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.

And A Good Time Was Had By All...

...borrowing the words of my Big, White, and Hairy friend.

My Valentine's officially started on the 13th. The Goddess Kurdapya and I had planned earlier in the week to go to the Lovapalooza event at Roxas, but due to preoccupations at the office until about 7 PM (the event starts at 8), we had to cancel. Traffic was murder by the time we got off from work. I was lucky enough though to find parking at G4 in Makati (I guess the fact that it was a pay day kind of negated all that bad luck one is supposed to have). Had dinner at Friday's then met up with Kats (Pi's bestfriend) and her hubby, RJ, shortly after that. Spent the remainder of the evening eating ice cream, and catching up on stuff over coffee.

Slept in for a couple extra hours Saturday morning (which I haven't done in quite a while). Dropped by Petals Galore in La Salle to buy some flowers for Pi (which I also haven't done in quite a while) before proceeding to her place, where we had lunch. In the afternoon we had her Pentax camera brought to this specialty shop in Cubao, and then I took her for a refresher driving course at The Fort. In the evening, her family was kind enough to drag me along for dinner at Timog in QC (I forget the place, but the food was great). We were supposed to go KTV-ing at Music 21 after that but alas, the damn place was jam-packed. Left with nothing better to do, we just decided to go home. I spent a couple more hours with Pi at their residence before officially calling it a night.

And that was it...my busiest Valentine's so far. Might not be as romantic as you would expect, but hey...a good time was still had by all.

23

I guess you just really get to that point in your life when you stop, and come to realize you're not as powerful as you think, not as prepared or brave or confident, not as smart or wise as everybody around you says you are. You realize that you're not as equipped to handle all of life's pressures as you believe you are. Five or six years down the road you'll have all these plans, but find out they're not as achievable as you thought they were. You'll find out you're not as ready to take them on as you convinced yourself you were five or six years before that. It scares the hell out of me.

Twenty-three years today. I'm exactly two years short of being a quarter century old. At this age I thought I would've already known enough. But the fact of the matter is I don't. There are a lot of things I still don't know, most of which I probably won't at all. And that scares me even more. I do not know what's in store for me in the years to come. All I know is I'm sure as hell going to try and make something great of my life, one day at a time. I owe my family and those who believe in me that much.

My Grandfather texted me this today (yes, my Lolo is that cool):

It's very important to define success for yourself. If you really want to reach for the brass ring, just remember that there are sacrifices that go along. We write our own destiny. We become what we do.

The timing is perfect, and coming from a man who's lived for more than 80 years, the message becomes all the more special.

A couple of things have happened recently that sort of rattled my perception of life. It's all good though, it made things a lot more clearer for me. Quarter-life crisis? You can call it that. You can call it whatever you want. The point is it's just a phase, and I will overcome. I guess I just needed to get it off my chest. The fear of what lies ahead will always be there. It's not something you get rid of completely. But at least I have you guys (you all know who you are) to give me those words of encouragement and that much needed pat in the back.

So Far Away

This is my life
It's not what it was before
All these feelings I've shared
And these are my dreams
That I'd never lived before
Somebody shake me
Cause I, I must be sleeping

Now that we're here,
It's so far away
All the struggle we fought was in vain
All the mistakes,
One life contained
They all finally start to go away
Now that we're here its so far away
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive and I’m not ashamed to be the person that I am today

These are my words
That I've never said before
I think I'm doing ok
And this is the smile
That I've never shown before
Somebody shake me
Cause I, I must be sleeping

Now that we're here,
It's so far away
All the struggle we fought was in vain
All the mistakes,
One life contained
They all finally start to go away
Now that we're here its so far away
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive and I’m not ashamed to be the person that I am today

I'm so afraid of waking
Please don't shake me
Afraid of waking
Please don't shake me

Now that we're here,
It's so far away
All the struggle we fought was in vain
All the mistakes,
One life contained
They all finally start to go away
Now that we're here its so far away
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive and I’m not ashamed to be the person that I am today

~ Staind

A Guy Can Dream

Besides, it's good to exercise one's Photoshop skills once in a while. *Sigh* I miss the TLS days.

Who's The Girl?

You tell me. At the moment, she's just known as The Double A Paper Girl (Double A is a popular brand of printing paper in the Netherlands, so I hear).

If you can find out what her name is (and also find some additional pictures while you're at it), I will be eternally grateful.

What's all the fuss about? Nothing really. Let's just say I got hit by this so hard I'm pretty obssessed with her at the moment.

***

I'm sure as hell you'll be playing that ad more than once. Oog!

It's Not Easy Being Green...

...but some things are just worth posting.

When I was born, I got a choice - A big dick or a good memory. I am not able to remember what I chose.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
My wife is a sex object. Every time I ask for sex, she objects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impotence: Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are only two four letter words that are offensive to men - don't and stop, unless they are used together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panties are not the best thing on earth, but next to the best thing on earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three stages to sex in a person's life: Tri Weekly, Try Weekly, and Try Weakly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginity can be cured.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tried phone sex once, but the holes in the dialer were too small.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What's an Australian kiss?
A: The same thing as a French kiss, only down under.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A couple just married were happy with the whole thing. He was happy with the Hole and She was happy with the Thing......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What are the three biggest tragedies in a mans life?
A: Life sucks, job sucks and the wife doesn't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teacher: Use "harassment" in a sentence.
Johnny: Her mouth said 'no', but her ass meant 'yes'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What's the difference between a bitch and a whore?
A: A whore sleeps with everyone at the party and a bitch sleeps with everyone except you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact ?
A: Breasts don't have eyes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course you've heard about the Viagra computer virus, it turns your 3 1/2 inch floppy into a hard disk.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite the old saying, "Don't take your troubles to bed", many men still sleep with their wives.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

It's Good to be Pinoy!

A Pinoy is having breakfast one morning (coffee, croissants, bread, butter and jam when a Frenchman, chewing bubble-gum, sits down next to him. The Pinoy ignores the Frenchman who, nevertheless, starts a conversation.

Frenchman: "You Filipinos eat the whole bread??"

Pinoy (in a bad mood): "Of course."

Frenchman: (after blowing a huge bubble) "We don't. In France, we only eat what's inside. The crusts we collect in a container, recycle it, transform them into croissants and sell them to the Philippines." The Frenchman has a smirk on his face.

The Pinoy listens in silence.

The Frenchman persists: "Do you eat jelly with the bread??"

Pinoy: "Of Course."

Frenchman: (cracking his bubble-gum between his teeth and chuckling). "We don't. In France, we eat fresh fruit for breakfast, then we put all the peels, seeds, and leftovers in containers, recycle them, transform them into jam and sell the jam to the Philippine Islands."

After a moment of silence, (irritated already) the Pinoy then asks: "Do you have sex in France?"

Frenchman: "Why, of course we do", he says with a big smirk.

Pinoy: "And what do you do with the condoms once you've used them?"

Frenchman: "We throw them away, of course."

Noypi: "We don't. In my dear homeland, we put them in a container, recycle them, melt them down into bubble-gum and sell them to France."

The Weekend News

Samurai Showdown
I got to watch The Last Samurai twice over the weekend, so it's quite obvious that I've taken a tremendous liking for the film. The story for the most part, is good, but not something we haven't already seen before (think Michael Dudikoff or David Bradley given the A-movie treatment via Tom Cruise). What it lacks in originality though, it makes up for in its exquisite production design and heart-pumping battle scenes (my favorite being the gallant stand of the Samurai against the black Ninjas). If you happen to have a strong interest in, or at least find Japanese culture and traditions intriguing, you will most probably enjoy this movie.

I'm a sucker for most things eastern, especially martial arts and weaponry. Swordfighting, specifically with a Katana, is easily one of my greatest frustrations. But that is a story for another post.

Need for Speed
I've always seen the Initial D games in Timezone and Power Station, but I never really understood why all these people lined up for them.

Now, I do.

JC introduced me to the game last Sunday. In a way, you get to have the car you can't actually have in real life, like a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI for instance (unless, of course, you're filthy rich). The object is to earn as much points as you can by winning a bunch of races. As you reach certain levels of points, you can use these to upgrade your ride. Naturally, the more trekked out your road beast is, the greater the chances of letting the opponent eat your dust.

It can get pretty addictive once you're into it, so be prepared.

Pillsbury Doh! Boy
All it took was four tablespoons of water, an oven toaster, and 30 minutes to make my first ever batch of golden-brown, chewy, chocolate chip cookies (and I hear, to the satisfaction of my supreme overlord and her family). God is good for allowing man to invent the Instant Cookie Mix (plug plug)! God is good.

Wasted Opportunity

PLUS ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (The more it changes, the more it remains the same.) Edsa II was mounted three years ago to change a corrupt and incompetent administration. It was described by a columnist as "the culmination of a movement to restore accountability and idealism in government.''

But has Edsa II changed the corrupt landscape of Philippine government and politics? The answer should be obvious: No. Has it restored accountability and idealism in government? Again, the answer is no. The business of government and politics is still being conducted, not on the basis of principles, but on the basis of pragmatism, practicality and self-interest.

The principal beneficiary of Edsa II was President Macapagal-Arroyo. To be sure, she was not the unanimous choice of the hundreds of thousands who flocked to Edsa three years ago, shouting for President Joseph Estrada to step down. There was a sector that was urging the top officials in government: "Resign all!'' But the Constitution had to be followed, although the ouster of Estrada was done through an extra-constitutional route, and it was Ms Macapagal who had to succeed him.

The Macapagal administration began auspiciously enough. The new President impressed everyone as a knowledgeable workaholic, a sharp contrast to the laid-back, boozing, carousing Estrada. But soon she began flip-flopping all over the place, sacrificing principles in favor of political pragmatism. There was talk of corruption in high places, although it could not be definitely proven.

Ms Macapagal put a stop to divisive politics when she announced on December 30, 2002 that she was not running in 2004. But then, in what could be the biggest flip-flop of her life, last year she took that promise back and said she was running for a full term after all. She could have gone down in history as a transition president, and history would have looked kindly on her, but now she will be judged by her actions after she reversed her decision not to run.

Now, in violation of the spirit of Edsa II, the President is making all sorts of accommodations and is bending principles in cobbling together a "winning'' ticket. She has accepted into the administration ticket John Osmena, one of the infamous "Balato Twins''; Orlando Mercado, Estrada's defense secretary; and former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, one of the staunchest defenders of Estrada during the impeachment trial. Obviously Ms Macapagal has no compunctions about her actions because, after all, she was not part of the principled oust-Estrada movement from the beginning. She resigned from the administration and joined the movement only when it was certain that Estrada was going to be deposed.

The President has made the usual noises about curbing corruption, but she has done nothing earth-shaking about this perennial problem. To the contrary, the magnitude of corruption in government has risen, and talk of corruption has involved people close to the President, such as was alleged in the Jose Pidal expos, among other things.

Now, the administration is even tolerating, if not actually pushing for, the departure of Estrada for the United States or another country to have an operation on his knee, although it can be done here by Filipino surgeons who are the equal of their foreign counterparts in surgical expertise. If Estrada is allowed to leave, will that mean the end of the plunder case against him? Will he be allowed to go scot-free? And why would he return when he faces the distinct possibility of a death sentence here? And if he walks free, what was Edsa II all for? Is it going to be remembered as just another exercise in futility?

The pity of it is that Ms Macapagal could have been a notable, if not a good, president had she held true to her promise not to seek election. She could have undertaken wide-ranging reforms and made crucial decisions without minding whether they would affect her political plans for 2004 or not. She could have launched a real, honest-to-goodness campaign against corruption which was after all the principal issue in Edsa II. She could have exerted her political and moral influence to ensure the holding of clean, honest and peaceful elections in May. Now even this is no longer sure anymore.

Edsa II has not changed the political landscape. Probably what we need is not just a change of leaders, for elections have been a game of musical chairs, with people from the same elite taking turns in the seat of power. Probably what we need is a change in men and a change in the system.

~ Inquirer Editorial, 20 January 2004

David Blaine Ain't Got Nothin' On Fido Dido

Click here, and you'll see what I mean. It's just simply beyond human comprehesion.

Up, Up, and Away...

...is probably a bit too early for everyone's favorite farmboy at this point. But there's always room for a familiar look.

Photo courtesy of Kryptonsite.

The Dagohoy Story

It was the first day of school in Washington, DC and a new student named Dagohoy, the son of a Filipino immigrant, entered the fourth grade.

The teacher began, "Let's review some American history, class. Who said 'Give me liberty or give me death?'" She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Dagohoy's who had his hand up, "Patrick Henry, 1775." "Very good," said the teacher.

"Who said 'Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth'"? Again, no response except from Dagohoy: "Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, 1863," he said.

The teacher snaps at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed, Dagohoy who is new to our country knows more about our history than you do."

She hears a loud whisper from the back: "Screw the Filipinos." "Who said that?" she demanded. Dagohoy put his hand up. "General John Pershing, Manila, 1896."

At that point, Jack, another student says, "I'm going to puke."

The teacher glares and asks, "All right! Now who said that?" Again Dagohoy answers, "George Bush, Sr. to the Japanese Prime Minister during the state dinner, Tokyo, 1991."

Now furious another student yells, "Oh yeah? Suck this!" Dagohoy jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to the teacher at the top of his voice, "Bill Clinton to Monica Lewinsky, the Oval Office, 1997!"

Someone shouts, "You little shit if you say anything else, I'll kill you." Dagohoy yells, "Congressman Gary Condit to Chandra Levy, Washington, D.C., 2001!"

The teacher faints. "I'm outta here!" mutters one student as he sidles to the door. "President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Baguio City, December 30, 2002!" Dagohoy responds.

As the class gathers around her on the floor, someone says, "Oh shit, now we're really in big trouble!" "Saddam Hussein, on the Iraq invasion, Bhagdad, May 2003!" Dagohoy bellowed.

"Now, I really have to run," Jack mutters, heading for the exit., "Gloria Macapagal Arroyo again, Pampanga, October 4, 2003!" Dagohoy shouts triumphantly jumping with glee.

One Step Backward

The Supreme Court has just found the P1.3-B contract between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Mega Pacific consortium for the computerization of the coming May 10 polls null and void. Full story here.

The computerization, part of the Comelec's Election Modernization program, has been heavily opposed by many, citing a number of irregularities in the vote-counting machines and software provided by Mega Pacific. An estimated 800 billion pesos had already been spent by prior to the cancellation of the contract. The Court has ordered the Solicitor General to find a way of recovering the said amount. Returning to manual counting could push the elections back by a couple of months. What's scary about this is the threat of a Military takeover in the event the polls, which is always supposed to be held on the second Monday of May, does get delayed.

Philippine politics sucks.

Photoblog - Day Trip to Enchanted Kingdom

I know, I know...it's about damn time! Sorry but the first week of work has just been...very unfavorable...to my blogging time. Anyway, on with the show.

December 20 of last year, I had the chance to visit Enchanted Kingdom (EK) again for just the third time in my life. It also was my first ever long drive from Manila to Laguna.

The magic is here...or so they say.The last time I was here, it was back in high school. My brother, my sister, and some cousins were with me then. And I was still terrified of the Space Shuttle and Anchors Away rides. Those two were the only rides I didn't get on. This time I was with Pi and some people from work. But would I be able to conquer my fear of the stomach raising monsters? Stick around to find out.

(L-R excluding the kids and the mascots) Pi, Me, Veena, Ronnel, Shaggy (kneeling), Doni (kneeling), Len, Concon, Ceejay, Clarisse.
(Free) Lunch with the kids.Coincidentally, Globe had scheduled an Ate/Kuya (Big Sister/Big Brother) for a day program on the same day, which accounts for the presence of the kidly kids in the pictures above. Some of my officemates had volunteered to be part of the said program. Their lunch was on the company of course, but we were lucky enough to be recipients of some extra food stubs.

Pi and moi, ready to take off in our rocket-propelled super swings of doom (I wish).
Air Chucks. Taken while on the "Flying Fiesta". I should sell this pic to Converse.The Flying Fiesta is easily one of my all time favorite rides in EK. The ride per se is pretty shallow come to think of it, but the feel of your feet hanging freely in the air is very...invigorating.

This will do (left). I fell of a horse in Wright Park a few years back; I've never been on a real one since. Pi (right) looks absolutely beautiful in this picture.
Pi and I were here for the first time as a couple. We obviously had a lot of fun.For a Php 500.00 rate that covers the entrance fee, the ride-all-you-can bracelet isn't such a bad deal. I guess you just have to get on every ride to get your money's worth. Yep, when I say every, that includes the ultimate kiddy ride...the Grand Carousel. There are a few attractions that do have a separate fee though: the 4D Theater for Php 40.00 (which doesn't just live up to the hype; it's not worth the long wait), the Paint Ball Arena for Php 90.00 (this is for 20 balls, you can pay for more), and the Go Kart Track for Php 160.00 (this one is definitely worth it).

Space Shuttle. Had I moved a bit more to the left and taken this shot, the image would have been a little too phallic.
Anchors Away. I had a real tough time taking this shot. We sat at the farthest seat on our side.Well what do you know? I guess I found my balls and rode the two most dreaded rides in EK afterall. Ha. Too bad I didn't get to take a pic while I was on the Space Shuttle. That would've been interesting.

Ninja, Ninja Wrap (bad pun). Pi and myself, before quenching the need for speed on the Go Kart track.
(L-R) Ronnel, Me, Pi, Shaggy, Doni, Clarisse.
(L-R) Doni, Clarisse, Pi, Me, Shaggy, Ronnel.The Go Karts were the last rides Pi and I went on before finally going back to Manila. We had to go ahead of the others...a TLS reunion/Christmas celebration was also scheduled that evening at Zane's house.

We arrived around a quarter before 11 PM. Fatigue started to kick in the minute I stepped into the Ronquillo gate. I've never been one to keep my eyes open when that happens; Gerwin and Jon will attest to that (Zane was kind enough to let me crash in Ping's bed). Unfortunately, there is a lack of images from the gathering. I had left Ger's camera in the car that night.

After A Well-Deserved Break...

...it's back to work again for me today. Spent a good two weeks on vacation in the motherland (Baguio City), but internet connection up there (in our house at least) is crap...and i mean my-friend's-cousin's-grandmother-runs-faster-than-this crap...so pardon the lack of updates. Expect decent blogging though in the next few days. Still have those photoblogs I promised on my list. I just need to catch up on work for today.

Check back again later.

When I See You Smile

Sometimes I wonder how I'd ever make it through
Through this world without having you, I just wouldn't have a clue
'Cos sometimes it seems like this world's closing in on me
And there's no way of breaking free, and then I see you reach for me

Sometimes I wanna give up, I wanna give in, I wanna quit the fight
And then I see you baby, and everything's alright, everything's alright

When I see you smile, I can face the world, oh oh, you know I can do anything
When I see you smile, I see a ray of light, oh oh
I see it shining right thru the rain
When I see you smile, baby when I see you smile at me

Baby there's nothing in this world that could ever do
What a touch of your hand can do, it's like nothing that I ever knew

And when the rain is falling, I don't feel it, 'cos you're here with me now
And one look at you baby, is all I'll ever need, it's all I'll ever need

When I see you smile, I can face the world, oh oh, you know I can do anything
When I see you smile, I see a ray of light, oh oh
I see it shining right thru the rain
When I see you smile, baby, baby when I see you smile at me

Sometimes I wanna give up, I wanna give in, I wanna quit the fight
Then one look at you baby, and everything's alright, everything's alright
So right

When I see you smile, I can face the world, oh oh, you know I can do anything
When I see you smile, I see a ray of light, oh oh
I see it shining right thru the rain, yeah
When I see you smile, I can face the world, oh oh, you know I can do anything
When I see you smile, oh yeah, baby when I see you smile, smile at me

~ Bad English

***

Happy 29th Monthsarry, Pi. I love you.

Photoblog - Tali Beach

Last November 29, I was fortunate enough to visit Tali Beach in Nasugbu, Batangas for the first time. Amazing place, perfect for some major R&R. But don't take my word for it, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

This be my teammates. You can tell we were very delighted to be on this trip.We arrived at Nasugbu at around 10 AM. My officemate's resthouse was located inside a private subdivision and was relatively near the beach. Had a hearty lunch of liempo and adobo (which, ironically, isn't really good for the heart) then played tourist afterwards. It was pictures galore from then on.

Nasugbu is such a beautiful place. I obviously couldn't stop taking pictures of the landscape. I have also, honestly, never seen seawater this clear before.One thing I noticed in Tali is that plenty of the people who come here have their own boats. Wish I had one of those.Absence makes the heart grow fonder. This didn't really apply to us since the absence of work made this trip a lot more enjoyable. I wish Pi could've joined us though.The youngest members of our team (L-R): Me, Len, Rostum, Paula, and Jesse.Spent most of the afternoon swimming. I also went snorkelling for the first time. Too bad I couldn't take pictures under the water. The things I saw would've have been really nice on photo.

Me: Happy and wet.Snorkelling buddies Rostum and Jesse.The highlight of the trip would probably be getting to watch the Sunset before finally going back to Manila. Sentimental bastard that I am, I enjoyed every second of it. Would've have been a lot more special if Pi was there with me.

Kodak moment. A grandfather takes his little granddaughter for a walk in the water.So there it is, our day trip to Tali Beach. I don't know when or if I'll ever get to visit Nasugbu again. I'm just happy I got the chance to tag along.

That's all for now. Check back again later. See you around.

I'm Still Here

My only regret in the two weeks that have passed is that I didn't get to update my blog. I did, however, manage to document the major highlights of those two weeks (special thanks to Gerwin for lending me his trusty "weapon"). Expect a whole bunch of photoblogs in the coming days.

Feels good to be blogging again. I missed this.

Clueless

ACTOR Fernando Poe Jr. seems to have quickly found out that politics can be bad for one's health. Just a few days after he declared that he would run for president in next year's elections, Poe got an invitation to lay bare his program of government before a gathering of top business executives. He accepted the invitation, but at the last minute he either got cold feet or developed a fever. He failed to show up at the forum for presidential aspirants organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Poe sent Senator Vicente Sotto III, who had worked hard to convince Poe to stand for election, as his stand-in. The businessmen were not interested in what the former comedian had to say. Not even Sotto's assurance that Poe himself had put the speech together could perk up their curiosity. By the time Sotto started to speak, half of the audience had left.

Everyone should have stayed and listened. Poe's five-page statement may be the longest spiel they will hear from the most laconic presidential wannabe the country has ever seen. And it speaks volumes of how little thought and preparation he will be bringing to the most difficult job this side of the world, if ever he gets elected.

Poe said he had one simple goal and plan: to help uplift the nation and run the government in consultation with all sectors of society. "I believe that a nation cannot be run by just one man but can be led by one," he said. But before that, he added, he had to know what he could do for the various sectors of Philippine society:

"I need you to tell me, the Filipino, whom I'm here to serve, what I can do for you. I need the business sector to tell me how we can improve and strengthen the business climate. I need the political sector to tell me how we can make the rules of governance work for the people. I need labor to tell me what needs they have. I need the Armed Forces and the police to tell me what our country needs to preserve peace and order in our ranks and in our streets. I need our foreign friends to tell me how we, as a Filipino nation, can be worthy allies of world peace and prosperity."

Earlier when he was asked what qualifications he would be bringing to the highest office, Poe replied that he was beholden to no one, that he was not corrupt and that he was sincere. Now we can add candor to his short list of recommendations. His very first speech was an honest admission that he was clueless about the many big problems facing the nation and had therefore no solutions to propose.

Poe can ask the first man he meets on the street what he needs and he will be presented with a very long list: a job, food on the table, a roof over his head, education for his children, security in his home and safety in the streets, health care, and so on and so forth. If he has not heard about them, businessmen have come up with many suggestions on how to improve the business climate, ranging from improved peace and order, more honest and effective governance to consistency in policy, less red tape, better infrastructure, and so on and so forth. If he wants to know what labor needs, he should go to any rally organized by labor groups.

Indeed, anyone who wants to know what needs fixing in this country doesn't have to go through any consultations. A week of reading the newspapers would give him a fairly good idea of the many, varied, urgent and almost insurmountable problems facing the nation and the Filipino people. To ask what people need is to invite being asked in turn: Where have you been?

Everyone, except Poe, would have an idea of what needs to be done. What anyone who aspires for the presidency must tell the people is how he is going to solve those problems or achieve those goals. Poe is asking the Filipino people to give him the chance to lead them. But he has not given even a hint as to where he plans to take them.

~ Inquirer Editorial, 3 December 2003