:

AO is free-to-play-for-life. If you are so serious about it, or too ashamed of just using ordinary in-game items, then that's the only time that you should swipe those credit cards to buy in-game golds.

This is literally the better version of RO. Most of the disgusting features in RO are either removed or improved, and then new features were added (security, pet, trading, and leveling system, character build-up, etc.).

There are much more to do in AO. More than just hunting and hacking those poor unmindful monsters, there are practically unlimited quests in AO, where your help will be asked by other angels. Be it collecting monster poos for a cake, getting medicines for sick angels, or even wiping a baby angels butt, you'll never get bored easily as a new quest will be given to you from time to time for you to boost your ranks and get some golds.

RO players now s*ck. I've quit RO a few years ago because most of the players s*ck. Everyone wants to be someone, even hacking accounts, selling in-game items for real money, outpicking you of your drops... These players make the MMORPG world a little bit annoying.

AO avatars are cute. Maybe even cuter than RO's.

AO runs on an international server. This means that you'l have better chances of playing along with players throughout the world, and thus greater chances of having foreigner girlfriends/boyfriends in-game (or in real life, if you want ^^). Nice eh?

Here are some AO screenies:

I am the one riding the blue lizard. Those on piggies are my friends. We took this shot while playing at our office, pretending that we are busy working. ^^

My league-mates and I are sitting after a tiring and nail-biting battle with Asmodeous, the most dreaded boss in AO.

If you don't have much to do with your life, or even at work*, AO is one good way to let your time pass by without even your boss noticing it. ^^

After spending a few hours everyday on researching about blog tools and reading others' blogs, here I am, still in front of my desktop, typing my real first post. So what now? What would a boring one like me write on his blog? Argh.. this is hard! Specially when you have your very own No.1 Contravida!

My Boring Self: Hey biboybob, how dare you start up a blog! What would you want your readers, if you are lucky to have any hehe, to learn from you?!

Biboybob: Well, I think almost everyone has his own blog, even Manong Guard has started his, so why can't I?

My Boring Self: Errr... Manong Guard has experienced a lot, mostly on his very exciting nightlife... but you?! I hope you're not trying to share some of your boring...

Biboybob: Stop it, will you?! Of course this blog will not be (at least not only) about myself. Uhmm...

My Boring Self: Can't think of something huh? Just as I thought...

Biboybob: Uhmmm... Of course! These may not be as exciting as Manong Guard's adventures, but I guess it'll be a lot of fun at least for me! Yeah, that is it!

My Boring Self: So what is it? I can sense that it's... boring...

Biboybob: You d******! Why do you care?! I won't be sharing with you the URL anyway!