Big Boy Meets The Wobbly World

Zupdate

2007-04-13T18:22:00.000+08:00

Rome
France
Spain
Awesome
Awesome
Time

here
now
in
barcelona
yipee

one
zillion
photos
when
i
get
back

fun no!

2007-03-15T20:29:00.000+08:00

Fly from the company of the wicked—fly and turn not back. - PLATO

so ito na yata ang isa sa pinakamasayang mga araw sa buhay ko.

kahit na andami dami daming tatapusin sa mga classes, at iba pang bigat na tasks sa org, sa council (yehesss!) at sa pisay at northfield, e binabawi pa rin ng mga particular na bagay-bagay ang lahat ng pagod. na mahirap ipaliwanag. basta iba e.

gusto ko panoorin ng buo ang 300. pinanood namin kahapon sa class pero may tinatapos akong paper kaya first half lang.

final prod na namin sa 101 sa monday, at kabado sobra. make or break e.

tas sa theory naman may report pa AT final paper pero ok talaga si sir deza kaya solb na yun.

sa creative writing class, final revision na lang

sa math, written report pa ng financing in housing (nge) tapos eto, FINALS. potek sinong nagsabing uso pa ang exemptions? nerd e!

sa photojourn, dalawa pang pamatay na plates

at sa spanish, sohorree kasi the best si senora regala kaya meron pa kaming three exams in two weeks. nasa las vegas pala siya ngayon. balik siya sa tuesday tas exam agad. kaya yun.

andami ko natutunan sa span. fun no!

pero buti na lang talaga may mga bagay-bagay sa mundo na sobrang ok.

bukas ay masaya na naman fo sure.

HOTT EH!

I love you ISA

2007-03-07T20:53:00.000+08:00

CLICK IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW

I love you ISA

thank you all you 12 wonderful eccentric people

here's to one, two, more more years of crazy road trips, lunches, funny expensive dinners, hanging out at each other's places 'til the wee hours, and familynez moments like eating a whole big lemon torte cake right after the results came out

and theme days hahaha

here's to us not adjusting for them (haha ang sama joke lang), and just being our true selves

I love you I love you I love you

punta fuego!!!

Bwahaha

2007-02-25T21:13:00.000+08:00

That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.
- Emily Dickinson

Never again. Not falling for it all over again.

I am not going back to the dark high school days.

I am not going to fall for it.

I'm much, much stronger now to be a part of this joke.

Sorry, but yes, I've busted your plan.

Aok

2007-02-17T22:09:00.000+08:00

"Huwag po tayong magtulakan. Malalaki na tayo."
- guard sa LRT2

Ok go.

Good times

2007-02-08T21:01:00.000+08:00

tuesday ng hapon kasama sina dae at jio involved the necessary flaming wings, yamanan ni jio dahil nanlibre siya, ang pagiging korean ni dae glaring more than ever with pieces of dialogue like I’m born in korea yet made in the philippines, at ang pagkakatuklap ng balat ni dae dahil sa isang evil na rough surface sa hagdan, at ang creepy discovery na nagtatago siya ng mga bandages of all kinds sa wallet niya.

nung gabi tinapos ko yung paper ko tungkol kay john cena entitled what else but “cena sucks” na oh yea 21 pages double-spaced kaya niyo yun ha ha 21 pages tungkol sa isang taong medyo tagilid, at mga apat na oras pagkatapos nun (binilang ko kasi I’m competitive e) natapos na sa wakas ni jio paper niya sa eng. with the help of my googling skillz

prevalent ang mga sabogan na mga usapan, tulad ng paghahanap ng lahat ng posibleng synonyms sa salitang ‘disorder’

ginawa ko rin lahat para malagay ang mga paborito kong mga salitang ‘magnitude,’ ‘threefold’ at ‘hence’ sa paper niya kahit na halatang pilit na pilit.

Hence, the magnitude of the case at hand shall be argued as explained in the threefold objective of this paper.

tas ok ang wednesday kasi nagpunta ko sa isang meeting sa kublai’s at ang dami kong nainom na libreng tubig kasi ang OC nung waiter, pag 1/3 na lang ang laman ng baso ko, pupunuin niya agad

at dahil mga pito lang ata kaming pumasok sa photojourn, hindi na tinuloy ni tata gil ang class. iba talaga pag CPP-NPA ang teacher mo, very open. anlabo

gusto ko ang photojourn class, kasi kickass si tata gil puro war photography niya na sobrang nakakabilib ang pinapakita, pero napakahumble pa rin. ok din mga kaklase ko, sina jerick, nelly, at bianca na sobrang bait sa akin

nung gabi, sa consultancy work with ateneo, ang dami kong nakuhang libreng donuts dahil sa kasakiman ni caloy

Pia: Would you like to take home one of the boxes?
Caloy: Just one box?

caloy idol na talaga kita.

nung gabi, sober naman kami, na ironic kasi andami naming oras since wala kaming homework. nanood na lang kami ng american idol kaso nakakaaasar ang corny kaya starstruck na lang. after 1 second, pinatay na namin ang tv at pinag-usapan na lang ang high school conflicts/mga past issues sa cue habang nag-iinuman ang mga french guys sa kabilang apartment.

medyo hindi nakakacontribute sa happiness ng mundo ang mga kaklase kong artsy/feeling/oo na nabasa niyo na lahat ng sci-fi classics at comics.

lalo na pag naglalabas sila ng angst tungkol sa mga random na bagay parang gusto kong sabihin chill lang steady steady wala namang magagawa ang puro salita lang e, tulad nung tuesday galit na galit sila sa U.S. at sa globalization.

sige oo na I get it pero please bago kaya magspeech sa class, tapon niyo muna yung mga suot niyong nikes at chucks, at bat ba kayo galit na galit sa starbucks planner. personally, wala kong pakialam sa planner na yun pero wag niyo naman sayangin ang oras ng majority ng class na pumasok expecting to be lectured on british history and not to listen to a discussion on how the planner’s a symbol of everything that’s evil in the planet.

konti na lang susulatan ko na kayo ng letter

“We’re so engrossed in ideology that we forget reality.” – sir deza, prof sa theory

in other more relevant news, napaisip talaga ako dahil pinag-uusapan namin kagabi ang destiny. kasi we talked about it in a very un-emo manner na ok. sabi ni jio pano kaya if even just a single factor from your past occurred differently, or you choose this over that, tipong imagine how things would be like now

Upside-down trees swingin’ free,
Busses float and buildings dangle:
Now and then it’s nice to see
The world—from a different angle
- Shel Silverstein

miss na miss ko na ang super, seryoso. thank you tim pammy gino tals pepe milan for the encouragement. thank you thank you thank you

walang masama sa muling pagsisimula
- sir vim

book binding

2007-02-01T19:33:00.000+08:00

Jack: Stand up.
Sawyer: Why, you wanna see who's taller?

kagabi nung kumakain kami ni jio sa may ilalim nung bagong blue na bridge sa katipunan (oo, yung may humps), narealize ko kung bakit hindi ko tinuloy ang yosi. kasi kahit na gustong gusto ko yung amoy, similar sa addiction ko sa pentel pens, e ayoko ng usok.

bat ba may humps sa blue bridge? dumaan kami kaninang umaga, nung papunta ko sa math class tapos papunta si jio sa ateneo. talagang binagabag kami

jio: para sa mga bike yan

sige.

di ko na sana ipapapanood sa kanya yung first episode ng heroes kagabi kasi midnight na at siguradong ma-addict siya at baka manood na lang kami hanggang umaga. kaso nagbabasa kami ng mga magazines ng LOST kahapon tapos napunta kami sa scientific talk about electromagnetism tapos bigla ko na lang sinabi na kaya kong sirain ang space time continuum, sabi ko, tignan mo yung clock, di na umaandar, pinatigil ko. tapos sa conversation namin, bigla ko nalang sinisingit yung words na 'save the cheerleader, save the world' tas feeling ko di na makayanan ni jio ang heroes adiksyon kaya pinanood na namin ang 1st episode

pinagawa ko na yung bago kong ID kanina, red t-shirt suot ko tas red yung background kasi nga maroons rule!! wehh. nagflofloat yung ulo ko sa ID

break ako ngayon, free wifi kaya dapat i-abuse, mag-aaral ako para sa spanish exam bukas na potek i can feel it paragraph writing na naman na for sure sabog na naman mga ilalagay ko

pupunta dapat kami ngayon sa cinekatipunan (?) kaso si jio sumama sa shang, sohoree di kasi ako jock sa high school musical e

hintayin ko si victor dito, baka magfootball kami sa dilim mamaya sa sunken, gabi lang daw kasi siya puwede. sohoree wala kasi akong mga tv show tulad mo e

medyo whiny ako this week, sana matapos na lahat ng crap sa school kasi minsan wala ng sense yung ibang mga prof

prof: tama naman ang communism, at dapat sumasali kayo sa rally, ayaw niyo ba nun walang pasok? ako gusto ko nun e. sige early dismissal tayo ngayon basta basahin niyo yung mga handouts. ha anong handouts? e di ba nag-iwan ako dun kay ate sa xerox-an sa baba? ha wala, a baka nakalimutan ko, sige bigay ko dun mamaya, basta magbasa kayo a, exam tayo bukas, ingat kayo delikado ngayon baka maholdap kayo pauwi
ako (deep inside): yo cut the crap cuz nobody wants to hear it dudio

last week nalaman ko na binabasa pala ng isa kong prof this sem ang blog ko, nakakaasar! siyempre sinasabi ko lang yun para kunwari cool ako

Wendsday

2007-01-31T16:28:00.000+08:00

Certain things should just stay as they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.
--Holden Caulfield

kaninang umaga nagmeeting kami at napagusapan namin na simula ngayon tagalog is the shiznit. kaya sige sige sigeeeee

nanliit ako sa meeting, sohoree anna ali karol student council nung high school e

midterm sa theory class kanina, potek ang dali, siyempre ang yabang ko oo na, pero sabi kasi nina pepe at anna na medyo kailangan magmemorize. e nerd ako kaya minemorize ko lahat ng nasa notebook ko, pati yung mga corax, axiology, ferment in the field, mga structuralist interactionist theories na hindi naman lahat lumabas. pati yung mga quotes ni nietzsche minemorize ko kahit na medyo uncool siyang tao. mga tinanong mga tipong what do you mean by an authentic human relationship based on the phenomenological tradition in comm theory? nakakatawa ka talaga, sir deza

tapos pagkatapos nun nagbasa ko ng time at newsweek sa lib, iba talaga pag may international feel e, tapos nagtext si jio, puntahan daw ako, medyo sabog yung mga reply ko kasi nga engrossed ako sa binabasa kong time ... mga tipong if you have 4 hours to spend in buenos aires, do this! e potek possible ba yun? bat ka pa pumunta? punta punta ka tapos 4 hours. Kung mga 16 hours pa believable, pero 4?? so sabi ko kay jio basta pumunta ka nalang tapos tambay sa sunken garden kaso medyo labuan ng konti sa sched, kaya baka mamaya na lang mga 9 dahil dun daw siya matutulog sa amin

nawala pala ID ko, na sobrang hassle kasi di ako makahiram ng libro. sinubukan ko kaninang makiusap para malabas yung miyazaki at ghibli books kaso nung papayag na yung isang librarian, biglang lumapit yung old guy with eyeglasses na medyo maraming probs sa life

old guy: o ano yan, ha? ano yan?
librarian: a wala siyang ID, pero meron siyang library card, ok na siguro
old guy: a hindi hindi, bawal yan, kumuha ka munang ID, bawal walang ID dito

sohoooreeeee, old guy, hindi mameet ng standards ko ang pagkatao mo e

tapos nagmeeting ako with USC, mababait sila

sisimulan ko na sana yung midterm plate ko sa photojourn kaso di ko pala nalagay sa bag ko yung film kaya nanood na lang ako ng mga bagaybagay sa viewing room (basta may pangalan yung room na yun), tapos nanood ako sandali ng mga banda na nagrerecord ng mga commercial jingle songs sa radio studio. kailangan ko na simulan yung mga commercials ko, oy text nyo ko kung may band kayo

pag nakakapanood ako ng mga ganito lalo ko gustong bumalik sa la salle

sige punta muna kong northfield

Bub

2007-01-29T22:07:00.000+08:00

“How much can you know about yourself, you’ve never been in a fight? I don’t wanna die without any scars. So come on; hit me.” -- Brad Pitt, in Fight Club

School is tough as ever, but I’m pleasantly at a point where I’m incredibly happy—thanks to little things that make life exciting.

This weekend was just what I needed after a week of exams, papers, and endless Math problems (although I’d have to admit that all that Math kept me sane). I needed that break.

Birthday dinners, drinks, traveling for hours for buffalo wings, an awesome (yet extremely challenging) mountain hike to Pico de Loro, sleepwalking, leaving doors open (intentionally), bus rides, talking about things falling on the right place, gambaphobia ang potek, destiny ang potek, escaping from the city babble. Haven’t had this fun in a long time, thanks to Michael, Jio and Dae

CHOKE!

101st entry

2007-01-25T21:14:00.000+08:00

Would you give up your arms and hands to fly? The birds did.
- a Magic card

I will jog tomorrow morning

2006-12-14T19:25:00.000+08:00

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. - from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

This Christmas break I promise

to get new pens
to fix my room, but really clean it up you know
to finally put together my work in one nice thick portfolio
to put my new sketchbooks to good use
to get fit ha ha ha

Started drawing again this morning, while waiting for someone in a meeting

A while ago while preparing our stuff for the Lantern Parade, our prof made us watch "Little Miss Sunshine." What a way to start the break. IT'S O-SOME. The class gave it a standing ovation, which was really nice.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Trivia from CW class and the genius that is Sir Flores

2006-12-05T22:55:00.000+08:00

On today’s entry, we shall ramble like crazy

While walking home minutes ago, I was thinking about how Bugs Bunny’s like the best cartoon character ever. Put him in whatever situation, he’ll make you laugh. It’s the personality, really. Did you know that Aeon Flux was patterned after him? Amazing, right. Aeon’s the same character wherever she is.

And I suddenly remembered how I hate Elmo. Come on dude, thanks for usurping Grover’s position as the main star of the show. Grover’s really cool—flexible, genuinely funny, rude at times. Elmo’s just red. You know all this psychological crap about how red things attract attention and stuff? I think Elmo hypnotized kids just so he’ll be credible flying around with his suspiciously tiny voice. Whateber, ‘Super Grover’ is the shat.

+

Last time, I was talking about the changing notions of the hero. I’d like to add how the Middle Ages hero is external and all, and now the hero’s more of the internal type. And the Christian hero’s interesting, no? Sacrifice, non-violence, the whole speech-before-attack spiel. Again, I’m gonna mention Beowulf. He says things like, “The gods ordered me to kill! I am doing this for them!” Now when you think about it, George Bush is acting like Beowulf.

+

A while ago in class, Sir Flores was talking about how back then, war was brutal and all. Like, in Braveheart. Before the real battle, the two leaders meet and chat about rules, final terms, etc. Same thing with Napoleon, and the whole drums, marching, and flags sequence. (Remember Kingdom of Heaven? No? Um, OK. In that movie, there’s a lot of stuff being raised about religious tolerance. COME ON. 12th Century? Respect towards other religions? No way. Back then, you were either a Christian or a Muslim, and Jerusalem was both your place. The whole tolerance thing—a very modern 21st century mind set, right?)

Anyway, what Sir Flores pointed out was that now, war’s dehumanized. All started with WW I (in truth, a Euro War)—bombs, planes, patayan. Like in A Very Long Engagement, one enjoys a cute romance story, and sees just how brutal the war was—people stuck in barbed wire trenches, dying there after a few hours. Then we got soldiers mutilating themselves just so they could go home. Very interesting and funny at the same time. This really affected the Western psyche. Where’s the glory in being disintegrated by a tank?

Deconstructing idols

2006-11-28T22:11:00.000+08:00

Back in the Classical episode of this civilization, the heroes that we looked up to were all pretty idealized. To say that they were pumped up, polished, and over the top would be—as Jake calls it—“a dryness.” Ha.

Like Achilles, the most ‘handsome’ and fleetest of the heroes assembled at Troy. Or Beowulf from Geats, a Germanic tribe from Southern Sweden. He adeptly kills a dragon before his own death.

During the past few years however, heroes have been depicted as ordinary human beings. You got Holden Caulfield, the lanky teenage protagonist who exhibits the very qualities that he abhors seeing on people—flamboyance, phoniness, etc.

Want a dose of pop heroes deconstructed, peeled to expose their rickety interiors? Look at Clark Kent’s adventures in the super series Smallville, where audiences witness him deal with adolescence while he’s exploring superhearing, x-ray vision, his extraterrestrial origin.

And now, there are post-modern heroes, less than ordinary citizens who demonstrate the symptoms of mega diseases that have plagued mankind. A robber, a schizo, a mental patient, a maniac, Borat. Weird thing is, a lot of people are buying this stripped bare vibe.

Wonder what’s in store for our heroes in the upcoming years.

Empire records

2006-11-24T21:59:00.000+08:00

I recently read Michael Parenti's new book, The Assassination of Julius Caesar. The point the author makes is that plutocrats who wanted to maintain the status quo killed Caesar. Caesar, they thought, was more of a populist. War, however, suited the rich. It allowed them to amass wealth at the expense of the middle class and poor while enslaving the conquered peoples.

The technique was simple. First tax the middle class and tie them to heavy citizenship obligations. Male Roman citizens owed the government 20 years of military service. As a result, the middles class, craftsmen, and small farmers couldn’t pass their skills or businesses to their heirs who were overseas fighting foreign wars. Over several generations the middle class was squeezed into poverty.

That’s not much different than what happened in the US months ago. The government was using the cost of the Afghani and Iraqi wars to transfer wealth from the middle class to the rich. Over $200 billion had been moved from the civilian sector to military companies. Meanwhile schools across their country closed libraries and cut back arts, music, and sports programs.

Empires use wars to accumulate wealth. The Romans collected resources and captured slaves, which were so cheap a source of labor that owners kept the sexes separated. It was cheaper to buy slaves than to breed them. Rome, or at least its wealthy, grew rich from the country’s foreign adventures.

When Britain invaded using force and diplomacy, it systematically looted the country of its wealth. In fact, just the jewels remove from the Taj Mahal mausoleum paid the costs of running the British government for several years. The Soviet Empire lasted seventy years, until the conquered peoples were drained dry and couldn’t support the Russians. The standard of living dropped precipitously, and the empire imploded.

Empires come and empires go. The Egyptians lived in relative peace for more than 3,000 years. Anthropologists think that there was an early empire in South America that lasted three millennia, too. Their achievements are forgotten and their remains have been covered by jungle. We have seen the death, birth, and death of many empires in the last century. Just a few that you might remember: the six-year reign of the Nazi’s 1000-year empire, the ending of the French, Dutch, and British empires, the Soviets, and now the sole superpower, the US.

My History professor last year told us that he was glad to see America waste its resources on trying to secure Afghanistan and Iraq. He said that these were unwinnable wars because there was no front. There was no demarcation of enemy and friend. Instead, every time you turn your back, someone can be aiming at you. That’s exactly how the Americans fought against the British and their mercenaries, the Hessians, in the 1770s. They didn’t confront the regiments in battle, but picked them off. The rebels had the advantage because it was their home territory, they knew the land and they had the support of much of the population.

This morning in Creative Writing class, the professor told us that the Bush regime may cause the abortion of the nascent American Empire. There is no way for the US to take wealth from either Afghanistan or Iraq. All efforts will be subject to sabotage and will be doomed to failure. This is what pleased my CW prof so much. He views these wars as the exploits of a fool who is using up the nation’s resources. Voila! End of the empire just as it’s digging in its feet.

Minutes ago, Atom was saying that America’s the world’s most dangerous country: The real evil empire. He would be glad to see it implode or fade into the dustbin of history, and sooner rather than later. The longer the US tries to impose itself on the world, the more the world will suffer for it. Bush’s invasion is a great failure and will use up the country’s wealth. It will be a boon to the world if it hastens the fall of this empire.

I thought back to my quick study of Portuguese history last summer. In the early 15th century Prince Henry the Navigator, started a navigation school in Portugal. It was the rocket science center of the time. The Portuguese started exploring the coast of Africa and began the slave trade in 1434, selling them in Europe. At the same time they invaded Morocco on a religious crusade. They were defeated so badly that they were only allowed to retreat when the Portuguese king’s younger bro was left as a hostage. (He was never ransomed.) In 1947 Portugal went through another depression, when it chased out the Jews, who comprised a great proportion of the artisans, traders, and intellectual class. They immigrated to Holland and helped it become a great trading nation.

Portugal recovered. During the next century it grew richer with foreign trade and conquest. Since the navigation school had made them so rich, you’d think they’d have devoted more money to science, tech, and education. That would be my thought, too.

A century passed and another especially fanatical king decided that it wasn’t trade and colonizing that made them so blessed, it was God. Therefore they should finish the job and invade North Africa. In 1578 his band of 18,000 ill-prepared men, boys, and nobles invaded. The men boiled in their metal armor under the African sun. The wagon wheels were caught in the sand. There were no provisions. Almost all were killed, lost, or enslaved. The one silver lining was that Sebastian the Regrettable died in the fiasco.

Bush is following in Sebastian’s footsteps. He de-funded the Hubble Space Station, blinding our eye on the universe and letting cosmological science fade away. He has cut back spending on education, higher ed, basic science and civilian technological research. These are the aspects of their industry that keep US society dynamic. Without cultural and scientific innovation, the true Am Empire, based on tech, will shrivel.

The Egyptians, Chinese, Portuguese, and many after them had the most vital, advanced civilizations with high tech that surpassed others. Times changed and the hotspot shifted. The US Empire may turn out to be one of the shortest. It really doesn’t matter. After all, who will know that we existed in one thousand years?

Next millennium, humans probably won’t even look the same. In a few years the keys to genetic engineering will be available to the rich and the middle class. Order up your kid: A girl, five foot eight, greenish blue eyes, outgoing, medium large busted who has modified risk orientation, enjoys music with a beat, … order ‘em up and we’ll modify your little baby to make it just the way you want it.

If these changes include the reproductive organs, each generation will modify permanently. Humans will evolve faster than ever. A thousand years, forty generations of directed genetic modification, will certainly result in a different form of human in ways that might now all be anticipated. Not only will year 3000 English be undecipherable to a 21st century dude, but the creatures will be the product of intentional evolution. Something new under the sun.

I usually make an entry like this private, but whatever it would be funny to read all of it again tomorrow morning when I’m back to the usual.

Flaky

2006-11-22T22:10:00.000+08:00

Shot some prints with Frank and Wacky today for a new magazine, including ack! a self-portrait.

Whimsyland, thank you for all the things you have taught me, I love you

2006-11-21T21:11:00.000+08:00

Do you guys remember Whimsyland? I used to hang out there every Sunday when I was a kid. Batang tambay ako dun, spendin hours, goin crazy over the most awesome yet extremely chezy games.

Whatever happened to Whimsyland? I've been wondering about this ever since Shang kicked it out of its prop.

I found out yesterday afternoon, on my way home.

And I hate to talk about it because it's just sad.

But I have to. Release. RELEASE!!

When I saw those arcade machines, I told myself that there's something eerily familiar with them. After a few seconds, I gasped, “Potek Whimsy!”

And true enough. The minute I stepped inside the area, I knew I was back inside the incredible place that served as a second home—no, sanctuary—to gazillions of kids all over town.

Whimsyland, the place that captured my heart, is now located inside the mall connected to the Araneta Cubao MRT station, the one that you have to pass by going to Gateway.

It's in the 3rd floor, isolated from the rest of the stores. Whimsyland, a childhood cornerstone, is at the third floor of a poorly kept mall, sufferin from bad lighting, stinky walls and floors, and amazingly sucky prizes.

I remember winning cool stuff like remote control cars, giant action figures, and walkie talkies from the old Whimsy. Now the top prize is a teddy bear, accented with medyo cheapo eyeballs and shaggy fur, and a suspicious grin reminiscent of Tinky-Winky of Teletubz.

I played a few games, and I felt like wow, I can't explain it, ibang klase. It was like I was back to childhood days. Me, alone, at Whimsyland, playin the exact same machines I played with a decade ago.

I won 57 tickets, and I got a Ninja Turtles pencil, and an eraser with an image of a cow, and the word MOO! on it.

Puwede.

My PE this sem is Wrestling. Grabe, ang saya. Seryoso, the best.

Immediately after Wrestling, I run to Spanish class.

I dunno why I wrote that.

WINNAR

2006-11-09T20:27:00.000+08:00

After waiting in line for more than four hours, I was given a slot in Math 2. IN THE SCHEDULE THAT I WANTED.

Walking out of the enlistment room, I glanced towards the long queue outside, where the populace looked at me with a blend of exasperation and umbrage. Cry children.

Naunahan ko pa si Wacky at Miko, na medyo naging maangas due to the hours of waiting.

Wacky: Grabe pare, we just hit the three-hour mark.
Miko: Bad trip.
Girl seated in front of us: Um, three hours lang?
Wacky and Miko: ??!
Girl seated in front of us: 6 am pa kami nandito, no!?
Wacky: Ok.
Miko: Good for you.

You should've seen the girl's reaction. Near spastic fit na.

Iba talaga pag competitive.

Unibersidad ng Pila

2006-11-06T22:27:00.000+08:00

Today's the start of reg at my school.

It's hell time once again, kids!

Turns out am taking CW 180 - Comicbook Writing, instead of the Fiction class with Sir Butch Dalisay. Sayang! Pero oh well, mukhang fun ang 180.

I'm using a temporary number for my phone. Please e-mail me your numbers. Thanks!

Great weekend. Friday, went to Tagaytay with friends. Went home Saturday night. The next morning, went to Los Banos for a family reunion. Good times.

Mga vandal sa school. Sent to me by a classmate.

Fine Arts Wall:
"nobody cares"
somebody answered:
"not even the carebares?"
then another:
"not even kier?"
then:
"not even zoren?"
lastly:
"not even zorro?"
all written by different people.

AS (Arts and Sciences Hall):
AS chairs:
"push button to eject seatmate"
"push button to eject urself"
"push button to kill teacher."
"push button to eject teacher"
...reply: "it's jammed! We're doomed!"

AS chair :
"you know bobo? bobo is you!"

AS 1st floor CR:
"if you forget the past, then you porget the purious.."

AS 1st floor CR uli:
"I'm a simple gay "
tapos may sumagot:
"sira! Dapat 'Im simple and gay!' Taga peyups ka ba? duh! "
tapos me sumagot ulit (with matching arrow pa na nakaturo dun sa reply)
"sira ka rin! yung simple is used as an adjective tapos yung gay is used as a noun. kaya ok lang yung simple gay nya!"

CHEM:
Chem chair:
"push button to spray acid on prof's face."
Another chem chair:
"You Boron!!!"

BIO:
Bio chair:
"Push cadaver to haunt teacher."

FO Santos:
"SA MGA NAGTATAPON NG BASURA DITO... bawal."

ENG'G:
Sa Men's CR, facing the urinal:
"Hawak ko saking mga kamay ang kinabukasan ng bayan!"
Reply:
"the future you are holding is very small."

MATH:
sa cr sa may math building:
"SUMAPI SA NPA! "
may sumagot:
"PAANO? "
may sumagot pa:
"MAGFILL UP NG COUPON AT IHULOG SA PINAKAMALAPIT NA DROP BOX SA SUKING TINDAHAN!"

sa math 3rd floor, sa isang upuan uli.
"you'll NEVER find what you're looking for"
May nag-reply:
"find x."

3rd floor math cr:
"kaibigan, pagkapatos mong umihi, paki PLUS mo naman, hehehe."

VINZONS:
Wall ng vinzons
"Do not steal. The government hates competition"

men's cr sa Vinzon's:
"remember: the hands that clean this toilet are the same hands that cook your food."

men's cr waaaay above the urinal:
"if you can reach this, the fire department wants you!"

MAIN LIB
Sa isang lamesa ng main lib, filipiniana section:
"UP STUDENTS HAS BECOME PATETHIC"
tapos may sumagot...
"mali pang grammar at spelling mo, halatang di ka taga UP"

KALAI: (short for Kalayaan)
nietzsche-"god is dead"
God- "Nietzsche is dead!"

In moderation

2006-10-31T23:04:00.000+08:00

Marami marami pictures from Cagayan-Apari-Tugueguerao Field Trip, thanks to Jem and Bamba

bats, pottery, caves, rivers, music, churches, museums, wells, and relly relly good food

the necessary awkward class photo

basketamen / la salle gh and zobel kids

sino ba nagsabi may issue?

medyo artsy

bamba actually took home one of those

homebound

More, more pictures next time

In other news, I suddenly missed high school tonight.

Especially when you see a photo like this. Reminds you of the good ol' days.

Thank yea

2006-10-27T12:08:00.000+08:00

Just came from a seven-day break. Sarap.

Just checked the CRS site.

YOU ARE KEWL, SIR REUEL. Kinabahan ako because at first he was quite against me pursuing a full-length film about a superhero. Did not expect this!

This inspires me to work even harder.

TAKE MP 179 if you can!

I lost my phone. Which is OK. I'm free from another unnecessary piece of tech!

CRS, you are kewl too. Thanks for giving me all my subjects.

Will eat lunch, then will pack for another three-day break. Yahoo.

Dear Website

2006-10-17T21:04:00.000+08:00

You kewl, CRS, you gave me three majors and a Spanish class.

But, for the nth time, you have failed to give me a Math class.

I guess I have to thank you though, because this means I'm taking a Landscape Architecture class!

Should I exchange my Comparative Lit under the J. Neil Garcia with a Film class under the Nick Tiongson, who's teaching for the last time next sem? OR Tilman Baumgartel's Hong Kong Cinema class? OR Yason Banal's British Cinema? Or Eyasmin Lantz' Fine Arts studio claSS? The paaaiinn of choosing

^

While answering the peer evaluation sheet for our final production

Paolo: Ano binigay mo kay Eddy (our Korean classmate)?
James: UNO.
Paolo: Ano? Bakit??
Marian: Huy, for a Korean a, ok si Eddy.

Preaks

2006-10-15T16:14:00.000+08:00

Been months since I last checked our Superfreaks website. The six of us built it during the summer after our first year in high school. I was laughin so hard reading the pages minutes ago. The site's a compilation of memories that the six of us can all go back to in the future. I just finished reading the FAQ page, and I couldn't help but shed a tear. Joke lang.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Got a question for the Superfreaks? Send it to superfreakshome@yahoo.com and they just might appear here with your name! But before you ask it, you might find
the answer you're looking for right here!

Let's start with the question we get most...

"I have gum stuck in a shag carpet, is there any way to get it out?"
A surefire way to remove gum from a shag carpet is to simply cut a huge circle out of the rug. Make sure the part you cut out has the offending gum stuck in it. Place a sofa or large chair over the cut out piece. You can cover smaller holes with Superfreaks stickers, or anything under our merchandise products. Just be sure that we will profit from it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In the first Mission: Impossible could you guys figure out WHAT was going on?"
No.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Can I buy Superfreaks stuff from you guys?"
All Superfreaks books, toys and games and other products are licensed merchandise. This means that outside companies pay us a pathetically small fee to use the Superfreaks name, the Superfreaks logo and other Superfreaks likenesses. Superfreaks products are not manufactured, warehoused or shipped from our homes. (Which is too bad, because we'd love to get our grimy hands on free samples to give as holiday or birthday gifts!) But if you'd like to see the latest Superfreaks merchandise so you can pester your local retailer into stocking it, click here.
Just kidding.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Does Superfreaks buy freelance material like Chapter contributions or writeups?"
So, you want to make big bucks and earn the respect and admiration of your friends, family and neighbors, eh? Then go to medical school and do something with your life! But if you'd like to waste your time and effort and become a member of The Usual Gang of Idiots, then, yes, you may want to
try contributing. But before you dash off your brilliant ideas, make sure you know what you're doing! Or, if you're an artist, be sure it's US that you're drawing!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If I come to the Superfreaks office, will I be able to meet the Superfreaks?"
Before you make a special trip to the Superfreaks office, we should tell you that it's rare for any of the artists or writers to be here at the office. Almost all of them work at their own studios, and although occasionally one of them drops by to mooch a free lunch,they mostly send their work via email. (Truthfully, that's how we keep our expenses down. By keeping them off premises, we don't have to worry about them stealing office supplies, making long distance phone calls or dropping water balloons out of the window!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If the Superfreaks aren't there, who IS?"
Oompa Loompas. However, if you want to be able to say "I visited the Superfreaks offices," come on by. (If you're bringing sweets, please visit on a Saturday. That's usually the day where all of us are in and we'll autograph just about anything in exchange for homemade baked goods!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What's a typical day at the Superfreaks like?"
It's, like, eight hours, minus an hour for lunch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"No, I mean, is it wild and wacky, with people wearing funny hats, and having food fights, and doing all sorts of crazy, weird things?"
No, you're thinking of our brother website, CNN.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Is there a Superfreaks summer intern program?"
There is an excellent intern program here at Superfreaks. For college credit, a student can learn how to paint Jay-Ar's room, how to shampoo a conference room rug and even how to go for coffee.Sometimes they may even be asked to pick up a croissant, which gives the intern program an international feel.
For more information on these exciting career opportunities, just email us!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Okay, I'm on the website, but now I'm having trouble with my browser,
what should I do?"
Complain out loud. If that doesn't work, try bitching and moaning out loud. If all else fails you can...
1) Call Greg, and explain your problem in a cool, calm voice
(If you hear snoring on the other end of the line, call again and try to find someone else who's awake.)

2) Send a cool, calm email to superfreakshome@yahoo.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Why did you pick the name 'Superfreaks' What does it stand for?"
It's the acronym for the Superfreaks motto: "Stupidity Is Timeless."Duh!

***

Cheese na naman

2006-10-12T22:20:00.000+08:00

This sem's real tough, and I'm glad am close to finishing all the requirements.

What's left

- Four papers, OO APAT! for MP 115 due tomorrow (I haven't done anything which means I'll do everything one hour before the deadline just like what I did to the three, OO TATLO papers for PSYCH 101 ('Di na pala 'ko INC sa PSYCH, Prof. Van Heugten was real nice and gave me a day to complete the experiment)

- Final prod for BC 100. We recorded our production in the studio yesterday and kanina, and man, we had fun. Even Eddy, our Korean classmate, couldn't help but laugh. What's left is digital editing for the audio para swabe ang tunog.

Ako: Kuya A (BC Dept's all-around audio guy), bakit kailangan digital editing?
Kuya A: A siyempre, para swabe. Swabe ang tunog.

And scrapbook pa pala, which the girls are taking care of.

In true sabog fashion, I finalized my online enlistment last night, 30 minutes before the cut-off. Apart from the majors, I got Comparative Lit 123 (Post-Colonial Non-Western Lit Theory) and CL 151 (Phil Lit II - 40s to Present) under J. Neil Garcia AKA You're My Idol, I Wish I Could Be Half As Smart As You Are. In the end, I'll probably just take one of the two, pero para lang makasigurado. I don't care if he gives low grades, he's my idol and I wish I could be bla bla

ROTC Final Training Day last weekend. We were literally prisoners of war the whole time. After midnight, they started blindfolding and tying us. Exciting! They released us at Sunken Garden around three in the morning, and we had to rescue each other, and reach the finish point before the sun rose.

Ako: Naku, naiilawan tayo dito. Baka makita tayo ng officer!
Batch Commander MARIO: Concealment! Mag-concealment tayo!

'Di ko alam kung bakit, pero tawa 'ko nang tawa after he said that.

We ended up diving into dirty ponds, crawling on mud; bruises, allergy attacks, and ants & insects crawling all over us.

BUT, it was awesome.

Tomorrow, we shoot footage for someone's birthday.

\

Next week, I start shooting my film. AT LAST

Ako ang lead actor sa film ni James. Isa akong superhero. Exciting!

Span-ish

2006-10-03T20:37:00.000+08:00

I have no time to nerd.

Which is sad, because suddenly the load that I had last week (see last post) has been doubled in just two days!

I'm officially INC in Psych, which I find funny. I did well in all the 10 exams, and in the two online experiments. But, because I got sick and there were no classes last Thursday and Friday, I lack an hour of experiment credit. Yeah, just one hour. That's 1.5% of the total requirements in the course. And I get a final grade of INC.

MP 115 is killing me, because Sir Vim and his fun, spontaneous self suddenly decided to go to Thailand without telling us. He'll be back on October 11—which means we'd have to actually do our finals stuff WITHOUT HIM. According to my classmates, we'd be doing our workshops online. Some found this very hip, and very now, but I just find it real annoying. A lot of people have been telling us that every student of Sir Vim gets an INC grade, and now I'm convinced.

The Fine Arts G.E. art production is the only class that's keeping me sane these days, making masks and painting stuff.

In other news, life is great, really, if I don't think about school.

Last night we celebrated an important event, and dahil bunso ako, I ate and drank the most. And medyo nasobrahan yata. I had to sleep there for the very first time, which was fine, because I didn't have to wake up and drive there (or magpadrive) at five in the morning like I do everyday.

A lot of things are changing, and I couldn't be more happier to embrace this new life.

I just enlisted my classes online, and I got two Spanish classes. Which means Spanish everyday.

Tonight I sleep early, tomorrow there's ROTC physicals before the sun rises. ACK!

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

(You) complete me

2006-09-27T21:29:00.000+08:00

Fine Arts field trip to Cagayan, Tuguegarao, and Aparri was real great. Pictures soon.

//

Art Production for FA 30
Dula, an entirely new Story, Poem and Kuwento Revisions, and the Folio of Works for MP 115
Full-Length Film Screenplay for MP 179
Final Production and Scrapbook for BC 100
Online and Classroom Experiments and ENDLESS Papers for Psych 101
Final Exam and YET ANOTHER Final Paper for Comm 100

All these in less than two weeks.

Someone save me from the deadly INC from Psych and my two MP classes. Three INCOMPLETEs in the transcript is not pretty good.

And I haven't enlisted my subjects yet!

One Taiwan Job

2006-09-04T09:47:00.001+08:00

Today I celebrate one whole year of playing servant to the loaded citizens of Taiwan.

It all started exactly a year ago—September 4, 2005. A man e-mailed me and asked if I was interested in some extra cash. By extra, he meant “more than what you’re getting from whatever sidelines you have.”

The job: People from Taiwan send in their articles, theses, college application letters, dissertations, and even company memorandums for me to “fix” their faulty English grammar and sentence construction. By faulty, I mean unpleasant fourth-grade level English.

And it hasn’t been easy.

Aside from the occasionally piercing task of trying to find some sense in the works I read, the job entails an extreme amount of research. Every month, I’d receive at least six to seven pieces on topics I’m not familiar with at all. There was this paper on the Navier-Stokes equations used to solve the aerodynamic flow over an aircraft. And this college science project on the neurophysiology of visual perception, mammalian brain neuroanatomy and cell-level neurophysiology. And the most challenging so far, a university thesis presenting superconductivity as a macroscopic quantum state of "Cooper pairs."

But, it’s been very fulfilling. A Taiwanese lass sent a thank-you card after she passed Stanford, a lighting company gave me a small lamp and seven light bulbs of different sizes after I “sanitized” their company’s constitution and by-laws, a group of college kids scanned their 3rd prize science fair ribbon and gave me a copy. These small deeds permit me to overlook the pain of splurging hours reading about calculating Pi, environmental neurotoxic substances, or bioluminescence.

Muro Ami

2006-08-31T00:30:00.000+08:00

Taking a break from finishing a plate for furniture class. Really working hard, considering it’s non-credit. The class keeps me sane from all the mad stories and ideas we have to churn out every single day for the major subjects. Man, the last time I stayed up this late was the day before our big BC report.

Hung out with Victor today, drove around UP, caught up and all after what? two months! Went all the way to Shang for a real nice dinner, where we couldn’t help but recall the good ol’ days. Tear. Oh man. Tama na. Hahaha.

Diving class is awesome, potek sa Anilao ang finals namin!

Kaso sadly, I won’t be able to go to the Fine Arts field trip this weekend to Vigan due to the craziness that is ROTC. Iz cool, RO is really fun, especially with all the kalokohan Chuck teaches me, like how to manipulate an officer to not kill you after coming in late sa training for five hours. Haha. Hi Chuck! Cadet Officers, if by any chance you’re reading this, you know I’m just kidding, right? You know I never cut class. :E (Man, what’s with that smiley?)

Working on new stuff with this year’s batch of Entrepreneurial Management boys in UA&P. Hyperactive group with so much potential. Plus they give me the whole high school vibe which I miss a lot.

If you’re from school, drop by at CHK tomorrow night for some Judo and Karate action. Support me and sina Marty, Art, and Nic!
Thank you beautiful people.

Cravings

2006-08-27T15:41:00.000+08:00

Spending time in Alabang now with TJ and Max. Will run to Greenhills in a few to buy Chinese chow from the supermarket.

Film scriptwriting class is driving me and the rest of the class nuts.

There's only one requirement for the entire sem, that's one full-length script. I'm still on the first stage—the storyline part. I've submitted four storylines, and the one that I like best is the last one, a sci-fi thriller about the dark side of being a superhero.

Just got feedback from Prof Reuel a few mins. ago:

James,

Ang paggamit ng superhero at sci-fi ay hindi basta-basta. Nakaangkla ito sa katotohanan ng lipunang ginagalawan natin. Halos tumatayong simbolo o representasyon ang mga ito. At ang sci-fi ay parang isang komentaryo sa kasalukuyang kalagayan.

Ang puntong ito ang aking hinahanap, ang komentaryo sa kasalukuyan.

Lagi, naisasantabi ang puntong ito at nahihirati ang pagkukuwento sa special effects, spectacular scenes, at imahinasyon.

Reuel

I don't even know what “nahihirati” means. :(

One month to write !

Every Friday night, we'd run to the nearest mall, where we'd eat for hours, then go to the movies, then hang out at some person's house to watch the latest corny TV show available. And sometimes we'd escape from a group whatever to eat at cheapo buffet places. It is, truly, chow time na. Hahaha.

The first time I met Greg was freshman year high school, where we were seatmates. During our first Reading test, I “stole” a ¼ sheet of paper from his bag. When he found this out, he confronted me and said, “Hindi ka ba tinuturuan nang mommy mo na magsabi ng please?”

The next day, we became close friends. Haha.

Happy birthday Greggy!

Pro-jek

2006-08-24T20:30:00.000+08:00

Break time at last. The last time I went out was the week before Bree left for Esta-tes, where with no plans whatsoever we ended up watching The Dawn and Ely Buendia's whatever band. This week I'm finishing my final project for the apprenticeship, my dorky pal Timmy comes to the rescue to play the main man.

Design project's called 4 minutes, which is a compilation of unedited\continuous shots in the life of four different human beings; in this case four spoiled kids whose parents think that the price of a privy school educ equals good conservative angels. Loko lang. Sige na salamat Timmy at Steve at Arthur at Je.

And this is what's up

been teaching a class in Pisay, nice hyperactive kids, no formal lectures (as if) next week, instead we'll play rugby

will start doing some stuff for Northfield tomorrow, advising their council, pretty excited, feels it'll work out

and then there's school, which is quite crazy, endless homeworks and exams, but i'm having a great time

MUST SEE! TOTALLY INSPIRING!

2006-07-29T12:15:00.000+08:00

Click here and watch the most shockingly artistic video you'll ever see in your life.

Got this from Quark, thank you for leading us to this gem.

I'm still speechless.

Pepe, we have to get these people to work with us!!!

Life

2006-07-21T15:39:00.000+08:00

Forst Som

2006-06-14T22:50:00.000+08:00

01.
General Psych – M. Van Heugten
Apol, who has just shifted from Manila, is my classmate here. Kaso, it’s individualized instruction (meaning: hello, welcome to class, get a copy of the textbook, read it and I’ll see you during exams, bye!) so we’re not really gonna see each other except the first meeting. And during the ten exams. !

02.
Fine Arts 30 – R. Defeo
Yahoo! It’s Defeo time! And field trip to Bicol!

03.
Communication – A. Aguila
04.
Broadcast Comm – P. Aseron

And because I didn’t get any Math or Science related classes, I got not one, but two Malikhaing Pagsulat subjects! Eets Tagalog time!

05.
Pagsulat ng Iskrip sa Pelikula – R. Aguila

And …

06.
An MP class entitled: “Seminar.” Amazing. The awesome thing is it’s being taught by Prof. Vim Nadera aka Idol.

And of course,

07.
Judo
08.
Skin Diving
09.
Military Science / ROTC

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Apol to Diliman and to congratulate him for getting two certainly stirring subjects: Russian and Japanese Studies! These classes are of course extremely necessary for such a man who plans to travel to Russia and Japan in the NEAR future.

In the Dojo

2006-05-25T22:50:00.000+08:00

Spent my summer in the Judo Room!

Took Dr. Argete's class, which is really an awesome Environmental Engineering subject filled with calculations and long biogeochemistry terms. Given a chance, I'll take it again. Dork! Sobrang galing ni Dr. Argete, the best. He went to Max-Planck-Institute kaya he has this German accent.

Judo addiction while taking notes!

Nge

2006-04-24T11:33:00.000+08:00

What if I did do it?

About a month and a half ago, they asked and I said no. It was an instant decision I made; I had to say no to an experience that had the possibility of changing everything, like me being able to ride the train everyday with no apprehension.

Two weeks later, they called again and I asked for a few days to decide. Talked to my family, thought about it a hundred times. 50% crazy, 50% brave, I said yes. The next few days were a whirlwind; we shot the photos for the opening billboard, we shot at school, me in front of the Oblation, me playing Rug, me rolling on the Sunken grass, me eating isaw, tapsilog at Rodics, etc. These were all being done to build up my nametag in the show as “Cool na Iskolar ng Bayan,” which is really funny and sad at the same time. 'Di ba? Hahaha.

Then a week later, I backed out. Maybe it's just 'cause I'm afraid of the whole invasion of privacy shat, or the fact that nobody goes through unscathed on the show.

Then the night before the show began, that was last Saturday, the guy who replaced me backed out due to a family emergency. They called again and I asked for an hour to decide. First I asked friends what they thought I should do, then I talked to family members if they were fine with it. In the end, the friends said yes, the family said no. I had to follow my family.

Fortunately, they were able to find a guy to replace me that midnight, and they were able to shoot all the necessary clips just in time for the opening. All these thanks to the amazing efforts of two cameramen who I truly admire.

I was only able to catch the last half of yesterday's pilot, and in a way I do feel na parang sayang, I should've done it, nothing to lose.

My aim in joining the show is for my family to be proud of me. And I wanted older people to see that we kiddos aren't as screwed up as they think we are. But I guess making that decision of declining made my fam extremely happy, knowing that in the end, I'll stay with what they think is good for me.

No regrets.

This of course means that I still have summer school! Nge!

Rundown

2006-04-15T22:11:00.000+08:00

1.

Just came from a three-day retreat with other guys who go to Kaps, and to the Centers of UP-M, Ateneo, DLSU, UA&P, CSB, and UST. Samar rocks, it reminded us all of Hogwarts, with the dorms, hallways, stairs. Really nice these past three days. And got two really good books at Samar, which I can definitely use.

2.

Looked at some places at Katip a while ago after dinner with Carlo, eyeing on one unit which’s near perfect. Awesome services and amenities, they even have a shuttle that will take to you school. Nakakahiya, haha. Will wait for the parentals’ word on Monday.

3.

Summer class starts on Monday. !! First class at 7AM, haha. That should teach me real discipline.

4.

May Friendster na ako. ! Hahaha.

5.

There were so many things on my mind these past few weeks, but now I’m real happy that I’m just focused on one thing.

6.

I’ve never felt this happy in the longest time. I was telling Juanchi while going home a while ago how much the Center has changed the way I am. I know it sounds real sentimental, I’m real thankful that on the day I was supposed to tell the guys I was gonna stop going to the Center, it rained real hard and I wasn’t able to go. The next day, was able to clear my mind.

7.

Started teaching Rugby to little kids last Sunday in the South area. Glad to say there were only two casualties that afternoon, which is a real achievement. Ultra-rowdy yet incredibly funny boys. If you got younger bros 8-12 yrs old, hit me up, it’s all free! Carlos invented our motto which is, “All you need is a tough ... heart.” Haha. We’re thinkin of creating a new camp for North kiddos, which will probably be held at Sunken Garden. We have six kids na from Northfield. NORTHfield. How apt. Ang corny.

8.

Getting my military uniform tomorrow. Yowza! At last.

Mega-Tonsilitis

2006-02-26T18:10:00.000+08:00

Kapag nakikita ko ang ginagawa ni GMA sa ating mga Pinoy, naaalala ko nung unang beses akong tinanggalan ng lalamunan. Anim na taong gulang ako nun. Nung bata kasi ako, isang ubo ko lang - winawasak na nila agad ang lalamunan ko. Isang imik - boom - nasa ospital na ‘ko - wala ng lalamunan.

Nung napanood ko ang deklarasyon ni GMA ng Proklamasyon 1017, naalala ko ang paglalarawan sa akin nina Mama at Papa tungkol sa pagtanggal sa aking lalamunan: “Aalisin ang lalamunan mo. Pupunta ka sa ospital, ooperahan, at dun ka matutulog. Pero ok lang dahil pagkatapos ng operasyon, puwede kang kumain ng kahit gaano karaming ice cream na gusto mo.”

Klarong-klaro na isa itong kagaguhan. At isa sa mga tabletang pilit ipinalunok sa akin ng mga magulang ko noon at ngayo’y ipinapalunok sa atin ni GMA: oo, maaari kang kumain ng kahit gaano karaming ice cream na gusto mo, pero bago yan hihiwain ko muna ang iyong lalamunan.

Ang reaksyon ng gobyerno sa mga taong ipinaglalaban ang demokrasya ay isang giyera laban sa kanilang mga matatapang na lalamunan. Isang giyera laban sa mga kritiko na nagpapanggap na giyera laban sa krimen.

Kinakatakutan ng gobyerno ang paglakas ng boses ng sambayanan sa puntong gumagalaw na sila gamit ang mga paraang klarong-klaro ay iligal. Warrantless arrests? Pagbabawal sa mga rally? Pagkontrol sa media? Ano ito, Poland, 1970? Wasto ba ang mga ito? Isang nakakabaliw na kalokohan na pinapabayaan natin itong mangyari.

Wala ng imposible sa gobyernong ito. Nakakatakot isipin na ang lahat ng ito ay simula pa lamang. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit ang paglaban sa panahong ito ay napaka-importante. Aksyon ang solusyon - bago dumating sa punto na sa bawat sandali ng buhay natin kung kailan papayagan nila tayong kainan ang kahit gaano karaming ice cream na gusto natin, wala na tayong kapabilidad na lumunok.

Brake

2006-02-11T02:13:00.000+08:00

The boy is a rambling eighteen-year-old schizophrenic member of the misguided youth who breathes support from Kurt Cobain - a mythical rock star who allowed words to trampoline him off into his own imaginary space. One day he plans to acquire the ability to bring a political consciousness to punk fused ska with hard rock. This year he plans to finish writing a book chronicling modern-day slavery around the world.

He often wonders whether there exists in a frozen valley some form of anaerobic microbe beneath a rock that has somehow managed since ninetyninetysomething to avoid exposure to today's Capitalist culture. And if such a life form exists, he asks, how soon will it be before marketers hunt it down and focus group its preferences for carbonated beverages and entry-level sedans?

Once, he read about this rumor that there exist certain bioluminescent sea creatures below the 25,000-feet level who have yet to learn about the present. He plans on hunting them down, netting them, demanding to know which of the Friends is their favorite.

During his free time, he shows patience as he stands in front of a random building and tries to make it levitate.

He shall pop again next month.

Safran! Foer!

2006-02-05T02:29:00.000+08:00

This morning I was in a meeting with folks who were pitching me decent work. The condition was I had to do the work during weekdays, which would mean I’d eventually have to quit school. No way man. They’re offering me pay that’s 100 times more than what I’m getting every week in the paper; but I don't really care about that. As Wacky would say, I’m a cheap loozah who would work for Chocnut. I’d rather eat siomai in FA and sit through my Philo prof’s stories about his parrot who eats nothin but tapa than sacrifice school for dough.

Nice thing was the execs understood - I mean, I love those guys, they're a bunch of awesome people who aren't out there just to abuse people and shat.

Right after, I went home to eat lunch, then went to teach the brattiest kids in the planet, then went straight to the GA where I was introduced to the big guys as the enfant terrible of the circle. Timmy says it's 'cause I look totoy and dorky - and I am totoy and dorky - but there would be days when I tend to shock everyone with my antics.

Ate dinner with Martin and the gang then went straight to ABS to meet up with Jay and Ferry, our exec prod and planned out things. We’re supposed to tape tomorrow but we decided to move it to Wed so we can get enough time to think about content and all those things.

I can't say this enough but this is really getting me hyped up. Jay's all good vibes talaga - we're both bent on working our asses off to make it really decent and all. We're even self-promoting ourselves via shirts and merchandise. !!!!!

Went with Jay to Alfredo’s - totally spontaneous - laughed and drank with his tito, his tito’s wife, and Ali, who’re all great, real people. Then went on and got lost on the road looking for the place where Ali and his band’s gig is. Finished Mojo’s set, drank some more, turned red.

And now I'm just taking a break via WiFi powers then I'll go see what happens next. I want chicken nuggets and barbecue sauce.

Swede Dreams

2006-02-04T12:30:00.000+08:00

Today's the start of new work along with Jay, who’s a nice guy, really. Good vibes, good vibes. Feeling pumped up and all. I mean, I feel like this is gonna be great. Am I sounding too inspirational? Blog ko ito. Shut up!

*

She's incredibly talented, she's a co-Lost junkie, she's really funny, she tells stories with so much passion, she zips. But enough of that. The one thing that I love most about her is that she's genuinely warm.

Happy Birthday Tals!

Pow wow

2006-01-24T00:47:00.000+08:00

Tonight our school circle was semi-complete, which meant only one thing - time to play Let's Sing Pop Songs About Each Other!

It is, in my opinion, the worst game in the world, and its creator should not be allowed to exist lest he/she creates even more horrible games.

Despite our very vocal protests in being a part of this cheesy exercise and downright wrong activity, our circle head Steve still pushed through with it. In fact, he seemed to be ultra-enthusiastic about the whole idea of inventing lyrics and melodies on the spot that his sentences were peppered with expressions like, "Nakaka-excite!" and "Excited na 'ko!"

Therefore for the benefit of everyone, I am posting Steve's photo in hopes that you will stay away from this wacko. Protect yourself and your family. Protect yourself and your family from this man!

Hello, I'm Steve! I will eat your babies.

We felt extremely bad that our opinions were ignored, and actually planned to walk out of the house. Nonetheless, we still went on and played anyway. Oh, peer pressure!

And then some

2006-01-22T14:05:00.000+08:00

After fetching my twin cousins Marvyn and RJ in the airport, went straight to RCBC and saw Once on This Island for the nth time - this time with Gian playing lead. Ang ganda, potek.

This is the twins’ first time in ‘Pinas and since they chose to stay with me instead of my uncle, I’m designated to show them around town. I’m excited to show them all the places I go to and people I move around with.

By the end of their month-long stay, hoperfully they’ll understand why I chose to stay here in ‘Pinas.

Right after watching Once, I took them to their first Pinoy food trip - Aysees carinderia in Pasig. Ang sarap, potek.

Went around Makati after, ate more food, then took them home. Went to Gino’s bday party at Luce and had tons of fun catching up, along with Liz, Pepe, AJ, and John.

Liz gave Gino a CD of this weird rapper dude who has a dozen kids and who spells words in a not so appealing way (“toh,” “Philipine,” “Jheniferr”).

Miguel borrowed the CD and showed it to his friends on the other table. He came back to us and said, “They kind of got upset.”

Moved to 6 Underground after to get redder than usual, and talked about how 2006 is, like, o-some.

Medyo Awkward Moment of the night was bumping into someone I recently had a brawl with. The circles that we both move in are so small, we’re bound to see each other anyway, so we shook hands and said hellos to each other. I bet naman that we’ll settle this by the end of the week.

Right now I’m working, but a lot of time here is spent waiting and waiting and waiting, and so I’m just bumming around, eating Mini Stop ice cream.

*

Dennis: With all the politicians in Vegas, I sure hope Pacquiao wins or else the country might not have any money left.
James: ...
Dennis: I mean, really. If he fails to win this, he’s gonna lose a lot of trust from the Pinoys. So much for being our modern national hero.
James: ...
Dennis: Pacquiao should really win this. I know he can. If only there isn’t so much politics! Screw those Vegas jerks! Go Pacman!
James: Um, ok.
Dennis: Sorry, I was just trying to sound intelligent.
James: What the hell are you saying??

*

Somebody please tell me where I can take a nap.

Random memory

2006-01-19T16:52:00.000+08:00

Waiting for some very, very late friends here in school. So let's blog.

Out of nowhere, I remembered a while ago how Chino and I found the word "cunning" a bit funny and weird when we were in high school.

We'd use "cunning" in sentences and randomly blurt them out.

"Are you cunning?"
"Mike Caseres is cunning."
"Cunning!"

*

My punctual friends are here. Time to eat tapsilog in Rodics.

Fastfooling

2006-01-19T02:05:00.000+08:00

JENNA

A while ago, at a bench in some corner at Eurostar, she was munchin on a hotdog while I was singin along (complete with gangsta moves) to Eminem's Slim Shady. We were laughin like hell.

I love this girl.

Happy Birthday Jenna!

*

GINO

Taking photos of the office's "unique" wasak wasak na ceiling, drinking sevens til we don't feel normal anymore, and chatting about every random shat in the world. And oh, meeting modern day thinkers like Rachel Lobangco.

Gino's an awesome pal.

Happy Birthday Gino!

*

MIKE

When we'd watch movies, we'd sneak in chips and drinks in our backpacks. All the time. One time we got caught. You don't wanna know what happened.

Mike's one of the bestest buddies around.

Happy Birthday Mike!

*

TIM

He has a great cafeteria with the best spinach quesadilla and lychee shake. He has the nicest and coolest friend around, si Kuya Abet. And oh, he's a totally awesome person.

Oops wrong photo. (This is Mr. Tim Yap Fuan, by the way, who I met in Google.)

Happy Birthday Tim!

Today

2006-01-14T22:09:00.000+08:00

The year has been going well - in terms of family, school, the org, work, and sidelines haha. But nothing beats good friends who stay by your side during the most mundane times.

Today crappyness was all over. Things have been going well for the past weeks, and suddenly out of nowhere come these shat who’ve all decided to screw me over on the same day.

Sometimes, you do all you can just to please other people. You allow them to step down on you and kill your ideas in exchange of their own shat. I’ve been trying my best to cooperate, and to make things work, and I’ve been doing this for years - but you just reached the limit. I’m done.

And sometimes, no matter how much trust you’ve given some people - they’ll still screw you over. And over. And over.

But thankfully, I stayed for a few hours in the org house and learned that some people trust me with their lives. And that they believe in me, as much as I believe in them.

The sweetest surprise was findin out that I didn’t have to say a thing, because they all understood where I was coming from.

And I’m glad I walked home and ate Chickenjoy and Burger Steak with my two closest friends in UP (aside from the A boys of course) who are sadly both graduating this March.

I just wanna say this: ever since I can remember, I’ve always listened more than I talked.

My CL teacher told me the day before graduation that no matter what happens, I don’t have to explain anything to anyone, especially things that are related to my personal life. I’ve been doing this ever since; but I’m done with all the shat, and I just wanna say that today I learned so much.

There are far far far more important things than all the crapola people are goin gaga about. Like friendship, and relationships, and being happy with whatever’s there.

And today, more than any other day, I’m glad I decided to go to this school. Everything and everyone’s simple, sincere, and silent. And that’s all I really need.

Blablablabla

2006-01-11T00:12:00.000+08:00

2006 is going really well!!!

In other less-perky news, I’m slowly realizing (yes oh yes) that FA28 Ultimate Crush is, in Anna’s words, (just) a factor of INFA28TION. Get it? Anna came up with that. We are very mature, yes. And effortlessly hilarious too. We’re such a riot, nu?

This means time for a new crush. And that’s you, Philo classmate. You know who you are.

Hahahaha. Crazy.

Yesterday, a professor made me and my classmates smile / cry (it was a mix of both) when he ended the class saying, “Okay ladies and gentlemen, today we discussed the importance of examining one’s life. On Thursday we shall answer the questions, “Why am I here?” and “What is my purpose?”

Who’s excited? I know I am.

Need to stop now, gotta wake up for a 7 am (7 am!) shoot tomorrow, and a meeting right after about something big. Well, it’s not pretty big, but it’s a start of something new. Will talk about it when it’s final na. Cliffhanger! Stirring! Gripping!

Inaantok na ‘ko.

Yowza!

2006-01-08T03:12:00.000+08:00

Brian's the chillest guy I know ... and by that I mean gullible as rock, it would be a shame if some people didn't take advantage of the scenario. FegaroFegaro.

Happy Birthday Brian!

It's great to be a L' Asian

2006-01-08T02:53:00.000+08:00

In 2005, I danced to old soul, sent loads of postcards, talked shaat, watched Muay Thai, daydreamed in public transportation, got addicted to Vietnamese sandwiches, and was easily inglamed by the retardation of others.

It's also the year when one of my close friends Kevin bought a house, which makes me think of A) her sister and B) Vietnamese food. And he introduced me to both of these wonderful things. Therefore I associate him with a ghetto middle school. That and tightie blackies.

It's the year when everything was laughable, even the endorsement essay my cousin Randall wrote for my application letter to a circle.

"James used to have a tendency for punching me in my nuts and breaking my model airplanes. What a punk!"

The year I started getting the hang of doing yard work and BBQing it up to boot. And the year I started proudly reading thick books to get people to look at me with admiration.

The year where several of my days were wasted by crap reality TV, video games or sleeping in the couch.

The year when I found out I can kick with either foot, but can't throw a baseball with authority.

2005 was the year I was like Peter Parker, the kimchee eating version.

12 hours until 2006

2006-01-01T08:21:00.000+08:00

Finally

2005-12-31T16:54:00.000+08:00

After months of painful waiting, I finally got myself the DVD set of what is probably the best TV series in the planet (next to Lost, of course), Freaks and Geeks.

Yipee!!

Mga corny stuff

2005-12-30T18:23:00.000+08:00

A new year for new peekaboos.
Don't get eaten by the bed monster!

*

It's just right to start the year with a good dose of excitement and therapy. So here are some ways to welcome 2006 with a bang. Channel your inner insane self, and spread the new year joy!

Disclaimer: Though there's a slight risk that you will be jailed and / or stoned to death after doing doing these deeds, don't frown. At least you had a fun new year's eve! Go rebellion!

1. Claim you're the real savior of the earth.
2. While on the dinner table, pretend you suddenly have amnesia.
3. Move to Chile and don't tell anyone.
4. Declare war to a foreign country.
5. Give all your belongings to your youngest family member, the one who probably needs it the least.
6. Invade another family's house, eat dinner there, and sleep in their beds. Very Goldilocks!
7. When the clock strikes twelve, release all the animals in the nearest zoo.
8. Speak extra loud to people with names beginning in C.
9. Kidnap a cockroach from your neighbor's kitchen and make it your new pet.
10. Perform exorcism on a random person walking in the street.
11. Call someone from a foreign-language speaking country and even if you don't understand a single thing, converse for six hours!
12. Go to the nearest police station and tell them you're the criminal they've been looking for.
13. At midnight, announce to everyone you've just won the lottery.
14. Sing everything today! Every word, sentence, and piece of conversation! Be a musical! Exclamation point!
15. Promote cannibalism. Screw the ham, and serve your younger brother.

Marvyn & RJ

2005-12-29T17:46:00.000+08:00

It's 1:48 in the morning here and everyone's still up to celebrate my twin cousins Marvyn & RJ's birthday.

We call Marvyn the toughest fighter in the family, who's been facing everythin armed with a truckload of courage. He also has an ultra-big heart.

RJ's the smartest one in the clan. A while ago, while driving on the road, the younger kiddos kept on asking us the capitals of countries around the world, and he was the one who knew all the right answers.

And last week, the girl he's been going out with for two years finally answered him with a yes. It's just for formalities sake, since they've been together for a great deal of time, but still. Go RJ!

When both of them were still living back home in Pinas, the three of us were classmates in Prep. During recess, they'd always share with me their baon. Nice kids.

Randall

2005-12-29T17:04:00.000+08:00

My cousin Randall bosses me around like crazy, and kicks me in the ass whenever I don't do chores.

When we were little kids, it was the total opposite.

I'd punch him in the face and make his lips bleed whenever he refuses to give me the remote control, and point the blame on him whenever I get caught doing somethin nasty.

What never changed is how much we secretly care for each other - so much that we'd literally kill anyone who gets in the way of the other.

Back then, when he was really small, I'd read comic books lying on my stomach on the bed, and he'd sit on top of me, on my back, and read over my shoulder. Most of the time we ended up dozing off to sleep. Recently I discovered that there are photos. But I'm shy.

Until now, we've kept our ties, partly 'cause of our all-time favorite piece of dialogue. Whenever I'd ask him, "How much do you care for me, cousin?" He'd reply, "One billion, five hundred twenty-seven trillion, four hundred thousand, six hundred thirty million dollars!"

Holy-weed

2005-12-29T16:21:00.000+08:00

I, the cousins and some chums from way back in grade school went around Hollywood today. Strolled around Desperate Housewhatever's Whatever-tyria Lane, watched shows, ate loads of chow, scored free tickets to Universal Studios and kicked it off with four consecutive rides at Jurassic Park, and took loads of photos, and bought tons of candy.

Cute Kid of the Day Citation goes to my six-year-old cousin Marella, as she displayed utter honesty and sincerity of expression when she was called to be a volunteer in the Animal Planet Live show.

Animal Planet Lady Host blindfolds Marella, and then with the help of two assistants, places a snake on her lap. Then they let Marella feel the skin of the snake.

Animal Planet Lady Host: So, what does it feel like?
Marella: (immediately) It feels just like my mom's purse.
Animal Planet Lady Host: ...
Audience: ...
Animal Planet Lady Host: (clearly flustered) Let's give it up for Marella!

Check this out!

2005-12-27T15:10:00.000+08:00

Hangover pa rin from my first lantern parade. Check out CJ's blog for great photos!

Monday Night Football

2005-12-27T14:34:00.000+08:00

Christmas was loads of fun this year, and it's not just 'cause I was successfully able to cook the dishes assigned to me, and it's not just 'cause I got a Wicker Park DVD from my 14-year-old cousin.

It's 'cause although situations and atmospheres weren't close to perfect, things jived and everyone went to bed smiling. According to preachy books, and musical artist King Crimson, and Oprah, you gotta be happy with what you have. And what better time to apply that code of conduct than at Christmas. Jolly holy Christmas.

Aaand guidance counseling session over.

Gave The Mom an iPod, and the coolest Bang & Olufsen headphones and lots of other crapola used to fulfill the ultimate listening experience.

In true Parentals Gone Ballistic fashion, her first reaction after opening the gift was, "What crime did you do this time? Why are you bribing me?"

Love it.

Right now, I and The Cousins are watching NFL's Monday Night Football, which makes me dim the lights, sit quietly in the corner, reminisce, and shed a tear about missing the Rug league at home. Stephen, the team's El Capitano in Zobel's league, dubbed our Saturday Rug sessions as Monday Night Football in Alabang, which is rather puzzling. Hmmmm.

Meanwhile, it's pandemonium here. The Younger Cousins are sleeping here tonight and we've built a gigantic latag in the living room (where the Xbox is, of course) because we all have to get up early tomorrow. I and The Older Cousins maxed out our poor credit cards and chipped in to bring all the kiddos to Disneyland. Fun!

Holidaze

2005-12-25T13:56:00.000+08:00

Two hours till Christmas here.

Woke up this morning relatively late after a night of drinks and catching up and confessions (aka telling each other every evil thing we've done ever since we last saw each other) with the titos and boy cousins and friends. Awesome. Haven't woken up that happy in a while.

Went straight to work when I got up. Tasked to do three dishes for the Christmas dinner, and got started in the kitchen with the Tray-baked Pork Chops with Herby Potatoes, Pears, Parsnips, which is a long name for a dish so my friend DJ nicked it "Herby Chops." Hookay.

Ran to the mall with the neighbor familia to get missing ingredients and last minute gifts. Then picked up my cousins and went back to the kitchen.

Second dish was Ravioli of Minted Asparagus with Potatoes and Mascarpone, which is dubbed as "Ravcarpone," a rather annoying-sounding nick. Much easier to do, and one of my favorites.

By 7:30pm, the doorbell wouldn't stop ringing. Family and friends galore. Was sorta panicking, tried to stay chill and rushed the third dish, Baked Ricotta and Mascarpone Tart with Chocolate And Orange, which DJ and his great mind named "Ricarpone." Mind-blowing, I know.

Wait! They're starting to watch Wicker Park and I have to stop this 'cause Wicker Park is, really, a film adaptation of the first half of my 18th year in this world. Cheesy!

Will get back at this later.

Merry Christmas everyone! Spread the love!

Development

2005-12-24T20:29:00.000+08:00

Nagseselos ako. Pero konte lang a. 'Di ba Jay-Ar? Hahahaha.

Haaaaaayyyy.

eeeeeennnnnnOOOUUGGH.

I shall kwento more tomorrow.

Playdate

2005-12-21T15:16:00.000+08:00

I shall get you when we return to class.

Breaktime

2005-12-20T08:35:00.000+08:00

Tagged by Steboy.

Five Jobs You Dream To Have In The Future
1. Army / Navy / Marine officer. Gusto ko talaga lahat yan, para triple threat hahaha.
2. Astronaut
3. Chef
4. Pro-football player
5. FA28 Ultimate Crush's boyfriend hahaha

Five Short-Term Goals
1. Enjoy the break, catch up with family and friends
2. Sleep ... relax ... do nothing ... tumunganga
3. Drive WELL
4. Make FA28 Ultimate Crush happy
5. Buy Greg's expensive shat from A/X

Five Best TV Shows in the Universe
1. Lost
2. Takeshi's Castle
3. Oh Tokyo
4. Iron Chef
5. Jamie's Kitchen

One Thing That's Not Making You Happy
Credit card bills, and the fact that they're written in such a way that no one will be able to understand them.

One Thing That's Making You Happy
That I know I got a chance!

I tag everyone.

Like, random love

2005-12-17T21:03:00.000+08:00

Dear UP,

I miss you like hell.

Especially you, Beach House, and your son barbecue and rice.

I love you so.

Waiting

2005-12-17T08:26:00.000+08:00

I just sent FA28 Ultimate Crush an anonymous letter, and left clues so that she'd suspect it's me.

I'm crazy.

And now ... the pain of waiting.

(I just found out she used to be a cadet officer in high school, and is a part of the Judo team. How perfect can she get!!!)

crrrAAAAAZZZZYYYYYYYY.

Ernest, you know all about this, and I swear I'd let you know whatever turns out of this kabaliwan once she hits a reply.

P.S. Sagutin mo na si * hahaha. Hirap na hirap na siyang ligawan ka e. Hahaha.

Family values

2005-12-16T17:32:00.000+08:00

It's always great to see your family members again after a long time.

After a year and a half, I'm back here in the land of The Mom Side - here in Christmas Island, este - L.A.

OK, shucks I just googled FA28 I'll Bring You The Moon And Do Everything You Want Me To Do Just For You I Will Ultimate Crush and found photos! Excuse me, I need to take a very important break.

And we're back. Grabe, na-high ako dun a.

What I wanted to say before FA28's photos disrupted is that the past four hours have been just beautiful.

Played Xbox with cousins.
Ate loads of food and chips and drinks with the fam.
Watched the new version of Takeshi's Castle which is extremely hilarious.
Had non-stop chats with everyone, the ones with my younger cousins were my favorites.

While watching Along Came Polly on the tube with eight-year-old cousin Paolo.

James: Close your eyes, they're doing something yucky.
Paolo: Eeeewwwww.
James: Close your eyes, Paolo!
Paolo: I am!
James: No, you're not!
Paolo: Eeeeewwww, why is the French weirdo on top of the lady?
James: Ummm ...
Paolo: EEEEEWWWWW!!!

While playing Tony Hawk in Game Cube with Kevin, who's six.

Kevin: Do you get to play video games any time you want?
James: Yes.
Kevin: Unfair! Why can I play only two hours a day?
James: 'Cause you're a small boy. Now quit bumping the skateboard!
Kevin: If I go and live with you in Manila, will you let me play any time I want?
James: Yeah, of course.
Kevin: Really? Ok, I'll ask dad for permission!
James: Ummm ...

Will write a few e-mails now, then will decide whether I should write FA28 Ultimate Crush a message and send it through her Friendster account. Can you believe I created an anonymous Friendster account just to search for her? Haaayyyyy.

Thursday is Thirst Day

2005-12-16T17:05:00.000+08:00

That's the worst blog entry title in the world.

Thursday was a big whirlwind.

Packed my suitcase in Pque noong morning, dashed to Inquirer to write stuff and then observe kiddos in the screening, then literally FLEW to UP for the lantern parade. I was 30 minutes late but thank you Lord one of the floats got stuck on the tree kaya medyo na-delay. Haha, bad.

Met up with the group mates, and wore my totally rushed headdress and mask, then went on and walked the entire oval whilst (whilst!) carrying a 500-lb. backpack with clothes, shoes, and other evil heavy stuff like books, my cousin's PS2, and the laptop. Why did I bring all these all the way to school and didn't consider dumping them in the house? Because time ran too fast leche!

The lantern parade was, in TinTin's words, REALLY O-SOME! Man, that was one of the best moments I've had in school so far.

And ... I have to talk about FA28 Ultimate Crush.

Well, she was with her "friend," whom she's always with, so I have a big big gut they're together. The whole time we were parading, we would steal glances at each other and it was fun and all, but ... damn I had the 9pm flight so I had to leave early and we never got to talk.

Fast forward to Amazing Race moment of the day. It was 8:20, and I was still on the road to the airport. Got just in time, and was even able to change clothes and shat. Lucky bastard.

Texted and called the friends, and had a medyo OA yet enlightening chat with Jay-Ar. Feeling namin we'd never see each other again, to the point of telling each other random secrets, and bilins like, "Oi don't teach Greggy yosi a!"

Great flight, because of great someone. :)

Hahaha I know I'm getting pretty manyak, I mean - loving, 'cause every where I go I find someone I really really really like.

Okay, tired of typing. Time to eat!

Why I feel really happy right now

2005-12-11T03:21:00.000+08:00

Woke up this morning in Ence's house, which put a smile on my face. Received messages and calls about our stuff in this week's Super! which really hyped me up a lot and set a pretty good mood for the day.

Ate tocino for breakfast, as always, along with Son who caught up. Son, who just broke up with her boyfriend an hour before that was sorta trying to control her tears as she blurted out stuff like, "I wanna go to his house, punch him in the face, and kill him!" Evil, but I understand. (I understand??)

Went home, and found a family member messing with my things in my room. I asked her what the heck she was doing and she said she was fixing my stuff. I know naman that she's just looking for my private stuff but my morning was too sunny that I just told her to leave and didn't went into the whole mind your own business fight sequence.

Slept for a bit, watched Chow Time Na and Wowowee which I'm starting to enjoy (after Dre' told me that it's actually kind of fun), slept again, then drove to Greenhills. Me and Pepe decided to treat our high school mates to dinner as we celebrate our first year in Super! this week. Food was awesome, and we ate around six servings of pasta, two servings of pizzas, loads of salads, appetizers, and desserts. And a fountain of dalandan juice. Saraaap.

Conversations with The friends were hilarious as usual, as we talked about who's dating/making out with whom, who's gonna win in all those crappy reality trash, personal "issues" hahaha and the usual latest cheese meese.

Full but still feelin scandalously gluttonous, we all moved to Promenade for dessert, and dropped by at Andrew's book launch in Fully Booked. Then went on to eat and talk about more personal "issues" hahaha, problemos which were creepily "pang-college kids" like flirting in class, and blockmates you'd love to kill.

Then went with Pep and The Tim to Magnet to hear awesome music and get drunk. I thought this would be a great end to this happo day but seemed like the tide loved me and decided to make things even better. Met someone, who's just way out of my league (awwww), and then an hour ago we were talking on the phone and it was nice (awwwwwwww). I'm a happy kid. Or I'm just tipsy and just blurting out things I'm not even thinking about.

On Monday is our last FA28 class before the Xmas break. I just want to say, special classmate, that if in some weird cosmic (cosmic?) reason, you're reading this: WATCH OUT. I am gonna approach you before the class ends, and introduce myself, and I don't care if you're TOTALLY out of my league (awwwwwwwwwwwwwww). You're driving me crazy. I just can't sleep. I'm so excited. I'm ... ay olats, tama na nga.

Basta FA28 special classmate, Monday is THE day. I'm even gonna bring Je for backup in case I faint. Ay pota torpe talaga.

Amazingly I feel

2005-12-04T12:13:00.000+08:00

Saturday was spent playing Rug for an hour, then running to Zobel for league talks which was initiated by the village's team leader. Team leader loves to pepper his sentences with the word whilst, which in a strange way, kind of made me respect him more. I mean, there are like two people in the whole country who use the word whilst, the other one being Stef, who was one gifted with stares when she randomly blurted out, "I'm working so hard on this project whilst everyone's just lazy." Spectacular.

Caught Prime for the nth time with Je then met up with the Super! kiddos Milan, Gino, Pepe, plus Liz, gorged on dimsum in Gilmore, ate dessert in Promenade, laughed and drank at Fiamma, and then had great random talks at Embassy along with Tals, Lex, and Lex' students. Packed up at 4am, to the delight of my aching body.

Two hours of sleep later, found myself in UP running around the oval for two hours whilst chanting like crazy with the org, then commuted to Zobel, played Rug, got shouted out by TJ for being late and for missing a throw TWICE, then went to TJ's house to play PS2.

And now, I'm abusing the mall's Wi-Fi capabilities and still feeling energetic. And I feel like eating tocino. We're gonna take a bite then I'll see from there.

For Love or Bunny

2005-11-30T17:12:00.001+08:00

Talked to Mikee last night.

James: I saw Brian’s dad in Metrowalk buying DVDs.
Mikee: Really?
James: Yeah, and in a way I wanted to approach him and give him a hug to comfort him since, you know, his son’s in another country. But I decided not to. Did I make the right decision?
Mikee: No.
James: ...
Mikee: Hug him now.

James: I also saw your kuya/ate that same day by the way.
Mikee: Really? Where?
James: He/she was buying DVDs too.
Mikee: He... she.... it....
James: In a way I also wanted to approach him and give him a hug to congratulate your being DL. But I decided not to. Did I make the right decision?
Mikee: Yes.
James: ...
Mikee: If you hugged him, he would have held extra tight. Extra tighter than the usual.

Mikee: I have an idea!
James: What?
Mikee: Let’s have this WeirdoMag Party where we distribute the new issue and get drunk and shit.
James: Wow, we’re getting older, using phrases like “get drunk and shit.”
Mikee: I don’t drink, btw. I just said that ‘cause I wanted to pretend like I’m a badass.
James: Great, we can have the party at Brian’s house!
Mikee: While he’s not in the country!
James: Yes!

Then we went on talking about random crazy stuff and playing normal games like “If you were a type of (insert random food), what kind of (random food) would you be and why?” and “Let’s Randomly Blurt Out Sentences.”

We also came up with new reality shows like, “For Love or Bunny” where one chooses either love or a random box that contains either a real bunny, a battery-operated toy bunny, or nothing at all.

After a few minutes...

Mikee: College is weird. Everyone’s normal. They’re, like, afraid I’m gonna eat them.
James: Yes I know! The normal atmosphere makes us miss our loud, crazy and pretentious high school class more.
Mikee: ...
James: ...
Mikee: ...
James: Let’s play a new game!
Mikee: Yay!

Brain freeze

2005-11-28T05:48:00.000+08:00

Currently reading:

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Currently watching:

The Apprentice First Season DVD

Currently listening to:

The Cosmic Game by Thievery Corporation

Currently lusting over:

A Mango Brutus shake. And tacos. Lord.
And In-N-Out burgers and fries and milkshakes. And we're not talking about that funny silly fake stall in Pasig right Chino?

Fred's realization of the day

2005-11-25T01:39:00.000+08:00

Was with Fred in the MRT going to Makati. Last saw each other grad day so it was all nice. Caught up with what's happening in each other's lives and roamed around for a while.

In the train, we stood up and gave our seats. Fred, who was feeling extra-sociable, decided to converse with one of the ladies.

Fred: Miss, you can take our seats right there.
Lady: Salamat.

After two seconds ...

Fred: I'm gonna go to heaven.

Soaking up and down

2005-11-22T00:32:00.000+08:00

School in haikus.

FineArts28

My favorite class
Because of Prof Dakila
And “special classmate”

Geography

Sir Saguin rocks yo
He’s nice and quiet and cool
Plus easy homeworks

MalikhaingPagsulat

Astig si Ser Vlad
Siya ay nakakatawa
May blog pa ang class!

http://pinoynivlad.blogspot.com/

PoliticalSci

(HAIKU DELETED)

Philo

Prof Acuna aliw (Oh look I exceeded by a syllable)
He claims he’s the inventor
Of Philo, haha

Wow, I really do suck at haikus.

Two reasons why I think Lost is driving me nuts
1. I text the girl selling Lost DVDs in Metrowalk every day to check if they got new episodes.

Our last text conversation, which happened two hours ago:

James: Hi.
Girl selling Lost DVDs: Wala pa, sorry :)

2. I have a notebook filled with my theories on the end-game, and I bring it wherever I am, in case, you know, I suddenly think of a spectacular theory in the middle of the day.

I just have to let it out, Aya

While watching Harry for the nth time

Aya: Ang galing nung actor playing Viktor Krum.
James: Bakit?
Aya: Basta kuhang-kuha niya yung pagiging Bulgarian.
James: Ha?
Aya: He looks Bulgarian, his accent's Bulgarian. Basta, yung aura niya ay Bulgarian na Bulgarian. Ang galing.
James: ...
Aya: Bulgarian kaya siya in real life?

YOU THINK??

Visit! Now!

2005-11-10T20:50:00.000+08:00

http://happytreefriends.com

Unruly

2005-11-04T01:10:00.000+08:00

Just when things are sailing smoothly, a nice dear friend will come ruin it all.

Migo: O, ano tinext sayo?
Me: Sabi niya, "Basta you and I against the whole world." Kinikilig ako.
Migo: You and Me Against the World? 'Di ba movie ni Kris Aquino yun?

Leche. Panira ng moment.

Quote of the Day

2005-11-03T23:13:00.000+08:00

After telling Liz that next time I'll tell her in full detail about that day I spent with Cueshe and how down-to-earth and simple the guys are, she says...

"Haha ok! But we should keep our voices down because people might think we're Cueshe fans! Gasp!"

Rarr

2005-11-01T02:02:00.000+08:00

I am doing this because I'm a dork. And because Nina SWEARS she'll give me a box of cheesecake if I answer this.

10 Random Facts About You
-I know a little Hungarian ('cause my lovely prof required us to learn it, in case, you know, we go to Hungary anytime soon)
-I like to cuddle
-I like to sleep
-I like the song Achy-Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
-I like furniture
-I'm saving up for a 1958 Corvette convertible
-I'm torpe
-I got kicked out in Prep
-I like eating the sizzling tocino meal at foodcourts
-I like to sleep

9 Places You Want To Go To
-Everywhere x9

8 Things You Want To Do Before You Die
-Go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France
-Spend a whole day eating junk food without feeling guilty
-Catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium
-At lunchtime, sit in a parked car w/ sunglasses on and point a flashlight at passing cars
-Be a pilot
-Be a chef and own a store
-Have a little kid scream "Daddy!" when I walk through my front door
-Ride a motorcycle cross-country

7 Ways To Win Your Heart
-Tumunganga with me the whole afternoon x7

6 Things You Believe In
-Power Rangers
-Backstreet Boys
-the Mighty Ducks
-that the TV series Lost is the best thing in the whole world
-"Viva Forever" by the Spice Girls
-Superbowl's lemon chicken

5 Things You're Afraid Of
-The dancing baby from Ally McBeal
-The Alchemist, and the people who become instantly deep after reading it
-That my head will fall off and it'll roll too fast that I won't be able to catch it
-Teachers who live to confuse
-People who encourage dogs that bite

4 Of Your Favorite Items In Your Bedroom
-bed
-3 pillows (haha andaya)

3 Things You Do Everyday
-lie down
-close my eyes
-sleep

2 Things You Are Doing Right Now
-breathing
-watching TV

1 Person You Want To See Right Now
-Nina, so she can give me my cheesecake!!!

Steboy

2005-10-31T02:40:00.000+08:00

I remember when I was about eight, and I'd always hangout with my neighbor Steve who was then 14 and was in high school. He'd bully me all the time, teach me new things, let me try out stuff. We'd always do "criminal" acts that deserved us spots in juvi, and at the end of everything we'd end up laughing so hard. He was, well, the older brother that I never had.

And there was this time last year when I got into real trouble and when he found out, he beat me up, punching me in the face so hard, telling me how dumb I was, he didn't stop till I wasn't fighting back anymore, till I was on the floor. I didn't understand it at first, but now I seem to get it.

And the first few times we drank beer together when he would teach me how to tolerate bottles and bottles, to just go and drink.

And how we spent our summers going to his school's park, playing hacky sack, then taking a nap in the dirty grass. The guard would always try to wake us up, but we'd pretend we were in deep sleep.

Steve is moving to Australia tomorrow along with his whole family. 'Pag umaalis ako for vacation, maghahatid si Steve sa airport tapos bago umalis, may kukunin siya sa pocket niya tapos papakita niya sa 'kin. Peace sign. That sounds corny but I dunno, that's what I'm gonna miss the most.

Man, you come back or I'll kill you.

And we're back in the game

2005-10-28T01:05:00.000+08:00

After a two-week whirlwind of Rug, going out, obsessing on figuring out the endgame of Lost, and sleeping in different couches, I started getting my act together today.

Spent the morning in the grass for two hours, played really bad, the rain didn't help, got more bruised than ever, including two cuts in the face. Right after taking a shower, Mico calls.

Mico: Saan ka?
Me: *Cough* *Cough* I'm sick.
Mico: Gago, luma na yan.
Me: Saan ka?
Mico: Sa school, tara kunin natin classcards.
Me: Sige, one hour.
Mico: Ano, bakit ang tagal?
Me: Nasa Alabang ako!
Mico: Ang tagal!
Me: Ano kita, girlfriend? Huwag kang demanding.
Mico: Sige, bilisan mo.

Oh man, University Scholar ako! A nice way to end a great fun sem.

But that's not important. These conversations are more essential.

Me: Nakita ko si Champ kahapon.
Kim: Yung hamburger na mascot sa Jollibee?
Me: Um, oo.

After five minutes.

Me: Si Champ, yung may banda.
Kim: May banda na ang mga mascot ng Jollibee?

After a few seconds.

Me: Oo drummer si Hetty, tapos si Chikee sa bass.
Kim: Ang galing nun, a!

And there's more.

Nina: You two wanna go with me to the museum?
Carlos: What's in there?
Me: The usual.
Nina: Not just the usual! They have this great archeology room with an interesting cartouche flewn in from another museum abroad.
Carlos: I don't even think I can spell cartouche.

In other news, I'm traveling next week, getting myself lost in a foreign place.

Gardener

2005-10-27T03:52:00.000+08:00

We gave you a chance
To water the plants.
We didn't mean that way--
Now zip up your pants.

Qwerty

2005-10-15T03:37:00.000+08:00

Went to Power with Dre' and Greg today, stopped by at Zara's launch, then left immediately after getting free drinks 'cause we're cheapos like that. Ate a ridiculously expensive Japanese dinner where we had to take off our shoes and sit on nice pillows wrapped in silk, forcing us to be proper well-mannered kids. On the road to Makati, the radio played "Sakayan ng Jeep" by Nikki Gil, prompting Dre' to blurt out, "Oh man! That's like super sucky!"

Met up with Kevin, Ina, Eddie and the rest of the YeahYeahs for a few drinks and almond jelly and buchi. The night wouldn't be complete without doing something significant for the world, so Rissa initiated a game called, "If you were a dessert, what dessert would you be and why?" As you all know, this is a game that is commonly played in most social circles around the world.

Ed dropped me off at Pammy's for her birthday, and I left my gift in his car. I realized this when Pammy was opening her gifts, so I texted Ed, "Left movies in your car. Don't mess with them. Will get them tom." The gift was two of Kris Aquino's chop-chop lady massacre films, so I was confident Ed wouldn't take interest in them since, well, he can't really understand Tagalog, except for a few essential phrases we taught him like "pahingi ako," "angas mo a" and "ako magbabayad." But alas, around 2am, he calls up, "What the f? This is nuts! Crazy! Blood all over! The villain's putting the lady inside a suitcase!"

Leche pinakialamanan ang regalo.

So Pammy's birthday was fun, played family computer and ate more goood food, including a brownie with gravy on top after losing a game.

I'm sleeping now at Ed's, tired, legs aching like hell. Been feeling like this for the past three days, after started playing in the grass again. Training tom. at 7am and I'm going to wake up 'cause Rug's the best thing in the world. I swear I'm not gonna stop till I get killed on the field.

Suddenly feeling like eating dumplings and taho in DEC, and bum around in Promenade.

Grass

2005-10-15T03:22:00.000+08:00

And the quote of the day comes from Kevin, who, after Nic attacked him and threw him to the ground during Rug, said:

"I can't feel my back and legs. I'm bulag na."

Terrorista

2005-10-12T01:43:00.000+08:00

An hour ago I was watching Insider on ABS-CBN and they were showing a scripted terrorist attack in Fort Bonifacio High School, supposedly aimed at educating society on how to act in case terrorists bombard the city.

At first it was hysterical, as kids and teachers were running, screaming for help in the corridors, some of whom were even limping, as if their hips and legs got shot.

Then they showed kids laying flat on the floor, splattered with fresh red blood all over their white uniforms, some were dead, some were still crying softly for help.

And that’s when I thought to myself, grabe sabog ‘tong mga olats na ‘to.

It's late but we're all awake

2005-10-11T02:53:00.000+08:00

So it's 2:41 in the morning, and let's see what's happening in our living room!

There's the TV and look, it's my favorite show in the world, Jamie Oliver on BBC Food. Apart from glancing occassionally on the screen, I'm typing this right now, and I'm half-done building a piece of furniture called a lamp table.

Wait a sec, Jamie's explaining something interesting.

And we're back. So he talked about how he cooked his first meal for his wife and how he was so bent on pleasing the girl that he prepared seven of his best dishes and the wife was like, "Jamie, I can't finish all these." Oh look, he's now making a tossed salad. Classic Jamie. I bet he's gonna put salmon there.

I'M RIGHT! He's now cutting thin slices of salmon meat and putting it on the salad. And now he's tossing it.

Meanwhile, my younger cousin Kyle is playing with my PS, which he claims is his. At first, he tells this only to his playmates next door, then what do ya know his whole class in Zobel knows that he has one, and then now when he sees me playing with it, he comes up to me and says, "Kuya, did you ask permission from me?"

He has school tomorrow but the brat is still awake.

My Tita, Kyle's mom, is playing with her kid's Gameboy Advance. She's been doing that since after dinner, and is surprisingly good at it.

My mom is playing with Kyle's other Gameboy, the new one with two screens. She is the loudest Gameboy player in the world, as she screams, jumps for joy, and brags endlessly whenever she finishes a level.

My two neighbors, Steve and Nina, are on the couch playing online games in Steboy's laptop. I love this couple, although it's almost 3am and I'm sure they got houses and couches so I wonder why they're still here. I bet those lazy asses are gonna end up sleeping there in the couch.

Before dinner, we all went to the mall nearby and spent a good two hours in the arcade.

Late Monday evenings are usually spent like this in the house, where everyone's pretty busy with really important, significant things, like video games.

hhhooooOOORRAAAYY.

In other news, tomorrow I promise to kick ass. Game na talaga.

For now, I gotta get back on this lamp table. I swear am gonna finish this before the sun rises.

Let's Blow Together

2005-10-10T00:24:00.000+08:00

This afternoon was the first birthday of Elki, Yam’s baby boy. Yam and his production designers built safari jungle sets all over the ballroom, with all kinds of animals and the works. Amaaazing. And oh wow they had overflowin' milkshakes, snowcones (snowcones!!), and ice cream. And they had those bubble girls that Tals once told us about. They called out kids in the audience and put them inside giant bubbles. Trippy.

What made the otherwise perfect party awkward was the program host who was annoyingly (yet amusingly) gay. He was in full tour guide attire a la Jeff “I go tally THE votes” Probst, with a giant button on his left vest pocket with his name on it. With his Britney lapel mic, he is unnecessarily over-perky to the kids, and evil to his production staff as he shouts out after every dramatic spiel, “Cut the music! Cut!” or “Up mic! Down music! Down!” or “I don’t want that song. Change!”

When it was time for Elki to blow the candles on his giant cake, Mr. Host repeatedly and cheerily shouted, “Let’s blow together! Let’s blow together! Let’s blow together!” to the amusement of the dads. He also has a whistle that he uses to hum along with a song (as a result, ruining it), or to shut up the screaming kids and the chatting adults. Nuts I tell you.

The highlight of my day was of course seeing little Ella finally in person. When they call for a volunteer, she’s the first to raise her hand. She’s also the first to run onstage to get cupcakes, first in line in the dancing part, and when everyone was called for a big souvenir photo, she ran to the center and posed, positioning herself like the star that she is.

And they gave iPod Nanos, and PS2s, and watches, and phones, and cameras, which of course brought the house down, proving once again the inevitable fact that the only sure fire way to liven up a group of people is by having a raffle.

Time to get back to what I was doing a while ago. Oh wait before that, here’s what I wrote in the card on my gift.

Ey Elki. Happy 1st bday, man. I promise that when you’re six, I’ll teach you how to play rugby. And when you’re eight, I’ll read with you your first comic book. And when you turn 12, I’ll take you to your first rock concert. And when you turn 18, well, ahem ahem... your mom and dad are reading this so I’ll tell you nalang someday. Go and be an awesome kid! Kuya/Tito James.

Okay, now I can go back to what I was doing a while ago, which was absolutely nothing.

Shaturday

2005-10-09T04:31:00.000+08:00

Saturday was really grreat. I was able to sleep well, with a dream about living on a beautiful farm in Visayas with lots of trees and grass, and having a nipa hut, and having sun-kissed kids, and and and the wife who's just really awesome. And then suddenly these police guys go inside the nipa and arrest me and take me to Manila where they lock me in jail and the presos inside kill me and eat my body. I like this. Dreams that let you eat all the ice cream you want, and then slit you in the throat.

Woke up at 2pm to eat lunch then went back to sleep again. This time, without a fun dream.

Went with Wacky to that building beside I.S. in Fort, the one with those bright royal-blue glass windows. Was glad I came, 'cause wow it was tons of fun. The people were all college kids/young pros who've gathered to talk about their plans in their lives, and the private group talk with Wacks, Monique, and Anna somehow put a direction on what I wanna do in the coming months. Will surely go back next week.

Drove to Trio for Shari's 18th birthday, which was a blast. It was awesome to see everyone again, and it's funny when you think about the soiree days when everyone would be sweating of nervousness and the atmosphere is either pa-cute or desperate. A while ago we were all just having fun and celebrating Shari's day and catching up with each other's lives, without any sign of uneasiness. Really appreciate it that Shari gave us a chance to be a part of it.

Rode with Dre and Greg going to Ernest's place for his bday, which was equally awesome, seeing highschool classmates who I haven't seen in a loong time, drinking, and laughing endlessly, talking about how we're all in different places, but we've never really changed in terms of kalokohan.

I'm sleepy now.

Ern

2005-10-09T04:11:00.000+08:00

Ernest, a best friend, celebrated his 17th birthday a while ago.

When we were in first year, he was the first friend that I had in class. After lunch, he'd try to annoy me by sitting on my chair and refusing to leave, until the teacher enters and there I am standing up, chairless. He loved the look of desperation on my face.

The year after, some funny force made me greet him "Happy Birthday" every single day for almost a whole month. He'd giddily say thank you every single day. And whenever I'd bully him, he'd say I can't do bad stuff to him 'cause it's his bday. Oo nga naman.

And he cracks the corniest jokes and you'll laugh because, well, it's Ernest.

And we never talk about negative things, for us it's always about enjoying being a kid.

Now whenever I see Ernest in school, being one of the great guys running his org, going home real late, and hanging out with tons of girls, I see that Ernest has grown up. And become a chickboy. Ha. And he's still pretty corny like in the past. Sometimes I think about that young Ernest who'd get my seat all the time and I miss that, 'cause now we talk about mature stuff, like things in the real world. But I'm glad to see Ernest like this now, from the looks of the people around him, I'm pretty sure he's got a long way to go.

Sweet Valium High

2005-10-08T02:26:00.000+08:00

I love my cousin. He's seven but he thinks and acts like he's four and I like it 'cause we get to do dumb stupid stuff and end up with bruises and bleeding noses. He's asleep now beside me after our routine one hour of sakitan, patayan, and rambulan which involves throwing around and destroying my Hero Clix collection. His charm and cuteness (cuteness?) make me forget about the damage and demolition done by that awesome champ, but on days when I'm sane and normal and uncheesy and I see the heads and legs of my toys cut off, I scream in my head I'M GONNA GET THAT LITTLE MONSTER AND HUNT HIM DOWN AND NEVER LET HIM SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN!!!

Here's our deep and pang-college discussion 20 minutes ago.

Little Monster: Kuya, let's destroy your things.
Me: Sure, if your promise that after that, we'll set to fire and burn all your little truck toys!
Little Monster: No! No! If you do that, I'm going to destroy your room and when you wake up, you'll be in the floor because I destroyed your bed!
Me: If you do that, I swear I'm gonna give your Euro train collection to your playmates next door!
Little Monster: I'm going to kill you and give your body to the salesladies so they can sell you in Podium!
(In my head: Pota ang cono ng batang 'to)
Me: Who owns a Euro train collection circa 12 A.D.? Ha? Ha? Ha? You're such a dork!
Little Monster: I'm going to kill you, you stupid poopoo head!
Me: Not if I flush you in the toilet first!
Little Monster: Not if I cook you in the oven!
Me: You arrogant cannibal! I'm gonna kill you right here right now and cut you into parts and deliver them in the houses of your girlfriends! Let's see if they'll still be in love with you!
Little Monster: I'm hungry, do you have Twix in your backpack?
Me: Yea, stay right there, I'll go get them for you.
Little Monster: Yey thank you Kuya.

I love.

Will stop rambling now. Have to be at Steboy's early morning.

Shramblings

2005-10-08T01:09:00.000+08:00

I'm now pretty low on funds, a bad time since Oct. is the month where most of my friends are celebrating their bdays. Now I miss highschool days, where I had an allowance to spend on useless, crappy things. Now where did the moolah go?

1. A month ago, I bought an iBook. I was bent on buying a model half the price, but I got a great offer from someone based in Hong Kong, referred to me by a photographer who I met in a shoot... so there I told myself, screw it all, here's the money for my Germany trip and the money for my new school and the money for my future kids' education, now give me my Hunter! Yes, it's named Hunter, the name I baptize to every single gadget/pet that I own. Tals bought her kiddo too last Monday, which is awesome, 'cause you can just imagine us giggling and talking ever so passionately like parents do about their kids when they graduate from kindergarten.

2. Putting aside some cash for shat am planning to get, aside from saving up for a trip with the Luceros. Yes, I'm gonna treat the Familia to a trip back in our paradise, an Italian restaurant with an obnoxious bartender and which serves the most awesome food and is located in the deep end of a beach on some island. I love my friends.

3. Food. Trucks and trailers of. Now heeey with this I have no problems spending loads for.

4. Been going out a lot and this is quite bad 'cause sometimes when it's 4am and I feel sooo kind and giving, I pay for the bill, and easily blow off a month's paycheck. This I promise to stop by not bringing any credit card or excess cash whenever going out. Beware friends, I've turned selfish.

5. Keeping a small box inside one of the drawers in my desk which is labeled: Para Sa Iyong Kabutihan Ito. It's paper put aside for "Condo," the short film I'm making with The Pepe (originally titled "Ritwal" but I change my mind every three minutes, what do ya know, it might be called "Bopis" by tomorrow). I'm trying to save up for one main reason: I want to feed well the people I'm gonna be working with. I swear, I'm gonna keep your belly full as a way of saying thaaank you for working with us for free.

Will get my act up in a while. Have to play and wrestle with my seven-year-old cousin.

Stolen/On the Farm

2005-10-05T12:28:00.000+08:00

V: You go to heaven, God's there, and he says what to you?
M: He says, "You got the wrong door."
V: And you say, "Boy, it's hot in here." So how ya doin'?
M: I'm pretty good.
V: And how's the girlfriend?
M: Came home and she had a tattoo of a cat on her arm. I go out of town for a couple of days and she gets tattooed.
V: Was it a real tattoo?
M: Well, that's what I wanted to know. But I inspected it, and it's just a wash-off thing. But they look like real tattoos now.

M: So what does (job) give you that nothing else can?
V: Work. A sense of community. A place in the world. Otherwise I'd be like the 7-Eleven bandit: I'd just be getting into trouble somewhere.

V: I remember when we were last working together and you'd say, "Was that creamy?" after accomplishing a certain task. How do you know if it's a creamy one?
M: It's when you get that kind of weird tingling up the back of your neck and something unexpected happens: You lose yourself, and it stops being about hitting your mark. It just has a natural rhythm all its own, it's a feeling of getting lost for a few seconds.

M: Basically, I'm just trying to go with stuff where I feel like if I take this journey, I'm going to grow in some way.
V: If it doesn't have that, we're back to robbing banks.

Sleep/Scoop/Slash

2005-10-04T02:45:00.000+08:00

I identify completely with the desperation that obsessed my parents. I live with it myself daily: the fear that you will be thrown back to where you started. My dad taught it to me and my mom taught it to me, and I had my own lessons. I lie awake at night thinking about it, feeling exposed, vulnerable—but feeling again the gratitude that I have what some people missed in life—a way to be happy.

I sometimes think of the day I discovered it. In the backyard of Pre-Primary Growth Center I was a lion in the nursery play, a hit in a major role performed in front of a semicircle of chairs filled with grades pre-nursery to prep and teachers and parents. On my head was a fierce cool lion hat with orange felt ears. Afterwards, wanting to continue my happiness forever, I refused to take it off. I wore it home, wore it at dinner, and in my bath, and wore it in bed that night, sitting there feeling special.

I was waiting, very excitedly, for my dad to bring up guests from the dinner gathering downstairs. I knew they would make a fuss over me, saying, “Aren’t you a darling,” and be really impressed because on my black hair was my fierce cool lion hat.

I wanted to experience again the feeling of that afternoon in front of people—the ecstatic sense that I was a lion because grown-ups were accepting me as a lion—the sense that I could say, “I want to be somebody good and walk out on stage and be the fierce cool prince,” and the world would say, “Yes, you are the fierce cool prince.”

56K Access/Happy Days

2005-10-02T16:43:00.000+08:00

After its demolition then short stint in Wilson St., DEC is finally back in Greenhills!!!

After going home at 5:30am a while ago from a tiring tiring but great night (filled with strange music, strange phone calls, seeing great friends, seeing friends from grade school (!) and finally seeing Tals!!), I found Migo and Kate and Erin inside my room watching Malcolm in the Middle. I thought I was just dreaming, till I woke up around 10am and they were still there. We found out DEC was open so we rushed there for early morning Sunday chow and the place looks a lot better and the food is still awesome.

And now I'm really happy because today I also got an e-mail that I've been nervously waiting for. And I finished writing my stuff for next week's issue. And someone sent in stuff from my favorite place in the world.

I'm missing La Salle a lot so I'm sitting in this week at Yky's and I.M.'s classes before I finally go in a month of relaxing/doing nothing/going to random places/commuting with Jay-Ar. Which means after the sit-ins, I can go straight to DEC which is a few streets away!

Fuzz, go and have fun! Dannylicious and Little Store and more "pang-dove" people when you come back! Competitive!

Everyone, go waste time asking a chicken to do whatever you please at SubservientChicken.com!

Vacation!

2005-09-30T21:15:00.000+08:00

As I was eating awesome chinese chow with Pammy and Pepe last night in the office, I thought to myself that I can really genuinely say that the reason why I'm doing all these is because it's tons of fun, and it's making me really happy, and I get to spend time with these great, nice people.

*

And a while ago me and Ernest did our usual Friday roam-around-eat-anywhere-talk-about-everything and we were saying that as the sem ends this week (and even if we keep on saying how we want the sem break to start) and we're going to be gone for a month, we're gonna miss every single bit about UP that we have reaaaally loved these past months.

Two Days and the Next Ones

2005-09-28T02:38:00.000+08:00

1. A conversation with The Bowling Coach.
Coach: O, Gabrillo, two weeks ka hindi pumasok, tapos hindi ka nag-finals. Ano gagawin ko sa 'yo?
Gabrillo: Umm.. Coach 'di ba ako naman favorite mo?
C: O, ito, 1.75.
G: Coach naman, ako best player sa lahat ng classes mo. (Hahahahahahahaha)
C: So?
G: E 'di i-pull up mo naman yung grade, sige na Coach kahit konti lang.
C: O sige. Ito, 1.0.
G: Wow, ayos!!!! The best ka talaga!!! (Hahahahahaha)
C: Pero hindi ko ibibigay sa 'yo ito ngayon. Bibigyan kita ng isang linggo simula sa Lunes--kailangan mahanap mo ako sa buong UP. Kung nagawa mo yun, ibibigay ko sa 'yo itong uno mo na class card.
G: ...

So yes, that's what I've been doing for the past two days. I've been harrassing guards, other coaches, and strangers to TELL ME WHERE DIZER IS!!!!! Migo and Abi have been tagging along in this search, and I'm really extremely thankful. Pepe said in his blog that UP has a way of kicking you in the ass. Haha I guess this is mine, and I wanna fight back!!

PLAN B is to find out his cellphone number and then Abi texts him that she need his help for an "emergency."

Tapos bigla palang he's on vacation.

2. Went inside the Big Brother house with Fuzz and the director, who's an awesome person. It was extremely surreal. Everything is set-up well, and the whole production's really great. It's cool how we're able to appreciate the show much more after seeing how it all works.

Sorry too lazy to resize right now.

http://tinypic.com/e0n3bd.jpg
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3.It's Tuesday night and I'm studying for a Thursday exam. Huwaw. That's a first this schoolyear.

4. Me and Anna are joining a quiz bee tomorrow. Hahahahaha oh wow. How nerdy can this week get.

5. Because this Friday is the last meeting for Math class, I'm forced to be brave and to finally approach someone in the class that I like. WATCH OUT! Hahahaha.

WEIRDOMAG

2005-09-25T19:10:00.000+08:00

Mumball

2005-09-25T00:46:00.000+08:00

Right now in here in Nina’s house is a small gathering of people that I really really love. Drinks, isaw, tapsilog, DVDs, cuddling and awesome conversations about diverse topics—and one of them’s still bugging me right now. Wacks told us a few minutes ago, “So I was reading Newsweek a while ago and apparently we live in a culture that values not only youth but also growth and development, and believes that this growth continues throughout life. Isn’t this all crap?”

Wacks, you’re right, it’s crap. The word “growth” is most accurately used to describe physical growth. To use it in the way that Newsweek suggests is an abstraction, not to mention a delusion. A construct grounded in wishful thinking, betraying the basest sort of longing. Physical growth is real. Children start out very short and get taller. They literally grow up. Their feet get bigger. Their arms get longer. Their teeth come out. New teeth come in.

Endless growth, like endless youth, is not to be found in nature. We live in an era enthralled by nature, obsessed by it, worshipful of it, yet at the same time entirely unwilling to accept its reality. If nature is not reality, then what is? Perhaps it is not really nature that people love. Perhaps it is not really love. Perhaps it is a myth. A canard, a fairytale, a lie.

You cannot kill an elephant. An elephant. We now value elephants very highly. Because we’re not allowed to kill them, we can’t use their ivory to make piano keys. We have to keep them, even though, in my opinion, for the elephant it could only be considered a step up to become a piano. You cannot make a piano out of an elephant anymore. To me it is testament to man’s ingenuity and inventiveness that we ever thought to make a piano out of an elephant to begin with. I personally know that if I had looked at an elephant I would not have seen a piano. I’m grateful to the person who did. This is what humans are for, to see an elephant and make a piano.

We now live in an era where you’re not allowed to make a piano out of an elephant. That we could ever could, I’m awe-struck. That we no longer do, I’m sunk in despair. An elephant should be happy that it can even be a piano. I personally do not think an elephant would ever have thought to make a piano out of man.

Do we prohibit the killing of elephants because we love elephants so much? Because we love nature so much? Because we loathe pianos? Or because when it comes to nature we have decided to make certain selections so unnatural that they come close to achieving the condition of art? We love elephants in their natural state, but abhor people in theirs.

People wholly unable to form a single coherent notion seem to have no trouble at all entertaining diametrically opposed points of view. Save the whales, get rid of the gray. Old-growth forests, new-growth hair. Organic tomatoes, silicone breasts.

Perhaps it is not really the elephant’s life span that concerns us. Perhaps we have decided that it is easier to deal with the elephant’s mortality than it is to deal with our own. It is, after all, easy enough not to kill an elephant. You simply have to not kill an elephant.

What could be simpler? What could be more humane? What could be a greater tribute to our empathy, our compassion? All of which we have for elephants, none of which we have for ourselves. Gray, wrinkled, hardly lithe, the elephant is a thing of beauty, the first wife, a thing of the past.

I’m just mumbling here, or I just really drank a little too much.

Time to watch the 10 Things I Hate About You DVD!

Heroes/Misfits

2005-09-18T19:35:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered how yesterday’s heroes will move through today’s world?
I’m scattering ten of my one million favorite misfits/heroes of all time.
A new kind of soapbox for the historically thwarty.

Gertrude Stein
Always the hostess, cubist writer, and literary leading lady, turned her Paris home into a Mecca for experimental artists and writers, survived Nazi persecution

Nelson Mandela
Previously serving an indefinite jail sentence for his fight to end apartheid in South Africa, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, first democratically elected South African president

Kurt Cobain
Born in ’67, took adolescent angst and anguish to the bank after birthing the grunge-rock decade, swallowed lead and died at the mythical rock-star age of 27

Mahatma Gandhi
A misfit within today’s hyperactive, reactive, violent, and overactive society, separated himself from the masses through passive resistance and nonviolent force

Salvador Dali
Spanish painter of the surrealist movement, some questioned the soundness of his mind, but I completely think otherwise

Rosa Parks
Known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Parks paradoxically made a stand by sitting, refusing to move to the back of the then-segregated Birmingham, Alabama bus

Nina Simone
Musical misfit and diva, cannot be classified in one genre, used anti-racist energy to charge her voice into overdrive

Abbie Hoffman
Frequently rebelled against corporate culture and the Vietnam War, led 50,000 people to surround the Pentagon to try to make it levitate, later arrested for selling cocaine, went on the lam, had plastic surgery to evade capture, wrote a book designed to be stolen

Henry Miller
Author of Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, plus Sexus, Nexus, Plexus trilogy, his erotic works were banned in the US for nearly 30 years, but eventually hailed for their literary merit

Joe Strummer
Front man of the Clash, brought a political consciousness to punk, fused ska with hard rock, rocked against racism, was the White Man in Hammersmith Palais, will be greatly missed

I’ll Give You Hands-Free

2005-09-12T23:52:00.000+08:00

Majority of the days of the past two weeks, I’ve intentionally left my cell phone in a drawer in that desk inside my room. And it felt incredibly relaxing—it was great to say, “I am not available.” No tone, buzzer, or bloody tinny rendition of a pop hit disturbed my serenity. When I was happily strolling through the school’s greens, watching a movie, or Sato crash into Schumacky’s Ferrari, taking the train or a bath, I was not available. When I was eating, drinking, cuddling, thinking, I was not disturbed by a random pal sending me a rainbow quote. I just realized that what can be so urgent that it cannot hold on until I have returned to base? And this isn’t about not wanting to be a technophobe: I’ve an e-mail address; I’ve recently started the Mac habit and a bunch of useful digital devices, but enough—I’ve decided I will resign from the 24-hour surveillance.

Were I to rob a few banks or mug a couple of pensioners in some First World bla, chances are a judge would decide that I am a menace to society and must have an electronic tag put around my leg to track me wherever I go. Well, a mobile phone is little more than a self-elected tracking device, for which you pay a bill at the end of the month. It’s easy—any time, anywhere, everybody’s got your number, you’re always on call. If you’re a call boy, doctor, drug dealer or drone, sure, you need a mobile. If not, then join me and let us declare our independence by cutting the string to our personal cocoa tin.

My main objection to mobiles is that they have become a shrill interjection into precious time off. But there are plenty of other reasons to feel superior for not succumbing to this tawdry invention. Do you know how silly we all look walking down the street mumbling to ourselves like lunatics? Do you know how rude it is when somebody interrupts a face-to-face conversation with a real person to talk to a machine?

Yes, there’s an off button, but do we ever use it? How much grief do we get for having our tracking device switched off when somebody “important” wants to contact us? I was telling all this to Sab a while ago and she asked me, “What about emergencies?” If I were planning to climb an untamed Andean peak, then I would take some kind of communication device with me. But a stroll along the street is not a threatening experience, where you have to report back every few minutes. I’m doing this because I think I’ve fallen into the trap. If the mobile is such a vital, life-saving tool, how were people able to get through life unscathed 15 years ago? Deep down, I know that my phone is just another way of making my work longer and harder, keeping me in touch and in line. Another buckle of the straitjacket.

So let’s screw it and be happy!

Slinky-Hipped, Sleazy-Poetic

2005-09-10T00:58:00.000+08:00

I finished watching MYSTERIOUS SKIN with Carl, Lala, and Rain two hours ago. When the credits started rolling, you could not feel or hear anything inside the room. This went on for about 15 minutes, and even when Lala broke the silence with, “Oh my god! Oh my god!”—we still felt that it would take so much effort to get back to steady mode.

I cannot tell you really how much it has affected me. The best grabe. Try to get a copy and don’t miss it.

Ron The Tube

2005-09-06T00:41:00.000+08:00

We did a rewording exercise a while ago in class. I know, exciting nu?

(Hearing Prof's voice in my head: "More Pinoy! I want it more Pinoy this time!")

This is what I chose. If you've read this already, then hop and go watch Chan.72. Enjoy!

How sitcom dads make all men look bad

I was watching a DVD of the third season of Malcolm in the Middle and in one episode, Malcolm's father dreads visiting his own family so much that he wets the bed. Dominated by both wife and children, the affable wuss has finally plucked up the courage to confront his own unapproachable father and demand that they have the first serious conversation of their lives. At this point, his father suggests that they consult "Mister Tickle" and begins working his fingers around his 40-something son's rib cage, until the "kid" collapses in paroxysms of laughter. The bed-wetting scene follows shortly thereafter.

Any man who identifies with this guy's plight is probably not going to enjoy reading this. Not today, not in the coming months, not ever. Fussbudgets, nerds, and men resembling Adam Sandler in Anger Management should look for their laughs elsewhere. This is aimed at boys who enjoy being boys, who do not apologize for being boys, and who are in full control of their urinary tracts. It is not aimed at Neanderthals, survivalists, or bullies. But it is certainly not aimed at guys who wear sun hats, carry walking sticks, and rent Meg Ryan movies to keep peace in the family. Men who have been domesticated, defanged, pacified, or gelded should read somebody else's work in some other class.

And that starts with the guys who write Malcolm in the Middle. Why do I make such a big deal of it? Because popular culture surreptitiously frames values and popularizes repugnant stereotypes. Gangsta rap fosters negative views of young black men, Christina Aguilera's videos present the slut as a positive female role model, and Malcolm in the Middle depicts fathers as castrated dinks who are emotionally unequipped for adult life. If Malcolm were the only enormously popular television program to do so, this incident would hardly be worth mentioning. Yet it is not the only one. It isn't the only enormously popular television program to depict fathers as castrated dinks in sitcoms available in Starworld, available for download or available in Metrowalk.

That same night I watched the knucklehead father in King of the Hill get forced to ride bitch by his overbearing wife as they motored out of the annual biker rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. Take that, Lorena Bobbitt! Meanwhile, Homer Simpson was making a fool of himself at rock 'n' roll fantasy camp, much to the amusement of his family. And over on The King of Queens, Jerry Stiller, playing a revolting father-in-law, was reviving his addiction to nasal sprays while his son-in-law was in therapy, dealing with his porcine eating habits. In each of these cases, the matriarchal figures came off as being strong, resourceful, and intelligent, while the fathers were pathetic schmos. The fact that most TV programs are written by young men suggests that a lot of TV writers have serious emotional issues. Or they have serious schmucks for fathers.

Let me make it clear right up front that I do not expect television to perfectly reflect society. I recognize that television, for purposes of entertainment, regularly showcases characters that are crude parodies of real human beings: the hideous monsters on Buffy, the venomous psychopaths on Arrested Development, Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson.

Look at virtually any sitcom, drama, or animated feature on television today and you will find a dope, a dork, or a doofus vainly trying to run the family. On That '70s Show, Kurtwood Smith plays a brain-dead couch potato and all-purpose prick who takes every opportunity to make his son feel like an idiot. And on Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano plays a slightly out-of-touch, ferociously passive father whose popularity is largely based on the fact that he does not seem terribly bright. Meanwhile, his father has spent 70 years on the planet without learning anything useful he can pass on to his son.

It is true that the useless, disoriented, or cretinous father has long been a fixture of prime-time television. But these failed fathers were not all on the airwaves at exactly the same moment. Today, whenever you turn on the television, some lard-ass numbskull is trying to extricate himself from some ridiculous predicament while his bright, unexpectedly gorgeous spouse looks on. Strongly suggesting that the only way to land a smart, beautiful wife is to be a fat, dopey loser. I thought the catchphrase was good in bed, not food in bed. And that was a very corny joke, yes.

In saying all this, I do not wish to create the impression that I pine for the days of yesteryear, when dreary, pious programs like The Brady Bunch disseminated their cornball homilies to an unsuspecting public. But what I do wish is that perhaps the solons who run the industry might adopt a gender-balancing policy stipulating that if every program has to portray the father as a ding-dong, the show should also depict the mother as a slut. Fair is fair.

Are there any prominent series that do not feature the father as fuck-up? Probably 7th Heaven, but I'd rather watch Oprah while the Taliban went to work on the crown jewels with electric prods than look at that creepy show.

Psyched!

2005-09-04T23:29:00.000+08:00

Movies I Watch On a Bumday

Scoot and get copies too!

L4YER CAKE
After a thousand Lottery-funded disasters, a Brit gangster film you’d actually pay to see. Expect the usual—jaded drugs dealer takes on one last shot with energy and an unflinching eye. Great.

SHAOLIN SOCCER
High-energy football/martial arts silliness. Kung fu student trains up football team on Shaolin lines. Will they trash Team Evil (yes, really) in the Super Cup final? Amazingly, you’ll actually care.

SAW
Two men captured by a serial killer are told to fight to death or they both get the chop. Oh, and they’re manacled to the floor with nothing but handsaws for company. Sadistically brilliant.

THE FORGOTTEN
There’s barely enough plot to fill an episode of The X-Files, but if you’re missing Mulder and Scully and you’d like to kill 90 minutes with a mix of mind-games and fuck-me shocks, you’re in luck.

CONSTANTINE
Demons are loose and only Neo can cross between the real world and the hellish Matrix to stop them. Oh facuck, that’s another film. Not that Keanu noticed. Weisz is great; it looks amazing; makes no sense at all.

Club-by-Club Round Up of the Season Ahead

Up the Arse
Arsenal
It’ll be tough, but winning every game one-nil should bring a glorious quadruple while having their entire team banged up—apart from goodie two-shoes Henry. However, I expect Graham Poll would somehow contrive to send him off at Old Trafford, where we’ll have to make do with a nil-nil draw and a couple of slices of pizza.

The Liverpool Way
Liverpool
Will probably do a hell of a lot better than last season—they won’t allow finishing below Everton again. Mourinho needs bringing down a peg or two, and at least he won’t be able to keep calling himself the ‘European Champion.’

There’s Only One F in Fulham
Fulham
No one’s expecting ‘little old Fulham’ to take the Premiership by storm, but they underperformed badly last season. They should hold their own, if the talent isn’t sold off this summer. Because of the ridiculous financial clout and bullying, they’d probably love to see Chelsea self-implode.

Winner!
Chelsea
Will walk away with the title, probably win the European Cup, as well as the FA Cup and hold on to the League Cup. It would be nice to see Carlo Cudicini come on in the finals so he gets some winner’s medals. They’re not looking forward to Liverpool away—40,000 Scousers with high pitched voices screaming and bleating on about winning the Euro Cup five times (yawwwn).

Rad Red
Manchester United
They have the ability to go on lengthy unbeaten runs but they’re unpredictable these days. They need Roy Keane’s doppelganger now and Chelsea to go bankrupt.

A Love Supreme
Sunderland
Anything above 17th place will be like winning the league for them. Nobody is under any illusions that they’re going to have an easy ride in the Premiership, and the bookies are reflecting that by making them among the favorites to go down. They’ve got a decent squad, but they need new signings to improve for the top flight.

Who will win the FA Cup?
Chelsea
Man United
Arsenal
Liverpool
Everton
Man City

Which gaffer will get the chop first?
Graeme Souness
Alan Pardew
David O’Leary
Martin Jol
Sir Alex Ferguson

Smooth Rubber Sole

2005-08-28T20:46:00.000+08:00

As a young boy, I had a shoe fetish. To cut myself some slack, my shoe thing wasn’t as bad as the crazy sex-fetishist, but getting a new pair of sneakers was so stimulating to me, so exciting, that I could barely contain myself. I would bring the new sneakers home, lock myself in my room, and for hours my hands would examine, like a crazed connoisseur, the unmarked soles—and all the while I’d be tingling madly.

Over the months to come, I would examine the soles, watching them as they degraded over time, their little crevices and swishes and jagged edges reduced to smooth flat rubber.

I guess I was so into it because of the tactile part: I loved the rubber, the feel of it. Why, I don’t know, but I may have been learning how to use my sense of touch, the way we learn what we like to eat by tasting different kinds of food. And I must have loved that bouquet, because I associated it with the tremendous feeling of hope that came with new sneakers—that with this pair I would run faster, have greater adventures, more fun.

Like most kids today, I took my identity from my sneakers, whether, depending on the year, they were Keds, Pumas, Adidas, or Nikes. With my “cool” sneakers, I could face the world. They were both my shield and—if I needed to flee—my means of escape. It is the childhood version of the way twentynothings judge themselves and others by the cars they drive.

But other people didn’t perceive my sneakers the way I did. I vividly remember one time when I was in Grade 5 playing tennis—one-on-one—with the best player in the batch. He was a brutish fellow and he was surprised at how well I played—I was in the honors class, despite all the hours I spent feeling sneakers—and he jockishly complimented me, “Hindi ko alam na ganito ka pala kagaling.”

I was surprised by his surprise. I thought he should have noted before we began playing that I was wearing my special Adidas sneakers with their green and white stripes, and that this should have indicated to him, despite my geek/nerd reputation, that only a good player would have such sneakers. In response to his backhanded compliment, I said, “Hindi mo ba nakita yung sneakers ko?”

He simply looked at me like I was nuts.

You’re a boy. You have hobbies and passions. Under no circumstances share them with women

2005-08-20T13:36:00.000+08:00

The first time I took a girl to watch Rugby in Laguna, someone hit her hard at the back of her head. It was a horrible, hot, dry evening in late summer, one of those days when you wish you were born almost anywhere in the world except ‘Pinas. Even Syria. The opposition was ISM, the final score was 0-0 and, as I said, someone hit my love’s head. Worse than that, I think she expected me to do something about it—remonstrate or something. But at Rugby in Laguna you don’t remonstrate about anything. You just get on with life and all that it throws, or hits, at you. There’s no point to complaining.

The last time I took a friend to watch Rugby, there was no hitting. The club has changed its image. So we were hit-free. It was a viciously hot, horrible, dry afternoon in mid-November. The opposition was Xavier. And the score was, naturally, 0-0.

It almost wasn’t 0-0, though. Midway through the second half Xavier should have had a penalty, but the referee missed it. What happened was this. One of Xavier’s irritating, perky, little forwards (who’s now my seatmate during Linggwistiks class) burst through into the area and our lumbering hapless defender kicked the shit out of him, then took out a machete and flailed at his neck and then shot him three times in the back and spat upon his cold corpse.

OK, so I exaggerate. But not by much. Clearly the ref thought a penalty would spoil the thematic trope of cumulative, unrelieved, mind-numbing tedium. Or maybe he wasn’t watching the game but was instead transfixed by the girls seated on the side, pretending to be interested.

My older friends keep on telling me that it’s no use trying to get women interested in the things that matter to you. They won’t understand. No sexual deviation or perversion you might wish to inflict could possibly bamboozle or horrify them more than Rugby in Laguna. You could urge them to go with you in a rakrakan to the max mosh and they’d probably object but, even so, they would probably get the point, however repellent it might be. But our little interests, our little hobbies, our weird obsessions, our boy stuff: that’s private and should remain so. The best thing we can do is keep them hidden from view and even, at times, deny that they exist at all. But we blunder ahead regardless, certain that the very thing they find attractive about us is the very thing, in fact, they’d rather not know about. “Love me,” we whisper tenderly over the beer, “love my incipient autism.”

Here are some more consuming obsessions that I would personally not tell a girl about: membership in the local Dragon Boat team; addiction to Knoxville’s Jackass; anything to do with table tennis, or racecar driving, or rubber shoes, or pet fish, or the complex processes by which one might accumulate a large sum of money. Computers.

And of course the reverse is true, too. I read somewhere once that gender differences in the behavior of children as little as three weeks old have been detected. Baby boys will exhibit enthusiasm and excitement when shown what we might call things on a television screen: railway locomotives, airplanes, footballs, a PS2 running Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas etc. Whereas little baby girls become animated and beside themselves with interest when shown what we might call people. In other words, the sort of stuff that interests us in later life is hot-wired and very, very different for men and women. Your girlfriend’s equivalent to your Hero Clix collection is, in fact, her best friend—probably that sarcastic beeyatch who is forever sending your girlfriend text messages which she won’t show you. You should no more be expected to share to her affection, or interest, than she should be expected to watch Rugby in Laguna on a filthy afternoon in April. Or sit rapt to attention listening to Fat Boy Slim.

Way Ahead

2005-08-19T14:50:00.000+08:00

Is Roger Federer the best player ever?

It’s the way he wins, as much as the fact that he keeps on doing it, which has earned Federer the awed respect he currently commands. At 23 his shot-making is flawless: his game has no obvious weaknesses. Coincidentally or not, he is the only ranking player who doesn’t use a coach, having fired Peter Lundgren in Dec 03, just before he won the Australian Open.

Federer’s is not a power game: he can’t match Roddick’s 150mph serve, he doesn’t bother with double-handed ground strokes and he says he feels a lack of killer instinct at the net. But as anybody who watched him obliterate Roddick in the Wimbledon final knows, Federer is the most gracefully aggressive player on the international circuit today.

His “inner game” has drawn as much praise recently as his precision stroke play. Big crowds, big matches, big points—nothing seems to faze the guy.

In GQ Sport he says, “The mental aspect of my game is a huge advantage and it used to be a huge disadvantage, because I used to be very impulsive on court, screaming, shouting, throwing the racquet. I had to figure that out. My low was very low. I knew I was losing too much energy acting that way. I had to take time, you know. Become a man.”

Screw it

I heard in a forum that was aimed towards educating first-time voters yesterday that one should vote for the Government and if not satisfied, march against it. They call it the big antiwar demo “democracy in action”—as if voting were not. But the truth is that both demonstrations and elections are definitive of modern democracy in that millions of people say what they want, and are ignored.

Everything now seems a long way from the dawn of democracy, when the heads of every Athenian household would walk down the marketplace to debate whether or not to build a theatre or go to war with Sparta. If they’d known that within 3,000 years the process would have been reduced to a system by which people vote for shit they don’t want and then grumble about it, I doubt they’d have bothered.

To be honest, I just wouldn’t vote. Not because there’s no one good out there, but because democracy is a lot of bollocks. Altruists whinge that it’s our duty to vote ‘cause most people aren’t lucky enough to live in a democracy and we have to support it, but that’s crap.

Democracy is a culturally loaded construct in whose name the worst evils have perpetrated. It is something America wants to foist on other countries against their will so as to implant friendly administrations that will provide cheap oil. Iraq doesn’t want democracy. It doesn’t know what it wants. That’s why 111 parties stood in its general election. The Sunnis, who didn’t bother to vote, are ahead of us in political thought because they knew they were a minority and couldn’t win—so why be implicated in a Shia hegemony that wants to slaughter them? They have no interest in our stupid system of elected dictatorships.

Communism is routinely assumed to have failed. But democracy has also failed, if a bit less spectacularly. As the man said (I forgot which man), “Marxism was too good an idea to be wasted on a lot of drunken Russians”—and democracy was too good an idea to be wasted on us.