So I recently discovered the bleach bypass effect on PS while searching for a nice photo effect to do with bleach (as in the literal cleaning aid) for a Litratong Pinoy theme, and tried it on this photo:

Before bleach

I realized then that I should’ve chosen a more ‘mute’ colored photo because it turned out to be like this:

After bleach

‘snot bad, but it’s quite interesting to do it on another photo.

How ’bout it, have you tried this effect?

that’s SmartBro (prepaid lang nga) for you. just average. hmm.

but i’m surfing just fine, and my restaurant is loading just as fast. =) so i wonder how the other ISPs are doing. what are you using? how’s it faring on speedtest?

i have. and i’m sharing some of the pretty useful sites i’ve come across:

• Munchpunch (food) – what differentiates this from other online directories is the menu that you can find per restaurant (if available of course, but most have it) and the average budget per meal. there’s also a tab for looking up caterers. writing reviews are also quick and easy, plus the site loads faster

• ParaSaTabi (travel/transpo)- galing. if you ever needed to go to Ayala Ave. in Makati from Cubao, go look it up and you can choose from 44 different routes to get there

• Lucky Marias (gift suggestions/accessories) – polymer rules! need nifty little trinkets shaped like a starbucks frappe drink as bracelet charms?

• Fully Booked (event venues) – no, no, this isn’t just because I love FB. but i also find that their Bonifacio High Street branch also has venues for mini-movie screenings, meetings, and sales launches. that is, if your budget is in the P30k and above range.

• Powertips at The Podium (event venues) – this saved my behind big time, when we had to hold a meeting outside the office at such short notice. the staff who assisted me was really very helpful and considerate (i was short of b**ching then because the Ayala triangle then was going to be closed to traffic and it was hard to book a venue at that time). the place has one big conference room (classroom type) and several other smaller ones that can be used as training rooms. every table row had their own sockets, and believe me for laptop junkies like we are that’s such a plus; and free wifi access. oh and did i mention it’s inside the mall?

• Yugatech (technology)- now who hasn’t heard about this one? i found good reviews for a cellphone i planned to buy. pretty good reviews for anything tech related.

• POBox.ph (online shopping) – sure you can pay for purchases via Paypal now wherever it is in the world, but not all US merchants ship to the Philippines. POBox solves that problem (check out their website for details) by letting you address deliveries to their delivery point and when they’ve gathered enough stuff to fill a scheduled shipment, they send it home. it’s just a bit pricey, but you be the judge.

this list too, i’ll update from time to time. for questions, leave me a message!

• Gloria Jeans Shopwise (Araneta Center, Cubao QC) – EYP provided, you just need to register, but I got 24 hours free so what the heck
• Gateway Mall (Cubao QC) – take your pick: Starbucks (there are 2), Coffee Bean and Tealeaf, or Figaro. the only downside is that per router, only about 20 users can access the internet, and there are only 2 routers
• Starbucks Julia Vargas (Home Depot, Ortigas Center, Pasig)
• Fraser Place Makati (Valero St.) – it’s a full-service residential hotel but access is limited to LAN
• Robinsons Galleria (Ortigas Center, Pasig) – yes, the entire mall
• Blenz Coffee – SM Cyberzone building (if i’m not mistaken, near Savory Chicken) beside SM MOA, free wifi access and the staff provides the network key
• Pizza Hut @ The Fort (beside Jollibee along Rizal Drive) – network key-provided, but unless your laptop runs on everlasting battery power it’s really just good for lunch stay
• SM Malls – all major malls now have complimentary wifi. finally. but so far I’ve only been able to try out Megamall, Marikina and North Edsa. works so far and it’s fast.

i’ll update as I go along (i can’t remember all). but if you have comments/suggestions/questions, do let me know.