Fitness: Watching the Ultimate Knockout Challenge (UKC) and what I've learned

Back in May 2018, me and my dad went to Paranaque to watch young fighters from all over the nation compete in amateur matches. I didn't know anyone competing at the event personally. I just wanted to spectate to see what the fighters have to offer. After all has been done, I can finally compose my thoughts on the event I just witnessed. In summary, it was kind of epic.

This annual event, known as the Ultimate Knockout Challenge (UKC), is organized by Elorde Gym. It's at a level that's applicable to students and regulars of combat sports a bit below what would be internationally considered amateur boxing. The skill levels that I saw were those of novice practitioners. They aren't brawling away so blindly, but they also aren't throwing lightning-fast jabs.

If you're a young aspiring combatant, you might want to spectate one of these first to have a feel of what exactly it is you're getting into while you work your way up the ranks.

The fighting is as real as it can get; I saw a fighter get knocked down, and I saw another one got his nose bleeding after the fight. So anyone that joins the UKC deserves respect, imo. The rules of the bouts follow standard Amateur boxing rules: 3 rounds that are 2mins long each, with 30 seconds rests in between. You can find more of the rules here.

It was definitely an eye-opening experience for me. The fee to spectate the event is just around 200Php. I'd recommend fight fans to watch it if they don't have the means to attend any other fighting events. I think "watching a fight in person" should be in everyone's bucket list of life.

What do you think of the UKC, are you content to just watching from the sidelines or you've thought about competing in it one day? Let me know so I can buy a ticket and watch your big debut :)

Entertainment: Dan the Man Mobile Game Review: Good Retro Fun!

I recently stumbled into this video game called Dan the Man by HalfBrick Studios on the App Store. I'm not much of a mobile gamer but I loved this game so much I got inspired to write something good about it. I did some extra snooping around and found their official website here. Go check it out!

Bright and action-packed!

Let me just get right into it. Dan the Man exudes the essence of a bunch of things, but one of the first things that it reminded me of is Scott Pilgrim Vs the World: The Video Game. For those of you who don't know, that's a game released in 2010 that's based on the movie with the same name. If you haven't played it nor seen the movie, you should check it out. I'm not writing this blog post to talk about Scott Pilgrim though, so I'm not going to link to any of that (I also think it's a movie that you should jump into completely blind 'cause it's more fun that way. The trailer gives out way too much information).

From here on out it's nothing but Dan the Man. From the story, to the, presentation, and then to the gameplay. Lmao just kidding. I'm the kind of guy who looks for similarities between things of the same medium, so I can't help it if my blog post detours into other video games for a few sentences. I'll be going over the story, presentation, and gameplay in that order, but expect me to gush about a different game while I go through them.

Story
I was surprised to know there was a short web series for Dan the Man. I'm glad the game pointed that out. I highly recommend you check it before you play the game because the game picks off where the web series ends. Even though the story isn't very integral to the game, you can still be confused as to why you're doing things or why does it look like you're working with the bad guys.

In a nutshell, the story revolves around Dan, a belligerent fighter who prefers to solve everything with violence. Dan sees his world as if it were a video game, so when he messes up and dies he loses a life and he's thrown back into the past with memories of his previous life. He can then take a different course of action if he wanted to. He meets a bunch of different friends, and girls, and unearths conspiracies as the plot ensues.

I have to say it gets pretty wild though. The content of the web series isn't really for kids *ahem* Stage 4 *ahem*. The game however, tones down on the mature content. Dan the Man isn't the pinnacle of storytelling like Game of Thrones per se, but the web series is ballsy enough to make a few unexpected plot twists here and there.

The first episode of the web series -- aptly titled Stage 1 -- doesn't really show much of the "mature content" I mentioned, but I think it's something both kids and adults can like. Colorful animation for the youngsters and all-too-relatable dilemmas for those 20 years old and up.

Presentation
I honestly fell in love with the presentation of the game. It put a smile on my face when I saw the sprites and the cutscenes of the prologue because it's so unique from the minimalist design of most trending mobile games like Balls Bricks Breaker. Dan the Man's going for a charmingly retro feel and I'd say they nailed that down rather nicely. The pixelated environment is vibrant and crafted with care. You'll traverse all sorts of different places in Dan the Man, and each area sports its own different motif like a castle, the woods, or the sewers. If I had to draw a comparison of the presentation of the game with something that's more or less the same, I'd bring up the classic 2D shooter Metal Slug. I think the creators took inspiration from it; because Stage 1 has Marco, one of the main characters of Metal Slug, making a cameo on the TV.

The music of the game is also super catchy.  Much like Scott Pilgrim Vs the World: The Video Game, Dan the Man plays upbeat, 8-bit tunes as you smack and whack bad guys in the face. The "Stage Complete" audio queue starts to become endearing after a while.

Gameplay
The core mechanics of the game is 60% a beat-em-up and 40% a platformer. Both of which it does really well. The game is really easy on the first levels but later on the casual gamer will have a hard time because the jumping gets trickier and the baddies get tougher. It's nothing a seasoned gamer can't beat, but if you find yourself lacking the skills and the time to acquire the said skills, you can always grind in Survival mode to make enough Gold to buy all the great upgrades.

There's a lot of variety in the thugs that you fight, and you have a huge arsenal of moves and weapons to choose from to wreck havoc on anyone standing in your way. The combat is accessible because it's possible to button mash your way through the entire game on the lowest difficulty setting, yet the game will also reward you for putting in some variety into your combinations.

The level design is also pretty clever. There are challenging platformer sections but they won't be too frustrating. There are also secret areas and items hidden in every level (A whole lot like Super Mario Bros.) so it's fun to explore the different places.


So there you have my short review of the game. What are your thoughts, do you think the game deserves a sequel? Let's talk about it after you've finished the story :)

Entertainment: Starbucks Arts and Crafts

I originally intended for the Entertainment category of my blog to be about stuff like movies and video games (prime example is this post of mine), but just recently I had a really entertaining experience with my girlfriend at a Starbucks. Below is the product of our creativity.

Cute and wholesome, right?

Actually, she did most of the work while I just took pictures. My hands aren't as crafty as hers. She has a habit of crafting origami cranes whenever she gets her hands on anything soft and foldable, like a piece of tissue. She seems to do this with her brain on automatic-mode, and I'm kind of envious of that. I need to apply myself more to create an origami sculpture that doesn't look like a ball of crumpled paper.

Here's a video of the above scarecrow being made.

She created several other things besides the Scarecrow too, like a bunch of paper people from the receipt.

Six paper people

We made them worshippers.

I'd worship someone ten times bigger than me too.

Obviously you don't have to be at Starbucks just to do this. I remember I used to make smiley faces on a plate using ketchup from McDonald's when I was a kid. I wonder if the employees cleaning up tables find any of this impressive.

What kind of creations were you able to produce in your spare time at a place to eat? Let me know in the comments below :)

Other: Trying out Dip (aka Chewing Tobacco) in the Philippines

This is what a tin of Grizzly dip looks like.

I love trying new things. Whether it be food or some exciting activity or just something to spice up the day like taking a different route in my commute,I'm up for it. I believe life ought to be full of many awesome experiences.

It's inevitable I'd end up trying dip one day. Why would I pass up the chance to try something that's not easily accessible here? I managed to get a hold of the stuff thanks to my cousin, who works as a bartender. A cowboy soldier stopped by his bar and asked if we have any dip in this part of the world while he was drinking. We said that kind of stuff isn't popular around here, so he was happy to give us some (for $5.00...) so we can savor a new experience.

Thanks Cousin!

Before I get to it, here's a bit of an introduction on my nicotine intake habits. I'm not a smoker. I've tried smoking numerous times whenever my friends hand me a stick from their packs, but I've never really been addicted to it.

I drink lite beer more than I smoke, at least once every two weeks, but that's a different story.

So with all that said, I was feeling ballsy enough to try dip, and I don't think I'll get addicted to it. As one of my friends said back then, I have a will of steel when it comes to these addictive things.

One more thing I'd like to add before I get to my experiences is that Filipinos like to smoke and drink, but we can't handle too much. Hard drinks like whiskey and vodka are taken sparingly. Filipinos prefer the minty and light Marlboro cigarettes (the ones you "pop" first) over the ones with the red butts and stronger tobacco levels.

As of the writing of this post I've already tried dip twice. The first time I tried it, I diapered it in tissue for extra precaution, the second time I did it I was in the office at work, and I dipped it the way it was meant to be done; with no tissue at all.

Warning
Dipping is dangerous to your health. Much more dangerous than smoking. I talk about it in detail here but I implore you to understand the risks before you think about trying it.

Below are some things I found interesting about dipping.

This is what dip looks like when you open the tin.

1. It's called chewing tobacco in some parts of the US but you don't chew it at all.

Doesn't matter what part of the US midwest you're in. Nobody chews dip. The stuff is moist and juicy so if you do chew it you're squeezing out all of the juice it already has. Not even the toughest cowboys can take all the juice of a pinch of dip all at once with a straight face. You take a pinch from the tin and put the stuff in between your lower lip and gum.

2. You'll feel a slightly acidic burn between your lip and your gum

This slight pain that dippers feel might turn off Filipinos from trying the stuff. Your lip and gums feel this way because the nicotine from the dip is entering your blood stream through the tissue in your mouth. It only hurts at the start, but after a few minutes, the pain will start to subside.

The video below was taken while I was at a province in the Philippines called Pampanga. So basically I was taking dip in the countryside and I never felt more like a cowboy than I did at that moment.


3. Suck, spit, and... soothe yourself.

I let the wad of tobacco sit in between my lower lip and gum. I occasionally suck at it to get some juices out for some flavor. The juice isn't meant to be swallowed so once it builds up I spit it out in a cup. Do this enough times and you'll -- as the cowboy put it -- enter a state of euphoria.

I got high and the tension in my muscles disappeared. It's a lot stronger than any sort of chemical effect I got from smoking regular cigarettes. I got so high it made me nauseous I had to take a time out from work.

4. Once you're done, spit out the tobacco.

On average, dippers keep the wad of tobacco in their mouths for about 45mins. Smokers can keep a stick alive for a mere 5mins. 10mins at most. Once the wad of tobacco has already been exhausted, I had to spit it out otherwise I'd vomit (the same with the spit that built up in my mouth; if I swallowed it then I'd be puking). I did spit out my wad, but it broke apart in my mouth so I accidentally swallowed some bits and I puked anyway.

So there you have it. My experience with dipping. It was one helluva experience. I got loose, high, and nauseous. I also puked. Will I do it again? Absolutely. I have a feeling I'll be dipping again some time soon. Does it mean I'm already addicted to it? I hope not. Even if I was, I only have one tin with me. Once it's fully consumed I either have to track down the American cowboy who gave us a tin in the first place, or travel halfway across the world to get my fix. Neither of which are going to happen soon.

I don't see this getting popular in the Philippines anytime soon. I tried introducing my officemates who smoke to it, and they just found it weird. Not everyone is ready yet to try out new experiences like me.

How about you? If you had the chance to dip, are you willing to try it despite the possibility of puking and feeling sick? Let me know in the comments below :)

Travel: Stereotyping the 4 Classes of Filipinos and what Malls they frequent

I was inspired to create this blog post after hearing about this reddit thread from my sister. If you haven't seen it yet, you should go check it out. I was both aghast and entertained by the audacity of the posts. It's a... peculiar way to look at the society in the Philippines. The first one is still my favorite and it's what motivated me to do some research.

During my research on the different classes of people in the Philippines, I found this very interesting e-zine post that does the job expressing what I wanted to do by writing my own blog post. It's entertaining and on point but the more I read it the more I notice how outdated it is. The author wrote about CD players, cheesy slang, and cable TVs, all of which have been rendered obsolete by the year 2010. Where's the mention of Netflix, first world problems in a third world country, and social media?

The articles listed a bunch of Jologs words. Who talks like this in this day and age?

This will not stand. We are long overdue for a post that mocks the widening gap between the classes in an era powered by smartphones and memes. I would happily create this blog post solely for the sake of fun.

Warning:
Sincere apologies for those who are easily offended. I'm sure what I write down is going to sound judgmental to some people, but keep in mind this is just a joke based on my observances and I don't actually mean any of it seriously. Take the list below with a grain of salt, but at the same time, take heed of it because Stereotypes are based on some level of truth.

I've included the malls the different classes frequent so you can see what they look for yourself.

1. Class A (Upper Class)

The 1%. These are the kind of people that most definitely studied in Ateneo or De La Salle University. They're most likely born rich. These include the most powerful family names like Villar, Sy, Ayala, Tan, and then some other clans in the Philippines that own family businesses. Although Class A enjoys the benefits of having so much money, some of them live tumultuous lives prone to scandals that the public eye loves to see.

We're talking about billionaires who have money to last a dozen lifetimes. They live in gigantic mansions, and they probably own a pet albino tiger. I've met a Filipino billionaire at his own home before and I'm not exaggerating when I say their wealth seems immeasurable.

Class A people are too rich to casually talk about investing in stocks; they're more interested in Real Estate. Most of their focus goes into running the empire that they own.

Gamers in this class play with state-of-the-art toys, e.g. VR Headsets like the Oculus Rift, and the hottest new video game consoles like the Xbox One, PS4, and high-end PCs. They play pricey AAA games (For non-gamers, "Triple A Games" are the kind of games made by big corporations with millions of dollars in budget) like God of War, Grand Theft Auto V, and Overwatch.

They normally have Chinese or Western features, i.e. their skin complexion is on the light side, and either their eyes are squinted or their nose is pointed. Rich people in the Philippines tend to talk in hushed tones, instead of being really loud in public places. They wear clean and simple clothing that tells little about their actual net worth.

The youth of Class A loves to party. They prefer nightclubs and hotel bars. They aren't afraid to do a bit of dirty dancing.

A couple of pictures of Okada. This was the last mall I visited that I took some pics of so here you go.

Malls they frequent: Casinos like Okada, City of Dreams, and Solaire. Greenbelt. Shangri-La.

2. Class B (Upper-Middle Class)

Class B people aren't very different from Class A people in terms of clothing or mannerisms. Both classes are comprised of people who have a sense of subtle, elegant fashion, and they talk in Conyo. Their sentences tend to lean more on English than Filipino, and their English grammar is always impeccable. Even though they're Filipinos, they will struggle with Filipino words e.g. if you ask them what day it is, they'll tell you it's Friday, instead of Biyernes.

Although Class A people are born rich, Class B people are the kind of people who rose up from the lower class. These are the people who worked rigorously up from Class C through financial discipline and responsible work ethic. Thanks to their hard work, they live comfortable lives with just enough money to not worry too much about financial stress, and they aren't interesting enough to the public to be swarmed by the media.

Kids under this class are capable of entering expensive schools like Ateneo and La Salle, but out of interest of saving money, not every parent in Class B will find it necessary.

Class B people will invest in stocks and real estate, because they have the funds and they normally think in the long-term.

This class is up to date and savvy enough to download Netflix and Spotify on their phones. They are willing to actually pay for their entertainment as opposed to the more cost-efficient lower class.

Millennials in both Class A and Class B experience First World Problems in a Third World Country. They are troubled when the cafe they chose to spend the afternoon in doesn't have Wi-Fi. They also have problems with taking a bath when the water hasn't been heated.

When it comes to gaming, both Class A and Class B people have the privilege of owning the latest video game consoles. They also play pricey AAA games. In the end, Class B people tend to play more games than Class A people because the 1% has other things to do than play video games.

Malls they frequent: Robinsons Galleria, Megamall's Mega-Fashion Hall, Podium

3. Class C (Lower-Middle Class)

Most Filipinos fall into this class. A large portion of these people are living paycheck-to-paycheck thanks to the rent and bills they have to pay. They're also probably under an ever-growing mountain of debt, or they have kids, which are either way insanely expensive in the long-run. The numerous, giant billboards advertising products with cheeky puns and local celebrities are targeted at these kind of people.

Their skin complexion tends to cover every shade of brown. They generally aren't as tall as the classes above them, but it's no surprise if someone from this class manages to be of the same height as class A or class B people.

The Class C speak in Taglish, which differs from Conyo because it leans more on Tagalog than English. People in this class and below also count in Spanish. Moreover, when these people talk, they have a distinct palangkera or palangkero voice, which is fairly loud and diverse with intonations.

Class C people wish they could put some money in stocks, but they never actually get around to doing it. Some Class C people manage to get an account with an online broker started, but they end up trading -- not investing -- in our volatile markets so they're essentially gambling, and it incurs more losses than gains.

The people in this class love to post their selfies on Instagram and Facebook. Instead of using Spotify and Netflix, they'll pirate their movies and songs.

Gamers in this class typically play mobile games like Mobile Legends, or they play timeless classics like Dota II or PUBG in poorly furnished PC shops. If they do happen to play AAA games, they'll go out of their way to pirate the game and get it for free, instead of paying for an expensive disc.

When it comes to drinking, this class likes to spend their hard-earned money at resto-bars, ordering buckets of beer filled with San Mig and Red Horse. Afterwards they hit the karaoke place and sing to their heart's content.

Malls they frequent: SM Fairview, Fairview Terraces, Lower levels of Megamall

4. Class D (Lower Class/Below Poverty Line)

This is where we can categorize the squatters that live under bridges. Beggars, Jeepney drivers, and shabby fishball stand owners make up the bulk of the occupations of the people under this class.

They speak absolutely no English whatsoever. They have the darkest complexion of all the classes. They probably don't mean any harm (emphasis on probably; petty crimes are rampant in the Philippines), but their mere presence on the streets make the place feel unsafe.

They partner rice with condiments like ketchup and mayo because meat is too expensive.

Unfortunately, people that can be found below the Poverty Line are beyond hope. Although there are fairy tale stories like that of Manny Pacquiao where he rose from rags to riches, those kind of stories are literally one in a million.

Basically you get the point of this class.

Malls they frequent: StarMall or Ever Gotesco. They can't afford to go malling elsewhere, but Pedro Gil in Manila is a good example of a street infested with them.


So there you have it, a lengthy overview of the different classes of the Philippines in the year of our lord 2019. For the lower classes, you should strive to be a part of the class above us :) Are you already Class A at the top? Then congratulations because you literally have it better than most of the people in this country. If you're one of the people from the upper class, then you ought to show some humility for those that aren't as fortunate as you.

What do you think of my list? Let me know if you have any comments or violent reactions :)

Fitness: The Honorable Duty of Teaching at Self-Defense Workshops

Human trafficking and abuse are serious issues in developing countries. While criminal activities that fall under these categories tend to involve child labor and slavery to produce goods using cheap labor, the Philippines’ human trafficking issue is alarming due to the nation being a hotspot for cybersex and prostitution catering to pedophiles. It is estimated that there must be at least tens of thousands of children in the Philippines alone that are subjected to cybersex.

Seeing the prevalence of this problem, the Visayan Forum Foundation (VFF) a non-government organization, was established in the Philippines on 1991. Known for its innovations in addressing modern slavery such as human trafficking and domestic servitude, VFF is dedicated to rescuing "survivors" of human trafficking, slavery, cybersex and forced labor.

The girls of Center of Hope are lined up and ready for training.

VFF has saved several survivors of cybersex and abuse, most of them being young girls ranging from as young as 2-yrs old to 25-yrs old. Young girls have unfortunately been preyed upon by sexual predators because they're seen as vulnerable. Realizing that these girls need to learn self-defense, VFF reached out to my company's Muay Thai Club to host Self-Defense Workshops for survivors.

I'm putting on handwraps for the youngest member of Center of Hope in this picture.

I'm part of my company's Muay Thai club. I'm proud to say that right now I'm one of the two representatives of the club. Back in February 2017 up until May 2018, I was just a member. It was during this time that I showed the team what I'm made of, both as a member of the team and as a fighter, by participating in the Muay Thai Club's Self-Defense Workshop with the Visayan Forum Foundation (VFF), one of the club's most ambitious long-term-ish projects to date.

Most of the members of the Muay Thai club. Pic taken after the first self-defense workshop.

An epic shot of one of the girls ready to work the mitts with one of our members.

The Self-Defense Workshops happened every two weeks, starting at February 8, 2018. We equipped the little girls with the proper gears and taught them the basics of Muay Thai: proper stance, punching, and kicking. Since my true forte is boxing, the girls that were under my wing were taught techniques like weaving and bouncing on their feet, which are unusual in Muay Thai.

The training have been extremely successful. Not only did the girls learn the basics of self-defense, the workshops also have: boosted their self-esteem, help them have a healthier lifestyle, and most importantly empower them as individuals. They are always looking forward to the next session.

A swift right hook from one of the girls lands on the mitts!

The Self-Defense Workshop sessions between my company and Visayan Forum have stopped a long time ago, but I will always treasure the moments I've spent in Center of Hope. Teaching the kids have taught me the fulfilling experience of giving back to the community. It's nice to be able to turn a skill that others thought as destructive into something that can protect others. :)

Food & Travel: How to have the Perfect Valentine's Date without Breaking your Wallet

Valentine's Day is here again. As usual, everywhere you go on February 14th will remind you that it's a special day. You'll find posters all around malls and establishments promoting all kinds of heart-shaped pastries and dinner-for-two promos. You'll find double the usual number of flower shops in malls and then there are lines full of couples as far as the eye can see. Single people are suddenly self-conscious about their marital status, while couples (especially the men in the relationships) are suddenly conscious about the state of their wallets.

There's nothing wrong with treating your significant other on the special day, but it's also important to have a bit of self-control. You also don't want your partner to think you're cheap, so you're very likely to splurge on something. Those dinner-for-two promos are nice but you aren't exactly treating your girlfriend on a height of sophistication by eating at Chow King. Movies are great but they're also pricey (I recommend watching Alita: Battle Angel if you're planning to go that route.) The really good cinemas with the La-Z-Boys are especially expensive.

What if I told you it's possible to eat at a great place, and watch a good show, without spending over 500Php? You'd be in disbelief but I can assure you that it is very real and possible to do that.

1. Find a place with performers for free

Chances are since it's Valentine's Day, you'd find places setting up attractions to take advantage of the situation to draw even bigger crowds. The Venice Grand Canal Mall is one of these places. Aside from the mimes and statue-people, Venice hosted a grand performance spanning the whole mall on Feb 14, 2017. Before Valentine's Day, the mall had posters all around the area informing everyone passing by -- like me and my girlfriend -- that there was going to be a show. So we were able to set the time for this because we knew about it beforehand.

Valentine's Day 2017 was the first Valentine's me and my girlfriend spent together so it was quite a magical moment for us when we saw this. Unfortunately, there isn't any extravagant performance in Venice this Valentine's Day, but opportunities are abound in this big wide world of ours. Most likely there are free shows somewhere out there, maybe in a mall near you.

2. Use a Promo like Zomato Gold

I'm a huge advocate of Zomato Gold because they give out such incredible deals. There are other deals that give you 30% discounts for select restaurants, like the Bistro Card, but they pale in comparison to Zomato Gold's 1+1 on food and 2+2 on drinks, which essentially means you're getting 100% off on the other item you order.

I got this hearty meal from Banapple for free. How? By using Zomato Gold :)

In the McKinley Hill area, you have three fine establishments that honor your Zomato Gold membership: Banapple, New Bombay, and 121.

Zomato Gold costs a mere 400Php per year. (Update: due to high demand, Zomato Gold is now 900Php a year.) Does that sound a bit steep for you? I didn't write this post to primarily advertise for my own personal gain, but I can sweeten the deal for you when you use my referral code to obtain your Zomato Gold membership.

Referral Code: TIMS7761

By using my referral code, you can get a discount when you sign up for Zomato Gold. What's in it for me? I just get an additional month to my membership. When I got my Zomato Gold membership, I used a friend's referral code too. Just head on over to their website to sign up for Gold!

Would you believe we got both of these for a mere 280Php? It's possible with Zomato Gold!
Great dishes from Bluesmith Cafe at the 30th

Have you seen any great free shows with the love of your life? Have you taken her to a beautiful place to dine at? Feel free to comment below about great places. Me and my girlfriend would love to check it out :)