January 28, 2013 DCI Banned and Restricted List

Hello everyone,

These are the recent bannings in Modern and MTGO Pauper

For Modern :
Bloodbraid Elf and Seething Song are banned.

For Magic Online Pauper :
Empty the Warrens, Grapeshot, and Invigorate are banned.

This was announced by Wizards last January 28, 2013 however, the effective date is on February 1, 2013. The Magic Online effective date is on February 6, 2013.

February 2013 FNM Card - Reliquary Tower with Picture

Here it is, February 2013 FNM Promo card is Reliquary Tower.

 I definitely love the FNM foil art of Reliquary tower better than the original. But for you guys to see it, I attached the original art of Reliquary Tower from the M13 reprint. See for yourself.

January 2013 FNM Card - Searing Spear with Picture

The Friday Night Magic Promo card for January 2013 is Searing Spear.

Although Searing Spear is not of the same caliber as previous 2 mana burn spells like Incinerate, Magma Jet, Searing Blaze or others, Searing Spear has found a home in Standard as a staple in decks running red. 3 damage for 2 mana and being an instant makes it very hard to overlook. May it be for your Red-x aggro decks or the midrange decks like Blue-White-Red Falsh/Geist build, Searing Spear defninitely gives you the edge of instant removal for your opponent's creatures early game and your reach to finish the game.

Besides, the artwork for this promo is better than the non-promo counterpart so I think it's a pretty sweet giveaway for FNMs this month.

Here it is, your January 2013 FNM card, Searing Spear.

Snapcasting 2012 and Revealing 2013

This blog has been inactive for quite a long time, in fact so long that I wasn't able to write about anything at the end of 2012. The end of 2012 was a mixture of excitement and exhaustion in my part. At work, we were constantly battling deadlines everyday and overtime work slowly became a routine for us. Then something unexpected happened, I was being sent to Japan for bug fixing tasks for our project. Although people were saying that the project in Japan will be more exhausting compared to what we experienced here in the Philippines side, I just thought that work will always be challenging and I cannot even think of passing a chance to go to Japan.

Although I only stayed for two and a half months in Japan, it was full of memorable experiences. First off, I loved the food! No matter how busy we were at work (working from Monday to Saturday and trying everyday not to leave by the last train), I gained weight - much to a surprise of the people I know because most people indeed lose weight when placed in such environment with pressure in work. I was only free during Sundays and I really thank my girlfriend for giving time to meet me on Sundays and little by little, visiting places that we can during my half-day availability - since we were 50 minutes away from each other by train. But we were able to visit Hachiko in shibuya station, was able to shop in Shibuya, explored Shinjuku, went to the outlet shops in Yokohama, touch the inner children within us and be amazed by the magic of Tokyo Disneyland, Great Viking buffet where you get to cook your own food and so many little things that are memorable from eating ramen and trying out different food shops to grilling our own food.

Work was challenging but the most challenging/difficult for me was communication. Although I am an N4 passer and studying N3 already for Nihongo, I panic when actually speaking with the client/bosses - but I end up realizing I understood what they were saying after the conversation when I had finally broken down their statements. = |

Hobbies were something that were really a highlight for me in Japan. Card games were rampant in Japan, and sadly, my favorite card game Magic:the gathering is sometimes overshadowed by local card games. However, in the bigger cities, bigger MTG shops were located and those were my comfort areas. Although I didn't have the time to play and I left my MTG cards in the Philippines so that I can focus doing work and other things in my short stay in Japan, I was able to purchase some Japanese cards, which I thought were amazing since I am able to read some of the texts already - thus inspiring me to do better in studying Japanese. = ). I was also able to buy Gundam miniatures, wherein you get to construct them. I happily formed them during my holiday break and definitely would be looking to buy more when I get the chance to return to Japan.

Lastly, I was able to buy Kobe System VII in the Nike outlet shop in Yokohama and this can hopefully inspire me to improve my game in basketball. With so many months of not playing basketball I hope I can get back to game shape soon by joining our Wednesday play group here in the office.

With those things that were part of my 2012, I was able to formulate my 2013 resolutions:
- reduce weight, be physically fit and staying in shape
- be a better boyfriend
- improve Japanese skills
- improve skills in Magic: the Gathering (since there is no Grand Prix Manila this year, I will be targeting to get to Day 2 and hopefully be in top 64 next year)
- improve skills in basketball
- be more technically capable in work

Hoping to achieve everything at the end of this year!

Happy 2013!

AWS Sportsfest 2012 - PADAGHANAY 2012 Announced

AWS SPORTSFEST 2012: The Long Wait Is Over. 

For the teams breakdown:

Red Team	Yellow Team	Green Team	Blue Team
Lallave, D. Arioja, F. Balatbat, J. Besinga, A. Catalan, J. Calipayan, H. Chan, D. Cuizon, J. Dela Torre, G. De Real, C. Flores, J. Go, M.S. Jarales, S. Lapuz, L. Limosnero, P. Molina, G. Ohta, Y. Salvador, R. Toring, D. Uy, C Verano, J. Wong, B. Yap, J. Ybanez, D. (ACTION) Maister, Christopher Miranda, Jan Ronquillo, Christine	Aninon, G. Ariza, I. Batingana, P. Bianan, J. Cang, D. Delantar, E. Ebero, R. Genio, G. Go, R. Lindo, D. Lumongsod, J. Machacon, A. Matutinao, N. Ong, L. Ortiz, C. Piquero, R. Ruiz, A. Serad, B. San Agustin, J. Tan, S. Ubas, A Valenzuela, L. Valiente, J. (ACTION) Cordova, Mark Damsid, Kennron Talatayod, Emelyn	Felisilda, S. Alcuizar,E. Badoy, L. Clavecillas, S. Endrina, J. Enego, N. Galan, S. Garbo, K. Garong, G Guimary, L. Hamis, R. Miura, Y. Mostrales, G. Ong, R.. Ortega, M. Parreno, J. Rodriguez, R. Sarael, A Tan, R. Tojong, E Tuquib, N. Villanueva, B. Watanabe, H. Yutiamco, C. (ACTION) Alvarez, Kenneth Go, Charles Idul, Catherine	Lallave, C. Badilla, M.R. Bandibas, G. Baroro, P. Cadenas, D. Caparida, K. Catan, G. Dabon, B. Daculan, C. Diabordo, Q. Mahilum, R Melleza, A. Nicolasora, J. Orquieza, O. Revalde, J. Reyes, A. Remolleno, C. Rico, D. Rodriguez, M.P. Sab-a, G. Samuya, G. Tabar, W. Villarojo, J. (ACTION) Carnaje, Bessie Egama, Sheena Santiago, Jake

Let the games begin! October 2012!

September 2012 FNM Card - Lingering Souls with Picture

September 2012 FNM promo is Lingering Souls from Dark Ascension. For me, this is one of the mos useful cards in the FNM promos this year. Lingering souls is a very good card, we even sometimes joke around during Dark Ascension that the "rare" card in the pack was Lingering Souls - it is even better than most rares in the set. With the combination of Intangible Virtue, you can see why this 2-card combo was too powerful in Block Constructed that both cards were banned. Being a Delver player, I usually don't like this card resolving especially when Intangible Virtues and Honor of the Pure is in play. That way, although not totally "unbeatable", I would then hope to draw Vapor snags and Snapcaster Mage ASAP.

I love the art on the FNM promo but was quite sad that the Artist is John Stanko. This is because John Stanko was the guest artist last Grand Prix manila 2012 and having a playset of this signed by the artist would have been very cool.

I have also attached the original art of the card from Dark Ascension, so we can compare the 2 cards and if ever you still don't have  playset of these, I think you should get your own copy - the question will be, will it be a playset of the September 2012 FNM promo or the regular Lingering Souls?