It's My Burthday!

Okay. So I'm already 28, single, broke and in the middle of the limbo. But right now, I'm okay. Happy even. Finally, after almost 28 years in the Philippines, I'm able to go to another country - Thailand. Though it's been only for three short days, at least I've been there and that's what's important to me.

Right now, I surely won't say I'm contented with my life. Since when have I been contented anyway? I just want to land on a job that I would like. Being an engineer is out. A callboy is so out. Being a priest is somewhat considerable. Ha ha! All I just want is to let people hear a good, logical and brief sermon... and of course me having great food always.

Seriously, I've realized that it's my childhood dream to become a lawyer. My aunt reminded me how I used to passionately scribble on used cigarette reams. I even have a picture of a barely one-year old me crying when the pen ran out of ink. My aunt used to ask me when I was a preschooler what I wanted to be when I grow up and I said I wanted to be a lawyer.

I also remember the incident when my cousins and I called this radio station announcer to check what's in store for us through numerology. We were doing it just for fun but the radio announcer seemed credible with what he was saying. The right jobs for me are being a writer or an attorney. I cannot make writing as my source of income. I mean, duh, I'm not one excellent writer. I just know how but I am not at par with those great writers I know.

So is being a lawyer the right one? I won't know until I won't try. I'm still 28 anyway.

MS Lives on

The "trip" from the church to the cemetery took more than nine hours. I can't bear that. My back would surely ache. I would have reached Ilocos already.

As for the ceremony, it's when I learned to appreciate Kris' sincerity in her speech. I ALMOST cried (darn, I'm very much insensitive nowadays). I was touched with Lea's patriotic rendition of "Bayan Ko" which really blew me away. Regine had "The Prayer's" Italian lyrics changed to English so that she won't mess up, which I appreciated more than doing the wrong thing. And I totally got lost with Piolo Pascual's number. Fine, it's the eagerness to sing for the late president that matters most.

-o0o-

I'm currently on my advanced communications track and I'm on my fourth speech in the interpretive reading manual. It's like I'm going back to my literature years where I read Khuswant Singh's "Karma" in the short story project, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" for poetry and "Valjean's Soliloquy" from the play "Les Miserables" for monodrama.

Last night, I got to present a play. And in coherence to our theme "Country Service" it's time to pay homage to the Filipino artists who have made our country proud for dominating in this play - "Miss Saigon." God! The time alloted for the project is 13-15 minutes which really made me combine "Who's in Town" and "You Will Not Touch Him" portions of the musical. And since it is indeed a musical, I got to sing the entire piece since it would be so weird to have them spoken.

Though I knew in myself that I really messed up, knowing that Toastmasters evaluations gives positive feedback with some points of improvement, they found it great. Besides, having the nerve to act out those three characters while singing in different pitch, in front of some people is already an achievement. I just needed proper pacing since they've also observed that I was rushing to finish the performance. Nevertheless, it was okay - not great as according to them. And I'm happy that it's over and that I could move on to the next project - the oratorical speech. Which should I choose, Obama's or Cory's inaugural speech?

Tita Cory

I grew up not looking at her with high regard. She's not a hotshot president. Her presidency had a lot of coups, the economy was down, and brown outs. To begin with, I live in a family where an authoritarian leader rules - my mom - who's a loyalist to Marcos.

Honestly I was just apathetic about her death. I mean it's sad that she passed away, but okay, at least it ended her suffering. I wasn't really affected... until this evening when I heard a portion of the necrological service.

A few days ago, people along Ayala Avenue had fallen yellow confetti along the street. TV specials were named "Salamat Tita Cory." If GMA will die, same thing might happen - there will be confetti and there are also TV specials entitled "Salamat Papa Jesus."

Seriously, people address her as Tita Cory not because she's related to them by blood. Being a president with the big heart, she had been the mother of the country for six years. And Tita, because she has been a symbol of a perfect mother for us - showering that unconditional love inspite and despite of all our imperfections.

To you Tita Cory, thank you and God bless. May you continue to pray for our country... and may you poke the head of that old dwarf woman.

Chirping

I'm trying this new fad called "Twitter" and see how it feels to be a celebrity (celebrities do it here). I must say it's easy and user-friendly. However, what I don't like in it is that it has a lot of limitations - the appearance of the page, one can't post a picture, and the number of characters one could type. Brevity is not really my thing so I have a hard time capsulizing my ideas.

As of this moment, I still don't have any follower, and if there would be one, I'm sure it's just a spammer and I don't encourage you to follow me either because... just because you won't like it.

Artist Wannabe

I've been to Cebu for more than two weeks and with a lot of things that had happened there beyond my control, one of them was having my camera lens damaged, I decided to bring the work here. And I was so embarrassed to learn that the entire corporation (I think it is) was the one who spent for my fare to and from Cebu. Given with the pressure that I can make a good print ad, plus the limitations of materials, I have to make it work. Here's what I decided to do. I hope this is acceptable. I don't know. I'm not confident with my work.

What can you say? I respect honesty. Be mean and harsh if you have to.

P.S.

Let me also take this opportunity to promote the said store. Biaño's Homemade Pizza is obviously a pizza business. It sells pizzas starting at 90 pesos (I think) up. Trust me, they really taste well and they're not expensive. Just don't overeat because it will lead you weak. He he. Call them at 3479677 or 09223636872 for deliveries. You may also visit their store at A.S. Fortuna Avenue, Mandaue City, situated beside KUMON and found near Shell gasoline station.

Kiddie Meal

Is my reflection totally different from what people actually see?

It's what crossed my mind when one child, a two-year old girl perhaps, looked at me, smiled, and laughed when I looked back at her. She kept on laughing while I was just looking at her with a blank stare. I thought to myself, is there a big letter L written on my forehead?

Then I remembered my experience in Cebu where, while inside the car, my friend's sister's nine-month old baby only stopped crying and went to sleep after I started singing while using the rattle as the accompaniment. He kept on crying while his mom was the one singing for him. Weird.

Then the one-year old cousin of that child also got closer to me than to her Aunt, who's that friend of mine, and learned a few English words from me like "yucks" with that gesture of putting one's index finger in the mouth and acting as if she's vomiting. She also said "NO!" when my friend asked to borrow her shoes, which, she calls "shoeses" after she heard it from me. Am I really that influential?

Of course, my nephews and niece who are so close to me. My niece would even tell my Mom that she's going to make sumbong to me because her Lola scolded her. And when my sister calls, they would often say, "Is that Uncle calling?"

I am vocal about how I don't like kids but these things make me think that I have given the passion and compassion to them, just unconsciously. Which really makes me ask, "Handa na ba ako'ng maging ama?" Ha ha ha.

MRT

Palagi ka ba'ng sumasakay sa MRT? Kung ang sagot mo ay "Oo," malamang naririnig mo ang mga impormasyo'ng paulit-ulit na pinapatugtog. Kung ikaw ay tao;ng mapagmasid, mapapansin mo'ng karamihan sa mga trivia na ito ay Pilipino o Pilipinas ang bida. Halos lahat ng mga ito ay nagsisimula sa parirala'ng "Alam niyo ba..." at sa kalagitnaan nito ay may malaking "PERO."

Halimbawa:

• Alam niyo ba na ang bansa'ng Pilipinas ay binanggit sa bibliya? PERO....
  
• Alam niyo ba'ng matinik sa mga babae ang mga Pilipino?
  
• Alam niyo ba'ng ang pinakamatamis na prutas na naitala sa Guinness Book of World Records ay nasa Guimaras?
  
• Alam niyo ba'ng ang tagasulat ng (pangalan ng Amerikano'ng Pangulo) ay isa'ng Pilipino? PERO....

Ipinagmamalaki talaga natin ang ati'ng bansa. Mayroon lamang akong idadagdag.

Alam niyo ba'ng noo'ng panahon ay ang Pilipinas ang pinakamalaki'ng bansa sa buo'ng mundo? PERO dahil sa nangyari'ng Great Flood, lumiit na lamang ito at naging pulu-pulo. Pagkahupa ng baha, naging mga bansa'ng Tsina, Estados Unidos at Hapon and malalaki'ng bahagi nito.

'Di ba ang saya?

-o0o-

Too much about that Filipino stuff, I am pairing two single friends who, I think, are compatible with each other. She's a pianist who doesn't want another musician/artist because of mood swings, kind of funny, sweet, nice and very patient youngest daughter. He's a licensed engineer who is so devoted to his job, has a business, a very responsible son, a strict older brother, and quite serious with mostly everything. The problem is he's a devoted Catholic and she's a Protestant. He's in Cebu while she's in Manila and will be flying soon to Pennsylvania for her doctorate. Will my plan be realized? Let's see what will happen to Ian and Michelle.

Adios Kiko

I shouldn't be affected by his death because I'm not really a big fan. Sure, I used to memorize the entire "Mga Kababayan" when I was still in grade school but I never had any moment where I really looked up to him. Fine, I couldn't help but be envious with his high-bridged, narrow-nostril nose and I even thought that he's been suffering from Peter Pan syndrome because he's getting younger. And hell yeah, he's too privileged to become an MTV VJ even if he was above 25 years old (the cut-off age for VJ hunt), or should I say it's MTV who's too lucky to have him. Darn. He he.

It's my luck to have met him personally during my "guesting" in Eat Bulaga where he was the one who asked me to sing a part of "Kami nga mga Butuanon" and gave me the question about my favorite fish - tuna.

Battling with cancer is surely a tough task to do and who are we to question God when everyone of us is only living our own borrowed lives? Sooner or later, everyone has to go. At least Kiko didn't have to struggle with the pain the Big C had to cause him.

God bless you Kiko!

What Now TMZ?

On the other episode of this TV show that I really hate because of its ugly host and contributors who don't deserve to star on a TV show (I think they're the American Christy and Jobert), they have shifted their attention to the kid stars of "Slumdog Millionaire" giving advice on how to act properly on the red carpet. Duh! Have they been invited ever to an awards ceremony in the first place to share a "helpful" advice? These are kids for Christ's sake and as far as I know, though it's obvious that they've been excited and overwhelmed to have walked on the red carpet and rub elbows with big Hollywood stars, they just behaved appropriately.

And as for their statement saying that these children have gotten in the US and toured in Disneyland but will be back as slumdogs once they're back in India, they deserve to be really slapped. One, though I'm not a child lover, it's not really nice to be hitting on these kids. Second, news say that they've already been given their new homes. So, what now?

Blog of the Month - Showbiz Predictions 2009

Kong Hei Fat Choi!

It's the year of the Ox and I've just learned from a Feung Shui expert in one of the Toastmaster meetings that I've attended that I will be lucky this year. Perhaps I just need to wait a little longer for me to get a better job.

Anyway, let me set this straight that this topic is totally not my idea. Ha ha! And I don't possess a single Watt of psychic power in my blood. This is just for fun so don't take me seriously.

• Another young actress will get impregnated due to premarital sex.
  
• Another actor will pass away.
  
• Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes will finally admit their relationship.
  
• Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho will be back in each others arms. Then they'll split. And get back together again. And the cycle goes round and round. Hayden will realize that his narcissism needs him to be worshiped by girls, old women and gay guys, thus, he will re-enter showbiz.
  
• Kapuso stars will jump over the fence and be a Kapamilya and the other way around. It's a career move.
  
• GMA and ABS-CBN's claim to be the number one network will still continue.
  
• Oh my God! Another sequel of Shake Rattle and Roll.
  
• Another non-singer will release his album.
  
• One more dance album.
  
• Lutuan issues on awards nights.
  
• Couples will get married. Married ones will separate.

Saan Darating ang Umaga

I was a preschooler when I first watched this movie and I must admit that it made me cry. It was my first time to hear the word "ampon" which made me think that I was an adopted child whenever my mom would punish me. He he. Anyway, like several movies that I loved, this flick has also been put into television which, again, made me feel mad about the idea. My rigid personality tells me that if the writers couldn't really stick to the same plot, make the title totally different and just specify in the credit "Adapted from the movie/book 'Blah Blah'."

• Maricel Soriano originally played the role of Shayne who is a bratinella, sosyal and Englishera sexy girl. Yasmien Kurdi reprised the role who looks like a maid in her clothes, doesn't possess elegance, jologs even when delivering those English lines (teraphy duh) and is fat.
  
• In the movie, Nestor de Villa and Nida Blanca played as Ruben and Lorie, respectively. It's undeniable that they have the chemistry. On TV, Joel Torre and Lani Mercado play the part of the couple. The former looks like the father of the latter.
  
• The cute Jaypee de Guzman played the orphaned boy, Joel, in the movie. He's charming, thin, and doesn't just cry but acted his part well, which, as far as I know, gave him several acting awards for this role. People could really feel for his being an underdog and all. In the TV version, it's Jacob Montes who gets the character - healthy, mestizo, still cute but doesn't look realistic enough for the role.
  
• The coño role of Raul landed to Raymund Lauchengco. Then there's Dion Ignacio in the TV version who couldn't pull the character off. Add it to his several scenes wherein he has to be shirtless showing his bulging tummy.
  
• A lot of characters to make the whole story as magulo as lugaw making the lead characters' life crazy as hell.

Surely, my life is as exciting as watching these kinds of trashes almost everyday, aside, of course, from doing my laundry or sleeping, or eating everything to my heart's content. I've even figured out that my stomach composes 90% of my body causing my very low IQ since it's not allowing my brain to get enough oxygenated blood.

Riddle

January 26, 2009 while watching the teaser of "My Dad is Better than Your Dad."

Paolo: Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka.

Thinkerthird: Unsa'y answer, zipper?

Jancieus: Pacman!

Ha ha! I've checked the answer and found out that it's "gunting" which was Janice's second answer anyway. Happy birthday Jan!

GMRC

Fairview-Cubao Jeepney, March 31, 2008

Bayad

Lagro-Delta Jeepney, January 14, 2009

Debede, Debede

DVD stall, Ever Commonwealth, January 10, 2009

Bisdak

Commonwealth Avenue, January 10, 2009

Nothing's for Free

Found along Quezon Avenue corner Banaue, June 7, 2008

"The Secret" Disciple

Found on the MRT, December 4, 2008

Madre Sandals

I hope this wouldn't be taken as a disrespect. I spent more than ten years of my life living across the convent of nuns. As a Catholic, I've had several encounters with nuns as well and as far as what my observation tells me, these are the kind of shoes that they wear.

I don't think four-inch stilettos are that expensive. In fact, these kinds of sandals shown in the picture are not cheap either so why not be fashionable while following their vow of poverty?

Sylvester Stallone

Photo studio, Makati City, January 16, 2009