catching the world cup finals at 121 grille and restaurant

i've become a regular at 121 grille and restaurant in allegro center, pasong tamo extension since we joined the old farts for quiz nights on tuesdays. i used to go to quiz nights at murphy's, but found the questions to damned difficult, so my team (mannschaft united) stopped going.

quiz nights at 121 are fun and hilarious (if you're on our team, that is), not to mention actually informative. it doesn't hurt that they serve pretty good salpicao and beer below zero at cheap prices. the alcohol definitely adds to the fun. :p

while enjoying quiz nights, i found myself getting hooked on the world cup matches as well, as 121 is among the bars in manila that show the games even at ungodly hours. and since i've gotten myself terribly inebriated while supporting la furia roja, i thought i might as well cheer them on all the way to the finals.

so early this morning, i found myself waking up at 130am, and made my way to 121 for the most exciting game of the season (naks, feeling). i was biting my fingers (not my nails, take note) the entire time, the game was so darned exciting. watching these games have sent me into incredible emotional swings--this morning, i've slammed my palm down the table, causing the water droplets on the tabletop to jump, i've screamed for missed goals, cheered ecstatically for iker's incredible saves, and reprimanded the team for being "lax." i was trembling by the time iniesta kicked that ball in.

the crowd at 121 definitely made the experience more sensational; we all sang ole, ole, ole when the match finally ended. it's the kind of shared experience you don't get to have everyday. i love it when strangers come together for a common interest. i think i'm going to be watching more futbol matches at 121 in the future. here's to more sleepless nights!

restaurant information
121 grille and restaurant
2nd level allegro center, pasong tamo extension, makati
quiz nights on tuesdays, drinkeoke nights on thursdays

hobbes & landes trivia night: brains vs. brawns

sounds fun, no?

competitours: travel, complete, win big!

have you always dreamed of joining and winning the amazing race? now, you can live out your fantasy of racing through your dream destinations with competitours!

competitours pits you against 16 other teams as you breeze through four european countries in a span of nine days. during the day, you will have a choice between 8-10 challenges, which will earn you points upon completion. at night, you get to interact and party with your "tour mates."

unlike amazing race, though, there are no eliminations in this race, and you even get a chance to research. assignments are received every night in the form of a virtual mission packet, where you get to choose 2-5 challenges out of the 8-10 given. the packet indicates whether your challenge is in the city center or the outskirts, so you get to customize the tour to your own liking.

what's the prize? this being a contest, there IS a prize, of course, and it's pretty sweet. first placers win USD 5,500, second prize is USD 2,500, and third prize is USD 1,000. the competitours dynamic way of scoring levels the playing field and makes the competition even more exciting: you never know who will win until the very last day.

for this much excitement, there IS a price to pay: the tour costs USD 2,675 per person, to be paid after finishing the tour. a USD 100 deposit is required to join the nine-day tour. the fee includes roundtrip airfare, lodging for seven nights, intercity transport (eurail tickets), two days of admissions for group challenge sessions, welcome and awarding parties, up to 70 challenges, and of course, the chance to win USD 5,500.

it won't cover the fee you'll pay for the whole tour, but i'm sure the experience will be worth it. if i had the moolah, i totally would. :)

tour information

competitours

price: USD 2,675 per person

duration: 9 days

destination: 4 european countries (you won't know where until you get there)

email address: info@competitours.com

boracay package up for grabs!

start the year right by winning yourself a free boracay getaway!

check out www.boracay-packages.com and find out how you can win a boracay vacation for you and a friend.

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency
WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.
Vacation Package Inclusions:
- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel

- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines

- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila Domestic Airport

- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat

- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash

Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com

we have a winner!

actually, two winners. :) since the first ever i gotta go! blog contest was very well-received, i thought i'd splurge a little and sponsor 4 tickets for 2 winners.

unfortunately, though, the promised video cannot be posted. as it turns out, my camera's focusing capabilities are not world-class, and it won't clearly show the name of the winner that i drew from the mug (i couldn't find a hat).

but here are some photos before and after the draw:

all 43 names of qualified contestants

folded and placed in the mug

and the winners are...

congratulations to mitch mauricio and mel for winning two passes each for john silva's national museum tour! :)

i'll be contacting you within the day to give you your passes, which are valid for tours this november. i hope you enjoy the tour as much as i did. and to those whose names weren't drawn, i hope you guys will take the time to go and visit the museum, maybe take the tour just the same. :D

hosting contests is fun, and i'll probably do it again, so check back here every now and then to see what i'll be giving away!

thanks again, everyone!

i gotta go!

so, did you win?

before you find out, i want to thank everybody who joined i gotta go!'s first ever blog contest. :) because of its success, i'm already trying to think up of the next prize. :)

no results for now, let me keep you in suspense for a little bit. consider it a halloween treat from me. :)

let me first confirm the correct answers.

the question goes:

John Silva's tour of the National Museum takes you
on a journey through Philippine art and history.
Based on this article, name three Filipino artists
whose works are on display at the museum.

and the answers are any three of the following artists:

Fernando Amorsolo

Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo

Juan Luna

Jordan P. Mang-osan

of the 46 people who commented (i included the ones in the post right below the contest, and one comment from the comment box on the right), 43 people made it to the cut.

here's a list of the people who are qualified to win 2 passes for the national museum tour:

1. che bello
2. archie
3. the showroom manager
4. jasper espinosa
5. bru
6. pi
7. her traverse is perverse
8. tish
9. nikko
10.anonymous-ibanezforever@rocketmail.com
11. azrael
12. schizoprano
13. jengkie
14. eric
15. kat
16. mitch mauricio
17. zaidbralian
18. mon
19. john paul abellera
20. cheech
21. anonymous-g6ludes@yahoo.com
22. anonymous-reoneljose.multiply.com
23. anne margaux
24. mildred
25. waltzang
26. kermin
27. klaris
28. tiff
29. reggie reginaldo
30. adventures of the instant landlady
31. leo
32. tez
33. gpsuanes
34. jennifaye
35. dave
36. bhabes
37. liza
38. mel =)
39. ar-wee-der-yet
40. sarah espina

41. sheila noreen l. gamo
42. nico robin
43. the kicking pinoy

if you think you should be part of the list, you can leave a comment here before 1230pm. :)

good luck, and check back here later to find out if you won!

GET A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE TOUR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM!

i gotta go! is giving away a pair of passes to john silva's tour of the national museum, which includes the various galleries in the museum of the filipino people and the national art gallery in the old national museum.

all you have to do is answer this question:

John Silva's tour of the National Museum takes you
on a journey through Philippine art and history.
Based on this article, name three Filipino artists
whose works are on display at the museum.

leave your answers at the comments section, but make sure you leave a URL where i can reach you ('cause chances are, you're the winner!). all correct entries will be raffled off. a video of the draw will be posted on this site. :D

easy, ain't it? :) so, go and comment away!

one entry per person only.

contest ends at 11:59pm of thursday, october 30. winners will be announced on october 31.

this giveaway contest is open to philippine residents, but transportation to manila shall be shouldered by the winner.

i gotta go! is having a contest!

watch this page on friday, october 24. :)

you might get a chance to win

tickets for two to john silva's national museum tour!

i loved it so much, that i'm willing to sponsor your tour
so you can enjoy it as much as i did!
of course, it doesn't hurt to know that we're also helping the museum out.

see you on friday, and hope you win!