What If? - Privileged Speech 1

It is a very hypothetical question and doesn't count any point at all in any forms of debate. It could easily be tappled down by answering back a "What if not" question. It is the question one very pessimistic person who doesn't have any other stand in this world but to be an opposition would raise.

I could remember way back in high school that I used to have difficulty in solving word problems. I know the answer but I don't know how to assign the variables to make an equation. But it was an advantage for the team in the Math Olympiad because I immediately knew the correct answer without my teammates using their pen to start calculating for it.

Same goes with the presentations. I could already have a clear picture of how the final work would look like. Perhaps, it is because it is really how artists work (Based on a Humanities book, Michaelangelo knows how his sculptures would finally look like before he starts working with his chisel). Problem is, being a scatterbrained, I always don't know where to begin.

But with that difficulty, the final work is still done. Though most of the time, it's not really something that I wanted it to be, at least, I'm happy that it's closer to what I want it and that our teachers are pleased with the outcome. Modesty aside, our group would always emerge as the best one when it comes to presenting our reports. It is because I choose to take charge of almost everything - from the concept, to the script, to the props, even to the costumes at some point.

My classmates know me well that I always get what I want when it comes to presentations. If my idea won't win, things won't be as good as expected. It is because it is my forte. Call me somebody who's tooting my own horn. But at least, I know my capacity.

And now, a strong force of negativity is testing me. A series of "what if" questions have been raised. Honestly, I feel so disappointed with these people, who I've been expecting to be the first to cooperate since they have the same range of intellect as mine. I'm counting a lot on them to make all these ideas into reality. I just thought that after years of having been graduated from high school, we've already grown up. I believe that with chronological age, being mature mentally also comes with it. But then I'm wrong. They really let me down.

But knowing me, I don't give up. If Group A can't do it, then there's Group Z. They might not be gifted with big brains as the others but they have the will to embrace the responsibility, the courage to take the risk of committing mistakes and of being criticized for being imperfect.

Personally, being so pessimistic about all things without even attempting to take a single step in achieving it is plainly cowardice. It's just having no sense of responsibility at all.

What if's are silly questions to be asked. Being realistic is, in fact, good but adding optimism to it would make it better.

Shedding off the last piece of responsibility from one's system will resolve nothing. Everything is a risk that we have to take. If others were able to do it, why can't we? Everything in this world is a challenge.

With this, ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case and I am now ready for interpellation.

Starstruck Part 2

Andyan na siya... Andyan na siya... Magtago ka na.

If you've been regularly going to the movies recently, you must have heard these familiar lines. Then some scary faces might surprise you but not enough to make one scream.

For the first time in my life, I've gone to a premiere night. Thanks to igma.tv forum where I've won four premiere tickets for this movie. I had to cut my time of sleep to only four non-straight hours for me to watch it. And it's worth everything - standing for hours on the line, dodging with the huge crowd, having lack of sleep, and yeah, hearing the boy band named "Studs" bastardize the songs "Binibini" and "Panalangin."

The Plot

After 20 long years, half-sisters Aileen and Romina, along with first cousins Ruth and Sandra, reunite in Camiguin all because of their grandmother's death. Accompanied by Sandra's friend, Lucy, the five girls dare to call on the spirits of the dead when they find their old Ouija board from when they were kids. The Ouija board is burned by accident before they are able to finish the ritual, trapping a murderous entity around them. As they begin to realize the terror that they have brought upon themselves, Aileen and Romina's hostile relationship even become more strained, while Lucy's sanity brings a heavy burden on Sandra, and Ruth's boyfriend, Gino, is unknowingly pulled into the danger and horror that await all of them. Confronted by imminent Death, the girls have nowhere to go unless they can identify the spirit and find out where it is buried. It is only by leading the spirit to its burial ground that they will able to release the spirit from the Ouija board and survive its fatal hauntings.

Disappointing?

Of course not! This is the scariest Filipino movie I've seen in the entire life. The screenplay is neatly made that even a fault-finding individual like me hardly found any loophole on its story.

Here are my random thoughts:

• From the start of the movie to the end, it's been consistent with its genre.
  
• I would have to say that Topel Lee is the best horror director so far in the Philippines. If you got scared with "Feung Shui" and "Sukob" (though I find some scenes corny and very predictable), this one is far better than the two popular horror flicks.
  
• Puwedeng panlaban sa "The Ring."
  
• Jolen and Juday fans were everywhere that they couldn't help cheer whenever their idols' scenes are shown. Their side comments are really funny like when Juday was interrogating a complainant and somebody shouted "Superstar!" Another one couldn't help but answer back Juday when she accused Jolens of being greedy for their grandmother's wealth. Well, it's really shallow but simple things such as that made me laugh.
  
• What happened to the no-ticket no-entry policy? And what have all those many guards done to help keep people in order? I was religiously waiting on the queue and what the hell happened? People were pushing with each other that even those who didn't have any tickets got through.
  
• It's good to see stars. Gahd! Iza Calzado is very beautiful. My goodness! Saan ba makakakita ng ganyan kaganda at talented na babae? She even played the role well - funny, composed, maarte and... beautiful.
  
• Jolina is so different in this movie - not the same patweetums character we see in all her films. This time, she is a grade school teacher who is not the cheerful type.
  
• For once, Juday experimented a different role - somebody not the inaapi type but someone who has a strong character, chain smoker, maldita and all. Magaling! Magaling! Magaling!
  
• I was already expecting Rhian to be a mestiza so I wasn't surprised when I saw her in person. But still, she's so pretty. And I must commend the casting staff for being able to choose the right artists. Rhian's character speaks of innocence, youth and fragility and she was able to play it well.
  
• Day, nakita ko si Annabelle Day, pati ang anak niyang si Dong Richard. Wala lang. Some celebrities I saw were Lovi Poe, Valerie Concepcion, Prince Estefan and again, the Studs. I don't know some of them so I better not enumerate their names.

Guys, you better watch it na. It's worth your 150 pesos. And please, no piracy. Let's support Filipino movies.

-o0o-

Stargazing

Last Sunday, Hunnie and I thought of watching Showbiz Central live in Broadway Centrum. It just popped out of our head after a tiring baratan in Divisoria.

What started to be a mere curiosity turned out to be a realization that she, together with her two other classmates in Med school, are also gaga with good-looking stars. I just can't help but stare at Pia Guanio's slender legs and Rufa Mae's sexiness.

Other Realizations

• These four hosts speak with spontaneity. They don't have their queue cards with or any idiot board infront of them. Some staff just flash other follow up questions, they just glance at them and rephrase them according to how they understand the questions. They really gained my respect for them.
  
• Mo Twister is tisoy enough that no wonder girls got crazy on him.
  
• Rufa Mae maybe cool, candid and funny on cam but she's actually quite reserved in between takes. So typical for a comedienne.
  
• Raymond Gutierrez is more vain than Rufa or Pia. While Pia only needs some tissues to wipe some sweat on her face while Rufa Mae asks for some retouch every now and then, Raymond's make-up artist/assistant has to frequently re-apply powder and blusher on him in every break. Mo is just cool looking at the crowd.
  
• The studio is actually small.
  
• Love team thingys are really scripted. After the sweetness JC de Vera and Yasmien Kurdi showed while they were being interviewed, JC just disappeared in a snap of a finger leaving Yas alone. Well, that's showbiz.
  
• Amalia Fuentes isn't really mataray in person. She's even nice to the staff and to the people who ask for her autograph. She just has a strong personality but that doesn't make her like Annabelle Rama.
  
• Rustom Padilla is prettier than a lot of girls I see.
  
• Hunnie and friends got so kilig with Dingdong. My sole job was to take pictures of them with the celebrities. I could be a photographer in showbiz shows and make it as my part-time job. Hehehe.
  
• I'm really wondering. How do I look like on TV. These stars look dark when they are fairer than me in person. What the!
  
• Again, I'm jologs. I know that. Mababaw lang ang kaligayahan ko. Just want to entertain myself sometimes.

Election Flashback

So the partial and unofficial results are out and Escudero is in the lead followed by Legarda and Aquino. Unfortunately for Pichay, he's starting to wilt because not enough number of the people of the Philippines have planted him in the Senate. Tsk. Tsk. It just goes to show that political ads wouldn't guarantee you a winning seat. I'll just start to hypothesize that face value is something that matters to the voters.

I'm just happy that Chavit is definitely out. Bwahahaha! And so are Cesar and Richard. Manny Pacquiao has been swept by landslide victory by his competitor. Christopher de Leon is losing, so is Lito Lapid who'll definitely lose from Binay. This is a proof that popularity isn't also a big factor in one's victory. There are still voters who are intelligent and responsible enough in voting for their right leader.

As for the people of Butuan, they are still morons. Boy Daku, as what I've heard, is likely to win again. It'll put my beloved city in stagnation for another three years.

-o0o-

This moment of choosing the right leader reminds me of the May 1995 Elections.

I was 13 years old then when I've overheard our Barangay Chairman talking to my mother on matters regarding his bet. He's campaigning for no less than Boy Daku then when he heard that my mom wouldn't vote for him. His tone seemed to sound like he's reprimanding my mom for not supporting his bet, instead of sounding like he's convincing her. I didn't say a word. A few days after, lots of our female neighbors went to our house and told my mom that her only son's voice was heard over Radyo Bombo, reporting his Barangay Chairman about the obvious politicking instead of focusing on his role in developing the community. He also was calling all the people of Butuan to never listen to anybody's dictation as to who to vote, and instead, go for whatever their clean conscience is choosing.

That made my mom take an action. She wrote to tha radio station telling them that what I was doing was all caused by my youth and lack of knowledge about the reality. Too bad for her, she didn't have anybody to hand the letter except me. I threw the letter. Haha.

-o0o-

Weeks after, Radyo Bombo's rival station, Radyo Agong, was calling all interested people who would like to get election results in one voting center and get 500 bucks. I took the opportunity. The manager seemed to have no confidence on me at first but when he heard me speak, he realized my brain is bigger than the rest of the older people there.

Then election day came. I was assigned to the school near ours (more a kilometer away, near the place where I got hit by a jeepney). I came too early. Too early that it was when the first ballot was read by the teacher. After 50 or so ballots, the bored and tired teacher got suddenly delighted when she saw somebody's handwriting. She showed it to all the people in that room, appreciating how nice the penmanship is. How would I not recognize it when it's personally the best handwriting I've ever seen?

"That's mama's," I whispered to myself. I guess that was loud enough that my seatmate, our neighbor heard it. When the teacher read that she voted for another mayoral candidate, our neighbor said "You're mom is not voting for our candidate?" I told her "No, it's not my mom's. She has a better penmanship than that one." Hehe.

While other precincts were done in counting all the votes, some others had just started. I even got the chance to bond with a Radyo Bombo reporter, compare notes with him, etc. People around were just amazed how those two people from rival stations got close (rivalry is like Channel 7 versus Channel 2).

1 a.m. came and two precincts were still not done. I was hungry. I was sleepy. Our neighbors offered me some food. I declined. God, mosquitos were flying everywhere. They offered me their blankets. I said no. Minutes later, they panicked. I suddenly disappeared without them knowing where I'm at, where I've gone. I went home, ate and slept.

That was too courageous of me to walk more than a kilometer to our house, where there's a big balete tree along the way, where one portion of the highway is known to be enchanted, where high-speeding vehicles run. I was sleepy and hungry and it's all that matters. My mom was even surprised to see me at the gate calling for somebody to open.

I came back to the two precincts at 8:00 a.m. One was done. The other one had less than 50 more ballots to count. After an hour, I'm done with my report but I found my paper too dirty. At 10:00, I've gone to the radio station, transferred the results to another clean sheet and handed it to the news anchor. He even commented on my neat work. Well, that's me. Thanks to my mom who once told me that "The neatness of your paperwork reflects your personality." End of story.

High Blood

I guess I need to be taught about anger management. My blood was boiling 1000^oC yesterday.

I come here more than thirty minutes earlier to find out that our assigned workstations are occupied by some pieces of shit called newbies. I look for some available workstations where all of us in the team could be accomodated, pull up all my tools and is told that I need to transfer again to our plotted area, five minutes before the time. Isn't it very annoying?

There's a TOIC sitting on the chair that I'm supposed to sit on. I didn't give a damn. I loudly asked my teammate, "Where am I supposed to sit? All of the fuckin chairs are used." Thank goodness, he's sensitive enough to vacate the chair.

It's already eight minutes after 12:30 when my computer finally booted up. My Outlook was not working. Fuck! I have to call PAC and ask to go on Aux 8 while looking for another computer to use. I'm given five minutes. Are they serious? It doesn't even take five minutes to boot completely to the OS, plus pulling up the tools, registering to this Goddamn Open Office (since this bullshit company can't afford a Microsoft Office license), et cetera, et cetera.

Finally, I'm all set, except that I have to use web-based Outlook since the application is down. I have to deal with clicking the "check for new messages" icon everytime I remember doing it. Then came all these spam messages from the team about the QA update, clearing out some issues and reading a lot of whining about the inconsistencies. I shared my point. Giving a case ID number is just consuming less than a minute of your time and won't hurt any part of one's system doing it. What's the big fuss? Why keep on complaining?

Then there's this fat guy replying with a picture of an oogly bald faggot in the name of Boy Abunda. I just hate that celebrity. And I hate it more when I'm compared to him/her/it. I boiled my top. I told him to shut up. I cursed him. Our TL told us to stop. There was already a tension in the team. Finally, Miggy apologized. I did the same. We patched things up.

Time for lunch. I have to go to the locker area to get my food. My locker is blocked with a ladder that was supposed to be kept in one corner after use. I throw it out of my way. I don't care how loud the noise it creates. I'm sick of people not knowing where to put things back the way they were placed.

At the pantry. As always, those wide-mouthed Cingular agents are filling up the room. They're too noisy. The air literally smells bad breath. I'm not joking. The microwave oven is not closed. It's dirty. I don't want to clean it. I have to look for one seat in one corner. I can't get through. All those chairs are not properly returned. I pushem them too hard that they shook those tables. I didn't care. People around obviously observed that I'm pissed with their absence of sense of responsibility. I want to throw those chairs on their ugly faces.

What's so wrong with these people? Anyway, I went home happy. My sister and I were discussing about a very serious, timely and most importantly intellectual topic - Ruffa getting annulled. What can I say? Great minds talk about people.

Ate

We used to be enemies. It's hard to deal with her being bossy and OC. We're the extreme opposites. She's my mom's right hand and I felt like a Sergeant with no other choice but to follow my General and Colonel. But as we grew older, I realized, we've become close friends.

Meet my Ate Doreen, 31, still single. If we go out, people wouldn't think that we're siblings. We don't have any similarity as far as physical aspects are concerned. Our classmates who don't know our family often mistakenly identify us as sweethearts. We just laugh at them.

She came here two weeks ago to accompany a family friend who's going abroad. You don't know how difficult it was for a tornado like me to be cleaning my place in less than a day. I don't want to be reprimanded again for my lack of tidiness and order.

It's just too exciting for me to see my sister again after three months. But I admit, I also get irritated with her presence. I slept barely five hours a day, going with her to malls or some other places. I get pissed waiting for her outside the restroom, or when she has to enter all possible boutiques that she could see just to try some pieces of clothing or cosmetics. I also hate her being a lady, that she takes too much time in everything. I feel that I'm her PA, bringing one of her very heavy backpacks and handing her one or two of the four cellphones that ring.

She knows that my impatience drives me nuts. She could see that in my deep silence, through my sharper eyes, and the fastness of my pace. After all, I have been her brother for 25 years.

But when she went back to Butuan, I felt sad again. For more than a week, I chose to wake up late because I knew that I don't have to cook my food anymore because she already did it. That my room wouldn't be filled with silence because I have somebody to talk and argue with. That there's somebody always reminding me to change my shirt because it's already wet with my sweat. That I have a sister with me.

Life's like that I guess. The most important people in your life are those that are often unappreciated and disliked. But when they're not around, it's when you're longing for the things that you hate in them.

Well, I'll be seeing my family again... this Christmas and it wouldn't be too long.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy anniversary guys! We've gone this far. But then again, you are still my friends no matter what. We've changed a part of our personalities, we've grown, we've lived different lives and we've taken different paths but we're still here (although I know a lot in there nga di magparamdam).

OK, too much for the drama. In the observation of our 11th year, I enumerate things we all possess.

1. We are awesome.
   
2. For us, food and camera spell the word "fun."
   
3. People find us corny but we find ourselves amusing.
   
4. We love to debate on different matters.
   
5. Nobody has the ear to listen. We talk at the same time. The louder one's voice could get, the better.
   
6. Our conversations would lead us anywhere - the Greek and Roman mythology, the behavior of the gas molecules in the soda we're drinking, the acceleration of a falling body due to gravity, our high school teachers (and their kabobohan), our own funny and sad experiences, etc.
   
7. We're the biggest and the noisiest group in our class.
   
8. We are notorious for being liars (because of me).
   
9. We used to have weekly activities to make us "feel the closeness" of the group.
   
10. We used to date as a group every Valentine's Day.

Did I miss one? But surely, I don't miss you. Hehehe. Again, happy anniv.

_________________

Acknowledgments:
Ate Doreen for scanning some of the pictures for me;
Janice and Hunnie for making me steal some of your Friendster pictures

New Year's Resolutions

It's the second week of the new year and I still haven't posted my list of resolutions for this year. I really don't do it (in fact, I used to bluff and work on my creative mind to write a two-page, 500-word formal theme composition for like three consecutive years for the same theme - My New Year's Resolution) but for the heck of having a post, and also to experience sometime in my life that I once had some real resolutions, let me try aiming for some things. At least I have a goal. At the end of this year, I'm going to evaluate myself if I'm good enough at realizing my goals.

• Have a healthier lifestyle. I know that even though I don't look like a nice and kind person, people still mistakenly see me as a priest/seminarian because I don't smoke nor drink. It's not enough though. I make sure that I've walked at least 500 meters everyday but it's still not enough. Metro Manila is so polluted that I get sick often.
  
  This year, I'm planning to enrol in a gym. I could work on my cardio well, which, hopefully, will help cure my asthma, and, at the same time, exrete all the toxins in my body. I'm also planning to gain some muscles. I'm too shy to go shirtless because my narrow shoulders are too slopy, my older sister's biceps are bigger, my chest so flat, and my abs flabby. In short, I look like a seven-year-old boy who needs constant deworming.
  
  Gym membership costs a lot and I still have some things to accomplish early this year but I'm planning to start working out before the first quarter ends.
  
  
• Learn to swim. I have webbed fingers, my ears move and blush like gills, and I love saltwater. I know how to swim a bit, but I even laugh at myself imagining how I do it. My butt moves like I'm a merman. I need to learn how to float. And man, I need to learn how to hold my breathe longer.
  
  
• Learn to manage my finances. It's a shame. I have higher salary than my sister but she has a bigger contribution to our family and she still manages to buy what she wants. I need to learn the value of sacrifice. It's also one thing that I'll be considering before I'll be getting into a relationship.
  
  
• Read more. I admit that my vocabulary is too elementary. I need to learn new words. Maybe, I should invest on fictional books (which I hate) more than inspirational ones so that I could learn new techniques in writing. But that doesn't mean I would stop reading life-learning materials. I also want to be a better person.
  
  
• Sit and walk straight. Whenever I see myself on pictures or even on a big mirror, I'm ashamed to learn that my back is so curved that I don't stand my age. I know I have scoliosis but I should be more conscious with my posture. This is a big challenge for me though but I'll try. I'LL TRY.

Butuan Minahal nga Dakbayan

Still, my brain is not working for another blog entry so I've decided to post one song that I've learned from the choir. This is the finale song that we used to sing whenever we have cultural shows way back in high school. It's already in our system that whenever I see the sign "Welcome to Butuan City," I can't stop but sing this song so loudly.

There's a Butuanon version of this but I preferred to post the Cebuano lyrics because it's the only one that I didn't fail to memorize and it's also easier to understand.

Butuan minahal nga dakbayan
Kansang mithi ang larawan sa katawhan
Kabukiran ug kasubaan
Naghatag daghang kauswagan

Dakbayanon hingpit malinawon
Mao'y talagsaong hiyas sa Butuanon
Mahibalong moawit, mahibalong mosayaw
Puno sa gugma ug tim-os nga mga pagbinatiay

O, Butuan pinalangga'ng dakbayan
Ikaw gayud sa kanunay panalipdan
Kaming imong mga anak sa wa'y kahadlok mangako
Sa kakulian mohadla kanimo

Ipataas ang bandila sa kahanginan
Timaan sa imong binilhong kadaugan
Among isinggit tibuok kalibutan
Mabuhi, mabuhi ang Butuan minahal namong dakbayan

O, Butuan pinalangga'ng dakbayan
Ikaw gayud sa kanunay panalipdan
Kaming imong mga anak sa wa'y kahadlok mangako
Sa kakulian mohadla kanimo

Kanimo, Butuan!

Bakasyon Grande

I'm on my third day of my vacation. I'm too much preoccupied with some things to do. Will post my pics later when I'll have time.

Happy Christmas to all!

Another Advertisement

Story: Beauty queen-turned actress Charlene Gonzales and Aga Muhlach are rushing back home from a late-night party. They later found their cute twins near the christmas tree, with Atasha, asking Andres, "What is your Christmas wish?"

Then the boy answered, "We have a Daddy, we have a Mommy...what else can we ask for?"

It's a simple but nice advertisement of Jollibee. A family of good-looking people that are worthy to multiply their race.

Recall: A few months ago, another family endorsed the strongest competitor of Jollibee - McDo. That time, it was with Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinky, together with their fair-complexioned-but-wide-eyed-and-ugly older son and the other dark-complexioned-and-looks-like-Manny-therefore-a-monkey-looking younger kid.

The recent fried chicken ad is obviously classy and TV-friendly. The endorsers are undeniably beautiful and do not look like a patay-gutom family unlike on the first.

You Know You're a FILIPINO When...

I've got this message posted at the bulletin board of Friendster. I've already read this from the Philippine Daily Inquirer way back in first year college and even translated the whole article to Filipino, the language that didn't snob me in high school (I had tried my luck for a "The Narra" since first year and they snobbed me. Well, it's obvious.)

I've found out that I really am not a complete Filipino after all. It's originally 100 but now it's only 66. I could remember one of the missing things is "A straight guy could unabashedly put his arms around his guy friend while walking" and "You point something with the use of your lips."

I still have that clipping at home and I may post the rest someday.

Anyway, here's what it says:

You Know You're a FILIPINO When...


Your middle name is your mother's maiden name.
- TRUE for me. So is in the US. I've observed in Latin American countries that their mom's maiden name is written after their dad's.

Your parents call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy."
- FALSE. My mom calls my dad as "Bok," short for tambok (fat) even if he's not. He's just big. My dad calls my mom "Tit," short for Tita. They're not really sweet.

You have uncles and aunts named "Boy," "Girlie," or "Baby."
- TRUE. My dad's bro is named "Boy" but I haven't really met him.

You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like "Jun-Jun," "Ling-Ling," and "Mon-Mon."
- TRUE. My younger sis' name is Ling-ling.

You call the parents of your friends and your own parents' friends "Tito" and "Tita."
- FALSE. I address my friends' parents as "Ma'am" and "Sir." Some of them who, as I translated it, "Ang mga Pilipino ay naniniwalang lahat ng kapwa Pilipino ay kanilang kamag-anak," call my mom "Auntie."

You have four or five names.
- FALSE.

You greet your elders by touching their hands to your forehead.
- VERY TRUE. Even if I'm mean, I also respect the elders, especially my mom and grandparents.

You always kiss your relatives on the cheek whenever you enter or leave the room.
- FALSE. I'm not fond of beso-beso and I don't know anybody who does this.

You follow your parents' house rules even if you are over 18.
- VERY TRUE. I still even have a curfew whenever I go home.

You live with your parents until and at times even after you're married.
- TRUE. Though right now, I don't have a choice because I work away from home but given the chance that there's a career opportunity in my hometown, I would enjoy living with my family. But my mom has set my expectations that she won't allow me to live with her when I'll get married. No pressure.

You decorate your dining room wall with a picture of the "Last Supper."
- FALSE. Our dining room is so bare.

You keep your furniture wrapped in plastic or covered with blankets.
- FALSE.

You have a piano that no one plays.
- FALSE. First, we couldn't afford a piano. Second, it'll just keep me frustrated. Thanks to these fingers.

You keep a "tabo" in your bathroom.
- TRUE. Bathing wouldn't be enjoyable without that. And so is extreting solid waste.

You use Vicks Vapor rub as an insect repellant.
- FALSE. I use Efficascent Oil. Hahaha. Vicks is anti-inflammatory ointment for me.

You eat with your hands.
- TRUE. Why, does anybody eat with his feet?

You eat more than three times a day.
- TRUE. Very True.

You think a meal is not a meal without rice.
- VERY VERY VERY TRUE.

You think sandwiches are snacks, not meals.
- TRUE!

Your dining table has a merry-go-round (lazy Susan) in the middle.
- TRUE. We didn't intend to have that thing because we don't have a round table. We're just making use of the mechanism that we once used for our television.

You bring baon to work everyday.
- TRUE. But not now. I'm too lazy to prepare my sandwich.

Your pantry is never without Spam, Vienna sausage, corned beef, and sardines.
- FALSE. We don't have a cupboard. We just get whatever we want from our store. My mom doesn't settle for processed food, as much as possible.

You love to eat daing or tuyo.
- Yuck! What's that? Joke. VERY TRUE.

You prop up one knee while eating.
- FALSE. I'm the one who reprimands my older sister whenever she does it.

You eat your meal with patis, toyo, suka, banana catsup, or bagoong.
- TRUE.

Your tablecloths are stained with toyo circles.
- FALSE. We don't have tablecloth.

You love sticky desserts and salty snacks.
- TRUE for sticky desserts but not true for salty snacks.

You eat fried Spam and hot dogs with rice.
- TRUE.

You eat mangoes with rice--with great GUSTO!
- FALSE! Kadiri kaya.

You love "dirty" ice cream.
- TRUE. I even jump like a child whenever I here the sorbetero's bell ringing.

You love to eat, yet often manage to stay slim.
- TRUE. VERY TRUE!

You put hot dogs in your spaghetti.
- VERY TRUE.

Everything you eat is sauted in garlic, onion, and tomatoes.
- FALSE.

You order a "soft drink" instead of soda.
- TRUE.

You get together with family at a cemetery on All Saint's Day to eat, drink, and tell stories by your loved ones' graves.
- FALSE. We go there to pray and recite the "Nobena para sa mga kalag sa kalag sa porgatoryo."

You play cards or mahjong and drink beer at funeral wakes.
- FALSE. I don't usually go to funeral wakes and if I do, I don't play cards nor drink beer. I just eat and eat peanuts.

You think Christmas season begins in October and ends in January.
- FALSE. It starts in September.

Your second piece of luggage is a balikbayan box.
- FALSE. I've never been to any other country.

You've mastered the art of packing a suitcase to double capacity.
- FALSE. I'm not good at that. I let my Ate pack my things for me.

You collect items from airlines, hotels, and restaurants as "souvenirs."
- TRUE. I even collected toothpicks from a restaurant in Cebu. Yikes!

You feel obligated to give pasalubong to all your friends and relatives each time you return from a trip.
- FALSE. A gift is never an obligation. If my finances permit me, why not? If I'm poor, better.

You use paper foot outlines when buying shoes for friends and relatives.
- Partly true. I just have a straw cut in the foot's length.

You're a fashion victim.
- DEFINITELY FALSE! I may not be a fashionista but I'm don't belong to the clan of Batlita.

You can convey 30 messages with your facial expression.
- TRUE.

You hold your palms together in front of you and say "excuse, excuse" when you pass in between people or in front of the TV.
- FALSE. I'm not Ate Guy.

You ask for the bill at a restaurant by making a rectangle in the air.
- TRUE. Hehehe.

You cover your mouth when you laugh.
- FALSE. I couldn't forget when my elementary teacher called me "ugaling skwater" because I don't cover my mouth when I laugh.

You respond to a "Hoy!" or a "Pssst!" in a crowd.
- FALSE. OK, sometimes true.

You'll answer "Malapit lang!" - no matter the distance--when asked how far away a place is located.
- FALSE. But I get that answer most of the time.

Goldilocks is more than a fairy tale character to you.
- TRUE.

You refer to power interruptions as "brownouts."
- TRUE.

You love to use the following acronyms: CR for comfort room, DI for dance
instructor, DOM for dirty old man, TNT for tagu nang tago, KJ for kill joy, KSP for kulang sa pansin, OA for over-acting, TL for true love, BF for boyfriend and GF for girlfriend.
- TRUE. LR for lahi ra.

You say "rubber shoes" instead of sneakers, "ball pen" instead of pen, "stockings" instead of pantyhose, "pampers" instead of diapers, "ref" or prijider" instead of refrigerator, "Colgate" instead of toothpaste, "canteen" instead of cafeteria, and "open" or "close" instead of turn on or turn off (as in the lights).
- TRUE. But I never say colgate for a toothpaste or any brand for a certain thing.

You use an umbrella for shade on hot summer days.
- FALSE. I'm not Silhouette.

You like everything imported or "state- side. "
- FALSE. I value Filipino patriotism.

You love ballroom dancing, bowling, pusoy, mah jong, billiards, and karaoke.
- TRUE for karaoke (only when a few people could hear me).

You have a relative who is a nurse.
- FALSE. Only a friend.

When you're in a restaurant, you wipe your plate and utensils before using them.
- FALSE. But I smell the utensils and my mom often reprimands me.

You can squeeze 15 passengers into your five seater car without a second
thought.
- FALSE. We haven't done it.

You wave a pom-pom on a stick around the food to keep the flies away.
- TRUE. I remember how I would love to watch our store before if I'm the one holding it.

You always ring a doorbell twice, assuming that the first ring was not heard.
- FALSE.

You let the phone ring twice before answering, lest you appear overly eager.
- FALSE.

You use a rock to scrub yourself in the bath or shower.
- FALSE.

My score - 31/66. Not even 50%. Correct me if I'm wrong. Being in a callcenter makes me lose my skill in counting.

Makabagbag-damdaming Dayalogo

These are few of the award-winning lines delivered by some people I personally know. I just want to post this just in case I would be suffering from Alzheimer's disease someday, I'd be able to recall these moments and give myself a laugh.

Ako ang masunod diri sa yuta wa'y labot sa langit! (My will be done on earth and not in heaven.)

- Terror Math teacher Ma'am Berongoy everytime our section would ask for a rescheduling of an exam

Kanus-a man napangit ang Einstein?! (Since when had [section] Einstein gone bad?)

- Response of a raging classmate Andee in response to Kenneth's (Falle) statement that our section's presentation was a great one. (December 1997)

...And to top it all, you're a Tom Cruise look-alike and I'm nothing but a Katie Holmes dead ringer.

- Friend Janice on a birthday card she gave me comparing our differences (September 17, 1999)

When will you stop acting like an immature person?

- My team leader to my teammate (October 2006)

My will chooses you but my heart chooses her. God, help me, as I choose my heart to lead my way. Come what may.

- break-up line of Jose Ajoc to my friend Junnah (February 15, 2003)

Basi kalimot ka nga dili ka bisita diri. (You must have forgotten that you are not our visitor)

- Mama whenever I don't do anything at all except sleep, eat and watch TV everytime I go home

'Duard I have a bad news... Samuel is dead...(silence) But I have a good one. Samantha is born.

- Classmate June on the phone one Summer break (April 1999)

Da, Ro?! Di ka ganahan ug Carpenters? Nindot baya na ilang kanta. (Really Ro?! You don't like Carpenters? But their songs are nice.)

- Classmate Irish's reaction to classmate Ammeruth regarding her question to classmate Kristine if she still watches CARTOONS (high school days)

Si William, ang lalaking sa pagkakataong ito'y tanaw tanaw ko. Yun lamang at gumuhit ang ngiti sa aking mga labi. (No English translation could give justice to this poetic line).

- Friend Janice's award-winning tanging lathalain (feature article) entry in the 1997 Division Schools Press Conference

I have forgotten some more. I may post them when my memory is refreshed.

Into the Altar of Cindy

Cindy Kurleto is not pretty. She's very pretty. She may not have the great curves but she's still sexy.

I just had attended the MTV AIDS Awareness Symposium held in our company today. Fortunately for me, Cindy was the one who came and hosted the event.

I shouldn't have joined the symposium. Modesty aside, I've had enough of those seminars about reproductive health, responsible sex, AIDS, etc. I may have known better than those who are actively active in sex. But then again, there's Cindy and an hour of sitting infront of her altar wouldn't hurt me.

And so we were taught about the causes of AIDS and its difference from HIV and the use of condoms. For me, abstinence and faithfulness is still the best practice. There's a short open forum wherein most of the people were shy enough to ask, especially the guys who might receive redicule thinking that they don't know enough about sex and the virus. Oh! The fragility of men's pride.

And there's this so-called "nurse" who works in a callcenter who keeps on asking. Actually, he wasn't asking to clarify things. He was doing it to impress people that he's a reader, that he's updated, that he knows much, and that he's a nurse. Well, whatever. What's boggling my mind was the physical structure of the virus and how it looks like inside and outside an organism's cell. I also wanted to give the speakers a harder time by letting them explain how the virus travels inside the body and replace the components of the nucleus. But then again, for the love of Cindy, I didn't do it.

I couldn't forget his opening salvo and the things that he said after that. It went this way:

"I am a nurse.... Did you heard about...?"

I should have asked for the mic and said:

"I am a grammarian. Did you hear him say 'Did you heard?'"

No wonder why he ended up in a callcenter. He must not have passed TOEFL and was denied for a work abroad and thought that being in a callcenter is worth a bunch of bucks than being a volunteer.

Anyways, the final part of the event was taking pictures with us wearing red. I got a red fan and covered my face with it to hide my identity in case those images would be flashed on the 5th of December during the MTV AIDS Summit. I had taken my picture with Cindy and as expected, her shoes look better than my face. I don't want to post it.

Trick or Treat

I'm scaring most of the people in Eastwood right now. My face is fully painted with red and a silhouette of horns on my forehead and fake mustache and beard were drawn. Obviously, I'm a devil.

Our team is supposed to look like corpses for our company's costume contest. But while I was putting that mint foundation on my face, I can't fit into the character who looks pale and lifeless and I look less scary. I don't want it. I need something more. And so I am a demon. People who know say the same thing - there's no much difference on my looks except that I'm blushing.

And yes, I have the guts to go out of the building and eat at the Hepa Lane with this look. It's even funny to see a devil praying for grace before eating his lunch at 3:45 a.m.

We're not aiming for winning the EK prize. It's the spirit of camaraderie that is more important. Our TL is not around and it's more fun for us. Hehehe.

Speaking of fun, I love how C5 and even Cubao look like. No traffic, not much noise, and yes, less ugly people.

Till I Met You

I'm jologs and I also value the Filipino patriotism in me. I've grown up with some Filipino movies, mucus-stimulating melodramatic lines, predictable fight scenes, and terribly corny jokes.

With all those kabaduyans, I'm still proud of our Filipino movies... and still enjoy watching and criticizing all the loopholes and all.

Just watched this movie yesterday out of curiosity. I've been reading positive reviews and I think this is worth the try.

Here's what I could say:

• The storyline is very predictable. Boy meets girl. They hate each other's guts. He finds out her deepest secrets. They fall in love with each other but can't realize their feelings because she's taken and is bound to get married for the guy's adoptive father.
  
• Marky Cielo's (Starstruck Ultimate Survivor) face is obviously overly covered with thick foundation.
  
• Pekto's high-pitched voice is so irritating. His character is an irritating deaf sidekick so... So.
  
• Regine is undeniably old. I wonder how she looks like without any make up on.
  
• Kuh Ledesma still has some class even though she plays as a tindera of a carenderia. Regine's mom and Direk Mark also did a cameo role in the movie.
  
• As always, Eddie Garcia acts well.
  
• Bino will always be Bino whether he would be a police, a fugitive, or a ranch guy without a gun.
  
• Regine's acting in this movie is good. I would suggest a deeper character on her next movie that would showcase her acting ability.
  
• It's always the case in Filipino love stories. A pair younger alipores would always make a side-love story, which when we scrutinize, may be omitted without any effect on the plot.
  
• It has always been my question since I was a kid. Do rich people really wear casual and formal clothes, embellished with all jewelry and make-up even when they're inside the house?
  
• I wonder how much have Talk 'n Text and WOW Magic Sing paid for the excessive exposure of their products.
  
• The house is nice. Modern-type model in the middle of a ranch.

Anyway, here's the lyrics that has been playing inside my head all this time. I don't dedicate it to somebody because I haven't found her yet. Someday, I might be able to sing it infront of her.

kuh ledesma

http://www.lyricsdownload.com/

Rockafella

I'm still trying to forget the big humiliation I've had last Sunday evening at the TSBU (Technical Support Business Unit) gothic rock party in Clamshell, Intramuros. In my greatest desire to fit my attire with the theme in order to camouflage myself with the huge crowd, I was still recognized.

While my name was being called by those barriotic and undeniably horrible-looking emcees, I was already thinking of walking out, tenderring my immediate resignation and trying to forget everything. But since professionalism still filled my soul, I TRIED not to look like I'm pissed with the event's stupid idea of having us catwalk on that musical instrument-crowded stage. Just imagining a scoliotic bald scarecrow in his sleeveless black polo, fatigue cargo shorts, black Chuck Taylor and red necktie with eyelids darkened with smudged eyeliner walking on that small stage makes me think of cutting my webbed fingers to my death.

I'm thinking of resigning before I could see myself in another barriotic TV program called eTV. Help! Mother of Forgetfulness, have mercy on me.

* * *

I'm thinking of changing my URL again. I'll find ways on how I could inform you guys about the change. But sooner or later I'm going to do that. Just to give myself some privacy.

I Am Bad Because I Am, Because I Want to be

I'm not going to cry. No, I ain't gonna cry. Please. These lacrimal glands wouldn't produce any fluid at all. But NO! They just did. And again, they do. And keep on secreting liquid.

I don't want these eyes. And the more do I hate those eyes who look at me with much pity like I'm the most misfortunate man on earth. I don't need your mercy. I've grown up relying only on myself, my family and my friends, except of course lifting everything to the greatest force above. Besides that, I don't expect anything from anybody. And I don't want anybody to expect anything from me.

Tomorrow I'll be turning 25 and all my life I've already accepted that I am not a normal person. I am not sociable. I am not a public pleaser. I don't befriend people that easily. Sometimes I might be congenial but that doesn't mean that we're already friends. No personal attachments - just treat me as one of your ordinary teammates, acquaintances or just some stranger around whose name you can't even remember.

I am not born to please anybody nor am I born to be of service to everybody. The world I'm revolving around is just small, something isolated, somewhere not everybody is not priviliged to enter. Call me selfish. That's okay with me. Fuck the word "camaraderie." It's never my obligation to make everybody happy. If you don't like me, that's fine with me. I would even love to hear you say that to me. But I would never ever change for anybody.

I am not unlucky. I would never be unlucky. I am not an island. I may be geographically away from the people I love but that doesn't mean that I am an island. My being me is the only thing that's left for me and please spare it for me.

Lastly, happy birthday to me.

Enchanted Rollercoaster Ride

1. The ironic faces. Ces and I busy posing as we're boarding for Laguna. 2. Four normal hands and a set of webbed fingers. 3. The view of Enchanted Kingdom from the top. 4. The excited but scared Talakitok on the ferris wheel. It isn't so obvious though with his very big smile. 5. Holding on to the astronaut after getting dizzy with the Space Shuttle. 6. A new yellow shirt after getting wet with the Riogrande Rapids. 7. Learning to drive. 8. Frustrated model along those New York Streets. 9. Equestrian. 10. Take two. The devilish look on the ferris wheel.

At the Enchanted Kingdom, on September 9, 2006, I conquered two of my fears - speed and height. My motivation? I guess it was only getting my money's worth. I don't want to put the five hundred-peso entrance ticket to trash.

It was Sheila's post-birthday celebration and also timely since her bestfriend, Ces, also paid her a visit. I miss Ces, the girl who used to make me blush with her green jokes. I was just so innocent then when she became my classmate, and then became my friend and we shared so many crazy experiences and she transformed me to be the meanest asshole that I could be. Hahaha!

Anyhow, getting to Laguna is not at all that bad. It's very bad. Getting stuck by the terrible traffic jam along Southbound Highway would tell you that patience isn't the only the value that you need. One must be proactive enough in thinking of some funny ways to get rid of boredom - you know, taking pictures on sleeping people inside the van or even those on the bus, singing along with the songs on the radio, and showcasing one's talent in talking too much to the point of losing all the saliva.

We first rode on the ferris wheel, which they call as "Wheel of Fate." For almost 25 years of my life, I finally had the courage to get onto that ride. I thought it's going to kill me but no. It's really nice to be on top of everybody. We even got back to that ride before going home.

Then we went to Anchor's Away. It's a ship-like ride that sways like a pendulum to almost 180 degrees. I felt like my intestines were all mixed up since we were seated at the very last row. I wished it would stop swaying but the moment it haulted, I wished for more. In fact, we took the ride four times.

Then we flew to the Space Shuttle. It's like a rollercoaster but the former's turns are not as big as the latter's. I was very apprehensive at first because I don't want to lose my life with all the pieces of me scattered everywhere. I had never taken that ride in my entire life and I never imagined myself on that ride. The problem with me is that I can't scream. Sheila was even so brave to take the front seat where the momentum is at maximum. Christine (Sheila's landlady's daugter) was seated beside me while Jag (Ces' friend) was alone next to us. Being so conscious with my safety gear since I felt it's kind of loose, I was caught off-guard when the ride started leaving me with no air to inhale. I even forgot to remove my sunglasses. I thought to myself, "Stop! Wait a minute! I'm not yet ready!" But then I had no choice. I felt my brain was shaken that I felt like a blank slate for a few seconds. Had I died at that time, my mom would exert all her powers to resurrect me in order to kill me again. They didn't even know that I went to that place.

Time to relax and take a breather. We got to that Jungle Log. I got wet but not as wet as in the Riogrande Rapids. I couldn't forget how I told Sheila to shut up from screaming that her panties got wet. We ended up buying new shirts for ourselves.

Then we went to those no-brainer rides like the revolving swing and parachutes and my favorite one - the carousel. I felt like a kid again. Innocent but bored, after that adrenaline rush. I even spotted Joshua Zamora of the Maneuvers busy taking pictures of his family.

The Swan lake looks boring but it's definitely physically demanding. My knees and upper thighs got pretty tired of kicking those pedals. Getting to the bump cars gave me the chance to master the ride. Wow! I really enjoyed it that I went back three times. The rollerskater (a kiddie version of the rollerskater) is just OK. After that space shuttle ride, it's no challenge. The splash bumpers (I'm not too sure of its name though) is the boat version of the bump cars. It's pretty fun thinking that only Ces, Sheila and I were on that lagoon while others were just looking at us.

The worst and corniest of it all was the Adventures of Hanna Barbera. After all, it's just for kids but we forced outselves to get in. Even its billboard is grammatically incorrect. It states "Now Showing Today..."

I have more to say but I'm a bit tired (and sleepy) to talk and write more about my experience. What I could say is that the Anchor's Away is just like sex (as if I had experienced it). According to many, once you get a taste of it, you keep on coming back to do it again.

If I would have the chance to go back to that kingdom again, I would love to take it. I even planned to go back there on my birthday. This time, I would be alone. I don't know. I have no definite plans for next week yet. I thought of isolating myself in my room for the whole day with my phone turned off and enjoying a day-long marathon of CSI while eating various flavors of ice cream (yes I have a freezer now). I also thought of going to Ma Mon Luk and have their delicious siopao and mami. Or maybe take advantage of the 50% discount for facial services at Flawless (since they're giving discounts for eTel employees especially on their birthday). Whatever it is, come what may. Basta, di ko manlibre but I welcome presents.

Sleepless in Butuan

Just when I thought that I could take the much-deserve eight-hour sleep when I'll get here, then I'm wrong again. It's worse than my callcenter job. It's already past 5:00 a.m. and I'm still wide awake. We haven't done cleaning the entire house, arranging all the interiors. Minutes from now, we have to go to the market. I still have to finalize the invitation list, do some more errands. The feast is still a day away but the chapel people will come to our house this evening.

I told you fiesta is peste! My right shoulder is damn aching. I'm sleepy.

By the by, I'm being frequently reprimanded. In a house where I'm the only guy, and the only tornado person (besides our youngest sister), I can't keep things in order. But I'm still enjoying things.

Freedom

I'm on a vacation leave for two weeks. I'm at my sister's laptop right now and keeps on complaining about the slow connection. I'm not really a proactive person and I've been reprimanded about that bad attitude more than 50 times on my 4th day here. But still, they can't do anything about it.

I just want to share how much I got more than mad with the people of PAL. For a change, our flight from Manila to Butuan wasn't delayed but their staff were testing how much of barbaric warriors we are. I could remember how my aunt pinched me as I was answering the counter back but didn't mind her at all. Being an egoistic person, I don't want people to reprimand me in public, especially if I'm not at fault, as I am not a small boy anymore nor am I in my elementary years. I should have asked for their supervisor but I was already so hungry at that time. Had that man gave me more reasons to boil my blood more than 100 degrees, I could have eaten him whole.

Anyway, we've arrived safely. My aunt is enjoying her stay and has so many itineraries in her mind. We're in a careful planning for the fiesta next week. As much as I wouldn't like to have that kind of party, I can't do anything but to cooperate. After all, it's the first time in our 15 years here that we're preparing for the feast. Honestly, I call fiesta as peste. I hate people, I hate entertaining people, I hate to prepare food, I hate to wash the dishes. I just hate it!

But then again, I'm home. Though I'm expecting some arguments with my mom regarding Ling-ling, being home is a lot different than being away from my family. As a children's song says, "Happiness is coming home again." I just miss my room, my dog, our very clean bathroom, our big TV. I don't miss our neigbors. Not at all. Someday I may realize to burn all their houses so that our house would be the only one standing in Villa Caridad.

We had some visitors coming and that included kids. Yes. KIDS! Kids who don't know how to behave properly. Kids who are noisy. Kids who are so hyperactive. But they can't make inarte when I'm around. Nobody could dare open my toy collection in our divider. My aunt and mom would just laugh at me whenever I would tell those kids to keep away from my toys by just looking at them. Hahaha!