chewychua

One of the many places I’ll miss here in Catanduanes. Come...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:52:12 +0800

One of the many places I’ll miss here in Catanduanes. Come visit my province. :-)

Cold plate of sashimi and iced tea on a warm summer day.

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:43:47 +0800

Cold plate of sashimi and iced tea on a warm summer day.

Kate Bakes. Really good find here in Eastwood mall. Yummy...

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:20:37 +0800

Kate Bakes. Really good find here in Eastwood mall. Yummy Belgian Choco chip cookies!!!!

After the rainbow, we were treated to this magnificent sunset.

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:43:12 +0800

After the rainbow, we were treated to this magnificent sunset.

DTI warns vs fake travel promos online

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:49:16 +0800

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/02/26/12/dti-warns-fake-travel-promos-online

remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I think the CAB should start monitoring airline promos too. All in prices, please!

Galaxy tab 7.7 supply run. Book cover, HDMI out, extra USB data...

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:41:48 +0800

Galaxy tab 7.7 supply run. Book cover, HDMI out, extra USB data cable. :-)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Missing IR Port?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:02:10 +0800

I recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 in Hong Kong last weekend and I was sort of disappointed when it didn’t have an IR port. A lot of posts about the then recently announced tab had the IR port in the specs. Most telling was GSMArena’s post:

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_p6800_galaxy_tab_7_7-4136.php

and even Unbox.ph had this photo

which may suggest the IR port (visible on the left edge of the backshot of the tab.)

I also bought a simple jelly case for the 7.7 a few days ago, and it even had a cut-out where the IR Port *should* be. It seems that final retail release of the 7.7 did not have the IR Port - can anyone confirm?

10% of the kids’ loot last night. Merry Christmas!

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:56:41 +0800

10% of the kids’ loot last night. Merry Christmas!

Family portrait :-)

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:13:45 +0800

Family portrait :-)

Breakfast at UCC

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:36:37 +0800

Breakfast at UCC

Cheers, lui :-)

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:59:01 +0800

Cheers, lui :-)

Okay. I‘ve never done this before…

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:23:22 +0800

Okay. I‘ve never done this before…

Amanda‘s fav carousel :-)

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:49:49 +0800

Amanda‘s fav carousel :-)

And with that, power's down...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:07:11 +0800

Gloomy morning to everyone

Smart buddy izzat you???

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:31:01 +0800

Smart buddy izzat you???

What Lui missed out on.

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:06:02 +0800

What Lui missed out on.

Go DDB :-)

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:08:42 +0800

Go DDB :-)

Closer view of my dad’s old Seiko watch

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:36:44 +0800

Closer view of my dad’s old Seiko watch

Why I Pity Philippine Airlines (and it's not their fault they have crappy planes flying to the US)

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:31:59 +0800

Since the late 90’s PAL has been a troubled national carrier. Coming from a proud heritage of being Asia’s First, it’s now seen as a tired, old and rickety airline (like it’s planes.)

There are many reasons for this, and surprisingly, it seems that it’s not entirely their fault.

Let’s focus first on PR 102 - MNL to LAX flight, which with God’s grace landed safely with 402 people on board.

Turns out, this Boeing 747-400 is pretty vintage already, having taken flight back in 1993, much like the troubled PR102 flight back in August 5 which had to make an emergency stop over in Japan.

Of course PAL management considered replacing the planes already with some really nice an modern Boeing 777 planes, but alas, because of our government’s incapacity to comply with FAA standards, the Philippines and all it’s airlines were demoted to Category 2.

Under Category 2, Carriers are not allowed to increase flights or add destinations, nor are they allowed to change aircraft or render significant modifications.

According to the FAA Website (http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/definitions/) a Country would be in Category 2 listing when:

the country lacks laws or regulations necessary to support the certification and oversight of air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards;
the CAA lacks the technical expertise, resources, and organization to license or oversee air carrier operations;
the CAA does not have adequately trained and qualified technical personnel;
the CAA does not provide adequate inspector guidance to ensure enforcement of, and compliance with, minimum international standards;
AND
the CAA has insufficient documentation and records of certification and inadequate continuing oversight and surveillance of air carrier operations.

If you notice the text, the pressure or obligation to comply rests within the Government.

We were demoted to category 2 back in January 2008 http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=10154

Too bad for PAL and the flying public because the intent to upgrade the planes was stated as early as 2006 http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/11/20/210646/philippine-airlines-to-order-boeing-777s-instead-of.html

PAL received it’s Boeing 777 planes in 2009 http://www.philippineairlines.com/news/1stb777.jsp

PAL invested in the best planes they can get for us, but we were ultimately denied this luxury because of technicalities that no airline can address on its own.

Smart Netphone flash tour, not bad for Php9990

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:34:00 +0800

Smart Netphone flash tour, not bad for Php9990