Googlism

Blame the people on my side bar. My comments in parentheses.

ejay is working again (How'd you know?)
ejay is working again ok dudes? (Okay.)
ejay is having some problems with the servers not accepting the tracks that are uploaded because they are pretty full (I'm having problems with the servers, period.)
ejay is bringing music to your home (Really? Where?)
ejay is entitled to remove individual or all music titles from the internet at any given time (Be very afraid!)
ejay is easy to use (You betcha!)
ejay is fantastic (I like this site already.)
ejay is more popular in the UK than Germany (What can I say?)
ejay is a club machine (Eyng?)
ejay is right up your alley (Right up your alley!)
ejay is cute (I knew that.)
ejay is coming soon (Watch out.)
ejay is a fantastic way to go about it (I agree.)
ejay is set to revolutionize the world of mp3 as it releases its most comprehensive package to date (Kachink!)
ejay is the leading publisher of music software and provider of online music entertainment across europe (Kachink-chink!)
ejay is from the focus range and retails at only £9 (What the?!)
ejay is europe's leading interactive dance music brand (Yeah, baby!)
ejay is a range of revolutionary music software from fasttrack that allows you to easily create tomorrow's tunes today (I'm into music a lot, eh?)
ejay is part of the empire interactive plc network (What's that?)
ejay is a splendid piece of music making (Well...)
ejay is proud to present its latest (Go on...)
ejay is the highly acclaimed music software for pc that allows you to create and mix your own tunes (I see where this is going.)
ejay is director gold (But of course!)
ejay is a fantastic and fun way to make music for those of you without any music knowledge (And if you call in the next 10 minutes...)
ejay is a good singer but he just wasn't the american idol (Ouch.)
ejay is a well constructed (A well constructed what?)
ejay is a trademark of pxd musicsoft (Uh...no.)
ejay is an 'instant music' software company (The plot thickens.)
ejay is just one of many similar products made by voyetra turtle beach (That's a stupid brand name.)
ejay is a long established local company (Maybe someday.)
ejay is feature (Feature what? Feature Ferfect? Nyahahaha.)
ejay is called "gung" but 'mix' files are interchangeable between the versions (World Peace.)
ejay is playing a song? (Believe it.)
ejay is no use (Shut up!)
ejay is turning the dance music world on its head with its ground (That's some messed up ground.)
ejay is so easy to use (I'm just friendly.)
ejay is a self (And you are?)
ejay is an exciting way of composing music (Hurry while supplies last!)
ejay is one of the world’s leading providers of music software (I wish.)
ejay is that anyone can do it and the real fun is that you can inflict your abominations upon the whole world (We have a winner!)
ejay is a tough beast to tame but brian has this ugly monster cringing meekly at his feet (I'm gonna have to talk to Brian about this one.)
ejay is the ultimate dessert (Want a bite?)
ejay is a very popular series of 8 and 16 track composing/arranging studio software for the pc
ejay is a very popular 8 track composing/arranging studio tool for the pc (Okay! Okay!)
ejay is for you (Hoo ha!)
ejay is an example of my studio (Eyng?)
ejay is still fun to play with nonetheless (Nonetheless?!?)
ejay is an original music software program that delivers unlimited creativity with the utmost simplicity (Enough with the software crap already!)
ejay is the perfect software package for people with madd creativity in the brain (Remember: Madd Creativity!)
ejay is nationwide (I try my best.)
ejay is now an institution (Not yet.)
ejay is proud to present its latest offering in cutting (So I'm into cutting too, eh?)
ejay is such a happy guy (I'd like to believe I am.)
ejay is a virgo 5 (What's a Virgo 5?)
ejay is not "in" (What the? Of course, I'm "in"!)
ejay is the same thing as if you coloured a picture in a colouring book and claimed that you´re a great artist (There's a profound thought in there somewhere.)
ejay is tierisch geil (What's that?)
ejay is not expensive and can be purchased for less than $20 (I think I'm worth more than $20, thank you very much.)
ejay is in the final 10 (I'd like to thank my fans for their unending support.)
ejay is due for the pc in november and there are an impressive amount of features for it (It's already December.)
ejay is making these leashes available temporarily without rings but rather with a slip loop type assembly (Wow!)
ejay is fun (Well...)
ejay is a specialist music software company focusing on music creativity software and internet music tools (No, I'm not.)
ejay is a virtual recording studio and sequencer that lets you create and record your own hip hop mixes (I give up.)

Check out www.googlism.com and find out what Google thinks of you.

Three Somethings

Taken from Jon Z.'s blog.

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:

1. Ejay (very, very few people get the spelling right; variations include Eej, Edge, Ejong and 'jay)
2. Jeps (short for Jepoy, my personification of a comic strip character I created back in college; only my classmates call me this nowadays)
3. Nefut (slang for a native of the Cordilleras and is actually meant to be derogatory; when in Baguio, never use it if you want to stay alive)

THREE SCREEN/PEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:

1. Mader Bits (a term I heard Jon use a few years back; I've been using it in forums and network games since)
2. Nameci (Iceman spelled backwards; I used it for a while during freshman year)
3. Ebenezer Jacobi (don't ask)

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:

1. I'd like to think I'm a good dancer
2. I'd also like to think I have a good sense of humor
3. I'm a really fast learner

THREE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:

1. I tend to be a hot head when driving
2. I just can't be original in my ideas
3. I can't fully live up to people's expectations

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:

1. Ilocano (my Father is from Bantay, Ilocos Sur)
2. Tagalog (my Mother is from Talavera, Nueva Ecija)
3. Arab (well, not really, I was just born in Saudi)

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:

1. Earthquakes
2. Death in the family
3. Growing old alone

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:

1. Breakfast
2. Laughing
3. Hugs and kisses from the kumander

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:

1. Thursday office uniform (white polo-barong, brown slacks, black leather shoes)
2. White Nike baller ID
3. Axe Energy (you wear perfume/cologne, right?)

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR ARTISTS AT PRESENT:

1. Dishwalla
2. 311
3. John Mayer

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT PRESENT:

1. Your Body is a Wonderland (still) by John Mayer
2. Take it to the Floor by B2K
3. Every Little Thing by Dishwalla

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:

1. Buff up (I've never been buff so that'll be new)
2. Surf, Dive, or Sail
3. Cook a full dinner for Pi

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP (love is a given):

1. Honesty
2. Understanding
3. Lots and lots of hugs and kisses

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:

1. Eyes
2. Butt and hips (package deal)
3. Tummy

THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN'T DO:

1. Draw well with my left hand
2. Run over a crossing animal while driving
3. Hit a girl

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:

1. Going to the gym
2. Watching movies
3. Reading and collecting comics

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:

1. Go home, bum around, and cuddle
2. Draw
3. Fly (the Superman kind)

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:

1. Business owner
2. Consultant
3. Teacher

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:

1. Boracay (hopefully longer than 4 days)
2. Palawan
3. Europe

THREE KID'S NAMES:

1. Eric
2. Eleanor
3. Katarungan (nickname Kata; unfortunately, it doesn't go well with my last name)

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:

1. Have a house built for my folks
2. Raise well-mannered and responsible kids
3. Start and manage my own business

I'm Tired

Well, three straight overnights at work does that to you. Yeah, I'm still here. Just in time to say goodbye to November and hello to December! Whoopee!

Can't really sleep. Lot of stuff to finish. But I can't work on something else at this point either since I'm still waiting for my programs to finish before I can proceed with my other tasks. Stupid dependencies. Anyway, I figured now's a good time for some updates.

Viewed...

• You Got Served. Well, I'm glad I bought the DVD (bootleg, of course) a couple of weeks back because this film doesn't disappoint. If you enjoyed Bring It On, you'll like this a lot more. Well, there's a little bias in there since I've recently been in touch with my inner "Hip-Hopper", thanks to Cardio Funk.



• After The Sunset. They say The Thomas Crown Affair was way better, but I haven't seen it yet so I wouldn't really know. But I do know that if Woody Harrelson wasn't in this film, it would've sucked big time.



• The Incredibles. This has got to be my most favorite Pixar film ever! Every aspect of the film was simply...well, incredible. I guess four long years of production does that to a movie.



• National Treasure. It was a good thing I didn't expect too much from this film (the title just didn't appeal that much to me), because it turned out to be a whole lot better than I initially thought. Ok, the start could be a little dragging, but it quickly picks up the pace and makes for high-quality entertainment. And Diane Kruger is so gorgeous here too.



• Supersize Me. Just watched this yesterday on DVD. Djong has a much better review over at her blog. All I can say is it's a real eye-opener (especially the "Fries Experiment"). It does make you want to stay away from McDo food...at least for a while.

Read...

Warning: Geek mode on.

• Identity Crisis. Written by Brad Meltzer; art by Rags Morales and Michael Blair. I hadn't planned on buying issue one the day it came out, but I'm happy (and extremely lucky) I did. The premise: Somebody knows our superheroes' secret identities, and he/she is going after their loved ones. Interesting, isn't it? Six issues into this 7-part mini-series, everything just keeps getting better.



• JLA. I'm glad I decided to start collecting this series from book 1 because I really get my money's worth. I just finished book 14 (Trial by Fire, written by Joe Kelly; art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen) and I have to say it's one the best story arcs I've read so far: The Martian Manhunter has overcome his fear of fire, but at what cost? Kelly is now officially one of my favorite writers. And I'm really enjoying Doug Mahnke's art, which has greatly improved since he first started in The Golden Perfect story arc.



• Green Lantern: Rebirth. Written by Geoff Johns with fantastic art by Ethan Van Sciver. I'll have to save my comments probably until the 4th issue comes out. "So far, so good" is all I can say as of now.



• Adam Strange. Besides Andy Diggle's highly entertaining treatment of DC's Premier Science-Fiction Hero, one of the strengths of this series is Pascal Ferry's amazing art. You need not be an Adam Strange fan or know who he is to fully enjoy this book.

Played...

• Fantasy NBA. I didn't see why some of my friends were so hooked on this before. Now I know and I'm enjoying it a lot, considering all you have to do is set which players on your team should or should not play on a given date. Players on a team are real-life NBA players, drafted by each manager into his team before the start of the season. A team then earns points based on the stats that a specific player fills up during real-life NBA games. Sounds complicated, doesn't it? It's really quite easy once you get the hang of it. I'm currently in 2nd place in the TLS league. Ping is at number 1. Not bad for a couple of rookie managers, eh?



• Need for Speed Underground 2. This game takes off on the right foot and has surpassed all expectations so far. A lot of improvements in this sequel to the 2003 hit game. There are a lot more cars (including SUVs) to choose from, the non-linear gameplay gives players the freedom to progress through the game at their own pace, and new race types have been added such as Street X and the Underground Racing League. Graphics and sounds are fantastic and the controls are relatively easy to master. Unfortunately, our apartment PC (Pao's) is a little too underpowered to maximize enjoyment of the game. Hopefully, I'll be lucky enough to purchase a PS2 by next year.

More later. Brain functions are starting to shut down.

In The Last Episode Of Nefville...

Truth be told, I was very tempted to just post some amusing picture I received thru email a few days ago. I, obviously, decided not to. For one thing, I didn't want to risk being called madaya (a cheat) by Zane again (which, I admit, is true...easy way out and all that). But more than that, I figured it was just a little too unfair to those who allot a small amount of their time to drop by regularly in the hopes of finding some decent updates. So, to my loyal fans, this post is for you.

The Tale of the Missing Nefmobile

My car was towed a couple of days ago. I had just gotten off from work when I saw that it wasn't where I had left it that morning. I always park in that area so I was surprised (and of course, furious) that my car was taken. That was at around a little after 7:00 PM and I was just about to fetch Pi from work. So I called her up and asked her to just have her Tito pick her up. You can imagine how bad my mood was by this time.

I asked the people around the vicinity for details, which was, of course, the most logical thing to do. The "witness" I had asked told me that my car was raked at around 4:00 PM, and that there was a central impound where towed cars in the Mandaluyong area are brought (lucky for me, it was fairly easy to get to).

"4:00 PM?!!", I had thought. If I was parked illegally, wouldn't my car have been taken earlier, like in the morning, already? That's when I started to just lose it. My hands were clenched into fists, my uni-brow at its uni-est...you'd think I was about ready to punch the first guy that passed by me in the face. I was majorly, majorly pissed.

So I made my way to the impound, which was located in front of Star Mall, along Shaw Boulevard. I had been rehearsing a few lines in my head that I thought I would use to defend my case. "If my parking was illegal, why didn't you tow it in the morning?!!" and "I always see cars parked at where I parked, how come you don't tow them?!!", lines like that.

The first sign that welcomes me at the impound writes "No one is above the law!" I start to calm down after reading it. Then I see my car, still in good condition. My heart rate begins normalizing. The guy in charge there brings out a piece of paper with my car details and starts briefing me on what had transpired. My parking space was legal...if I was there. I decide to use my "If my parking was illegal" line.

They did take my car in the morning. Around 9:30 AM. It was written on the paper...so clear even a 1st grade student could have read it for me.

I'm a lot calmer by this time (not to mention ashamed) so I just proceed to ask what my violation was. Apparently, the rear end of my car was just beyond the legal parking line (which I failed to see). This line marks the point where a car, if parked beyond the said line, poses as an obstruction to large and long vehicles turning into the street. I didn't bother using my "I always see cars" line. It was pointless. I was clearly in the wrong and it was only fair to face the consequences of my negligence. The penalty would have been a whopping 1,500 pesos. But Mr. Impound Guy decides to give me a discount and takes 500 pesos off the fee.

The funny thing about all this is I left the impound not feeling as bad as I initially thought I would. Which is a good thing I guess. It's weird what the Universe does to your sense of humor sometimes.

The Paomnnehal Pweor Of The Hmuan Mnid

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

Randomizing

What do you do when you just can't find one thing to write about? Write about completely random things...at least the ones worth mentioning from the last couple of days.

Gym

Rommel (my trainer) gave me a new gym program to work with for the next six months. I'm back to using free weights after a long time (last time I lifted was back in college). And I'm finally into the whole cardio thing to help me lose a lot more weight. I "push" on Tuesdays, "pull" on Thursdays, and dance on Saturdays. Yup, I dance. On Saturdays. Body Jam and Cardio Funk these classes be called. I've been going with Pi, Pats, and Zane for quite a while now. Nothing like a fun, feel-good, musical activity to close off a hectic and overly technical work week. And Rony, who I just recently discovered had a blog of his own, joined us last Saturday which was cool.

Movies

Let's just say I got to watch a bunch of movies recently.

• House of Flying Daggers. Amazing production design. I loved the fight scenes and the story is interesting and well written but I just found some bits and pieces a little too dragging. Zhang Ziyi is as stunning as ever. Overall, I liked this movie, but I still think Hero was better.



• Shark Tale. I found this movie highly entertaining. The humor is very...well, adult, just like the Shrek movies (the "dolphin" reference was hilarious). The actors' voices fit the characters perfectly. Dreamworks Animation has been turning up some good material so far. Here's hoping Madagascar delivers the same quality of entertainment.



• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I expected too much from this film. Jude Law was an okay hero but I'm sure he's better off as Alfie. Generally, I like Gwyneth Paltrow - I didn't like her in this one though. I just think they could've cast a better actress to play Polly. The story is well-executed though typical of a high-adventure-WW2-science-fiction movie. Rocketeer still tops my list of films of this type. Did I mention I fell asleep at one point during the movie?



• The Bourne Supremacy. Good movie. Probably tops or at least equals The Bourne Identity in all aspects. Lends itself to a third movie. But since JC and I sat at the front row when we watched this, we were just too damn near to appreciate most of the parts, especially the fight scenes and car chases. I had a serious headache after the screening.



• Fahrenheit 9/11. Michael Moore deserves the award, and George W. Bush can choke to death and go to hell (and lose to John Kerry while he's at it). And that's all I've got to say about that. Just check out Mon's blog if you want a better review.

G!

Brother Gerwin is back in town, much to the delight of close friends. HK seems to be treating him well (sorry, no picture reference available...yet). Too bad Jon couldn't be here to celebrate with us this coming Friday.

Suriya

Paolo, Toffer, and I went last Sunday to get ourselves some well deserved and overdue massages. I've always been an avid fan of their Oriental Body Work Massage (combination of Swedish and Shiatsu) but somehow I didn't want the Shiatsu part that day. So I got the Mind and Body Harmony Massage (Swedish). Like I was telling Pao and Tof, my mind and body were in serious need of harmony anyway. I'm glad I got it. It's my new favorite massage. If only I could afford to go there more often.

3200

So I got to salvage a Nokia 3200 from the office. It's not top of the line but what the hey, it's better than my own phone (which is just about ready to die). And it has a camera. I'm not sure how long I'll be holding on to this phone, but I'm hoping long enough to allow me to save up for a replacement. In the meantime, I took this baby's cam for a spin.

World without a Superman

Actor Christopher Reeve, who played 'Superman' in four movies and appeared as 'Dr. Virgil Swann' in the hit TV series Smallville, died at 5:30 p.m. Sunday after suffering a heart attack on Saturday and going into a coma. He was 52.

Reeve was rendered paralyzed for life after breaking his neck in 1995 during an equestrian competition. He emerged from his personal tragedy with the help of friends and loved ones and has since been a powerful lobbyist of medical research, especially on behalf of fellow sufferers of spinal cord injuries.

Reeve tried many therapies throughout his life, and had others move the legs he could not - so the muscles would be ready when he would be able to use them once more. He never gave up on his goal of walking again, despite missing his target of doing so by age 50.

His condition did however improve in ways that were remarkable to the medical community. In 2000, Reeve was able to move his index finger, and a specialized workout regimen has made his legs and arms stronger. He had also regained sensation in other parts of his body.

Reeve was a strong supporter of stem cell research, which he believed could pave the way to allow him and others like him to walk again.

Farewell, Superman. Thank you for making us believe that we can fly.

The Gender of 'Computer'

A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. "House" for instance, is feminine -- "la maison." "Pencil", however, is masculine -- "le crayon."

A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation. The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the Feminine gender ("la computer"), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;


2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;


3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and


4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself
   spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("le computer"), because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;


2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;


3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and


4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited
   a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.

If All Else Fails...

...there's always Yahoo! Messenger.

So Ping messages me at work, going into the final seven minutes of Game 3 of the UAAP Men's Basketball Finals between the DLSU Green Archers and the defending champion FEU Tamaraws. DLSU is up by seven points.

ej_paz (6:06:12 PM): astig.
planetping (6:06:43 PM): 4 na lang
planetping (6:06:49 PM): 2 tres ng FEU
planetping (6:06:52 PM): feck
planetping (6:06:56 PM): 6mins to go
ej_paz (6:06:57 PM): shet
planetping (6:07:18 PM): make that 2
planetping (6:07:22 PM): 5:30
planetping (6:07:44 PM): FEU has possesion
planetping (6:07:46 PM): chance to tie
planetping (6:07:58 PM): tied
ej_paz (6:08:05 PM): dammit.
planetping (6:08:34 PM): 10-0 run ng FEU
ej_paz (6:09:14 PM): pucha, timeout. hindi ba tumatawag ng timeout?
planetping (6:09:30 PM): eto timeout
planetping (6:09:33 PM): i know you
planetping (6:09:36 PM): and you know me
planetping (6:09:45 PM): one thing i can tell ya is ya got to be free
planetping (6:09:48 PM): come together right now
planetping (6:09:49 PM): over me
planetping (6:09:54 PM): PETRON TREATS
planetping (6:10:02 PM): hehehe, pati advertisement may report
planetping (6:12:17 PM): 4:00 to go
planetping (6:12:23 PM): FEU by 2 now
ej_paz (6:12:34 PM): puta
planetping (6:13:56 PM): tied
planetping (6:14:04 PM): 59 deadlock
planetping (6:14:37 PM): tapos may nagfoul from lasalle...
planetping (6:14:46 PM): sa threepoint attempt ni miranda
planetping (6:14:49 PM): great..
planetping (6:14:59 PM): miranda misses his first
planetping (6:15:17 PM): and misses his second!!!
planetping (6:15:21 PM): his third try...
planetping (6:15:34 PM): good
planetping (6:15:47 PM): 60-59 FEU
planetping (6:17:39 PM): 61-59 FEU
planetping (6:18:07 PM): tied
planetping (6:18:27 PM): 63-61 LASALLE!!!
planetping (6:19:19 PM): steal ni gaco midcourt sabay bato sa streaking yeo for the uncontested layup... giving Lasalle the 2 point advantage
planetping (6:19:21 PM): last 2 mins
planetping (6:19:24 PM): timeout FEU
ej_paz (6:19:45 PM): kapit, bayan!
planetping (6:20:10 PM): tamang close game na toh!!!
planetping (6:20:20 PM): pag OT advantage tayo... foul trouble si miranda at isip eh
planetping (6:21:22 PM): 1:40 to go
planetping (6:21:28 PM): Lasalle by 2...
planetping (6:21:39 PM): isip for 2
planetping (6:21:43 PM): tied...agen
planetping (6:22:11 PM): FEU has the ball
planetping (6:22:16 PM): off a yeo miss
planetping (6:22:41 PM): isip for 2
planetping (6:22:44 PM): FEU leads
planetping (6:22:47 PM): casio for three
planetping (6:22:52 PM): GOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!
planetping (6:22:52 PM): GOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!
planetping (6:22:54 PM): GOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!
planetping (6:23:27 PM): nakalimutan ko
planetping (6:23:33 PM): before yung 3 ni casio
planetping (6:23:38 PM): may FG na naman si isip
planetping (6:23:41 PM): so now...
planetping (6:23:55 PM): 66-65 Lasalle
ej_paz (6:25:01 PM): time?
planetping (6:25:30 PM): 24.9 seconds
planetping (6:25:35 PM): this is it
planetping (6:25:40 PM): defense!!!
planetping (6:26:07 PM): FEU misses
planetping (6:26:15 PM): cardona the motherfucking rebound!!!
planetping (6:26:19 PM): penalty!!!
planetping (6:26:25 PM): AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!
planetping (6:26:32 PM): 2 freethrows
ej_paz (6:26:34 PM): AAAAAAAAAAAAAh!!!!
planetping (6:26:37 PM): and 2 seconds to go
planetping (6:26:59 PM): tangina, ang ganda na ng lusot ni miranda, tapos umikot ikot yung bola sa ring
planetping (6:27:00 PM): di pumasok
planetping (6:27:05 PM): the drama...
ej_paz (6:27:14 PM): tangina pare!!!
planetping (6:27:26 PM): may chance pa FEU
ej_paz (6:27:28 PM): nanginginig yung mga kamay ko sa pag type.
planetping (6:27:30 PM): pero sana wag na
ej_paz (6:27:36 PM): timeout?
planetping (6:27:39 PM): yep
planetping (6:27:47 PM): cardona may 2 upcoming freethrows
planetping (6:27:52 PM): makes his first
planetping (6:27:54 PM):
planetping (6:27:59 PM): isarado mo na idol
planetping (6:28:14 PM): sarado!
planetping (6:28:38 PM): time runs out.. wala na timeouts FEU... ANIMO LASALLE!!!
planetping (6:28:38 PM): time runs out.. wala na timeouts FEU... ANIMO LASALLE!!!
planetping (6:28:39 PM): time runs out.. wala na timeouts FEU... ANIMO LASALLE!!!
planetping (6:28:40 PM): time runs out.. wala na timeouts FEU... ANIMO LASALLE!!!
ej_paz (6:29:15 PM): potah!!!! yeaaaaaaaah!
ej_paz (6:29:23 PM): ANIMO LASALLE!
planetping (6:30:35 PM): yiiii buuuoooooyyyyiiiii!!!
ej_paz (6:31:14 PM): yiiiiiiiiiii, mothafuckaaaaaaah!!!
planetping (6:32:15 PM): hooooyeeeaaah
planetping (6:35:06 PM): friendster bulleting board na toh!!!

De La Salle wins the Championship, 68-65. How sweet it is.

Ladies and Gentlemen...

...The Fantastic Four.

Clockwise from upper left: Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as The Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as The Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as The Thing. Photos courtesy of Anti Hero Comics.

The Importance of Friendship

Name Game

Taken from Djong, which she got from Sarah.

Porn Star Name (name of first pet + street you live in)
- Brownie Banahaw. Oh yeah.

Movie Star Name (favorite snack food + grandfather's first name)
- Pasta Tolomeo or Pasta Mariano, depending on which Lolo's name I use. I could well be the lead in some mobster movie with those names.

Fashion Designer Name (first word you see on your left + favorite restaurant)
- Oracle Emerald. O ha?

Exotic Foreigner Alias (favorite spice + last vacation spot visited)
- Pepper Boracay. Uh...hmmm.

Socialite Alias (silliest childhood nickname + town where you first partied)
- Ed Baguio. Hwokey!

Fly Guy Alias (first initial + first two or three letters of your last name)
- E Paz. My last name only has three letters. Unfortunately, this name sounds like ipas, which means cockroach in Kampampangan.

Icon Alias (something sweet within sight + any liquid in kitchen)
- Mentos Worcestershire. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

Detective Alias (favorite baby animal + where you went to high school)
- Tiger St. Louis. "Commissioner, may I introduce Det. Tiger St. Louis." Pweeeeeedeeeeeeh!

Barfly Alias (last snack food you ate + your favorite bar drink)
- Pasta Red Horse. Now that is one stupid name.

Soap Opera Alias (middle name + street where you first lived)
- Paulino Gen. Luna. Very Soap Opera-ish indeed.

Rock Star Alias (favorite candy/dessert + last name of favorite musician)
- Flat Tops Mayer. I don't know if I should be happy or not.

Happy Birthday, Burning Lead!

September 9, 2003 saw the birth of this blog and the historical (and aptly entitled) first post. Can't believe it's been a year already.

Here's to burning a lot more lead, folks. And as Bryan always says, to our good looks...and sexy bodies.

Man, I need a beer.

And The Scale Says...

4.5 kilograms.

That's how much I've lost in the weight department. That's 9.9 pounds, my friends...9.9 pounds! I haven't lost this much weight since I got sick with Typhoid back in the 3rd grade. Not even when I still played basketball.

Amazing.

Three more months left in the year. Let's see if I can keep this up.

New Deep

I’m so alive
I’m so enlightened
I can barely survive
A night in my mind
So I’ve got a plan
I’m gonna find out just how boring I am
And have a good time

Cause ever since I’ve tried
Trying not to find
Every little meaning in my life
It’s been fine, I’ve been cool
With my new golden rule

Numb is the new deep
Done with the old me
And talk is the same cheap it's been

Is there a God?
Why is he waiting?
Don't you think of it odd
When he knows my address
And look at the stars
Don’t it remind you just how feeble we are?
Well it used to, I guess

Cause ever since I’ve tried
Trying not to find
Every little meaning in my life
It’s been fine, I’ve been cool
With my new golden rule

Numb is the new deep
Done with the old me
And talk is the same cheap it's been

I'm a new man
I wear a new cologne
And you wouldn’t know me
If your eyes were closed
I know what you’ll say
'This won't last longer than the rest of the day'
But you’re wrong this time
You’re wrong

Numb is the new deep
Done with the old me
I’m over the analyzing
Tonight

Stop trying to figure it out

Deep will only bring you down
You know I used to be the backporch poet
With a book of rhymes always
Open, knowing all the time, I’m probably
Never gonna find the perfect rhyme
For 'heavier things'

~ John Mayer

Sometimes...

...I just can't help but think if this is all worth it.

My work, I mean.

What am I doing here so late anyway (and for the second straight night at that)? I've only had an hour's worth of sleep today...seriously...but here I am, busting my ass off, maybe on the verge of killing myself. And for what? Experience? Well, that's always been a given. Honor and prestige, maybe boost my chances for a promotion? I don't know...maybe. Or maybe I'm really just that dedicated.

But you know what? No matter how bad it sounds, whether I like the whole idea of it or not, I've begun to accept that there is one other reason why I am putting up with all the crap of my job.

It's the goddamn money.

To tell you the truth, since these long hours became more frequent, I've had many battles with myself over this. I've been through all the "it shouldn't be about the money" drama. And I'm sad to admit that I may be losing the war to the materialistic side of me.

Can you really blame me for wanting more? I mean, I have this supposedly generous compensation that I can't even share with my parents and siblings because most of it goes to the monthly rent, utilities, and all these stupid taxes. I am barely left with some for myself. Things just get a little lighter when I get my OT pay on time...extra emphasis on the "on time" part though.

My failure to be of significant financial help to my immediate family is what has most likely pushed my Dad, the only doctor I've idolized my whole life, to join the bandwagon and pursue a nursing degree. What kind of message do you think that sends to an eldest child? It's depressing.

In my quiet moments I figured that sidelining as a Graphic Artist would definitely boost the finances, but given my exceptionally busy (and weird) schedule, the plan just kind of got flushed down the toilet. So, I'm now thinking of just selling some of my comics. Or my car.

*Sigh* I am in dire need of sleep.

Dammit.

(I can imagine Zane breathing a sigh of relief, "Finally, updates.")

I wish this crazy schedule could be a little more cooperative. I hate not being able to blog. It's depressing...makes me feel so rusty. Sure I get to exercise the old brain at work, but writing's different. No heavy thought required, minimal stress, a welcome break from all the craziness of the corporate zoo.

There are a number of things to write about that have happened in the last 24 days, I just wish I could've stopped and posted them all. Well, if I had a brand spankin' new laptop and broadband connection like Gerwin, at least I could be blogging from home. But too bad, I don't have a brand spankin' new laptop, so I'll just have to make do with my old reliable office PC. *Rackum Frackum*

So here's a rundown of what's been up:

1. I have been going to the gym since June. I (or at least I'd like to believe that I) have lost weight, which is good. Though I still need a couple more kilometers on the treadmill to reach my "ideal" weight. Hopefully, the scale will show an acceptable reading by the end of the year.



2. I can finally say that I have been to Boracay. I was there on leave, with Pi and Pats from the 14th to the 17th. We celebrated half of Pi's birthday there. It's such a beautiful place, even on the off-season. I honestly didn't want to leave. Here's to next time. I will definitely save up so we can go back.



3. After five months, our half-full apartment has finally been blessed with cable television. The only thing missing now is a sofa (but you should see the abundance of 2-L distilled water containers in our kitchen, I swear if I had time, I'd make those into a sofa).

Sorry, that's about all the time we have for today, kids. Be sure to check back next time for more updates (right, I wonder when that will be).

Amazing Racer

My legs are killing me, but it was one hell of an experience.

Last Saturday, I had travelled with five other officemates to Tagaytay City for the 2004 ADSOC Adventure Quest, this half-day adventure race we had signed-up for a couple of weeks ago. I had never participated in an event like this before, so I figured this was a good time to try out something new.

A total of 10 teams, comprised of three members each (with at least one female member) had registered for the event and compete for the Php8,000 grand prize. Two teams came from our office. We had to find our way through 15 stops all over Tagaytay, completing challenge after challenge, testing our physical and mental abilities in ways I have never imagined. Think Amazing Race on a smaller scale.

A major highlight of the race was our team's climb from last place in the 8th checkpoint to 4th place in the 15th and final leg. Luck just seemed to be on our side all the way to the finish after a couple of bad breaks, one where we got lost trying to find the 7th checkpoint ("The fine-dining resto Tagaytay is known for") and a race marshall already had to give us the exact location (Antonio's). It sucked big time, but after Doni (my teammate) breezed through that checkpoint's challenge, it was all uphill from there.

It was the greatest feeling, coming back with a vengeance and overtaking those ahead of us one by one. We didn't finish first, but it sure felt like it. (The other team from our office, who reached as high as 1st place after the 6th leg, finished at 5th.)

Unfortunately, I have no photos of the event on hand...yet. But once they're available, I'll be sure to post them here.

Check back later. It's time for me to take a couple more pain killers.

Eat Fist!

This quiz result would have been really cool.

Except the name's IRON FIST, not Power Fist, you damn morons!!!

Don't go f*cking up our superheroes' names.

Get it right next time.

Love At Its Most Beautiful

In you I have found everything I have always wanted. You are my peace of mind, the reason I look forward to the end of each day. I find refuge and comfort in your arms. You understand the entirety of my being, embrace my inner child, accept my eccentricities. You inspire me in countless ways, and you needn't even say a word. You are the reason I persevere, the reason I try to give a little bit more than what is required. Because of you, I am not afraid to come to the edge. Because of you, I will never ever fall, you have taught me how to fly. You are perfect in every way, because you know that you are not. I am the richest man in the world, I have you in my life.

How can I not love you? You are love at its most beautiful.

Happy Anniversary, Pi.

Hoo Ha!

Which member of the JLA are you? BATMAN Losing his parents to a tragic mugging, Bruce Wayne took a vow to wage a one man war on crime. Using the image of the bat to strike fear into criminals, he dons the guise of the Dark Knight after the sun sets. A genius detective and scientist he is a valuable member to the League even without powers.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

What's Been Up...

Ooh Mama!

Say hello to 17-year old, 6'0" Maria Sharapova, 2004 Wimbledon Women's Champion, part-time model, and my new crush.

She was born on April 19, 1987 in Nyagan, a town in the Siberian region of Russia. In 1989, the Sharapova family moved to the Black Sea resort town of Sochi. A chance encounter changed her life at the young age of 4. She met with the father of tennis champ Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and the man gave her a racket. Tennis soon became a passion for her.

She may only be a teenager, but Sharapova is very mature for her age.

She has an animated personality that makes her a joy to watch on the tennis court. Though having the makings of the next Anna Kournikova appearance-wise, there's no doubt that on the court, she is Queen, a definite force to reckon with (and is really a whole lot hotter than Anna if you ask me). While Kournikova doesn't have any trophies displayed on her fireplace mantle, Sharapova is starting a collection, with two titles under her belt entering the WTA tour this year.

And just when I thought women's tennis has completely lost its appeal. God is good, my friends...God is good.

Yosh!

I watched Cinemenila's screening of Zatoichi last Saturday and I must say, it is a kick-ass movie, oozing with machismo and super-cool and ultra-bloody swordplay (probably one of the best you will see in a film of this genre).

Set in 19th Century Japan, Zatoichi is a story of a blind wanderer who makes a living by gambling and giving massages. But behind the humble facade is a master swordsman and the unlikely savior of a remote mountain village at the mercy of the ruthless Ginzo gang.

The story is well-written and backed by excellent cinematography. Much time and effort has obviously been put into choreographing the fight scenes, which are all very entertaining. It has a good mix of action, drama, suspense, comedy, and even music...yes, music. I'm going to stop talking about it right here...I don't want to give too much of the details away lest I spoil it for you. Just go watch it and see for yourself.

Oh yeah, Zatoichi's sword is really cool too.

Hell Yeah!

Tonight, 9:45PM, Glorietta 4 Cinemas, for free. God is good.

Woman

If I be so inclined to climb up beside you
Would you tell me that the time just isn't right?
And if I ever find the key you hide so well
Will you tell me that I can spend the night?

Leavin' your smell on my coat, leavin' your taste on my shoulder
I still fail to understand what it is about this woman.

If I could bottle up the chills that you give me
I would keep them in a jar next to my bed.
And If I should ever draw a picture of a woman
It is you that would come flowing from my pen.

Leavin' your clothes on the floor, making me walk out the door
And I still fail to understand what it is about this woman.

Helplessly melting as I stand next to the sun
As she burns me, I am screaming out for more.
Drink every drop of liquid, heap that I've become
Pop me open spoon me out on to the floor.

Leavin' your smell on my coat, leavin your taste on my shoulder
I still fail to understand, fail to understand.
Leavin' your smell on my coat, leavin your taste on my shoulder
I still fail to understand what it is about this woman.

~ Maroon 5

The Day After Tomorrow

Thanks to the powers that be at Pi's good office, she and I were able to catch an advanced (free) screening of The Day After Tomorrow at the Rockwell Cinemas last night. I had really low expectations from this movie after seeing the likes of Independence Day and The Perfect Storm. So imagine my surprise when this turned out to be one of the better films I've seen so far this year.

It's actually pretty good, contrary to how boring and cliche the trailer has promoted it to be. The screenplay is intense, and though a significant part of it is dominated by breathtaking special effects (the likes of which you have never seen before), the film still maintains an excellent level of realism. Writer/Director Roland Emmerich and his team have obviously put a lot of effort in researching and accurately incorporating the scientific bases for the story. But more than the CGI and the script is the fact that no other movie in recent memory has ever gone to such great lengths to stress the very important task of taking care of the environment for future generations. It is this underlying message that makes The Day After Tomorrow all the more worth watching.

I give this movie a 4/5.

Stupid

What the hell is Jinggoy Estrada doing in the "Magic 12" (final lineup of Senator-elects)? It's a wonder why he was ever allowed to run in the first place, considering he is charged with plunder and is only out on bail. (Well, this isn't the first time criminals have been voted in to office. Remember Romeo Jalosjos? He was convicted of statutory rape a few years back, but still won as Congressman of Zamboanga del Norte. And I read he still pretty much calls the shots though behind bars.) Oh, let's not forget that Jinggoy Estrada's mother is already a Senator. If that doesn't scream "Conflict Of Interest" right at your face, it don't know what else does. Whatever law we have against political dynasties (that is, if we even have one), is obviously eaten by families like Estrada's for breakfast. There are only three words to describe this kind of crap:

Really Fucking Stupid.

Every Little Thing

Let me in
To see you in the morning light
To get me on and all along the tears they come
See all come
I want you to believe in life
But I get the strangest feeling that you've gone away
Will you find out who you are too late to change?
I wish I could be
Every little thing you wanted
All the time
I wish I could be
Every little thing you wanted
All the time
Some times

Lift me up
Just lift me up don't make a sound
And let me hold you up before you hit the Ground
See all come
You say your all right
But I get the strangest feeling
That you've gone away - you've gone away
And will you find out who you are too late to change?

I wish I could be
Every little thing you wanted
All the time
I wish I could be
Every little thing you wanted
All the time
Some times

Don't give me up
Don't give me up tonight
Or soon nothing will be right at all
Salvation
Will you find out who you are too late to change?

I wish I could be
Every little thing you wanted

~ Dishwalla

***

Happy 34th Monthsary, Pi. 'Love you.

New Look

Let me know what you think. You know I always appreciate the feedback.

Current

From Gerwin, Jon, and Zane:

Current mood - Gamma-radiated.
Current music - Maroon 5 and Initial D OST.
Current taste - Beef Tapa.
Current hair - Barber's cut.
Current clothes - Office uniform (dark blue checkered long sleeves, gray slacks).
Current annoyance - Being in the office after 10PM.
Current smell - Johnson's Baby Cologne.
Current thing I ought to be doing - Working.
Current desktop picture - Toyota AE86 Trueno
Current favorite bands - Dishwalla, Maroon 5.
Current book - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.
Current cd in stereo - Don't have a cd player...yet.
Current hate - See current annoyance.

Missed Me?

Such a long time ago when I updated the old blog (as of this writing, it has taken me approximately 20 minutes to decide on the next sentence). I'm getting real rusty. And it's not a very good feeling at all.

Anyway, you'd think the absence has given me ample time to stack up on a number of postable posts by now, but the truth is my life between the last post (April 22) and today has been nothing but OT. Horrible choice for a topic if you ask me. Besides, I've never really been one to talk about the details of my job here. Wouldn't want to be fired, you know? Sensitive information and all that. And it'll be boring anyway.

But it does feel refreshing to be blogging again. It's a welcome break from the hellish life I've lived for the past 3 weeks or so (my partner left for the States last April 28 for a month's worth of vacation and will be back on the 5th of June, I have since been left to cover ALL of her tasks on top of my own list of regular things to do...that's my luck for you). So much has changed. For one thing, I've lost a significant amount of weight, which I attribute more to the stress I'm in than to my choice of reduced food intake, Pi's been going home earlier than I have, Tita Maripi's bought a dog, and Blogger has a new look. Yes, I have been "away" that long.

Oh well, here's hoping my luck changes in the next couple of days. I missed this.

Kurdapya

Happy 33rd Monthsary. Lufyah.

'Sacrifice'

It is this lack of regret, no, this utter joy, at leaving the supposed center of the universe for a backwater Third World country that has baffled so many of the people I have met here. Many of them -- a few Americans but mostly Filipinos (or former Filipinos) -- seemed to assume that since I was fortunate enough to make it to the States, I would want to stay here permanently. So many times in the past months, I have found myself in the awkward position of having to actually justify why I intended to go back to the Philippines as soon as my studies concluded. I just found it inordinately difficult to come up with reasons for wanting to go home, when this was a decision that seemed so fundamental, so natural, so obvious, that I never really thought I would ever have to defend it before anyone, least of all other Filipinos.

But explain it I had to do, over and over-to relatives, to friends, to classmates and acquaintances. 'I just feel that I would be happier, and be more useful, working back home,' I would say, somewhat apologetically, as if by expressing a desire to stay in the Philippines I was somehow giving offense in some peculiar way. This rather weak response would usually be met with tolerant, half-embarrassed smiles and comments on how much of a sacrifice I was making. What I have never figured out is whether they thought I was a hero or a fool for choosing to make that 'sacrifice.'

Personally, I do not think of myself as either. What is more, I do not even believe that I am making a sacrifice at all.

By choosing to go home, what am I giving up, really? It is not as if by working in Manila I am choosing a life of starvation, deprivation, and abject poverty as compared to the life of wealth and comfort I will supposedly have working in the United States. Certainly on my modest salary from UP -- where I work as a member of the junior faculty -- I will never grow rich, and (thanks to John Osmeña), I will probably never be able to rise above the poverty line by any appreciable margin either. But, with a little extra effort, I will be able to maintain an acceptable level of dignity for myself and my family. Is giving up what amounts to a few extra perks then such a noteworthy sacrifice?

Unlike so many of our OFWs who are forced to go overseas to work for a few years as manual laborers and domestic helpers, my situation, like the situation of so many other university-educated, middle-class Filipinos, does not involve a choice between starvation and survival. Rather, it involves the less spectacular and more prosaic choice of renting a two-bedroom apartment in Quezon City or owning a sprawling house in a New Jersey suburb; of commuting on a UP-Pantranco jeepney or driving the latest model SUV; of making do with a Third World salary or insisting on being paid in the Almighty Dollar.

Neither do I believe that the United States is such a wonderful place to live and raise a family in. This is a country that spends billions on law enforcement and "homeland security," but where almost no one feels safe in their own home. This is a nation with the best medical facilities in the world, but where without health insurance you cannot even get a splinter removed. This is the land of the free, at least until the government starts suspecting you are a terrorist.

And among the Filipinos I have met in the United States, one thing has been nearly as consistent as the surprise that has met my intention to go home. That is if they could keep their higher salaries, if subways could be built in Manila, if the PNP [Philippine National Police] could become less corrupt, if FPJ [Fernando Poe Jr.] could be stopped from becoming president, then they would want to live in the Philippines.

I am glad that I do not have to worry about having any of these conditions met. This May, no matter what happens, I will be flying home.

And it will be the easiest 'sacrifice' I ever had to make.

~ Ibarra Gutierrez, as quoted by Conrado de Quiros, 21 April 2004

Ross is Boss

Alex Ross that is. I've always admired the man for his exceptional work in comics. Exceptional is, of course, an understatement. What I particularly (and consistently) admire when it comes to his art are his renditions of Superman and Batman. Recently, Mr. Ross took the liberty of painting some mock-up posters for the upcoming Superman Movie, were a familiar actor to take on the role of the Man of Steel.

Image courtesy of Super Hero Hype.What can I say? I'm all for Tom Welling playing Superman. Well, I'm pretty sure there are other buff and square-jawed actors out there which would be solid for the part (like this guy, Henry Cavill, who is said to be Director McG's personal choice for the part), but after Smallville and all, Welling just seems to be the obvious and most logical choice. This poster, however, is in no way related to Warner Brothers' planned 5th installment of the Superman movie franchise, which is scheduled for release around 2006 or 2007. Ross just made this (along with one other image, which you'll find here) just to see how Welling would look like if he were actually cast to play the part (well, Ross actually made them for Wizard, but they never got published).

According to Super Hero Hype:

Back in December, Welling said that he had been approached about the lead role when director Brett Ratner was still on board the project. "I actually went to Brett's house in Los Angeles and we sat down and talked about it a little bit, both knowing that scheduling would always be an issue," Welling said. "Basically, if that movie were to happen, the show would pretty much have to go away, and I don't think that's what anybody wants."

I agree. I don't think Smallville's "going away" is what anybody wants, too. But I don't think anybody wants Nicholas Cage to be Superman either. So there.

Realpolitik

You know you can’t expect significant reforms after the elections when the two top contenders for the presidency are competing for support from the Marcos and Estrada camps. Both President Arroyo and actor Fernando Poe Jr. have made no secret of their courtship of deposed President Joseph Estrada, who so far has not changed his mind about endorsing his close friend Poe. President Arroyo flew to Leyte to woo the Romualdez clan, even posing with the family’s most prominent member, former First Lady Imelda Marcos. Not to be outdone, Poe went on a pilgrimage to the Marcos crypt in Batac, Ilocos Norte, and even laid a wreath.

Ask the Arroyo and Poe camps for an explanation and they’ll invoke realpolitik. First you have to win; then you can get serious with reforms. Never mind that both camps are making campaign noises about their commitment to fight corruption. Never mind that both Estrada and Ferdinand Marcos recently made it to a list of the world’s most corrupt — a dubious distinction rejected by both Estrada and Marcos’ heirs. What’s important for the two top contenders in the presidential race is that both Estrada and the Marcoses still command substantial chunks of voter support.

All this is a painful reminder that everything boils down to politics in this country. Vowing to stamp out corruption has become a given in any campaign. Delivering on campaign promises is something else. There’s nothing wrong with posing for pictures with the waxen remains of a dictator and his well-preserved widow, especially if they stood as sponsors at your wedding. Nothing wrong either with chatting with the first president to be arrested and held without bail for massive corruption. Political support, however, does not come free. What deals are struck in exchange for crucial votes?

Amid such political wheeling and dealing, is there a place for a genuine campaign against corruption? We know the answer to this one.

~ Philippine Star Editorial, 19 April 2004

Reputations

A JAPANESE journalist from Tokyo told me this story: Her father was in the diplomatic service and they moved a lot when she was a kid. She herself grew up in New York, coming back to Japan only when she was 13. Her first language was English, which she speaks to this day with an American accent. She had a hard time speaking Japanese when they moved back to Japan. Though it was the language spoken at home even when they lived in New York, she didn't pick it up that well. So she had to learn the language almost from scratch when she came back. Even now, she says, she sometimes gropes for the right word in Japanese.

But that is not her story. Her story is that when she was in Greece many years ago, an American woman heard her talking in English, and seeing that she was Japanese came up to her and wondered if she could fix her (the American woman's) camera. She was taken aback but swiftly regained her composure. She figured with no small amount of amusement that Japanese honor was at stake. Who knows, if she failed to fix it she would constitute living proof that Japanese technological expertise was on the decline. Yes, it was a Japanese camera, a Canon. For some reason, its carrier presumed it carried a warranty for substitute parts and repair guaranteed by every Japanese citizen.

My friend bravely took on the daunting task. To her relief, the problem turned out to be a simple one. The spool of film had gotten unhooked from the spindle and wouldn't roll. She made a big show about analyzing the situation, with judicious shakes and nods of the head, and as though with strenuous effort slid the roll of film back in place. She gave back the camera to the American tourist with a bow and a few words of broken English. The tourist after a few clicks of the camera was deeply impressed and thanked her profusely.

When my friend told this story to her American friends, they were deeply embarrassed and apologized profusely for their compatriot. She laughed contentedly.

Filipinos have their own reputations abroad, some good, some bad. I still remember the editor of an Arab newspaper telling me that in some parts of Saudi Arabia, cops have started taking bribes on the street. They rarely did that before, but it had spread like an epidemic over the last few years. The source of the virus appeared to be the Filipinos, a thriving community, who had applied their enormous persuasive skills to making the traffic cops look the other way, or the opposite direction of Mecca.

Last week, an official of the EU Commission told me how he found it so easy to deal with Filipinos. Filipinos, he said, were talented, trustworthy and easy to get along with. He himself had had a Filipino maid for some time. He met her in Hong Kong where he and his family had lived for many years, and his family became so dependent on her they brought her along to Japan when they moved there. Which proved to be a considerable social leap upward for the maid. My friend went on to pepper his story with unsavory comments about how Hong Kong was treating the Filipino maids, confining their social engagements to a tiny square where they flocked on Sundays.

I told my friend that the Filipino reputation abroad for being quality service providers wasn't exactly a huge source of pride for the country. He started to apologize, but I said it was completely all right. The export of human labor, which has probably overtaken agricultural products as the country's chief trade item, was the one thing that was keeping the Philippines afloat. No maids, no caretakers, no nurses, no Juan de la Cruz.

Everyone to a man or woman spoke of the many virtues of the Filipinos, and not entirely out of politeness. That went with much head-shaking questions about what was ailing the country. To have such a people with such enviable capabilities but to have fallen to such unenviable straits, it did not make sense. I confessed I did not know the answers, although I suspected the fact that all those talents were being put at the service of the world rather than (directly) of the country might be one of them, if it wasn't the source of the predicament itself.

The artistic talents of Filipinos particularly got rave reviews. It wasn't just in popular music Filipinos excelled in, it was in graphic arts as well. One Singaporean editor told me his paper had several Filipino cartoonists and illustrators, and the quality of their work had brought his paper much prestige and many awards. He wouldn't part with them for all the world, he said, though he wouldn't say that to them or they might immediately ask for a raise. Other Singaporean newspapers had Filipinos as well. I said I knew a couple of them, though most of the graphic artists I knew were in Hong Kong.

There was one other quality Filipinos had, my Singaporean friend said emphatically, addressing himself to the men and women in our company over sake in a dive in Fukuoka on a cold night. It was that, man or woman, Filipinos were exceptionally charming. They laughed a lot, and made friends easily. If you don't watch out, he told the others, you'd lose your boyfriends or girlfriends to them. Or you'd end up being their boyfriend or girlfriend. One Filipino man in fact became the subject of a recent scandal in Singapore, as two well-known Singaporean women fought for his affections.

Filipinos are very articulate as well, one Thai woman told me. You notice, she said, that they're the ones who're very active in conferences, along with the Indians.

Good question: Given the talent, what in God's name has happened to us? The only thing worse than being poor all your life is being rich once and now being abjectly miserable. That's the thing that truly cuts to the quick.

~ Conrado De Quiros, 16 April 2004

Shaolin Shutter

"You killed my Mastah...I will make you pay! Finishing strike: Wrath of the Stupid-looking Picture-taker!"Heh heh heh. Even the way he holds the camera has this Kung-Fu element to it. Makes you wonder how you look when you take your pictures, doesn't it?

It's Out! It's Out!

The new trailer for Spider-man 2 is out, and I just have to say...IT KICKS SO MUCH ASS!!! Check it out at apple.com or at the official site. Oh yeah, small, medium, large, and fullscreen versions of the trailer are also available for download. Sweeeeeet!

Movies, Movies, and More Movies

The last time I was this excited about movies, it was the year Spider-man was going to be shown in theaters. This year, not only am I absolutely pissing my pants over Spider-man 2 in July, I'm dying to see a whole bunch of upcoming flicks, whose trailers I've gotten the chance to see courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. At the rate of things, 2004 is going to go down in history as the year of the movies (click on the links to launch the trailer pages).

• Hellboy - Though I haven't had the chance to browse through the comics, I guess I know enough about Hellboy to be pretty worked up about the soon-to-open big-screen adaptation. As of this writing, the movie's made it to the top of the charts on its first week at the box office. I can't wait for it to start screening here.



• I, Robot - Set in the year 2035, Will Smith plays a Homicide detective whose latest case involves a robot suspect accused of murder. Though the plot is more or less patterned after some events in the Animatrix's Second Renaissance, this film still manages to pique my interest. Probably the technogeek in me.



• Kill Bill Volume 2 - Well, I really liked the first, so I'd be really stupid to not go and see the second.



• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - Mad Scientist tries to take over the world and unleashes his army of old-school giant robots of doom, and man's only hope for survival is a hotshot pilot known as Sky Captain. Sort of has The Rocketeer feel to it, which I find really, really interesting.



• The Girl Next Door - Elisha Cuthbert plays a porn star. 'Nuff said.



• The Punisher - Though John Travolta and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos are enough to make me want to go and see this movie, I'm quite interested to see how Thomas Jane is going to pull off his portrayal of Frank Castle. Besides, anything that would help me forget the nightmare of the Lundgren-helmed version is always welcome.



• The Village - Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Need I say more?



• Troy - When you mix Greek Mythology and Brad Pitt together, you have something I am destined to watch. This film shares the top spot with Spider-man 2 for "movies that Ejay Paz can afford to cut class for".



• Van Helsing - Falls under the category of I-don't-care-if-the-setting-is-medieval-and-my-weapons-are-modern-because-it-still-looks-really-cool movies, which I just happen to be a sucker for. Plus, aside from the fact that Hugh Jackman is easily one of my favorite actors, I'm hopeful that I'll get to see Kate Beckinsale in tight leather pants again ala-Underworld.

Other films I'd also want to see: Walking Tall, King Arthur, Ella Enchanted, Harry Potter 3, Thunderbirds, and Taking Lives.

Wait, I think I hear Greenhills and Makati Cinema Square calling me.

Have No Fear...

...the Batmobile is here! Courtesy of the Batman Begins official site.

Now if this doesn't scare the living crap out of any "cowardly and superstitous lot", I don't know what will. Man, I can't wait...and we haven't even reached the middle of this year!

No Pressure

Zane was so quick to point out how slow I am in providing answers to the following questionnaire. I don't really mind. It's a good time to update the blog again anyway. Work's been significantly tougher to deal with lately. Projects galore. As of this writing, I am scheduled to stay overnight here in the office to monitor the migration of one of the more critical projects, the details of which, of course, I cannot discuss here. So, let's move on shall we?

1. What time do you get up?

I set my alarm to go off at 6 AM. But it usually takes 5 to 6 times of "snoozing" before I really get up and prepare for the day ahead. This is in the new apartment. Back in the boarding house, it took 2 to 3 times before I got up.


2. If you could eat lunch with one person, who would it be?

Pi definitely.


3. Gold or silver?

Silver. Gold's just too high-profile. Could get held up wearing it.


4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

50 Firsts Dates (pretty good movie) and Love Actually (good one too if you're a fan of British humor).


5. What is your favorite TV show?

Shows. Smallville, CSI, and Fear Factor.


6. What do you eat for breakfast?

Varies between Tuna Sautee, Country Bagel with cream cheese, and Danggitsilog. (Which reminds me, have to buy one of those now. Be right back.)


7. Who would you hate to be stuck in a room with?

(Ok. I'm back.) It's a long list, and it's too early in the morning to be thinking bad thoughts.


8. What/who inspires you?

My family, Pi, the future, and knowing that I can be good at what I do (whatever that may be).


9. What is your middle name?

Paulino.


10. Beach, city, or country?

Beach all the way!


11. Favorite ice cream?

Quezo Real and Grand Pistaccio.


12. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn?

CHEESE! Butter at a close second.


13. Favorite color?

Navy Blue. Also, colors I'd like to have my ride painted with (Red, Dark Green) and ones that make me look thin. Yellow, depending on my mood.


14. What kind of car do you drive?

97 Toyota Corolla GLi, all stock. 1.6L 4A-FE 16-valve EFI engine. Power steering, power locks, power windows. 70,000+ kilometers. Metallic blue. Ending plate 3. Codename: Nefmobile.


15. Favorite sandwich?

Smoked salmon (expensive, but oh so very delicious). Hot Shots' burgers and Carl's Jr.'s chicken sandwiches.


16. What characteristic do you despise?

Immaturity, loudness, and cockiness.


17. Favorite flower?

Do I have to give a serious answer to this question? Rose...because it's easy to spell.


18. If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation, where would you go?

Cancun, The Bahamas, practically anywhere with the best beaches.


19. What color is your bathroom?

White? I can't really tell with the incandescent light.


20. Favorite brand of clothing?

Ukay-ukay. Bench if I have money.


21. Where would you retire?

The Philippines still. Baguio or Tagaytay most probably.


22. Favorite day of the week?

Wednesday. It's supposed to be my lucky day. And I find the thought of "two days have passed and that in two more days it'll be the weekend" inspiring.


23. What did you do for your last birthday?

Mope (unlike Gerwin, mine was a quarter-life crisis two years too early). Had dinner with Pi at Luk Yuen. Ranted about my supposedly close friends not remembering it was my birthday.


24. Where were you born?

Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia.


25. Favorite sport to watch?

Basketball (even though I haven't had the chance to watch some in the last month or so), Tennis, Wrestling (the "If you smeeeeeeeeell..." kind), Wushu, and UFC.


26. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?

Pi. She never answers this stuff.


27. Person you expect to send it back first?

I had thought Zane, but Ger proved me wrong.


28. What fabric detergent do you use?

Downy.


29. Coke or Pepsi?

Coke. Light. But I don't drink softdrinks anymore.


30. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Depends what day it is in the week.


31. What is your shoe size?

Between 9 and 10.


32. Do you have any pets?

Three dogs: Lucky, Charm, and Panda.

Well, that's that. Time to get back to work.

Big, White, and Hairy

Happy Birthday, Chief. Have a good one.

Things To Do Before You Die

Heh heh heh. The third one's my favorite.

Echo

There's something about the look in your eyes
Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
And it reminded me that you're so worth the fight

My biggest fear will be the rescue of me
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah

Could you show me dear...something I've not seen?
Something infinitely interesting
Could you show me dear...something I've not seen?
Something infinitely interesting

Theres something about the way you move
I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing
More subtle than something someone contrives
Your movements echo that I have seen the real thing

Your biggest fear will be the rescue of you
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah

Could you show me dear...something I've not seen?
Something infinitely interesting
Could you show me dear...something I've not seen?
Something infinitely interesting

~ Incubus

How I wish I could write songs like this.

Previously, on Nefville...

Movie Drought
For the first time this year, I have gone two weeks without watching a single movie in the cinema. Hopefully, this weekend will end the streak. I hear I'm missing out on a bunch of great flicks.

Banahaw Street 916F
The apartment is just about ready to live in. The previous weekends were spent mostly shopping around for the basics and scavenging surplus stuff from the Ferrer residence in Laguna. We're lacking a few key ingredients in the apartment recipe but nothing that can't wait 'til the coming weekend. I'll probably be moving in in the next two weeks. Pao, with most of his things already in place, had the opportunity for a dry run last Saturday (our contract officially starts on March 1). Amazingly, it was a lot "dryer" than expected...because there wasn't any water. A water outage was apparently scheduled on that day and the neighbors were kind enough NOT to inform us of this. Oh well, I guess the idea of two grown men moving in together is really bound to repel warm welcome into a neighborhood.

Super Ferry 15
Last Thursday, I tagged along with Pi aboard the Super Ferry 15 (the one that burned down was the Super Ferry 14) for the Philippine Marketing Association's Agora Youth Awards Night, where they honor the top Marketing Students in the country. Pi was a winner (the only one from La Salle) the previous year which would explain why we were their in the first place. This year saw the dominance of Lasallians in the field but that's another story. The highlight of the evening (other than it being my first time aboard an absolutely huge sea vessel, and the free food) was the speech given by Roselle Ambubuyog. She was Class Valedictorian of her elementary and high schools, and graduated Summa Cum Laude, majoring in Mathematics, from the Ateneo. She is currently taking up a Master's Degree in Actuarial Science at UP, with an invitation to work remotely as a consultant for a popular business firm in Florida. It's not so much her achievements that hit me but her disability. Roselle is completely blind.

To make the long story short, after hearing her, a lot of things were put into perspective for me that night. It is unfortunate though that I cannot find a transcript of her speech (which was completely off the top of her head, by the way). Hopefully someday soon. It's very inspiring and worth sharing.

Highway Star
Initial D and Need for Speed: Underground are my two prime addictions at the moment. They're good outlets for the speed freak in you.

Sunday Bloody Sunday
Last Sunday, I had to go the office to correct an application and regenerate some reports. Aside from the fact that the ventilation was turned off, there was dust all around. And lucky me, I just happen to be allergic to dust. By the end of the day, I couldn't stop sneezing and my eyes were really watery. When I woke up yesterday, I obviously wasn't in the best of shapes for work. Fortunately, my boss was kind enough to let me go on leave. There's a slight improvement in my condition today, though the sinus and the throat are still a bit bothersome. Here's hoping I fully recover in the next two days.

To Hell with FPJ

News I came across yesterday: Poe finds intellectual challenge daunting.

You mean people expected otherwise? He's a fucking high school drop-out for crying out loud! A. High. School. Drop-out. Of course he'll find intellectual challenge daunting. He'd probably pop a vein and die if he tried to actually use his brain and push it beyond its current limits (which aren't that far out to begin with). But guess what, people will still vote for him.

"I am honest" he says, and assumes that is enough to make him the best bet for President. But honesty alone just won't cut it, will it? Will his honesty alone ensure the total elimination of corruption in government and restore peace and order in society? Will his honesty alone give jobs and provide homes to the thousands of poor people he claims to fight for? Will his honesty alone restore investor confidence in this country? To hell with it all if it will. He is as two-faced as GMA! After swearing that he will never enter politics, look at where he is now. He lied about having an illegitimate child, only to turn the people around later on and say how proud he was of his son. He's a bloody actor...acting is just a better-sounding term for lying.

The logic of it all escapes me. It's so damn obvious, but they just don't (or won't) see it: nothing good or beneficial will come out of FPJ's presidency. He will just fuck things up a lot more. Regardless, his followers will say, "that's not true, he has brilliant people in his political team to back him up" and will still vote for him.

Brilliant my ass.

If they're so brilliant, they should've gone and supported a different candidate. Do all these FPJ loyalists honestly think that Angara, Maceda, Enrile, and Co. (who are all former Erap and Marcos cronies by the way) are "behind him all the way" because of his 'qualifications'? Hell no! The fact of the matter is, there is no one more equipped, no one more 'qualified', to be the ultimate puppet than FPJ. That's why they're behind in the first place! You don't see puppeteers puppeteering from the front, do you? That would defeat the purpose. Puppeteering is always hidden, unseen...always made to look like an illusion.

In addition, FPJ's failure to lay down his platform or any concrete plans is extremely annoying at same time depressing. If he thinks assembling a 19-strong team of experts in economics and governance makes the situation all that better, or him the better choice for president, he's lacking a lot more in the mental department than I thought. The organization of such a team is an instant admission of his incapability. But still, he insists on running. And despite all his shortcomings, people will still vote for him.

But knowing that people will vote for him shouldn't spell the end for trying to at least prevent that from happening. I believe there is an unwritten law, that obliges those of us who do understand and know the consequences of an FPJ presidency, to educate or enlighten those who do not. Easier said than done, but it's worth the effort if it means saving this country from going to the dogs.

Corporate Funnies

A young executive was leaving the office at 6 p.m. when he found the CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Listen," said the CEO, "this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?"

"Certainly," said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button. "Excellent,excellent!" said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine.

"I just need one copy."

Lesson I - Never, never assume that your Boss knows everything.

***
A crusty old man walks into a bank and says to the teller at the window:

"I want to open a damn checking account." To which the astonished woman replies: "I beg your pardon, sir; I must have misunderstood you. What did you say?"

"Listen up bitch! I said, I want to open a damnchecking account right now!"

"I'm very sorry sir, but we do not tolerate that kind of language in this bank." Having said this, the teller leaves the window and goes over to the bank manager to tell him about her problem customer. They both return and the manager asks the old geezer: "What seems to be the problem here?"

"There's no damn problem, sonny," the elderly man says. "I just won 50 million bucks in the damn lottery and I want to open a damn checking account in this damn bank!" "I see," says the manager thoughtfully. "And you're saying that this bitch here is giving you a hard time?"

Lesson II - If you are rich, you can get away with almost anything.

***
An American and a Japanese were sitting on the plane on the way to LA when the American turned to the Japanese and asked, "What kind of -ese are you?" Confused, the Japanese replied, "Sorry but I don't understand what you mean." The American repeated, "What kind of -ese are you?"

Again, the Japanese was confused over the question. The American, now irritated, Then yelled, "What kind of -ese are you...are you a Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc......?!?" The Japanese then replied, "Oh, I am Japanese."

A while later the Japanese turned to the American and asked What kind of 'key' was he. The American, frustrated, yelled, "What do you mean what kind of '-key' am I?!" The Japanese said, "Are you a Yankee, donkee, or monkee?"

Lesson III - Never insult anyone.

***
There were these 4 guys, a Russian, a German, a British and a French, Who found this small genie bottle. When they rubbed the bottle, a genie appeared. Thankful that the 4 guys had released him out of the bottle, he said, "Next to you all are 4 swimming pools, I will give each of you a wish. When you run towards the pool and jump, you shout what you want the pool of water, then your wish will come true."

The French wanted to start. He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted "WINE". The pool immediately changed into a pool of wine. The Frenchman was so happy swimming and drinking from the pool.

Next is the Russian's turn, he did the same and shouted," VODKA" and immersed himself into a pool of vodka.

The German was next and he jumped and shouted, "BEER". He was so contented with his beer pool!

The last is the British. He was running towards the pool when suddenly he steps on a banana peel. He slipped towards the pool and shouted, SHIT!!!!!!!........."

Lesson IV - Think twice before you say something, because sometimes what you say accidentally does happen.

***
A junior manager, a senior manager and their boss are on their way to meeting. On their way through a park, they come across a wonder lamp. They rub the lamp and a ghost appears. The ghost says, "Normally, one is granted three wishes but as you are three, I will allow one wish each."

So the eager senior manager shouted, I wa nt the first wish. I want to be in the Bahamas, on a fast boat and have no worries." *Pfufffff*, and he was gone.

Now the junior manager could not keep quiet and shouted " I want to be in Florida with beautiful girls, plenty of food and cocktails." *Pfufffff*, and he was also gone."

The boss calmly said, "I want these two idiots back in the office after lunch."

Lesson V - Always allow the boss to speak first.