CHIKA Market

It has been a long time since I have posted a blog entry here in chikamarket.blog.com. I have been out more frequently than ever before plus I’ve got myself a new job which keeps me busy all throughout the week. So, enough for my excuses. I am here to blog about my holiday.

For some people, it’s just too easy for them to find a gift for their friends, family and loved ones. But as for me, it takes me a rather long time to think about what gift I will be giving to the people who are close to me. Even if I know what they like, this or that, I still find it hard to buy them the perfect gift for this holiday season. As a giver, I would want to give my loved ones the best gift they want. Of course, it’s because I want them to be happy. Giving gifts is an expression of gratitude in the existence of the people who mean a lot to you.

Because it’s really hard to look for the perfect gift, what I do is I buy them whatever stuff they have interest on and I buy them gift cards. According to surveys, gift cards continue to be the preferred gift this holiday. Especially when you have nephews or nieces who are so little and wants to do the shopping themselves, gift cards seem perfect for the occasion. The best part about giving gift cards is that the money you spend on the gift card will not be wasted since the recipients will fully enjoy the gift you bought them. Prices on holidays are usually low and it is expected to continue to stay that way even after Christmas and New Year holidays. Again, the money you spend on gift cards will be used into its fullest advantage. I have bought gift cards for my little cousins and I guess they have enjoyed it so much on their shopping spree. I hope to get my parents gift cards too. Even if Christmas and New Year’s celebration has passed, gift cards are still up in business and the malls are still on sale—getting almost all their products into 50%-70% off.

The next that was eliminated from the reality show American Idol 7 was in accordance to my theory. From last week’s shocker elimination of Michael Johns, the show decided to cut off the lifeline of the cat-like contestant Kristy Lee Cook this week. Kristy Lee Cook’s elimination has not been a “shocker” at all since everybody has been waiting for this moment to arrive. What has been a shocker this week was Kristy Lee Cook has been sacrificed to make Carly Smithson stay longer. I actually placed my guts about Carly being shove away from the competition this week because she sucked big time for already three weeks straight now. Oh well. I was wrong with that but at least, my theory was right. They eliminated a GIRL. So for next week, I know they’re going to send off another boy from the group..  Are we going to experience another shocker or not? The male contestants left now are David Cook, David Archuleta and Jason Castro. If my theory is accurate (that they’re going to eliminate a male contestant next week), it might be Jason Castro’s end of the line. David Archuleta can’t be kicked off nor David Cook.

but..

if they’re not going to kick off a male contestant this week (to stop the bloggers and viewers like me to make theories), they’re going to send off another female. So.. if they’re going to send off another female, maybe it’s Syesha Mercado’s end of the line too. I chose Syesha not because I want her off the show already but this is because Syesha’s got the lowest number of record sales…and with this, since they’re not getting lots of profit from her, they can afford to boot her off already.

Until next week.

The famous season 7’s top twelve.

Boys

David Archuleta
David Cook
David Hernandez
Michael Johns
Jason Castro
Chikezie

Girls

Ramiele Malubay
Brooke White
Carly Smithson
Syesha Mercado
Amanda Overymyer
Kristy Lee Cook

First to be ousted: David Hernandez (b)
Second to follow : Amanda Overmyer (g)
Third to go home: Chikezie (b)
Fourth to rest : Ramiele Malubay (g)
Fifth to sit down: Michael Johns (b)

Who’s next? Didn’t you notice that it was a boy-girl alternate? Let’s see..if this pattern continues.. then the sixth to be eliminated will be a boy..

6th - might be a boy
7th - girl
8th - boy
9th - girl
10th - boy
11th - girl
12th and winner - boy

hhhhmmm.. are they really putting they’re money on David Archuleta? oohh. This must be Star Search that I am watching and not American Idol. harhar. If they really want a guy to win this competition, I want David Cook to win!

The American Idol shockers by far who made it huge after the competition were Clay Aiken, Katharaine Mcphee, Tamyra Gray, Daughtry, Elliot Yamin, and who else? ahh.. let’s not forget Jennifer Hudson. Yes, American Idol’s a very good opportunity for every singer or musician aspiring to become one of the brightest stars in the field of music. Not making it as the season’s winner is not the end of it all. As you can see, Taylor Hicks made it as season five’s winner but is not as popular as the likes of Ruben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, and Fantasia Barrino. If I had not gone to the page of the contestants in the 5th season, I would have not known that it was Taylor Hicks. I haven’t heard or seen his name anywhere except in the website! harhar. Who is he?! Oh well. American Idol must change its name to American Idol Shocker, for it makes the “shockers” equal to the prestige the real winner gets. For Season 7, it was a shock when Amanda Overmyer left before Chikezie, it was a shock when Ramiele Malubay left before Syesha Mercado, and just this Top 7 Results Show, they booted out Michael Johns (the most consistent singer among the batch) out of the show before they even kicked off the VFTW’s bet: Kristy Lee Cook and VFTW’s plant: Carly Smithson. It is so shocking, really.

So after they kicked out Michael Johns, who’s going to be the next shocker? I hope it will not be Brooke White. I am not ready to see her out yet.

Ramiele Malubay, my favorite contestant in this year’s American Idol has been voted out last week. It’s sad to see her go and it feels even worse when you know she deserves to stay longer than that. But, life’s like that, you know. Sooner or later, one of them has to go…and last week was her time to go..

As I reflect on these things, I have realized that a those who join in reality tv contests whether in Big Brother, American Idol, Amazing Race, Survivor, et c are still people with so many days to spend and a very long way to go (just like anybody else). So when they don’t win those contests because they were cut off, it doesn’t mean that it’s the end of all their dreams, but ironically, it is rather the beginning of all their adventures in life.

Ramiele is still very young and indeed has a very long way to go. She is a good singer, she’s pretty, has a fun&nice personality, plus she is loved by many. Not only that, she’s got lots of fans too…She has already gathered lots of them that when she makes an album now, it will be in platinum. That’s how well she is. She’s great. She’s got the total package! I just pray that she’ll choose to remain in whatever she is..if she’ll ever change, it should be for the better. I hope she’ll work with a really good mentor, a good manager, a good producer, and all. She’ll make it big, I know. I know because me, together with all the Ramifans at ramieleofficial.com are going to support her all the way.

See you then, Ramiele.

If you are a fan of Ramiele Malubay, kindly check out www.Ramiele.com, join the forum, and learn ways on how you can help her reach her dream of being the next American Idol.

For Filipino fans this is what you can do at the moment:

1. BUY her singles at iTunes.com - all her versions, please! One song costs only $0.99. You can pay through paypal.
2. Post videos or pictures of her in youtube, multiply, or wherever! You can actually post it in the forum too.
3. Email-Text-Call-Write your friends and relatives who are living in US. Tell them to vote relentlessly for Ramiele each week.
4. Go to AmericanIdol.com and post for forums that are pro-Ramiele. You know, that small big package has been receiving quite a number of hate messages, and I don’t think it’s good. Let’s remove all those TROLLS away!

5. Join the polls in Votenumber1.com.
6. Watch her performance each week.
7. If you own websites and blogs, link the official site to yours. The official site of Ramiele is found in Ramiele.com

If you have more suggestions, post it as a comment here. Thanks!

I am so grateful to the people of America for letting Ramiele stay for another week. Now, this is her last chance to prove herself worthy of the effort that the people of America is giving to her. She’s talented, but, she should show that she’s competitive enough to stay in American Idol. A lot of commentators say she’s going to last only until the eighth week of the season–let’s see how true this is. Again, I am so grateful for letting her in again. In fact, she’s one of the contestants who remained “safe” in the competition, and was not in fact not a part of the bottom three..so she must really be “popular”. I am sad that David Hernandez had to go. I really thought that it’s Kristy Lee Cook who’s going home tonight..but I have guessed it too poorly. So anyway… I was laughing out loud after the AI camera showed Ramiele Malubay’s parents and Danny Noriega..I was laughing at the “caption” that they typed into the video— Ramiele’s Parents & best friend. Haha. That was really funny. Only about 7 days ago, that “best friend” is a part of the American Idol show. It’s just weird. Oh well..it was so sweet of Danny to have come to watch Ramiele and show some love and support. The two’s really so close now. Here’s a picture of them that I really, really like.

I watched Ramiele’s video singing “In My Life” in Youtube and I can actually take back what I have said in my previous post. I am no longer disappointed about it anymore..maybe I just had some “huge” expectations from her for the past week. I never really realized that she sang the song pretty well. I really love her voice. Her version is not a contest-type still but is something that will be placed in records that will really make a big hit for every place here on Earth! I loved it. I feel better now.

While listening to her singing, I remembered how that song made an impact to me years ago. That very song is something that I dedicated to my bestfriend, Carmela. I sang it in her 18th birthday party…I struggled with the chords but somehow I managed to do so.. The lyrics contained the thing that I felt for her and our friendship. And I am just so glad that Ramiele did it.. Maybe she did it for people like me—to remind me that somewhere in my life’s journey, I have met this really wonderful person that made a very great impact.

There are places I remember, all my life.. ‘Though some have changed.. some forever, not for better..Some have gone, but some remain..
All these places have their moments–with lovers and friends– I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I’ve loved them all

But all of these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never ever lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them……
In my life, I love you more

The message of the song is so true to me. I think Ramiele did a really good job earlier. I really, really feel a lot better now. I’m sorry Ramiele. No matter what happens, know that I am still your greatest fan..That will never ever change.

Before Ramiele took the stage tonight, I had this really horrible vibe that she might not hit it once again this week! Ramiele Malubay, a 20-year old American Idol Top 12 contestant, haven’t got the approval from the judges of the American Idol again! This must be Ramiele’s roughest three weeks of her lifetime. I was glad that she chose to sing one of my favorite songs from the Beatles, In my Life, but I guess she hasn’t incorporated the song really well that it appeared as if she’s just singing another karaoke song. The arrangement wasn’t that good too. I myself is a musician and I can brag that I could sing that song better than how Ramiele did tonight! Just as she hit the first note, I felt that she can’t make the judges be proud of her. Like Randy, I was waiting for this “magic” and this “style” that she should be showing but it didn’t come off. All Ramiele’s family and fans have waited for a whole week for this, but really, I AM DISAPPOINTED. I feel a littled dishearted by what this girl is doing on the show. I think she is so being self-centered, having to choose an arrangement that doesn’t really equalize her level. She should not forget that American Idol is a competition and not only a show where she sings to entertain people. It’s both a competition and as well as a show. She entertains and competes with the rest.

She is really huge,man. And I really believe in her talent. What I meant by ‘Rami’s being self-centered’ is that she is always dwelling to the issues that she had in the past. Like the ‘past experience and stuff’ that she had that made her sing “Against All Odds”, and ’singing for the friends who have gone (I bet it’s for Danny Noriega, really)’ that she sang the song “In My Life”. It’s just that those songs were really big time that it’s hard for somebody to have the same song arrangement and singing style that could make it really unforgettable in a competition such as the American Idol. The song “In My Life” is a good song to sing though, but for a competition, Ramiele’s arrangement is just too shallow for it to become competitive. I am really disappointed that I just wanted to cry. But don’t get me wrong—I love Ramiele still. I love her outfit today..the hair and the makeup. I love the singing too, but it isn’t really a good song choice to present in a competition. Actually, if she can play the piano or the guitar, it might have sounded pretty okay though. Like Brook White’s version of “Let it Be”. Dude, if she hasn’t played the piano, she’s not going to make it. She’ll look as boring as the movie I SPY. But because she played the piano, she made a great impact to the judges and to the audience. There’s really a big difference in there. Mind you, if Ramiele really played the piano or guitar too, it’ll be fantastic!

Because I felt unhappy, I was moved to buy a gallon of ice cream and consume all of it. I feel really bad for Ramiele. I hope America won’t forget to vote for her. She has this talent and everybody can see that. She just needs somebody that could teach her on what to do and not to do. Also, as an act of rebellion against Rami.. .. look at the picture of me below..

I’m eating the weirdest food Ramiele has ever eaten–the Balut! 18 days duck egg, boiled. I really feel bad about what happened tonight on American Idol. I really hope and pray that she’s still going to make it next week. If she’s not going to make it next week, I am dead sure she can make it to the platinum here in the Philippines. Mind you, Wowowee’s latest album went to gold. How much more if it’s from Ramiele? I sure will buy her album if she’s going to release one. Even she will not make it next week and she comes to the Philippines, I might go to Manila and meet her at the airport. I so love her….I just feel bad though…but I still love her. You can do it, Ramiele!

*Note: I may be smiling at those pictures, but really, I feel terrible inside.

PS
If she’s going to make it to the next round, I hope and pray that she’ll not mess up anymore.

I can’t believe myself about not hearing of this TOTALLY FUNNY Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Pageant until I heard the news on TV Patrol earlier this evening. The Bb. Pilipinas World 2008 Miss Janina San Miguel got only not the beauty, but also the humor. I never thought such stuffs can rise up to the most famous beauty pageant in the country! I thought they only come in small barrio and school beauty contests—hanggang sa Bb. Pilipinas din pala! Here’s the full interview of Janina:

Paolo Bediones: Janina, how are you?
Janina San Miguel: Fine. (thanks)
Paolo Bediones: Alright, so you won two of the major awards - Best in Long Gown, Best in Swimsuit, do you feel any pressure right now?
Janina San Miguel: No, I don’t feel any pressure right now.
Paolo Bediones: Confident! Alright! Please choose a name of the judge.
Paolo Bediones: We have Miss Vivian Tan.
Vivian Tan: Good Evening.
Janina San Miguel: Good Evening.
Vivian Tan: The question is, what role did your family play to you as candidate to Binibining Pilinas?
Janina San Miguel: Well, my family’s role for me is so important b’coz there was the wa- they’re, they was the one who’s… very… Hahahaha… Oh I’m so sorry, Ahhmm… My pamily… My family… Oh my god.. I’m… Ok, I’m so sorry… I… I told you that I’m so confident… Eto, Ahhmm, Wait… Hahahaha, Ahmmm, Sorry guys because this was really my pirst pageant ever b’coz I’m only 17 years old and ahahaha I, I did not expect that I came from, I came from one of the taf 10. Hmmm, so… but I said that my family is the most important persons in my life. Thank you.

I fell out of my chair after viewing that Youtube vid! haha. It would have been funnier if Paolo Bediones said, “Very well said.” Oh no… That is really embarassing. I was like hiding myself behind the computer monitor while viewing the video..I can’t believe what I just heard and seen, man! It was so real. Poor Janina, she doesn’t know that a lot of bloggers like me have blogged about it already. Oh well..I’m sorry girl.

In fairness to her, she outcasted the other girls in the pageant! What more if those other girls took her place? It would have been a lot funnier, I guess. She’s got the body and the beauty. As many of the judges say, Miss World Beauty Pageant doesn’t need a Brainy Binibining Pilipinas but a Beauty and Body Pilipinas who can wear that evening dress and swimsuit! I must say that there have been a lot of attempts from us to send out one of the brainiest lass we can chuck out from this country for the Miss World pageant but none of them ever got the title! Who knows? This person that we’re laughing at will bring home the ever precious title? The Miss World pageant allows interpreters anyway, so, I guess we should not worry much about it. She sure can speak Tagalog, right?

She’s funny too. If she can’t make it in being huge in the ramp, she sure can become the next Ms. Melanie Marquez!