Seriously Joking

Circular definitions

2009-05-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Its not what you say that counts. Its what they hear.

- Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics

I came across this while reading a manual I was reading earlier.

Click on the image to see it in full size.

It says Parameter Values: This control contains the parameter values control which is a container for the parameter value control. How's that for a circular definition? Makes me wonder if I'm ever going to getanything out of this at all.

A Toast to Two Nice Guys

2009-04-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

For they could not love you, but still your love was true.

Nice guys always finish last. That's what people say. But HERE, it seems like it what people are determined to do so this is a toast to two of the nicest guys I know, who, it seems, are bound to be THEIR first victims.

You two, who are models of personal integrity. You spoke with truth what was in your mind, without fear, because it was what you thought was right, without malice because it was what you thought was true. Hence you were smothered by PEOPLE who hide behind fake smiles and silly grins, who hear only what they want to hear, see only what they want to see.

You, who are models of excellence, who demand the best from people because that is what you offer to give them. You strive to bring out the best in the people that you touch and at the same time bring out the best in you. But you are in a place that deludes itself of its standing and falls prey on those who remind them of the futility of their delusions.

You who are good friends, good sons, good guys. You were victims of the autocratic tendencies of those who have no real friends, who could not hope for sons, who will never be half the men that you are.

I salute you two.

My last year long absence

2009-04-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

This is it! This is really is it

This will be the last time that my blog will go postless for more than a week. This I promise myself.

Come on self. For once in your life. COOPERATE.

Another looooooong absence

2008-04-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Its a long, long way to Ba Sing Sei but the girls are pretty or so they say

I just got myself a copy of the episodes of the Avatar: The Last Airbender this week, and i can't get enough of Uncle Iroh!

I realize, thanks to a lot of reminders from my dearie, that the show is quite old, but hey, what the heck, right? Its been a while since I found shows as enjoyable as this one.

+++

I just found out a while ago that one of my favorite author died last September. (I know, I know, it took me THAT long to know? I guess I can't call myself much of a fan).

Nonetheless Robert Jordan, author of the Wheel of Time Series has died of cardiomyopathy last September 16 at the age of 58, leaving the series unfinished with its 12th and final book still in its final stages.

His publisher has announced that another author would be asked to close the series based on the manuscripts he left.

I was waiting very eagerly for that book, and still am wishing that he will be writing it.

+++

I love my siopao... sigh...

+++

Have you ever wondered what bits and pieces of wisdom you'd like to leave your own children? You know, the things that they'll tell their friends like, "My momma used to say..." Or maybe, "Sabi ni Dad..." I've been thinking about it, and here are some of what I would like my kids to say:

Walang torpeng lalaki sa tamang babae. Damn right! :)
It's better to say sorry even if you don't have to say sorry than not to say sorry when you really have to say sorry. Those are a lot sorries. Sorry. :D
Respect the classics. Tatanda ka din at yung mga alam mong kanta ngayon unti unting pumupunta sa retro category ng mga radio stations.
Minds are like parachutes. They need to be open for it to work. (Hindi sakin yun, nabasa ko lang sa isang billboard)
Sing. It good for the lungs. Kahit sintonado basta may feeling pwede na yan.
Do the spider dance. Its good for the lungs. Lalo na sa heart. :">

Wag sana akong itakwil ng mga magiging anak ko pag narinig niya yang mga kakornihang yan. :D

A lot of random thoughts for the New Year (mostly)

2008-01-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

Where'd you go? I missed you so.

Wow. Its been what? 3 months? My blog is literally begging me for an update.

+++

Its 2008 already. It almost passed me and my family by. In a family like ours, (we're very keen on celebrations) that's a big thing to say.

Maybe its been a tiring year for all of us, compounded by all the domestic woes we thought were already way in the past. Some things really do come back to haunt you. Still, as my dear old dad, (I've noticed my folks are really starting to get old) a new year, a new life.

+++

Contrary to popular opinion, I do have a lot of things to blog about. Rather, there are a lot of things I want to blog about. The problem? The same problem I've been having since birth. Me. Yup. LAZY old me.

I really do hope something about my laziness will change this year. Let me clarify that. I really do hope I can do somthing about my laziness this year. Let me list that on my New Year's Resolutions list.

+++

I really can't remember what my last year's New Year's Resolution was. Well actually I do, but since there i wasn't able to do any of them, I'll just make another, hopefully a more realistic one this time.

So. For my LATE New Year's Resolution:

1. Stop being LAZY. Figures. A big good luck to me on that.

2. BLOG. Hehe. If only to give someone special to read about. :">

3. Try to learn something new. I really want to study JAVA programming. Another good luck to me on that one.

4. Try to finish playing a Full song on the guitar. That harana is way overdue.
Let's just keep it short for now, if only to concentrate the effort.

+++

This guy is really awesome. Just check him out (not HIM, the page!!!). And this one too. A real genius.

A Way Around Sleep?

2007-11-22T02:07:00.000-08:00

Anong meron ang taong happy?

Dont' get me wrong. I'm quite happy with the way things are going right now. You're not going to hear complaints from me on that regard.

I guess the only thing that bugs me right now is the fatigue that hits me every time I try to enjoy myself. Consqequently preventing me from enjoying myself. Thereby limiting mg enjoy from... err... stuff. Well, you get the picture.

I'm *toot* years old. NOT by any means young, but still young enough to be able to stay up late, waste my time away in the company of those who matter most to me. The problem is, I just can't seem to ba able to do so.

Instead I end up wanting to sleep every free time I get.

Its really quite alarming. And it paranaoia inducing as well. I mean, sloth isn't one of the 7 deadly sins for nothing.

Not only can does it get me into trouble with the stuff I want to do ( let's face it, 24 hours doesn't really seem very long when you have a lot on your plate), but it also makes life hell for me and the girlfriend. We can't get enough time to talk as it is.

I think I'm seeking professional help on this one. A "very good heart doctor" mentioned something termed as "ergonomically incorrectness." I mean, my dad may have told me not to mess with anything not broken, but, hey as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound cure.

In the meantime, I could clean up this blogs cobweb once again, for the nth time once more. Makes you appreciate the gravity of my blogs situation doesn't it? :D

Flying, Falling and Some Things in Between

2007-10-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

You fall only when you aspire to fly. So unless you can grow wings, walking is still the best way to get from point A to B. Your feet are on the ground, your pride small, and your self esteem intact.

Disappointment. The way you feel when you didn't quite do what you expected yourself to do. For example, when you thought you could fly when all you did was fall, devoid of any style or grace.

Contempt. What you feel about those who did what you thought you could do. A bad, bad feeling.

Humility. The only feeling you should be feeling.

Resolve. The promise to get it next time.

Just Around the Bend

2007-09-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died.

Its a sick, sick world we have out there. Its dark, cold and cruel. And to top it all off, its the one we've got. Deep inside, we're praying for that light around the bend. God knows, we're in dire need of that light.

Some of my other deviations.

Hehe ang drama drama nagplug lang pala. :)

The Man Loves Me

2007-09-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

You dont take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it.

The spanking new Nikon D40 my father bought me.

Actually that's just a photo of the same model from Wikipedia. :) Its a little hard to take a picture of an apparatus that takes pictures. :)

Nonetheless, I think I'll call him Catch.

And I hope this will be the beginning of a long lasting and a hopefully fruitful friendship.

A Spider's Kiss

2007-09-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

Our souls sit close and silently within, And their own webs from their own entrails spin; And when eyes meet far off, our sense is such, That, spider-like, we feel the tenderest touch.

I laughed at first, mostly due to the suddeness of it all. Maybe its also because of its seeming absurdity.

Then the look I got in return made me stop. And the pout I got made me reconsider my first reaction. The sweet innocence I saw in those eyes turned the absurdity that fueled my apprehension into curiosity, and then suddenly into fascination.

So I took that deep breath. The one I used take to calm myself, because by then I was as excited as you were. I went for it, pausing only to make some procedural considerations. I could feel my chest warming up, my cheeks redening, my head seemingly filled by all the blood in my body.

I closed my eyes. I know yours was closed too.

And I felt alive.

When I opened my eyes again your face was he first thing I saw. You were smiling. And I know there wasnt anything else I would like to see more.

For who, in the world of strangers, could I want more to hold my hand, touch my heart, reveal my pains, and share the spider's kiss.

Something to say lamang

2007-09-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

I love my siopao... sigh... :">

D'oh! Caught in the Simpsons Mania

2007-08-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

Spider pig... Spider pig...

A simpsonized me! A little fat around the edges though. Guess living in Springfield and with all the booze at Mo's certainly has its benefits. :)

I've got the power

2007-06-27T00:38:00.000-07:00

To see the world in a grain of sand,
heaven in a wildflower,
hold infinity at the palm of your hand,
eternity for an hour.
- William Blake

Playing around with my cam and photoshop one afternoon. Hehe. Pasensya na. I guess I never really grew up. I'm still a 14 year old kid stuck in a ___ (insert age here) man's body. LOL. :P

*click on the picture for a larger view. Feelingero ko naman!!! Wahaha!!!

Remembering Kurt

2007-06-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer

I was driving this morning when i heard this speech over the radio. The content of it struck me that I had to research it the minute I got home (well next exactly the minute I got home, I had a surprise waiting for me so the research had to come next. :)).

The speech was supposed to be an urban legend. If you want the details of it then click here. I personally wasn't very interested in it as what really struck me was the message of the speech. Anyway, here it is:

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind.You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

+++

I've listened to it loads of times already. I still couldnt stop. Im smiling up to my ears already those around me are starting to wonder if I've gone crazy. :) Thanks a lot. That really made my day. :)

Different takes

2007-05-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

We tend to become like the worst in those we oppose.

I am telling you, there could be nothing worse than having a cold in this kind of weather. Not only do you feel sick, you feel so out of place. People look at you with a question in their minds saying, "What's up with you?"

Not only that, the runny nose doesnt really fit well into the kain tulog lifestyle I'm sporting this summer. It feels like whats left of my meager brain is leaking out when I try to get some sleep.

+++

No sweeteners will cloak some form of bitterness. If it tastes bitter, spit it out. That's what our earliest ancestors did.

+++

Graphic novels seem to be the IN thing these days as I found out during a visit to one local bookstore where I found an interesting read. The Marvel Universe set in 17th Century Europe. Apparently this 8 part series won the 2005 Quill Book Award for Graphic Novels.

A sort of a mash-up between the X-MEN, Fantastic Four, Spiderman and a few others set on a time when America wasnt the center of the world and science, alchemy and magic are pretty much the same thing in the eyes of a surperstitious populace.

I am not quite sure about how it will be taken by those not familiar with the who's who of the Marvel Universe but I guess the average comic book reader in me appreciated seeing Magneto as the Grand Inquisitor of Spain, Jean Grey posing as page for Carlos Javier (Charles Xavier), Peter Parquagh (Peter Parker), Sir Nicolas Fury (Nick Fury) and a blind Irish bard named Matthew Murdock (this era's version of the Daredevil) teaming up to save the Templar's treasure (no, not the one described by Da Vinci's paintings). And don't forget my personal favorite, Steve Rogers aka Captain America posing as an American Indian named Rohjaz.

The graphic novel was quite engaging. Although it did make my stomach squirm with its political overtones in the end. I guess they really couldn't exclude America in the end.

Damnations I'm Hooked!

2007-04-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

I sleep therefore I am

The Kingdom of Loathing

You did not properly log out last time you logged in. You will have to wait a minute (Literally, like, one minute. Sixty seconds.) before you can log in again.

I literally whipped my head to face the clock and watch a minute pass by, at the same time cursing myself for being stupid and not logging out properly.

I then take another minute to compose myself, walk up to a mirror and say, "Get a hold of yourself man. you know you're playing too much KoL."

LoL. :)

The Picture Paints You

2007-04-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

The words would never show the you I've come to know.

Entertainment these days. Grabe ang init. :)

Got the idea from an exhibit I saw nung FA Week. Kaso I can't paint so ganyan na lang. :)

God Bless the Broken Road

2007-04-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

- Bless the Broken Road, by the Rascal Flatts (Feels Like Today)

The Master of All He Surveys

2007-04-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the kaleidoscope spinning round,
make it twirl, in this kaleidoscope world.

Scene: Mines View Park, Baguio City
Yeppy: Kuya! Look! I see a car!
Kuya: O what else do you see?
Yeppy: Wala na. Green na lang. Pangit na. Punta na tau SM.

Ang mga bata nga naman ngayon. :)

More pics of our Baguio trip in my Multiply site.

Now why cant I blog like that?

2007-04-01T04:50:00.000-07:00

You can lose. Or if you want to win, you can change.

I just had a picture of how lame my blog really is.

They just had the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards. I must say there are some seriously cool blogs to read out there. I must also say mine isnt one of them. Sad. Well, maybe someday. :)

Meanwhile, might as well check out the winners here. I really love the winners for Best Personal Blog, Photoblog of the Year, and for Best Blog Design.

Who knows? Next time it could be us receiving that illustrious trophy. A guy can dream, right?

A bright, bright sun shiny day

2007-03-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hey look at the sun, its finally shining on my life.
And it shines because of you.

Contrary to my blog's inactivity, big things have been happening lately, and for the first time in, well, a very long time, i see the sun shining again.

Apprehension gripped me at first, as the sun could either be too bright or too hot for me to handle. God knows it took me a while to get the idea of me out with the sun again in my head. But here I am, dandier than the sunflowers lining up the University Avenue this time of the year.

God I dont think Ill be thankful enough for the sun again.

Its out and its shining. And I dont think there could be a more beautiful site for me these days.

Mr. Bright Side

2007-02-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

Ama: Anak, you cannot walk through life without someone beside you. And that doesn't include your mother or your sister.
Anak: So that's why you took the car....
Ama: Matanda na ko, masakit na tuhod ko.
Anak: Eh pano naman ako? Lampa na, payatot pa. How do you expect me to walk all the way?
Ama: Problema mo na yun. Matalino ka naman. Pagisipan mo. Nagawa na ng iba, hindi imposible.
Anak: Marami naman naglalakad ng solo diyan ah.
Ama: Gusto mo ba ng ganun? Malungkot. Wala kang kausap. Malamig. Kapag natapilok ka, walang tutulong sayo tumayo. Kapag napagod ka walang aalalay sayo para magpahinga.

I found a good read last night ( well it was more like shown to me, nonetheless it was good ). Nakakatuwa lang isipin yung sinulat mo. Nakakatuwa lang talaga isipin na sayo nanggaling yan. Tignan mo nga naman.

Someone told me you are like my little brother. I guess if I could wish for a little brother right now, I would have you in mind.

You're a personal reminder that not only shit happens to people. That somewhere along the road you might just bump into a big pot of gold somewhere.

I guess thats one more thing I admire about you. When you found that pot of gold, you held on to it. And you let it change you for the better. Sabi mo nga lagi, hindi ka naman laging ganyan.

Idol. :)

Ominous feelings

2007-02-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

Its a comfort to know, when you're singing the hit the road blues, that anywhere you could possibly be after New York would be a pleasure cruise.

- Santa Fe, Rent Soundtrack

This backlash is really killing me.

Eating me from the inside out is the fact that I cant seem to point out the reason for it. The cogs are meshed correctly, its angle allowing for a more gradual, and therefore smoother motion within the two wheels.

It wasnt always this way with me.

I was always opting for the straight-cut spurs. But then I found its simple construction isnt enough to compensate for its ear-splitting whine characteristics. Besides, i am in dire need for larger power transmissions. And I mean dire.

Still it wouldn't hurt to exercise caution. Especially since the last gear train I tried to work with broke down abruptly, almost smashing me into pieces. So Im trying to keep the pitch line velocity to a minimum which would also facilitate in noise abatement (i hope). BUt even then, this ominous feeling still wont go.

I can only hope the train would hold out long enough. Gears and pinions can only take so much. And even now, the ominous creaking sound is starting to give me the shivers. Being in the middle of another machinery breaking down isnt a very good prospect for me at this time.

A late start for the new year

2007-01-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

Huli man daw ang matsing, matsing pa rin

Better late than never i suppose. I just hope this new year would bring a lot of new things. A lot shouldn't be too much to ask for should it? Maybe that lot will include new posts every now and then.

I'm still sticking with this layout though. I'm a little bit attached to this thing. It comes with the color I guess. Haha.

Later guys.

About Everything

2006-12-11T17:51:00.000-08:00

All warfare is based in deception

- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

+++

Sabi ni Moses: Everything is Law.
Sabi ni Jesus: Eevrything is Love.
Sabi ni Marx: Everything is Money.
Sabi ni Freud: Everything is Sex.
Sabi ni Einstein: Everything is Relative.

So much for universal claims. Why not take things as they come and deal with them one at a time?

+++

People are just sick. In every possible sense of the word.

+++

When the battle lines are being drawn, where do you stand? With the victors or with the vanquished? Decide now because in its aftermath, war bleeds the victors and the vanquished alike.

+++

Sana sinabi mo na lang sakin ang totoo. Maiintindihan ko naman eh. Ok lang naman sakin yun. Ayoko ko lang ng niloloko ako. Nakakainis lang. Tanga na nga gagawin mo pang mas tanga.

As if my headaches weren't enough

2006-11-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

It is impossible to make everything fool proof because fools are so ingenious.

Just something my sister sent me to waste my time on. I had fun trying to answer them though. Hehehe.

Name that film

Tagalugin mo nga

Paki-English naman

+++

Pasintabi sa mga kaibigan kong luma-love-life. I don't mean to scare any of you. (Heck I'm happy for you guys... A little jealous but nonetheless, happy for you guys). Hehe.

Anyway, it just seemed to me that radio stations tend to play a lot sad love songs lately. You know, the ones that say I love you and then goodbye in the same sentence. In one instnace, while driving to school, i heard these songs being played on the radio:

Hurt by Christina Aguilera
Irreplacable by Beyonce
Someday by Nina

And then when I was driving home, these songs were being played:

Goodbye by The Corrs
Oo by Up Dharma Down
When you're dreaming with a broken heart by John Mayer

Ayun. I just think its odd. You'd think by now they'll be playing jolly, Jose-Marie-Chan-ish songs, since, you know, Christmas is just around the corner. Its just sick, I guess, makes me realize just how cold the holidays would be for guys like me. :(

I really hope they start playing Jose Mari Chan songs soon. Hehehehe.

Death wears an orchid

2006-11-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

To see the world in a grain of sand, heaven in a wildflower
hold infinity at the palm of your hand, and eternity for an hour.

For such a pretty blossom, its almost unfair to use it to commemorate death.

One very bad wake up call

2006-10-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

If everything is going your way, then obviously you've missed something

Yesterday started out as a normal day. I was still a little groggy when my sister woke me up to drive her to the airport for her Palawan trip (that lucky b****). We were almost there when she decided to get something to eat at the neares convenience store, which happens to be the Caltex station near Park'n Fly along the airport road.

She got out, bought a pack of mamon (what a heck of a breakfast), then got in. I was slowly backing up the car I thought I saw someone I knew in a one of the cars tha passed by (her name begins with an 'A'. Go figure. Wahaha).

I was actually looking to see where they were goung when BAM!

Well actually it was more like a grunt. I wasn't backing up that fast. I'm still not that stupid. Well that didnt prevent me from seeing a 1995 Corolla just behind me, and notice all the gasoline boys shouting and waving their hands for me to stop.

So there I was, apologizing to this obnoxious old lady about the mess I made out of her corner headlights, just because my eyes were caught up with some face I thought I knew. Stupid me. On top of that, I was doing all that in a UP shirt. Talk about service to my alma mater.

Its pretty much a straight pay up or get nailed from there. 3 thousand bucks down the drain in a snap. I mean that could have been a new pair of sneaks for me. Or the bluetooh headset I saw the other day. Or a pair Sharingan contact lenses. Tough luck. I guess it was just not my day.

The cutest browser ever

2006-10-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

The paths of light and darkness never converge: fox-spirits stand somewhere between the two.

Meet Mozilla Firefox version 100.0. Joke lang. Hehe. Isn't he cute?

A guy apparently tried to create a real life version of Mozilla Firefox's icon. With the help of his pet dog and some dye. Pretty good job, I would say. Hahaha. Hmmm. I wonder what that dog would have looked like if his master decided to do the IE icon? Haha. Gruesome mental picture.

+++

By the way, the Mozilla Firefox icon doesn't really feature a fox. It is actually the red panda. Wala lang. Trivia lang. Its also called the red panda, the wah, the bear cat, and, yes, you guessed it right, the firefox.

+++

Isn't it amazing what people can do in their free time? Hehe wala lang. Ano kaya magawa sa kid cousin this sem break? Haha. I always thought kamukha niya si Stitch. Haha. Evil thought.

Some stuff I've encountered

2006-09-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Idle hands and idle minds are the devil's playgrounds.

DSL connection! Hahaha. Hooked our phone line up with PLDT MyDSL and its been downloads galore ever since. Right now I'm gunning for Gilmore Girls episodes.

Levs was actually complaining about how slow PLDT DSL is. I don't really care right now. This is way better than dial-up. Hahaha. Although I wish I have some idea what to do with my dial-up modem.

+++

Some Harry Potter 5 pictures were posted earlier this week! This group picture of the DA made me realize how excited I am to see this movie.

They've also got pictures of the Dolores Umbridge. Hahaha. She reminds me of Abby's cellphone. Click here to see what I mean.

+++

I've found another project to do for the upcoming semestral break. Aside from my Gilmore girls marathon, actionscript and php tutorial hunting, I found a site that will help me make something out of the stacks of floppies I have at home. A floppy bag.

Hmm. I wonder what kind of fashion statement that would make at school. Haha. At least my mom would stop nagging me about them. If you'd like to get rid of your own floppies at home, just send them over. Hehehe.

+++

I was visiting KC Concepcion's Multiply site earlier today. At least it was supposed to be hers. Hahaha. Well it did seem to be hers. Hahaha.

Ayun wala lang. Ganda talaga niya. Ctrl+D! Ctrl+D! Hahaha.

Haay. Ang sarap talaga ng mayaman. To be able to travel to Europe and visit all those places. Hehehe. Sana ako din. Haha. Or better, sana kasama niya ko. Hahaha. Hey a guy can dream right? :D

When the dealings done

2006-09-23T05:34:00.000-07:00

If you can't spot the sucker in the table during the first 5 minutes of play, then you are the sucker.

I joined a poker tournament earlier today. One, because I really didn't have anything else to do today, two, to see whether I have what it takes to play on tables where the stakes are more than your bag of chips.

I realized I didn't have in me. And people actually thought I could win. I didn't even advance to the second table.

I actually started out pretty well. Got some good cards. Played out some bad cards well. I was even chip leader in our table for a time. Things were going pretty well before my notorious complacency started to set in.

And then one thing went wrong. And then another. And then another. I tried to shake it off. To make one big play. But the more I tried the more I sink in. I was never lucky. That's why I wasn't looking for anything lucky. I tried to approach things the way I knew how. Thinking it through, and trying to come up with a good decision based on what I know.

But then the next thing I knew I was short-stacked, being bullied (quite artistically) by the Lasam cousins, and then going all in with an ace-five off suit. Against a pocket pair of queens. In all fairness I gave them a quick scare by flopping a straight draw. But then I was never lucky. The turn came up. And then the river. And no straight.

Calling into mind everything that had happened, I realized I really didn't know what happened. It was like at some point during the morning my head started to ache and then I stopped thinking and started feeling.

I started going with the feeling in my guts. Not realizing that that's just the bad breakfast I ate this morning and not a big booming voice in the sky telling me to raise. Haha. Tough luck. Then I again luck was always tough with me. And poor me I never really learned not to bet on it.

And so here I am. A hundred fifty bucks short witha headache to boot, just because I really didn't have anything to do on a Saturday.

Yet again

2006-09-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.

A new layout. Again.

Levs told me it's so JMA-ish. Maybe. Maybe not. I dont really give s***. I like red right now. I guess its partly because of the mood of things going on for me right now.

No. I'm not in love. That would have been a different shade of red. I'm in a murderous mood. Its funny how contagious that feeling is. I always wondered when it would infect me.

I guess it can't be helped. They say you drown evil with an abundance of good. But evil floats. Its like oil on water. It finds a way to surface, and when it does, its stinks. Maybe I should get a piece of the hair donation people are giving away for the Guimaras oil spill.

+++

A good man passed away last week. A mentor and a friend.

He died of a sickness I can't quite spell correctly, so I won't even bother trying. It's funny, really. People wouldn't believe he was sick. He's fat. He's jolly. He's funny. But most importantly, he never forgets to smile. No matter how shitty things are, his smile was always there.

Maybe he's part of the reason why I always feel its wrong for people to bitch around when things aren't going their way. Shit happens. And when they do, you suck it up. Even when you feel like throwing up.

He was like that. That's why people around him always feel that certain glow in them when he walks in room and starts up a witty conversation.

I hope he was happy in the end.

+++

Facial expressions are contagious.

A smile could as easily lighten up someone's day, as a frown can ruin one.

I just wish people can realize that.

Woosah.... Woosah.... Hahaha... Woosah... Woosah... Hahaha...

There. Now to think of the colors of my next blog layout. Hmm. Kidding. I think I'll let this one stay for a while.

Its a good reminder of what happens when you become what you hate the most.

Just some stuff

2006-09-10T04:09:00.000-07:00

Gaudium, etsi laboriosum

Finally, an update.
+++

Its official. I'm addicted to Insaniquarium.

I always thought I would get addicted to action packed games. Or to NBA Live and Madden NFL. But no. Popcap games did what EA games, with all their high-tech lifelike, RAM intensive sports games, could not.

Who could have thought managing an aquarium could be so amusing? I'm addicted and it looks like I'm not quitting anytime soon.

+++

The UPCE website is up and running again! We got a new webhosting service. The old one kicked us out. Poor webteam. Poor Jay. Kahit alumnus na hindi pa rin nilalayuan trabaho sa CE. Hehe nonetheless maraming salamat kay webmaster Jay. Diyos lang siguro ang may alam kung saan pupulutin ang webteam kung wala si Jay. Thanks a lot, dude.

+++

I found this one time when I was searching for something nice to read.

Its a comic from the creator of Sin City, Frank Miller about the Battle of Thermopylae.

Review of highschool world history: Battle of Thermopylae - a band of 300 Greeks fought a Persian army of a million men for 3 days. Though not one of the Greeks survived the battle, the Persians were made to pay so dearly that they were defeated soon after. Thus, ensuring the survival of the Hellenic civilization, and consequently our way of life today.

I don't know. I was always fascinated with ancient history, especially the wars. Well, most especially the wars. Maybe thats why I found the comic book a good read.

+++

Halika na, sumiping na sa kama.
Lasapin natin ang ating pagsasama.
Sa'ting pagibig tayo ay umasa.
Habang tayo'y magkayakap sa dilim.

Damn. I can't get that song off my head.

Yakap sa Dilim by Orange and Lemons in the Kami nApo muna album definitely has one catchy tune. I just hope its not because of any repressed desire or anything of the sort.

Heehee. Maybe that's what ______ can give you. Oh well. I guess you really can't have everything. On the bright side, its better than having Ligaya playing in my mind.

+++

As of the moment, I have 7 drafts waiting in my blog post folder. Damn. I can't seem to finish anything right now. I'm just not in the mood for it I guess. I can hear someone telling me, "Mood is a thing for cattle and women! Mood is not for writing!" Oh well. They may have to wait for a long while yet.

Cleaning up my blog's cobwebs

2006-08-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Nakapagtataka. Saan na napunta?

It seems I really can't help it. I can't save my blog from a very long downtime.

I don't think I really can though, not even to save my life. Things just keep on popping out of every corner of my life demanding my attention.

Oh well, tough luck my dearest blog. It seems you'll always be a very high second priority.

---

To someone i know who's not well right now, hold on. There really isnt much we can do except to be brave and be strong. Both for your sake and for hers. The both of you are always in our prayers. Hang on there.

A headache for me, a new wallpaper for my desktop

2006-07-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

One, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one... Love, Fibonacci.

I should be studying.

I was supposed to be feeling sick.

Instead I sat up in front of my computer to give my sudden flash of creativity the realization it needs to let me sleep. The sleep I sorely need if only to get rid of my persistent headache.

Haha. Tough luck for me I guess.

Just click on the image if you want to view it in its full size.

Allusions: Juice and Water

2006-07-25T04:46:00.000-07:00

She was on that pedestal ever since I put her there.

Or should the title read Water and Juice? Would it really matter? You decide.

Wala lang. Gising na naman ako at 3 am (parang Exorcism of Emily Rose na ito). I just remembered a conversation we had over dinner last week. It's a long read, or should I say, rant. So proceed at your own risk and click here.

Juice. Why do we put such novelty in it? After all, more often than not it’s just flavoured water. Or is it?

So juice has more flavour to it. But is that equivalent to saying that water is bland?

Some guys, mountaineers, most especially, would tell you natural spring water taste better than your ordinary tap water. In other countries they have sparkling water. It tasted like gasoline if you ask me, but my dad actually prefers it over plain water when he eats his meals. He would actually pay for cans of these in the grocery just to prevent his frequent indigestion.

But then water like these are very hard to come by. So do they still count? The water we know, the one we literally group up with, is just right there. Always within our grasp should we need it.

We live in a tropical country so water isn't a problem (There's too much of it that when the rains come it sometimes becomes a problem). I bet if we all lived in a desert, where we're all parched, we'd be asking for water. I am reminded of my ROTC days. At the end of the day, nothing beats a bottle of, what was then cold, now lukewarm, but nonetheless refreshing, water. We actually preferred it over soda, and yes, over juice.

Some say juices have these electrolytes that help replenish the nutrients lost in the body. A pretty helpful thing for athletes. Maybe that's why they never want for a bottle of juice. Sometimes they even have juice prepared especially for them. Well, I'm no athlete. So does that mean I would have to stick to water? But why do I get the feeling I still need juice in my life?

Some juice manufacturers also claim that they help remove harmful free radicals that cause cancer. Yeah, whatever. We're all going to die anyway.

Still, there are some times when I'd welcome a glass of juice more than a glass of water.

I guess it has something to do with the flavour. I mean, the juice you're drinking is a personal preference. It's what you like, it's what you chose. It's not as general as water. Or is it? You wouldn't normally drink a glass of juice that you don't like. Would you?

It is funny to note, however, some things in our two much debated liquids.

One, if you were in a someone else's house and the host asked you what refreshment you would like, the safest thing to answer, next to the usual, "Huwag na lang po," would be, "Tubig na lang po." But then again if you were the owner of a house and you knew beforehand that some guys would be coming over, you wouldn't normally offer plain water.

Another thing to note is that most kinds of juices in fact require water. If the juice is in powder form, you add water. If it's in liquid concentrate form, you add water. When you like your juice cold, you either chill it or most of the time, you add ice, frozen water. My mom would even add water to the ready-to-drink packs she buys from the store. She says the juice flavour is too strong for her taste. I know some people who prefer their juice to taste almost the same as water.

I remember some old tv ads of athletes telling kids to "stay of the JUICE." Of course being the innocent kid that I was during that time didn't understand that those guys were talking about drugs. But then that actually left a question in me. Are juices really addictive? If so, in what levels? How come it is still tolerated?

Have you ever noticed in the old telenovelas when the antagonists tries to kill old, sickly but extremely wealthy characters to get their money? They'd normally use poison. Funny thing is, they'd almost always put the poison in a glass of juice. Well it’s a fact that you don't know what's inside the glass when you're drinking juice. It could be anything in there. Maybe that's the reason why some people think twice, and even thrice, before drinking a glass of juice, they've had something bad in their juice before.

That's not to say water is harmless. I remember when our health teacher in high school would talk of water-borne diseases. Water is natural breeding ground for disease. There are different sorts too, from the ones that could give you stomach pains to the ones that could very well kill you. People should be very careful of their drinking water too.

People with ulcer can't drink juice when they're hungry. Acidic people stay away from juices with citric flavours, while people who suffered from amoebiasis would drown themselves in water-substitutes for fear of relapse.

So which is which really? It's a reality that you can't last 3 days without water. Does that say that you can live life with water alone?

Just some questions to ask yourselves while I go drink...

A cup of coffee... :)

A treat for the Princess

2006-07-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

The proximity of a desirable thing tempts one to over indulgence. On that path lies danger.

Got this while aimlessly wandering the net earlier this evening.

I'm really not a big fan of cats. I can't help but admire her eyes though.

I hope you like it m'lady. :)

22 on 22

2006-07-23T04:12:00.000-07:00

"Sir, I exist!" A man said to the universe. " However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me, a sense of obligation."

I just turned 22. On the 22nd of July.

Well, there really isn't anything special about it. It happens every year anyway.

I guess when you grow as old (as you feel age creeping), you stop getting excited when it comes to celebrating those yearly markers.

That's not to say I'm ungrateful for those who spent a second of their time (and a piso of their load) to greet me.

Thank you very much ya'll. :)

Its been great, those 22 years. And having guys like you around made it that way. Those who never fail to make me smile, and even those who tend to add to the creases in my forehead. (Ya'll know who you are).

Inspite of my inihibition in celebrating birthdays, I suppose I am looking forward to another year. It's a gift from God after all. I guess the only thing I'm wishing for is for me to make the most out of whatever this year brought me. I usually have problems with that, being a slow learner and all.

Weird things happen in the rain

2006-07-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

A lot of weird things are happening lately, and I'm guessing its mostly because of the rain.

Ok so maybe they're not because of the rain but they're sure as hell weird.

Alpha, Levs, Gil and I went to grab something hot the other day. I was craving for Gotoking's La Paz Batchoy so we went to the nearest one we could find, the one in SM. It took us about a minute to notice how a great number of people, including the two girls with me, seem to be of a mind to wear red jackets. We decided to count them, just for the fun of it. In the end it wasn't funny anymore. My eyes were so sore by the time we reached 80++ that I was teary eyed while driving home.
After eating we went to the comfort room. Lo and behold, as I walked in, there were not one, not two, but three very loud, very discondertingly dressed transvestites hanging out by the sink inside the CR. They were telling stories of their guys, fixing their hair, putting on make up and stuff. You know, the kind of things girls normally do when they go to the CR together, for God knows what, bonding I suppose. I don't know, I guess I'm just not used to anyone bonding by the sink inside the male CR.
I went home at about 8:30. It was raining all day in Manila and guess what? There was no flood in España. It rained the whole day and the only real puddle of water I saw was in Philcoa. Weird.
Classes were cancelled today. It's raining hard the whole day. Still no flood. I guess I should be thankful to the MMDA guys dredging the sewers a block away from where I live. Its funny when you spend the whole day inside the house. Its like living in a different time zone altogether. I had breakfast at 11 am. I slept immediately after that and woke up at about 3 pm which means I ate my lunch at 4 pm. I went to the grocery store, tankful that I didnt encounter anyone wearing a red jacket. I bought some stuff and by the time I got home, I was ready to fall asleep again.
Lastly, and probably the weirdest thing right now, I'm in front of the PC at 3 am eating a bowl of oatmeal. I don't eat oatmeal. I hate oatmeal. The last time I ate oatmeal I was in 5th grade and I vomited. And right now, I'm actually enjoying it.

Weird. Things are just plain weird right now.

Incidentally Coincidental

2006-07-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

We are all immortals, 'till the day we die.

Finally, an update. After a whole month.

When I started this blog I promised myself at leastly a weekly update and a monthly template change. I did neither. Damn.

Anyway, since my last post was about 20 questions, i guess its only fitting to begin updating my blog with that.

I watched the July 8 7:30 showing of the play at the Center for Arts in Timog with Abby, Jay, Levs and Virge. I was actually a little apprehensive about the whole deal. Since one, there was actually a storm brewing (a real one, not the metaphorical one), two, I didnt like the ambiance of the venue, and three, I didnt like the kind of people coming to see the show. No offense to them. They're simply just not my type of crowd. :)

All in all it was good. On the outset we knew the play had a great story. At least I think it had a good story, and I can pretty well name a lot of people who think its great.

Not much can be said about the said. What would you expect, it was set the whole time in a single room, so the challenge for the whole production I would think, would be to make the whole affair inside as realistic as possible.

The girl who played Yumi was great. Her performance was really genuine and I really loved seeing her act. It was really endearing to see her reaction when Jigs told her she was his crush in the barkada all along.

On the other hand, the guy who played Jigs (I'm sorry I wasn't very particular with their names), I think, could have done a better job with his character. I don't know, he was 'stiff' the whole time. I'm no expert, so I guess that may have been Jigs character all along. Then again I cant help but compare the two actors' performance and find that the girl's performance was the one that really rocked.

Then there was the little discussion at the end of the play with the writer himself, Juan Ekis. There were some really good points raised, although I was really pissed off with the host of the discussion. I mean, if you wanted to have a good, intelligent discussion, you should at least play the part of a good, intelligent host and not joke around most of the time.

One good question that was raised though was the question about the existence of guys like Jigs today. I personally dont think its relevant to guys, so girls?

We stopped by Mocha Blends for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. I don't know whether it was the cake, the coffee or the things Joan Nakar sent me through text that night that made me want to vomit. It could very well be because of all of them.

At least I was feeling better by the time we got home. Coffee and gossip never really get along well in my stomach.

After that it was an interestingly dreamless, but ultimately restful sleep.

20 Questions on stage

2006-06-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

O you who know what we suffer here, do not forget us in your dreams.

One guy...
One girl...
One bedroom...

Twenty Questions
The Palanca Award-winning Play by Juan Ekis

Center for Arts
100 Timog Avenue, Quezon City
Fridays (July 7, 14, 21, 28) at 8 pm
Saturdays (July 8, 15, 22, 29) at 3 pm and 7:30 pm

Tickets at Php 250
Php 200 for tickets reserved 1 week before the show.
For inquiries and reservations contact 09064978416

I knew a lot of people thought it was a very good read, long but a good read nonetheless.

Anyone interested? :D

For those who wish to read the story again, click here.

Warning: Its a long read. But I really think it's worth it.

MGA TAUHAN

Jigs - Fresh grad. Kabarkada ni Yumi. Magtatrabaho bilang researcher sa isang financial firm

Yumi - Commercial Model. Kabarkada ni Jigs. 2 years ahead kay Jigs.

TAGPO

Gabi. Sa isang kwarto ng isang beach resort. Naglalatag ng kumot si Jigs sa sahig habang inaayos ni Yumi ang kanyang higaan.

YUMI Sige na, Jigs. Huwag ka nang magpaka-gentle man. Naaawa ako sa¹yo e. Tabi na tayo sa kama.

JIGS Hindi, okay lang ako dito.

YUMI Huwag ka nang maarte. As if naman re-rapin kita no. Malaki naman itong kama e. Hatiin na lang natin sa gitna.

JIGS Sure ka?

YUMI Hindi mo naman siguro ako mamanyakin no?

JIGS (Matatawa) Okay ka lang?

YUMI Kung gusto mo, gamitin na lang natin i yang kumot na divider.

JIGS Good idea.

Isasampay nila ang kumot mula sa kisame para mahati ang kama sa gitna. Magsesettle down ang dalawa. Ilalabas ni Jigs ang
libro niya: ³Puppy Love and other Stories² ni F. Sionil Jose. Si Yumi naman ay magpapatugtog ng Japanese Zen Music habang
nagsa-zazen.

YUMI Do you mind?

JIGS No, go ahead. I¹m just reading.

Magsa-zazen si Yumi. Magbabasa si Jigs. Pareho silang di maka-concentrate. Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player niya.

YUMI I can¹t believe our friends.

JIGS Oo nga e.

YUMI Dapat ginagawa nila ?to sa mga bagong pasok sa barkada o kaya sa bagong...ay oo nga pala. Bagong graduate ka. Congrats.

JIGS Thanks.

YUMI So what¹re your plans?

JIGS Kinukuha akong researcher sa ADB. Kinukuha rin ako ng BPI sa OTP nila.

YUMI Wow naman. In demand.

JIGS Di naman masyado. Who the hell invented this tradition anyway?

YUMI (Matatawa) You won¹t believe it.

JIGS Ikaw?

YUMI Malay ko ba na mabibiktima rin ako nito balang-araw.

JIGS So why did you start it ?

YUMI Wala ka pa sa tropa nun e. Freshman ka pa lang siguro noon. Wala lang. Napagtripan lang namin si Ronald. E may crush
siya kay Meg. Noong unang beses magpunta rito ng barkada, sabi ko, magsimula kami ng tradition. Ilo-lottery namin ang
pangalan ng mga lalaki at ng mga babae. Kung sino ang mabubunot, silang dalawa ang pagsasamahin sa isang kwarto sa loob ng
tatlong araw. And then, we¹ll all see what happens.
Pero dinaya namin noon yung kay Ronald at Meg. Puro Ronald at Meg ang mga pangalan na nakalagay sa lottery.

JIGS (Tatawa) Ang sama ninyo!

YUMI Kaya nga nakarma na ako e.

JIGS So is our case, dinaya? O talagang lottery?

YUMI (Teasing) Ano sa dalawa ang gusto mo?

JIGS Feeling ko may nagtrip sa¹kin sa barkada e.

YUMI Excuse me po, dalawa tayong biktima dito. I don¹t see any reason kung bakit tayong dalawa ang sasadyaing biktima this
year, unless may crush ka sa¹kin na di ko alam at alam nila (tatawa).

JIGS Baka ikaw (tatawa).

YUMI The success rate of this tradition is 100% so far.

JIGS I was here na the 2nd time. Si Chris at si Cia ang biktima.

YUMI And last year were Rod and Kay. They¹re getting married kailan? Sa June yata.

JIGS What do you expect? Ikukulong mo ang isang lalaki at isang babae sa isang kwarto for three days, imposibleng walang
mangyari doon!

YUMI That was exactly my point. (Ngingiti)

JIGS E kung may madisgrasya?

YUMI Ano¹ng disgrasya?

JIGS Alam mo na ?yun!

Hahawiin ni Yumi ang divider nilang kumot.

YUMI Ano? Sex? Pa¹no kung magsex sila? Nakakatawa ka naman. Di mo masabi.

JIGS Ang alin?

YUMI Ang sex!

JIGS Hah!

YUMI Sige nga sabihin mo nga?

JIGS Para kang tanga. Tumigil ka nga.

YUMI Shet, Jigs. Graduate ka na totoy ka pa rin!

JIGS Excuse me?

YUMI Sabihin mo nga: ³Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!²

JIGS Para kang bata, Yumi ha.

YUMI You used to call me ate Yumi when you were
in
third year.

JIGS Well, graduate na po ako, ate Yumi.

Tahimik.

J IGS Hmmm. I wonder if we¹re gonna last three
days.

YUMI (Teasing) Bakit? Ayaw mo sa¹kin?

Di sasagot si Jigs.

YUMI We¹re gonna survive this one.

JIGS What makes you so sure?

YUMI No offense, Jigs. I honestly find you very attractive pero I¹ve no time for this. Alam mo naman siguro na kaka'

JIGS Same here.

YUMI Same here what? Na you find me attractive o you don¹t have time for this? (Matatawa)

Di sasagot si Jigs. Tahimik. Io-on ulit ni Yumi ang CD player at ipagpapatuloy ang zazen. Itatabi ni Jigs ang libro. Nawalan
na siya ng ganang magbasa. Pupunta siya sa ref. Bubuksan niya ito.

JIGS Hah! (Sarcastic) Perfect! Red Wine! How very conducive.

YUMI May chips ba diyan?

JIGS Sa awa ng Diyos, may tsibog naman.

Papatayin ni Yumi ang CD player. Tatayo siya at kukuha ng chips sa ibabaw ng ref.

YUMI Since we¹re gonna be stuck naman with each other for three days, might as well make the best out of it di ba? I-enjoy
na lang natin.

JIGS What do you mean?

YUMI Get the wine, let¹s have a drink! 50 hours to go na lang and we¹re gonna be the first failure of this tradition.

JIGS Oo nga. (Kukunin ang wine. Maglalagay sa dalawang baso.) When they chose Cia and Chris, naiintindihan ko pa e. Lalo na
sina Rod and Kay. Kung baga, tinulungan lang natin silang umamin sa isa¹t isa. Pero us...

YUMI Weird ng barkada natin no?

JIGS To our barkada and our weird traditions!

YUMI To us, the first failure of this tradition!

Magto-toast sila at iinom.

JIGS Sige, ate Yumi. Let¹s make our stay here more interesting...

YUMI What¹s with the ate?

JIGS Fine...

Bubuksan ni Yumi ang chips. Uupo sila pareho sa sahig para magkwentuhan.

JIGS Let¹s play twenty questions.

YUMI Sige! Ano yon?

JIGS Each of us will have ten questions each. Tatanungin kita, tatanungin mo ako, mga gusto nating malaman sa isa¹t isa.
Alternate tayo. Pero the thing here is, you can¹t ask the question that I already asked.

YUMI That¹s pretty interesting.

JIGS At bawal magsinungaling.

YUMI Fair enough. Pero whatever is said inside this room remains in the room. Ok?

JIGS Of course. You wanna start?

YUMI No. I want to ask the last question. (Ngingiti at kikindatan si Jigs)

JIGS Smart move. Game. First question: Ano ang greatest frustration mo sa buhay?

YUMI Nge. Ang korni naman ng tanong mo. Walang ka-challenge-challenge. Ask me something na mag-iisip naman ako.

JIGS Simula pa lang e.

YUMI Sige. Ano nga ba...?

JIGS Akala ko ba walang ka-challenge-challenge?

YUMI Wag kang maingay, nag-iisip ako...I¹m a frustrated ballet dancer.

JIGS Talaga?

YUMI I took lessons when I was six pero umayaw ako. Wala kasi akong disiplina e. Mas gusto kong makipaglaro sa mga kalaro
ko. Pero I really enjoy watching ballet dancers. When I see them dance parati kong naiisip na sana, ako rin. There! Ang dali
naman ng tanong mo. Walang thrill.

JIGS Appetizer lang. Yari ka sa¹kin mamaya.

YUMI We¹ll see. Ako naman: Did you ever have doubts about your sexuality? I mean, kahit minsan ba, naisip mo na bakla ka?

JIGS Never.

YUMI Bilis ng sagot a.

JIGS Coz I never entertained the idea.

YUMI Homophobe ka ba?

JIGS Alternate tayo sa tanungan, di ba?

YUMI So, not once? Kahit konti? Kahit what if lang?

JIGS I¹m straight, okay?

YUMI I¹m not asking if you¹re gay or not. I¹m asking kung...

JIGS Never nga.

YUMI We all thought na you were gay. Well at least nung first few months mo sa tropa before you introduced your girlfriend
to us.

JIGS What?! You thought I was gay?!

YUMI E pa¹no kasi, masyado kang mabait. Ang pogi-pogi mo, pero parang allergic ka sa mga babae. Over ang pagiging gentleman
mo. Too good to be true. You have a good body, it seems that you work out pero iniisip namin front mo lang yun. Kadalasan
kasi front ng mga bakla ang pagiging maganda ng katawan nila at pagiging sporty...

Tatawa lang si Jigs.

YUMI So we thought it¹s either that or you were planning to become a priest.

JIGS What?!

YUMI Well, you were always this goody-goody person. Pumupunta ka sa chapel. Nangungumpisal, nagsisimba...

JIGS The way you said it, parang equivalent ang dalawa a.

YUMI Of course not. I didn¹t mean that!

JIGS I take my faith seriously. That doesn¹t make me gay!

YUMI So you did want to become a priest...

JIGS Hindi rin. Actually, I always wanted to raise a family...and be a father.

Tahimik.

YUMI So you¹re not gay.

JIGS No.

YUMI You never...

JIGS Ilang beses ka ba ipinanganak? Kulit mo e. It¹s my turn.

&nb sp;YUMI Homophobe ka no?

JIGS Hindi kaya!

YUMI Whatever...

JIGS Ako na, daya mo naman e.

YUMI Okay, okay. Shoot me.

JIGS How do you see yourself five years from now?

YUMI You expect to win this game? Ang kokorni ng mga tanong mo e.

JIGS The object of this game is not to win.

YUMI E ano pa ba?

JIGS To get to know the other person.

YUMI Sure. Basta ako, I will win this game. Walang thrill ang isang game kung walang nananalo.

JIGS Sagot.

YUMI May time limit ba ?to? (Tatawa) Wine pa nga.

JIGS Sabi nga nila: in vino veritas.

Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.

YUMI Masarap ang wine, ha? Saan kaya nabili ito? (Iinom) To answer your question, either maging entrepreneur ako, agsisimula
ako ng sarili kong botique or bar, o kaya, magiging artista ako sa pelikula.

JIGS Not bad.

YUMI Pero mukhang malabo yung stint ko sa movies. Tough ang competition e. Saka mahina ang manager ko. Panay hosting at
pictorials ang nakukuhang raket para sa akin. Papalitan ko na nga e. Pag nakaipon ako, baka magtayo na lang ako ng botique.

JIGS (Magbibiro) Ayaw mo mag-bold?

YUMI Yuck!

JIGS Lahat ng gustong mag-artista doon dumadaan.

YUMI May talent naman ako kahit papano a!

JIGS Lahat naman ng bold star may talent a! Sa dibdib! (Tatawa)

YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Bastos ka talaga! Akala ko goody-goody ka...Hindi ko papatulan ang pagbobold kahit ano¹ng
mangyari no! Kahit ganito ako, may respeto pa rin naman ako sa sarili ko.

JIGS Ganito? Ano¹ng ganito?

Di sasagutin ni Yumi ang tanong.

YUMI These producers think all the people want is sex, sex, sex! Kaya puro basura ang mga pelikula e. Wine pa nga!

JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine) Bakit naman botique?

YUMI Hoy madaya ka na ha? Hindi pa ako lasing. Ako na¹ng magtatanong. Ang korni mo namang magtanong. Bigatan naman natin
nang konti...Inom ka muna.

Iinom si Jigs. Magsasalin siya ng bago.

YUMI Who was your first crush in the barkada?

Tahimik.

YUMI Haha! Bingo ka no? Bagal mo naman sumagot.

Iinumin ang wine. Magsasalin ng bago.

JIGS Lalaki o babae?

Tatawa sila pareho.

YUMI Dapat may time limit ito e.

Tahimik.

JIGS Hirap naman ng tanong mo.

YUMI Iyon nga ang maganda e. Para may thrill. As if naman ibo-broadcast ko sa barkada kung sino.

JIGS Wine pa?

YUMI Di mo pa sinasagot yung tanong ko, nagtatanong ka na!

Magsasalin ng wine si Jigs kay Yumi.

JIGS Yung crush ko kasi...siyempre, sino pa ba? E di yung pinakamaganda sa barkada.

YUMI Nge. Subjective yon no! Para sa¹kin ang pinakagwapo si Joel. Sa b abae, si Kay. Para kay Ronald, si Meg...

JIGS Yung literally na may dating'walang tanung-tanong. Yung kahit sino¹ng tanungin mo sa tropa, objectively, siya ang
isasagot.

YUMI Jigs, twenty questions ang game natin. Hindi guessing game. C¹mon man. Play your own game. Pa¹no na kung truth or dare
to e di pahirapan na. Dadalawa na nga lang tayo e.

JIGS Yung commercial model.

Matitigilan si Yumi.

YUMI Wine pa nga.

Magsasalin si Jigs. Mag-iisip si Yumi. Iinom. Biglang matatawa.

YUMI (Tumatawa pa rin) Talaga?

JIGS Sige, pagtawanan ba?

YUMI You can say it to my face, I won¹t bite. Bakit hirap na hirap kang sabihin kung sino? Takot kang ma-reject? Parang
tanong lang e...Wine pa nga!

JIGS Okay, 1 point ka na...

YUMI (Ngiti) Gee...thanks. Flattered naman ako. At kailan naman nangyari ito?

JIGS Sorry, my turn to ask. (Ngingiti) Who is your crush in the barkada...NOW?

YUMI E ginaya mo lang yung tanong ko e.

JIGS Hinde no. May qualifier ako. Ang sabi ko, NOW. Ang tanong mo, first crush ko.

YUMI Korni pa rin. Alam mo, kung basketball ?to, tambak ka na.

JIGS Just answer the question.

YUMI Siyempre wala. I told you, I don¹t have time for these stuff. Kakabreak ko lang di ba?

JIGS Korni mo namang sumagot.

YUMI E korni yung tanong e. Pero kung talagang-talagang kailangan kong sumagot...hmmm...teka...sino nga ba? Sino ba¹ng
crush material sa barkada? Wala akong maisip e. Ikaw na lang.

JIGS Yung seryoso naman.
YUMI Seryoso ako. Ayaw mo yata e. Sige, iba na lang...

JIGS E napipilitan ka lang e.

YUMI Uy! Pa¹no ba¹yan? MU na tayo? Crush mo ko, crush kita...yiheee (Tatawa).

JIGS Dati pa ?yon no!

YUMI Ay? Di mo na ko crush? Bakit, na turn-off ka? Ano namang ginawa ko? Tsk. Tsk.

JIGS Is that your question na?

YUMI Oy, hinde! Ito naman...di ba pwedeng mag-follow-up?

Iinom ng wine si Jigs.

YUMI Fine. Here¹s a little juicy question: Describe your first kiss.

JIGS That¹s not even a question.

YUMI Arte mo. O: How was your first kiss like?

Matatawa si Jigs.

JIGS Wet.

YUMI Yuck!

Magtatawanan sila.

JIGS Alam mo, aksidente yung first kiss ko. Close kasi kami nung isa kong kaibigan. Pag naggu-goodbye ako sa kan ya, parati
ko siyang kini-kiss sa noo. E one time, sa gym habang nagpapahinga, nakaupo siya sa sahig. Tinatamad siyang tumayo. So bumaba
ako nang konti para halikan siya sa noo kasi pauwi na ako. E siya naman, para maabot ko, medyo tumingala. E sakto, sa lips ko
siya nahalikan. Pareho kaming nagulat. Pero di pa kami naghiwalay agad. Weird nga ang feeling e. Parang may glue. Ayaw na
namin maghiwalay pareho...
Tawa pa rin si Yumi

YUMI Awww. Ang sweet naman. Parang sa pelikula. Si Krissy ba ?to?

JIGS Hindi. Hindi mo siya kilala.

YUMI So what happened? Nagkatuluyan kayo?

JIGS Nope.

YUMI Ha?

JIGS Ewan ko ba. Complicated kasi yung situation namin e. May boyfriend siya noon. Ako naman, takot pa sa isang
relationship. Pero at least, na-discover namin na pareho pala kaming may gusto sa isa¹t isa. Pero hanggang doon na lang.

YUMI What happened after?

JIGS We talked about it. We both decided na it wont work. Tapos, bigla na lang, hindi na kami nagkikita. And then, I met you
guys, iba na ang barkada ko.

YUMI Nakakatuwa naman.

JIGS Ikaw, pa¹no yung first kiss mo?

YUMI Ikaw ang nagturo sa akin ng game na ito di ba? Bakit ba lagi mong bini-break ang rules? Di mo na pwedeng tanungin ?yan!

JIGS Tine-testing ko lang kung lasing ka na. (Iinom ng wine) Okay, naka-warm-up na ako: What was the naughtiest thing you
ever did?

YUMI ?Yan ang mga tanong! Ano ba¹ng ibig mong sabihin ng naughty?

JIGS Bahala kang mag-define.

YUMI Hmmm...marami e...(matatawa) baka maeskandalo ka.

JIGS Kanina ayaw mo ng korni. Ngayong medyo exciting naman...

YUMI Eto na...I had two boyfriends at the same time.

JIGS (Nagulat) Hala.

YUMI I was with Joel and Zach at the same time.

JIGS Yikes. Alam ba ni Joel?

YUMI Kaya nga kami naghiwalay nun e. Nahuli ako (matatawa).

JIGS Ano namang pumasok sa kukote mo¹t ginawa mo ?yon, aber?

YUMI Nag-eexperiment lang ako. E sa type ko sila pareho e. Ano¹ng magagawa ko? Saka para may thrill. Alam mo yon? Yung
patago kang nakikipag-date sa isa para di mahuli. Everyday pa akong nakakalibre, kasi, alternate sila! (Tatawa) Akala n¹yo
kayo lang mga lalaki ang pwedeng gumawa no¹n?

JIGS How can you love two guys at the same time?

YUMI Who said something about love? Walang kinalaman ang love dun. I was...having fun!
JIGS Nainlove ka na ba, ever?

YUMI Nakakailang tanong ka na? It¹s my turn.

JIGS Don¹t you want to answer the question anyway?

YUMI My turn!

JIGS Kulang ka pa sa wine. (Tatawa)

Ubos na ang unang wine bottle. Kukuha si Jigs ng isa pa sa ref.

JIGS Ang bilis nating uminom a.

YUMI Are you still a virgin?

JIGS Whoa! Where did that come from?

YUMI That¹s my fourth question.

JIGS (Magsasalin ng wine sa mga baso). Ano sa tingin mo?

Ngingiti si Jigs. Tititigan lang siya ni Yumi.

YUMI Don¹t tell me, wala pang nangyayari sa inyo ni Krissy hanggang ngayon? Ilang taon na ba kayo?

Mag-tu-two years na sana next week.

YUMI So virgin ka pa? I don¹t believe it!

JIGS Mukha ba akong tarantado?

& nbsp;YUMI Mukha kang nagpapaiyak ng babae e.

JIGS Insulto ba ?yon?

YUMI Compliment ?yon, tanga.

JIGS Ah, okay. Thanks.

YUMI Pero, you mean, you never felt the urge to do it?

JIGS Alin? Sex?

YUMI Wow! Nasabi rin niya!

JIGS Of course I always feel it. Natural lang ?yon sa tao no? Nasa iyo na lang ?yan kung ano¹ng gagawin mo sa urge na ?yon.

YUMI E natural naman pala e. Bakit mo pinipigilan? I mean, pag naiihi ka, iihi ka. Pag nagugutom ka, kakain ka. Pareho lang
?yon, di ba?

JIGS Pag naiihi ka, iihi ka dahil kailangan mong umihi. At hindi ka iihi kahit saan. Pupunta ka sa banyo. Pag nagugutom ka,
kakain ka dahil kailangan. At hindi mo kinakain ang lahat ng pagkain na ihain sa iyo. Pag di ka gutom, di ka kakain. Pag di
mo gusto yung pagkain, di mo gagalawin. Ang aso, pag may nakitang pagkain diyan, walang tanung-tanong. Lalamon ?yan.

YUMI And sex is the same?

JIGS Lahat ng bagay, nilalagay sa lugar. May context. At least, yun ang nagpaiba sa atin sa aso.

YUMI Grabe ka namang magsalita. Para mo na ring sinabing lahat ng nakikipagsex, aso ah!

JIGS Sinasabi ko lang, pag wala sa tamang konteksto, mali.

YUMI And what is that context?

JIGS Matanda na tayo. Ayokong maging preachy. Alam na natin ?yan.

Tahimik.

JIGS Kaso, kahit alam na natin, minsan di pa rin natin ginagawa.

Tahimik.

JIGS Masarap e. Sino ba¹ng ayaw nun?

Tahimik.

YUMI (Medyo nairita) So feeling mo santo ka at dapat kang i-congratulate for being a virgin!

JIGS Sinasabi ko lang ang pinanini walaan ko. Ineexplain ko lang kung bakit di ko ginagawa. May kanya-kanya tayong dahilan.
Di ko pinipilit kahit kanino ang mga paniniwala ko...No need to get so cross about it, Yumi.

Tahimik.

JIGS It¹s not about being a virgin or not. It¹s about putting things into their proper places.

YUMI I¹m not arguing with you.

JIGS Me neither. I¹m just answering your questions.

Matagal na katahimikan.

Ngingiti si Jigs. Titignan niya si Yumi na medyo nairita sa nakaraang train of conversation nila. Magsasalin siya ng wine
para kay Yumi.

JIGS Nasobrahan ka na yata sa wine e. (Tatawa) You still wanna go on with the game? Nine pa lang tayo, eleven more to go.
(Ngingiti)

YUMI Shoot me.

JIGS Who was your first lay?

YUMI (Hahampasin ng unan si Jigs) Ang bastos mo talaga! So inaassume mo na hindi na ako virgin?

JIGS E sabi mo kasi, walang thrill ang game pag walang nananalo e. So I guess I¹m winning. Saka wala naman akong inimply na
ganun a! I¹m just hitting two birds with one stone. Kasi kung virgin ka, e di simple lang ang sagot: wala. Kung hindi naman,
e di sino?

YUMI Ang daya mo.

JIGS Akala ko ba ayaw mo ng korning tanong.

YUMI You think I¹ll answer that after giving your sermon, Father Jigs?

JIGS Ano ka ba? Inexplain ko lang yung personal reasons ko. Kung ano man ang sa iyo, I¹ll respect them
as well as I know you respect mine. I¹m no saint. I¹m just trying to get to know you better. (Ngingiti)

YUMI How do you do that?

JIGS Alin?

YUMI I should have walked out on you kanina pa pero the way you say things...parang bumabaliktad sa¹yo...makes you
more...charming. Kung ibang tao ka siguro, di na kita kakausapin.

JIGS You can¹t walk out. We¹re locked here for three days except for meals.

YUMI So I¹m forced to like you para di masira ang vacation ko. (Ngingiti)

JIGS You don¹t have to answer my question if you don¹t want.

YUMI I guess I¹ll be honest with you as you were honest with me...

Tahimik. Iinom ng wine si Yumi.

YUMI Di mo siya kilala. His name was Robert. He was my first boyfriend. It was Senior Prom Night. Alam mo na...typical
senior prom story. Everyone wants to lose it on prom night. Everyone thinks na pag prom night, it was something special. We
went out sa hall nang maaga. We made out sa kotse niya. One thing led to the other. Tapos, yun...yun na. We went back just in
time for the awarding of the prom queen. Guess what, I won pa. (Mahinang tawa)

JIGS What was it like?

YUMI Now that I look back, it isn¹t as special as I thought it was. Pero it was different then. Back then, we were just led
by our passions. Alam mo yon? Andun ka na. Hormones raging wild. Passions and Ideals are confused. Akala mo love, yun pala,
curious ka lang pala. Akala mo yun na yon. Akala mo you are in-love at lahat ng gawin mo tama. Lahat ng gawin mo perfect.
Everything was magical...well, almost.

JIGS Almost...?

YUMI Sa next question mo na ?yan. Ako na.

JIGS (Pabiro) Wine pa? Kulang ka pa yata e.

YUMI Nilalasing mo ko no? May balak ka sa¹kin no? (Tatawa)

JIGS Is that your question? Sasagutin ko na. (Tatawa)

YUMI Engot. Hindi ?yon. Here¹s something na curious lang ako. Kasi I¹ve been hearing things...saka you¹ve hinted on it na
rin kanina...Are you still with Krissy?

JIGS Hindi na.

YUMI Since when?

JIGS Two, maybe three weeks ago?

YUMI Sino¹ng nakipag-break?

JIGS Pareho kami.

YUMI Why?

JIGS Maraming dahilan, actually. Naisip na lang namin na it won¹t work. Isa na do¹n, magkaiba kami ng gustong mangyari sa
buhay. Magkaiba kami ng mga pinaniniwalaan.

YUMI Like what?

JIGS Marami.

YUMI At ngayon mo lang nalaman iyon after two years with her?

JIGS People change, Yumi.

Tahimik.

JIGS Right before graduation, she asked me to move in with her.

YUMI Talaga?

JIGS Sabi niya, doon na naman din daw papunta ang relasyon namin. Might as well practice na raw for the real thing. Tutal,
she¹s working na naman, ako naman bagong graduate, we should try out na raw living together if it¹ll work for us.

YUMI Natakot ka sa arrangement?

JIGS Hindi naman sa natakot. If you love someone, ano pa¹ng ikakatakot mo, di ba?

YUMI E bakit umayaw ka?

JIGS It¹s just that, it¹s not my thing.

YUMI Sabi na nga ba e, bakla ka no? Sinasayang mo ang opportunities! (Matatawa)

JIGS Hindi ako oportunista. At lalong hindi ako bakla.

YUMI Fine.

JIGS Naisip ko lang na hindi pa pala ako handa sa mga ganitong bagay. Wala pa sa isip ko ang gano¹n. Na-shock siguro ako sa
reality na iyon na nga ang next step sa relationship namin. I mean, two years of being together and knowing each other, we¹re
practically ready to get married, if you know what I mean. Pero I realized, I¹m not ready for any of these. Narealize ko how
immature I am. Na iba yung ideals ko two years ago sa ideals ko ngayon. I need to mature some more to get into this thing'I
mean, getting married. Diyos ko, ilang taon lang ba ako...

YUMI Maturity has nothing to do with age.

JIGS But it has a lot to do with time.

Tahimik.

JIGS So I thought, bakit kailangan ng practice mode? Ibig sabihin, pag sumablay kami, split na kami? Live like a couple
minus the commitment? Pa¹no pag nawala na yung magic? Goodbye na?

Iinom ng wine si Jigs.

JIGS Kung kasal na, kasal na. Wala nang practice. I think that¹s the real cowardice. Yung i-try muna natin kung it will work
kasi takot kayo na baka hindi maging successful ang outcome. Saan na napunta ang excitement ng buhay? Kaya nga kayo in-love,
para sabay kayong humarap sa totoong buhay, sa hirap at ginahawa, di ba? (Matatawa) Hindi yung pagpapraktisan muna ninyo para
siguradong ginhawa lang.

Magkikibit-balikat lang si Jigs.

YUMI Are you always like that?

JIGS Like what?

YUMI So cerebral in everything. Kahit pagdating sa relationships.

JIGS Life is too precious para lang daanin sa trial and error.

Ngingiti si Jigs. Tahimik.

YUMI So, No hard feelings?

JIGS Friends pa rin kami. She still calls me up nga sa bahay e.

YUMI That¹s nice.

JIGS Kayo, bakit kayo nagbreak ni Carlo?

YUMI That¹s your sixth na ha?

JIGS Sure.

YUMI Alam mo, ironic para sa akin yung break-up namin ni Carlo. And the funny thing was, it was about...sex. Uy, sa atin
lang ito ha?

JIGS Of course.

YUMI Kasi nga, I was looking for that magic nga di ba? I wanted to be in a relationship na special naman. So of all the
boyfriends I had, sa kanya lang ako walang sexual relationship. As in nag-aabstain talaga ako. Kasi parang naisip ko, para
magkaroon naman ng meaning yung ³making love² di ba? Parang, dapat di mo parating ginagawa, at ginagawa mo lang when you are
sincere with yourself and with your partner. So I was investing muna emotionally. And I was actually starting to care about
him. Yung, hindi ko na iniisip yung sarili ko. Yung siya lang ang inaalala ko. Akala ko perfect na...

JIGS Ano¹ng nangyari?

YUMI Patunayan ko raw na mahal ko siya. Magbigay daw ako ng proof. Pagbigyan ko raw siya. Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi pa ba
sapat na proof ?yon? Na I¹m saving myself for that right moment, that special moment between us? Alam mo¹ng ginawa? Nilayasan
ako!

JIGS You deserve someone better.

YUMI Talaga!

YUMI Isipin mo, kung kelan naman I grew tired of meaningless sex, when I¹m looking for the real thing, saka naman mawawala.
Ang ironic ng buhay no?

JIGS That¹s the way we must learn.

YUMI Alam mo, kung tutuusin, never ko pang na-experience yung tunay na mag make-love. And I had to go all through those
relationships para lang ma-realize yun. At least, ngayon, alam ko na ang hinahanap ko.

Iinom ng wine.

YUMI Ikaw ba, importante sa¹yo na virgin ang mapapangasawa mo? How do you see virginity ba?

JIGS Alam mo, di ko pa napag-isipan ?yan. Pero now that you¹ve mentioned it...It doesn¹t matter kung virgin ang mapangasawa
ko o hindi. Of course I value virginity a lot. I treat it as the only real gift I could give to my wife to be. Imaginin mo na
lang di ba, kung wife ko ang una ko. It¹s like the perfect wedding gift I could give to her. Pero kung siya hindi na virgin,
I wouldn¹t care. As long as mahal ko siya. Kasi I don¹t expect her to give me the same gift. I don¹t do something because I
expect people to do the same to me. Ibigay niya sa akin ang sarili niya nang buong-buo, sapat na sa akin ?yon. Masaya na ako
sa ganoon.

YUMI (Mapapangiti si Yumi.) You know, that¹s the nicest thing I ever heard from a guy. That¹s why I always enjoy talking to
you. You always say the nicest things.

JIGS Wow. Salamat. E ikaw, is making love to you equal to love?

YUMI I always took sex and love as opposite ideas. I mean, after the first time na...you know...sa Senior prom. Kasi
afterwards, we broke up na ni Robert. Tapos naisip ko, yun na ba yung love? Baka hindi love yung naramdaman ko. Baka
napagkamalan ko lang siyang love. I was just after the pleasure of intimacy. And then I felt empty. So empty. That¹s why I
wanted to change. I wanted to believe in ³making love.² And I¹m still looking for it. Yung magic. Yung feeling mo, tao ka
pala. I never felt that kahit isang beses. Men have penetrated my body but never my soul. And I wanted that. I wanted someone
to touch my soul. To ³make love² to my soul through my body. Pero siguro, naging numb na¹ko sa dami ng relasyong pinagdaanan
ko. Hindi ko alam kung mararanasan ko pa iyon. That¹s why I envy you.

Tahimik.

YUMI Sa tingin mo may pag-asa pa ako?

JIGS You still have your soul...(Ngingiti)

Tahimik.

YUMI With whom would you want to experience it?

JIGS Of course, sa asawa ko.

YUMI I mean, someone in particular. Take it as my seventh question. So give a name.

JIGS A name? Hindi ko alam. Basta kung sino ang magiging asawa ko.

Tahimik. Magkikibit-balikat si Yumi. Iinom ng wine.

JIGS Well, I always thought na it was Krissy. And then, it was just gone. Of course I loved her. And I
still do. Pero the magic was just gone after we both found out na magkaiba kami ng mga prinsipyo sa buhay.

Tahimik.

JIGS My turn?

YUMI Shoot me.

JIGS Tell me so mething...a secret. Yung wala kahit isang nakakaalam.

Matagal na katahimikan.

JIGS You trust me naman di ba?

YUMI Well, you¹ve earned it, alright.

JIGS Saka wala akong tinatago sa¹yo. Sinagot ko lahat ng tanong mo as honestly as I could. (Ngingiti)

YUMI I uhm...

JIGS Yes...?

YUMI I need more wine.

Magsasalin si Jigs ng wine.

JIGS Take your time. We have less than fifty hours to go.

Iinom ng wine si Yumi.

YUMI I¹ll tell you something no one in the world knows except one other person. And that person probably forgot all about me
already.

JIGS (Pabiro) What? You had sex with a stranger?

YUMI Ano ka ba?

JIGS Biro lang. Seryoso na.

YUMI Promise ha? Hindi ito lalabas.

JIGS Promise.

YUMI If this goes out, I will hunt you kahit sa libingan mo. Huhukayin kita at papatayin kita ulit.

JIGS Mamatay man ako ngayon.

YUMI Okay...(Pause) I...I was with Joel then... (Magiging mas seryoso ang tono niya) ...and Zach. I wasn¹t really with Zach,
I was just going out with him pag wala si Joel, alam mo na...making out and stuff...Well, anyway, I was kinda serious din
naman with Joel that time. Joel and I were...you know...doing it. And...

JIGS And...?

YUMI Uhm...I...uhm...I got pregnant.

JIGS What?

Tahimik. Iinom ng wine si Yumi.

YUMI I uhm...shit. Hindi ko naman talaga ginusto e. Uhm...Two months akong delayed...then I took that test. I found out na
buntis nga ako...and Joel found out about Zach (maluha-luha na) and I didn¹t know what to say, you know? Maniniwala ba naman
sa akin si Joel na naaliw lang ako kay Zach? Na I didn¹t really love him? Na wala lang iyon? And so he broke up with me
and...I..uhm...I was afraid and uhm... (Magsisimula siyang magbreak-down)

JIGS It¹s okay...

YUMI I uhm...hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, Joel left me. I wanted to tell him about the baby to make him come back but I
don¹t think he¹d believe me after the thing with Zach...and...my parents are gonna kill me if...shit. (iiyak)

JIGS (lalapit kay Yumi para i-console ito) Ssshhh...you don¹t have to tell me this if it upsets you...

YUMI And so I went to a clinic...(hahagulgol) I didn¹t mean to, Jigs. I wasn¹t myself then. And I felt so afraid. So
alone...

JIGS Tahan na. Ssshhh...

Iiyak lang si Yumi kay Jigs. Yayakapin ni Jigs si Yumi.

JIGS Alam ba ?to ni Joel?

YUMI How can I tell him? The only other person na nakakaalam ay yung duktor sa clinic. God...(iiyak) Oh God...

JIGS It¹s alright...

Hihimasin ni Jigs ang likod ni Yumi. Patatahanin niya ito. Matagal silang nakaganito lang.

Matagal na katahimikan.

YUMI Can you get me my yosi?

Tatayo si Jigs. Pupunta sa may side table sa tabi ng kama. Kukunin ang Yosi ni Yumi. Magsisindi siya ng isa at iaabot kay
Yumi.

YUMI Thanks...

Matagal na katahimikan.

YUMI If we were...if we were the last two people on earth, would you consider doing it with me?

JIGS Doing what?

YUMI Alam mo na...

JIGS Alin? (Teasing ngingiti)

YUMI Gago mo. (Ngingiti)

JIGS Ngumiti rin.

YUMI So? Would you?

JIGS Alin nga? Di mo masabi no? Bakit di mo masabi? (Pagtatawanan si Yumi) Sabihin mo nga: Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!

YUMI Shut up nga!

JIGS That¹s your eight na, ha?

YUMI I lost count. Answer it.

JIGS Why not?

Hihithit ng yosi si Yumi. Tahimik. Sasandal si Yumi sa balikat ni Jigs.

JIGS If you could be something else, what would you be?

YUMI I dunno...maybe a violin...yeah. Violin siguro.

JIGS Bakit?

YUMI I always saw the relationship of a violin and its player as very intimate. Pag tumutugtog ang violinist, ang nakikita
ko at naririnig ko, he strokes the soul of the instrument and the instrument penetrates the soul of the player. Para silang
nagmi-make love. Di ba? Very sexy, very intimate, very sublime. Di ba? Pareho silang sincere sa isa¹t isa. Dahil kung hindi
sila sincere, walang music na mabubuo. The violin surrenders her body to her player, her whole body and her whole soul, in
full trust and sincerity. Di ba, compared to the sound of the other instruments, ang tunog ng violin parang isang naked oman?
A naked woman in surrender? I want to be a violin. I want to be stroked in the soul. I want to make sincere music. I want to
experience the sound of love.

Tahimik.

JIGS Lalim nun ah. (Ngingiti)

YUMI Pa¹no mo malalamang in-love ka na?

JIGS Paano? I don¹t think there¹s a formula to that. Basta malalaman mo na lang. I mean, ilang beses lang ba nangyari sa
akin ?yon? I¹d like to believe na yun na nga ?yon...yung kay Krissy...

YUMI Kwento mo nga...paano mo narealize dati na mahal mo nga si Krissy?

JIGS Alam mo nakakatawa...korni actually. Babalik na naman ako sa pagiging korni nito e. Di ba ayaw mo sa korni.

YUMI Sige na. Hindi na kita aasarin.

JIGS I heard bells.

YUMI Ano?

JIGS Seryoso. Bigla na lang, habang nag-uusap kami, may narinig na lang akong bells, tapos music. Ewan ko kung iniimagine ko
lang ?yon pero yun ang nangyari. Nakakatawa nga e. Parang kanta ng Beatles.

YUMI Seryoso ka ba?

JIGS O baka naman nagkataon noong oras na yon, may nagkakantahan sa kung saan sa school. Basta may narinig akong bells.
Tapos napangiti ako. Pagtingin ko sa mata niya, iba na ang nakikita ko. Hindi ko na siya nakita as kabarkada lang. Biglang
parang may magic. Hindi ko ma-explain. Baduy pero ganun. Tapos I just seized the moment. Umamin ako. A week later, kami na.

YUMI Korni nga. (Matatawa)

JIGS Korni talagang pakinggan. Pero pag nandun ka na. Pag naranasan mo na, feeling mo, hindi na korni. Ngingiti si Yumi.
Tahimik.

YUMI Alam mo, may times na parang tunog violin ang boses mo. O lasing lang ako?

Tahimik.

JIGS I¹m into my last question.

Iaangat ni Yumi ang ulo niya.

YUMI Shoot me. Better make it good.

JIGS If you were again to be the next victim of this tradition, if you were to be locked up in this room again...who would
you want the next guy to be?

YUMI (Mag-iisip) I want someone whom I could talk to... Yung makukwentuhan ko ng mga sikreto ko. Yung may sense
makipag-usap. Yung may laman. The violin player who¹d stroke my strings...not even. Yung mapapatunog niya ang strings ko
without even touching them. (Tahimik) Lumuluwag na ang dila ko...kung anu-ano na ang nasasabi ko. (Ngingiti)
Tititigan lang ni Jigs si Yumi. Tahimik.

YUMI Siyempre yung masarap kausap.

Tahimik. Hindi makatingin si Yumi.

YUMI Yung kahit habambuhay wala kaming gawin kundi mag-usap... I think it¹s better than making love.

Mapapatingin si Yumi kay Jigs.

YUMI Gosh I want to kiss you so badly.

Matitigilan siya.

YUMI I can¹t believe I just said that.

Tahimik. Titignan niya ulit si Jigs.

YUMI Don¹t you want to kiss me?

Pause. Titignan siya ni Jigs sa mata.

JIGS Is that your last question? (Ngingiti si Jigs)

YUMI Yes.

DILIM.

Thanks to Arnold for posting this sa yahoo groups.

What ifs and Why nots

2006-06-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

The problem with people who won't believe in anything is that they end up believing in just about anything.

May Da Vinci code daw, meron din kaya Amorsolo code? Haha. Wala lang.

I was just aimlessly surfing the web the other day when deposed president Estrada (yes after all this time he's still on the news, as if we haven't had enough of him) said that prominent personalities like GMA, the late Cardinal Sin, Chavit Singson, etc. all conspired to remove him from office.

I thought he was going to tell the press next about how secret clues were hidden in FPJ movies and how the KKK is still alive all this time, spreading God knows what throughout the unknowing Filipino populace. Haha. I guess that would be one heck of a story. Para maiba naman.

Pero pano nga kaya kung ganun? What if? I guess people asking questions like that are the common lifeblood of all persistent conspiracy thoeries.

What if, for example, this scene really happened.

Midnight, the banks of Pasig River. A pair of shadows appear pushing a small rowboat towards the water.

"Mauna ka na Andres, dahan dahan lang baka may makarinig." Whispered the man in an overcoat as he slowly eased the boat, the oars at his side.

Andres sat and waited as Pepe finds a comfortable position. He is the designated rower tonight.

"Bakit dito pa? Ano ba ang napakahalaga mong sasabihin?" Asked Andres as Pepe slowly rowed.

"Andres, hinog na ang panahon. Ipinapakiusap ko sa iyo, likumin mo na ang mga Katipunero mula sa hilaga at timog. Maghanda kayo Andres, sa nalalapit na rebolusyon." Pepe said as he stared across towards Andres.

"Rebolusyon? Tila nababaliw ka na Pepe. Reporma ang iyong itinutulak, hindi rebolusyon. Iyan lamang ba ang iyong sasabihin at niyaya mo pa ako rito? Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi, lubhang mas malakas ang kawal ng Espanya. Baril laban sa tabak, Pepel, baril laban sa tabak." Replied Andres, barely able to check himself.

"Iyon ang alam nila. Alam ko rin Andres, na tanging kamatayan ko ang magsisilbing bigkis, ang magtutulak sa inyo upang mag-alsa. Napag-isipan ko na ito. Isa sa mga araw na ito ako ay kanilang darakpin, ikukulong. Ang magiging kabayaran sa ipaparatang nila sa akin ay tanging kamatayan. Hinog na ang panahon, Andres." Uttered Pepe, as he stares at the now tear-drench cheeks of Andres. "What a sight," he told himself, "a hero's tears reflecting the moon over Pasig."

"May iba pang paraan, Pepe, handa kaming maghintay." Andres cried... crying but at the same time knowing that the person with him in the boat is one of the brightest minds of their time. Calculating and intelligent, while he, a lowly fan-seller from Tondo. Yes, Pepe is speaking the truth, it is indeed time.

"Ang alingawngaw ng baril sa Bagumbayan and inyong magiging hudyat," said Pepe, as he put his arms around his friend. "Hindi tayo makakalimutan ng kasaysayan, kaibigan. Sasabihin nilang di tayo natulog sa paglatag ng gabi sa Bayang Tagalog. Huhusgahan tayo ng kasaysayan kaibigan, ngunit di nila malalaman ang ating napag-usapan ngayong gabi. Ang Ilog ng Pasig ang ating saksi. Habang ito ay dumadaloy, ang dugong ating binuhos ay mananatiling buhay at ito ay mananalaytay sa mukha ng Bayang Tagalog, di matutuyo, habang may Anak ng Bayan na handang lumaban." Pepe said as he geared up and balanced himself up.

Andres can only look up in silence and awe of this magnificent man. "Di tayo mauunawaan ng kasaysayan," Andres said to himself as he watched Pepe dive and swim towards the opposite bank.

Found it in this forum.

It reminded me of the local underground comics called Baylan when it appeared back in 2002 (I think). Wala lang. I just caught myself asking then, what if?

Haha wala lang. Sabi nga nila, kaya rin ng Pinoy. Marunong din naman siguro tayong magtago ng sekreto. Anong malay natin? Haha.

Well, all I know is that we can never really know what happened those days. Not unless scientists can overcome the improbability of time travel.

Chronicles in the day of the Last Stand

2006-05-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

dis-so-ci-a-tion: an adaptive defense in response to high stress or trauma characterized by memory loss and a sense of disconnection from oneself or one's surroundings

**Spoiler alert. The post contain stuff that you may not want to know if you haven't seen X-Men 3: The Last Stand. If you still want to continue reading, then proceed at your own risk. Otherwise, please feel free to read my other posts. :)

My mom woke me up at about 5:30 in the morning. She asked me to drive her to the market. She had no idea I just had about an hour and a half of sleep.

This is going to be one hell of a Saturday.

I sent my morning greetings to my friends. Chris and Alpha replied. Ngot made my phone ring with a missed call. Haha hindi siguro nakaunlimited ang cutie.

I finished my chores by 11:30. After a long, refreshing bath, I realized nasira pala ang TV. Damn. So I had to let myself be content with listening to Sitti's album (beats the hell out of listening to the local radio stations).

Lunch. Catch up on my reading. A 30 minute nap. Grabe sana naman tumaba na ko.

3:00. Today is one hot day. I took a quick shower, after receiving a phone call from my mom. Nagpapasundo. Siyempre kelangan ding bihisan ang pinsan kong parang mantika kung matulog.

My mom asked if I wanted to see a movie. Haha. Who am I to refuse? It just so happens I'm aching to see the latest X-Men movie for days now.

Grabe, the parking lot was jam packed. I had to pull a little stunt just to get a decent parking space (Imagine Nicolas Cage driving a car backwards in Gone in 60 Seconds). I was really pleased with my driving skills after that.

We 'deposited' my kid cousin in an establishment called Kids Play (sort of a place where you can leave your kids while you go about your business in the mall). Haha. Funny, in a weird way. It's like a baggage counter for kids. They put tags on the kids and then they give you corresponding numbers just to make sure the one you'll be bringing back home is really your kid. Para siya talagang baggage counter sa grocery store. Weird.

So there we were. Bonding time with my mom. I realize we haven't done that for quite some time now. Sana lang hindi siya pagkamalan na sugar mommy ko di ba. Haha. Magkaakbay pa naman kami kapag naglalakad.

So in we go to the cinema. It turns out hindi pa pala tapos yung screening na nauna. So the first thing I got to see was Jean Grey dying at the hands of Wolverine. Kamusta naman. And then the next scene was a shot of the tombstone of Cyclops and Professor X. Kamusta naman di ba. Alam ko na kagad kung sino ang mamamatay. Bwiset.

Opening credits na ulit. Kamusta naman yung nasa harap namin. Ni hindi pa natatapos yung opening credits nagsisimula nang mag-PDA. Grrrr. Ang sarap pag-umpugin.

So ayun. I was actually enjoying the movie when I realized I've been drinking too much 7-UP and my bladder was begging for a release. Damn. Just when things started to get exciting. Papatayin na ni Jean Grey si Professor X! I stayed until just after that scene before I went running to the bathroom.

When I got back. It was the drobo moment between Kitty and Bobby (Shadowcat and Iceman) with poor Marie (Rogue) watching as the boyfriend she can't touch is ice skating with another girl. Tough luck.

I realized gusto ko rin pala powers ni Iceman. Haha. Kapag na kong maisip na idea for gimmick, I'll just freeze the whole lagoon over para makapagice-skating kami. Haha. Useful din for drobo moments, not to mention for hot days. :)

It was nearing the end of the movie. Great action scenes. Great shots of Kitty. :)

I can't say fully satisfied with the movie, also with the ending, pero I agree with Levs. Its way better than Da Vinci. All in all its a great eye candy. A great addition to your video collection if you have one. I wouldn't mind watching it over and over again.

After that its pretty much a short drive home, family dinner. Aun. Natapos din ang araw.

After I publish this its over and out for me. Its way past my bedtime anyway. Yawn.

Sleep. Must sleep.

2006-05-27T02:43:00.000-07:00

I must rule with eye and claw - as the hawk among lesser birds.

Well this is a first. Hindi ako makatulog. It's 2:00 in the morning and gising ako for no apparent reason. Hindi na nga ako sumasagot sa mga text messages ng mga tao dahil gusto ko na talaga matulog.

Kung itinuloy ko ang pagbibilang ko kanina, siguro nakaabot na ako ng 1 million. But still, sleep won't come.

What the heck is in my mind right now? Girls. Oo plural. Girls. Ang mga babae sa buhay ko.

Girl 1: I'm very happy for you. Sobra. Sobrang masaya ako para sayo. Did I sa I'm happy for you? Haha basta, I'm happy for you. Kaso nakakainggit ka rin. Sobra.

Girl 2: Ewan ko pero nakakaintriga ang takbo ng isip mo ngayon. Haha. Siguro nga baliw ka talaga. Kaya siguro tayo magkaibigan. Haha. Birds of a feather...

Girl 3: I'm amused with the way your life is going right now. Haha. Wala lang. I just can't imagine you doing the things you're doing. Tsaka I miss you na rin. Haha how coñotic.

Girl 4: Weird pero lagi kong naiisip na kinakagat mo ako sa braso. Haha. You've got a nice set of teeth though. It goes well with your sharp tongue. :)

Girl 5: I wonder how you're doing right now. Nakakataba ka ng puso. Salamat. Although sometimes I wonder whether what you told me was true, or whether you just said that just to make me feel better.

Girl 6: Magaling ka. Oo mas magaling ka pa sakin. Kahit sinasabi nila na mas magaling ako, mas magaling ka. Saludo ako sa'yo. Pero iba ang ugali mo. Baguhin mo kasi ikasisira mo yan. Mataas pa naman ang pangarap mo.

Girl 7: San ka na kaya ngayon? Its been a very long time. Minsan nga hindi ko na maalala ang mukha mo. Konti na lang malilimutan ko na siya completely. Wala lang. I just know my life would have been a hell of a lot different if you stayed.

Girl 8: Nandyan ka pa rin. Pwede ba umalis ka na. You're one very persistent itch. Ayoko na. Grrr. Pedicabo te.

Pathetic.

Bar Band Singer Bests Pop Princess

2006-05-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

The cultural borrowings and interminglings which have brought us to this moment cover vast distances and an enormous span of time. Presented with such awesome panoply, we can only derive a sense of great movement and powerful currents.

The results are in. Taylor Hicks has won it. The Soul Patrol has overcome the McPheever.

And eventhough I was really smitten with dear Kat, I can't help but be happy with the results. I think Taylor is one hell of an entertainer. The fact that he made Simon Cowell eat his own words was bonus. Hahaha that's serving one for the British devil in the black shirt. (I know most people don't really dig AI so I'll just go ahead with what I'm trying to say.)

Whether or not you're into AI, please do take a moment to appreciate Taylor's first single. I think it's a good song. (I got goosebumps the first time I heard.) Definitely at par with the past idols' singles (except Reuben's Sorry 2004 which I just found simply pathetic).

I've never been
The one to raise my hand
That was not me
and now that's who I am
Because of you
I am standing tall

My heart is full
of endless gratitude
You were the one
The one to guide me through
Now I can see
And I believe
It's only just beginning

This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you proud
Stronger than I've ever been now
Never been afraid of standing out
Do I make you proud

Everybody needs to rise up
Everybody needs to be loved
To be loved

Thanks to Idolblog for the lyrics.

Ain't no mountain high enough

2006-05-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. You must climb the mountain just a little... enough to see that its a mountain, enough to see where the other mountains are. From the top of any mountain, you cannot see that mountain.

Grabe, hilong hilo na talaga ako. Sino ba talaga ang naunang Pinoy sa Mt. Everest?

Someone once told me (I think si Virge) there was no point in climbing mountains, bababa ka rin naman daw kasi.

Ewan ko rin lang. Being the frustrated mountain climber that I am, naturally I would say that that's bull. That there are a lot of logical reasons behind climbing mountains. Its just unfortunate that I can't think of one right at this moment. Hahaha. Maybe we should ask a real climber to get some decent answers.

"Mountains are climbed because they are there." A friend of mine once told me. An accomplished climber in his own right, this friend of mine. He added, "Every once in a while one must need to climb mountains to show that he is a man." Its funny because the last mountain he climbed, they saw an old lady at the top selling call cards and stuff. Hahaha.

Seriously, I think there's more to climbing than just a test of manhood. Its a test of will.

Things get into your head when you're up there. And they're not necessarily about 7th Heaven. Because when you ask yourself why you should stand the heat, the sweat, the muscle pains the next day just to reach the top of some stupid point in the earth's crust, you better have some answers ready or else you'll never get there.

As for me, the answer is simple, it's because I can, so I will.

So never mind all the muscle pain, the sweat, the heat, because when you're up there, you can always tell yourself, "That was great. You did good."

So congratulations to the Filipino Everest Climbers. What they did was no joke, and its an accomplishment I can only dream of doing. My hat's off to you.

Who are you calling freak, freak?

2006-05-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

One must require from each one the duty which one can perform.

X-3 na bukas!

Having mutant powers has been one of my most persistent of my childhood fantasies. I mean, I've outgrown the dragons, knights, swords, flying space ships, busting alien asses with lightsabers, etc. but not having mutant powers.

Maybe its because I think it would a hell of a lot nicer if:

I can teleport like Nightcrawler. For one, it saves gas. You wouldn't have to wake up early to attend morning classes. You wouldnt have to sweat just to get to your next class.
I can read minds like Professor Xavier. Hmm... This should have been number one. I think I'll sell my soul just to have this kind of power. Hahahaha. Evil thought.
I can shape-shift like Mystique. Sana lang di ba. Useful for bad hair days.
I can fly like Angel. Well overkill na kasi may teleportation powers na. Pero ok rin to kapag gusto mong mag-drama lipad ka sa langit. Pwede rin for drobo moments. Ilipad mo date mo. 1000 pogi points for you. Hahahaha.
I can move things with my mind like Jean Grey. Don't you just wish you could take notes with your mind? Or better yet, hit somebody in the head without him knowing? Haha evil thought again.
I can create clones of myself like (I don't know whats his name). Wala lang. I just think there's just too many things that I can do if there are a lot of me. I mean pwede akong tumakas sa babysitting role ko at pumunta sa kung saan-saan.
I can heal quickly like Wolverine. It wouldn't hurt to have the adamantium skeleton either. Para kapag lumalabas ang masochistic tendencies ko ok lang.
Lastly, if I am half machine like Cable. Para kapag di na kaya ng powers ko ang lessons just transfer everything sa hard drive ng machine part ko. Di ko pa kelangan ng camera phone and mp3 player kasi nasa utak ko na lahat. Haha tamad talaga.

Haha I guess I'm just ranting. Sabi nga ni Uncle Ben kay Peter Parker: "With great power comes great responsibility."

We have all the tools we need to get through anything. 1 mind, a pair of eyes, a pair of ears, 1 nose, 1 mouth, two hands, two feet and 24 hrs a day.

That's 525,600 minutes in a year (walang connection, naalala ko lang from Rent). Hahaha.

Sana lang kasi I'm not stuck here at home so I can watch.

I just hope the local SM cinema would be smart enough to show that movie simultaneously with the Metro Manila cinema. Beat the hell out of the pirates. Kundi lang sana jologs ang mga taga-Lucena.

Its the last stand of the mutants. And fans like me just can't wait to see the action.

The Evolution of Morning Greetings

2006-05-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

If for example you came at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour approaches.

Salamat talaga sa unlimited.

Dati rati, kapag babatiin mo ang mga taong mahalaga sayo ng magandang araw, hindi pwedeng basta good morning lang, or take care, or have a nice day. Kelangan may forwarded message sa unahan nya, o di kaya may quote. Sayang kasi ang piso. Kelangan sulit.

Pero ngayon, magigising na lang ako sa text ni Chris na magandang umaga, o sa text ng prinsesa na 'Good morning your grace!' o sa text ni Ngot na 'Ohayou Gozaimasu!', o sa greetings ng reyna na nagdedemand ng pagluhod, o sa pagbati ng goddess sa aming mga mortal, at sa greetings ng cardinal with his myriad of titles ng 3 text messages ang haba. Minsan personalized pa.

Nakakatuwa. These messages never fail to put a smile in my face, no matter how shitty i feel during that day.

Salamat sa inyo. Nakakainspire. Gusto ko na rin gumaya paminsan-minsan. Tamad kasi akong magtext. :)

Peerage Titles

2006-05-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

Achilles: Perhaps the kings were too far behind. Soldiers won the battle.
Agamemnon: History remembers kings! Not soldiers!

Its time to settle it once and for all. What to call who.

By virtue of the link sent to me by her royal highness, Queen Alpha, dear lords and ladies, here are some guidelines on the proper addresses issued to my friends who's been designating titles to themselves of late. (Katuwaan lang naman po ito, though some live up to their titles quite well. Haha.)

On the other hand, its good to acquaint ourselves with such niceties. You'll never know. You might bump into some royalty someday. Although statistically that's quite improbable as less and less of the old aristocratic structure exist. Still, I found it quite an interesting read since I'm fond of literature pieces dealing with the adventures of nobilities. I recommend it for Shakespeare buffs too.

Oh and by the way, I'm following the British guidelines.

Queens/Kings - You/His/Her Majesty. King Henry VI was called "His Grace," Edward VI was called "His High and Mighty Prince," Henry VII was called "His Highness,"

Prince/Princess - Your/His/Her Royal Highness.

Duke/Duchess - Your/His/Her Grace.

Earl/Count/Countess - Your/His/ Her Lordship/Ladyship. Or My Lord/Lady.

Cardinal - Your/His Eminence.

Archbishop - Your/His Grace.

Bishop - Bishop, Monsignor or Your Excellence; In England, My Lord.

Ayan, I hope wala nang confusion my lords and ladies, your royal higness, your majesty.

For the full article, click here.

Business as Usual

2006-05-18T00:32:00.000-07:00

We are not in the business of making heroes. We are in the business of finding cowards because that's what you are if you can't take the heat.

YOU. Yes, you. Coward. Yeah. Right.

I really don't know what I'm doing. You don't even know about this.

But that doesn't change the fact that you're a COWARD.

Or not.

I guess in the end its all a matter of perspective.

My Pappy always says...

2006-05-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become, responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

Virge sent me a message this morning about how high his hairline has become. It just made me laugh.

I remembered the times when I used to tease my father about his receding hairline. He just laughs it all of and says:

"Oo ka. Tignan mo akong mabuti ngayon dahil kung ano ang itsura ko ngayon, ganito rin ang itsura mo pag tanda mo."

I remember back in higschool my friends and I were played this funny game. We were supposed to share the things that our parents usually say in certain situations, like when they get really mad, etc. You'd be surprised at what parents say to their kids.

Here's what my parents say when:

when they get mad: "LUCIO LAMBERTO!!!" This is my queue. 'This means joke time is over. :)
when I tease my sister about being short, fat and pug nosed: "Wag kang mag-alala, kapag nagpakilala ka sa amin ng girlfriend mo pipintasan din namin siya..."
when we talk of their future grandchildren: "Basta kami hindi namin kayo ipagaalaga ng anak nyo. Ang trabaho lang ng lolo't lola ay mang-spoil ng apo."
when I'm driving and we realize we're lost: "Saan ka pupunta Lodgardo Nicolas??" Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin kilala kung sino yun.
when I make my little cousin cry: "Hala ka kuya, tandaan mo, matanda ka na at uudgo-ugod na, bata pa sila. Malakas pa. Kawawa ka kapag gumanti sila."
when we talk about women: "Anak, NEVER EVER tell a woman she's fat." Based on my experience, this is one of the best advice he's ever given me. :)

Join the game. Haha. Comment nyo lang what your parents would always say. You'd be surprised with what you hear for other people's parents. :)

She's not a Superwoman

2006-05-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest fact any child can accept is the fact that his parents are only human.

Thr proximity of a desirable thing tempts one to overindulgence. On that path lies danger.

I just spent Mother's Day at the hospital. Looking after my mom.

Her blood pressure has been unusually high last weekend. The doctor said it may have been that way for some time now, and that she may have just simply been ignoring it.

My mom's never been a stranger to the hospital. Most of the nurses even know her by name, since she was the one taking care of my sister and my cousin during their sickly years when they were confined almost every month.

Most of the nurses even thought my sister was the one getting confined.

So there she was. On a sick bed. On Mother's Day. With only me to watch her.

And for the first time in I don't know how long, I was afraid.

I may have been over-reacting. I mean the doctor assured she wasn't in any kind of danger. She was just supposed to undergo a series of tests. She's merely there to get some much needed rest.

I guess that's what just bothered me.

She's a mother. I always saw her as super human, larger than life. She's a teacher, yaya, masahista, guidance counsellor, nurse, etc. all in one.

But then one day she visits a doctor and you're reminded of the fact that this can't go on forever.

Its an abrupt awakening for someone like me. The fact that the natural wear and tear of the human body can touch even my mother, the one person whose presence is as constant as the sun itself.

My sister and I were planning to take Mama on a little shopping spree last Sunday. She's supposed to go to Lipa this week for a retreat and we've been saving up to buy her things for the trip, you know, as a little Happy Mother's Day gift (This is supposed to be her first out-of-town trip since 1992). Its was supposed to be a surprise.

Instead, we were the ones who were suprised.

And so as I look at her, asleep in her bed, with boxful of medicines near her, I realize that Mother's Day isn't the, as Alpha put it in her blog, the Hallmark holiday I always thought it was.

Mother's day may have been created by card makers so they would have sales at this time of the year or they may not. (I always thought it was the former).

What I've realized is that its something that mothers actually deserve. And at times they may actually need it.

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers out there.

Pahabol: I asked a friend of mine what gift he would give his mom for Mothers' Day. He said, "Mothers'Day was created by Hallmark so that they could sell more cards. Besides, I don't need to give her a gift." When I asked him why, he said, "Because every day I treat her like its Mother's Day. You should do the same."

Uso daw sabi ni Levs

2006-05-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

Concealed behind strong barriers the heart becomes ice.

New layout!

I wanted to go for something with color this time since I've learned that I can't hide my inability to choose colors adequately behind the guise of a monochrome theme forever. Still its a two-tone theme so I guess I'm still playing safe.

Feel free to comment on the new look of my blog. (I dare you to hover your mouse pointer over the creepy picture of a jester, which I actually found it cute, in a disturbing kind of way)

Hell of a start

2006-05-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

Woke up to the sound of the radio playing this song:

It starts with one thing
I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try keep that in mind
I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time
All I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, but didn't even know
Wasted it all just to watch you go
I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when

I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end it doesn't even matter

I’ve put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
And for all this
There's only one thing you should know

Geez, what a great way to start the day. To be reminded of the fact that all my efforts didnt matter in the end. I hate Tuesdays.

Due to insistent HB demand

2006-05-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

Be not afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

Dahil hindi naman ako marunong humindi...

Alpha:
I.
1. Something I like about you: you say what you mean and you mean what you say (i think) :)
2. Song that reminds me of you: Trip 6Cyclemind
3. Your o'clock: 3:00 am hindi ko alam kung bakit :)
4. Single word that best describes you: bitch haha
5. Most memorable moment: kumain tayo sa mang jimmy's then each of us gave made a birthday wish
6. Color you remind me of: dark grey, gloomy and forbidding especially when your in your senti mode :)
7. What ive always wondered about you: bakit alpha? hindi beta, gamma, epsilon... hehe corny :)
II.
1. Something random about you: you have a thing for rocker dudes singing senti songs
2. Song/movie that reminds me of you: 13 going on 30. I still cant believe you'd love that kind of movie. :)
3. Flavor of jello to wrestle with you in: Coffee. Downer sayo yun eh haha para may laban naman ako.. :)
4. Something that only makes sense to you and me: meron ba? vete a la mierda? pwede rin pala negra... :)
5. First memory of you: Nasa BA steps ka nun, summer and you were dropping of bottles for FOPC. Von and I were there to get the bottles from you. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, coapp pala namin yun? :)
6. Animal you remind me of: Lioness - queen of the jungle hahaha
7. Something I've always wondered about you: ano kaya shape ng patronus mo?

Levs:
I.
1. Something I like about you: Palagi tayong nakakakita ng magaganda kapag kasama kita.
2. Song that reminds me of you: insensitive, ewan ko pero lagi mong kinakanta yun sa shade eh
3. Your o'clock: 12:00 n.n. or whenever the sun is at its zenith
4. Single word that best describes you: bunso
5. Most memorable moment: nung naglakad tayo sa 4th floor back lobby na para tayong robot. I was holding your hands and you were stepping on my feet.
6. color you remind me of: pink, because of your shoes :)
7. what ive always wondered about you: Ano kaya itsura mo kapag short hair mo?
II.
1. Something random about you: ikaw ang first na tumawag sakin ng kuya
2. Song/movie that reminds me of you: Tatooed on my mind, actually any song from the art of letting go album
3. Flavor of jello to wrestle with you in: kahit ano, feeling ko naman i wont have a hard time beating you.. hahaha :)
4. Something that only makes sense to you and me: wag ikaw ang pumili, hintayin mong ikaw ang piliin... :) good advice
5. First memory of you: Tambay week and we were both apps, naglalaro tayo ng simson samson and lagi kong chinachallenge yung mga sagot mo :)
6. Animal you remind me of: meercat. kamukha mo kasi si timon sa lion king :)
7. Something I've always wondered about you: hindi ka ba naiinitan at never mong itinali ang buhok mo?

Abby:
I.
1. Something I like about you: Your voice. Ang cute kasi. Pang spoiled princess talaga. Pag nagkaanak ako gusto ko katulad mo ng boses. Pero siyempre dapat mas cute sayo. :)
2. Song that reminds me of you: sorry by cueshe kasi you hate it so much
3. Your o'clock: 9:00 pm. Curfew mo?
4. Single word that describes you: princess, tinatanong pa ba yun?
5. Most memorable moment: Nung sinamahan ko kayo ni Jow sa divisoria. Wala kang tinamaan dun sa mga tinatanong mo sakin concerning directions. Tapos nun pumasok lang tayo sa isang store hindi mo na alam kung nasan tayo paglabas natin. :)
6. Color that reminds me of you: khaki brown. haha yun kasi lagi color ng pants mo.:)
7. What i've always wondered about you: pano ka na kapag la nang magbubukas ng door para sayo.. :)
II.
1. Something random about you: sadya namang NAPAKAHINA MO SA DIRECTIONS
2. Song/movie that reminds me of you: yung nips theme song
3. Flavor of jello to wrestle with you in: isaw flavored.. haha yuck.. para bayad na utang ko sayo
4. Something that only makes sense to you and me: black raya shirt? tsaka nga pala yung 100++ worth of isaw na receivable mo sakin.. :)
5. Clearest memory of you: yung itsura mo everytime you say, "that is just so mean..."
6. Animal you remind me of: A cookabura
7. Something I've always wondered about you: pano nga kaya pag kayo ni pangit ang nagkatuluyan?

Virge
I.
1. Something I like about you: Magaling ka. Maparaan.
2. Song that reminds me of you: Saving all my love for you :)
3. Your o'clock: 7:00 pm time na lagi ka naming hinihintay pag may lakad
4. Single word that best describes you: lolo pwede rin tatang
5. Most memorable moment: yung "alang-alang sa tunika mong natigmak ng dugo..." comment while we were dropping abby off sa Fairview.
6. Color that reminds me of you: yellow, as in yellow cars
7. SOmething I've always wondered about you: ano kaya itsura mo pag may gf ka na? :)
II.
1. Something random about you: Kapag may sasabihin ka mahilig kang mambitin.
2. Song/movie that reminds me of you: Just like heaven. Kamusta naman ang nagexpect ng horror film.
3. Flavor of jello to wrestle with you in: Do we really have to wrestle? haha saging, yung señorita.
4. Something that only makes sense to you and me: the ease with which you can act as if there is none when in fact there is (alam din pala ni alpha yun)
5. First memory of you: Sa planning sem sa Bataan, you liked my 'High Tension' suggestion.
6. Animal you remind me of: horse, particularly yung sa tagaytay :)
7. Something I've always wondered about you: How you would look wearing a hard hat and overalls... :)

Courtesy of Buddy

2006-05-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it shall be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night. You - only you - will have stars that can laugh.

Just one of the numerous messages forwarded to me by the most beautiful buddy in the whole wide world, Rubie. (Ahem, mamaya na lang natin pagusapan yung fee ko for calling you beautiful. hehe joke. )

Great door signs:

Gynecologist - "Dr. Jones at your cervix"
Septic tank truck - "Yesterday's meals on wheels"
Plumber's office - "We rapair what your husbands fixed" (Reminded me of Jay when he was trying to fix their faucet haha)
Tire shop - "Invite us to your next blowout"
Electrical Shop - "Let us remove your shorts"
Maternity room door - "Push, push, push"
Optometrist's clinic - "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place" (This one actually had me laughing so hard I spilled coffee on my keyboard)

Pahabol lang:
I saw this one at a shop sign in UP Village. It says: MAGINHAWA REPAIR SHOP: We fix what your husbands break.

Gee Buddy, you dont know how dull my world is without your text messages. Thanks. :)

Tatooed in my auditory nerve

2006-05-04T23:37:00.000-07:00

Fly me to the moon and let me sing among the stars

I was finally able to get a copy of Sitti's Cafe Bossa album.

She is simply incredible.

If you close your eyes you can almost feel like you're in a beach somewhere with the cool breeze on your face and the a nice beautiful sunset capping off a day that is simply blissful.

A great album to listen to if you're into light and easy music.

Kingdom of Heaven

2006-05-04T22:37:00.003-07:00

Took this photo at the People's park in Tagaytay during our roadtrip. It reminds me of the first scene in Kingdom of Heaven. :)

Trippin' in Tagaytay

2006-05-04T22:37:00.002-07:00

I had a blast last Saturday. It was supposed to be a trip to Tagaytay, it turned out to be a Southern Luzon roadtrip. Good thing Virge was driving. I got to enjoy every minute of the trip. :)

Green and Greedy

2006-05-04T22:37:00.001-07:00

Greed:	High
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Low
Sloth:	Low
Envy:	Medium
Lust:	Very Low
Pride:	Low

Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

Gee, I never saw myself as a greedy person.

Down the First Level please

2006-05-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very High
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Divine Comedy Inferno Test

Limbo, a place of sorrow without torment. A lot like my life right now. haha. I guess i should be a little more thankful. I thought I'd be a little further down.

American Idol Hangover

2006-04-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was able to catch the last episode of American Idol. The blond girl got booted out (I'm sorry I forgot her name). I was indifferent with the whole episode as none of my favorites (Kat, Chris and Taylor), I believed, were on the chopping block.

Then Andrea Bocelli sang. I don't know what it is with him but everytime I hear him singing, whether on the radio or on TV, I get goose bumps all over and the side of my eyes get filled with tears. Yes, I admit it, tears.

Anyway, the song's a great one. It definitely made my day. So here it goes:

Because We Believe

Guarda fuori e’gia’mattina Questo e’un giorno che ricorderai Alzati in fretta e vai C’è chi crede in te Non ti arrendere
Once in every life There comes a time We walk out all alone And into the light The moment won’t last but then, We remember it again When we close our eyes.
Like stars across the sky E per avvincere Tu dovrai vincere We were born to shine All of us here because we believe
Guarda avanti e non voltarti mai Accarezza con i sogni tuoi Le tue speranze e poi Verso il giorno che verrà C’è un traguardo là
Like stars across the sky E per avvincere Tu dovrai vincere We were born to shine All of us here because we believe
Non arrenderti Qualcuno è con te
Like stars across the sky We were born to shine E per avvincere Dovrai vincere E allora vincerai

Puffing out what's inside

2006-04-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

You. Yes, You. Out.

Pedicabo te. F*** you.

Pathetic. After weeks of finding ways not to think of you, the best that I can come up with is to curse you in Latin. Simply pathetic.

I want to move on. I need to move on. I need rebuild whats left in me after the big ruckus (yes, that's you, a big ruckus) suddenly decides she can't take the heat anymore and leaves me hanging out to dry.

And yet still you're there. Inside my head. Giving everything I experience, even the things I enjoy doing, a slightly bitter aftertaste because I know you're not there.

You're like an itch I can't quite scratch.

Maybe I just miss you. Maybe I just miss you a lot. Yes, even after everthing, nothing has changed.

That's just what eats me up inside. The fact that I'm here, miserable with you in my mind, and you're there, living la dolce vita.

Pedicabo te. F*** you.

Note: Bwiset ka, lakas talaga ng kamandag mo. If this still doesn't work, I'll try cursing you in Greek.

Papatulan ko na rin

2006-04-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

Got this from her royal highness, Queen Alpha:

You Are 26% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well.
In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

Gee, this doesn't bode well for my plans of world domination.

You Are 28% Abnormal

You are at medium risk for being a psychopath. It is somewhat likely that you have no soul.

You are at low risk for having a borderline personality. It is unlikely that you are a chaotic mess.

You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection.

You are at medium risk for having a social phobia. It is somewhat likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement.

You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

How Abnormal Are You?

Haha there's nothing wrong with me. Its the rest of the world that's not normal.

You Are Scary

You even scare scary people sometimes!

How Scary Are You?

What the f***?

Your Love Element Is Metal

In love, you inspire and respect your partner.
For you, love is all about fusing together for one incredible life experience.

You attract others with wit and a bit of flash.
Your flirting style is defined by making others want and value you.

Greatness and optimism are the cornerstones of your love life.
You may let go too easily, but you never get weighed down by your past.

You connect best with: Earth

Avoid: Fire

You and another Metal element: will control and smother each other

What Element Is Your Love?

I was hoping it'd be water.

Your Love Life Secrets Are

Looking back on your life, you will only have one true love.

You're a little scarred from your past relationships, but who isn't?

You expect a lot from your lover - you want the full package. You tend to be very picky.

In fights, you are able to walk away and calm down. You are able to weather the storm.

Break-ups can be painful for you, but you never show it. You hold your head high.

Your Love Life Secrets, Revealed

Me? Picky? Gusto ko lang naman sa babae maganda, mahilig ngumiti, brown-eyed, about 5'4" in height, maputi, matangos ang ilong, mabait, maganda ang buhok, laging naka skirt, God-fearing, malambing... etc. :)

You Are Sunshine

Soothing and calm
You are often held up by others as the ideal
But too much of you, and they'll get burned

You are best known for: your warmth

Your dominant state: connecting

What Type of Weather Are You?

Hahaha oh my. Levs di ko sinsadya yan. :)

Papatayin natin sila

2006-04-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

They call it the balance. I call it the hypocritical bullshit.

Constantine's on HBO last night.

Fairly good movie. Not to mention all the ugly demons and half-breeds made all the noisy kids in the house suddenly quiet. So i guess that would have made my day.

But then Keanu's meager attempt to explain his profound views on the balance just ruined it all.

Was he paid enough to do that project?

He's an actor for pete's sake. That means he's being paid to act.

I don't know. I just believe its a big mistake to cast him as John Constantine. They should have gone with someone who has a bit more talent. I'm sorry to his fans out there

Monkey Wisdom

2006-04-22T05:31:00.001-07:00

Asante sana squash banana...

I've just been reminded of a some very nice lines in the Lion King (in my opinion one of the best animated films to ever grace the big screen)

*Rafiki, the old baboon, just hit Simba with his stick*

Simba: Ouch! Jeez! What did you do that for?

Rafiki: It doesn't matter. It's in the past.

Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.

Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.

Great movie. I love every bit of it. Not to mention hearing the voices of James Earl Jones and Jeremy Irons just made it an acoustic experience to boot.

Congratulations

2006-04-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

The rest of those who have gone before us cannot steady the unrest of those who are left behind.

Congratulations to future Atty. Chris for passing his UP Law interview. Astig ka.

Congratulations din sa mga gagraduate na from our beloved university.

Good luck to you guys.

Libre!!!!! Hahahaha!!!

A Farce of a Farce

2006-04-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Will I lose my dignity? Will someone care?
Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?

They say that history repeating itself is a farce. What then is the farce of a farce? If there is any word for it then that would be what my life is right now. One whole big shitty farce.

You're taught to dream big, to aim high. And so that's what you do. You're just starting to get the updraft when life slaps you in the face and you start to fall. You try to shrug it off, to keep your legs moving, your wings flapping, your engine running, but you're still falling. And then you find yourself at the bottom. Hoping for a second chance.

Then you got one.

And this time you're determined to not to let anything ruin it. But then life goes at you again, and then WHAM! You fall even harder than the first time. And the you ask yourself, "Why the HELL didn't you just stay down? You could've just saved yourself the trouble."

But no, I had to fight, I had to have my way. But here I am, way out of my way. Leagues from where I'm supposed to be going.

Snakes

2006-04-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

I just had a nightmare last night. It was raining and I was in a corner, half-naked and shivering violently in the cold. There are snakes around me. As far as my I can se. They're just there. With their heads propped up, their forked tongue in and out of their mouths, their eyes staring hungrily at me while their hisses they make seem like silent laughter. It was too much I couldn't take it so I screamed.

There seems to be a lot of snakes lately.

No, I'm not talking of the figurative kind. I'm talking of those long creepy creatures with forked tongues slithering this way and that on their bellies.

Their all over the news for some time now. Some are wild, only God knows how they ended up in the streets of Metro Manila. Others are just household pets who got lost. Household pets! One guy even said he keeps one to control the rat population in his house. Makes me want to keep one in our org tambayan to help with our mickey mouse . Or maybe not. That would freak people out even more than the rat does. It would freak me out. I have serious issues with snakes. Serious.

I really cant understand the reason why anyone would want to keep them as a pet. I mean, a dog is a pet. Cats, no matter how I hate them, they're pets. Birds are nice pets. Fishes and turtles are nice, but snakes?

I don't know, maybe its just me. No offense to snake lovers out there. I just really hate snakes.

Home

2006-04-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since I left to study in Manila, I have always found it hard to go back to my hometown even for the holdays. I figured there is nothing I can gain from going back to the place I've been all my life. I guess I figured wrong.

Its Easter Sunday, so as always, I went to mass with the whole clan. And I mean the whole clan. If someone threw a grenade in our midst at that moment, that would be the end of our entire family.

So there I was, sitting in one of the pews, looking at our old church. It really didn’t change that much over the years, just like the people attending the mass. Most of the people attending the mass, other than our clan, were the same people going to church for as long as I can remember. Everything’s the same. Or so I thought.

It turns out time can really leave their mark on the things you've known all my life. The mass is starting, and as the priest passes by our pew, I notice his now creased face and already gray hair. By this time I'm no longer distracted by the pretty girl sitting in front of me but by the baby in her arms, the one who looks ominously like the big ugly guy
sitting next to her. Some guys just have all the luck.

The funny thing is, eventhough things changed a lot where I grew up, it still retains that feeling of familiarity, it still gives that sense of comfort and security that makes it my very own sanctuary.

It is only there that I can leave my car parked in the streets with the doors unlocked and still sleep well. Its only there that I can whip out my cellular phone at any time of the day, without the fear of anyone snatching it. I can walk the streets in the middle of the night without fear of being mugged. It is there that I felt truly rested.