I discovered this Pinoy Idol blog through Tita Noemi, and was taken aback to see that GMA-7 has apparently dropped the ball with Philippine Idol. This is such a shame! I thought it’d do better on Channel 7, considering the Kapusos have more money than ABC-5 to put into its production, but it appears that isn’t the case.

Now the question remains: is it worth it to invest time and effort into supporting a show that doesn’t hold a candle to the previous incarnation, which was, in itself, left much of the Idol franchise to be desired?

I’ll bet the folks at Channel 5 are laughing their butts off right now.

I’m introducing a new feature to GannsDeen.com that will hopefully allow me to bless you twice over. The concept is simple: every week, I give away something that hopefully will bless you, preferably in your prayer life or relationship with God. As you join, it will enable me to get to know you better and cover you in prayer. How simple is that?

This week, I’m giving away a Beyond Jabez: Expanding Your Borders Audiobook CD by Bruce Wilkinson to one special blogger.

“Beyond Jabez follows up on spiritual phenomenon Bruce Wilkinson’s breakthrough teaching in The Prayer of Jabez. It captivated millions and continues to lead to changed lives around the world. This follow-up message discusses in greater detail the specific steps to take in making this scriptural passage part of your prayer life. For each of the prayer’s four sections, Wilkinson explains important biblical distinctions, answers misconceptions about the prayer, offers practical steps to praying the prayer, and shows potential results in readers’ lives. New content, exciting Jabez inspired stories, and enriched commentary from Dr. Wilkinson make this a must-have for anyone who wants to live a world-changing life for God.”

To qualify for the contest, just make a blog entry in your own blog naming one thing you’re praying for that God will grant you before the end of 2008. After you’ve placed your blog post online, add a comment to this post leading me to your blog entry. While I will select a winning entry to win the Beyond Jabez Audiobook CD, I will include each of your prayer requests - assuming I agree with it, of course, I won’t pray for stuff that isn’t Biblical, d-uh - in my own prayer time, so there will be at least two people praying for your prayer request: you and me!

Deadline for blog posts is Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 11:59PM (Philippine time).

Update! Find out who won! Read more

I apologize for the delay in this week’s roundup; I was offline for most of yesterday. For this week, here are three CCM releases that I would like you to consider:

1. I’m Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli. This is the closest thing to a summer anthem that I can think of for this year so far. It’s fun, it’s hip, and the piano and guitar lines are excellent. Battistelli (how’s that for a family name?) is also a looker, which makes it even easier to like this song about surrendering to God’s sovereignty.

2. This is Home by Switchfoot. Lifted off the OST of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, this mid-tempo guitar-driven anthem of enjoying the best of what life has to offer boasts of a sing-along chorus and a soaring bridge. This is Home is already receiving well-deserved airplay on the Disney Channel, so good for em.

3. The Way That You Love Me by Anthony Evans. This isn’t a new track, but I stumbled into it and I tell you that you HAVE to hear this piano-driven ballad. You have to. Evans’ pure tenor is irresistible in its emotion, and I know anyone with AC inclinations will enjoy The Way That You Love Me.

I am a eau de parfum freak. Recently, my wife purchased a bottle of M by Mariah Carey, which is so beautifully bottled and smells wonderful, a completely different scent from most perfumes on the market today. I think it’s her best fragrance yet. Prior to that, her two parfums of choice were Too Feminine Spring by Aigner, a light, sweet scent, and Inspiration by Lacoste, a sure pleaser with its an elegant and memorable fragrance.

It may come as a surprise to some, but my current parfum pour homme is… hold your breath… Just Me by Paris Hilton. LOL True story, but it’s a nice, light scent with great lingering notes that I find quite appealing. I never thought in a million years I’d go for a scent by *shudder* Paris Hilton, but it is a unique scent that I have the opportunity to be known for, since I can’t imagine too many other Pinoy guys using a scent by Paris Hilton! LOL For more formal occasions, I rely on Play by Lacoste.

What about you? What’s your fragrance of choice?

(p.s. Yes, the picture is inverted. I haven’t quite figured out how to fix the Photo Booth application to take pictures right side up.)

Vera tags me with Seven Random Facts About Me, and Anj tags me with a 20 Questions-type meme.

From and for Vera

1. I have three tattoos. One of Calvin and Hobbes, one of an Egyptian ankh, and one of a tiger tearing its way out of my skin.

2. I have one ear piercing. Got it less than a year ago. Midlife crisis hasn’t quite ended yet.

3. I once shoplifted. I stole a cassette tape of The Pixies from National Bookstore. It was not a good album.

4. I have run over at least three cats. The guilt occasionally gnaws at me.

5. I used to go to Ateneo with a Coleman full of Long Island Iced Tea that was 80% rum and 20% iced tea. Playing for the Blue Babble stone-drunk and getting away with it was a feather in my cap.

6. I can’t whistle. So when people who can, do it in front of me to spite me, I spit at them.

7. I am forgiven. Despite all my stupidity, my flaws, and my loopiness, God continued and continues to love me. He took all of the above, forgave me for them, and gave me second, third, countless chances. He can do the same for any of you. Don’t let anything in your past stop you from achieving that glorious future that God has promised you in His Word. He won’t leave you and He will always have your back. I guarantee it.

For this meme, I tag anyone wearing anything red.

From and For Anj

Rules of Engagement. Remove one question from below, and add in your personal question. (Mine is marked with the triple dollar sign) to make it a total of 20 questions, then tag eight (8) people in your list. List them out at the end of the post.

With Father’s Day around the corner (June 14, to be exact), I waited to see what Zen Zest, my favorite local line of personal bath and body products, had in store, and I wasn’t disappointed by this year’s offerings.

For Father’s Day, Zen Zest offered 20% off on special packages featuring their Zen Zest virgin coconut oil products. I got the matching Zen Zest Revitalizing Coconut Shampoo and the Zen Zest Intensive Coconut Conditioner, which came gift-wrapped in a nice wooden box.

The Zen Zest Revitalizing Coconut Shampoo “deep cleanses and nourishes the hair from roots to ends… it also provides powerful antioxidant protection - shielding hair from the harmful, drying efects of the sun and other harsh environmental elements.” The Intensive Conditioner, on the other hand, “hydrates, soothes, and conditions the scalp and each strand.” Both shampoo and conditioner smell quite nice, too, so it was an easy sell, especially at 20% off!

There were other Zen Zest products on sale for Father’s Day, including room fragrances and linen sprays, home spa scents, and massage oils, so if you’re in the market for a gift for your dads on Father’s Day, I’d encourage you to consider Zen Zest items, because they’re proudly Pinoy and of very good quality. Try their flagship store at Glorietta III or Zen Zest kiosks at various malls throughout Manila.

Over the course of the past three days, I’ve visited these two websites for a barrel of laughs. They come highly recommended.

Odd Fish. A recommendation from my friend Ariel, this online comic strip features an octopus and a puffer fish, and is drawn with ballpoint pen! It is shamelessly corny, relying mostly on really bad puns. Which makes it the perfect comic strip.

Overheard in NY. I bought this book with Cathy titled Overheard in New York, and it’s so funny! It’s quite vulgar, I must admit, because the book - and website - are basically conversations overheard in the Big Apple. There’s also a book titled Overheard in the Office, but it was thinner than the former, and since both were priced similarly, I opted for the thicker book. It’s funny. Here’s a sample:

Girl #1: My worst fear is falling on a picket fence or getting eaten by a shark.
Girl #2: Oh yeah, well my worst fear is someone pushing me forward onto a blackboard and having my teeth scrape down the front. That would be awful.
– Overheard at Grand Central Station

What other funny websites do you like?