Eyeing for a New Mobile Phone

I guess it all started when I yearned for a high-megapixel camera for myself.  I could not even equally reciprocate my colleague's generosity from taking pictures of me while we were having a grand time in Hong Kong.  Our HK memories were beautifully-documented in high-resolution images thanks to her 16-mp Olympus magnificent camera.

No, I was not lost.  I was just talking to a friend over the phone when my colleague took this shot in front of a map at the MTR central station in HK.

Although I had tried to do my share, but my lousy 8-mp camera would barely cooperate at all.  How embarrassing!  I vowed however to properly equip myself for my next travel.  And I mean it!

And not only that, when we took a taxi from the hotel to a friend's house, I let the driver use my phone to talk to my friend and ask for the directions to our destination. He looked at my phone as if it was a Nokia 5110.  I was so amused! Hahaha!

Also, while we were riding a bus going to Admiralty, everyone else was furiously tapping and sliding their fingers on their phones.  Suddenly, my colleague nudged me to take out my phone and compete with them.  And we both giggled in laughter! :)

You see, I am currently using a phone from a non-touchscreen era.  I could even call and text in the middle of a busy street and nobody would dare snatch the phone from me.  Or perhaps, the hold uppers at Cubao would even take pity on me, if not, get the phone and throw it back to me. Whew!

Since I had been planning to buy a new camera and a new mobile phone, I realized I could get the two units in one gadget.  That is, buy a new phone embedded with a high-mp camera.

I was almost at the brink of buying a Samsung Galaxy phone in HK had it not for the very, very limited time that we had.  And I was so haunted by the thought of it even when we were already at the airport to catch for our flight back to Manila, that when I saw the Fortress shop, I literally ran towards it and looked around. Unfortunately, the kuripot in me prevailed, as usual.. Tsk! Tsk!

And it's almost five months since then.  I thought my hunger for a new phone was already a history.  But I was wrong.. Huhuhu

Office Suspended, Indeed!

We just got the good news!  Office suspended effective one o'clock this afternoon.  I can't wait to go home! Since I slept for less than 5 hours last night, I guess I deserve to make up for what I lost. :)  

Office Suspended, Tomorrow?

While others may be sound asleep right now, thanks to the bed weather outside, I am, at present, furiously pounding on the keyboard of my laptop, as if there's no tomorrow.  Yeah, I just wish that there's no tomorrow. :(

I have, not only one, but multiple deadlines to beat tomorrow and I'll be dead if I won't be able to deliver what's kinda expected of me, chuva.  I also have a scheduled appointment to attend to.  Besides, I dread the idea of rushing to/fro work in the midst of a heavy rain.  Talking about nightmares!  Argggh!

I'm waiting for any announcements in connection with typhoon Labuyo.  I'm so exhausted already and all I want to do right now is to drift myself to dreamland.  Good news, where are you???

The Lesson I Learned from Snubbing Citibank Promo..

Photo Credit

 Actually, I could have gotten more... had I paid particular attention to the text message alert I received from Citibank.  In fact, I just shrugged it off and proceeded to delete it.

You see, I have been having cash purchases for my christmas shopping recently and I get to use the magic card only at shops with that payment facility, including online transactions.  But then in such cases, to avoid confusion especially come payment due dates, I limit my usage to a maximum of 2 credit cards only.. out of 6.  Unfortunately, of those 2, Citibank is not one of them.  :(

Bad move.  Few days ago, I received again a message from Citibank, this time, thanking me for spending at least P2,500 last December 12-18, 2012 and for that, I am now qualified to purchase 1 Purefoods Jamon de Bola for just P2.00.  My first reaction was, Citibank must have sent me the wrong message!  I don't remember using my Citibank card as I did not shop during that period.  But then, I purchased online a Cebu Pacific ticket costing P8,200+ and I didn't think online transactions are included in the promo.

I was wrong.  I was so bothered with that text that I checked online the terms and conditions of the said promo.  And there I found out that online transactions are not among those listed as not qualified for the promo.  Tsk! Tsk!

But then I remember, I made at least 3 more online transactions during that period that could have qualified me for another 3 Jamon de Bola.  My loss.. Well, that is the price that I have to pay for being a snub. Huhuhu!

I hope Citibank has more to offer for its credit card holders in the future.  FYI, to ensure that I won't miss any of its upcoming promo, I just clicked "Like" its FB page.  Hope that helps.  Huhuhu

Thanks Citibank!

Photo Credit

I called up Citibank last Monday to request for the reversal of my annual fee of P2,800.  I admit I was nervous because I was unsure if my request will be granted considering that I rarely use my Cebu Pacific card.

I repeatedly asked the customer service representative of what remedies do I have for them to waive the annual fee.  And she politely answered that I have none.. Huhuhu!

Actually, I could afford to lose this card.  What I was worried about, however, is that I might be billed for pretermination fee should I decide to have my card cancelled.. :(

FYI, few months ago, I purchased a travelling bag which I opted to pay for 6 months at zero interest rate charged to my card.  I was thinking, if I let go of my card, I will be forced to pay one time my outstanding balance and worse, the pretermination fee. :(

And there, I took the risk and told the customer service representative that I just want my card cancelled and, I am willing to pay all the outstanding charges except for the annual fee.  After a few agonizing seconds, she finally offered for the reversal of the annual fee.

Yes!  All it takes is to ask and, based on my experience, it was given.. :)

Meatless Monday..

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My auditee's BOD recently approved "Meatless Monday", which is in line with its health awareness program for its employees.  Participating canteens are therefore required to prepare meatless menu for its clients every Monday.

Actually, the said program was launched on November 5.  I got my first taste of veggie meat when on that same morning, I decided to have breakfast at the canteen.  I was offered veggie longganiza.  Judging by its appearance and smell, I thought, it must taste good.

Before my mouth started to water, I picked the longganiza with gusto and savored it.  Much to my dismay, it is far from being delectable and, I must add, indescribable.  At that time, I experienced a flashback of my childhood days when my mother forced me to eat something that I extremely did not like and therefore, yucky!  I felt I was going to have a fever then.. :(

Don't get me wrong.  I have nothing against veggie meat.  In fact, I welcome the prospect of patronizing it in the future, for my health's sake.  But then, for now, my appetite is not yet ready to like it.  And I really mean, NOT YET.. ;)

My Ultrabook Review.. the Finale

This is a continuation of my previous post:

Just when I was already resigned to the fact that I might just buy an ultrabook which, for me, is too expensive for its worth, I suddenly came across with Asus Zenbook.

What's good with it is that, it is cheaper than Toshiba.  It costs P59,995.  Its features are comparative with other high-end ultrabooks but then it is made in.. Taiwan!

I have nothing against Asian-made products.  It is just that, well maybe, I am still illiterate as to which manufacturer to trust.  And if the Asus Product Guide (shown below) is to be believed

then, I have nothing to worry about.  The said magazine claims that Asus has the lowest malfunction rate as illustrated in the bar graph shown on the right:

I remember, the first laptop that was assigned to me was an Asus.  It costs around P115,000 then (about 10 years ago).  Don't ask me if it's overpriced as I had nothing to do with its purchase.  I was just too happy and thankful that my former boss entrusted me with the said gadget.  I should say that I did not encounter any problems with it except for its slow speed, which by the way, was common for most computers then.

I was almost convinced and was ready to hand in my credit card when I, out of the blue, changed my mind.  That is, I decided to put off my plans of buying an ultrabook, maybe until the time when the laptop I'm using right now will no longer serve its purpose.  And to keep up with the times, I might have another ultrabook review by then. :)