tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75103122009-12-19T18:11:56.033+13:00Filipino life in New Zealandwatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.comBlogger612125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-80302477162518444602009-12-15T07:00:00.001+13:002009-12-15T07:00:01.988+13:00

More photos in Kaleidoscope World

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-72564371258517708912009-12-11T07:00:00.001+13:002009-12-11T21:48:13.985+13:00

Wednesday last week, we were treated to a feature-length episode to kickstart the new TV series V. As a fan of the original 80s show, I was excited to see this getting a reboot. And a couple of days ago we had another feature-length (2 hours) episode of V! We're getting a V overload.My reaction: looking good! The series has been fast-paced so far. In the first installment, the roles of the

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-70850544116565417692009-12-07T07:00:00.003+13:002009-12-07T07:00:01.242+13:00

More fun photos in Kaleidoscope World

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-2557419655843965642009-12-03T19:40:00.003+13:002009-12-03T19:44:03.059+13:00

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-26169218723373533032009-12-02T07:00:00.005+13:002009-12-02T14:47:08.644+13:00

They're baaaack, and I'm excited.V is a TV show from 1983, though I think it was shown later in the Philippines. I loved watching V at that time, and faithfully followed the series on primetime. For the uninitiated, V is a sci-fi series which is about the sudden appearance of alien ships on planet Earth and they, so to speak, comes in peace. They would like to forge a harmonious relationship

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-12900398239970130292009-11-29T07:00:00.001+13:002009-11-29T07:00:02.693+13:00

I have some Google Wave invites to spare. If you would like an account, send me your email address either by commenting on this post or by emailing me privately at nick@nickballesteros.com.Offer good while supplies last. Hurry, operators are standing by. But wait, there's more! Batteries not included.

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-89491483634778092772009-11-24T21:13:00.004+13:002009-11-24T21:26:47.356+13:00

... Christmas decorations and lights are making Makati CBD very festive at night;... the hustle and bustle in Divi has increased;... I would already have put-up our 8-foot Christmas tree and Looney Tunes ornaments;... I would have already made the gift list and 30% done with shopping;... we would still be waiting for our 13th month pay;... we'd still be wrapping the company gifts;... I would

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-29433068309557143232009-11-19T21:31:00.002+13:002009-11-19T21:37:39.285+13:00

Johnsonville Community HallSaturday, 21 Nov 20096pm onwardsMabuhay!It's our way of sharing with you early Christmas cheers and Yuletide greetings! So come one, come all and allow us to give you an enjoyable and nostalgicChristmas experience as if back home...AuctionKaraokeFood stallsRaffle PrizesParlor GamesCrafts/AccessoriesVariety show/DancingFREE ENTRYRaffe Prizes: 1st - $150 2nd - $100 3rd

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-43117366778803431132009-11-16T20:00:00.000+13:002009-11-16T20:30:09.441+13:00

About half an hour's car trip away from Lake Taupo is the hidden valley of Orakei Korako, a thermal park. The Lonely Planet Traveller's Guide hails Orakei Korako as "possibly the best thermal area left in New Zealand and one of the finest in the world", so I feel priviledged indeed to see this wonder of Nature up close and personal.The boat awaitsThe shop as viewed from the Thermal ParkTo go to

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-57886110551840682942009-11-11T15:35:00.002+13:002009-11-11T15:44:16.121+13:00

Introduction to the NZ Education SystemWhen : Thursday 25th November 2009Time : 6.00pm -7.00pmWhere : Room 3, Te Awa Kairangi buildingCorner of Laings Rd and Myrtle St, Lower HuttGuest presenter : Abdi Bihi, Migrant and Refugee Education Coordinator, Ministry of EducationTopics covered :NZ education system - teaching and learning in New ZealandTypes of schools and how schools are managedWhat

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-89340330070012616742009-11-06T21:03:00.007+13:002009-11-06T21:55:33.882+13:00

So we were having our morning tea break yesterday and it was one of those days when I couldn't seem to follow the conversations and so my mind would drift in and out of the room. And then I got caught off-guard when a colleague asked if I had bought fireworks. Sure, I saw some fireworks being sold at The Warehouse but I said I did not buy any. Besides, I thought fireworks are banned on New

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-20655309883810566532009-11-01T07:00:00.003+13:002009-11-01T07:00:00.644+13:00

Lake Taupo is the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere. Located in the North Island, Lake Taupo is a popular tourist destination because of the stunning scenery, unpolluted environment, and rich fishing area.Lake Taupo was part of our itinerary on the way back from our snow adventure in Mt. Ruapeho. Picnic lunch was scheduled there. We were greeted by a town that

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-78883204191461263582009-10-28T21:30:00.003+13:002009-10-28T21:40:21.734+13:00

I was pleasantly surprised when I learned a couple of blog posts ago that I was nominated for Filipino Blog of the Week. Nothing major, really just a fun contest for bloggers. Nevertheless, I thought it was a nice idea to see how far I can go at campaigning for my blog and see if I can win. So I sent a message for a couple of times last week at Facebook. And my friends and relatives picked it

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-54188502214966069212009-10-22T20:23:00.006+13:002009-10-28T21:38:09.990+13:00

It seemed like just a few months ago when we arrived here in Wellington, New Zealand and new-found friend Debbie and sons toured us at the Botanic Garden for Tulip Day 2008. This trip to the park certainly brings back memories. It was a rainy week but on Saturday the sun came out, a perfect day to visit the tulips! I've compiled a few photos for posterity's sake.

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-1354086175237764082009-10-18T12:07:00.005+13:002009-10-28T21:38:31.090+13:00

When it comes to getting invited to lunch or dinner gatherings, things are done very differently here in New Zealand as compared with our "traditions" in the Philippines.In my home country, if you get invited to share in the celebrations (a birthday, perhaps) in a gimmick venue, you expect that food, drinks and associated fun activity (videoke os hugely popular) is going to be paid for by the

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-52926210991173080922009-10-14T14:35:00.003+13:002009-10-14T15:43:59.571+13:00

It's been great fun so far at Facebook, especially since I was able to find many of my high school classmates there. And for a time I was hooked on some games, especially Farmville and Scrabble. I am currently using Facebook for the following purposes:- Reach out to Student Library Assistants at Saint Louis University in Baguio City, the Philippines. I spent a considerable amount of my college

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-56093842061970546782009-10-10T04:25:00.007+13:002009-10-10T05:03:36.719+13:00

Just before arriving at Mt. Ruapeho in our previous snow adventure, we stopped by the town of Ohakune (population: 1,101 - 2006 census). Ohakune has a rich agriculture history, with the lands initially cleared for crops destined to feed local and American military troops. After the war, the lands were converted to rehabilitation farms for returning servicemen. Today, its agriculture heritage

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-36856347188795006732009-10-05T18:51:00.003+13:002009-10-05T19:05:51.985+13:00

Voting continues until Thursday, November 19, 2009 (6 a.m. ET). There is no limit on the number of times you may vote for the Hero of the Year.

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-24788000319977956132009-10-02T09:23:00.001+13:002009-10-02T09:23:53.801+13:00

I am writing on behalf of the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, the Hon. Pansy Wong, to express our sympathy and condolences to those who have been affected by the extensive flooding generated by tropical storm Ketsana which hit the northern Philippines on Saturday. The Minister and members of the Office of Ethnic Affairs (OEA) are very conscious that the effects of this storm have left hundreds of

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-43733470383416950952009-09-28T13:00:00.002+13:002009-09-28T13:16:41.687+13:00

(from Facebook sources)Typhoon Ondoy has caused great devastation in the Philippines. If you can, please help through the following:RELIEF/SHELTER/DONATIONS:Red Cross donation through SMS: text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart) or contact your local Red Cross Chapters on how to Donate.FRIENDS IN THE US AND CANADA WHO WISH TO HELP IN THE RESCUE/RELIEF OPERATIONS,YOU MAY DONATE THROUGH THE

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-82019595032071144932009-09-22T13:26:00.004+12:002009-09-22T21:47:26.706+12:00

A few suns and moons later, we are now one year in New Zealand. How time flies.I can still remember the last few hectic days we had prior to boarding the plane. With so much work still left to do, I stayed on with the company for the full month after resignation. My wife did, too.I remember that night when I talked to my boss about my leaving and when I returned to my chair and told my

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-26479436868425276372009-09-18T22:18:00.003+12:002009-09-18T22:28:07.368+12:00

Not me actually, but my good friend Bambi who has simple needs and wants. More specifically, she wants Samsung in Manila to sort out their customer service (or lack thereof) because she needs her monitor repaired and so she can continue working. From any angle, it looks like a pretty simply dilemma. But noooo.Read all about it in Meowok's blog.

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-46635870814229977772009-09-15T21:12:00.003+12:002009-09-15T21:23:45.722+12:00

I never thought I'd touch and tread on snow in my lifetime. But I did. One of life's more pleasant surprises.Of course, it helped that we are now in New Zealand, and seeing snow is now a car ride away. It also helps that you get invited to a weekend getaway by good friends :-).Mt. Ruapeho within the Tongariro National Park is one of the world's most active volcanoes. But that does not stop

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-78333007615635978392009-09-12T08:23:00.003+12:002009-09-12T09:02:07.657+12:00

The next time you plan to order your tuna sushi or sashimi, think again: the bluefin tuna is an endangered species. While the World Wildlife Fund has identified the Mediterranean bluefin tuna as an endangered species, its other cousins such as the North Atlantic bluefin tuna, the Pacific bluefin tuna and the southern bluefin tuna have also seen alarming population decline. The fish is being

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510312.post-80651611670312482682009-09-07T10:20:00.001+12:002009-09-07T10:23:52.724+12:00

Scots College Presents its 2009 Production - Peter Pan!Get in quick to secure your seats to this exciting productionPerformance dates:Thursday 10 September @ 7.00pmFriday 11 September @ 10.00pm (Matinee)Sunday 13 September @7.00pmMonday 14 September @7.00pmTickets cost $15.00 (GST incl) for adults and $10.00 (GST incl) for students, and the amount can be debited to your College account. The seats

watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11851406139825729546watson.online@gmail.com1