FREE flight ticket to Mars from NASA

My boarding pass to Mars :)

Here's your chance to take part in NASA's Journey to Mars. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is giving away FREE tickets to Mars via the Orion spacecraft.

You can now send your name to Mars!

Sign up HERE to get your free space tickets. Just enter your name, country, postal code, and email address.

You'll get a personalized "flight ticket" just like the one I have. Cool spacey idea!

#Orion #JourneyToMars

Get your "boarding pass" now! Deadline for submitting your name for the Orion mission is on October 31. The first flight of Orion spacecraft (which will eventually transport humans to the Red Planet) will launch on December 4.

Well, this is NASA's effort to create more public interest in its space exploration program. If we can't step foot on the Red Planet, at least our names can fly on future NASA exploration flights and missions to Mars.

Space fans, astronaut-wannabees and kids would surely love this!

FREE Internet for SmartPrepaid, Talk 'N Text, and Sun Prepaid Users!

Wow FREE Internet! I was browsing Twitter when I read this announcement from @SMARTCares -

If you're among the 66M Smart Prepaid, Talk ‘N Text, & Sun Prepaid users, Text FREE to 9999 for #SmartFREEInternet! pic.twitter.com/Y9E2Xc9Ybt
— Smart Communications (@SMARTCares) September 26, 2014

Because I remain to be a loyal Smart prepaid subscriber, I got excited.

It means we can browse, post and share updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for free! We can shop online, read news, search for information, check emails, update our blogs, etc. all for Free!

Text FREE to 9999

That's Free Internet up to 30Mb per day until November 30!

Checking out Smart's website:

What is the FREE INTERNET offer?
As a special promo/offer, ALL PREPAID subscribers of Smart will enjoy FREE MOBILE INTERNET access. 

What does FREE INTERNET mean?
FREE INTERNET is a promotion available to all ACTIVE prepaid subscribers to enjoy access to mobile Internet with no extra cost, initially up to 30MB, and subject to the promo terms and fair use policy. 

How can I avail of this special offer?
All ACTIVE Smart subscribers can avail of the free Internet promo anytime within the promo period.
To avail of the service, the subscriber must register daily, by sending FREE to 9999.
Registration is FREE. The subscriber will then receive an SMS confirmation upon successful registration.

Read the complete details here

#SmartFREEInternet #MVPAnnouncement #LiveMore

Thank you for this great news! Good job @SMARTCares!
Got to try it now :)

Emergency hotlines and hashtags

#MarioPH #FloodPH

Tropical Storm Mario hits our country!

Several areas in Metro Manila were flooded,  classes and work in government offices were suspended, and some domestic flights got cancelled. Places like Cainta and Marikina were placed under state of calamity.

It is pays to save these emergency hotline numbers and hashtags.

Source: Department of Health Philippines 

Source: Department of Health Philippines 

Stay alert and be prepared for anything. Make sure that you're ready with your emergency kits.

Keep safe everyone!

Multiply Shutting Down

"As a chapter ends, a new one begins."

So its true, Multiply.com is closing down.

Starting December 1st, Multiply will discontinue its social networking, blogging, and sharing services. But the whole site won't shut down totally, instead, they are only closing its social networking site platform (photos, videos, blogs, social messaging, etc.). Multiply will continue, but it will focus into an e-commerce portal.

Stefan Magdalinski, Multiply CEO, has issued this formal announcement:

Before Facebook and Twitter, everyone was on Multiply. I've had my Multiply account since 2006. In Multiply, I've found a virtual shelter - making online friends and networking to shopping and even selling online. I'll remind myself to backup my stuffs as soon as

If you have your Multiply account don't forget to download your photos, blogs and videos or migrate it to another site.

Disaster Emergency Numbers

"Be strong now, because things will get better; 
it might be stormy now but it can't rain forever."

It's been raining nonstop and several areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces are already flooded.

Classes and some government offices had been suspended due to the bad weather.

Remind yourself to:

1. Be safe.
2. Stay indoors and avoid travelling as much as possible.
3. Be alert and listen to the news.
4. Have an emergency kit ready.
5. Charge your mobile phones.
6. Keep your important documents safe.
7. Be prepared for emergency evacuation.

This will come in handy. Have a copy of these Hotline Numbers that you can call for disaster emergency situations, especially urgent rescue and relief needs.

Also refer to this comprehensive list of government information during national disaster. http://www.gov.ph/government-information-during-natural-disasters/

Keep praying that floods will subside and everyone will be safe.

Golden Ticket for Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding

Are you lucky at random draws? Well, maybe your name will get picked and you'll get the chance to attend the royal wedding!

photo source: Reuters

Prince William and Kate Middleton will invite 100 lucky people to attend their royal wedding on April 29. The couple want the British public to be part of their wedding ceremony and celebration.

Winners will be picked completely at random - just like Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket draw from the classic novel 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.

"Those lucky enough to land an invitation will only find out when it drops on their door mat." - The Sun UK

The lucky guests will get to socialize with international royals and heads of state at London’s Westminster Abbey. (how fortunate!)

They will also get to attend the lavish reception at the Buckingham Palace and raise a toast to the future king and his queen.

Oh well, hope that my name gets included in the golden ticket!
(*wishful thinking)

Earthquake Unfelt

At 1:29 pm, we were almost done with our late lunch. A few minutes after, I head back in front of my PC and was terrified at what I've read - there had been an earthquake! Facebook and Twitter sites were filled with earthquake posts.

I checked on social media posts and read breaking news snippets. Again, the Filipinos tweets and posts their earthquake experiences and there were even photos of building evacuations. Everyone kept on informing friends to stay calm and be prepared.

US Geological Survey and news reports revealed that a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Metro Manila and Southern Luzon. Its epicenter was located southwest of Lubang Island in Mindoro province. The shock was also felt at at various intensities in Manila, Batangas, Bataan, Olongapo and neighboring areas. There were no damages or casualties reported.

This earthquake shook for 30 seconds, yet inside our home, we never felt its strong shake. I did not even felt dizzy. Attentively, my daughter just said, "mommy kelan yung lindol? hala, meron ba nasira?" She had never felt an earthquake, but she is aware of the damages that a major one will cause.

After all these, I thank God that no one got hurt from this earthquake. Hopefully, there would be no more deadly earthquake just like the ones that hit Haiti and Chile.

Slow Internet Connection Due to Cable Cut

Sigh.

Until now, Internet connection at home is still in a very slow pace. My sister who is using Smart Bro is not having problems with her Internet access at all. Thus, I initially thought that it was only our connection or a downtime in PLDT DSL, but then some people I know are also experiencing this. Some are saying and PLDT informs that the slow internet connection is because of the earthquake that hit Japan last August 11.

I have just read this official report a few hours ago. Updates from ZD Net Asia says that-

"A cut in the Asia-Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN2) undersea submarine cable crippled connection speeds for users in the Asia-Pacific region on Wednesday, particularly in Singapore and the Philippines."

According to a report sent by TM Net, a Malaysian telco, this is because of Typhoon Morakat that hit the region over the weekend. This is the reason why Internet traffics are being rerouted to other cable systems.

I am really hoping that this situation will get back to normal as soon as possible. There's a lot that I still need to accomplish.

The Governor's Affair and Michael Jackson's Death

When the U.S. entertainment world was still paying tribute to actress Farrah Fawcett's death; remembering the recent death of Ed McMachon; pitching on the scandal that surrounds South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford affair with an Argentinian woman Maria Belen Shapur (who makes the world scramble for her picture); the shocking news about Michael Jackson's death was announced.

Pop Star Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital, and was pronounced death due cardiac arrest. He was 50.

He is a gifted entertainer, the world's top musical performer best known for his trademark moonwalk dance. He was one of the world's most-famous entertainer and even the most-ridiculed one. People loved his music and his albums; yet, criticizes him for the plagued controversies on child allegations. The artist dies, leaving behind his legacy. Just like anyone else, he deserves respect and prayers.

These are the commotions I've read just before sleeping and after waking up. It was around 2 a.m. when I got to sleep after doing my work, finishing and submitting my online project. Before sleeping, I was intrigued on the affair of Gov. Mark Sanford, and now the buzz on Michael Jackson's death. This news has set the web on fire and generated volumes of traffic at Twitter and websites. Google describes the traffic on Michael Jackson’s death as "volcanic".

Extra-marital affairs and deaths could really be saddening.

Moving On. Purple Hunting. Checking Emails. Working.